That's right, that's right! Howard Gu, are you refusing to sign the contract because you're jealous we get to work?
Just look at him! Howard Gu is so skinny, he definitely can't handle that kind of work. Howard Gu, you should just give up! Just stay home and enjoy life with your young wife.
"Hahaha, exactly! Not just anyone can earn this kind of money!"
......
Yina Yin nearly laughed out of frustration.
She was just being kind, trying to stop these people from marching to their deaths.
And yet, she was being doubted by all of them?
Ryan King just shook his head at Yina Yin.
Yina Yin stopped trying to intervene. She picked up the pen and wrote Derek Lee's name on the contract, then pointed to the spot for the fingerprint. "Here, put your fingerprint, and go to Ryan King for your first month's pay."
Derek Lee happily pressed his fingerprint, then went over to Ryan King to collect his first month's wages.
Two thousand yuan was honestly just the cost of a meal for Yina Yin and Ryan King.
But for Derek Lee, it could be a year's harvest.
So Derek Lee happily stuffed the money in his pocket and went home to share the good news with his family.
Yina Yin sighed inwardly, worried for Derek Lee.
After finishing all this, Yina Yin and Ryan King finally had time to meet with Cherry Miller.
Both of them carried a bamboo basket they'd woven themselves. Using the excuse of visiting their sister and wife in town, they knocked on the Zhang Family's door.
"You came at just the right time." Cherry Miller pulled Yina Yin and Ryan King into her room.
Right now, she was actually a little grateful that she’d caught the eye of Edward Zhang and got assigned her own room to rest in.
It made chatting and everything else so much easier.
"The Zhang Family's way of doing things is just too ruthless. Over a hundred lives, sacrificed without a second thought. I bet it's not just those hundred—there are definitely more." Cherry Miller was still fuming.
She really was a ruthless boss in the business world.
But she was only after profits, never lives.
She just couldn't stand how the Zhang Family treated human life so carelessly!
"I used the excuse of tidying up the study and found the county records," Cherry Miller continued. "According to the documents, fifty years ago, Six Saints Town already had a population of six thousand. Based on normal growth, there should be at least eight to nine thousand people now. But the records only show less than five thousand. That means three to four thousand people have quietly disappeared. If you rule out human trafficking, the only explanation is that they've been taken or killed. Unlike outside, missing people here can't be reported. The ones in charge are the Zhang Family, and they're the ones behind all this. So even if someone suspects something, there's nowhere to turn for justice."
"The gold mine was only discovered and excavated in recent years, so Cherry's estimate is solid," Yina Yin said. "The Zhang Family's third son started making outside contacts about twenty years ago, so all this must have happened since then."
Ryan King nodded in agreement. "Cherry's right. Those missing people weren't trafficked. It's hard to communicate with the outside, and selling people wouldn't bring in as much money as keeping them here to dig for gold. So that gap of several thousand people must be at the gold mine and the gold refinery. By the way, Yina and I already found their locations—it's a living hell!"
Yina Yin said, "They get enough to eat, but the work hours are brutal. Everyone looks skin and bones—the quality of life is terrible. In a place like this, it's impossible that none of them want to go home. The fact that not a single one has made it back means they're either too scared from beatings or they'll never return. Given the Zhang Family's style, death is the likeliest outcome."
"It's outrageous!" Cherry Miller said. "Looks like we'll need to move up our plans."
Yina Yin and Ryan King both looked at Cherry Miller.
Cherry Miller lowered her voice and said, "You know the old saying: water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. The Zhang Family owes all their power and wealth to Six Saints Town. But what if the myth of Six Saints Town is shattered? What if the people here learn that the only reason they can't leave is because someone's secretly sabotaging them, forcing them to stay? What if they find out their loved ones who went to work for the Zhang Family never came back because they were imprisoned or killed? Would they still obediently stay here? Once public opinion is ready, we show them how wonderful the outside world is—how could they not want to leave?"
Originally, all this was supposed to wait until after the Shrine Ceremony.
But the Zhang Family's actions were so disgusting that Cherry Miller and the others decided to act early.
"It's a shame we still can't find the satellite jammer. Otherwise, just the supplies we air-dropped would be enough to stir up unrest here!" Ryan King sighed. "I wonder how Jason's side is doing."
"Yeah," Cherry Miller took a deep breath. "So let's go at it from both ends. We'll spread the word here, and Jason will speed things up on his side. I refuse to believe it! The mountains here are big, sure, but if we do a blanket search and still can't find it, that's just nonsense!"
No sooner said than done.
After Yina Yin and Ryan King went back, they immediately started spreading the news.
What's the fastest way to spread news?
Of course, it's the local aunties!
They love to chat and gossip, always gathering in groups to trade news.
One tells ten, ten tell a hundred.
In just a few days, the news spread throughout all of Six Saints Town.
Still, Ryan King and Yina Yin were pretty careful. They didn't spread the news directly, but picked Liu Village, which was farther away, and found a spot where they could hide but people were hanging out. They pretended to chat casually, dropping hints about their suspicions of the Zhang Family.
This chapter isn't over yet ^.^, please click next page to keep reading!
Actually, they copied this trick from Cherry Miller's tactics with Yan Shilang.
So, the news about the Zhang Family's disregard for human life spread like wildfire.
Families with members working for the Zhang Family started to wonder.
Yeah, the Zhang Family always sends wages on time, so no one ever thought about it.
No matter how high the wages, nobody wouldn't miss home.
How could it be that after two or three years, four or five years, even more than ten years, not a single person has come home?
Didn't they ever want to come back and see their parents, wives, and children?
Those who truly loved their families couldn't sit still. They rushed to town, demanding answers from the Zhang Family.
"Master, we're not trying to cause trouble, but my eldest grandson is about to get married. Surely his own father should be at the wedding? My son has been working for you for over ten years—he should be able to come home now, right? Just let him come back for the wedding, and he can return to work after it's done."
"Yes, yes, my son is old enough to get married too. We've saved up all the money he's earned these years, and I've already asked a matchmaker to find him a bride. We're just waiting for him to come home and get married."
"My old mother misses her grandson so much she's fallen ill. I just want my son to come home and see her."
...
The crowd surrounded the Zhang Family, leaving no way in or out.
Zachary Zhang heard the news and felt a sense of dread. He hurried over. "What's going on here?"
Mr. Zhang, the gatekeeper, quickly explained, "They're all here looking for their relatives who went to work for the Zhang Family."
Zachary Zhang's face darkened.
He knew better than anyone where those people were now.
How could he possibly let them leave?
If these people leave, the gold mine's secret will be exposed!
Zachary Zhang immediately tried to calm the crowd. "What's all this noise? Quiet down!"
The crowd gradually quieted down and looked at Zachary Zhang.
Zachary Zhang continued, "Your relatives signed a contract when they came to work. It clearly states they must work for fifty years. The monthly payments you receive—are they fake? It's not that they're not allowed to come home, it's that they can't right now. But don't worry, their safety is guaranteed. They'll have enough to eat and wear. If you have a celebration at home, congratulations! See the steward for a red envelope—my gift. If you need help, just ask. We're all neighbors, it's right to help each other. My business is busy and I need workers. If they come back, what will happen to my work?"
Zachary Zhang really was the Zhang Family's spokesperson—he shut everyone up as soon as he started talking.
It's hard to refuse someone who's giving you something.
Sigh, well, the third son must have his own difficulties. Maybe we're being a bit unreasonable?
The third son is so generous, even giving gifts.
Maybe it's not absolutely necessary to see them in person.
The mood in the crowd started to shift under the third son's influence.
Cherry Miller hid in the shadows, heard Zachary Zhang's speech, and sneered. She pinched her voice, imitating a country auntie: "We're not trying to make things difficult, but we haven't seen our relatives in years. We just want to see them—it won't take long and won't delay your work! You're right, we're all neighbors, we should help each other. I'm sure you understand a mother's feelings and won't keep us apart."
Zachary Zhang looked into the crowd but couldn't find the speaker, feeling annoyed.
He'd just managed to control the situation, and now this person had ruined it.
The villagers who'd just been pacified quickly came to their senses and chimed in: "That's right, we won't take too long, just want to see them. If today doesn't work, then tomorrow, or the day after. We worry about them working away from home, and feel better seeing they're doing well."
Cherry Miller then imitated a man's voice, calling out loudly: "The Zhang Family always does things openly and honestly. I'm sure the third son wouldn't let the kids do anything dangerous. Please, let us see our children! If the work is really good, I'll have my nephew come work too!"