Wangchun City was bustling with activity, with its grand buildings and beautiful courtesans, catering to the desires of many men.
Gu Qingcheng gauged their loyalty, finding that half of them were unsatisfactory, while the other half, though passing, only scored around a sixty percent.
Gu Qingcheng understood immediately. Unlike ordinary folk easily bought, these individuals had seen more of the world and were more self-possessed.
Gu Qingcheng wasn't in a hurry. She arranged for them to settle in and, the next day, had them bathe and change into new clothes. Once everyone was refreshed, Gu Qingcheng gathered them and asked if they were willing to stay.
"Indeed. We get free housing and a salary. From what you've said, you're providing for our food and daily expenses. I'd like to know who you are to have such wealth?
Also, will I be forced to stay here forever just because I've eaten and drunk your provisions? I don't want my freedom to leave restricted."
Dai Fa, listening from the side, twitched the corner of his mouth.
In this world, another person had emerged who, after a single full meal, lost all sense of humility.
Those few from last time had probably starved to death by now.
Perhaps the grass on their graves was already three feet high.
Gu Qingcheng listened but remained silent.
This somewhat arrogant young man was Xiao Long, a former shop assistant at a pharmacy. Had it not been for the extreme cold disaster, he might have already been promoted to assistant manager.
Normally, everyone at the pharmacy doted on him, flattering him and fostering his arrogant nature. He looked down on this small, broken village from the bottom of his heart.
He yearned for the lively towns like Wangchun City, where he could find work as a pharmacy assistant again and showcase his skills.
However, even the grandest ambitions couldn't compare to an empty stomach.
With Wangchun City strictly forbidding refugees from entering, he had no choice but to make do with Dai Fa and Phoenix Village for now.
"Who I am is not important. What is important is that Phoenix Village is a place from which no one can leave once they arrive. Even if they leave now, they will later cry and beg to become villagers of Phoenix.
This opportunity comes only once; lose it, and it will never return.
I do not restrict your freedom to leave. However, from your attitude, you seem to dislike Phoenix Village greatly. I suggest you leave, as I fear you might regret not leaving later."
Gu Qingcheng spoke calmly.
She didn't need to argue with them to prove a point. The facts were as she stated; she was merely presenting them.
Xiao Long, the former pharmacy assistant, looked astonished and said:
"Oh, with your tone, you claim to treat talented people well, yet I see this as a lie to lure us up the mountain."
Then, Xiao Long turned to the crowd and said:
"This person is a liar. I won't be fooled by him, and I don't know if you will be, but I'm leaving now."
"I am currently in need of various helpers. I would be delighted if you choose to stay. If this place does not satisfy you, you are free to leave at any time. I will not force you to stay.
As long as you are in Phoenix Village, you can eat and drink freely, all at no cost.
Even if you decide to leave Phoenix Village, I will not seek compensation from you afterward.
I need you, but I also do not need you to look down on the people of Phoenix Village.
Whether you stay or not, you can make your decision now."
The crowd, initially swayed by Xiao Long's instigation and considering leaving, especially since Phoenix Village was so remote and built on a mountaintop, began to waver.
However, upon hearing Gu Qingcheng's words, they were moved. They felt that this young master Gu, despite his youth, was very magnanimous.
So, someone spoke up:
"I am willing to stay."
"We are willing too..."
To everyone's surprise, dozens of people ultimately chose to stay, leaving only Xiao Long looking at them in bewilderment.
"The wise know when to adapt. Brother Xiao, why not stay when food is scarce and life is hard down the mountain, and you can eat rice and meat up here? You can always make other plans later!"
Someone secretly advised Xiao Long.
"Fine, I, I'll stay too. You can't restrict my freedom to leave, anyway."
Xiao Long's face flushed red, but he eventually stayed, albeit with a thick skin.
Xiao Long had his own value. Gu Qingcheng nodded, saying no more.
She then led a few people to the village's public areas and assigned them their work.
Next to the village square was the communal canteen, adjacent to which was the supply and marketing cooperative, complete with a large storage room.
Beside the cooperative was the medical clinic.
Including Xiao Long, who had spoken assertively earlier, there were three assistants at the clinic. They all understood basic medical principles and could prescribe and dispense herbs, so the clinic was entrusted to them for initial management.
The first step was to collect medicinal herbs, dry them, prepare medicines, and then store them in the cabinets, after which they could begin treating villagers.
The three men settled into the clinic and began drying the herbs.
Outside the farm, there was the veterinary clinic.
The veterinary clinic retained an old pine tree, useful for tying up cattle and horses. Many wooden stakes of varying lengths were also driven into the ground, intended for tethering livestock during treatment.
Though small, it was complete and showed meticulous attention to detail amidst its simplicity.
"I am willing to stay. Although this place is somewhat remote, it feels different from the lifelessness down the mountain; it is full of vitality," a man who introduced himself as a veterinarian, Liu Yidao, said emotionally.
Liu Yidao was of medium height, in his early thirties, with several scratches on his hands, which he claimed were from treating animals.
Dai Fa examined them and confirmed they looked like the scratches from dogs and cats.
This further confirmed Liu Yidao's profession as a veterinarian.
Gu Qingcheng then led Liu Yidao to the farm.
Liu Yidao never expected the scale of the farm to exceed his wildest imagination.
In addition to cattle sheds for the cows to eat and rest, the farm had about five acres of grassland for the cattle to roam freely.
Besides dozens of water buffalo and yellow cattle contentedly grazing, there were also two black and white dairy cows.
Liu Yidao exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master Gu, you even have dairy cows?"
"Yes," Gu Qingcheng replied with a pleased smile.
With dairy cows, they could have more dairy products like cheese, yogurt, double-skin milk, milk tofu, and even use milk in cakes and bread to enhance their flavor.
"I'd only heard of dairy cows before, never seen a real one," Liu Yidao said, full of interest.
"I plan to buy more dairy cows. Once the milk supply is sufficient, it can benefit the villagers."
In fact, Gu Qingcheng intended to implement a breakfast program providing a cup of milk to all schoolchildren, giving them a cup during breaks to supplement their nutrition.
"I will do my best. This is my specialty," Liu Yidao said confidently.
After assigning everyone to their respective roles and settling them in, Gu Qingcheng and Dai Fa went to his home to discuss village affairs.
Zheng Wuniang seemed much better. Seeing Gu Qingcheng arrive, she was able to come out to entertain guests, and Luo Juan was there to offer Gu Qingcheng a drink.
Wang Daya quickly went to heat up the Qingming dumplings they had made.
Qingming dumplings are typically available around the Qingming Festival. However, due to the unusual weather, Wang Daya found motherwort on the mountain, picked a lot of it, squeezed out the juice, and made Qingming dumplings.
In reality, it was because Gu Qingcheng had casually mentioned once that she liked Qingming dumplings, and Wang Daya had remembered it.