014 Old Jill’s Troubles

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Yang Jie could certainly understand Old Gil’s difficulties. To emerge from the shadow of losing a child was no easy feat; in these past two months, Old Gil had lost far more than just weight. Yang Jie stood up and walked over to Old Gil, his furry hands gently patting Old Gil’s equally furry shoulder.

“My friend, let me handle this matter. Let me find a chance to meet with your youngest son first.”

Old Gil’s weathered face was filled with gratitude upon hearing this.

“Thank you, Chief…”

This brief interlude quickly passed, and the meeting resumed.

“If there’s any recent news in the troops, One-Eye, you tell us.”

One-Eye, who had just been promoted, hurriedly stood up when the chief called his name, bowed slightly, and then sat back down, maintaining a straight posture.

One-Eye: “It’s like this, we’ve been training according to the chief’s instructions. Most of the new recruits are fresh, and it takes time to temper them. At present, our main responsibility is to fulfill the role of military instructors, conducting concentrated training for the ratfolk in our tribe.”

“Keep the pace steady. In the future, soldiers will enjoy the best benefits in the whole tribe.”

After giving One-Eye a reassuring promise, Yang Jie turned his gaze to the fourth ratfolk seated on his right.

“Batir, tell us about your work and your opinions.”

Batir was a ratfolk who had been promoted just within the last week. He was lean and tall, obviously not suited for heavy labor, and always wore a faint, elusive smile, giving the impression that he was scheming something. Yang Jie had noticed him during an unplanned patrol through the settlement, where Batir was ingeniously distributing “loans” to other tribe members.

Of course, there was no currency yet, so barter was the only means of trade, and even in such circumstances, Batir spotted business opportunities and began accumulating private wealth. Upon opening Batir’s personal profile, Yang Jie discovered that, despite his unremarkable looks, Batir possessed two passive attributes: Eloquence and Financial Management. Thus, in Yang Jie’s mind, Batir became the obvious choice for head of the town’s finance department.

Batir straightened his slender back, nodded politely to each of the senior officials present, formally introducing himself.

Batir: “Greetings, esteemed seniors. I am honored to participate in this meeting and to discuss and exchange ideas with you all. Under the current circumstances, I have two main points to address…

First: The mechanism of market privatization is imperative. Right now, the policy of centralized food distribution works for a sparsely populated tribe, but as our population rapidly expands, this system has become less effective.”

Yang Jie naturally understood Batir’s reasoning. Simply put, it was akin to transitioning from communal meals to the household contract responsibility system. Yang Jie wholeheartedly supported this change. In fact, before the meeting, he had privately discussed these matters with Batir; the theory Batir now presented was refined and guided by Yang Jie himself.

“Secondly: Barter is too primitive for trade. We need to issue a universal currency to serve as a measure of value. This would regulate market transactions and invigorate the town’s residents. This is a long road, but we must prepare early.”

This was easy to understand: currency circulation would require time for tribe members to accept its value, and crucially, Yang Jie’s tribe lacked the infrastructure for minting currency. When private property was fully accepted by the ratfolk, and currency began to circulate, a true market mechanism would gradually take shape and be perfected.

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“I agree!”

Wendy was the first to voice her approval, and the two resolutions quickly made their way onto the agenda.

Next, the other officials spoke in turn, offering valuable suggestions. The meeting lasted a full two hours, with nearly twenty officials having their say. The younger officials proposed many bold ideas, though implementation proved difficult given current conditions.

Although the food issue was temporarily resolved, the tribe still faced many survival challenges—chief among them, looming threats from enemies.

“This meeting was highly productive. Allow me to summarize.”

Yang Jie spoke casually, without any airs.

“First, regarding the reorganization of the Hunter Group: all its members are now transferred to the Security Department, responsible for handling disputes and conflicts among the ratfolk within the town. Of course, a contingent is assigned to Wendy’s Administration, with Little Billy as the captain of the security team. Batir, select two assistants from the Hunter Group as you see fit.”

“Thank you, Chief!” Batir flashed a satisfied smile.

“Old Sha, your task is urgent, so I won’t say more. Please pay extra attention to the irrigation canal.”

“Rest assured, Chief!” Old Sha replied with a smile.

“Victor, as head of both the Agriculture and Legal Departments, your workload is heavy. Land reform and town planning should be coordinated with Wendy to minimize unnecessary conflicts. If you encounter issues you can’t handle, feel free to ask Little Billy’s security team for full support. Also, within three days, I need you to submit a set of moderate regulations. Can you manage that?”

“I will not fail the mission.”

This appointment not only acknowledged Victor’s past contributions but also elevated his influence within the tribe.

“Old Gil, I will handle your youngest son Carl’s matter swiftly. For now, I have a task for you: seek out talented educators within the tribe. While we focus on military strength, we must not neglect the arts. You are the eldest here, your experience is unmatched. I hope you can quickly organize a teaching force and spread literacy among our people as soon as possible.”

“Thank you for your trust, Chief. I guarantee completion!” Old Gil said gratefully, knowing full well his age, but the Chief still trusted and relied upon him.

“One-Eye!”

“Present!”

“Your task is quite challenging. We have explored most of the Northern Plains, but know nothing of the world beyond. I need you to expand our map further. Can you do it?”

“No problem, Chief. Leave it to me!”

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“Excellent!”

Yang Jie looked at One-Eye with admiration, holding this brave and capable young rat in high regard.

“Batir, I’ve already given you your assignment. I need you to develop the most suitable pricing and labor standards for our tribe, based on the current situation in the town. You must deliver results within half a month.”

“Meeting adjourned!”

...

Two hours later

Somewhere on the Northern Plains

A young ratfolk, resolute yet still somewhat youthful in appearance, stood with a spear, facing a ferocious adult wild boar several meters away.

Yang Jie watched quietly from behind with two attendants.

The young ratfolk was none other than Gil’s third son, Kyle, who was attempting to subdue an adult wild boar alone.

Yang Jie observed Kyle’s every move from afar. Though still youthful in face, Kyle did not share the usual rashness of young ratfolk. Instead, he behaved like a mature and steady hunter, skillfully maneuvering against the wild boar. Knowing he was no match in strength, Kyle used cunning to force the boar into mistakes, exhausting its energy.

It was a lengthy contest of endurance. After nearly an hour, Kyle finally subdued the adult wild boar single-handedly.

Yang Jie watched the entire process attentively, noting Kyle’s focused gaze, practiced movements, and mature, calm demeanor—all signs of an outstanding young warrior.

Finally, when Kyle bound the boar’s limbs with vines, Yang Jie turned and left.

“Chief, aren’t you going to say something?” Wendy, beside him, was puzzled—why would the Chief break his promise to Old Gil and not offer advice?

“This is a promising youngster. He won’t be swayed by anyone’s persuasion.”

“If I praise him now, he’ll become arrogant. If I urge him to give up, he’ll rebel and chase quick success.”

“A ratfolk warrior can be battle-ready in three months of training.”

“But a distinguished general needs at least ten years to stand out.”

“Let’s head back. We’ve been standing here long enough. Old Gil’s children are all exceptional.”

Yang Jie patted Wendy’s shoulder and turned to walk back.