Chapter 42: The Red Lantern Lady Assembly
Chapter 42: The Red Lantern Lady Assembly
After a lengthy conversation with his friend Ergetou, Hu Ma gained a deeper understanding of this world. He pondered these thoughts, but no matter what else happened, becoming a true guardian was his top priority.
With Ergetou's promise, he waited patiently.
However, the village was gradually becoming busier. The Blood Feast Guild's Red Lantern Lady Assembly was sending its overseer to the village to prepare for the Blood Feast.
The Blood Feast, in simple terms, was a meat harvest, a major event for both the village and the Blood Feast Guild.
Every year, before spring, they would send overseers to survey the meat mountains, estimate the yield, and determine the number of workers needed, where to set up camps, and the transportation routes. They would also ensure that roads were repaired and bridges were reinforced.
Each step was closely tied to the surrounding villages. Although not everyone could harvest the meat, helping with transportation, selling grain, and gathering mountain herbs were all profitable endeavors.
Thus, every year, the Blood Feast Guild's overseers were eagerly welcomed by the surrounding villages.
In recent years, the Blood Feast Guild's Red Lantern Lady Assembly had been responsible for harvesting the meat mountains around the Big Sheep Village. The villagers were so accustomed to calling them the Lady Assembly that it had become a common term.
The overseer's visit was always scheduled, and the village chief would prepare well in advance, cleaning out empty houses, setting up tents, and ensuring the sheep were well-fed.
On the day the overseer arrived, all the important villagers were waiting eagerly.
As dusk fell, the village was lit with torches. The overseer, accompanied by two attendants, arrived, and the old chief hurriedly led the village's prominent figures to greet him.
Under the tent, a sheep had already been slaughtered, and the village's finest wine, rarely opened, was ready.
"Please, Overseer, eat and drink to your heart's content," the old chief said, his face creased with smiles like an orange. He was attentive and instructed, "Send for Widow Sun."
"Prepare a warm bath to wash the overseer's feet this evening."
"..."
"Please, no need..."
The overseer smiled politely, "I've never been fond of such formalities. I was given this task because the assembly trusts me. All I want is to complete it well and return to give a satisfactory report."
"Of course, of course," the old chief laughed. "In this area, there's no one we don't know. If you need anything, just let us know."
As the wine flowed, the old chief tentatively asked, "How many people do you plan to recruit this year?"
The number of young men selected to harvest the meat after the Blood Feast was the most important matter.
In the Big Sheep Village, over a dozen young men had learned the necessary skills from Second Master, but the final decision rested with the overseer.
The overseer didn't dare to make rash promises. Recruiting unskilled workers could lead to poor yields, and if they were possessed by evil spirits, it could disrupt the work of others, causing significant trouble.
"Alas, this year is a small year," the overseer sighed. "We estimate we'll need only a hundred or so workers to complete the Blood Feast."
The old chief's face fell. "Ah?"
The Blood Feast could be a small year or a big year, depending on the growth cycles of the White, Green, Blood, and Black Taishis. If all four were growing vigorously, more workers would be needed. But in a small year, fewer workers were required.
The overseer added with a wry smile, "There's no way around it. We harvested the Green Taishi last year, so there's not much this year. Most frustratingly, I haven't seen a single bit of Blood Taishi after several days of searching."
"I suspect only the White Taishi remains, but we don't need to be as thorough."
"..."
The old chief felt a sense of regret but had no choice.
With only a hundred or so workers, the quota for each village would be limited to a few. The Big Sheep Village had over twenty young men waiting, so nearly half would be left out.
The old chief began to calculate in his head. He decided to slaughter another sheep and have Li's wife wash the overseer's feet this evening.
Could he secure a few more spots?
As he pondered, the overseer lowered his voice and said with a smile, "Don't worry too much about the recruitment yet. This year, we have other plans."
"This year, our Red Lantern Lady Assembly will be opening a new altar."
"..."
"Ah..."
The old chief was initially skeptical but then overwhelmed with joy, his hand trembling as he raised his wine cup.
The other guests were equally delighted, their eyes shining with excitement.
"Kill another sheep, kill the old mountain sheep, and bring out the ten-year-old ram's treasure for the overseer..."
"Bring more wine, bring the special jar we saved for Datong's wedding..."
"..."
"..."
The village was filled with the sounds of drums and laughter, but Hu Ma was already lying in bed, practicing his cultivation techniques, and preparing to sleep.
The village's bustle was mostly unrelated to the Hu family.
The old woman had passed away, and to the people of the village, he was just an outsider, an orphan with no ties to the village. He was on the fringes of the fringes, or perhaps even...
...even when the old woman was alive, the Hu family was still on the fringes of the village?
He had always intended to leave, so he never made a conscious effort to befriend the villagers, only doing his own thing.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Just as he was drifting off to sleep, the small wooden door was pounded on so loudly it shook the room.
Hu Ma had no choice but to get up, put on his clothes, and brighten the oil lamp by his bed before going to the main room to open the door.
When he opened it, he saw Zhou Datong standing at the door, his face a mix of anxiety and excitement. "What time is it? You're still sleeping?"
Hu Ma stepped aside, letting him in. "What's the matter?"
Zhou Datong was about to rush in but hesitated, then asked cautiously, "Your little ghost isn't here, right?"
Hu Ma glanced up at the rafters where Little Hongtang was rubbing her sleepy eyes and said, "No, she's not."
"Good, good. Come inside and talk."
Zhou Datong quickly entered, closed the door behind him, and then excitedly told Hu Ma, "Good news..."
"Brother Hu Ma, the Blood Food Gang's manager has come down and said they're recruiting this year in our village!"
"..."
Hu Ma was taken aback. "Don't they recruit every year?"
"It's different this time."
Zhou Datong, agitated, rubbed his hands and stomped his feet. "In the past, they only recruited people for the Grand Yearly Offering, short-term jobs for two or three months. This year, they're recruiting full-time members, officially joining the gang..."
"We've hit the jackpot! We have a chance to move to the city!"
"Second Master specifically sent me to tell you. Make sure you get to the manor early tomorrow."
"Miss this chance, and you might never get another one in your life!"
"..."
"Um?"
Hu Ma was slightly stunned but gradually understood. "So this is the opportunity Brother Ergoutou told me about?"
Well...
Because the reincarnators were cautious, they avoided suspicious interactions in reality, so he couldn't just come over and help him out of nowhere. Instead, he created this opportunity, recruiting a large group of peers directly from the village?
How to put it...
...a good plan, and it has a bit of a rebellious flair!
After assuring Zhou Datong that he wouldn't be late and telling him to reassure Second Master, Zhou Datong cautiously left a bowl of sheep hooves for Hu Ma, then excitedly ran back to join the others for a meal.
Hu Ma looked at the bowl of meat and couldn't help but laugh. This little fatty was quite loyal. As the grandson of the village chief, he could take advantage of the opportunity to entertain the manager and get some food.
And he still thought of me.
Hu Ma wasn't hungry, so he gave the sheep hooves to Little Hongtang to gnaw on and then closed the door to go back to sleep.
The next morning, he got up, put on his coarse cotton jacket and straw shoes, tied up his hair, and walked out of the village.
To his surprise, as soon as he left the village, he found that men and women from the village were all there, heading to Second Master's manor in small groups. Some carried poles, others held stools, and the scene was as lively as a temple fair.
"Brother Hu Ma, over here, come quick!"
As Hu Ma left the village, he saw Zhou Datong standing by the edge of the forest, waving at him.
Hu Ma walked over, surprised. "Why are there so many people?"
"Curiosity, of course..."
Zhou Datong explained, "The Red Lantern Society opening a new branch is a big deal."
"In our village, how much can we earn from following the Blood Food Gang for the Grand Yearly Offering? But this time, if the manager picks you, you can join the Red Lantern Society and earn a monthly wage. Plus, you can learn skills and get blood food."
"Save up for a few years, buy a house in the city, and get a wife. Wouldn't that be a big step up?"
"..."
"The Red Lantern Society..."
Hu Ma was slightly surprised. "Is it recognized by the government?"
He had already decided to join, but the excitement of the villagers was a bit unexpected.
Perhaps influenced by his previous life's memories, he thought the Blood Food Gang and Red Lantern Society sounded more like illegal organizations. Even if the village was poor, the opportunity to join a criminal gang shouldn't make people this happy, right?
"What does it matter if the government recognizes it?"
Zhou Datong, a bit dazed, repeated what he had heard the night before. "They're legitimate workers."
"Which of the Blood Food Gang's members who return to the village doesn't come back in glory?"
"..."
With that, Hu Ma gradually understood the Blood Food Gang's place in this world and didn't say anything more.
It's just a job in the city, not joining a criminal gang...
He took a deep breath and, together with Zhou Datong, walked toward the hope of a new life.
(End of Chapter)
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