Tianguanzhi

Gu Jianqiu came to repay the more than 500 yuan that his eldest brother's co-workers had given to the family when he was alive. Unexpectedly, he bumped into his younger brother.

The income of kiln brothers is not low. But most people don’t actually save much money.

The mining industry is the tip of the iceberg in the lives of the people at the bottom of Jiangning.

The environment underground in the mine is harsh, the air is polluted and hot, not to mention the silica dust flying when drilling holes with mining gauntlets and there is no ventilation. Most of the mine workers will contract pneumoconiosis within a few years of working and spend a lot of money on medicine.

According to incomplete statistics from the Jiangning Mining Bureau, from 1883 to 1884 alone, more than 34,000 pneumoconiosis workers went to hospitals at all levels in Jiangning.

In addition, there are various types of industrial injuries and mining accidents, methane explosions, mine collapses, floods caused by improper mining, and fires caused by facility fires. On average, one person dies every week.

The Jiangning Mining Workers' Massacre, which caused a lot of commotion in the past few months, was caused by a methane explosion. The accident killed more than ten people on the spot, suffocated more than 8 people, and injured more than people. However, Fengtang Mine deducted workers' medical expenses and pensions for some reason. Shi Yutang published in the newspaper that "the bureau tried its best to take precautions and used special safety lamps to prevent gas explosions. I heard that workers brought earthen lamps into the mines, which caused this disaster, or they turned on the lights to make fire and smoke." Therefore, there are cigarettes on the body of the deceased, which can be seen." As soon as this statement came out, Jiangning miners were in an uproar.

Because of the precarious situation, life is miserable. Many brothels spent money lavishly, smoked laudanum, and engaged in prostitution and gambling. Fengtang Mine is surrounded by large and small prostitutes and opium dens. Most of the people in charge are mine heads and relatives of the mine owners. The mine heads will even take the initiative to lure new miners into bad habits...

Some newspapers accepted Shi Yutang's red envelope during the August work period and used an excuse to attack. They said that the workers were full of bad habits, unruly and brutal, colluded with social gangsters to disrupt public order, and were gang members. They also included a close-up photo of a man smoking laudanum. , by criticizing workers' personal ethics to disrupt public opinion.

In this kind of environment, there are very few people in the Yao who can keep themselves clean. Naturally, they can't spare any money. In addition, Longpi will interfere with it. Fopi directly said that anyone who dares to go to pay homage to Gu Xilou will be beaten. Who, but even so, the workers still collected more than 500 yuan and gave it to Gu Zhaoxue, which is already commendable.

Gu Jianqiu used to come to Fengtang Mine to deliver meals to his eldest brother, so he was familiar with the road, but after he was admitted to the public school, Gu Tianyu did this job for him.

When he came to Fengtang Mine, he immediately found Pu Xizi, Gu Xilou's best friend in the mine, and expressed his intention to come. It was Pu Xizi who sent the coworker's money, and he was beaten up by gangsters from the Longpi Society.

Puxizi was only wearing a pair of trousers, with a red ribs, exposing his dark tendons, and his calves were covered in mud. He was holding a leftover iron lunch box in his hand, and lying at his feet was a pair of clothes stained with dust and gravel. Gauntlets.

The workers had been out of the well for more than ten hours, and Gu Jianqiu came to visit him during his late break.

"Jianqiu, let's forget it. How can I get the money back? Besides, if you gave me the money, who should I give it to?"

"Brother Pu, that's the case. I've also considered it. When you pooled the money together, you didn't have any accounts or anything. Do you think this is okay? I want to exchange the money for rice, flour, grain, oil and so on. Can you give everyone a share?"

"That's not necessary! Jianqiu, I'll just do what I say. Just take the money."

"It was my eldest sister who insisted on letting me come. At that time, the family had little money to pay for my eldest brother's funeral. The eldest sister said that the money was borrowed from you, and you agreed. If you borrow it, you have to keep it, right? My eldest sister has a bad temper. This money If you don't accept it, she will definitely come back in person. Don't let her make another trip."

"Xilou's life was originally lost to us. We..." Pu Xizi couldn't continue for a while, and he changed the subject: "And we didn't pay most of this money at all. How can we get it?"

"Oh, what do you say?"

Pu Xizi licked his lips: "Most of this money came from Yao Gong, so just take it."

"Who is Yao Gong?"

"Jianqiu, don't ask such detailed questions. In short, this money is what you should take, you take it back."

"That's not possible!" Gu Jianqiu replied decisively: "How can I explain to my sister if I just go back without knowing anything?"

Pu Xizi looked around and called to a child next to him who was younger than Gu Tianyu: "Fulu, go to the door and keep an eye on it. If anyone comes, tell me."

"Ow~"

The kid got up and went out. "This Yao Gong is a craftsman in our mine. He is responsible for drawing measurements and is very knowledgeable. Your eldest brother had a very good relationship with him when he was alive."

"Then I'll go find him and return the money."

"There is no need to pay it back. This money is not his, it is funding. Do you know Zhengqi Academy?"

Gu Jianqiu squinted and shook his head.

"I don't know the specifics. I know that this is a semi-underground organization that supports our workers. A few days ago, there was a labor riot, and thousands of people took to the streets. There were also interviews with newspaper reporters and officials. Our platform is all because of the Zhengqi Society, and your eldest brother was also invited by the Zhengqi Society to lead the 8 workers. To put it bluntly, this money is the pension given to you by the Zhengqi Society, so just take it."

"What is this Yao Gong's name? Where is he now?"

"His name is Yao Qigong. He should be working in the mine to the north now, in the largest tent in the area where your eldest brother used to work."

Yao Qigong...

Gu Jianqiu raised his eyebrows. He had heard of this name. In the war archives and historical materials of the previous life, there was a well-known book called "Begonia Revolution Collection", which recorded this character.

Gu Jianqiu's low status at the time was not recorded in this book.

Is Yao Qigong from his home planet Jiangning? I didn't notice.

"Jianqiu, don't get involved in this matter and go back."

"Okay, I'll go back and ask my eldest sister."

"Hey, eh, eh~"

Pu Xizi stopped Gu Jianqiu: "Jianqiu, listen to me. When you get back, tell us that we have accepted the money. Don't talk to your eldest sister about anything else. There are many people involved in this Zhengqi Academy, and it is too complicated. If you tell your eldest sister this, you will only make her worry in vain."

"I understand, Brother Pu, you are right."

Gu Jianqiu originally wanted to go directly north to see Yao Qigong, but Fulu looked at him longingly at the door. He could only pretend to go outside the mine, but who knew that he met Gu before he had gone very far? Tianyu, the other party's trousers were dripping with water, and he looked around from time to time, and his heartbeat was even more chaotic.

He sensed something was wrong, so he followed Gu Tianyu all the way until he saw him being led into the largest tent in the north by a tower-like man.

This strong man was guarding the door. Based on the rise and fall of his chest and his eyes, Gu Jianqiu could only roughly judge that this man's electrocardiogram was higher than his own. There was no obstruction around the mine, so he had no means of getting close.

After a while, the big man from the Iron Tower heard something, turned around and entered the tent, and then hurriedly left the mine with Gu Tianyu. Gu Jianqiu followed until he watched the speedboat speed away.

From Fengtang Mine back to Jiangning City, it takes seven or eight minutes by speedboat. It takes at least half an hour by tram, and it is impossible to catch up.

Gu Tianyu was very thoughtful. The place where he parked his boat was a shoal with dense aquatic plants. Because there was water flowing when approaching the shore, there were usually no boats parked here.

Gu Jianqiu thought for a moment, then turned around and saw a large ore ship docked on the waterfront in the distance. Such large ships are usually equipped with speedboats...

"I hope I can catch up."