Chapter 8: Joining the Partnership

Li Ming filled his wine glass to the brim, then raised it and said firmly, "Let us create a new world." The four men, their eyes red with excitement, raised their glasses, and with a loud "bang," the four glasses clashed together forcefully

These individuals were all selected by Li Ming from among the refugees. Although the village could not possibly employ so many people, Li Ming still hired as many as he could, as he believed that every additional person he could help made a difference

Upon hearing Wang He’s words, Li Ming finally let out a sigh of relief. For someone like Wang He, who has experienced many ups and downs and possesses a wealth of experience, once he makes a final decision, it will never be easily changed

Song Tao rolled his eyes and said with a bitter smile, "Big brother, just spare me, don’t you know me? Although I usually boast a lot, when it comes to the real deal, I just can’t handle it. It’s still the same saying, you all decide the big matters, and I will resolutely carry them out."

Li Ming scolded with a smile: "There are only so few of us, and you still want to take it easy and shirk your responsibilities. What a pipe dream! Let me tell you, when the time comes, everyone involved will have to work as if they were several people; no one is allowed to slack off."

Everyone laughed upon hearing his words, feeling that having such a lively character in the team was indeed a joy. Wang smiled and said, "Song Tao, you shouldn't say that now. Many people only discover their abilities after they start working; not having done something does not mean one cannot do it well. As for me, my future focus at work will be to coordinate the efforts between various departments as best as I can, ensuring that your logistical needs are met so that you have no worries."

Li Ming sighed and said, "Then let's bring in some more food; we should help as much as we can. We cannot just stand by and watch them starve to death."

So you mean this villa truly belongs to you, and that big Benz outside is also yours. Didn't you tell me that you would let me use that big Benz? Don't go back on your word, hurry up... give me the car keys

He paused for a moment, forcing himself to suppress his sobs, and then said firmly: "I have always felt useless, even believing that life has lost its meaning. But today, Li Ming took me there, and I felt my heart warm again. No more words, I have definitely decided to join the gang"

Song Tao's words once again made everyone burst into laughter, this fellow has this one good trait, he will definitely be the kind of person who lives simply and dies great.

Until the bottom of a bottle of Erguotou was reached, no one spoke. Only Song Tao raised his head and stared intently at Li Ming

At noon, Hu Wenhai hosted a banquet for Li Ming and his party as usual. During the meal, Li Ming inquired about the current situation of the Ming Dynasty and found that it did not differ much from history. By evening, Li Ming led three individuals back to modern society.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued, "Today I went there, and to be honest, it had a significant impact on me. I have been feeling quite conflicted inside, but perhaps this is the second starting point of my life, just like when I was a clerk in a rural town years ago. Since I do not want to be lost in the latter half of my life, I might as well give it a shot, and I have decided to join."

Li Ming drove them back to the villa, and along the way, everyone was very silent, quietly processing everything that had happened today. Upon arriving home, they all pitched in and prepared a large table of food and drinks, each person holding a bottle of Erguotou and starting to drink again

Gao Jianguo pondered for a moment and then said solemnly: "Like Song Tao, I am only capable of leading troops and nothing else. I thought my life would be like this; ever since I left the army, I have lost my life's purpose and have spent my days in confusion. Later, I even failed to protect my son."

After speaking, he gave a wry smile and continued, "If we are to consider who might be the least useful in the future, it would be me. What we will need are either military talents or technical talents. As a civil servant of this government, I will instead become a dispensable person on the other side."

Since everyone has expressed their opinions, I would like to share my thoughts as well. I have always been within the system, gradually rising from the grassroots level, and I have worked in many key positions, enjoying a period of prominence. However, two years ago, I was cast down from my pedestal and have since been in a state of stagnation. After two years of reflection, my understanding of life has deepened, yet there is no longer a place for me within the system. I may spend the rest of my life idling away in that cold bureaucratic office.

Upon arriving at Hu Wenhai's shop, another batch of goods was delivered. Hu Wenhai was very pleased; since he began trading with Li Ming, his business had increased several times over.

Upon hearing Song Tao's words, everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere at the dining table began to heat up. Each person's heart was filled with excitement, as if they had rediscovered the purpose of life, and they were all brimming with energy.

These individuals, accompanied by their families, worked diligently out of gratitude towards Li Ming for providing them with a means of survival. Although Li Ming had not returned for a long time, the entire village was well-organized and managed.

Li Ming smiled and said, "Old Wang, that statement is incorrect. In the future, we will have a group of military and technical personnel, as well as a large number of skilled workers. If there are no people like you to coordinate among us, it will surely descend into chaos. Moreover, once we have secured the territory, how will we manage it? We will still need someone like you, who has rich grassroots work experience, to handle such matters."

Wang He felt an overwhelming shock in his heart. Even though he had some premonitions, when he truly stepped through the light gate into this unfamiliar environment, he still felt extremely nervous. Of course, more than that, he felt excitement and stimulation. In fact, each of them felt the same way; facing an entirely new world, the excitement within them made their bodies tremble.

Gao Jianguo also smiled and said: "Old Wang, your future work may be the most thankless and laborious. You will be with us soldiers, as well as a group of intellectuals and roughnecks. If you do well, your efforts will go unnoticed; if you do poorly, all departments will blame you. Once we have our own base, all the trivial and unpleasant tasks will fall to someone like you. You need to be mentally prepared for that"

Song Tao put down his wine glass and said with a smile, "Let me clarify first, I will only focus on doing the work. You can assign me any task, just don't let me manage anything, as I am not suited for that. Over the years in the military, I have learned a great deal, and I even spent a few years fighting for my life in Africa. I cannot speak for other matters, but if you let me lead the special forces in the future, that would be absolutely no problem."

Gao Jianguo entered the state of focus the fastest. He wiped his mouth and then said solemnly: "Our current strength is still insufficient, primarily reflected in the personnel configuration. The four of us are still too few. Since we aim to establish dominance, we must first recruit more people. Moreover, is it somewhat hasty for just the few of us to decide on the next steps? I believe we should bring in a few individuals with rich work experience in various fields and strong capabilities to enhance our initial team building. As for military matters, I can easily manage the initial structure, organization, and military development plans of the troops, as well as the formation of key personnel."

They howled, then tilted their heads back and drank the strong liquor from the cup. The bitter and spicy drink burned their throats, yet they found immense pleasure in consuming it.

Do ... ... do ... ...

Li Ming led them out of the courtyard and arrived at the outer courtyard of the Zhuang. It was early morning, and several servants employed by Li Ming in the Zhuang had just woken up. Upon seeing Li Ming, they all happily approached to pay their respects.

Song Tao's words nearly made Li Ming spit out a mouthful of blood; this guy's nerves are really too thick, can't he be a bit more considerate? Next to him, Gao Jianguo and Wang He also burst into hearty laughter, instantly enlivening the previously dull atmosphere at the dining table

Wang He had been silent, but upon hearing Gao Jianguo's words, he finally made up his mind

However, this time Li Ming requested Hu Wenhai to accept only gold and antiques during the checkout, and that precious medicinal materials, wooden items, and ancient jade stones would also be acceptable. Although Hu Wenhai was very puzzled, he still readily agreed.

Li Ming glanced at them with a smile, saying nothing, while Gao Jianguo and the others were continuously surveying their surroundings, their eyes filled with complexity and surprise

At this moment, Song Tao was also adding salt on the side, smiling as he said: "Old Wang, now that you are an official, you can still be a bit greedy, take a little, and keep a few mistresses. The people below will still have to flatter you and curry favor with you. Once you get to that position, you will have to be content to be a hard-working ox, dedicating yourself to serving the people."

Once he assumed the role, Gao Jianguo swept away his previous despondency and disappointment, fully embodying the essence of a soldier, making one feel as if a long-hidden treasured sword had been drawn once more, its sharp brilliance instantly spreading all around.

After sending off Chen Bo, Li Ming took the three of them to have their first breakfast in the Ming Dynasty. Everyone at the table was very silent, each lost in their own thoughts, and Li Ming did not inquire further. After finishing the meal, he led them onto the farm's carriage and headed towards the capital.

Song Tao scratched his head and chuckled, saying: "You see, I can boast on a regular basis, but when I went to that place today, I was completely taken aback. I know my own capabilities; if I really got there, I wouldn't be able to help much. But as soon as there's a battle, I, Song Tao, will definitely be the first to charge in. I might not be good at anything else besides fighting. Hehe... I don't have any grand ambitions; for great undertakings, I have to rely on you all. If things really come to fruition, all I need to do is find a few famous courtesans from Jiangnan to warm my bed at home and then have a bunch of children."

Chen Bo quickly replied with a smile: "The village is actually fine; the farmers have started to get busy with their agricultural work recently. However, the number of refugees has been increasing, many of whom are coming from the Shaanxi and Shanxi regions. It is quite tragic. Our village has been distributing porridge daily, and now these refugees have gathered here. If this continues, I fear the food supply in the village will not be sufficient."

Everyone shook their heads and smiled wryly after listening to Song Tao's words. Wang He and Gao Jianguo also looked at Song Tao with new eyes, as they did not expect that although Song Tao appeared to be a carefree person, he still knew how to weigh matters when faced with serious issues, at the very least being able to position himself correctly

An elderly man in his fifties hurriedly walked in from outside and, upon seeing Li Ming, respectfully bowed to him. "Sir, you have returned! You left without saying a word, and we were all quite worried." Li Ming waved his hand, gesturing for the man to rise, and smiled as he said, "Uncle Chen, is everything alright in the village?"