"Don’t always call them monsters," Li Banfeng said, his brow furrowing slightly. "That term is grating."
Juanzi looked at Li Banfeng for a moment. Although she hadn’t eaten for several days, she felt slightly more composed, and her voice grew a little louder as she spoke:
"The City of Sinners has continuous Heavenly Light. This year it’s been exceptionally brutal. At a minimum, it happens once every three days; at a maximum, two or three times a day.
"When the Heavenly Light shines on a person, it doesn’t take many hours before they explode. You’ve probably never seen such a scene, and I don’t know how to describe it."
Li Banfeng nodded. "I understand. I almost saw it myself."
Juanzi continued, "We don’t know how many have died in the city, nor do we know how much longer we can survive. There is a Boundary outside the City of Sinners that we can’t cross. Later, a benefactor arrived and showed us a way to survive."
"Which benefactor?"
"The benefactor didn’t allow us to reveal his identity. He gave us a map and told us to follow it, assuring us that we would definitely find someone willing to take us in. Seventh Master, we’ve survived until now, and every step has been marked by blood. Please convey a message to Master Qiu. If he’s willing to shelter us, we would be immensely grateful. If he’s not willing, that’s alright too. We only ask Master Qiu for something to eat; even just one meal would be enough."
Li Banfeng fell silent for a moment, then asked, "There’s something I don’t understand. When you talk about being sheltered, do you mean being provided with food and drink every day, and being taken care of?"
Juanzi shook her head repeatedly. "We just want a place to live; we’ll figure out how to make our own living. If there’s any way we can be of use, we’re willing to do whatever is asked of us."
Li Banfeng looked at Mengzi. "What do you say?"
Mengzi, with his head lowered, said, "What my sister says, goes."
Li Banfeng then looked at Xiao Shan. "And you?"
Xiao Shan’s voice was very soft. "I’ll listen to my sister."
Their consecutive responses struck a familiar chord with Li Banfeng.
"Words alone won’t suffice. You’ll need to do something."
On hearing this, Mengzi became wary; they had been tricked before.
"What is it you want us to do?"
Li Banfeng pointed to a forest in the distance. "First, go chop some wood and build some houses."
Mengzi snorted coldly. "It’s the same trick all over again."
Li Banfeng frowned. "What trick?"
Juanzi bit her lip and lifted her head. "We agree."
They hadn’t eaten for days. Even if it meant laboring for just one meal, they were prepared to endure the hardship.
"Just having houses isn’t enough. You’ll need to farm the land. Do you know how to do agricultural work?"
Mengzi laughed.
Juanzi nodded. "We can do agricultural work."
"From now on, you will all be people of this territory. You have to step up when there’s trouble!"
"Whatever Seventh Master asks us to do, we’ll do it."
"Agreed. Wait while I write up a Contract Book; you all will have to press your fingerprints on it."
Li Banfeng walked away.
Mengzi clenched his teeth. "Why bother with a Contract Book? Sounding all official with pretty lies."
Juanzi cautioned, "As long as there’s food, that’s enough. Don’t say any more."
"We should’ve listened to Aunt Fang; we should’ve just taken what we needed by force."
"Don’t talk nonsense! The benefactor said we can’t do those things!"
...
Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Residence and took out a large sheet of paper to write a Contract Book.
The Phonograph spoke from the side, "Beloved husband, do you need such a large sheet of paper just to write a Contract Book?"
"Beloved wife, if I used smaller paper, I’d need to write three thousand copies."
"Three thousand?" Hong Ying was astonished. "Husband, what kind of Contract Book needs three thousand copies?"
A blast of hot steam made Hong Ying flinch. Li Banfeng didn’t explain; he finished writing the Contract Book and left the Portable Residence.
The Phonograph saw the contents of the Contract Book. "Beloved husband has found three thousand permanent residents. Is he really trying to turn this New Land into a Proper Land?"
Hong Ying sighed deeply. "Our beloved husband is truly capable!"
The Phonograph brandished its board. "If I don’t tear your mouth apart today, it’ll mean our family discipline isn’t strict!"
Hong Ying, covering her peach, said, "Tear my mouth if you want, but why do you always hit my peach?"
"Do you even have a mouth, you wretch!"
...
Li Banfeng placed the Contract Book in front of Juanzi and watched her press her handprint. "Have all your people press their handprints too."
Juanzi said, "They all listen to me..."
"That won’t do. Everyone must press their handprint; not a single one can be missed. For each person, all three of their heads must consent. If even one head disagrees, that person is not allowed into the territory."
Li Banfeng sat there, watching as more than three thousand people pressed their handprints one by one onto the large sheet of paper until it was densely stamped.
More than three thousand Three-Headed People stood before him; even the Old Hu sent by Qiu Luoye were trembling.
Li Banfeng indeed wasn’t afraid.
Aunt Fang looked at the Contract Book and sighed. "Juanzi, how can you never learn your lesson."
Juanzi lowered her head. "Aunt Fang, please say less. Let’s get everyone something to eat first."
Li Banfeng had already prepared the food: two thousand oranges bought from the Orange Garden. "This is good stuff. One orange between two people should be enough to fill you. Put this week’s meal expenses on my account, but you’ll have to repay it later!"
Aunt Fang sneered, "Tricking us into being laborers and still charging us for meals. Worse than Liang Zhenjiao!"
That’s what she said, but having starved for so many days, the crowd quickly devoured all two thousand oranges.
"Eat up and then get to work!"
Li Banfeng marked out a piece of land, instructing the Three-Headed People to build houses and till the land there.
Qiu Luoye was very anxious. "Brother, you’re bringing them all in. Is this really okay?"
"Don’t worry, Big Brother Qiu. Isn’t this bringing some human energy to our land?"
A Support muttered under his breath, "Can such monsters even be considered people?"
Zuo Wugang glared at the Support. "From now on, you’re not allowed to call them monsters! Seventh Master doesn’t like it!"
...
Li Banfeng passed through the station, returned to his own territory, found Zhang Wanlong, and bought several bags of fast-growing seed. He handed them to Juanzi.
"Scatter these seeds, and you’ll have a harvest in three days. However, they can only be used for this one crop, or the soil will be damaged. Get through this year first. Next spring, you must plant proper seeds."
Li Banfeng walked away. A few of the Three-Headed People scoffed, "Next year? Once this crop is harvested, they’ll probably tell us to get lost."
Juanzi didn’t say much. She led the people to plant the seeds, water, and fertilize them. Three days later, there was a harvest. Juanzi had her people harvest the grain and pack it into sacks. Then she found Li Banfeng and asked, "Seventh Master, how much did you say we could take with us?"
All the Three-Headed People were prepared to be driven away.
Li Banfeng looked at the grain. "These are all yours. Take them back and eat."
"Take them back..." Juanzi didn’t understand.
Li Banfeng pointed at the wooden houses. "Those are your homes. Go home and eat."
A group of Three-Headed People stared blankly at Li Banfeng.
Mengzi looked to Aunt Fang, who was speechless for a long moment.
Juanzi couldn’t believe this was real and asked, "Seventh Master, is there any more work for us to do?"
Li Banfeng pointed to the group of people clearing land. "Ask them if they need to hire workers. Earn some more money, and remember to repay me for the seeds and oranges."
After he spoke, Li Banfeng lowered the brim of his hat and walked away.
The Three-Headed People kept watching Li Banfeng’s back until he had walked far into the distance.
PS: Shalas just love to chat with other Shalas; it’s such a lively affair!