Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 170 Relief for work

Upon hearing this, Li Fu slowly raised his head and met Chen Bing's gaze.

After a moment, he seemed to see the sincerity and determination in Chen Bing's eyes, and his expression softened.

But he still asked calmly, "Since you say you'll get it done, what if the materials aren't enough? It's getting dark, can the people wait?"

Chen Bing did not evade the question and firmly replied: "We'll light lamps when it gets dark, and if we don't have enough materials, we'll go into the woods to cut them."

"Please feel free to offer your suggestions and work with us. We soldiers will do our best to keep up with you and will never hold you back."

Li Fu remained silent for a moment, then finally revealed a faint smile and nodded.

He patted Chen Bing heavily on the shoulder: "Okay, then I'll trust you this once."

"Let's get right to it! We must find a place for the first group to settle down!"

Chen Bing felt relieved and nodded gratefully to Li Fu.

Early in the morning, Chen Bing led several strong soldiers to the nearby woods.

Armed with axes and saws, they arrived at an abandoned thicket where the trees, though old, were sturdy and perfect for building a scaffold.

Chen Bing swung his axe, and with a swift motion, the thick tree trunk made a dull thud.

The surrounding soldiers also joined in, with the strong young soldiers shouting slogans and cutting down trees while sweating profusely.

The felled timber was neatly laid out to one side. After inspecting it, Chen Bing nodded and said to the soldiers, "That's enough!"

We transported it back and started setting it up.

A group of people, each carrying a log, walked back through the fallen leaves. Despite the weight of the logs, their steps were firm and they had no complaints.

Back at the ruins, Chen Bing unloaded the timber, where craftsman Li Fu was already waiting.

He was an elderly craftsman with a white beard, intently examining the length and thickness of each piece of wood.

Then we began to design a simple construction plan.

Li Fu drew a sketch on the ground with a wooden stick in his hand and explained to Chen Bing: "The deeper these wooden stakes are buried, the more secure they will be, and the better the dwelling will be able to withstand wind and rain."

Chen Bing carefully observed Li Fu's gestures, nodded in understanding, and immediately gathered the soldiers and civilians, "Listen carefully!"

The group split into three teams: one team dug holes and buried wooden stakes; another team secured the wooden frame with ropes; and the third team piled up the cleared stones to form a wall!

The surrounding people also joined in enthusiastically, and several strong young men stepped forward and volunteered to follow the soldiers.

The older villagers were responsible for assisting the craftsmen with other details, such as selecting timber and handing them tools.

Craftsman Li Fu began directing people to erect the wooden stakes.

The soldiers and young men worked together to erect the thick wooden stakes in the ground.

While checking the depth, Chen Bing shouted, "Everyone, push hard and bury the wooden stakes firmly in the ground! These are the supports that will withstand the wind and rain!"

The soldiers worked together to drive the wooden stakes deep into the ground, and then used thick ropes to tie and reinforce them around the perimeter, ensuring that the connection between the stakes was secure.

A young soldier saw the wooden stake leaning and immediately worked hard to straighten it, pulling the rope taut while sweating profusely.

Chen Bing stood to the side, giving instructions from time to time: "Add another support here! Don't let the wood loosen."

As the wooden frame gradually took shape, the eyes of the onlookers revealed a sense of relief and hope.

Several elderly people wiped away tears from the corners of their eyes and repeatedly thanked the soldiers and craftsmen for their hard work.

After the wooden frame was secured, the people carefully laid the tent fabric they had captured from the enemy camp on it.

Li Fu and several soldiers covered the cloth layer by layer, pressing down the four corners of each piece of cloth with stones to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.

Several women stood by, holding stones and wiping the dust off the fabric with their handkerchiefs to ensure it was clean and tidy.

"This cloth can block the wind, but be careful not to tear it!"

While carefully inspecting the structure, Li Fu instructed, "This setup will last for a while. We can repair it later when we have better materials."

A young mother approached, carrying her child, gently stroking the fabric and smiling slightly.

The child curiously reached out to touch the newly erected tent, and the woman smiled and said, "Finally, we have a place to shelter from the wind. We don't have to sleep on the streets anymore."

Soldiers and civilians worked together to clear the ruins around their homes, especially the broken bricks and tiles, to prevent them from becoming obstacles.

Some elderly people and women also joined in, using simple tools to move the scattered stones and bricks aside one by one, and then pile them up to form a simple protective wall.

A child picked up a stone with his small hands and awkwardly placed it in the corner.

Li Fu walked over to him, patted his head, and praised him with a smile: "Well done, young man, you'll definitely be a capable man when you grow up!"

Chen Bing led his soldiers to help the people reinforce the protective wall, and while building it, he instructed them: "The wall must be built high. Although it is simple, it can play a protective role."

"With better materials available in the future, this place will be built even more solidly."

Upon hearing this, the people quickened their pace.

As the construction work progressed, it gradually got dark, and everyone was exhausted.

Craftsman Li Fu sat on the ground, panting, wiping the sweat from his brow, and sighed, "The materials were limited, so it's not good enough..."

Gu Jinyan stepped forward, patted Li Fu on the shoulder, and smiled, "Uncle Li, you've done very well."

This is the result of everyone's hard work; the fact that ordinary people have a place to live is already a great comfort to them.

The people nodded in agreement upon hearing her words, and their morale soared once again.

The young men gritted their teeth and continued moving the remaining wooden stakes and cloth into the constructed dwelling, preparing for tomorrow's repair work.

A young mother holds her child and looks at her home.

With teary eyes, she bowed to Gu Jinyan and said, "My lord, thank you so much... We finally have a place to shelter from the wind and rain."

Gu Jinyan smiled and nodded, saying firmly, "You can settle in here with peace of mind. This is just the beginning."

We will rebuild Hersha City even better than before!

When craftsman Li Fu lamented the limited materials and the slow progress of construction.

Gu Jinyan stepped forward and encouraged, "Uncle Li, although our conditions are tough, with everyone working together, we will definitely be able to provide a place for the people to live."

Her words boosted the morale of the people, who quickened their pace in their work.

A young man collapsed on the ground from exhaustion, and Gu Jinyan personally handed him a glass of water.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile, "You've worked hard. Have some water and take a break. Everyone in Hesha City will remember your efforts."

Although the people were full of energy under Gu Jinyan's leadership, some couldn't help but complain: "We just escaped from the war, why do we have to start working so soon?"

An elderly man sighed, "I hope this time it really will allow us to live in peace..."

Gu Jinyan felt heavy-hearted, but still responded firmly: "We will do everything we can to protect everyone, and Hesha City will surely regain its former glory."

Her promise brought a glimmer of hope, and the people's eyes showed a renewed sense of trust as they continued to work silently.

As dawn broke, Gu Jinyan walked alone through the ruins of Hesha City.

The surrounding streets and alleys were silent, with only occasional wisps of smoke rising from distant houses and drifting in the desolate morning light.

Although the reconstruction work yesterday was intense, it didn't keep her up all night.

On the contrary, she was filled with a sense of responsibility and a firm mission for the city.

A simple pharmacy not far away made her stop.

It was a makeshift wooden hut with a cloth curtain hanging outside, covered with the names of medicinal herbs, swaying slightly in the wind.

Several bundles of herbs were piled up at the entrance, seemingly freshly collected.

Standing in front of the door, Gu Jinyan couldn't help but sigh that there was still a trace of life in this dilapidated city.

Just then, soft footsteps came from inside the door, and a young woman came out.

She wore simple cotton clothes, with traces of herbs on the sleeves and hem of her skirt. Her face was plain, yet she exuded a resilient spirit.

She is Ling Xia'er, one of the few female healers in Hesha City.

Their eyes met, and Ling Xia'er was slightly taken aback before standing still at the doorway.

His eyes revealed a hint of searching and a barely perceptible wariness.

Gu Jinyan nodded slightly as a greeting.

Before she could even speak, Ling Xia'er asked somewhat stiffly, "Lord Gu, what brings you here today?"

Gu Jinyan's heart sank slightly as he noticed the coldness and defensiveness in her words, realizing that she probably didn't have much affection for him.

She smiled gently and replied, "Miss Ling, I was just passing through and wanted to see if the city had enough medicinal herbs. If there are any missing supplies, I can do my best to provide them."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xia'er revealed a mocking smile.

He slowly said, "Lord Gu is truly benevolent. The people have just experienced the ravages of war, lack food, and need to rebuild their homes. How can they possibly care about medicinal herbs?"

"How could I possibly trouble you with such a small pharmacy?"

Gu Jinyan was slightly stung by her attitude, but she knew that Ling Xiaer's words were not entirely without reason.

She sighed softly and tried to explain, "Miss Ling, I understand the difficulties the people are facing, and we are doing our best to help everyone resume their lives."

My goal in taking charge of the reconstruction is to bring about change and alleviate suffering for everyone.

Ling Xia'er stared at her coldly, her eyes sharp, her words merciless: "Reconstruction is a good thing, but I worry that the cost of this reconstruction will ultimately be borne by the people."

Where do the resources for requisitioning grain and conscripting manpower come from?

Are we going to force those already starving people to endure hunger again in order to support these 'changes'?

Gu Jinyan was speechless for a moment. Ling Xia'er's words pierced her heart like a sharp sword. She had never thought that these decisions might be another kind of burden in the eyes of the people.

She paused for a moment, feeling a sense of confusion and powerlessness she had never experienced before, realizing that she might not have a thorough understanding of certain aspects.

Seeing that Gu Jinyan remained silent, Ling Xia'er's expression softened slightly.

But she remained calm and continued, "Lord Gu, I know you have a kind heart, but I see people worrying about making a living every day."

The struggle for food is something that cannot be changed by a few grand words.

If you truly want to help them, first go and see their situation, understand their lives, and then talk about any grand reconstruction plans.

Gu Jinyan took a deep breath, nodded slowly, and his expression became more solemn.

She said calmly, "Miss Ling, your words have benefited me greatly."

I do need to understand the lives of ordinary people more deeply, not just formulate plans from the government's perspective, but genuinely consider their needs.

Ling Xia'er was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Gu Jinyan to accept her criticism so readily.

Her expression softened slightly. She looked down at the uncrushed herbs in her hand and sighed softly.

He said, “I did not mean to make things difficult, but... the lives of the people in the city are really hard. Most of those who come to me for medicine every day are elderly people and children suffering from illness.”

They not only lacked medicine, but also often went hungry.

I'm not strong enough to save everyone I can, but if we want fundamental change, what can I do alone?