"Let's take a break and change jobs!" A foreman on the Ba Shui Pier shouted.
After his team unloaded their things, they went to get their food.
Another foreman followed and shouted, "Change jobs, let's go."
A group of people rushed to each position with sacks and took over.
Those who were organized were like this. Those who were not organized would get a stick for each trip. When they stopped working, they would count the sticks.
Such people were usually too skinny or stronger than others.
Other teams were not willing to take thin people because they would delay things.
Strong people did not want to join others and delay their own earning.
The disadvantage of being organized was that they had to give some money to the organization and let others take the money that they worked so hard to earn.
The advantage of being organized was that the organization would charter a boat and negotiate a price. No one was allowed to touch the boat.
When there were fewer boats and fewer goods, they could not find work.
Work not only required strength, but also cooperation. Others throwing sacks for you were stable and comfortable. It was two different things to stack the sacks yourself.
There were two people at the Ba Shui Pier who were the most interesting. One was Wang Xiaosi and the other was Li Daniu.
Wang Xiaosi was over two meters tall, and his entire body was covered in lumps of meat.
Li Daniu was shorter than Wang Xiaosi by two heads and was skinny.
Usually, when there was work, Li Daniu was responsible for stacking sacks for Wang Xiaosi. Although he was skinny, he had strength and could throw sacks.
In other words, Li Daniu's explosive strength was strong.
Wang Xiaosi didn't have the strength to throw things, but he could carry a lot of sacks at once.
Other people carried sacks on their shoulders, but Wang Xiaosi carried a board. Li Daniu threw the sacks on the board.
A gunny sack of millet weighed more than 150 kilograms. An average person could carry two or three gunny sacks, and that was already considered impressive.
He could carry six of them, and he didn't even sway when he walked.
Li Daniu usually threw five sacks to Wang Xiaosi and did not give him a sixth. He would carry one himself.
The two of them carried more sacks than others.
Both families had no people and no land, so they became runaways.
They had just arrived a month ago and wanted to join the Li Family Zhuangzi as migrant workers.
When they arrived, they saw the Qianniu Guards guarding the place. They did not know if they would be caught, so they did not dare to go over.
Hence, they worked together at the dock. The two of them worked well together. Wang Xiaosi ate a lot, while Li Daniu ate relatively less.
The two of them were waiting for an opportunity to sneak over.
It was time to eat again. Neither of them knew how to cook, so they used their wages to buy rice, pickled vegetables, and cold water.
Otherwise, Wang Xiaosi would not be able to eat his fill.
The money was in Zhang Daniu's hands. He was meticulous and could save some money. At least if the clothes were worn out, he would have money to buy a new one.
He was small, so he could wear any second-hand clothes.
Wang Xiaosi's figure could not fit into other people's clothes.
"Xiaosi, let's work another four hours this afternoon. I'll buy you a chicken to eat. You can't go without meat." Li Daniu said to Wang Xiaosi.
"Brother Daniu, you should eat too." Wang Xiaosi swallowed his saliva when he heard that there was going to be meat.
The two of them prepared to buy food. There were people at the docks who specialized in providing food for them.
From the worst rice to wine and meat, there were all kinds of dishes. Different people ate different kinds of food.
The two of them ate the worst food, but there were pickles.
The rice was old, but there was no sand in it.
Selling rice with sand counts, but what's the use of sand when cooking rice? Aren't they afraid of being beaten?
"Everyone, come and eat. It's free. There's meat and tofu in the soup. It's dried tofu." Someone shouted.
Li Daniu and Wang Xiaosi looked at each other. Wang Xiaosi said, "I heard someone say that there's free food and meat?"
Li Daniu nodded, "I heard it too."
"Is that possible? Who would be so stupid? "Wang Xiaosi said.
"Let's go and take a look. What if it's true?" Li Daniu did not believe it either. But since someone shouted, they would take a look.
The two of them followed the voice and arrived at the place. There were several large pots that were emitting steam.
The thick smell of chicken soup wafted out from the wooden barrels, causing them to salivate.
There were already people queuing in front of them. There were eight rows.
Li Daniu pulled Wang Xiaosi and found a line with fewer people to stand behind.
Li Daniu was shorter than the others. He wanted to look in front, but it was tiring to jump.
Wang Xiaosi grabbed his trousers and pulled him up to his shoulders. This height was enough for him to be taller than everyone else.
Li Daniu saw someone pressing his fingerprints on the clothes. He then took out a shirt without sleeves. Looking at the material, it was made of canvas.
He then went to the side to get a bowl and filled it with rice. The person who got the rice scooped two spoonfuls of soup and gave him a pickled vegetable.
"Brother Daniu, you're really giving us rice. I saw it in the soup. There's minced meat and a layer of oil on top." Wang Xiaosi's eyesight was good.
"You're giving us clothes? Why are you pressing your fingerprints? Don't sell us. I'll take a look later. I know a few words." Li Daniu was thinking about the clothes and the handprints.
Giving food for free was like giving porridge. White clothes, and sturdy canvas clothes at that, who would be so stupid?
Thinking about the handprints, there must be a problem.
"Clothing Alliance, what's that?" Li Daniu saw the words on the clothes and was even more puzzled.
When the people in front of them finished, it was their turn. Wang Xiaosi put Li Daniu down.
"Oh, you were the tallest in the line just now. Now that you're here, you're like a small mountain. Don't worry, there's a vest that you can wear. Our Clothing Alliance has thought of it."
The person sitting there stood up and raised his head to look at Wang Xiaosi.
"What's with the handprints?" Li Daniu went up and asked.
"After pressing the handprints, it's the number of the person who will wear it on the day of work. Everyone has their own number and can't wear it randomly.
If there's a dispute, compare the handprints and see who's handprints belong to. Otherwise, if some people wear and tear more than others, how do we calculate? "
The person in charge of registration said.
"You're not looking at anything else?" Li Daniu asked again.
"Are you trying to escape? We don't care. We only provide you with food and give you the vest. You have to wear it when you go to work and return it when you get off work. "
The person in charge of registration guessed it as soon as he heard that. However, he indicated that they weren't from the government.
"Who, who said that? We're not trying to escape. Why are you treating us so well?" Li Daniu wanted to ask clearly.
"Do you see the words on the clothes? Clothing Alliance, this is an advertisement. Those who can read can understand it. Those who can't read will be curious and ask others.
If you wear it and work at the docks, the passing ships will know that we are from the Clothing Alliance. In the future, we will change the advertisement. "
"I know. We hired people to spread the advertisement for you. Okay, press your handprints. Hurry up, the food and soup will be finished soon."
Li Daniu understood and hurried them.
The two of them pressed their handprints and chose a number. Wang Xiaosi received a vest that he could wear.
He turned around to scoop the rice and stood there. The person who got the rice laughed, "Big fella, you can eat as much as you want. A bowl of rice, two spoonfuls of soup and a pickled vegetable. After you finish, you can scoop more."
"If he eats a lot, won't you lose out?" Li Daniu always had questions.
"He's tall and eye-catching. Everyone can see him just by standing there. What's there to be afraid of if he eats a lot?"
The person replied with a smile. When he scooped the rice for Wang Xiaosi, he added half a spoonful of soup. If he scooped any more, there wouldn't be enough.
The two of them carried their bowls and chopsticks and went to a place with fewer people. They looked at each other and didn't know what to say.
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