'It was simple: the more women who settled in the village, the more children would be born there in the future. In the long run, children born in the village would feel a greater sense of belonging than the ones brought back now.'
'Artisans, no matter their trade, were welcome. Anyone with a craft could be taken. The village was in desperate need of such people.'
At a steady pace, Cheng Zongyang made his way to the cluster of dilapidated houses he had visited before.
With the weather turning cold, many of the refugees had chosen to gather together, as it was much warmer than staying alone.
Most of them worked as laborers for the County Magistrate's Office, earning just enough money or a meal to scrape by.
Life was still difficult, but it was far better than their previous situation outside the County Town. At least here, they had shelter from the wind, rain, and cold, even if they didn't know where their next meal was coming from.
