Gu Qingcheng assigned tasks clearly, and everyone indicated they understood before taking their assignments.
After the meeting concluded, Gu Qingcheng heard the stomachs of the attendees rumbling audibly. Looking at the time, it was already evening, which explained the hunger pangs.
Gu Qingcheng waved her hand and said, "You all have your own tasks for tonight. We will gather again early tomorrow morning. Afterwards, inquire within your teams to identify who among you are carpenters, stone masons, bricklayers, and blacksmiths. Any skilled individuals should be brought to me."
"Yes," they replied and dispersed.
Dai Fa had also participated in this meeting. He had spoken very little from start to finish, with Gu Qingcheng taking the lead.
He was surprised that Gu Qingcheng, despite her young age, managed affairs so methodically.
He could tell that Gu Qingcheng intended to transform this place into a haven, an idyllic sanctuary.
Hmm? Could there be any developments from the major clans?
Dai Fa couldn't help but ponder deeply.
His thoughts led nowhere, but what impressed him most was Gu Qingcheng's composure and magnanimity at such a young age, her actions being remarkably systematic.
"Young Master Gu, I was quite confused when we first arrived on the mountain. After your explanation just now, I understand what you intend to do and how to proceed," Dai Fa confessed his feelings.
It felt as if he had rediscovered his lost vitality.
To him, having nothing seemed not so terrifying. The most dreadful thing was losing his direction in life after his two sons were gone and his wife's mental state deteriorated, leaving him to live like a zombie.
However, he now seemed to have found a new path to embark upon.
"Uncle Dai, I will have to trouble you a lot in the future. Now that we've reached our destination, we'll head down the mountain tomorrow to purchase some supplies and have them delivered," Gu Qingcheng stated.
"No problem, we have quite a few things to get."
Gu Qingcheng thought for a moment and said, "Go to town and hire a few horse-drawn carriages to purchase supplies in Jinsha City. I will also check out the nearby market towns, and we can split up our procurement."
"Alright."
Dai Fa didn't find anything amiss and nodded.
At the foot of Yunwu Mountain, there was a small town called Zhanchun, with over 200 households and a bustling atmosphere. Their group had passed through this town.
Gu Qingcheng's suggestion was actually to facilitate the retrieval of supplies from her storage cabinet. She couldn't conjure supplies out of thin air that hadn't been purchased, so she needed to use the excuse of going down the mountain to procure them.
Although the climb up the mountain had taken a day and a night, it was because there was no path before, and they had to clear thorns and brush.
Now, following the path that had been cleared, going up and down, a full day should be sufficient for the round trip.
Dai Fa wasn't worried about his wife. Zheng Wu Niang had her two daughters with her, and her mental state had always been stable. Now he could be free to attend to tasks.
Upon arriving on the mountain, Zheng Wu Niang had found a tree and sat down beneath it, saying she was going to make shoes for the two children and paid no attention to where he went.
Gu Qingcheng got up to help Mi Guo prepare food. Just then, several men slowly approached Gu Qingcheng. The small captain, Zhao Hu, who had brought them, said, "Young Master Gu, we've found a carpenter, two bricklayers, a shop assistant from a pharmacy, a charcoal burner, and someone who knows how to burn lime. Didn't you say to bring any skilled individuals? I've brought them to see you!"
Gu Qingcheng was delighted. She hadn't expected her team of over 200 people to actually have such skilled craftsmen. These craftsmen were valuable human resources, each one useful.
Gu Qingcheng immediately noted down their names and made an effort to address them personally to show her appreciation.
"Everyone, you are all rare talents in our village. Phoenix Village needs you greatly. I plan to establish various artisan workshops, and from now on, you will be the master craftsmen of these workshops. My requirement of you is to teach a batch of apprentices who can operate independently within a short period. Rest assured, teaching an apprentice won't make you lose your job. As long as you become a master craftsman in the workshop, you will receive a monthly income of three taels of silver."
Upon hearing Gu Qingcheng's words, everyone was overjoyed.
Three taels of silver!
In this time of famine, having food and drink, and receiving a monthly income of three taels of silver, what could be more fortunate than this?
"Thank you, Young Master Gu!" the few men quickly said.
"The artisan workshops will be managed by you. In the future, Village Chief Dai will be in charge of the overall management of the artisan workshops. If I am not in the village, report to him if you have any matters. We are about to embark on major construction, and you will be very busy then."
"We will. We will certainly make full use of our skills. We truly didn't expect this."
These individuals were extremely excited.
Gu Qingcheng added, "Please take the matter of finding apprentices seriously. As for who you wish to take on as apprentices, that will be up to you to decide. Observe for a period, and if you find someone suitable, I will provide the personnel or materials you need. For any work-related matters, you can approach me for solutions."
Wu Dazhuang, the blacksmith, asked cautiously, "Young Master Gu, I am a blacksmith, but forging requires a charcoal furnace and iron blocks, which are very expensive!"
"No problem, I will take care of all of that. First, discreetly observe and select your apprentices. I will handle the rest. Once the apprentices are chosen, bring them to me to see."
Gu Qingcheng said with apparent wealth, and then reminded them to bring the chosen individuals so she could conduct loyalty tests.
Her storage cabinet contained tens of tons of gold, countless precious ornaments, priceless paintings, and antiques, so she was not worried about expenses.
Furthermore, she had an infinitely supplied supermarket system.
If buying other food and drinks at the Shamao Supermarket had overly modern characteristics that might arouse suspicion, then staples like rice, flour, and oil, as long as the packaging was removed, would not be suspected by anyone. Therefore, Gu Qingcheng could easily support a large group of people.
Of course, her main goal now was to "support" them. Ultimately, she wanted to achieve self-sufficiency for these people and enable them to create more value for survival.
Gu Qingcheng realized she was playing a "raising" "game."
Bit by bit, from nothing to something, starting from scratch, it was incredibly rewarding.
Everyone went about their tasks.
It was too late to build wooden houses tonight, so they could only set up temporary lean-tos. Gu Qingcheng went to find Mi Guo, intending to help him.
However, when she found Mi Guo, she discovered that her and Dai Fa's family's lean-to had already been built.
It turned out that the perceptive Qian Wang had once again been helpful.
He, along with a group of people from Qianjia Village, had quickly set up the lean-tos with everyone's help.
Their lean-tos were large and spacious, with reed mats covering three sides thickly, making them airtight and ensuring warmth inside. They could accommodate two people comfortably.
Outside Gu Qingcheng's lean-to, Qian Wang had the carpenter use the felled trees to build a simple wooden table and chairs.
Seeing Gu Qingcheng's satisfaction, Qian Wang bowed and said, "Young Master Gu, you are a cultured person. Scholars need to write and draw, so tables and chairs are indispensable."
Gu Qingcheng praised him a few times.
Qian Wang was proud of this, his face showing a hint of smugness.