New World 1620

January 1621, 1, New Year's Day, Friday.

The snowy day that has been raging for almost three days finally cleared up on the first day of the new year.

Early in the morning, residents of the Manhattan community changed into new clothes after shoveling snow, preparing to enjoy a three-day vacation.

The Indian hired workers adapted to the firing of cement and bricks and tiles with very low technical content in a short period of time, and the construction of the Manhattan community went smoothly.The construction team led by Dong Jiunan has absorbed more than a hundred young Indians, and they are doing impressively under the guidance of dozens of modern workers.

Since December last year, several key public facilities in the Manhattan community have been undergoing renovations, and will be replaced with masonry and wood structures in the future.With the start of the renovation project of the community welfare home and the inpatient department of the community hospital, all the residents are looking forward to saying goodbye to the temporary wooden houses.

Singing came from the community square outside the door.On the pier radio, the once-very-familiar March of the Volunteers was high-spirited and surging.

While making the bed, Su Zining couldn't help but hum along in sync.Slowly, the young man stopped his movements, turned his head, walked quickly to the window, opened the window, and hurriedly looked towards the direction of the pier.

There was no flying of the five-star red flag as imagined, no crowd gathering, and no crowd cheering like a tsunami. Su Zining rubbed his nose mockingly.

"This is definitely the most passionate national anthem of this era, maybe the first one! Why, are you ready?" The door opened by itself, and Yan Xiaosong came in with a cigarette in his mouth and a bag on his back. Strip bag.

"You are wrong. The first national anthem in the world was "William van Nassau" first used by the Dutch in 1569. The Dutch soldiers used this song on the battlefield to disgust the Spaniards, and then Victory." Su Zining picked up the bag and jumped a few times on the spot to experience the adaptability of his body.

"If the Indians and English at the Brooklyn shipyard could hear it, what expressions would they have?" Yan Xiaosong untied a cloth bag on his shoulder, took out a smooth-bore flintlock and threw it at Su Zinning, "Jiang Zhaolong from the Ministry of Industry Already angry, the orders urged by various places forced him to announce all overtime. You still want to go hunting? You want to stimulate him on purpose?"

"He should be happy. Working overtime for one day is three times the salary. Now I still can't afford the red sausage in the community store." Su Zining curled his lips, opened the ammunition well of the gun with ease, and checked the firing mechanism.

While chatting, the two walked along the streets of the residential area towards the gate of the northern wall, intending to go deep into the depths of the Manhattan jungle to hunt North American moose.In recent days, Su Zining, who is tired of eating seafood, always tries to hunt those wild game in the forest, but so far, he has never succeeded.

……

……

There was a gunshot, and then thick smoke rose.The loud noise even caused the snow on the branches to fall one after another.

After emptying it again, Su Zining lowered the muzzle of the gun in frustration, and then stared at the flintlock in his hand resentfully, as if the thing would turn into a Gatling if he stared at it a few more times.

"I'm sure, this song must have been deliberately arranged." Yan Xiaosong aimed his flintlock at the receding moose figure, and finally gave up shooting helplessly.

As the largest deer species in the world, the North American moose can almost come and go freely in the snow covered with 81 centimeters of snow. With Su Zining's two-shot marksmanship, let alone a smoothbore flintlock, it is an 50 gun from the armed police. Bar, he may not be able to hit at a distance of [-] meters.

"Well...it's nothing, at least I think the March of the Volunteers is very nice and inspiring." Su Zining drove the buckshot into the barrel of the gun with a push rod, his expression calm.

"In the past few days, a few more people have applied to go to Europe, and they are all those with good relationships." Yan Xiaosong was taken aback, as if feeling that he was making a big deal out of a molehill, so he changed the subject.

"Well, the community committee has passed it, and it seems that you plan to let it go."

Su Zining thought of something, put down his gun, and looked quietly at the optimistic young man in front of him. After a while, he sighed slightly, and then pointed to his hat: "Qi Jianjun came to me last night and asked if I had the confidence to be the team leader." Go to Europe together. He thinks my management and coordination skills will be very helpful for this trip to Europe."

Yan Xiaosong frowned slowly, thought for a while, and then said with a serious face: "No! You can't go. Even if you agree to it, Zheng Quan may not agree."

"Why, do you think someone deliberately took this opportunity to let us leave Manhattan?" Su Zining had a smile on his lips, as if he was waiting for the next step.

"You should understand in your heart!" Yan Xiaosong snorted heavily, turned and walked towards the direction where the moose escaped without looking back, "It will take at least half a year, or even longer, to return to Manhattan after we leave this time... …Across the community, many young people like me appreciate you, and you are the only one who can reserve a little voice for us on the community committee.”

"We've been away for such a long time, and when we come back, certain things in Manhattan have already been set, right? So someone has to watch everything and insist on something that needs to be persisted?" Su Zining sighed and shook his head slightly .

What can I do, is it that I am here to prevent the committee from making some unacceptable decisions?Then who can prove that our ideas are absolutely correct?

Su Zining probably doesn't even know the answer himself.

The two were not talking, just absent-minded, and continued to walk towards a certain direction of the forest one after the other. There were more moose in the dense jungle waiting to verify their marksmanship.

……

……

"Zhou Kemin, after the New Year's Day holiday, your work can be handed over to Captain Chen Liwen of the police force... You should take a good rest for a few days, and then report to the European Trade Preparation Team."

In the office of the Military Security Department of the settlement, Zheng Quan was writing something at his desk without any expression, without raising his head.

"Ah... I don't need to watch the construction site of the Governor's Island Fortress anymore?" Zhou Kemin was overjoyed, quickly moved a chair, sat in front of Zheng Quan, and rubbed his hands with a playful smile, "You mean to agree with me going to May Flowers going to Europe?"

"Well... Qi Jianjun came to me yesterday and talked about his opinion. He thinks you have the ability to help Commissioner Su Zining complete his trip to Europe after the spring." Zheng Quan slowly raised his head, looked at this student, and sighed slightly. "You are young, energetic, and more focused than many of your peers. This is why the committee has been putting you under pressure. There are many young people in the community, but not many responsible ones."

"Hey, thank you for the compliment, Chief. I'm just learning from Brother Su and Brother Yan. They are much more capable than me. I just like to mix things up when I have nothing to do."

Zhou Kemin rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment and smiled brightly.

Looking into the young man's eyes again, Zheng Quan didn't find even a trace of affectation, moved his lips several times, but still swallowed what he wanted to say.

"Okay, go get busy... I heard that you young people plan to go to the industrial area to have a bonfire party tonight? Be sure to pay attention to safety. There are many wild beasts and Indians around there. Remember to bring weapons."

"Okay, just don't worry about it. The Indian tribes in the surrounding dozens of areas are full of admiration for us. I heard that nurses from several hospitals have also been invited to the party!"

"How old are you? Don't make a mess!"

"Ha ha!"

……

……

It was already dark, and a huge bonfire was burning in the Brooklyn industrial area. Technical workers sat around happily with stainless steel lunch boxes, and many of them were gulping down valuable beer. , and beverages such as beer are now the most expensive category of consumer goods in the entire settlement of Manhattan.

Half a month ago, the first batch of iron tools was finally produced through the efforts of the workers. Although they were only the most basic and low-tech products, Jiang Zhaolong, the leader of the Ministry of Industry, was still excited about it for three days.

According to his grand plan, before the beginning of spring, he will strive to complete the infrastructure construction of all smelters, and train a group of Indian employees who can take on the most basic technical work. Upgrade ready.

For this reason, the skilled workers got a large bonus on New Year's Day, and the tool orders of several major production departments made their production schedules full. line of sight.

The chain of community stores in the factory area is still open at night. Since the implementation of the voucher shopping policy of the Economic and Management Committee, many consumer products that are usually under strict distribution control have begun to open.This not only solved the daily needs of the workers, but also the aborigines of the nearby Indian tribes came here and there every now and then.

Due to the harmonious relationship, a large number of young Indians work in factories as hired labor, performing simple and rough work such as carrying ore.Although Indian native workers with informal resident status are not eligible for labor remuneration such as vouchers, they still try their best to get close to some kind workers and use their limited personal items in exchange for those who call themselves "Chinese". Fine daily necessities.

At this moment, about 100 meters away from the chain store of the factory community store, an Indian girl was hiding behind a big tree, seemingly hesitating about something.

Dharma, just an ordinary Indian girl from the Delaware tribe on Long Island, is only 15 years old this year.Her elder brother, Fatima, works in this Chinese industrial zone. According to the village leader, as long as Fatima and the others persist until the snow melts in spring, they can bring three shovels to the village.

Dharma tightly held several furs, which were rewards from his father during a hunting trip, and were among the few most precious private possessions in the family.The girl's thin clothes made her shiver in the winter night, but she mustered up her courage several times, but she didn't dare to step out of the big tree.

On the watchtower not far ahead, there is always a "warrior" standing beside the "unextinguishable fire". The mysterious weapon that can kill moose from a long distance has brought a deep impression of fear to the girl.

The Chinese had kindly warned that they should not approach their place except during the day.

When she was delivering something to her brother one day, she saw a certain Chinese woman walking around the factory wearing a coat made of some kind of fur that was too beautiful to describe.The silky brown fur seems to be able to reflect even the light, and the snow-white coat wraps the body of the Chinese woman, so decent and beautiful.

The young girl couldn't stand the longing and fantasies of the past few days, so she talked with her father about her thoughts, and the honest and kind Indian old man took out the treasures at home without thinking about it.

Today, the girl stands from day to night, and dare not walk into the Chinese cordon because she can't find her brother.She didn't know where her brother would live in the Chinese factory at night.

"Who?!"

A vigilant voice sounded, Dama turned around and ran with a shiver, but accidentally fell into the snow.Before she got up, she felt a figure standing behind her.Then an iron bar that she feared the most hit her cheek.

The mysterious weapon that could instantly kill a moose was right next to her ear. The Indian girl's face turned pale with fright, and one of them burst into tears uncontrollably.

"It's an Indian woman..." Zhou Kemin, who drank too much beer and planned to come out to release water, slowly moved away the automatic rifle, and then leaned over to help the trembling Indian girl up.

With the help of the light not far away, Zhou Kemin could see the other party clearly.

A flimsy linen jacket with a few pieces of torn fur wrapped around an immature body.Indian girls up to 15 years old are very beautiful, with slightly sickly smooth skin, a slender body that has just grown up, long black hair tied into a ponytail at the back of the head, and headbands made of colored stones.

Following Li Xiang, the tour guide of Two Swords, he also visited a lot of Indian tribes, and Zhou Kemin also learned a little bit of the native language of the Indians.Seeing the young girl acting like a frightened bunny, the young customs anti-smuggling team member felt a little trembling in his heart.

"What are you doing here?" Zhou Kemin used the Indian dialect full of mistakes and omissions for a long time to come up with such a meaning.

The Indian girl tremblingly raised the fur in her hand, then turned her eyes to the distant store, without daring to say anything.

"Hehe, want to change something? Come with me!" Zhou Kemin smiled brightly on his handsome face, put the gun behind his back, took the girl's hand, and strode towards the factory area under the light.

The girl didn't dare to make any outrageous movements, and could only follow the "drawing" of the Chinese youth like a puppet.When passing the warning line, he couldn't help but move closer to the young man.

A few tens of seconds later, the shelves of the store were clearly in front of my eyes like never before.In a certain corner, a lady's fur collar coat slightly different from the ones I have seen before is quietly hanging on a high place, and the soft fur collar is shining with soft light.

"Hey! Lieutenant Zhou Kemin, where did you find the Indian chick? Haha, you also have the same taste as Li Xiang?" The shopkeeper looked at the men and women in front of the container with a teasing smile, and said to the Indian girl Surprised eyes were revealed, "Not bad, much better than Li Xiang's little friend!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I think she hid outside for a long time and didn't dare to come in." Zhou Kemin rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, while turning his head and smiling at the Indian girl beside him who was half shorter than him.

The young man's smile warmed the Indian girl's heart for no reason, and she also laughed silently.

The Indian girl knew that the other party brought her to exchange things, so she took a deep breath, raised the fur in her hand, pointed at the coat on the shelf, and murmured for a while.

"Hey, Zhou Kemin, this girl wants to change this? This is out of order. I don't have the right to accept fur top vouchers. Besides, these are clothes worth 1200 vouchers. Her few things are worth 10 vouchers." not worth."

The clerk shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands. This action made the smart Indian girl lower her head in a moment of inferiority, and the fur in her hands drooped.

Looking at the non-negotiable eyes of his companion's smile, Zhou Kemin hesitated, then took the fur from the girl's hand in an instant, then took out a stack of paper tickets from his pocket and stuffed them into the girl's hand under the other's astonished gaze, and finally He fingered the coat on the shelf again.

The girl didn't know, she just blushed and held this strange paper blankly, not knowing whether to take it or keep it.

"Hey...a good man is sad for a beautiful woman...Well, you Zhou Kemin has no bad manners." The young clerk took off his coat, passed the counter, and then looked at the bewildered Indian girl with playful eyes, " Girl, now it's yours, time to vote!"

Zhou Kemin made a gesture, and the Indian girl who finally understood quickly handed over the voucher in her hand, and then took the beautiful dress she had dreamed of with trembling hands.

"It's only 1200, beauty." Looking at the three 500-denomination vouchers, the clerk conscientiously took out three 100-denomination vouchers and handed them back.

Carefully holding the fur-collared coat in one hand and holding three paper tickets in the other, the Indian girl walked out of the factory area as if in a dream. As for the kind-hearted Chinese youth who was like a big brother, she forgot when she sent herself out.

The girl slowly disappeared into the night step by step, turning her head three times. Zhou Kemin let out a long breath, and then looked at the slightly smelly furs in his hand in embarrassment, unable to laugh or cry.

"It's over, the holiday subsidy just issued is gone, hey..."