Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 533: Hmph, The Ignorant Mortal

The people had originally started working for Tian Peng because they couldn’t find other jobs, and the work wasn’t too heavy, with the added benefit of receiving daily rations—it was a good deal.

The employer was also very humane, even distributing food according to the number of people in each worker’s family, but a few bad apples made Tian Peng realize he had been deceived, prompting him to want to change the rules.

Although it was impossible to know everyone who worked for Tian Peng, there were circles within which everyone knew each other.

The liars who had initially inflated their family sizes for more rations were usually the lazy and greedy sort, thinking the employer would be easy to fool.

They figured by reporting a few extra dependents, even if someone noticed, they would opt for a peaceful resolution and not report it to Tian Peng.

However, it was this very tolerance that led to their own interests being compromised.

Now those who knew who reported false family sizes certainly detested the liars.

If they had reported the lie about their family sizes earlier, perhaps Brother Zhu wouldn’t have felt the need to change the rules.

The original policy was so simple and fair—no matter what, as long as you worked, you got food.

But it was their tolerance for the liars that ultimately led to the loss of trust.

"But Brother Zhu, you yourself said that this project is almost complete, it won’t be long now, so is there really any point in changing the rules now?"

The speaker was from the household with the most family members. He truly hadn’t lied, but he had many mouths to feed, and if the rules were changed now, the rations he brought home would be halved.

Tian Peng remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the faces before him—there was disappointment, shock, and regret.

But his change of the distribution policy served merely to assert his authority, to show them he wasn’t a fool.

Originating out of pity, the grain had been distributed based on household numbers—an idea proposed by Li Wu, but the circumstances then were different from now.

Back then there were fewer workers, and each one was known personally, which is why that policy worked.

Now, with over fifty workers, not everyone knew each other, and not all could be vouched for, which meant mutual cover-ups had to be guarded against.

"I didn’t want to do this, but some of you went too far with your lies about family sizes, inflating the numbers. I gave it some thought, and if you don’t want to change the rules, I’m giving you one day," Tian Peng said.

"One day for what?" someone asked.

"For those who lied about their family sizes to come forward and confess," said Tian Peng, "rest assured, if you come clean on your own, I won’t hold you accountable, but if you refuse to correct your lie, you won’t have to work here anymore."

The people opposite him discussed quietly among themselves. Tian Peng took the list that recorded the family sizes and then took out another sheet of paper. "Okay, now I will take down the information again. Li Wu, come here."

Tian Peng called Li Wu over to record each person’s name and the number in their family while he watched.

Fifty people were not too many, it didn’t take long to get everyone on the list.

Tian Peng closely examined the old list of names and noticed some of them had definitely made changes.

He gave those people a warning look, but said nothing. Then he continued, "Li Wu, read the names and the family sizes on that list out loud."

Li Wu nodded and began reading from the list, "Zhao Qian, with five in the family, Wang San, six in the family, Zhang Wen, four in the family, Zhao Huzi, two in the family..."

He read each name one by one, Tian Peng observed the expressions on these people’s faces.

This was only the beginning, if he couldn’t even manage fifty people, then there was no telling what would happen with future matters.

Indeed, this was a test and there would be many more instances like this to come. He had been meticulous this first time, and with many more tasks ahead, he naturally could achieve the same.

"He Er, seven people in the family." Li Wu had reached the last name, then placed the list of names on the table, "Zhu, that’s everyone."

Tian Peng nodded, he saw a smirk of pleasure on a few faces—what that smirk signified, he knew all too well.

"Although I allowed you to change the number of family members, this matter isn’t settled yet." Tian Peng looked at those few men.

The ones who had been smirking noticed Tian Peng’s gaze and now felt a bit guilty, wondering if Zhu knew something, why else would he be staring at them without budging?

Tian Peng spoke up, "I think there are still people among us who have falsified information. I, Zhu Ganglie, cannot stand people deceiving me to my face, so just doing this much isn’t enough."

By then it had already grown somewhat dark, he had intentionally dismissed them from work early today just to deal with the present issues.

"Zhu, it’s getting dark already. Can’t we discuss whatever matters you have tomorrow?" some people eager to return home suggested.

To Tian Peng, this was a challenge to his authority, and besides, it was only the time when they would have just finished work in the fields, not too late at all.

"Alright then." Tian Peng nodded, "Anyone in a hurry to get home, take your grain and go back."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a few began to move, ready to collect their grain.

Tian Peng added, "Those who leave now, after collecting your grain, don’t bother coming back tomorrow."

Then no one dared to move.

"Zhu, it’s getting dark, we have elders and children at home, we can’t just keep lingering here."

"Well, I didn’t say you couldn’t leave," Tian Peng said with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, fury in his eyes, and not a person dared to move.

"I said those who are in a hurry to get home can go, don’t come back tomorrow, and I won’t short you for today’s work. Whether you go or not, isn’t that up to you?"

This time no one dared to speak, they all realized Zhu was truly angry.

"It’s like this, the time right now is just when we used to finish up work in the fields. We’ve stopped earlier than usual today, you’re all aware of that, aren’t you?" Tian Peng didn’t explain, but Li Wu did.

Hearing this, the people below were even less inclined to move,

What he said was true, but some, feeling guilty, were thinking of hastily finishing up and leaving.

"Zhu, I support you! Settle the matter completely, and make those who falsified their numbers leave!"

"That’s right! We support you too, Zhu is doing a good deed, repairing the canal is for the good of the entire town’s people. Furthermore, Zhu is even providing us with grain out of his own pocket—such a charitable man. There are some whose consciences must have been eaten by dogs, to think of cheating him out of his grain!"

"Exactly! I support Zhu!"

The voices supporting Tian Peng grew louder, making those already filled with guilt feel even more so. Yet they couldn’t leave now; to do so would be to admit they falsified their numbers, so they had no choice but to wait it out with everyone else.