Chapter 9: How much equipment is freedom worth?
Old Butch's mood was very complicated.
As a person gets older, has experienced more hardships, and has the safety of the entire Wasted Dong Society on his shoulders, it is inevitable that he will overthink and be suspicious of everything.
In his opinion, there are hundreds of people in the Feidong Society, who join a group to stay warm in the dangerous wasteland, just to survive. No matter what situation you encounter, it is better to think more and be more prudent. Even if you miss many opportunities, it is still better than making a wrong step and being catastrophic.
Of course he was extremely lucky that the Governor led troops to rescue him. Without outside help, all of them would have died.
But to be honest, what he expected most was that the governor would lead his troops to kill all the bandits and then leave. Even if it requires them to pay a little more, that's fine. The worst-case scenario he thought about was to pay double the taxes in two years, which might starve half of the people in the Wastedong Society to death, but it was better than all of them dying.
But now, not only did the Governor not ask them to pay anything, but he was also willing to give them more, which made Old Butch very worried.
There is no price, and that may mean the biggest price.
After listening to Gu Hang's speech, he couldn't help but feel excited, and he also cheered and performed along with the crowd.
Of course, what the Governor said was what he expected and what he wanted in his dreams.
But...
Is it really possible?
The people of Feidong Society have nothing but a handful of strength. There is no technology, no equipment, and even resources like mines are abandoned mines before the war. The reserves are small and the mining is very difficult. If the mineral vein was of good quality, how could it fall into their hands?
How can they pursue a better life like this?
Old Butch couldn't even imagine it.
He didn't hope so, but he couldn't help but think about the worst, thinking that Gu Hang was deceiving them by saying these things, and that he might pack them up and sell them as slaves in the future.
But he is no longer the leader of the Wasted Dong Society.
The current leader, Patel, seems to have been brainwashed and fanatically believes in the words of the Governor. After the Governor's speech, the boy was so excited that he waved and walked away, saying that he wanted to discuss the follow-up development plan of the Wasted Dong Society.
“I was sold and I helped count the money!”
Old Butch could only return to his cramped, musty little space, feeling secretly depressed.
He didn't feel depressed for long when there was a knock on his door.
Opening the door, Patel walked in.
It was pitch dark in the room, and Patel asked, "Why don't you light the lamp?"
"Save a little."
"According to what the Governor said, a happy life cannot be achieved by saving energy."
"Haha, you are talking about the Governor now."
"He saved us."
"I have never denied that."
"He will also bring us a bright future."
"Hmm." Old Butch was a little perfunctory. He had given up trying to persuade Patel.
The matter has come to this, what else could be done?
To be honest, the Feidong Society has no strength. Even if Patel listens to him, so what? Can you still resist the governor?
Thinking of this, he became even more frustrated. He asked with half interest: "If you don't discuss the plan with the Governor, why would you come to see me, a bad old man?"
"We've already discussed it. I'm here to help you."
"So fast?"
"The Governor is very particular about efficiency."
"What do you want me to do?" "Lead our people to the surface and establish a settlement. We can no longer live in the mines for a long time. The poor living environment will allow diseases to find us."
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"But..."
Butch hesitated.
It would be great to be able to live on the surface. Who would want to live in a mine? In fact, the Wasted Dong Society had plans to develop on the surface before, and they had a camp on the surface.
Then, he was beaten by the ‘Prisoner’. The dozens of people who were captured were also taken from the surface camp.
The surface of the earth is too dangerous, and with the ability of the Wasted Dongshe, it is impossible to defend it.
"I know what you are worried about," said Patel, "but we have the power to protect ourselves. The Governor will leave a hundred servitor soldiers here to take care of the security work. At the same time, a hundred sets will be transported. Soldiers and equipment, select people from the Wastedong Society, and arm a company!”
Now Butch was surprised.
He felt that the governor was deceiving people, but he did not expect that what he promised would be accomplished immediately.
No, it should be two pieces.
Arming the Wastedong Society's own soldiers so that they can protect themselves is one thing; building houses on the surface to improve living conditions is another.
Change is immediate.
There was no way Old Butch could shirk this matter.
But what he was curious about was another point: "You want me to help build the surface camp, but what do you do yourself?"
It will never be military training. The governor will definitely send someone to take charge of this kind of thing. Not to mention military power, even if the Feidong Society were to do it themselves, none of them would be able to do it.
"I..." Patel smiled mysteriously and stopped talking, "I want to build our own production line. New mining machines will be delivered, and there will also be alloy smelting furnaces. The Governor will not only help us improve our mineral resources To improve the efficiency of excavation, we need to directly establish a production line for the production of alloy plastic steel! ”
Hearing this, Old Butch was truly surprised and speechless.
Building an army and returning to the surface to live are of course all very good, but to put it bluntly, they are all things that only exist in the mirror. How can the Wastedong Society itself afford a decent army? Don't we still have to rely on the Governor's blood transfusion?
This is the core reason for Old Butch's pessimistic attitude. If the Wasted Dong Society wants to live a better life, it must have sufficient value. He never expects others to give unlimited and free blood transfusions to the Wastedong Society. This is impossible.
Even if it is to win people's hearts for a moment, it is for the greater benefit. Whether it's to gain fame by erecting an archway, or there's a darker plan, it's not a good thing.
But now, he knew he was wrong, terribly wrong.
Indeed, Gu Hang would not donate blood to the Feidong Society without restriction and free of charge. He did have something to ask for from the Feidong Society. However, what he needs is something that the Wasted Dong Society can't afford right now.
But it doesn't matter, Gu Hang can help the Wasted Dong Society develop. When their productivity increases and their own value increases, they can afford to pay the price Gu Hang wants.
Of course, by that time, the debt owed by the Feidong Society to Gu Hang might be far more than just a life-saving favor.
But Old Butch enjoyed it like a cake.
Such an opportunity was what he had dreamed of.
He was completely excited, and his previous worries were long forgotten: "When will we start doing it?"
Patel asked teasingly: "You said before that it was a disaster rather than a blessing? And you said you would lose your freedom?"
Old Butch blushed and said harshly: "You brat, you know nothing! Is the equipment that the Governor got for our freedom worth?"
"Hahahaha!" Seeing the uncle's 180-degree change in attitude, Patel also laughed out loud.
This is not to laugh at the old uncle, this is to be happy for the future destiny of all of them.
(End of chapter)