Chapter 23
Su Wangchuan was utterly speechless.
He knew that Heipi spent lavishly and indulged his girlfriend in everything.
But going into debt everywhere for her sake and ultimately losing his job was something he truly could not understand.
“So everyone must remember this—do not spend money recklessly, and do not ruin your career for a woman. It is not worth it.”
“Just watch. Now that Heipi has lost his job, his girlfriend definitely will not stick around for long. She will run,” Wei Zhe said. This was not even being sharp-tongued.
A woman who spent money wildly, dragged a high-salary boyfriend into debt, and ultimately got him fired was definitely not a good sort.
Amid everyone’s chatter and condemnation, Su Wangchuan felt especially sorry for Heipi.
He knew how difficult it was to find a job in the current social environment.
The salary level and benefits of the Warring States Game Studio were already top-tier. Losing such a job meant that Heipi would probably never get a second chance like this in his lifetime.
Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret. During the afternoon break, Hong Kaibao and Bai Yuhui came over.
“Brother Chuan.”
“Are you continuing archery training tonight, or coming back to do tasks?”
“These past days, we have smelted quite a bit of pig iron.” The two knew that Senior Brother Wangchuan had been practicing archery with the village militia every day and had not been earning extra money for quite some time.
Even so, they still respected him greatly.
In their eyes, Senior Brother was giving the money-making opportunities to them.
“Wangchuan has been practicing archery lately?”
Brother Lin overheard and could not help but join the conversation.
“Is there some inside information?”
Lin Dahai looked full of curiosity.
“After winter begins, the village might become a bit unstable. My master had me train in archery and spear techniques for self-defense.”
The moment Su Wangchuan said this, everyone looked shocked.
“Again?”
“Last time it was the autumn harvest. What is it this time? Can we not just mine and farm in peace?” Wei Zhe wailed, looking miserable.
During the last autumn harvest, his daily income had been the lowest because of his lack of stamina.
The others did not look very good either.
Brick-carrying beasts of burden were used to a peaceful life of labor. Any turbulence meant fluctuations in income.
If someone got injured by accident, the impact would be even worse.
Last time, several players had been injured and had to recuperate in the village for over half a month.
“What is going on this time?” Lin Dahai pressed for details.
After Su Wangchuan truthfully relayed what his master had told him, everyone’s expressions turned solemn.
“After winter starts, the mine tunnels will be sealed?”
“Does that mean there will be no income for the next few months?”
The newcomers who had only recently arrived at Blackstone Village immediately panicked.
They had only enjoyed a few days of peace.
“If I had known earlier, I might as well have stayed in the county seat doing odd jobs.”
“Exactly.”
“Why not apply to the company and go back to the county seat?”
Four of them were already muttering about leaving Blackstone Village.
Lin Dahai and the others also fell silent.
Su Wangchuan did not speak.
The fact that Blackstone Village would have no income for the next few months was real. He could not stop others from leaving to seek fortune elsewhere.
Sure enough.
That very day, just after returning to Blackstone Village, Instructor Yu called.
After picking up, the first thing Instructor Yu said was,
“Wangchuan.”
“Is what you said true?”
“The iron mine in Blackstone Village will be sealed for several months?”
“That is what my master told me. In past years, once it snowed, the mountain paths became difficult and beasts were common. The village would seal the mine, and people would not be allowed to come and go freely.”
Su Wangchuan said exactly what he knew.
Instructor Yu quickly hung up.
Early the next morning.
The four newcomers in Blackstone Village left the team, voluntarily giving up their status as villagers. It was said they were transferring to other villages to look for profitable work.
Wei Zhe left as well.
Old Li paired up with Zhang Kai.
The studio’s mining team was reduced to six people.
Lin Dahai and the others did not choose to leave because the company had no better destinations available.
Although there was work in the county seat, it was not a place where people could be slotted in at will.
The living costs there were high.
Lin Dahai told Su Wangchuan that they planned to work until the day it snowed. Once the mine was sealed, they would have no choice but to let the company arrange somewhere else.
After all, the company also needed to make money. It could not pay wages for several months for nothing.
Su Wangchuan was definitely not leaving.
He was already a blacksmith and had an established identity here. Moreover, once winter came, the blacksmith shop would likely have plenty of work. No matter who went hungry, it would not be him.
Hong Kaibao and Bai Yuhui were also people the company had worked hard to place here. Until their objective was achieved, they would not be allowed to leave.
At night.
Su Wangchuan began the third stage of archery training with Captain Zhao Heiniu.
As his moving-shot training had progressed, Su Wangchuan could now, while in motion, draw and fire at will, striking wherever he aimed—fast and accurate within twenty paces.
But the third stage of training was troublesome.
Because it required living targets.
Village livestock could not take it.
Mountain beasts were too dangerous.
Zhao Heiniu came up with a solution: find someone to wear thick padding and act as a moving target to assist with training.
But Su Wangchuan was not at the level where he could ask militia hunters to accompany him for hours of practice.
After much thought,
he went to Lin Dahai.
“Brother Lin.”
“If you are free tonight, stay and accompany me… I am not freeloading. I will pay.”
“…”
Lin Dahai was so startled that he jolted, stiffened, and leaned back tactically to create distance.
“No!”
“I am not into that.”
“Really!”
Lin Dahai’s face turned pale. He looked Su Wangchuan up and down as if seeing him for the first time.
Only then did Su Wangchuan realize his poor wording.
“Bah.”
“That is not what I meant…”
“I need someone to spar with me. Archery practice.”
“Ten copper coins per hour. The requirement is constant movement. How about it?”
After confirming that Su Wangchuan did not harbor any unspeakable inclinations, Lin Dahai seriously considered it.
“How long do you usually practice at night?”
“Six hours.”
“Move for six hours—sixty copper coins. Converted to bonuses, that is one hundred and eighty… seems doable.”
Lin Dahai gritted his teeth and agreed.
“Alright! I am in. Paid daily?”
“Deal!”
Su Wangchuan was eager to meet Zhao Heiniu’s requirements and master archery, so he did not hesitate to spend heavily, hiring Lin Dahai as his sparring partner.
Lin Dahai was extremely professional. He scavenged several damaged baskets from the mine, used rags and straw rope to tie together a crude set of ugly padding.
Su Wangchuan even forged him a dented iron helmet from the blacksmith shop, barely serviceable.
An hour passed, and Lin Dahai started laughing.
“Chuan, your accuracy is not cutting it.”
“After an hour, you have only hit me a few times. It barely hurts. Earning this money makes my conscience uneasy.”
He even started mocking him.
Su Wangchuan planted his feet, drew the bow, and aimed.
“Fine! Then how about you take less?”
“No.”
“We have to respect the contract.”
Lin Dahai refused outright, twisting his hips and swaying his waist as he dodged the arrows.
“Haha, that was close.”
“Again!”
“Ouch… another miss.”
“Cannot hit.”
“You just cannot hit.”
Lin Dahai usually carried loads of over a hundred jin of iron ore for seven or eight li. Now that he was running freely, he was as light as a swallow.
He dodged arrows as if flying, nonstop trash talk pouring from his mouth, making the guards and hunters nearby double over in laughter.
“This kid runs fast.”
“Even wild boars probably cannot catch him.”
“Interesting.”
“At this rate, how long will it take to train?”
“Captain, are you sure this can really work?”
Zhao Heiniu merely smiled and said nothing.
A whole night passed.
Su Wangchuan drew the bow over ten thousand times back and forth, yet his hit rate was pitifully low.
Lin Dahai easily pocketed sixty copper coins.
“Boss Chuan, good work! See you tomorrow.”