I'll Sell You Everyone in Luban Village

A peach tree nearby gloated, "Tsk tsk tsk, Luban Village is really doomed this time."

The soapberry tree beside it chuckled and said, "Well, you're right! I overheard those guys with knives whispering under the wall, saying they were going to kidnap everyone in the village!"

The Chinese toon tree not far away, looking bewildered, hurriedly asked, "Huh? Why were you kidnapped?"

The soapberry tree spoke with certainty:

"What else could we do! We're just after their skills."

You forgot, everyone in Luban Village is skilled at making spinning machines, waterwheels, plows, and windlasses.

And those exquisite woodwork and mechanical gadgets, they were all made more authentically than others.

"Arrest them, lock them up in workshops, force them to work day and night, and then sell what they make in the city—wouldn't that make them a fortune?"

Willow Tree chuckled.

"Isn't this treating people like beasts of burden, like tools for making money?!"

However, I don't like the people of Luban Village either, because they're always cutting down trees.

"Arrest them all right now!"

The men, women, and children of Luban Village were pushed and shoved together by the yamen runners, some crying and some shouting.

An old man stubbornly refused to move forward, muttering, "Why are you arresting us?"

Without saying a word, the two constables next to him raised their hands and slapped him twice, causing the old man to bleed from the corner of his mouth and fall to the ground.

The lead constable, hands on his hips, roared:

"All of you better behave yourselves! If you listen to me, you might have a chance to live!"

If you dare to cause trouble, you'll be in for a world of hurt!

Several yamen runners whispered among themselves:

"These things that were made are actually quite good."

In the future, we can not only build textile machines and plows, but also take them to the mines to make things like wooden frames and wheels for mining.

The burly constable standing nearby grinned and said:

"I heard they're going to make wooden bows and arrows, and crossbow stock."

And those trebuchet frames used for sieges—they're all things that would be incredibly useful on the battlefield!

The tall, thin constable sneered:

"You should really think about this! If you build something good, at least you'll get some food to eat."

If you can't build it well, just dump it in the mine. We have plenty of ways to deal with you!

The village chief of Luban Village roared:

"You officials just want to use us as tools."

Why are they arresting us? We haven't committed any crime.

The constables laughed loudly, "Old man, you'll be working for the prefect for the rest of your life. You'll never have any freedom again."

Just as the constables were about to take them away, the Luban Village shouted, "We, the people of Luban Village, would rather die than be humiliated! Everyone, charge!"

The constables couldn't help but sneer, "Aren't you just throwing eggs against rocks? Since you don't want to live anymore, kill all these old bastards."

They drew their broadswords, ready to strike, when suddenly they saw dust falling from the sky.

Suddenly everything collapsed, Zhou Wanwan fell from the sky.

The Luban Village was moved to tears:

"Wanwan! If you hadn't come today, they would have taken our whole village away! Waaah..."

These beasts want to use us as slaves. If we're really captured, we'll probably never see the light of day again.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "I originally wanted you to help me make a textile machine, but I didn't expect to encounter this situation. What do you plan to do?"

The Luban Village shook his head and said:

"I don't know either. I'm afraid our Luban Village is going to be completely wiped out this time. It's because the prefect has taken a liking to us."

The people of our Luban Village are destined to be slaves.

Someone suddenly spoke up:

"Village chief, if you're going to be a slave, you can at least choose who you want to be!"

Wanwan, could you please take us in Luban Village?

Zhou Wanwan exclaimed, "Ah!" and asked, "What do you mean? Should I take you in?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said:

"No need, I feel like I've taken in quite a few people lately."

I'm a little afraid I won't be able to support you all.

The Luban Village quickly kowtowed and said:

"We are easy to feed. The people of Luban Village don't care about food and drink, as long as we can live."

If we stay here, we're afraid we'll have no way to survive. I heard that the people of Liu Family Village sold themselves to you.

We're willing to sell ourselves! If you'll take us in, I'll sell you the entire Luban Village.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"You're going to sell them all to me? I'm not a human trafficker."

However, if you want me to take you in, it's not impossible, but you must all sign a contract of servitude.

If you believe me, then write it down.

The village chief quickly nodded and said:

"Of course I believe you! Why wouldn't I? Liu Xiuyuan often tells us that if it weren't for you, their Liu Family Village would probably be gone."

I believe you can make our Luban Village better and better.

I'm really useless as the village chief; I can't protect the people in the village, so I have to find someone to rely on."

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said:

"Liu Xiuyuan, make them sign indentures! After they sign, take them up the mountain."

We need you on the mountain, but there's one thing we need to tell you: the trees on the mountain cannot be cut down indiscriminately.

We only cut down trees in other places; we don't cut down the trees in our own mountains.

The people of Luban Village love cutting down trees; they've cut down all the trees on the surrounding mountains.

So when these trees saw the people in their village, they trembled with fear.

The village chief quickly nodded and said:

"We have our own rules about cutting down trees in Luban Village, but if we promise you we won't cut down any trees, then we definitely won't."

From now on, whatever you say goes, we'll listen to you.

The people of Luban Village circled the woods and heard the surrounding treetops:

"The scourge of this village is gone; our good days are coming."

They cut down trees every year, every day; no matter how many trees there are, they can't withstand that!

"That little girl is stupid. Just wait! The people of Luban Village will definitely cut down all the trees in their village."

The Old Scholar Tree looked at them coldly and said, "Mind your own business. What's it to you?"

After saying that, the Old Scholar Tree took Zhou Wanwan and left.

The people from Luban Village went first, and when they arrived at Black Wind Stronghold, their eyes widened in astonishment.

"My goodness... This is Phoebe zhennan! It must be at least a hundred years old!"

The texture, the density... if it were in my hands, I could carve a complete set of top-tier cabinets depicting the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea—that would be absolutely amazing!

"See those? Those are Chinese pines! They're probably a thousand years old!"

The trunk is as straight as an arrow; if cut into timber, it can be used to make excellent roof beams, and it won't rot even after a hundred years.

Some people stood on tiptoe, peering deep into the woods, as if trying to see through the entire forest:

"And those trees over there! Their leaves are so pointed, could they be sandalwood?"

Make combs, make bracelets, wear them, and the fragrance will linger for three years!

The thickest thousand-year-old ironwood tree's roots burst out of the soil with a "whoosh" and swept towards the knees of the short, stout carpenter who was speaking.

He cried out and fell flat on his back.

Several nearby trees joined in the fun, their roots pushing and prodding here and there, and in no time, the people of Luban Village were lying scattered all over the ground.