Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Just a few steps outside, Zhang Jingwei's eyes were drawn to a protective gear shop. A wooden sign hung at the doorway had prices prominently inscribed in cinnabar: goggles two strings of cash, masks five strings of cash, gloves three strings of cash, protective boots eight strings of cash... These prices made Zhang Jingwei's eyelids twitch.

"These protective gear should be used for kiln workers, right?" Zhang Jingwei asked, suppressing his anger.

"That's right!" The manager introduced excitedly, "These protective gear are very practical. There's a lot of sand and dust in the northwest, and wearing goggles can protect you from the wind and sand, and you can see ten miles away! This mask is made of high-quality fine cotton, and it won't feel stuffy at all when you wear it while working..."

Zhang Jingwei's anger grew as he listened to the manager's endless boasting about these "labor protection products specially designed for workers." He pointed at the workers emerging from a nearby cave and said, "I see, not a single one of them is wearing protective gear."

The steward chuckled, "How can they afford these? These are for customers to enjoy." His eyes suddenly lit up, "Why don't you get one too? You'd be a good match for me, so I'll give you a 20% discount. How about that?"

"Hahaha, playing around?" Zhang Jingwei laughed in anger, "You guys are so funny!"

The steward was completely oblivious to the anger in Zhang Jingwei's words and continued his introduction smugly: "The facilities in the amusement park haven't been completed yet, so these are just a drop in the bucket. Right now, the military camp should focus on the development of the kiln camp. In the future, we will not only produce saltpeter, but also engage in the tea and salt business. When that happens, we'll need big bosses like you to come and show your support."

"Well, you have to praise me!" Zhang Jingwei said gritting his teeth.

At this moment, a young man dressed in brocade hurried into the protective gear shop. The manager immediately put on a flattering expression and greeted him, "Mr. Zhou, why are you here so early today?"

"My luck is so bad!" Young Master Zhou said irritably. "I need to buy a pair of lucky gloves today. And why haven't you put up the charcoal brazier yet in such cold weather?"

"I'll arrange it right away." The steward nodded and bowed, then turned and shouted towards the cave: "Over there, pull up a few donkeys and carry the brazier for Master Zhou!"

Soon, several thinly dressed laborers came tremblingly over, carrying red-hot charcoal basins, shouted at by the supervisor. Zhang Jingwei noticed that their hands were covered with burns and calluses, and some of them were even red, swollen and ulcerated.

"Hold it with your bare hands? Isn't it hot?" Zhang Jingwei's voice began to tremble.

"It's so cold today, it's just right to warm their hands." The manager said nonchalantly.

Zhang Jingwei carefully observed the workers and noticed large red rashes on their exposed skin, clearly an allergic reaction to long-term exposure to saltpeter dust. "I'm curious, why aren't all the protective gear provided to the workers? It just takes up space anyway."

Young Master Zhou scoffed at this. "Pfft, my dear, if you feel bad about this, you can buy the protective gear and give it to the workers. But..." he said, his tone lengthening meaningfully, "after you leave, they'll take it back."

"This business...is amazing!" Zhang Jingwei squeezed out these words from between his teeth.

The steward added proudly, "These protective gears are extremely valuable. They're made of top-quality equipment. They're just low-class people, so they can just touch them. We'll have them wash them and return them later!"

"Haha," Zhang Jingwei suddenly laughed, "It's better not to light a fire in this kiln camp."

"Don't worry!" The steward waved his hand nonchalantly, "If anything happens, it will be these untouchables who will die!"

Zhang Jingwei's eyes turned completely cold. "Stop, stop, calling them pariahs all the time. They should have citizenship, right? Logically speaking, you, the steward, are also a pariah like them, right?"

"Aren't you making fun of me?" The steward's face changed. "Look at the way I'm dressed. Do I look like a pariah?"

"Oh my," Zhang Jingwei sneered, "What kind of world is this? You're already owed wages, yet you're still acting like a big shot."

The manager's expression suddenly turned serious: "Boss, may I ask your name?"

"Your surname is Zhang, what's the matter?" Zhang Jingwei looked straight into his eyes.

"Next, you should say that you are the boss of our military!" The manager suddenly raised his voice.

"What do you mean?" Zhang Jingwei narrowed his eyes.

"I felt something was wrong when I saw you at the door just now," the steward said viciously, "What rich young man would come riding here like a donkey? You're clearly hired by those low-class people to defraud me!"

Zhang Jingwei slowly approached the steward and said, "What if I cheated you?"

The manager shouted around in panic, "Come on, arrest this troublemaker!"

Mu Tou's eyes scared away the supervisors who had gathered around him. Even if dozens of people came, they wouldn't be enough for him to tear apart.

Zhang Jingwei laughed in anger, suddenly grabbed the manager by the collar, and spit directly into his face: "You son of a bitch! A beast in human skin!"

The steward's face turned pale after being scolded, and he stammered, "You, you..."

"What do you mean by 'you'?" Zhang Jingwei interrupted harshly, "You bastard! You treat the laborers like animals, and you still have the nerve to act like a boss here?"

He threw the steward to the ground and stomped on his chest: "Open your dog eyes and look! The calluses on these laborers' hands are thicker than the grass on your ancestors' graves! Are you fucking worthy enough to call them pariahs?"

Mu Tou was swinging his axe nearby, grinning grimly, "Master, do you want me to chop off his fat and feed it to the dogs?"

The manager was so frightened that his crotch was wet, and he cried and begged for mercy: "I didn't recognize the real you..."

"Taishan?" Zhang Jingwei kicked him in the face. "Are you a maggot worthy enough to mention Taishan? You, a bastard, have disgraced Junxing!"

At this time Fang Yue and Qian Ming hurried over.

Fang Yue yelled, "Who's making such a fuss here? Uncle, why are you slacking off again? This is the nth time this month."

Zhang Jingwei turned around and smiled at Qian Ming, "Master Qian, have you finished your drink?"

Seeing this scene, Qian Ming probably guessed what had happened. He fell to his knees and kowtowed repeatedly: "Young... Young Master!"

Zhang Jingwei shouted angrily: "I asked you how your wine was?!"

Qian Ming turned around and asked Fang Yue angrily, "Didn't you say you were the one to handle it?"

Fang Yue was about to argue, but Zhang Jingwei spat in his face: "And you! You're using the name of a military officer to bully the people in the village. Do you really think I'm dead?"

Fang Yuegang said three words: "Boss, I..."

Zhang Jingwei didn't even give him a chance to explain. "I recognize you. You're also a student from Gaoyang. You've behaved like this, and you're no longer worthy of being a student. As the magistrate of Gaoyang County, I will report the truth to His Excellency and strip you of your honor. From now on, you're not allowed to set foot in our army!" He then kicked the wailing steward away and shouted, "Wooden! Tie up these bastards! Send them to the county government!"