"Thank you, Young Master Gu."
Although Da Peng had no relation to Xiu Niang, having saved her, he felt a sense of responsibility.
Seeing that Young Master Gu not only agreed to let Xiu Niang and her son become villagers but also immediately made proper arrangements for them, his heart was put at ease.
"Alright, you two go back and rest for a few days. Next, I plan to establish a fleet. You two need to produce a batch of captains who can steer and crew members who can control ships in a short period.
Then, we will rely on these ships to travel to various places, collect supplies, and do business with the outside world."
Gu Qingcheng watched the rising water level stabilize, knowing it was time to start the shipping business.
The village's produce needed to be circulated, and other essential living supplies needed to be acquired. All of this could only be achieved with a fleet.
While a self-sufficient, small-scale agricultural society might seem idyllic, it could also breed laziness and complacency among villagers.
If such people became numerous, Phoenix Village would not remain as wonderful as it was now.
Society has its highs and lows, and resources flow ceaselessly; such a society is normal, as the saying goes, "A running stream never goes stale, and a door hinge never gets worm-eaten."
After leaving the Gu residence, the brothers Da Peng and Xiao Peng were still very excited. It seemed Young Master Gu was about to entrust them with important responsibilities.
Xiao Peng said he wanted to go back to see his wife first.
Da Peng, however, had to go and settle Xiu Niang.
When Xiu Niang saw Da Peng, she was so grateful that she was about to kneel again. After she and her child went up the mountain, they were temporarily housed in a single dormitory.
This dormitory was originally where the Da Peng brothers lived, and they hadn't handed over the keys after getting married.
After inquiring with Qin Yue, Qin Yue agreed to let Xiu Niang and her child stay temporarily, and then Da Peng took them back to the single dormitory.
Seeing Xiu Niang about to perform such a great courtesy, Da Peng quickly gestured for her to desist. He scratched his head and said,
"I've applied with Young Master Gu, and you will work in the daycare. Your child will be admitted to the daycare for free, with all meals provided. You will also receive over twenty catties of grain each month while working there, which will be enough for both of you."
Upon hearing this, Xiu Niang knelt down with a "plop" to thank Da Peng.
Da Peng was startled and quickly stepped back, waving his hand and saying,
"That's settled then. No need to be polite. Later, my wife will take you to meet Zhang Chunhua, the director of the daycare, to see when it's best for you to start working."
After Da Peng left, Xiu Niang pinched her leg hard. It hurt, and only then did she believe it wasn't a dream. She could actually leave that dead-end settlement and find such a good place to survive.
"Father of my child, I hope your spirit in heaven can rest in peace now that my child and I are safe."
Xiu Niang couldn't help but clasp her hands together, murmuring.
When Da Peng returned, he and his wife Zhang Yu had a reunion that was like a newlywed's bliss, naturally engaging in much affection.
Then, Da Peng spoke about the arrangements for Xiu Niang.
Zhang Yu heard this and said with a hint of displeasure,
"How did you get involved with another woman outside?"
"Oh, my dear wife, please don't misunderstand. It's just that I felt sorry for the child. If I hadn't brought her and the child back, the child would have starved to death."
Although Zhang Yu was a little jealous, she quickly processed the matter and took Xiu Niang to the daycare to find Zhang Chunhua.
Zhang Chunhua had already received instructions from Gu Qingcheng. Seeing that Xiu Niang was refined and appeared to be honest and kind, she smiled and said,
"Young Master Gu has already given me instructions. Xiu Niang can perfectly fill Lan Gui Fang's vacant position. Your child can be placed directly in the daycare, and Xiu Niang can take care of her child while working."
Tears welled up in Xiu Niang's eyes instantly...
Thinking about establishing a fleet, Gu Qingcheng also couldn't sit still.
That afternoon, she and Mi Guo descended the mountain. At the foot of the mountain, they found a suitable bay for ships and released 20 boats.
These 20 boats were ones she had previously collected near Jinsha Mountain.
After mooring the boats, she asked Dai Fa to find people to watch the boats day and night to prevent them from being stolen.
Additionally, Gu Qingcheng also instructed Dai Fa to have people clean the boats while they weren't in use yet.
After all, when she had previously stored the boats in the storage cabinet, she and her father had only moved out the bodies of those frozen to death on the boats, without any cleaning, as time and physical strength did not permit.
Since the boats, except for two that had been used by the Da Peng and Xiao Peng brothers, had not been used after being placed in the storage cabinet, they were still in the state they were in when first put away.
There were bound to be some miscellaneous garbage on the boats, so having people clean them was very necessary.
As soon as Gu Qingcheng finished these tasks, the brothers Da Peng and Xiao Peng came to find her.
The brothers couldn't stay idle for more than a day at home and asked Gu Qingcheng where the boats were, so they could start training the crew.
Gu Qingcheng said the boats were ready, but they still needed some tidying up, and they could wait a bit longer.
Then, Gu Qingcheng brewed them good tea and asked about their experiences during their trip outside the village.
The brothers Da Peng and Xiao Peng recounted everything and then said with a look of relief,
"Fortunately, we made the wise decision to settle in Phoenix Village. If we had gone to another village, even one that was prosperous in the plains before, it would now be a waterlogged marsh.
Moreover, if a flood had occurred at night, we might have drowned in our sleep without even knowing it."
Gu Qingcheng smiled slightly, not offering further explanation. Too much talk might arouse suspicion.
She took the opportunity to ask the two if they had any news of their parents.
At this, the expressions of Da Peng and Xiao Peng became somber. They said that the town in the south that their village was supposed to relocate to had also been searched this time, but that town had already been flooded.
Since their parents were immigrants from outside, no one knew their whereabouts, and they were now missing, their fate unknown.
Gu Qingcheng comforted them, saying that since they were good swimmers, they would surely be fine, and they would find them if they kept looking.
The brothers Da Peng and Xiao Peng also held this belief.
They were good swimmers, and their parents' generation was no worse than theirs. Even in a sudden flood, they would know how to swim to safety.
Furthermore, the weather in the south was not cold at the moment. Even if they were soaked in water, as long as they got ashore, dried themselves, and their clothes, they should be fine.
Fortunately, it wasn't like Jinsha City where it rained ice; if there was a flood and icy rain, people would freeze to death from hypothermia in the water in less than half an hour.
During their conversation, Gu Qingcheng discussed her idea of establishing a fleet, saying,
"Our village has abundant grain reserves, but it lacks other supplies, such as ores, medicinal herbs, fabrics, and so on.
We cannot produce these ourselves. This will require us to establish a fleet to do business in various places. Through commercial sales, we can sell what we have and buy what we don't have, so that the village can prosper and become wealthy."
Upon hearing this, Da Peng and Xiao Peng felt their blood surge. They hadn't expected Young Master Gu to have such long-term vision. Following Young Master Gu was indeed the right choice for them.