37: Chapter 37 Labor Service

"Manager Liu, it's two hundred and thirty-five catties in total!"

Hearing his subordinate's report, Manager Liu Cheng nodded slightly. "Not bad. You've completed your harvest quota for four consecutive years now!"

Having said that, Manager Liu Cheng handed twenty-five pieces of Spirit Sand to Qin Changsheng.

Looking at the Spirit Sand in his hand, Qin Changsheng was clearly stunned for a moment.

One should know that according to Sect regulations, completing the harvest quota should earn a Disciple one hundred pieces of Spirit Sand.

He hadn't expected Manager Liu Cheng to directly embezzle seventy-five pieces.

"What, is the amount of Spirit Sand incorrect?" Manager Liu Cheng looked at Qin Changsheng with a beaming smile.

"No!" Qin Changsheng shook his head slightly.

However, in his heart, Qin Changsheng had already decided to steal back the Spirit Rice he had just handed over.

After all, over the years, Manager Liu Cheng had skimmed a lot of Spirit Sand from him.

Seeing Qin Changsheng shake his head, Manager Liu Cheng also broke into a smile.

Over an hour later, Manager Liu Cheng and his men finished the entire collection process.

However, this time Manager Liu Cheng did not leave; instead, he ordered everyone to gather at the Utility Square.

As his voice fell, the Utility Disciples in the fields were all stunned, their faces filled with deep confusion.

In previous years, after the harvest tally was finished, everyone would return home; there had never been a rule about gathering.

Many people looked at each other with eyes full of bewilderment, yet no one dared to defy Manager Liu Cheng's command.

After all, Manager Liu Cheng was the manager of the spiritual fields; offending him was just asking for trouble.

Everyone set down their farming tools and bamboo baskets, walking in groups of twos and threes toward the central square, discussing this sudden assembly in low voices and speculating about what was happening.

A moment later, over sixteen hundred Utility Disciples were gathered in the central square, standing in neat rows as their gazes collectively shifted toward Manager Liu Cheng on the high platform.

Manager Liu Cheng's gaze swept over the Utility Disciples below as he announced loudly, "By order of the Outer Sect Deacon, starting this year, all Disciples of Servant Peak must participate in two months of forced labor after completing their spiritual field cultivation."

These words were like a clap of thunder, instantly causing a commotion in the square.

"Participate in two months of forced labor?"

"Weren't we allowed to move freely during these two months in previous years?"

"Our usual farming is tiring enough, and now we have to add forced labor?"

"The Sect never had this rule before!"

The Utility Disciples discussed fervently, their faces full of shock and dissatisfaction. However, due to their status, they didn't dare to be too blatant, only daring to grumble in low voices within the crowd.

Manager Liu Cheng raised his hand to press down the noise, and the discussions in the square gradually subsided. He continued, "I know everyone works hard, but this is a new Sect regulation and must be followed."

"Of course, there is a way to bypass this. If you are unwilling to participate in these two months of forced labor, you can make a one-time payment of ten pieces of Spirit Sand as an exemption fee. Then you won't need to participate."

As soon as these words were spoken, the square fell into an uproar once again.

Ten pieces of Spirit Sand was not a small amount for low-level Utility Disciples.

After completing their annual harvest quota, they only received twenty-five pieces of Spirit Sand.

If they had to hand over another ten pieces, they would have even less Spirit Sand left.

Furthermore, the Sect's forced labor tasks not only offered no rewards but even carried risks to one's life.

The dissatisfaction on everyone's faces grew more intense, but they were afraid to speak out, feeling that this rule was far too harsh.

Standing in the crowd, a cold light of realization flashed in Qin Changsheng's eyes as he instantly saw through Manager Liu Cheng's intentions.

This was no new Sect regulation; it was clearly him making things difficult for the Utility Disciples to seize an opportunity to amass wealth!

Recently, Hu Nan had been scouting for news within the Sect every day, ranging from Elders' lectures and Sect decisions to the trivial matters and rule adjustments of various peaks. He had never heard any news regarding new forced labor or Spirit Sand exemptions for Servant Peak.

Manager Liu Cheng must be using his authority over Servant Peak's labor to invent a pretext for forced labor, forcing Disciples who didn't want to work to hand over Spirit Sand so he could line his own pockets.

Of course, Manager Liu Cheng would never have such audacity on his own.

He must have received instructions from Lin Hao.

"Listen carefully, all of you! Within three days, you must either register with me for forced labor or pay ten pieces of Spirit Sand for an exemption. Those who fail to do so by the deadline will not only face doubled labor but will also be expelled from the Sect!"

Manager Liu Cheng's tone was severe, carrying a commanding tone that allowed no room for argument. His gaze swept over the Utility Disciples below, deliberately pausing for a moment on several Disciples who looked dissatisfied, carrying a clear warning.

The Utility Disciples in the square had various expressions—some were angry, some helpless, and some resigned to their fate.

Seeing that no one dared to resist, Manager Liu Cheng nodded with satisfaction and said loudly, "The matter is settled. Dismissed! Handle this within three days; do not delay!"

After speaking, he turned and walked down the platform toward Lin Hao.

Watching the departing Manager Liu Cheng and Lin Hao, Qin Changsheng became even more determined to steal all the Spirit Rice that had been handed over.

...

Inside a certain palace on Servant Peak.

A fawning smile was plastered on Manager Liu Cheng's face as he trotted forward, his tone full of flattery. "Senior Brother Lin, I have arranged everything as planned."

Lin Hao glanced at him, his tone indifferent. "Those Utility Disciples didn't dare to resist, did they?"

In his eyes, Utility Disciples were lowly and cowardly, incapable of stirring up any trouble. Manager Liu Cheng should have been able to handle this matter easily.

"They wouldn't dare, they wouldn't dare!" Manager Liu Cheng nodded and bowed repeatedly, leaning in close to Lin Hao and whispering with a face full of prideful flattery, "Senior Brother Lin, your wisdom is truly extraordinary. Coming up with this forced labor scheme is like killing two birds with one stone!"

"I've done the math. There are over sixteen hundred Disciples on Servant Peak. Even if only half of them are unwilling to work and pay the ten pieces of Spirit Sand, we'll collect over eight thousand pieces!"

Manager Liu Cheng continued, "As for those Disciples willing to do the labor, we'll send them straight to the Spirit Stone Mine to dig for free. We won't have to pay them a single cent in wages!"

"In two months, we can harvest at least ten thousand Spirit Sand's worth of value from them."

Hearing that there would be over eighteen thousand pieces of Spirit Sand, Lin Hao also showed a look of joy.

Although he was Lin Zhentian's son, Lin Zhentian was very strict with him, and he didn't actually have many Spirit Stones.

The eighteen thousand plus Spirit Sand skimmed from the Utility Disciples could go entirely into his own pocket.

Lin Hao reached out and patted Manager Liu Cheng's shoulder. "You're quite sensible. You've handled this matter thoroughly."

Manager Liu Cheng beamed at the praise, his waist bending even lower, but his smile soon faded as a hint of worry appeared on his face.

"Senior Brother Lin, by arranging things this way—sending Utility Disciples to the Spirit Stone Mine for free labor and inventing pretexts to collect wealth—could the Sect find out? After all, this involves many people. If someone with intentions exposes us, we could be in trouble."

As soon as he said this, the smile on Lin Hao's face instantly turned into disdain.

"Find out? You worry too much. The Deacons in the Sect who manage utility assignments and mine inspections are all my father's trusted aides. They were bought off by our Lin family long ago. They'll turn a blind eye to everything and won't look into it."

He looked toward the inner depths of the Sect, his eyes full of certainty. "Besides, with my father as the Law Enforcement Elder, even if someone notices something is wrong, they wouldn't dare to speak up, let alone expose us. Anyone who dares to meddle in our business is an enemy of the Lin family, and their end will be nothing but death!"

Lin Hao's tone was cold, carrying the arrogance and reliance of a scion of a great family, completely disregarding the Sect's rules.

Hearing this, the worry in Manager Liu Cheng's heart vanished instantly. His face was covered in smiles again as he nodded repeatedly. "It was my foolishness. With the Elder and Senior Brother Lin here, we are naturally perfectly safe!"

"Mhm. Where is the Spirit Rice that was handed over?" Lin Hao asked.