In the dim tunnel, a group of workers wearing heavy protective clothing, who looked like they came out of a science fiction game, were digging hard with picks and shovels.
They use shovels to dig out the soil piece by piece, and use picks when they encounter rocks. Both picks and shovels use "semi-enchanted" technology. It is very labor-saving when digging out the soil, but it will be harder when they encounter stones. But it can still be solved in the end.
The excavated soil and gravel were shoveled onto two carts next to each other. After each cart was accumulated, someone was responsible for pushing the cart out, all the way up the sloping tunnel, and to the processing station near the exit. Come back with an empty car.
As for the soil or gravel sent to the processing station, the trainee magician working there will activate a magic circle to purify it. After the purification is completed, other workers will take over and send it to the ground for other uses.
This work is quite hard, and most people can't do it. Even if you do it reluctantly, you will be as tired as a dead dog, and you will get sick in a few days. Each of these excavators was carefully selected from the pioneers. They were originally relatively strong. They had gone through half a month of training and conditioning before starting work. They were full of meat every time, and now their bodies are at their peak. In this state, novice adventurers may not be able to defeat them if they fight with bare hands.
Among them, one whose protective clothing color is particularly eye-catching is their captain.
Compared with those strong men, this captain is shorter and his body is not that strong. But his work efficiency is higher than everyone else. If you study carefully, you will find that he uses tools more flexibly and skillfully than others, and his digging posture is more reasonable. It is the gap in technology that creates the gap in work ability.
And while he was working, he could still find the energy to pay attention to his surroundings. For example, check whether the wooden bars used to support the top of the tunnel are strong enough, check whether the direction of excavation is correct against the plumb line, and check everyone's protective clothing and tools to see if there are any hidden dangers...
All in all, he is a worker, an inspector, and a nanny. He can do the work of several people by himself, but he can do it smoothly. Although he cannot be said to be particularly outstanding, at least he can handle everything.
This is ability!
At the beginning, the strong men were very unconvinced by this captain who was obviously smaller than them, especially when they learned that this man was actually a miner and was neither a retired adventurer nor a down-and-out noble. They were all down-and-out pioneers from the south, but they came just a few years earlier than them.
But after more than a month, they all gave in.
In the same time, the captain can do more work than them, and after work, the captain has time to take care of this and that, and he is not as tired as them after work.
What's this? This is the skill!
Not only that, he can even read and write. These workers had to sign contracts before starting work, which he read and explained. Those who did not know how to sign could only sign with their thumbprints. After asking their names one by one, he signed their names next to their thumbprints.
The level of education in this world is very low. Even if a god with knowledge and education was born a few years ago, what he can do is limited in the face of a situation where most civilians don't even have enough to eat. And these pioneers were relatively poor among the common people. Not to mention being literate, many of them didn't even have decent names.
For them, the skill of "reading and literacy" is really too high-end and classy, far beyond their reach!
The pioneers who dared to cross thousands of mountains and rivers to make a living in the barren land where the legendary skeletons eat people were all somewhat courageous. But no matter how courageous they are, they are still ordinary civilians. They are not adventurers who lick blood with their swords, nor nobles or officials who are accustomed to intrigues. Their essence is still simple and honest. When facing outstanding people, they will naturally admire and bow their heads. .
As a result, the captain's authority was naturally established, and everyone became accustomed to obeying the captain's leadership.
There is no daylight in the tunnel, and only the luminous magic stone embedded in the cave ceiling illuminates it. Fortunately, there is a clock in the corner, which can tell everyone the time.
At almost five o'clock in the afternoon, the captain called everyone to stop work.
"It's still early, let's work for a while." Someone said.
"Yes, didn't you just take a rest?"
Because pay is directly linked to workload, workers want to work more. But the captain did not agree. He emphasized "safety first" and pushed everyone to finish their work and return to the ground.
Of course, they also have to undergo decontamination first, and only after the decontamination is completed can they take off their heavy protective clothing.
Safety first is the ironclad rule on the construction site. Anyone who does not understand this rule or abide by this rule, even once, will be expelled immediately.
A group of people stood inside the purification circle, looking at the milky white light flowing over their bodies like running water, and couldn't help but smile at each other.
I remember that when they were being purified for the first time, some people were yelling and worrying that they would be drowned. They made such a fuss that even the captain couldn't suppress it. Later, he discovered that he had made a big mistake and was laughed at by the supervisor in charge.
The supervisor was a young man, about fifteen or sixteen years old. Although he was young, he was already an official magician. It was really enviable!
As a spellcaster, his social status is extremely high. According to the rules of society, even if he beats someone to death on the spot, even if he laughs at him, it will be nothing. But this boy is actually quite kind and approachable. He says what he needs to say and smiles when he needs to. He is no different from the kid next door.
Well, there must be a difference. The kid next door is not as good as him.
In other words, this outstanding young man is the real "kid next door".
This world also has a tradition similar to that on Earth. When parents criticize their children, they often use the "kids next door" as an example of how outstanding they are. It's just that the kids next door from ordinary civilian families, no matter how outstanding they are, how can they compare to a child? Where is the noble spellcaster
... Maybe the captain's child can do it, assuming he still has time to marry a wife and have children.
Reif put the tools on the tool rack, went to the washing room wearing protective clothing, turned the switch, let the water soaked with positive energy flow down slowly, rinsed his body, then turned off the switch, took off the protective clothing, and returned Go to the tool room and hang it on the clothes rack next to it.
He shook his head, turned his body, and moved his body that was a little stiff after working for several hours. After exercising for a while, he felt completely comfortable and sighed deeply.
"Being a captain is really tiring!"
Tiredness is inevitable. He is busier than others when others are busy. He cannot rest when others are resting. He must check the condition of tools and protective clothing after work every day to avoid accidents. After everything is checked and dinner is finished, if he has time, he will go to the magic school to audit, or go to the library to read and study on his own. Compared with those who just walk around to kill time after eating, or simply go to the pub to have a laugh, or have their wives and children warm up, they are naturally much more tired.
But this is the life he chose, and he enjoys it.
Principal Felix said that human life is very short. Instead of wasting time complaining or having fun, it is better to do something that will make you smile when you are old and about to die. .
Reif felt that if he continued like this, he would be able to laugh when he was old and dying.
It's a pity that he lacks the talent for magic and can't become a mage, otherwise it would be better!
After checking everyone's tools and protective clothing, Reiff walked out of the tool room and saw several workers waiting outside talking and laughing. When he came out, they all greeted him with a smile.
These people were waiting for him specially.
Seeing these workers, Reif also smiled.
"Hey, Captain."
"You came out a little late today. Is there something wrong with the tools?"
"No problem, it's just that some of the personal protective clothing has not been washed properly."
"Hahaha! Let me guess, are they straw, wheat and the others?"
"Yeah, who else could it be."
"These guys! I heard they don't even wash their feet before going to bed at night."
"What?! Then why do their wives let them sleep with them?"
"God knows, if I dare not wash my feet at night, my wife will definitely kick me out."
"Wake up, brother, where did you get your wife?"
"I'm just making an analogy, Captain, what do you think?"
"...can I give you a good beating?"
"Don't! Don't! I was just joking. Captain, please don't get angry."
"But having said that, captain, you are somewhat of a distinguished person now, and you are also literate. Why don't you ask for a wife? I think if you ask for a wife, you can afford to marry even the daughter of the owner of the grocery store Harman."
"Oh my God! Boss Harman's daughter is only twelve years old! What are you guys thinking in your heads!"
"I'm thinking about what to eat tonight."
"Hahaha! That's right. What are you going to eat tonight?"
"Let's go to the tavern to eat. The tavern's cook went to Lanxiang Technical School to attend and grilled the barbecue very well!"
"Aren't you tired of eating barbecue every day? I want to drink fish soup."
"Fish soup is very expensive, one pot costs two silver coins!"
"...Hey! Why are you all looking at me?"
"Of course I'm looking at you. Captain, you are rich. I noticed it when we all received our salary last time. There were several golden ones!"
"How could I make friends like you!"
"Hahaha! At worst, I'll treat you next time."
"...Are you sure you want to treat me next time? Are you going to treat me to vegetable soup and brown bread?"
"Eh?! You really deserve to be the captain!"
"...I should really beat you up!"
"Next time on vacation, let's go fishing by the river. My wife said she saw fish in the river yesterday."
"Wow! Then you can make your own fish soup!"
"... If you dare to cook it, we won't dare to drink it. It's better to capture it and ask the chef for help."
"Captain, you look down on me so much! I used to be the one who caught rabbits in the mountains and fish and shrimps in the water!"
"Just brag, you catch rabbits in the mountains and fish and shrimps in the water, but you end up trying to make a living here? Do you think I'm a fool?"
"I haven't finished speaking yet. I mean, my neighbor was this kind of person back then, and I learned a little from him."
"How much have you learned?"
"Probably... I can get to know rabbits when I go up the mountain, and I can get to know fish and shrimps when I go into the water. I am more familiar with them when they are cooked."
“…foodie!”
The group of people chatted and laughed, walking along the newly paved gravel road towards Huishi Town.
Under the setting sun, their bodies seemed to be inlaid with a ring of gold, shining brightly.