San Shier looked at Feng Jun's shocked reaction and secretly laughed in his heart. This county magistrate still had no idea how vast Dao Xuan Tianzun's power truly was, nor how deep the strength of the Gao Family Village ran. He clearly did not understand anything yet, so it made sense to tease him a little.
He shook his head at the three fingers Feng Jun was holding up.
"Of course it's not just three days. You are underestimating us far too much."
Feng Jun blinked. "Then… thirty days?"
San Shier still shook his head. "More. Much more."
"Three months?"
San Shier chuckled. "Why does the magistrate always think so small? Can you not think bigger?"
Feng Jun took a deep breath and carefully tested, "Don't tell me… three years?"
San Shier suddenly burst into laughter. "Three lifetimes and three worlds."
Feng Jun froze completely.
To be honest, he did not believe it at all.
San Shier knew that too, and smiled lightly. "But you do not need to think so far ahead, Magistrate Feng. Right now, Heyang County already has rain from the Four Sea Dragon Kings. It is spring planting season. The crops are already in the ground. We do not need anything like three lifetimes."
"Give it half a year. Once the harvest comes in, the grain from Heyang County alone will be enough to support the people."
"At that time, there will be no need for Gao Family Village's relief anymore."
Feng Jun nodded slowly. That actually made sense.
While they were speaking, they had already arrived at Jinshuigou.
The coal mine was surprisingly close. After leaving the county road, they climbed a small slope and entered a narrow valley. In just a short while, they arrived.
The entire valley was already stained black.
The cliff walls on both sides were dark with exposed coal seams, and even the official road beneath their feet had turned black from years of coal transport. Coal dust had seeped into the soil, staining everything like ink.
Ahead, crude shelters made of branches and dry grass formed a ragged settlement. Beyond them lay an open-air coal mine.
A group of people, covered head to toe in black soot, were working inside like moving shadows.
Feng Jun glanced worriedly toward the carriage carrying Gao Yiye.
Would this young lady of a wealthy household be disgusted by such filth?
The thought had barely formed when the carriage curtain was suddenly pushed aside.
Gao Yiye jumped out.
Not only did she show no disgust, her eyes were full of excitement.
"Wow! So this is what a coal mine looks like?"
She ran straight toward a coal worker and asked eagerly, "Uncle, how is coal made? Do you dig up black stones and then process them with some special technique?"
The worker froze, startled by the sudden approach of such a well-dressed woman. He quickly bowed his head.
"Reporting to Madam, coal comes directly from underground. It is coal when it is dug out. No special processing is needed."
"Ah? That simple? Then I can dig it too?"
She crouched down, picked up a fist-sized lump of coal, and turned it over curiously in her hands.
In seconds, both of her palms were completely black, and even her sleeves were stained.
"When I was little, this thing felt so expensive. We could never afford it. I never thought it was just dug out of the ground. Hahaha, I want to take a few pieces home to play with."
The worker panicked. "Madam… that piece… I dug it."
"I know, I won't steal it from you."
Gao Yiye casually returned it, then spotted an iron pickaxe nearby. Without hesitation she ran over, grabbed it, and said, "Whose is this? I'll borrow it for a bit."
The owner of the pickaxe, a resting miner, did not dare refuse. "Madam, please use it."
Gao Yiye immediately jumped into the pit.
She swung the pickaxe down with all her strength onto a black rock.
Clang.
The tool bounced back violently.
She lost her balance and fell hard onto the ground, sitting in the dirt. Her skirt was instantly ruined, stained completely black.
She shook her numb hands.
"Wow. Mining is not easy either."
The worker beside her gave a bitter smile. "Madam, what you hit just now was not coal. It was a very hard black stone. Coal itself is not that hard."
Gao Yiye fell silent.
Qiu Ju and Dong Xue rushed over immediately and helped her up, dragging her back toward the carriage.
"Madam, you are filthy. Completely filthy. Hurry back inside so we can clean you."
In the blink of an eye, the three women retreated into the carriage.
Feng Jun stood there stunned.
What kind of situation was this? The so-called young mistress of the Gao family, the so-called Saintess, was actually such a playful girl?
San Shier coughed lightly. "Magistrate Feng, please do not mind. Our Madam is still young after all."
Feng Jun also coughed. "Yes, yes. Youthful energy is not a bad thing."
But he quickly regained focus. Today he had come here for business.
He stepped forward and addressed all the miners loudly.
"Listen carefully. From today onward, the Jinshuigou coal mine will no longer be managed by the county government. It will be contracted to the Li family of Gao Family Village."
"The young lady you just saw is the main lady of the Li family. This gentleman here is the Third Steward. Not because he is the third-ranked steward, but because his surname is San."
"From now on, you will follow their instructions. Understood?"
The miners nodded in unison, their movements dull and mechanical.
To them, working for the government or for some other landlord made no difference. Life was still suffering either way.
Feng Jun turned and gestured. "Now, let the Third Steward speak."
San Shier stepped forward with a relaxed smile and scanned the crowd.
These miners were lifeless, worn down by hardship. He was not surprised. After years of dealing with common laborers, he knew exactly what mattered most.
No need for hesitation.
Go straight for the strongest strike.
He spoke clearly.
"From today onward, you are workers of the Li family. The Li family never mistreats its people."
"I announce that starting this month, your wages will be raised to three taels of silver per month."
The entire mine froze.
It was as if every miner had been struck at the same time, their bodies locked in place.
Even Feng Jun froze beside them.
Three taels of silver?
Has the Li family gone insane?
These were the lowest class of coal laborers, hereditary bonded workers. And now they were being paid the same as workers in wealthy Jiangnan counties.
And then Shansier added calmly:
"Food is included."
The miners finally found their voices.
"A—A—AHHHh?!"
Trivia
Hereditary Mining Labor
Many Ming-era miners were bound laborers, often descended from defeated soldiers or penal households. Their status rarely changed, regardless of skill or years worked.
Wages as Authority
Raising wages was not merely economic—it redefined loyalty. Paying well shifted allegiance faster than proclamations or punishments ever could.