Chapter 453: A Slap Followed by a Sweet Date!

h...At the Li family's dinner table, from Old Mrs. Li to Jiayin, there were seven or eight people of all ages, but none of them had much appetite and ate very little.Swords have no eyes, and battlefie...Li La'er, seeing this, said calmly: "Let's first discuss how to deal with this. Gambling is a bad habit that must be eradicated from the four villages of Suijin Beach, otherwise, even if we earn back mountains of gold and silver, there will come a day when we lose it all!"

"That's right," the village head threw out a sweet date, "I was actually thinking of sending a few people to your three villages to guide you on how to grow melons this year… Last year, what you grew yourself wasn't good-looking at all, and you didn't sell much money. Either way, everyone has to work hard, and we also need everyone to sell more silver so that we can divide the profits a little more. Only then will life be more comfortable."

"Who would have thought, Zhang Jin, that scoundrel, showed up out of nowhere, and the whole thing was swept under the rug. Let's deal with Zhang Jin first, and we can discuss planting melons later when we have some free time."

"Oh, brother, don't wait until later! For such a big matter, let's discuss it together today" the headman of Dahuaitree Village quickly stopped him.

The chief officers of the Great King's Manor and the Little King's Manor also followed suit, nodding vigorously.

Xiao Wangzhuang's inside was even more furious, glaring at Zhang Jin. "This kind of thing should be killed directly! Bury it in the ground to rot and it can still fertilize the crops; it's useful! Besides, there's only one bachelor in his family, so no one will care if he dies..."

The rest of the villagers' eyes gleamed like oil lamps, their faces filled with surprise and anticipation.

They were all eager to make a fortune like the new village, their eyes reddened with longing.

For the same kind of gourd, they sell it for hundreds of texts, while those from Xincun can be sold for several ounces of silver.

A tenfold difference!

If the villagers from the new village are willing to teach everyone how to grow, they could also cultivate jade gourds and golden fruits that can be presented to the Emperor. Wouldn't everyone get rich then!

The village head was quite pleased with their stance. After some thought, he turned to Li's family of three and asked, "Uncle, Grandmother, County Princess, Zhang Jin is hateful for his transgression, but since the year isn't over yet, harming someone also ruins the luck of Suijinjian. Why not beat him up and drive him out"

Li Lao'er nodded, "Death can be avoided, but living punishment is hard to escape. Break his arms and have his family's fleet take him away. Throw him anywhere along the way and let him fend for himself."

Besides, without rules there would be no order. In the future, a stele will be erected under this archway. The first iron law of Suijin Beach is: no gambling. The second iron law: no theft. In the future, more laws can be added as needed, but anyone who breaks them will be dealt with like Zhang Jin.

"Yes, or Lord Elder's consideration is thorough." The village head hurriedly agreed.

The other three, hearing this result, also breathed a sigh of relief, especially Wang Zhuang's head steward.

Just now, he broke out in a cold sweat, afraid that because of Zhang Jin, the new village would not let their Xiao Wang Zhuang plant melons together...

The village head stood up and shouted to Liu the Head Eunuch, "Give Zhang Jin twenty lashes, break his right hand, and then imprison him. In a while, throw him into the south with the fleet."

"Yes, Village Chief," Liu Biao Tou drew his whip from behind his waist and lashed out at Zhang Jin.

Zhang Jin was still trying to plead for mercy, but he never expected the fight to break out so suddenly.

The long whip fell on him, causing him to scream in pain. Everyone else flinched and gritted their teeth at the sound.

But that wasn't all, as soon as the whip finished swinging, villagers rushed to help carry Zhang Jin down.

Liu Biaotou grabbed Zhang Jin's arm, pinning it across the bench. But the villager wielding the stick hesitated, seeming hesitant to strike.

Li Lao Si had been standing silently on the side all this while, and now he directly stepped forward. He didn't even use his stick, just kicked Zhang Jin's arm with one foot, and it broke with a snap.

Zhang Jin rolled his eyes in pain and fainted.

Two villagers, feeling a little ashamed, immediately dragged Zhang Jin away.

For half a pot of tea, no one dared to speak a word.

Liu Biaotou and the others were truly ferocious, their actions swift and powerful like a tiger!

By the time they came to their senses, Zhang Jin was already half dead…

Just thinking about this happening to oneself, everyone instinctively clenches their legs, afraid of peeing themselves...

Li Lao Er clenched his fist by his mouth, coughed twice, startling everyone back to attention. He then said: "Village Head, register all the villagers from each village, record them clearly. From now on, the four villages of Suijin Tan are a collective whole. Whether it's for labor or distributing benefits, we follow the household registry.

Spring is just around the corner. Everyone gathered their labor force to dig the irrigation ditches before the spring planting season began. The hot springs water from the mountains was channeled to the three villages of Dahuai Tree, Da Wangzhuang, and Xia Wangzhuang. If it was too troublesome to divert the water into each household, they would build a few public bathhouses. This way, after a busy day’s work, everyone would have a place to bathe and relax.

"This year, first we'll teach everyone how to plant melons. If that goes well, next year we'll plant fruit trees. As for how much effort each person puts in and how the profits are divided, you can discuss it yourselves and submit a plan. Just remember: Suijintan doesn't support lazy people. The more work you do, the more money you earn. If you make mistakes, you're out!"

The village heads and villagers of the three villages listened with great excitement, having long forgotten their earlier fear.

Everyone was beaming with excitement and chattering away.

"Are you really going to let us bathe in the hot springs"

"This year they taught us to grow gourds, next year they'll teach us to grow fruit trees, won't we be rich then"

"That's wonderful! I'm so happy, things will be good from now on."

The village head of Dahuaitree Village waved his hand, signaling everyone to be silent, then knelt down first, "Thank you, County Princess, thank you, Lord, thank you, Old Madam for the gift!"

The rest of the villagers quickly followed suit and knelt down, thanking him loudly.

There was still some snow on the road at the end of winter, it was quite cold, but they didn't feel it at all.

At such moments, their hearts burn with passion, their minds filled with yearning and anticipation for the new life ahead.

They envied the new village, but they didn't know how to get closer to it or become like it.

Now they have direction.

As long as you don't make mistakes, work hard, and obey orders, you will have a good life!

Li Lao Er smiled and looked at his niece, Jia. Finally, it was her turn to shine.

She quietly swallowed the small treat in her mouth, pursed her lips, and spoke in a sweet voice: "Get up, everyone. From now on we are family. Everyone take care of your own homes and don't let bad people bully us on Suijin Beach!"

All the villagers bowed again, then scrambled to their feet to steal a glance at the young princess. They all felt she was extraordinarily noble and beautiful.

This is their master, the highest-ranking noble on Suijin Beach!

Elder Li patted her granddaughter's little hand, feeling it was a bit cold. She said to her son, "Second Son, let's just stay here today."

Li Lao'er nodded, instructing the village head a few words, then took his mother and niece onto the carriage.

Having dispersed the villagers, the three men then conferred with Wu, the village head, about major matters such as digging irrigation ditches and planting melons.

The folding screens, brazier, and hot tea of the Li family were all still in place. The four old men were basking in the warmth, drinking tea, warming themselves by the brazier, and chatting.

I suddenly feel that such a large-scale meeting should be held regularly in the future...

Jia Yin was still a little curious about where Zhang Jin had been taken. But when she heard that Zhang Shenyi had volunteered to treat Zhang Jin's wounds, she immediately understood.

Don't ask, if you ask, Zhang Shenyi has a heart that loves to research medicine...

A half month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The villagers of three villages were working feverishly every day, digging canals.

The backyard of Li's family also began construction.

Zhao Yuru was gone from Luo'an and wouldn't be back, Tao Hongying had to figure out new dishes, every five days she still had to go to the tavern, always unable to help the family.

Li Laotai decisively took on the household chores...d gate opening. She pushed open the window and whispered to her daughter-in-law who had just entered, "Hongying, why are you so busy Have Jinrou and the others gone back" Tao Hongying smiled and said,...