Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 52: Too Many People

Cheng Xiaoxiao had no choice but to give a simple explanation of the labor points system to everyone: "The labor points system is a way of measuring labor and distributing personal consumer goods, based on labor points as a scale. It’s a type of labor remuneration system.

To put it simply, it’s a collective system assessment standard, where the workers’ remuneration is calculated according to labor points, which means work scoring for short. When labor points accumulate to a certain amount, they can be exchanged for corresponding food and living supplies. Labor points are divided into collective and personal points, recorded and assessed by designated personnel, and calculated based on individual capabilities."

After listening to Cheng Xiaoxiao, everyone was left in a daze.

They looked at each other, as if silently asking, "Did you understand?"

Only Cheng Hao spoke thoughtfully, "Basically, it means gathering everyone to work together, with executors observing who does well and who doesn’t, sort of a reward for more work, and those who slack off will be recorded, getting lower points naturally, thus fewer exchangeable goods. It’s a very fair employment relationship."

With Cheng Hao’s explanation, everyone understood.

Cheng Xiaoxiao gave her second brother a thumbs-up, once again marveling at how quick-thinking the scholarly mind is.

Cheng Hao, seeing Cheng Xiaoxiao’s admiring look, chuckled softly. This girl has a broad knowledge base, no wonder she learns things so fast, but she just doesn’t know how to cover it up.

Now she’s in trouble.

Cheng Dashan mumbled, "Xiaoxiao, how do you know so much? Designing traps and digging channels, the labor points system, preparing herbal medicine, and even cooking so well, truly impressive."

Cheng Xiaoxiao was at a loss, uh! She hadn’t realized she exposed so much! How should she explain?

"Well..."

Cheng Xiaoxiao had a sudden idea, "That’s why you should study more when you have the chance. Reading and learning naturally makes you capable; all these are written in books! Like last time when I went to buy paper and ink for Brother Jia, I accidentally saw a book called ’Folk Records’, which recorded all kinds of interesting people and things, including the labor points system."

Cheng Xiaoxiao randomly made up a book name, trying to muddle through.

Everyone nodded in tacit understanding, but the problem was that they didn’t have the conditions or opportunity to read! Even those who did weren’t academically inclined and couldn’t manage.

Cheng Xiaoxiao rubbed her forehead. Previously, no one ever questioned her; they just did what she said. But today, there came a fool, frustrating!

The slow-witted Cheng Dashan, silently scorned by Cheng Xiaoxiao, was occasionally glancing at Dahua.

Ah!

Could Cheng Dashan like Dahua?

Today she discovered a big scoop!

Cheng Jia and Cheng Ran expressed that they would definitely study well to surpass Cheng Xiaoxiao in the future. Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t mind and fully supported them.

Just then, Cheng Hao nonchalantly added, "I often visit that bookstore too, so how come I haven’t seen a book called ’Folk Records’?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao felt a shiver down her spine. How could she forget her second brother? She could only sheepishly say, "Maybe... Maybe you just didn’t notice those kinds of books, so you missed it."

"Oh..." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

That "oh" from Chen Hao was drawn out with a long tone.

Cheng Xiaoxiao! "..."

Damn, this situation is falling apart completely! She was just thinking about what other excuses...

Cheng Hao nodded and said, "That’s possible!"

If he teased any more, the girl would explode.

Cheng Xiaoxiao let out a breath of relief, with so many people watching, not giving her time to prepare. The more said, the more wrong, and telling one lie requires countless lies to fill. One can’t be sure when it might get exposed!

So exhausting!

Big sister is doing this for your own good, a bunch of ungrateful folks.

Cheng Hao looked at the girl’s small, plaintive face, so expressive, probably cursing him quietly!

Indeed, Cheng Xiaoxiao was silently condemning, "Second brother, aren’t you still the one who understands me best? How could you undermine me? I’ll remember this big gift; there’ll be a time for payback. Humph!"

Cheng Xiaoxiao had no choice but to smooth things over herself, "Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Have you all finished eating? Gathered here, finish up and go arrange what needs arrangements."

Today’s slightly idle moment soon turned busy again.

In the afternoon, the whole village was abuzz.

Cheng the Second’s family was making a big move, hiring the villagers to work. How much would that cost? Tsk, tsk!

Despite the complaints, for the villagers, earning money was a huge good thing. They all came out to help, some shoveling dirt, others moving stones, working zealously.

Most villagers opted for copper coins, yet only about ten families, who were close with Cheng Xiaoxiao, chose to calculate by labor points.

The village chief found the labor points system very novel and specially sought out Cheng Xiaoxiao to discuss it, praising her cleverness and promising future.

The next day, those responsible for selling herbal medicine sold the last batch and, per Cheng Xiaoxiao’s request, once again reminded Manager Huang to store up medicinal herbs and grain.

After they divided the money, happily discussing how to reward themselves, Cheng Xiaoxiao officially informed everyone that a disaster might be coming in the next few days, and that they should finish all work today.

The rice was almost sun-dried. Cheng Xiaoxiao joined everyone to store it in high places, moving all the cellar contents to high spots too, filling every water jar, reinforcing every family’s house.

Cheng Xiaoxiao was very satisfied. The trenches were dug, only the holes lacked depth, which was the last task for the village. By afternoon, it was crowded, with physical fights even breaking out over it.

Cheng Rong, who was doing the registrations, was utterly exhausted. There were only four pits, with over eighty people working, really couldn’t take in any more. If it weren’t for Cheng Xiaoxiao saying the more people, the better, even sixty would be enough. Now over twenty more were stuffed in, with numbers still increasing.

"Big nephew, give the last spot to me, will you? Your aunty is good at fieldwork, too," said the robust middle-aged woman, looking eagerly at Cheng Rong. She was the wife of Cheng Rong’s paternal great-uncle’s wife’s brother’s sister; some sort of distant relation.

Another aunt was unwilling to be left out, "Granny Lin, don’t you know your age? How can you handle physical work? Cheng Rong, give it to aunty, aunty’s young, with boundless strength."

Aunt Liu squeezed forward, shouting shrilly, "Move aside, move aside! Take me, take me; I’m Cheng Rong’s mother’s close friend, this spot is mine."

Several other women were also unwilling, pushing forward, shoving each other, scratching, making the scene even more chaotic, constant arguing, endless cursing, almost driving Cheng Rong mad.

When Cheng Xiaoxiao arrived, this was the scene she saw.

Cheng Rong tried to control the situation but got pushed.

Bypassing the crowd, turning around to the back, just in time to support his almost falling big brother, Cheng Xiaoxiao frowned; it was too noisy.

Cheng Rong awkwardly spoke up, "Xiaoxiao, look, there are too many people. It’s inappropriate to take or leave anyone out; what should we do?"

Seeing Cheng Xiaoxiao arrive, the crowd calmed down a bit but still continued muttering and undermining each other. They only started fighting because Cheng Rong said this was the last spot.

Cheng Xiaoxiao slammed the inkstone on the table heavily with a thud, startling everyone into silence.