You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 170 - 169: Jing Family Completion Plan (3rd update)

Chapter 170: Chapter 169: Jing Family Completion Plan (3rd update)

The Jing Family is very large.

With five mines, nineteen plantations, dozens of factories scattered everywhere, three fleets, and various shops, the workers, slaves, and sailors who rely on the Jing Family’s big tree to earn a meal amount to over ten thousand people. Moreover, the Jing Family has also established mining armed forces, which can transform into local separatist forces at any time.

The Jing Family is very vicious.

The average working time for workers exceeds 15 hours. Every plantation has a monthly death quota, and it’s even openly written in the accounts as ’attrition rate’—anyone who is disabled or dead is included in the attrition rate. Both attrition rate and profit rate are important operational indicators for each unit. Naturally, the lower the attrition rate, the better, but most units have an attrition rate fluctuating around 10%, with the most severe mines reaching even 24%.

The attrition rate at Jing Garden is also 13%.

This means that out of the eight servants Le Yu just saw along the way, one would become disabled... or even die this month.

Besides, the Jing Family has a very comprehensive recruitment system. Although Xuanzhu County is just a cesspool, other capitalists aren’t much better. However, the Jing Family is obviously the cesspool of cesspools. Generally, people don’t seek to work for the Jing Family unless they have no other way out.

Thus, to cater to those with no way out, the Jing Family teamed up with other associations to prepare a complete recruitment process: gangs set up multiple gambling dens, red-light houses, and lottery joints outside the city, underground banks, underground arenas, and even underground battle card venues for dark awakenings—whatever your preference, you’ll find something suitable, then you’ll lose everything.

The prevailing wave of material consumption, the ubiquitous gambling facilities, the nearby pleasure sites... Given the complete lack of oversight and indulgence by the Governor’s Office, the potential damage is self-evident. It’s enough to know that most slaves are sold by their own parents into this.

Of course, over time, the people of Xuanzhu also realized the principle of ’not gambling means not losing.’ At this point, the Silver Blood Association waved the banner of ’small gambling refreshes, big gambling harms,’ trying to get more people hooked on gambling—Le Yu occasionally saw ’friendship matches’ betting small money when he played cards at the battle card venues.

As long as you have this habit, even just buying a ’lottery ticket,’ a ’small immortal lottery,’ or betting on the size of a game, it could become the opening to your future descent into despair—unless you are perpetually flush with cash.

But in life, who hasn’t suddenly needed a large sum of money in an emergency?

At that moment, if you recall stories of someone winning a huge sum, someone reversing their fortunes with a single bet, or hearing rumors of a foolproof method to win, and if a clerk at the underground bank kindly and amiably lends you money... then you can look forward to spending the rest of your life shackled by ’grace’, laboring in the dark coal pits.

The Jing Family is the only association that rarely meddles in gang affairs because the Jing Family is the largest employer of all gangs. Most of the ’goods’ for sale, unable to repay their high-interest debts and thus selling their children and daughters to pay their debt in flesh, are absorbed by the Jing Family.

However, humans, as consumables, are quickly depleted, so the Jing Family also invests in the trafficking business. Even so, the ’job intake efficiency’ was still lower than the ’resignation rate,’ so Jing Qingfu had to propose the ’attrition rate’ assessment requirement to slow down the consumption of workers and slaves.

To describe the Jing Family as having committed great sins and full of evil would not be an overstatement.

Le Yu also sees between the lines that other associations are no better than the Jing Family. The term ’devouring people’ almost runs through the history of the rise of the Silver Blood Association. The Ting Family even has a ’consecration custom’ of testing firearms on live people.

However, in terms of brutality, if the Jing Family claims second place, no one would dare claim first.

Then why has the Jing Family been able to stand firm to this day, through several generations?

The Jing Family is very strong.

In terms of weaponry, the Jing Family can arm a thousand-strong firearms division at any time. Each factory’s guards have regular shooting practice and Combat Technique training. They even house a hundred-strong firearms martial artist unit in Jing Garden, led by the ’Peak of Perfection’ martial artist Captain Liu.

In terms of social relations, the Jing Family maintains close ties with the Heyang Army and the Governor’s Office. Although the political and military domains have a tacit understanding to suppress the Silver Blood Association, when it comes to a specific association, officer, or soldier, it’s a different story—receiving tributes, supporting promotions, political donations, maintaining kith and kin relationships... too many schemes.

The Jing Family can request the Heyang Army to suppress a mining rebellion, not via an order from the Silver Blood Association, but because the army eagerly offers help—who doesn’t know that helping the Jing Family means a full year of benefits for the entire army?

Moreover, since the iron industry run by the Jing Family and the firearm industry of the Ting Family are almost upstream and downstream industries, there’s bound to be interaction with the army, and over time, these relations naturally grow deeper.

After Le Yu became the Patriarch, the first thing to do was to send tributes to the Jing Family’s ’old friends’, maintaining the ’friendship’ that has always been there.

They also have to win over the Governor’s Office and politicians. Who doesn’t have an underperforming son or a lazy relative? Come, come, come, the Jing Family has a shop that’s short a shopkeeper. I think your son/relative has real potential!

In military and political circles, the Jing Family has nearly made all the connections. As long as the Jing Family doesn’t tamper with other forces’ rice bowls, no matter how much they exploit and oppress the common people, those above will cover for them!

Even in terms of reputation, the Jing Family isn’t bad either!

The Jing Family merely has a bad name, but after all, it’s one of the five major associations, with so many workers and slaves under it. In recent years, because Jing Qingfu fell ill and the Jing Family acted slightly more restrained, everyone suddenly changed their view on the Jing Family—’Although the Jing Family has a bad reputation, they will change, everyone should be more forgiving to them’.

This kind of thinking isn’t naive; it’s an ordinary person’s self-soothing protection mechanism.

What else could they think?

There’s essentially no one who can punish the Silver Blood Association, punish the Jing Family. The government is in cahoots with the Jing Family, and even the Imperial Court can’t be relied upon.

They can only hope the Jing Family can self-reform—once the Jing Family actually does good deeds and lays down their butcher’s knife, they will surely forget the Jing Family’s previously blood-stained evil deeds and welcome the Jing Family’s rule with open arms.

"Young Master, Yin Minghong is here."

Jing Shou brought Yin Minghong in, and Le Yu nodded, seeing Yin Minghong’s drenched appearance, laughed and said, "Why didn’t you bring an umbrella?"

"Reporting to the Young Master... reporting to the Young Master, it wasn’t raining when I left." Yin Minghong awkwardly glanced at his dripping clothes: "If the Young Master has urgent matters, just instruct me. Like this, I’m not presentable to come in."

"No need to mind, come in and sit down." Le Yu looked at the drizzling sky outside: "It’s almost meal time, isn’t it... Uncle Shou, have the kitchen prepare dinner for the two of us."

Jing Shou nodded and left, closing the door intimately, intentionally treading loudly to give the two a private conversation space.

"Many things have happened these past few days." Le Yu picked up the nearby iced honeyed Five-Flower Tea and took a sip. Being the Patriarch is different—even the utensils used are ice-eye cups, said to be rare treasures from Scandinavia. No matter when, they inherently have a low-temperature chill. Over the years, the Jing Family only collected one, perfect for drinking beverages.

He didn’t ask if Jing Qingfu had used this cup before; it was cleaned anyway.

"Yes." Yin Minghong, full of emotion, looked at Le Yu. He wasn’t putting on an act; his mood was as turbulent as the storm outside.

Who would have thought that, in the incident where White Night attacked Half City, the biggest beneficiary turned out to be Jing Zhengwei?

After they regrouped as White Night Walkers, the first thing they did was trace the origins of another wave of attackers. Unlike Yin Minghong’s straightforward thinking, after a brief discussion, the White Night Walkers determined that the other attackers had a grudge with Jing Zhengwei—burning other factories but not yours, who wouldn’t be suspicious of you at that time?

It was clearly a set-up! And using White Night’s name for the set-up!

Yin Minghong sent people to burn Jing Zhengwei’s factory, only to end up helping him instead!

Following this line of thought, it’s not difficult to guess the mastermind behind another group: it must be the arch-enemies of Jing Zhengwei, such as Jing Zhengwu, Jing Zhengtang, Jing Zhengfeng, and others!

Yet, Yin Minghong insisted on his own idea.

That group was prompted by ’Dark Sound Hidden’ Qing Lan.

As a woman with a deep-seated grudge against Jing Zhengwei, she had reasons to frame him and the capacity to have people planted in the Jing Family’s factory in advance.

However, as ’Dark Sound Hidden,’ she couldn’t have White Night act for her, or her identity would be exposed, so she had to send another group to fulfill her revenge.

But Yin Minghong didn’t voice his speculation and merely shared it privately with Wen Hong, who also agreed with his point of view, giving him an appraisal: "You really are an idiot who does good deeds but messes things up."

Yin Minghong was speechless.

If it hadn’t been for him sending additional people to burn down Jing Zhengwei’s factory, Jing Zhengwei might not be at home now but in jail...

The chain reaction that followed also made Yin Minghong increasingly resentful of his unnecessary action: Jing Zhengwu’s conspiracy failed, and after Jing Qingfu was assassinated by the Dowager, he resolutely chose to murder his second son to pave the way for the eldest, passing the title with his death— Jing Zhengwu and Jing Qingfu passed away within an hour, and the news spread all over Xuanzhu County.

It’s said that the Dowager of the Patrol Execution Guard fainted upon hearing of Jing Zhengwu’s death, and after waking up and hearing about Jing Qingfu’s death, she fainted again. Luckily, there was a Medical Officer nearby to resuscitate her.

In the end, although the industrial area was burned to ashes, Jing Zhengwei, however, turned misfortune into a blessing, inheriting all the assets of the Jing Family with the deaths of his father and brother, becoming the biggest winner!

Yin Minghong’s feelings towards Jing Zhengwei now were like playing a raid with teammates, teammates slacking off, but in the final loot distribution, rolling a 100 (maximum roll), taking away the best loot...

Leyu, of course, didn’t know about all the complaints Yin Minghong had about him, and directly said, "I am very short of people right now, do you want to work for me?"

Yin Minghong was slightly taken aback, and immediately said, "I have always been beneath the heir, there’s no need for such a question."

"It’s necessary, because I want you to handle a lot, a lot of things," Leyu said, "You know, I have not returned to the Jing Family for many years; I know nothing about the Jing Family’s assets, and there’s no one to use. If I slowly take over the Jing Family’s assets, I will also suffer from those surnamed Jing’s feigned compliance and hidden defiance, who knows how many years it will take to integrate thoroughly."

Aren’t you also surnamed Jing... Yin Minghong lowered his head and said, "Master’s meaning is?"

"I grant you the title of Inspector, allowing you to lead a team to inspect all the Jing Family’s properties," Leyu said, "Try to find who can really manage— or in other words, find those who can replace the managers of the Jing Family."

Yin Minghong was taken aback, "Such people are usually outsiders."

"I do need outsiders. The so-called blood ties are just mirages," Leyu closed his eyes, "No father like a father, no son like a son, no brother like a brother... in this family, no one is naive enough to believe in relatives."

"Compared to bloodlines, interests are the strongest bonds. These talented people stifled with nowhere to showcase, enslaved by the Jing Family for half their lives, can become my most loyal support."

"Find these people, win them over, and prepare them for ascension."

Yin Minghong felt his scalp tingle—Jing Zhengwei spoke lightly, but if someone ascends, it means someone is descending!

Would the Jing Family members sit back and watch the new patriarch deprive them of their livelihood? No!

Jing Zhengwei’s actions are opposing the entire clan!

"Of course, those with vested interests won’t be content to simply accept their fate. For these dear relatives, I’ve already thought of a way to persuade them to step down and yield to the virtuous," Leyu said leisurely, "And I plan to assign you as the persuading personnel."

"Me?" Yin Minghong pointed to himself.

"Don’t worry, it won’t exceed your capabilities, it’s similar to what you’ve done before."

With a smile, Leyu said, "Just some ordinary dirty work."

...

...

After finishing dinner, having detailed the ’Jing Family Completion Plan’ with Leyu, Yin Minghong left Fujing Courtyard feeling energetic and excited.

He saw an opportunity!

Not only the chance to become Jing Zhengwei’s confidant, but more importantly, it was also an opportunity for White Night!

Jing Zhengwei’s ambition and unscrupulousness to thoroughly control the Jing Family’s assets, even at the expense of kin. But since outsiders would manage the Jing Family, the range for such outsiders was vast—for instance, some in the Jing Family’s assets working for White Night, who have both talent and ability!

If Jing Zhengwei could fully control the Jing Family, White Night could also infiltrate it!

This was a big step for Jing Zhengwei, but also a small step for White Night!

With this realization, Yin Minghong no longer minded working for Jing Zhengwei. Although the ultimate beneficiary would certainly be this ruthless heir, White Night could also reap substantial benefits!

He couldn’t wait to return to Wen Hong to discuss how to best harvest during this major upheaval in the Jing Family!

The sky was dark; rain had been falling non-stop since the afternoon. Leyu gave Yin Minghong an umbrella as an employee benefit.

As Yin Minghong passed through the corridor, he overheard a servant saying that Heaven was shedding tears for the master’s passing, feeling rather displeased—Jing Qingfu, a person like that dies, and Heaven would weep? Heaven would more likely celebrate with a few rains of joy...

Pah, what rain, it’s raining!

As Yin Minghong was leaving the Jing Garden, he saw a lady in blue stepping out of a carriage, heading towards the main gate while holding an umbrella, causing him to hesitate slightly.

Yet, the lady in blue didn’t even glance at him, gracefully walked past him, and hurriedly went inside.

Gazing back at the lady in blue’s retreating figure, Yin Minghong’s eyes held a hint of doubt, but he ultimately shook his head and walked into the street under the curtain of lights and rain, murmuring softly:

"I must be mistaken... How could she have that expression..."