According to convention, the mine manager needs to inspect the mine twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
It is morning now. Han Du is taking Xu Lian on an inspection tour. "Brother Xu, after we finish the inspection, how about we go to the Lichunfang in town to have some fun?"
As the saying goes, there are three irons in life: carrying guns together, studying together, and floating through Chang together... Judging from Handu's expression, it seems that he wants to improve the relationship with him.
It was just that it was inappropriate to do it in broad daylight. Most importantly, Xu Lian was worried that he would get sick. "This... is not a good idea."
Han Du smiled and said, "We have no shortage of women in our family, so we don't want to mess around with those old ladies. We just want to drink and listen to music. As managers, we don't have to be in the mine all day. As long as there's no trouble in the mine, we can arrange our time freely."
Xu Lian nodded, "Okay, I haven't been to that kind of place yet, it would be good to see the world."
Han Du felt a little regretful. "Our Lvzhu Town is a poor and remote place. There is only Lichunfang. In fact, there is nothing new. I heard that those in Pingyang County are the most varied."
Xu Lian smiled and said, "It's okay. When we become rich, we can go to Pingyang County to broaden our horizons."
Han Du looked at him, and they both burst into laughter, feeling like they were kindred spirits.
The supervisors holding rattan sticks and the miners working hard were all a little dazed when they saw Xu Lian chatting and laughing with Handu. Who could have thought that a sixteen-year-old boy who worked as a stone mover could change so much in just a few days.
"Brother Han, do you know where the python tendons are?"
Xu Lian did not get carried away. He kept in mind that strength is the root of everything and asked about the advanced raw materials.
Han Du was stunned for a moment, "Python tendons? Python tendons? What do you want this for?"
Xu Lian explained, "I want to make a bow, which I can use for self-defense and hunting in the mountains."
Han Du said generously, "It's just a bow, I'll give you one."
"..." Xu Lian said hurriedly, "No, I like the bows I made myself, they are more comfortable to use."
Han Du thought for a moment and said, "In our Green Bamboo Town, there are many green snakes, but pythons are rare. Every household is short of food. Even if they find a python, they will kill and eat it. Even the skin and tendons will be stewed and eaten. I'm afraid it will be difficult to find one."
Xu Lian frowned. What should he do? Even if he had an advancement point, he would not be able to complete the advancement without the raw materials.
Handu said, "There are several families in the town who specialize in catching snakes. We can ask them when we go to the town later."
Xu Lian's eyes lit up. Snake catcher, why didn't he think of this
The two of them briefly inspected the mine and then decided to go to the town to have some fun.
Han Du had two horses brought over. "I see that Brother Xu still rides that little black donkey to go to work, which is not very convenient. This horse is raised by the mine and is used to report to the higher-ups in emergencies. It is not used normally, so you can just ride it."
Xu Lian was not polite and immediately jumped on the horse. If he was too aloof, he would not be able to get along with Han Du, and he himself was not a lofty person... This was not the way of the world, so he should just take any benefits.
The two men rode their horses at full speed towards the town.
Soon we arrived at the town, which was not far away.
Although it was daytime, every household had their doors closed. Only men were busy making a living outside, and there was no woman to be seen.
Xu Lian said, "Brother Han, I will first find a snake catcher to get the python tendons, and then go to Lichunfang."
"It's just a bow, why are you in such a hurry?"
Han Du had no choice but to follow him.
Xu Lian asked people about it.
The town was not big, and he soon found out the residences of several snake catchers. Immediately, he and Handu rode their horses there.
"Manager Han, I want to work in your mine to earn food, is that ok?"
"Manager Han, I want to go too. My family is struggling to make ends meet. Please, give me a chance."...
On the road, many ragged men bowed and nodded to greet Handu, their eyes looking eager and pitiful.
As the manager of a mine, Handu was considered one of the "celebrities" in Lvzhu Town. Although the news of Xu Lian becoming the deputy manager had spread throughout Lvzhu Town, relatively few people knew him.
Han Du rode on his horse with an indifferent expression, not even looking at these people.
Arriving at the residence of a snake catcher, Xu Lian dismounted and knocked on the door. "Is anyone there?"
"who?"
A middle-aged woman's voice came from inside.
Xu Lian asked, "I want to buy a python tendon, do you have any?"
There was silence inside for a moment, and the wooden door slowly opened a crack, revealing two middle-aged women with pale faces and thin bodies standing nervously against the door, each holding a kitchen knife and a wooden stick in their hands, with vigilance in their eyes.
"I have no ill intentions. I really want to buy a python tendon."
Xu Lian reiterated that this is the way the world is. Under normal circumstances, it is best for men not to go to other people's homes, otherwise they will be considered to have ulterior motives, such as stealing food or women.
Seeing Xu Lian's handsome young appearance and the horse he was holding in his hand, the tension on the faces of the two middle-aged women eased a lot. A man with a horse must have enough food and women at home, and he is not as dangerous as a homeless vagrant.
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Then, the two middle-aged women noticed Han Du standing behind Xu Lian, their eyes lit up, and they immediately opened the door.
"Manager Han?"
"Come in and sit down."
This made Xu Lian a little helpless. Handu controlled a mine and had a lot of grain in his hands. He was like a parent who provided food and clothing to the people in Luzhu Town. He was welcomed wherever he went.
"No, the person in front of me is Manager Xu from the mine. You two can talk."
Han Du specifically mentioned Xu Lian's identity.
The two middle-aged women looked at Xu Lian in surprise.
"You are Manager Xu."
“So young.”
Xu Lian didn't want to waste time, "Does your family have python tendons?"
"have."
One of the taller middle-aged women went to the earthen stove in the corner and searched. "A few months ago, my husband was lucky enough to catch a python. We've eaten all the meat, but we dried the skin and tendons and kept them for stewing."
She brought over a white, shaky object that looked like a rope.
Xu Lian took it, put it to his nose and smelled the fishy smell, it must be python tendons, "How much?"
The middle-aged woman said cautiously, "This is not worth much money. If you want it, take it. My boy has grown up and can no longer live at home. He has reached the age to set up his own household and find a woman to live with. Can he work in your mine to earn food?"
The night watchman would demand blood according to the number of adult males in the family. When the boys grew up, they were not allowed to live at home, otherwise the night watchman would demand double the blood, and the women in the family could not bear it.
Therefore, when a boy grows up, he has to set up his own household and find a woman to live with.
Xu Lian took the python tendon and asked curiously, "Isn't your husband a snake catcher? Why doesn't the boy in your family follow in his footsteps and catch snakes?"
The middle-aged woman said bitterly, "It's not that easy to catch snakes. My family has been catching snakes for generations, and they were all bitten to death by snakes. None of them had a good end. I don't want my children to do the business of catching snakes. It's more stable to work in the mines and earn a living."
Working in a mine is not safe, in fact it is not stable either, if you are unlucky you will be sacrificed... Xu Lian was not able to say it out loud, for the sake of the python tendons, he could take proper care of her child and prevent him from being sacrificed. "Okay, let your child come to the mine to find me tomorrow, I will arrange a job for him."
The middle-aged woman was overjoyed. She bowed and knelt, repeatedly bowing to Xu Lian, "Thank you very much, thank you very much."
Xu Lian said no more, waved his hand, jumped on his horse, and went towards Lichunfang with Han Du.