strictlysupreme Chapter 81 Construction Begins
Chapter 81 Construction Begins
No matter what's happening in Harappa now, the warm and welcoming village of Mittal is Vijay's true home.
The afterglow of the setting sun poured down like molten gold, dyeing the vast plains a warm, reddish-gold color.
The evening breeze swept across the fields, carrying the moist scent of earth and the fragrance of distant grasses and trees, gently caressing one's face, a feeling of tenderness and comfort.
As dusk settled, the outline of the village of Mittal gradually became clearer, revealing scattered thatched cottages and stone houses, the old locust tree with its lush branches at the village entrance, and wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys.
Vijay led his large procession on the return journey, the procession stretching for hundreds of paces.
Gantan led the way with an oxcart, Vijay sat inside, and in the middle was another oxcart loaded with various daily necessities.
The newly recruited servants followed on both sides of the carriage. They were dressed in new clothes, and although they still looked somewhat reserved, they no longer showed the fear they had shown at the beginning.
The wheels rolled over the dirt road, making a steady and rhythmic sound.
As the procession moved forward, the sounds of footsteps and wheels mingled together, exceptionally clear on the silent plains, exuding a vibrant energy.
As they drew closer to the village, the three people stood under a tree at the village entrance, their eyes fixed on the road in the distance, their expressions anxious. They would occasionally stand on tiptoe to peek out, their eyes full of anticipation.
Maya was also holding the liquid that Vijay loved to use.
When the outline of this huge group came into view, the three of them were stunned at first, and obvious surprise flashed in their eyes. Their expressions changed from expectation to disbelief, and they took a few steps forward involuntarily, walking quickly towards the group.
The procession slowly came to a stop, dust settled gently, and a faint earthy smell filled the air.
Bim and his two companions quickly stepped forward, their eyes sweeping rapidly over the group. From the dozens of newcomers to the oxcarts laden with supplies, and then to the orderly formation of the procession, their expressions of surprise deepened. Their lips parted slightly, and their voices were filled with excitement and disbelief: "Shiva bless you, Master! You've finally returned!"
Rajan stood to the side, his face filled with shock. He hadn't expected that a simple trip to Harappa City would result in Vijay bringing back so many people and supplies. He was momentarily speechless, "Master, these...who are all these people?"
Vijay simply nodded, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present, and solemnly introduced himself to the newcomers.
"This is my most loyal servant, Bim; he will be the chief steward of Mittal Village!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Bim.
Bim's appearance was not particularly outstanding. He was over sixty years old, with gray hair, a slightly hunched back, and his face was covered with the wrinkles of time. At this moment, his cloudy eyes were filled with glistening tears, which slowly slid down his cheeks, tears streaming down his face.
He followed the Mittal family for decades, from the tribe's heyday to its decline, experiencing ups and downs, always remaining loyal and never wavering.
Now that I have been entrusted with such an important task and given full authority to manage the village, I am filled with gratitude, emotion, and a heavy sense of responsibility.
He raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes with the rough back of his hand. He quickly composed himself, and the excitement on his face faded, replaced by a calm and capable demeanor born of experience.
He bowed slightly, paying deep respect to Vijay, his tone reverent yet firm: "Brahma above! This old servant will certainly not fail my master's trust and will manage all affairs of the village, large and small, and will never betray my master's confidence!"
There were no superfluous sentimental words, no flowery language, just a simple sentence, yet it conveyed a profound sense of loyalty and responsibility.
As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze swept quickly over the newlyweds present, and he began to make arrangements in a clear and orderly manner: "Everyone, please follow me first, we will settle you into your lodgings and then distribute food. Let's get settled and rest for today."
He naturally didn't know the origins or names of these people, but as long as his master trusted them, he had no doubts.
Bim's movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation, and his calm demeanor instantly commanded the scene.
The group followed Bim into the village. Along the way, several young Shudras hesitated, whispering to each other, their eyes filled with unease, as if they were worried about their unknown dwelling and assignment.
Bim keenly sensed their thoughts. Without pausing, his tone was calm yet carried an undeniable authority, dispelling their doubts with a few words: "The master is merciful. As long as you serve faithfully, work diligently, and do not overstep your bounds, you will surely have a peaceful life in the future!"
His words were concise, clear, and powerful, instantly giving strength to these anxious people and calming their restless emotions with just a few words.
Upon arriving at the vacant area east of the well, one finds several rows of abandoned stone houses and thatched cottages.
The original owners had long since left, and many of them were acquaintances of Bim.
Seeing the changes in everything, he felt a pang of sadness.
After briefly composing himself, he said, "Please choose your own houses, then go to the village square to fetch water and clean up. I will bring you various supplies later!"
Vijay stood at the crossroads at the village entrance, watching Bim handle everything methodically, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
That old man, Bim, is a real talent!
Although he is old, he is meticulous, experienced, and loyal. With him in charge of internal affairs, I can rest assured and do not need to worry too much about the trivial matters of the village.
He said no more, then gestured to Maya beside him and said in a gentle tone, "Come on, let's go back inside and have dinner."
Maya followed silently at the back of the group, watching the newly joined servants with a subtle scrutiny in her eyes.
She carefully examined each woman and saw that most of them were ordinary people, with no outstandingly beautiful women. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and a bright and gentle smile instantly bloomed on her face. Her eyebrows curved, and her tone was full of joy and tenderness: "Master, I prepared the meal early this morning and have been waiting for you to come back. Please come in and rest."
Throughout the journey, she was filled with joy and excitement, and when she served Vijay his washing and meals, she was especially attentive and meticulous.
The hot water was at the perfect temperature, the clothes were neatly arranged, and the food was warm and delicious. She spoke softly and gently throughout, showing utmost care and consideration, pouring all her heart into the smallest details of her care. The atmosphere was warm and comfortable, allowing Vijay to feel a rare sense of warmth and peace.
The night passed peacefully, the tranquil village immersed in the darkness, with only scattered lights and the occasional barking of dogs.
The next day, just as dawn broke, a faint, pale white appeared on the eastern horizon. A thin mist enveloped the entire village like a veil, and the air was fresh and cool, carrying the fragrance of earth and vegetation.
The village gradually awakens, with the sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking rising and falling. People get up one after another to work, and a new day begins.
Vijay got up early, quickly washed up, and changed into a clean shirt and trousers when he heard soft footsteps outside the door.
Upon opening the door, I found Shu Hu already waiting in the courtyard.
Upon seeing Vijay emerge, he immediately stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said in a calm and composed tone, "Master, as you instructed, I have carefully selected twelve capable men from among the Dalits. They are all waiting at the village entrance. Please go and inspect them."
Vijay nodded slightly, his expression calm: "Okay, call Rajan and let's go take a look together."
As soon as he finished speaking, Rajan came out from the side room.
He was in high spirits, dressed in clean clothes, with bright eyes. Upon hearing the order, he immediately replied, "Yes, Master!"
The three of them walked together toward the open space outside the village. The open space was spacious and flat, and the morning mist had not completely dissipated, carrying a slightly cool and damp feeling.
The twelve Dalits had already knelt down, waiting patiently.
Vijay glanced at them, his eyes fixed on their obvious non-human features.
There was a creature with pointed animal ears perched on its head, the tips of which trembled slightly, and a fluffy animal tail trailing behind it. Its eyes were lively yet wary.
Some of them had skin covered with fine, light-colored scales that shimmered faintly in the morning light, and their limbs were strong and powerful.
Some people have long, slender limbs that drag on the ground, and sharp nails on their fingertips; their movements are light and agile.
Two women stood out: one was slender and well-proportioned, with a pair of fluffy white fox ears on her head and a soft, bushy fox tail trailing behind her. She had a cunning and agile air about her, and her movements were light and graceful, making her appear extremely nimble.
The other man was extremely tall and robust, a head taller than the average man. He seemed to have a broken horn on his head, broad shoulders and a thick back, strong and sturdy arms, a full and broad chest like an ox, and firm, explosive muscles. His eyes were steady and exuded a sense of honest and reliable strength.
Vijay scrutinized these people for a moment before addressing them, his voice carrying clearly throughout the open space: "From today onward, you are the leaders of Dalit and will serve under me. There is no need to give your names yet. Only by demonstrating real achievements and proving your worth through sweat and labor can you gain recognition. Then I will learn your names."
Simply stating this wasn't enough; Vijay went on to describe the future.
"From this day forward, your basic food and lodging will be improved. You will no longer be treated the same as ordinary Dalits. As long as you work diligently, do your job conscientiously, and make contributions, you will become my official servants in the future, enjoying higher status, better lodging, and more generous remuneration."
The language is straightforward, with clear rewards and punishments. It establishes strict rules while also outlining a promising future. It is simple and direct, yet highly motivating.
Although their faces, which had been raised in a way that was beyond their bounds, were filled with fear and disbelief, a hint of fervor in their eyes did not escape Vijay's notice.
Vijay didn't let them speak, and they didn't dare to open their mouths.
Vijay was pleased with their expressions, which made them seem as if they were not completely dead. He then began to assign tasks: "You twelve will each lead three hundred Dalits and disperse to the four cardinal directions of the village, dividing the work into sections and each taking charge of the labor in a designated area."
He turned his gaze to the tree beside him, his tone serious: "Tree Hu, as the chief inspector, you must keep a close eye on everyone involved. All six key tasks must be carried out simultaneously!"
"First, the logging camp. You will send two teams to the logging camp to speed up its construction and build accommodations. The logging and transportation of timber will also be handled by these two teams."
"Secondly, mining. Two teams will be sent to the highlands in the northeast to build roads and houses, awaiting my further orders."
"Thirdly, we'll be clearing land for planting. We'll assign four teams to this task! I intend to plant all the wasteland in the village with grain!"
"Fourth, well drilling. Deep wells must be dug at each location where a team of men is stationed, and a team of men must be assigned to do this."
"Fifth, road repair. This also requires a team to repair the dirt roads inside and outside the village and open up the passage between the work area and the village."
"Bring the remaining two teams to the village and completely renovate all the buildings!"
Vijay spoke clearly and logically, pointing out each point before turning to Rajan and Shuhu: "You must keep a close eye on things. None of the six tasks can be neglected. Slacking off or being perfunctory is strictly prohibited. Check the progress daily, and anyone found shirking their duties will be severely punished! Of course, if there are difficulties, you must not make unreasonable demands, and you must not intentionally harm anyone."
Upon hearing this, Shu Hu bowed and accepted the order, his expression solemn: "Brahma above, I obey! I will strictly supervise the process, and may your will be faithfully carried out!"
Vijay nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Rajan: "Rajaan, you are in charge of the daily work assessment. You will score each person by area and group: those who fail to meet the progress requirements will have their meals canceled for the day and will be made to go hungry as a warning; those who meet the progress requirements will be provided with wheat cakes and vegetable soup as usual; those who make the fastest progress and perform the best will be rewarded with a meat dish as a reward and incentive."
The reward and punishment rules are simple, direct, fair, clear, and highly binding and motivating.
Rajan bowed and agreed: "Your subordinate understands. We will strictly adhere to the assessment standards, score fairly, and absolutely not show favoritism!"
Rajan didn't seem too happy. Watching the Dalits disperse, a hint of reluctance crept onto his face as he muttered a complaint under his breath: "Master, I really don't want to deal with these Dalits..."
He was straightforward and disliked complicated matters. He also had a deep-seated contempt for Dalits and was unwilling to deal with Dalits from the lower classes.
Vijay turned to Rajan, his expression gentle, his tone encouraging and expectant: "This task requires your expertise!"
He paused, softened his tone, and offered his young servant a promise: "Work hard and do your job diligently. After some time, I will personally select a virtuous, capable, and upright Shudra woman for you to marry, so that you can settle down, start a family, and live a peaceful life."
In short, it perfectly captures the essence of young LeBron James's feelings.
He was immediately made to stand up straight, his whole body stiffening, his eyes instantly brightening. His previous complaints and reluctance vanished, and he bowed deeply, his tone unwavering: "This servant obeys! I will certainly not fail my master's trust, and will do my utmost to complete the assessment without any slackening!"
Vijay smiled knowingly as his little scheme succeeded.
Suddenly remembering something, he asked, "Rajan, how's the situation upstream?"
Upon hearing this, Rajan's smile froze. "Shiva, Master, I was just about to report!"
"I walked a long way along the river, almost to the border of Titi Village, and finally saw it clearly!" His face showed a mixture of grief and anger: "Titi Village built a dam, blocking all the water!"