After his conversation with the Second Pot Brother, Hu Ma gained a slightly deeper understanding of this world.
He pondered these matters silently, but regardless of everything else, becoming a true Shousui person was of utmost importance.
Having received the Second Pot Brother's promise, Hu Ma patiently waited.
Meanwhile, the village gradually became busier.
The reason? The steward from the Blood Food Gang's Red Lantern Assembly had arrived in the village.
The so-called "worshiping the Tai Sui" was essentially about harvesting flesh, a significant event for both the village and the Blood Food Gang.
Every year before spring, they would send stewards to survey the flesh mountains, estimate the quantity, determine how many workers to recruit, where to set up camp, and plan the transportation routes.
Roads needed to be repaired, and bridges had to be reinforced in advance.
This process was closely tied to the surrounding villages.
While not everyone could participate in the flesh harvesting, there were plenty of opportunities to earn money by helping with transportation, selling grain, or gathering mountain herbs.
Thus, every year, when the Blood Food Gang's stewards arrived, the surrounding villages would compete to host them.
In recent years, the Blood Food Gang responsible for harvesting the flesh mountains around the Great Sheep Village was the Red Lantern Lady Assembly.
Over time, the villagers had grown accustomed to calling it the Lady Assembly.
The steward's arrival was always scheduled, and the village chief had been busy for days preparing an empty house, setting up a tent, and ensuring the sheep were well-fed.
On the day the steward arrived, all the prominent figures in the village eagerly awaited him.
As night fell, the village lit torches.
When the steward arrived with two attendants, the old village chief hurriedly led the village's notable figures to greet him.
Under the tent, a sheep had already been slaughtered, and the village's finest wine, usually reserved for special occasions, was ready.
"Steward, please eat and drink to your heart's content," the old village chief said with a smile, his wrinkles resembling those of an orange.
He then instructed, "Call Widow Sun over. Tonight, prepare hot water for the steward to wash his feet."
The steward, however, politely declined, "I’ve never been fond of such things. Being assigned this task is a sign of the Assembly's trust in me. I only wish to complete my duties well and return to report my success. That would be more than enough for me."
"Of course, of course," the old village chief replied with a smile.
"We are familiar with everything in this area. If you need anything, just let us know."
After a few rounds of drinks, the village chief tentatively asked, "How many people do you plan to recruit this time?"
The most crucial matter was how many young men from the village would be selected to harvest flesh after worshiping the Tai Sui.
In Great Sheep Village, there were about a dozen or so young men who had learned the trade from Second Master.
However, it was ultimately up to the steward to decide how many would be sent to the mines.
Of course, the steward wouldn't make reckless decisions.
Recruiting unqualified workers could not only hinder the harvest but also pose a significant risk if they were corrupted by evil spirits, potentially causing trouble for the others.
"This year is a lean year," the steward sighed.
"We’ll probably only recruit about a hundred people for the Tai Sui worship."
The village chief's face fell.
"What?"
The scale of the Tai Sui harvest varied depending on the growth cycles of the White Tai Sui, Green Tai Sui, and Blood Tai Sui.
If all four types—White, Green, Blood, and Black—were flourishing, more workers would be needed.
In a lean year, fewer workers were required.
The steward explained, "There’s nothing we can do. The Green Tai Sui was harvested just last year, so there’s not much this year. The most frustrating part is the Blood Tai Sui. After scouting for days, I haven’t found any. It seems only the White Tai Sui remains, but it doesn’t require as much attention."
The village chief felt a pang of disappointment but could do nothing about it.
With only about a hundred spots available, each village would likely get only ten or so.
Great Sheep Village had over twenty young men waiting, meaning half would miss out.
The village chief began to scheme, thinking of offering another sheep and having Mrs.
Li prepare the steward's bathwater tonight.
Maybe they could secure a few more spots?
As he pondered, the steward suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Don’t worry too much about the recruitment. Although we’re hiring fewer miners this year, there’s something else happening."
"This year, our Red Lantern Assembly is planning to open a new altar."
The village chief was initially stunned, then overwhelmed with joy, his hands trembling as he held his wine cup.
The others around him were equally excited, their eyes lighting up.
"Slaughter the sheep! Slaughter the old goat! Bring out the ten-year-old treasure for the steward!" the village chief ordered.
"Fetch the wine! Bring out the jar we were saving for Datong’s wedding!"
The village was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, a lively and festive atmosphere.
However, Hu Ma was already lying in bed, quietly practicing his cultivation techniques, preparing to sleep.
The village's excitement had little to do with the Hu family.
With his grandmother gone, Hu Ma was seen as an outsider, a lone figure on the fringes of the village.
Even when his grandmother was alive, the Hu family had always been on the periphery.
Hu Ma had long intended to leave, so he never bothered to build close relationships with the villagers, focusing instead on his own affairs.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, there was a loud banging on his small wooden door.
Hu Ma got up, put on his clothes, and lit the oil lamp by his bed before opening the door.
Standing outside was Zhou Datong, looking both anxious and excited.
"What are you still doing sleeping at this hour?" Zhou Datong exclaimed.
Hu Ma stepped aside to let him in.
"What’s going on?"
Zhou Datong was about to enter but hesitated.
"Your little ghost isn’t here, is it?"
Hu Ma glanced at the beam where Xiaohongtang was rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"No, she’s not."
"Good, good. Let’s talk inside," Zhou Datong said, quickly entering and closing the door behind him.
He then excitedly told Hu Ma, "Great news! The Blood Food Gang’s steward has arrived. They’re planning to recruit workers from our village this year!"
Hu Ma was slightly puzzled.
"Don’t they recruit every year?"
"It’s different this time," Zhou Datong said, his excitement palpable.
"In the past, they only recruited people for the Tai Sui worship, short-term work for two or three months. But this year, they’re hiring permanent workers, officially joining the Assembly! We’ve hit the jackpot! We have a chance to go to the city!"
"Second Master specifically asked me to come and tell you. Make sure you’re at the estate early tomorrow. If you miss this opportunity, you might never get another one!"
Hu Ma was momentarily stunned, then slowly understood.
"Is this the opportunity the Second Pot Brother mentioned?"
Well, since reincarnators tend to be cautious and avoid drawing attention, he couldn’t just come and help me directly.
Instead, he created this opportunity to recruit a group of young people from the village.
What a clever move, and with a touch of boldness!
After repeatedly assuring Zhou Datong that he wouldn’t be late and asking him to relay his gratitude to Second Master, Zhou Datong carefully left a bowl of sheep trotters he had hidden in his clothes for Hu Ma before rushing back to join the feast.
Hu Ma looked at the bowl of meat, both amused and touched.
The little fatty was quite loyal.
As the village chief’s grandson, he could enjoy the feast, yet he still thought of Hu Ma.
Hu Ma wasn’t particularly fond of meat, so he gave the sheep trotters to Xiaohongtang to gnaw on and went back to sleep.
The next morning, Hu Ma dressed in his coarse clothes and straw sandals, tied up his hair, and walked out of the village.
To his surprise, the entire village seemed to be heading to Second Master’s estate, carrying baskets and stools, as if going to a festival.
"Hu Ma, over here!" Zhou Datong called out from the edge of the forest, waving at him.
Hu Ma walked over and asked, "Why are there so many people?"
"They’re here to watch the excitement," Zhou Datong explained.
"The Red Lantern Assembly opening a new altar is a big deal. Working for the Blood Food Gang during the Tai Sui worship only earns a little money for a few months. But this time, if you’re chosen to join the Lady Assembly as a permanent worker, you’ll earn a monthly salary, learn new skills, and be provided with blood food. After a few years, you could buy a house in the city, get married, and make something of yourself!"
Hu Ma was slightly surprised.
"Is the Red Lantern Assembly recognized by the authorities?"
He had already decided to join, but the villagers' excitement puzzled him.
Perhaps influenced by his past life’s memories, he couldn’t help but see the Blood Food Gang and the Red Lantern Assembly as something akin to an illegal organization.
Even though the village was poor, was the opportunity to send their sons into what seemed like a criminal group really something to celebrate?
"What do you mean, recognized by the authorities?" Zhou Datong asked, confused.
"They’re a legitimate business. Every worker from the Blood Food Gang who returns to the village does so with pride and honor."
Hearing this, Hu Ma began to understand the role of the Blood Food Gang in this world.
It wasn’t about joining a criminal organization; it was about finding legitimate work in the city.
Taking a deep breath, Hu Ma walked with Zhou Datong toward the estate, where his future as a Shousui person awaited.
(End of Chapter)