Lord: My Shop Connects to Modern Times

As the eastern ridge began to gleam with light, Lynn had already been awake for some time.

The residents kindly provided him, the lord, with a large enough "villa" for him and his entourage to rest in, perhaps also because of the two hearty meals they had provided.

He tossed and turned on the hard bed all night. Every time he was just drifting off to sleep, a slight noise from an unfamiliar corner would wake him up, and the rough linen sheets would rub his skin until it turned red.

He lay there with his eyes open, exhaustion seeping from his very bones, feeling even more tired than before he had closed his eyes. The morning glow streaming through the window was the same color as the bloodshot in his eyes.

"I miss my Simmons bed..." Lynn sighed.

Stepping out of the room, they woke up Leon and the others in the next room. When they all arrived at the square, they found that almost all the townspeople had already gathered there.

As the morning light pierced through the haze, it fell upon people's expectant faces. Lynn knew they were waiting for him to "serve their meal."

Last night before bed, the public opinion index surged again, probably because people have some hope for the future. The public opinion index was very high, reaching 672.

The "money" came faster than expected, but Lynn knew perfectly well that the gratitude gained from "serving meals" was as shallow as the soil of this Gray Rock Town; it would be gone after a few meals.

The period of opportunity may only last for two or three days.

After instructing his men to prepare breakfast for the residents as usual, and after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, he got up, patted his old coat damp with dew, and walked to the center of the open space:

"Look over here, everyone."

Lynn spoke, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Is the food delicious?"

No one answered, but many people's Adam's apples bobbed, and their eyes unconsciously glanced at the empty pot.

"I know what you're thinking." Lynn paused. "We're wondering if there will be any lunch left, and how many more days this good weather will last."

His gaze swept over Gem and Bree, over every face bathed in sunlight.

"The meat was brought by me. The wheat was brought by me too. But these things, once eaten, will become less and less."

A subtle commotion arose in the crowd; the satisfaction on the faces of a few faded, replaced by the familiar numbness and unease.

"So, from today onwards, the rules have changed." Lynn's voice became resolute: "My territory doesn't support idlers, nor can it afford to. But here, the rules are simple—you get what you put in."

"Today, whatever work you did—whether it was cleaning up trash, repairing houses, or going out to find food—will earn you 'work points.' Each meal will be distributed according to your work points. The more you do, the more meat you get in your bowl, and the thicker your porridge will be. If you slack off, then I'm sorry, you'll only get some thin soup. You won't go hungry, but don't expect to be full."

Lynn didn't talk too much to these entrenched-minded residents at first; they wouldn't understand. For a group of people who were struggling to make ends meet, a decent meal in the beginning was the best reward.

"Once things gradually stabilize, we can arrange formal work and start paying salaries. I wonder how many Dawn Coins I brought with me still have..."

Lynn shook his head, putting the thought aside for the time being.

He called Martha to his side and handed her a relatively flat old wooden plank and half a piece of charcoal, which he had rummaged through the luggage in the carriage: "Ask them one by one, what their names are, how old they are, what they used to do, and what skills they have. Write them down."

Martha was a little flustered; she was just a maid and had never done this kind of work before.

"It's okay, just take it slow as I told you," Lynn reassured her.

Martha tapped her little head. Registration began, initially chaotic and fearful, but under Lynn's calm gaze, people still stammered out their sentences.

Blacksmith apprentices, basket weavers, and even an old man who claimed to have worked as an accountant for itinerant merchants and knew a few characters... minute details were recorded, and a vague "order" was established invisibly.

After everyone had finished the most basic census, Lynn called over Bray and Gorm: "Take me around town and see things more carefully."

They walked through the houses. Gem pointed to the traces of furrows in the fields, almost completely buried by weeds:

"Sir, we tried planting rye here before, but the soil was too barren and there was no fertilizer, so the harvest wasn't even enough for the birds to peck at. There's a small patch of land down that's a bit damp, where wild vegetables used to grow, but they've all been pulled out long ago."

Lynn crouched down and grabbed a handful of soil. It felt rough and sandy, lacking any stickiness, and so barren it was despairing. But his gaze fell on the slightly lower depression that Gumm had pointed to, where the weeds seemed to grow a bit more luxuriantly.

Lynn's heart skipped a beat: "The soil is indeed not good, but as long as it's renovated, and with the advanced fertilizer I'll be able to unlock later, it's not impossible to grow something..."

He stood up, dusted off his hands, and said firmly, "Gem, find a few people to clear the weeds and pebbles from this depression. It doesn't need to be too big, just clear... half an acre first."

Gem was taken aback and hesitated, "Sir, this land... can't grow anything."

"Just because it couldn't be grown before doesn't mean it won't be in the future." Lynn didn't explain further, then looked at Bray: "Think carefully about the area around town, especially to the west and north. Are there any other places like this, slightly lower in elevation, near a water source, or where water can seep out from the cracks in the rocks? Even a tiny spot will do."

Bray frowned in thought, then slowly nodded: "There's a dried-up stream at the foot of the mountain to the west, but the cracks in the rocks are always a bit damp. There's a shady slope to the north where you can see some moss in the summer."

"Write it all down," Lynn said. He was already sketching out a map in his mind: centered on the town, the possible farmland nearby, water sources…

After inspecting the potential farmland, Lynn returned to the square and instructed Leon and Bray:

"Leon, Bray, you two lead the team." He handed over several portions of [High-Energy Compressed Military Rations] and [Two Bronze Whistles] that he had redeemed from the system:

"Today we'll explore in the west and north. The focus isn't on how much prey we catch... but rather on figuring out where there's water, where there's forest, what the terrain is like, and whether there are any unusual landforms."

Lynn paused for a moment: "Remember to stay vigilant, and keep in touch with each other. Around noon, you must head back."

Leon took the item and gave Lynn a deep look.

The lord's arrangements were clear and well-organized, with well-defined goals. He even considered matters such as field communication and emergency rations. This was quite different from the somewhat indecisive young viscount he remembered, who only knew aristocratic etiquette.

But he didn't say anything, only nodded crisply: "Understood."

"Very good, everything is almost arranged." The townspeople were all busy at work. Looking at this vibrant scene, Lynn couldn't help but smile.

……

The work of counting residents' work points was not busy. After Martha finished counting and registering the work of one town resident, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Lynn, who was forcefully prying open a foundation stone.

The lord's movements were not skilled, even somewhat clumsy, and his palms quickly turned red, but he worked very seriously, without a trace of the airs of a noble lord.

Martha blinked. In her memory, the gentlemen in the manor always had clean, white hands, and they even found teacups too heavy. The lord… how come he looks almost the same as the farmhands she works for?

Moreover, the fragrant meat from yesterday, the thick cloth that couldn't be torn no matter what, and that packet of strange-smelling powder that supposedly kept wild beasts away... all came from the lord.

"Martha," Lynn suddenly spoke, without looking up, "What are you daydreaming about? Go ask Gom and the others if they've found any sturdier vines or suitable wood. We need to replace these rotten rafters."

"Ah? Yes, sir!" Martha hurriedly replied, turned and ran away, but couldn't stop thinking to herself:

"My lord seems like a completely different person!"