CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 154: THE DESERTED MOUNTAIN’S MASTER—A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYER

That afternoon, some soldiers on leave came to work on the Deserted Mountain.

Upon seeing the lush crops on the mountain, they couldn’t help but be stunned.

They had vaguely heard from the tax-collecting government officers that the crops on the Deserted Mountain were growing well.

But no matter how good they were, it was still in comparison to the crops in their minds.

In their minds, they had never seen such verdant and vigorous crops.

On seeing them, they could tell the yield per acre must be very impressive.

Upon a closer look they realized that not all of the crops were ones they recognized, some they had never even seen before.

Wangcai was being arranged by Pei Shu’er to sit at the entrance of the Deserted Mountain. When he saw these five soldiers coming to work, he immediately welcomed them into the brick kiln with a respectful smile.

Working here was truly demanding, having to enter the kiln in the intense heat to place those bricks properly, especially in the midsummer, the five soldiers found it a bit hard to adapt.

It wasn’t until about three in the afternoon that Yinxing brought over a pot of thin porridge.

The eyes of the five soldiers lit up, and they couldn’t help but swallow their saliva.

After taking a bowl and drinking, they found the porridge was cool.

It was very refreshing, and more importantly, it was filling.

The others also sat outside to eat the porridge, taking the chance to rest for a while.

When everyone was almost rested, Pei Shu’er walked over with a smile and said to everyone.

"Now with these bricks, let’s build three more kilns beside here, this way the bricks fired will be better, and the efficiency quicker."

The bricks were sufficient, but a qualified brick kiln was needed.

The people on the Deserted Mountain also realized that manpower had increased, but there was only one kiln and its efficiency was not high.

Moreover, Pei Shu’er reused some of the cement from before.

With Pei Shu’er and Tang Peiyi watching over, the construction of the kiln went quickly.

And it was very standard too.

The bricks produced were almost all standard, and the defect rate was low.

The old kiln made of earth was also dismantled and a new one was built with these standard red bricks.

Now there were four kilns in total.

Everyone’s efficiency improved, but they also had to work harder.

So at the hottest time of noon, Pei Shu’er always found ways to make some cooling and refreshing dishes to relieve everyone’s heat.

Even those like Yinxing who didn’t participate in the labor were included.

The little children happily gathered around Pei Shu’er, thanking her.

Their eyes were full of admiration, knowing she was the most capable and kindest person on the Deserted Mountain now.

Their parents told them that the Deserted Mountain was different from other places.

It was precisely because the owner here was Pei Shu’er, a kind and strong woman, that such things as eating children had not happened here.

There were none of the dirty things found elsewhere.

They were told that when they met Pei Shu’er, they should be polite and not behave like wild children, so as not to disgust her.

But they found that even if they acted like wild children, the owner of the Deserted Mountain always looked at them with a gentle smile.

She would often wave them over, stuffing some sweet candies into their mouths.

Some were sweet and sour, others had a milky taste.

In short, they were very tasty.

They all really liked this owner of the Deserted Mountain.

In the evening, these five soldiers found there was cured meat, fish, even tofu, fried potatoes, and another dish called fried tofu in the meal.

Lai Fu said this was stinky tofu, although it smelled bad, it tasted delicious.

After taking a bite of the fried tofu, the disdain and hesitation on their faces were immediately replaced by surprise.

What kind of extraordinary delicacy is this, why does it taste so good, the surface is crispy, and the inside soft, even filled with sauce, paired with the sauce mixed with fermented bean curd.

Mmm, it is heavenly delicious.

After they had a bite of the fried stinky tofu, the main course was brought out.

They then discovered it was still white rice, mixed with some small diced potatoes.

Not the thin porridge through which you could see your reflection, but potato rice!

This stuff, once eaten, was absolutely filling.

On the way back, the five people were burping as they walked, completely stuffed.

Some were so full they felt like vomiting, but they couldn’t bear to after eating something so delicious.

The taste was just too good.

Who knows when they’ll get to eat such a meal again, maybe during the next leave.

The white rice was plump, the potatoes were fragrant with oil, and the cured meat and fish were beyond words.

Even though they were already full, recalling the flavors of these dishes still made them subconsciously swallow.

And that stinky tofu.

Slurp.

Burp~~~

At noon, they had regrets about the kiln, truly feeling like a big oven.

Later comforted with a bowl of cool porridge when it was hottest.

After eating such delicious food at night, they couldn’t wait for the next leave, so they could come help the Tang Family’s residence.

Even if the kiln was like a big oven, being able to eat so full and delicious, they were willing to work a few more days.

The five headed back with the aroma of meat on them.

The fellow soldiers in the same tent lifted their heads and sniffed the air.

"How was it working today, tiring?"

The five burped, "Pretty tiring."

Another added, "Burp, couldn’t eat enough."

They were keeping secrets, not wanting others to know about the good food for working with the Tang Family.

Afraid that everyone would rush to do it, and when the work was done, there would be no good food left for them.

This was also what they had agreed upon during their walk back.

But a burp revealed them, still with the aroma of meat, the others quickly discovered the truth, and started tickling them, until they confessed.

"Only us few know about this, you can’t tell others."

The other ten soldiers in the tent nodded repeatedly, "Rest assured, we won’t say, tomorrow is our turn for leave, we’ll go help Pei Shu’er."

"Anyone who tattles is against us, don’t blame us for being rude."

Saying that, they gave everyone a threatening glance.

And yet, they couldn’t help but burp.

The other ten envied them to death, wanting to eat until they burped too.

Really, they couldn’t even remember what feeling full was like.

Let alone eating until full with gourmet food.

The next day, five more soldiers from the same tent were on leave, eagerly heading to work on the Deserted Mountain.

They found they were served not white porridge, but cool mung bean porridge.

According to the girl serving the porridge, this was made by their Young Madam, iced mung bean porridge, to relieve heat and thirst.

After drinking it, the irritating heat and stuffiness were instantly soothed.

After downing a bowl, they licked their lips.

This mung bean porridge was just too good, combined with their hunger, they drank it down in gulps without tasting it much, only feeling the cool sweetness lingering.

The five were a bit hesitant, Yinxing smiled and said.

"The girl said if you’ve finished, just help yourselves, take as much as you want, feel free, there’s always more if it’s not enough."

The five soldiers’ eyes widened, this employer seems...pretty good.

They quickly helped themselves to more mung bean porridge, tasting it carefully this time.

Mmm, sweet and cool, with the mung beans boiled almost into a mush, a very nice texture.

So delicious.

Mmm, we’ll definitely come and work again next leave!