Chapter 208: Chapter 208

Once she spoke, nobody dared to voice any discontent, and no one dared to speak again.

Pei Shu’er said lightly, "Very well, then let’s start working."

"Brick makers stand on one side and wall builders on the other. However, everyone must learn to make bricks, taking turns. Otherwise, if we only have a few people making bricks, no one will be able to handle it."

No one dared to refute.

Pei Shu’er continued to delegate tasks.

"Now, for building the city walls, we will work in three shifts. Everyone will work for four hours and then rest for four hours, while others take the shift. Yinxing will be responsible for shift scheduling."

"Additionally, female convicts stand over here."

Among the convicts, female convicts were truly a minority.

There was one from Yuhua Valley, and a few from other areas. In such a large Gulan Mountain Range, there were surprisingly only 20 female prisoners, with 10 from the Deserted Mountain.

"You ten women will handle some light work, like shoveling sand to these men."

The ten women bowed to Pei Shu’er.

"Thank you, Overseer."

They were also the most severely injured, their faces very pale. If they were forced to continue making bricks or building walls, it would not only delay everyone’s progress but potentially drive them to death.

Pei Shu’er looked at the Deserted Mountain group once more.

"Every day’s drinking water will be boiled by Granny Zhang and Yinxing Honghua, then Liu Xu, Tang Qingning, and Xiao Wu will serve tea to everyone. The remaining four will fetch water. If any of these tasks become overwhelming, coordination is allowed."

Currently, there are 1,000 people here. Under Commander Qian’s command, this number would be completely inadequate, as he didn’t care about everyone’s well-being.

But she would definitely prioritize everyone’s health.

In such hot weather under the blazing sun, without water, these convicts wouldn’t last long.

However, some were dissatisfied with this arrangement.

"The work for those Deserted Mountain women is too easy."

Pei Shu’er laughed, "If someone doesn’t want to drink water, then step forward; I won’t stop you."

Moreover, the task of boiling water is crucial to food safety, and she had to be careful.

The male convicts exchanged glances and reluctantly fell silent. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel⚑fire.net

They couldn’t bring themselves to say they didn’t want their tea served, as during this long period of construction, they knew better than anyone the importance of water.

Some had directly drunk raw water, only to suffer vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and eventually death.

This arrangement by Pei Shu’er treated them as humans, not beasts of burden.

Pei Shu’er glanced around at everyone, selecting those already exhausted and desperately needing rest, giving them priority for rotation.

She also picked out those severely injured and looked at General Zhao.

"General, the Deserted Mountain convicts number so few; losing even one is a loss. These injuries are severe and must be treated."

General Zhao found sense in Pei Shu’er’s words and couldn’t help but look at the other soldiers.

"Call Doctor Liu to treat these people."

Pei Shu’er pressed her lips together; her original intention was to consult General Zhao and treat them herself.

But since General Zhao had spoken, she could hardly refute him.

When Doctor Liu arrived, he noticed the injuries—severe, but not more so than the soldiers’ external wounds.

More importantly, such injuries would require tremendous effort to treat.

He was about to speak when he noticed Pei Shu’er beside him.

His expression turned cold, an ironic glance at Pei Shu’er as he addressed General Zhao.

"General, there are still many untreated wounded in the Gulan Military Camp whose injuries are far worse than these. Who suggested I come? Are they intentionally delaying other soldiers’ treatments?"

After saying this, he turned his gaze to Pei Shu’er.

"Whoever said it should be the one to treat them, wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Pei?"

"Or is it that your skills are insufficient to heal these people?"

Pei Shu’er furrowed her brow at Doctor Liu’s onslaught, somewhat perturbed.

There were five military doctors in the Gulan Camp.

She did not expect that at Zhao General’s call, Doctor Liu would come.

Meanwhile, she found Doctor Liu’s busy façade amusing.

The one who summoned him was General Zhao, yet Doctor Liu didn’t hold General Zhao accountable, instead seemingly directing his frustration at her. Clearly, because she seemed easier to bully?

"Is Doctor Liu very busy? It seems to me that other doctors seem even busier."

"The other military doctors are treating the wounded silently without complaint. Doctor Liu seems to abandon treatable patients just to free up time for shouting, doesn’t he?"

Pei Shu’er’s words were truly harsh, making Doctor Liu’s face extremely ugly.

Upon coming to the military camp, she primarily treated patients whom Doctor Liu had given up on.

These patients still had a chance, but Doctor Liu wouldn’t treat them, likely hoping they’d be passed to her.

Yet she couldn’t refuse to enter the camp; at that time, the Deserted Mountain lacked manpower.

Once there was enough manpower later, she had already promised the government officer and couldn’t shirk it.

Doctor Liu, with a grim face, now demanded Pei Shu’er treat them.

"You treat them; aren’t you a doctor too?"

"Sorry, Doctor Liu, compared to healing people, I am a supervisor. Healing, we both can do, but supervising, only I can."

Not even Tang Peiyi had ever overseen such a large project.

It really was only Pei Shu’er who could do it.

Doctor Liu’s apprentices sneered at Pei Shu’er.

Pei Shu’er nodded, then looked at General Zhao.

General Zhao said, "Healing is indeed the responsibility of military doctors. Moreover, these people are building a military camp, essentially, they’re your responsibility."

If Doctor Liu had been an ordinary person, he would surely be unforgiving.

But this was General Zhao, and despite his displeasure, he held back in frustration.

He merely lowered his head and said "Yes," then went off to treat the patients.

Yet in his heart, he loathed Pei Shu’er intensely. He had originally decided, out of kindness, to spare her.

But now, Pei Shu’er intentionally embarrassed him—if he spared her now, how could he maintain his dignity in the camp?

Moreover, Pei Shu’er had previously saved the Fifteenth Prince, and once he awoke, he credited Doctor Liu for the treatment, treating him with respect.

Since Pei Shu’er didn’t know her limits, she couldn’t blame him for bringing the Fifteenth Prince into this.

With matters arranged for the wounded, Pei Shu’er organized everyone to work earnestly.

"Tear down all these previously built walls."

The refugees widened their eyes in disbelief.

"What are you saying?"

This was a wall they had built over many days; tear it down just like that?

They knew how many had died or been injured building these walls.

"No way, these walls can’t be demolished!"