abnabooks Chapter 245 The People of Chiffon
Chapter 245 The People of Chiffon
Summer June 26th.
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The sky was just beginning to lighten.
Several hundred people had already gathered near the temporary camp outside the city.
A city defense soldier stood on a half-tree stump, clutching a piece of parchment in his hand, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"All street-front shops are now open for rent! The monthly rent is a flat three silver coins. If you'd like to rent, line up at the City Hall entrance later to draw lots for your shop!"
The crowd below buzzed and whispered among themselves.
Three silver coins?
So expensive!
Of course, this only applies to the Ironwater Territory; other territories with large populations or relatively prosperous areas are actually priced similarly.
The most outrageous place is the Grand Duchy; I heard that a decent shop there costs ten silver coins!
...
The soldier paused, and waited for the murmurs in the crowd to subside before continuing to read.
"Furthermore, all citizens have two job options. One is to be formally employed by the City Hall! Working in various departments such as the Craftsmen's Department, Gathering Department, and Livestock Department, with a fixed monthly salary of ten silver coins!"
"Secondly, one can enlist in the servant legion, with the same salary of ten silver coins per month. In addition, an extra five kilograms of silver star crops will be provided each month as military rations!"
Wow!
These words immediately caused an uproar among the crowd, which had just quieted down, with shouts of disbelief mingling together.
"There's even food being distributed!?"
"Really?"
"I've only ever heard of companies providing meals, never of them giving out 'life-saving food'! This is so novel!"
They had heard about the monthly salary of ten silver coins before, but they never expected that the reserves would be given additional life crops!
In their ingrained perception, this was a delicacy reserved for lords and knights, something that ordinary free men could only dream of in their entire lives.
Even for the reserves, they are only used to test extraordinary talents. To be given several kilograms every month is simply outrageously extravagant and unheard of!
Doesn't that mean that ordinary people who enlist will also have the opportunity to become extraordinary warriors like Lord Knight?
A gaunt old man suddenly trembled and murmured:
"If my son could become a superhuman warrior, would he have avoided contracting that plague and dying...?"
These words, though spoken softly, pierced the hearts of many, and the surroundings suddenly fell silent.
yes...
if...
Hey~
Many people wore expressions of pain.
...
Suddenly, a loud voice shouted out from the crowd.
"Sir! May I ask if I can take these five kilograms of military rations home and share them with my family?"
All eyes were fixed on the soldier on the tree stump, and the same expectation welled up in their eyes.
Those who have experienced the Great Plague of the North have a deep-seated fear of it, and it is said that extraordinary physical strength can resist the plague.
If the whole family could eat life crops, even in small quantities, they could strengthen their bodies and stay away from disasters. If they could become extraordinary experts, that would be even better!
...
The soldier shook his head, giving a clear answer:
"No, military rations are cooked food and are only for internal military use. They cannot be taken back without permission."
Immediately, a sigh of disappointment rose from below, many people's shoulders slumped, and the joy on their faces faded considerably.
But the soldier then raised his voice and dropped another bombshell.
"There's no need to be disappointed. As long as you have a formal employment contract, whether you work for the city hall or serve in the legion, you are allowed to purchase Silver Star crops privately!"
"Based on a per capita limit, each person is limited to two kilograms per month, with a uniform price of one silver and fifty copper coins per kilogram!"
These words caused the crowd to erupt in excitement once again!
Good heavens!
It's actually possible to buy it privately!?
What are we waiting for?!
"Soldier, I accept a job from the city hall! I want to work!"
"I'm strong! I can do everything from logging to moving things. Is the logging department hiring? Count me in!"
"I want to join the army! I want to serve my lord!"
The crowd was in a chaotic frenzy. Some people were eager to ask how to hire someone, while others were shouting that they wanted to join the army. Several teenagers were jostled about, and snot bubbles were squeezed out of their noses.
"Silence! Stand still!" the soldier shouted, quelling the commotion before scanning the anxious faces of the crowd.
"Listen carefully! Recruitment is on a first-come, first-served basis, with literate people given priority! If there are still vacancies, the remaining members of the public will be recruited in that order!"
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the heads of at least half the people.
Several men who had been yelling just moments before suddenly turned pale, their eyes filled with confusion and anxiety.
Most of them learned their trades from their fathers from a young age, doing manual labor. They can read, but the children can't!
Stable high salary, life-sustaining crops, extraordinary promotions—all these wonderful hopes are dashed simply because one is illiterate.
This feeling of powerlessness was so suffocating that it made people's hearts ache, and some people's eyes welled up with tears on the spot.
...
The soldiers seemed to have anticipated this, and promptly dispelled everyone's fear and anxiety:
"Don't rush! There are schools in the city that offer evening classes! Tuition is thirty copper coins, and children under twelve only need five copper coins!"
"Upon completion of the training, a territory graduation certificate will be issued. This certificate is required for all subsequent job recruitment and legion selection!"
"The lord said that if you are willing to migrate and submit to Chiffon, he will guarantee your livelihood and settlement here, so you can rest assured!"
"Right now, land is being leveled urgently in the east of the city, and the lord is going to build new houses for you! Every family that moved here from the ironworks will get one for free!"
"This preferential treatment is only for the people who migrated this time; any free people who settle here later will not enjoy this privilege!"
...
These words caused an uproar of disbelief among the people!
Not only did the lord personally vouch for him, but he also offered to provide houses for free? I've never heard of such a good thing in my entire life!
"Really...free rooms?"
Some people still couldn't believe it and asked the question instinctively.
"Absolutely true!" the soldier said decisively. "Therefore, those who can read should find a job in advance, and those who cannot read should go and learn!"
"Houses will be provided for you! Work will be ensured for you! Qifeng will never support idlers, but we will never mistreat anyone willing to put in the effort!"
These words seemed to have a magical power, dispelling the gloom in many people's hearts, and even those who were illiterate regained their light in their eyes.
Someone stomped their foot, turned around and ran towards the city gate, probably in a hurry to see how to register for school.
The soldier said no more, jumped down from the tree stump, and sat down behind a makeshift wooden table.
"Registration is now open! Those who want to be employed by the city hall, line up on the left; those who want to join the military, line up on the right. Think it over before you come, and don't push!"
After saying that, he let out a long sigh, touched his slightly hoarse voice, picked up his quill pen, and waited for everyone to stand in their respective teams.