Deep into the Streets and Alleys

Now that Victor had some free time, he started to feel restless and restless.

Leaving aside the Golden Sunflower Family's other territories, the Two Rivers County alone, as the Golden Sunflower Family's actual stronghold, was also built by Victor himself. Its internal political system is quite perfect, and it can operate freely even without his intervention.

Therefore, Victor intends to personally investigate the current state of the Two Rivers County and see if the governance has met his expectations. He plans to tour the Two Rivers County during the winter.

Without hesitation, Victor bypassed his subordinates, notified the Internal Security Bureau, and set off with four personal guards under the protection of an Internal Security Bureau.

Although he was confident that he could withstand the threat with his Transcendent military strength, as a ruler, he had to give his subordinates a chance to prove themselves. Besides, concealing one's abilities was also a kind of wisdom for a leader.

Victor's first stop was a working-class area in Woodfort City. Although it was a working-class area, it did not appear dilapidated or dirty.

Thanks to the unified urban planning of Woodfort City, even the working-class areas can enjoy high-quality public services, and the cleanliness of the streets is no different from that of other urban areas.

In the relatively well-funded Two Rivers County, municipal management is also a part of the government's performance evaluation. If it is not done well, the head official will definitely be held accountable, so the municipal government will not hesitate to spend money on this aspect.

Another approach is to provide employment opportunities for urban poor through jobs such as municipal cleaning, allowing them to earn a living and avoid engaging in criminal activities. This is also a concept that Victor taught his officials.

Victor walked along the road with his Disguise guards, observing the scene on both sides. Even in winter, the market was bustling, especially the densely populated working-class areas, which were full of life.

There are all kinds of shops along the roadside, and in some specific locations, you can even set up a stall. People come and go on the road, and people come and go in and out of the shops. Every now and then, someone stops in front of the stall to ask about prices and buy goods.

Seeing this, Victor nodded in agreement. With the development of the entire territory, even ordinary civilians could enjoy the benefits.

It's lunchtime now, and many people are probably out having lunch. The city is indeed bustling, with pedestrians dressed in work clothes, hurrying along, probably because they need to go back to work after lunch.

Victor wanted to know more, so he had a guard give a hand signal, and soon a plainclothes bodyguard hidden among the pedestrians came over.

Victor asked directly, "There are a lot of people around here, are there any large factories?"

The guard immediately replied, "Sir, this area is close to the Inner River Dock District, where there are many chambers of commerce, as well as several printing and garment factories, so there are quite a few workers here."

Furthermore, road renovations are underway in the dock area, which has recruited many temporary construction workers, all of whom live nearby.

Victor looked at the densely packed crowds in the small restaurants on the surrounding streets and nodded.

Even the most ordinary people can have hot meals in winter, and if they are willing to work hard, there are many jobs available for them in winter.

For example, recently, in order to ensure convenient transportation in most towns in Two Rivers County, the county's railway company has hired many workers to clean up snow.

After all, being located in the Northlands, the snowfall in Two Rivers County is quite substantial. By the end of December or January, it's not uncommon to find snow accumulations that are several tens of centimeters thick.

The heavy snowfall has put considerable strain on transportation in Two Rivers County. Even with a large amount of snow removal equipment available, manpower is still needed for the clearing work.

Therefore, every winter, both road administration and Department of Civil Administration recruit a large number of workers to do road cleaning and maintenance work.

Fortunately, labor was relatively cheap at that time, and it could also provide a job for ordinary people who were struggling financially to support themselves. In a sense, it was a form of work relief, and the county government would provide special employment subsidies.

Victor led his men on a walk through the streets, looking around and buying a lot of groceries, continuing until evening.

As he passed an alleyway, Victor suddenly smelled a hint of alcohol. Turning his head, he saw a small tavern at the end of the alley, from which some workers with flushed faces were leaving.

Victor then led the group toward the tavern. Just as they arrived, Victor suddenly noticed several gazes and saw a few burly men staring at them from the tavern entrance.

Victor looked at the group curiously. The burly men saw that Victor and his group were all young and strong, and their clothes were neat, so they didn't pay them any more attention.

Victor entered the tavern and discovered that it was a hidden gem. Although the entrance was small, the interior was quite large, with dozens of tables divided into several areas. In addition to drinking, food was also provided, and many workers ate there.

Victor simply found an empty table, sat down, ordered some drinks and food, and ate with his guards while listening to the conversations around him.

Some people were complaining about how tiring their work was, others were grumbling that the wine was diluted and tasted weak, and still others were showing off their families and children to their companions. In short, it was a lively scene, showcasing the diverse aspects of human nature.

But soon a voice caught Victor's attention. "Brother, this is all the hard-earned money you make carrying loads at the docks, you can't gamble it away."

Don't forget you still owe Scarface a high-interest loan. The wages are good right now, so let's work extra hard, brothers, and chip in to help you pay it off. Otherwise, the interest will just keep piling up."

"Don't mess around. I'm on a winning streak today. I'm sure I'll win big, and then I can not only pay off the loan sharks but also make a fortune."

"Brother, why don't you understand? That gambling den is connected to Scarface. Otherwise, why would Scarface lend you so much money?"

You'll only lose more and more. Once you can't afford to pay anymore, Scarface will definitely take your house away.

"He wouldn't dare, but I'm not one to be trifled with either. We dock brothers have never been afraid of anyone."

"Brother, how can a bunch of dockworkers compare to Scarface?"

Besides, don't forget Old Ryan. He's a retired soldier from the territory, and he still got his house taken away by Scarface, and his leg was broken...

After that, Victor stopped listening, and his face turned very pale.