"Please rise, everyone. Go back now," Bai Sheng called out as she went outside.
"Proprietor, if you don't agree, we won't get up!" Zhao Dazhuang pleaded in a low voice.
Huang Gousheng also looked at Bai Sheng with hopeful eyes, "Proprietor, we sincerely want to follow you and make a living! In this life, I, Huang Gousheng, will always be loyal to the Proprietor! If I betray the Proprietor, may lightning strike me and may I die a horrible death!"
"Us too!"
The others nodded one after another.
In any case, they were all refugees without household registration and nowhere else to go. Being able to survive was their greatest happiness.
Bai Sheng sighed helplessly and turned to leave.
As the sun rose higher, the sand on the ground became hotter. The people kneeling on the ground had not eaten their last two meals yesterday and also missed breakfast this morning. They were already extremely weak, and now after kneeling in the sun for so long, they were all feeling dizzy.
But they couldn't get up. As long as they didn't die from kneeling, they would continue to kneel until the Proprietor agreed to take them as household slaves!
Granny Zhong gritted her teeth and persisted. Suddenly, her vision went black, and she fell forward.
"Mother!" Zhao Dazhuang cried out in alarm and immediately got up to support her. The others also rushed forward to help.
"Quick, carry Granny Zhong inside!" Bai Sheng suddenly appeared at the doorway and shouted urgently.
Zhao Dazhuang and Hu Daniu immediately carried Granny Zhong to the makeshift shelter where Lu Hua lived.
Bai Sheng took out her water pouch and told Zhao Dazhuang to quickly give his mother some water.
After a few mouthfuls of spiritual spring water, Granny Zhong slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze fell first on Bai Sheng's face, and she smiled gratefully, "Thank you… Proprietor."
Bai Sheng sighed deeply, "Why must you do this?"
Granny Zhong smiled weakly, "As long as the Proprietor agrees to take them as slaves, even if this old woman dies, it will be worth it." For her to die and exchange for the survival of her son and grandson was not a loss.
Bai Sheng paused for a moment, then turned to everyone and said, "Fine! Stop kneeling, I agree!"
"Really? Proprietor, you agreed?" Huang Gousheng exclaimed.
"It's true, I agreed!" Bai Sheng nodded.
"Then, what about the other Proprietor? Did he also… agree?" Yang Ming, Hu Daniu's younger brother-in-law, suddenly asked cautiously.
"In our family, my wife decides everything! If my wife agrees, then I agree!" Lu Ye walked over at some point.
Bai Sheng glanced at him, her gaze cold.
Everyone immediately clapped and cheered, making the roof of the shelter almost bounce.
"Proprietor, we will ask Madam Du to write the deeds of sale as soon as possible!" Tian Guihua's face beamed like a chrysanthemum.
Bai Sheng did not refuse. Taking in so many household slaves wouldn't be detrimental to their family. In any case, her space now had enough grain to support these people.
Moreover, as the family developed and grew stronger in the future, they would also need to recruit workers. Rather than finding strangers, it was better to cultivate a group of their own people from now on.
However, agreeing was one thing, but some discipline was still necessary, otherwise, they would think she was too easy to manage.
Bai Sheng cleared her throat and said, "Everyone, although you are willing to become slaves in my household, I still hope that we can treat each other with sincerity! As long as you work hard with us, we will never mistreat anyone!
However, if anyone has ill intentions and wishes to do wicked and ungrateful deeds, I, Bai Sheng, will not tolerate it!"
After speaking, Bai Sheng's gaze swept over everyone's faces sternly, and she continued, "From now on, all household matters and personnel arrangements will be handled by Sister Du, with Sister Guihua and Granny Zhong assisting! The construction of houses and the digging of wells will be the responsibility of Brother Feng, with Hu Daniu and Ma San assisting!"
"Yes! Alright!" Those who were named quickly responded and nodded.
The others had no objections either.
Du Min stepped forward and respectfully asked Bai Sheng and Lu Ye, "Mistress, Master, now that we have more people in the household, I have a suggestion. I don't know if I should say it."
Bai Sheng looked at Lu Ye and said gently, "Please speak, Sister Du."
Du Min said, "With so many people in the household, if they live too disorderly, it will be detrimental to management. It might also disturb the private lives of the Master and Mistress. I wonder if we could build another row of houses below the sand embankment, specifically for the household servants to live in? Houses would be allocated according to the family's specific situation, and meals would be arranged uniformly. What do you think, Master and Mistress?"
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye exchanged a glance, and Bai Sheng smiled, "Sister Du, this idea is excellent. Let's do it! My husband and I will prepare the building materials as soon as possible."
When Du Min heard this, she hurriedly said, "No! There's no need, Mistress. We only need to use stones to build a makeshift shelter like this."
"Yes, having such a shelter is already very good," everyone chimed in.
Bai Sheng said, "Since we are building houses, we might as well build them well! If we make do with anything, the houses won't last, and it will only be a waste of manpower and resources."
"Mistress is right. Leave the matter of building houses to me," Feng Pingyuan said.
With all arrangements made, it was lunchtime. Since everyone had not worked all morning, they felt embarrassed to ask the Proprietor to prepare food and were about to leave when Bai Sheng called them to a halt, still distributing a flatbread and a ladle of water to each person.
Everyone was deeply moved.
After eating, Lu Ye called Bai Sheng back to their room.
Lu Ye looked at Bai Sheng and said, "Bai Sheng, I might have to go out for a trip. It will take several days."
Bai Sheng was startled, "Go out? Go where?"
Lu Ye curled his lips, "To earn money. You see, the family needs to build houses and dig a well, which requires a lot of silver."
Indeed, although her space had grain, it couldn't be sold openly. But in this world, deserts were everywhere, and the drought had not yet passed. Where could money be earned?
"Lu Ye, don't put too much pressure on yourself. If we don't have money, we can find a way together slowly," Bai Sheng said gently.
Lu Ye raised his hand and stroked her head, smiling, "Don't worry, I don't have that much pressure. An acquaintance from the martial arts academy asked me to handle something, and the reward is quite high."
"Is it dangerous?" Bai Sheng, as a modern person, knew that high income was always accompanied by high risk.
Lu Ye's expression paused slightly, and he curved his lips, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"Okay, take care of yourself. I'll handle things here," Bai Sheng nodded.
Lu Ye said, "Tomorrow, I'll go to town with you to deliver water to Boss Liu in advance, and then I'll leave. It will take about 5 days."