Gu Qingcheng divided the women into two teams, appointing Qin Yue and Liu Cui as their team leaders.
The men were organized into seven teams, each with about twenty people. However, upon reaching the mountain, one team would be broken up to reinforce the existing teams on the mountain.
After selecting team leaders for each squad, Gu Qingcheng initiated the loyalty test. The cost for 315 people was 315 "pleasant points," which stung a little but was deemed worthwhile.
Fortunately, all of them passed the loyalty test.
Gu Qingcheng then distributed farming tools to everyone, ensuring each person took at least one item. This way, the mountain of tools was broken down and could be easily carried up the mountain.
In a year of natural disaster, what could be more alluring than a full meal?
With food and meat, these people were instantly revitalized. Carrying the farming tools no longer felt burdensome.
Seeing that they were all ready, Gu Qingcheng led the expedition to Yunwu Mountain.
As they walked, Gu Qingcheng felt that this task should be handled by Dai Fa in the future. After all, over 300 people, who hadn't bathed in years, gathered together, and the scent was quite potent.
The procession moved at a slow pace, held back by the elderly, weak, women, and children.
Therefore, Gu Qingcheng assigned Wu Sheng and the others to supervise different sections, ensuring that the straggling villagers wouldn't lose the path up the mountain. Gu Qingcheng herself walked at the front of the procession.
Beside her, a young man who called himself Huang Wenming asked, "Young Master Gu, you are recruiting people for land reclamation. Wouldn't it be more suitable to select those who are strong and healthy? Why did you also accept the elderly, weak, women, and children? Isn't it like raising them for nothing?"
Gu Qingcheng looked at him, his demeanor refined, but his words somewhat jarring. She wasn't angry.
"In the past, we respected the old and supported the young. But now, it's survival of the fittest, the strong preying on the weak. Eliminating the weak is the change in people's thinking brought about by this natural disaster."
Gu Qingcheng replied politely, "Everyone has their own talents. Especially after surviving the test of natural disaster, and being able to reach the south, they must have their own ways of survival. Can you say they are not the result of natural selection? They are certainly not as bad as we imagine. They have their own accumulated experience. Regardless of whether they are old, weak, or disabled, everyone will find a suitable place for themselves in Phoenix Village. Take the old women you look down on, for instance. I plan to establish a nursery and kindergarten where parents can leave their young children. These elderly women can take care of the children, allowing the young parents to cultivate without worries. Can you say they are useless?"
Huang Wenming listened, and looked deeply at Gu Qingcheng. "I never expected a young master from a wealthy family like you to have such vision. I am deeply impressed."
Gu Qingcheng saw that he spoke learnedly and was not an ordinary person, so she asked about his background. Huang Wenming did not conceal anything. He said he was from Ning Province. He had passed the imperial examination for xiucai in his early years but had made no further progress in his studies. Therefore, he worked as a teacher in a town. Unexpectedly, when the natural disaster struck, his family all froze to death, leaving him alone in the world. The biting cold, coupled with his utter grief, made him unwilling to stay in his hometown. He remembered reading that the south was warmer than the north, so he made his way here on his own.
Gu Qingcheng was surprised to learn he was a xiucai, a highly educated intellectual! She quickly and enthusiastically said, "So you are Scholar Huang. Our village is also planning to establish a school. Would Scholar Huang be willing to serve as our teacher?"
"Of course. This is my profession, and there's nothing better." Huang Wenming was overjoyed to have found employment through his conversation with Gu Qingcheng. Although he came from a farming family, he hadn't done manual labor for over a decade. He couldn't carry anything heavy and his hands were not used to manual work. It would have been difficult for him to do farm labor. Now that he could avoid it, he was naturally delighted.
The procession was spread out in three segments, but each segment had a villager familiar with the mountain path leading the way, so no one got lost. Gu Qingcheng led the strong young people to Phoenix Village first.
Upon entering Phoenix Village, everyone was rather disappointed. They hadn't expected the environment to be similar to the settlement below the mountain, with makeshift shelters and bonfires, everything in ruins.
"It's still called a village? Is this a village? There's nothing here, and it's on a mountain. If I had known it was this dilapidated, I wouldn't have come!" someone began to complain. Indeed, their settlement at the foot of the mountain was only about ten minutes away from Wangchun City. If they had a little money, they could have gone into the city to buy fried dough sticks and flatbreads, and have something to eat and drink. But now, there was nothing here. It was a desolate mountain, with no prospects. It was different from what they had imagined.
Such sentiments were contagious. Many people sat on the ground silently, tired and hungry, unwilling to speak.
Dai Fa, seeing that Gu Qingcheng had brought such a large group up, hurried to greet them. Upon hearing that over 300 people had been recruited this time, Dai Fa was greatly impressed. "Young Master Gu is truly remarkable. With one move, you've doubled the village population. With these new arrivals, Phoenix Village now has over 500 people. A thriving population is a good thing; the village will soon prosper."
After a brief chat with Dai Fa, Gu Qingcheng said, "Village Chief Dai, everyone is tired from walking and hungry. Please order someone to prepare food."
"Yes, immediately." Dai Fa understood these people's state of mind. They were famished, and a substantial meal of rice was necessary to lift their spirits. Dai Fa called about ten nimble women to light fires and cook, and also had some women bring out various pots to boil water.
Within half an hour, the rich aroma of cooking rice had everyone restless.
Mi Guo pulled a baked sweet potato from the stove and handed it to Gu Qingcheng to tide her over. Gu Qingcheng accepted it without hesitation and said, "This is a Liu'ao sweet potato. It's sweet enough to drip."
"Indeed, it's tastier than roasted purple sweet potatoes," Mi Guo agreed.
"It's different. This variety is best when roasted," Gu Qingcheng replied. The siblings ate sweet potatoes and chatted softly.
Gu Qingcheng took the opportunity to read the village rules and regulations to the newly arrived villagers of Phoenix Village.
"Young Master Gu, why are there so many rules? We came here wanting to enjoy ourselves, not to be controlled by you." Indeed, quite a few people, after a full meal, had lost their sense of proportion.
Gu Qingcheng chuckled and said, "If anyone has objections to the village rules and regulations, or is unwilling to be disciplined, they are welcome to leave Phoenix Village. Of course, if you are afraid of descending the mountain in the dark and not being able to see the path at night, you can sleep in the village and leave tomorrow morning. We will still extend this courtesy."
Hearing Gu Qingcheng's words, seven people actually stepped forward, saying that Phoenix Village was not up to their expectations and they did not wish to stay.
Gu Qingcheng was very calm. "We have different paths; we cannot plan together. Joining Phoenix Village is voluntary. If you are unwilling, we will not force you. However, since you are not residents of this village, you will not be entitled to the rice and braised pork later. You may stay the night in the village, and please descend the mountain on your own tomorrow morning."