In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

This dinner, while not exactly featuring an abundance of meat, clearly satisfied everyone.

When dinner was over, Chen Cheng and the others patted their bellies, their faces full of satisfaction.

"Brother Dao is so good to us! I've never eaten so much meat in my life." Chen Cheng smiled with his eyes narrowed. He had lived for almost twenty-five years and had never had such a sumptuous dinner.

"Yes! Brother Dao is really good to us."

"It was really worth it to work for Brother Dao."

"This is the best meal I've ever had."

"..."

The others echoed this sentiment, their goodwill towards Chen Dao reaching its peak.

Chen Dao smiled and said, "Everyone come over tomorrow morning, and we'll go to the county town."

After everyone nodded, Chen Dao continued, "Alright, everyone, go home now that you've eaten! Cheng-ge, stay a moment, I have something to tell you."

At Chen Dao's command, everyone understood and left. The women were clearing away the dishes, while Chen Dao, who had led Chen Cheng to the front yard, said, "Cheng-ge'er, do you want to continue working with me from now on?"

"Of course I do."

Chen Cheng nodded without hesitation: "Brother Dao, I'm willing to work with you, as long as you provide me with food."

well.

Chen Dao nodded secretly. He wasn't worried about Chen Cheng refusing. It was now common knowledge in the village that working for Chen Dao meant you could eat your fill. There were at least 490 people willing to work for Chen Dao. As for why Chen Dao was looking for Chen Cheng...

The answer, of course, is that Chen Cheng is quite muscular!

Since coming into this world, Chen Dao has always been extremely insecure, and he would never feel like he was losing out no matter how much he invested in security.

The reason Chen Dao kept Chen Cheng working for him was because he planned to train Chen Cheng to be his bodyguard, and even to become a martial artist!

With Chen Cheng's 1.8-meter-tall, muscular physique, once he becomes a martial artist, he will undoubtedly be one of the best among his peers.

With Chen Cheng and Xiao Yuan as bodyguards, wouldn't I be safe and sound?

After observing Chen Cheng for some time, Chen Dao had completely confirmed Chen Cheng's loyalty. It might be difficult to get Chen Cheng to die for him, but Chen Dao was certain that Chen Cheng would never betray him. Therefore, he did not mind spending some resources to train Chen Cheng into a martial artist and make him his personal bodyguard.

"From now on, Cheng-ge, you'll be following me."

Chen Dao said, "I will not only provide you with meals, but I will also pay you a salary every month."

"There's still a salary?"

Chen Cheng's eyes lit up. Not only were meals provided, but he also received a salary. This was a wonderful thing.

"of course."

Chen Dao nodded, took out five failed-hatching eggs and put them into Chen Cheng's hand, saying, "With this salary, you won't have to worry about your family not being able to afford food. Take these five eggs and go back to nourish your younger siblings."

Chen Cheng looked at the five eggs in his hand, his heart moved, and his eyes welled up with tears: "Brother Dao, you are so good to me."

Chen Dao not only fed himself, but also considered his family...

At this moment, Chen Cheng was completely devoted to Chen Dao. Since he was old enough to understand, no one except his mother had ever treated him so well.

Chen Dao patted Chen Cheng on the shoulder and said, "Cheng-ge'er, hurry back! Don't keep your mother waiting."

After saying that, Chen Dao turned around and went back into the house.

Chen Cheng stood there for a long time before turning around and leaving, returning to his home.

At Chen Cheng's home, his mother Liu Yan was sitting with Chen Shi and Chen Mu in the not-so-spacious living room. In the dim moonlight streaming in from outside, the sorrowful expressions on their faces could be seen.

With the completion of Chen Dao's house, the three Chen brothers completely lost their jobs that provided them with enough to eat. From now on, not only will they not be able to eat their fill every day, but the family's food consumption will also increase. For this family, which already had little food reserves, it may not be the end of the world, but life will definitely become more difficult.

"Ugh."

Chen Shi sighed, with a hint of regret, "If only we had been a little lazier, the house for Daoge'er would have been built more slowly, and we could have eaten for a few more days."

How could you have such thoughts?

Liu Yan glared at Chen Shi and said, "Dao Ge'er feeds you all and even sends steamed buns home, yet you're thinking of slacking off?"

When his mother got angry, Chen Shi immediately felt guilty and scratched his head sheepishly, saying, "Mom, I was just saying it, I don't really intend to do it."

In fact, Chen Shi was very grateful to Chen Dao and never thought of slacking off. The reason he said those words just now was just a subconscious complaint because there was not enough food at home.

"How about we go to the city to find work?"

Chen Mu said, "I heard that you can earn a lot of money by doing manual labor in the city. The three of us are not short of strength, so we will definitely be able to find work."

"No."

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "When that peddler Wu Han came over before, I asked him about it. He told me that there are plenty of people in the city who are eager to do manual labor jobs, so there's no chance for us."

"This……"

Chen Mu opened his mouth, feeling utterly helpless. He couldn't farm in the village, and he couldn't work hard in the city either. Was his family of so many people really destined to starve to death?

"Mother, second brother and third brother."

Just as the three of them were frowning in worry, Chen Cheng rushed in excitedly, his face full of joy.

"Big brother is back."

Noticing the joy on Chen Cheng's face, Chen Shi hurriedly asked, "Brother, why did Daoge keep you here just now?"

"Brother Dao told me to continue working for him."

Chen Cheng chuckled and said, "He said that if I work for him from now on, I'll not only be able to eat my fill every day, but I'll also get a salary."

"Is there such a good thing?"

Chen Shi and Chen Mu were taken aback, and then their eyes flashed with intense envy.

"Big brother, this is great news!"

Chen Shi's eyes lit up as he said, "These days, who in the village doesn't want to help Dao Ge'er with the work? Dao Ge'er taking a liking to you is your good fortune!"

After saying that, Chen Shi said with great regret, "Why didn't Brother Dao take a liking to me?"

"Did you slack off at work?"

Liu Yan clearly hadn't forgotten Chen Shi's words: "Dao Ge'er saw that you weren't working hard enough, so he didn't ask you to continue working?"

"I'm innocent, Mother!"

Chen Shi hurriedly protested his innocence: "I have never slacked off when I was working. If you don't believe me, ask my eldest brother and third brother."

Liu Yan looked at Chen Cheng and Chen Mu, and saw that both of them nodded. They had seen Chen Shi working, and he had never been lazy. On the contrary, because he could eat his fill every day, he was quite diligent.

"That's it!"

Liu Yan couldn't understand why Chen Dao had left Chen Cheng behind alone, so she quickly stopped thinking about it and looked at Chen Cheng, asking, "Cheng-ge, you said before that Dao-ge would still pay you a salary?"