In the end, Cai still didn’t leave. Instead, she told an old-fashioned story. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Perhaps she also realized that this was a rare opportunity to change her destiny!

"So, you are a descendant of those workers in the back mountain, awarded once a year for your exceptional ability, but ended up catching Deng Han’s eye because of your beauty?"

Chen Jiuge summarized Cai’s story.

"Yes, sir, you are not wrong." Cai nodded.

"Interesting, you say you can enhance the quality and taste of Dusk Wine?"

Compared to beauty, Chen Jiuge was more focused on tangible results. Although Cai’s looks were outstanding, it wasn’t as if Chen Jiuge hadn’t seen beautiful women before.

Back in the day, after Shuibing obtained the Life Fruit, she once privately discussed with Chen Jiuge about wanting to have a descendant with him, but Chen Jiuge refused. It wasn’t that Shuibing wasn’t beautiful, but because Chen Jiuge was disinterested.

Such things, how could they compare to cultivating more powerful Spiritual Beasts, or the allure of longevity!

"I still don’t know what your life is like, can you tell me?"

"Ah, sir, which aspect are you referring to?" Cai asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Like, what your living conditions are, and the production volume of Dusk Wine?"

"This... this....."

Cai hesitated, unsure of how to express it.

"Speak boldly!" Chen Jiuge encouraged.

Thinking about the workers’ harsh living conditions, Cai mustered the courage to say, "Sir, I hope you can rebuild our resting places, and perhaps provide a bit more food!"

"Hmm?"

Chen Jiuge frowned slightly. Although Cai hadn’t provided specifics, thinking about how Deng Han didn’t even pay the guards and maids in the manor, he roughly understood the situation, though he couldn’t quite comprehend it.

"I understand. I will come and see for myself tomorrow!"

"Sir, I...."

"You may leave now."

Looking at Chen Jiuge’s undeniable gaze, Cai shyly lowered her head and left the room.

Lying on the soft large bed, thoughts swirled in Chen Jiuge’s mind, finally turning into a sigh.

"Let’s handle Dusk Manor first, we’ll talk about the rest later!"

.......

Early the next morning, Chen Jiuge called for Cai and, accompanied by Xing Xia and Dong Wen, a Third Level Guard in the manor, went to the back mountain, which was also the most important Dusk Wine base in Dusk Manor.

"Is this where the Dusk Wine is produced?"

Looking at the crooked wooden houses in the distance, Chen Jiuge’s face showed a series of question marks.

Cai cheerfully explained, "Sir, yes, that’s the village chief’s house, the largest and best-looking house in our village!"

"Of course, it can’t compare to your residence, sir!"

"The largest, the best!"

Taking a deep breath, Chen Jiuge’s silent disdain for Deng Han, who was casually killed by Wu Yan, grew even more.

Considering Dusk Wine as an important economic asset of Dusk Manor, not granting those workers free citizenship was understandable for Chen Jiuge. After all, Dusk Wine was just an ordinary Spiritual Wine. If someone else obtained the secret recipe, it could potentially be cracked.

But to oppress them to this extent, Chen Jiuge couldn’t imagine. Wasn’t he afraid that those workers might take him down with them?

"This is truly an eye-opener for me!"

It was also the first time for Xing Xia to see such a situation. As a Fourth Level Mind Master, Xing Xia had encountered a considerable number of distinguished figures. Although she hadn’t accessed the core assets of those prominent individuals, she could see from some details that those technical personnel without citizenship weren’t treated too lowly in terms of living conditions or status internally.

Some with high cultivation talent would even be actively helped to obtain citizenship.

Only those minor nobles with weak power would rely on controlling them through refugee status. After all, the Fourth Level Realm might seem not low, but it wasn’t high either. Among the massive number of refugees, it wasn’t unusual for some genuine talents to emerge.

Dong Wen spoke with a trace of resentment, "Back when the old Manor Master was still here, although we couldn’t compare to official citizens, our lives were pretty good with rewards and penalties. The environment here wasn’t this bad."

"So Deng Han had an easy death!"

Wu Yan worried that Deng Han might expose their secret support, so he killed him with a slap. Although exposing it wouldn’t have caused much damage, it was easy to resolve matters with a simple action.

"Phew, follow me inside and take a look!"

Apart from the wooden houses seen at first glance, the interior environment was even worse, with thatched huts on both sides or shanty houses, people crammed together like livestock.

As for the food, it was even more absurd, with lumps of pitch-black substances that were worse than pig feed.

"Using synthetic feed as food for you, I underestimated his lack of bottom lines!" Xing Xia remarked.

"Cai, go and gather everyone. I have an announcement to make!"

Chen Jiuge didn’t want to look any further. Such an environment, worse than that of livestock, was incredible that they endured it for thirty years!

"Yes, sir!"

At this time, everyone in the village was in the back valley brewing Dusk Wine, so nobody was in the village at the moment.

According to Dong Wen’s explanation, although the residents’ living conditions were poor, the brewing equipment in the valley was all new. To increase the production of Dusk Wine, Deng Han had updated the equipment three years ago.

Therefore, there was no need to worry about the valley over there.

Shortly after, Cai brought back a large group of people.

These people were all extremely emaciated, with only a few exceptionally endowed children, and a handful of pitiable young adults, while the rest were practically reduced to skin and bones from hunger.