The construction site of Jiangnan Bank in Suzhou has begun to be put into construction. What is precise is that it is to destroy the civilian area within a radius of one mile, which is being demolished by the construction team.

At this time, Li Guodong really admired the efficiency of the evil feudal society. In the demolition of civilian areas, the efficiency of work was surprisingly high. It was impossible to have nail households, and there was no need for any forced demolition team. When the announcement was issued on the list of the prefects, all the common people obediently moved out of their homes and moved to the shack area temporarily arranged for them by the government (in fact, Li Guodong).

Why did the prefect Zhang Xue have come forward? The reason is too simple. Any of the 39 shareholders of Jiangnan Bank were unaffected by Zhang Xue. Even Zhang Huangyan, who had the lowest fame and status, was also a juren. The leader was Wu Weibo. Although he was a martial artist, he was a new nobleman and had a close relationship with Lu Xiangsheng, Qian Qianyi and others. The rest were all gentry in Jiangnan and a mere prefect of Suzhou. He was naturally very hardworking when doing business.

But Li Guodong did not treat him badly, and spent 50,000 taels of silver to buy the "Poetics of Autumn" made by Zhang Xuezeng.

"My uncle has been awarded too much. It is rare to be able to attract Master's attention." Zhang Xuezeng happily handed over his "Poetry Picture of Autumn Anniversary".

"I made a profit!" Li Guodong and Zhang Xuezeng said in their hearts at the same time.

This Suzhou magistrate was one of the nine major painters in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He was a student and friend of Dong Qichang. Although his "Poetic Picture of Autumn and Poems" was not as precious as Dong Qichang's "Eight Scenes Pictures of Autumn and Eight Scenes), he was also a national treasure in later generations. After a few years, the Suzhou magistrate kicked his legs and his paintings were valuable.

On the one hand, Li Guodong performed bribes, but on the other hand, he obtained national treasures. Nothing is more cost-effective than this business.

Chen Dongming is a textile worker in a tea factory in Suzhou City. In Suzhou, a skilled textile worker actually lives a very good life. A textile worker earns one or two cents to one or five cents of silver every day, and his annual income is between forty and fifty taels. Therefore, the textile workers in Jiangnan could not only live a good life, but also raise maids.

However, since the emergence of new machinery, the work of four or five people can be completed by one person and a donkey. Textile workers like Chen Dongming, who are not very skilled, were laid off because of this. After losing his job, he sold his original house and moved his family of five to a civilian area to live. His family's income usually depends on himself as a coolie at the wharf, and his wife set up a small stall to maintain it.

Chen Dongming heard some people say that it was Wu Weibo's machine that made him unemployed. He had a lot of opinions about Li Guodong. However, last year's flood, and because of Li Guodong, the people of Suzhou did not suffer any disaster. If the flood came, those wealthy families would not be affected much, and the common people would be in trouble. So now Chen Dongming can say that he doesn't know how to evaluate Li Guodong, saying that he is okay, the tricks he invented deprived him of his job; saying that he is not good, he brought greater prosperity to Suzhou, and there are more ships docked in Suzhou every day. As long as he is diligent, he will not go hungry, not to mention that he built a dam and saved a commoner.

"Old man, the place where we live is about to be demolished!" That day, after his wife returned home, he told him a shocking news.

"What?" Chen Dongming was shocked, "Our house is going to be demolished by the government?"

"It's not our house, it's all about to be demolished, and the government's notice was posted. I was illiterate again, and when I saw a group of people surrounding me, I asked them."

Chen Dongming asked quickly: "Where is the official notice? Take me to see it."

His wife hurriedly took him to the intersection where the government notice was posted. As soon as he arrived, he saw a group of people gathered there. Chen Dongming squeezed forward and saw that the notice stated that they were required to prepare for relocation within three days. Someone would come to register at that time. After the registration, they would temporarily live in the shack arranged by the court. In the future, the house would be built and they would be redistributed according to the size of the previous house.

"Redistribute the house? Is the government so kind?" After returning home, Chen Dongming said complaining.

"But the government posted a notice. If we don't move, can we still fight with the government?" asked my wife.

"Of course not. What are we ordinary people fighting against the government? The government said we could only move." Chen Dongming shed tears. Although this family was ruined, it still lived in a place, but now he can't even keep this family.

Three days later, the officials came, including the minor officials in the yamen and several Ming soldiers wearing mandarin duck war jackets. The minor officials held booklets in their hands and registered from house to house.

"Is this your own house?" the little official asked.

"Yes." Chen Dongming replied.

"Is that the one over there?"

"No, that's Lao Wang's next door."

As soon as this sentence was spoken, several soldiers suddenly burst into laughter. Chen Dongming really didn't know what they were laughing at.

However, several soldiers laughed for a while, then opened the tape measure and began to measure the house.

"All things have been sorted out? After sorting out, move out immediately! If you don't sort out, you will be given two hours of grace. If you don't move, you will be put in jail!" said the little official.

"Master, the grass people are ready and can move out soon." Chen Dongming replied quickly.

There were not many things at home, and there was a three-day advance to clean up. At this time, Chen Dongming's family had already packed up. They brought the bottles, jars and worn furniture in the house into the car, and the family of five left the broken house. When leaving the house, Chen Dongming turned around step by step. The family of five, Chen Dongming pushed the car, the old mother also sat in the car, and his wife pulled two children. There were several soldiers wearing mandarin duck battle jackets leading the way.

Following the soldiers out of the city gate, at this time, with the prosperity of the economy in Suzhou City, many houses appeared along the river outside the city wall. Most of those places were factory and warehouses, and some boatmen also lived outside the city.

The soldiers brought the moving people to an open space where the shack had been built.

"You are here for about half a year. Before winter comes, you can move into your new home." said a soldier.

Chen Dongming responded and moved his family into a shack arranged by the government for him. He looked at the shack carefully. The shack was built with bamboo and the roof was also built with bamboo. The shed was not large in size and was airtight on all sides. Fortunately, summer is coming, and it is still cool to live in it.

All residents near the selected bank area moved within one day. This time, more than 5,000 families were relocated. Li Guodong stood in front of the empty civilian area and sighed: "This work efficiency is so fast!"

"Of course," a tiny official smiled quickly, "My uncle wants to do things, how dare you neglect? Our mansion master has spoken, so we must give it convenience."

"Young man, doing a good job." Li Guodong reached out and patted the smuggler on the shoulder.

The little official was flattered and quickly knelt down: "Thank you, uncle, for your kindness!"

Li Guodong turned to the engineers and shouted: "Go in and check it, make sure there is no one else, and the construction will be started!"

"Let's go!" Liu Laogen led a few soldiers into the civilian area. The engineers checked the houses and found that there was indeed no one.

After listening to Liu Laogen's report, Li Guodong raised his hand: "Start it! It's all demolished!"

The engineers walked into the civilian area with big hammers and iron drills.

Liu Laogen held an iron chisel and pried the wall a few times, making several holes. Then someone swung a sledgehammer and in just a few efforts, he smashed an exterior wall. After the exterior wall fell, several engineers pushed a winch into the yard.
Chapter completed!