strokinit Chapter 82 Surie
Chapter 82 Surie
"Titi Village?" Vijay had never heard of the name of the neighboring village before.
Although they were neighbors, the two villages, which were only a few dozen kilometers apart as the crow flies, seemed to be the first time they had ever crossed paths in Vijay's memory.
"They built a dam and blocked all the water?"
"Yes, Master!" Rajan said somewhat indignantly, "Although their dam doesn't have much water either, I took a look when I went into Titi village, and they didn't lack water this year! Their rice is growing much better than ours!"
Vijay frowned. No matter how many wells were dug, this river was the only source of fresh water flowing through Mittal Village, and its encroachment was absolutely intolerable.
However, the water shortage problem has now been alleviated, and if some more wells are drilled, Dalit's water supply should not be a problem.
"Keep an eye on it. If you have the chance, talk to the person in charge of their village about the water source issue. Be polite to them first!"
After calming Rajan down, Vijay squatted down, picked up a thin twig, and quickly sketched on the flat ground. Soon, a simple yet clear map of the village gradually took shape, marking the approximate locations of the surrounding mountains, rivers, wastelands, logging camps, and mines.
This map came from the system's "Knowledge". Even though Vijay's drawing skills were a bit rough, Rajan and Shuhu thought it was simply amazing!
As Vijay drew, he gave detailed instructions: "First, build twelve Dalit settlements, evenly distributed in the four directions of the village, each accommodating several hundred people, taking into account convenience for work, sufficient water supply, and security. The houses should mainly be stone houses and thatched huts, sturdy and practical. Second, completely renovate the existing old houses in the village, demolish dilapidated and dangerous houses, reinforce old stone houses, and build a batch of clean and tidy residences for servants and craftsmen to live in, improving their living conditions. Third, plan the logging areas, mining areas, farmland areas, well drilling sites, and transportation roads, clearly defining the boundaries of each area to avoid chaos in the work. Fourth, build sentry posts at key locations around the village to strengthen defenses and prevent wild animals from disturbing the peace and outsiders from spying on the village."
Without saying a word, he pointed to the corresponding location to reinforce the impression on the two people actually doing the work.
Rajan and Shuhu squatted to one side, carefully looking at the map, listening attentively, nodding from time to time, and taking notes diligently.
After Vijay finished speaking, the two men looked embarrassed and awkward at the same time: "Master, everything else is fine, but when it comes to building houses in the village, we... don't know anything about construction planning or house design, and we really don't know where to start."
Vijay had anticipated this, and smiled faintly: "It's alright, I have my own plans."
As soon as he finished speaking, steady footsteps came from behind him, and Bim strode over.
Dressed in clean clothes, with a steady gait and a respectful expression, he approached and bowed: "Shiva, bless! Master, the new servant's lodging and meals have been settled, but after checking the village treasury, there are very few gold coins left, and it is almost impossible to maintain daily purchases and the purchase of tools."
Money is a small matter, Vijay nodded, "Come to my house tonight, I'll get you some."
Bim didn't ask any further questions, but his gaze swept over the map drawn by Vijay and he was also amazed.
Vijay then ordered, "Go and fetch Surya, the Vaishya architect. I have important matters to discuss with you."
Bim was taken aback, then accepted the order and quickly turned and left. A short while later, he returned with a middle-aged man.
The man was somewhat swollen, dressed in clean, plain-colored clothes. After eating and resting well for two days, he had recovered considerably. If one had not witnessed his condition firsthand at the slave market, it would have been difficult to associate him with a slave. Instead, he seemed more like a respectable shopkeeper or construction craftsman in the city.
Surya approached Vijaya and bowed respectfully, saying, "May Shiva protect me, my master."
Such Vaishya merchants were not uncommon in the city. Vijay gestured for him to stand up, and asked with some curiosity, "I remember you were skilled in construction, weren't you? How did you end up as a slave?"
Surya bowed slightly, his tone sincere and his words clear: "I come from the southern city of Vaishali. My family has been construction merchants for generations, designing and building mansions, palaces, and temples for Kshatriya nobles and Brahmin priests, accumulating considerable wealth."
"He has participated in the construction of large-scale public works projects, and manages hundreds of craftsmen under his command year-round. He is proficient in all aspects of construction."
His tone was tinged with a sense of regret and helplessness: "Several years ago, the local Brahmins commissioned me to carry out a large-scale construction project for a wonder. I almost exhausted my family's wealth, but due to a sudden natural disaster, the project could not be completed."
"The Brahmins declared that the strange completion of the project was forbidden because my virtue had angered the gods. As a result, I was stripped of my status, all my property was seized by the local Kshatriyas, and my family was sold off to various places, becoming homeless. The lowly ones survived by chance and were eventually reduced to slavery..."
That sounds pretty tragic!
However, given that he could build a spectacle, Vijay glanced at him again.
Even if they weren't key personnel, it still shows that Surya had probably reached the pinnacle of construction!
Even the mighty city of Harappa only has two wonders: the Holy Spring and the War Wheel Furnace!
While marveling at his abilities, Vijay accessed Surrey's control panel.
『苏利耶：忠诚度70，综合能力值55%，主要技能1、营建（5/6）；2、奇观营建（1/5）；3、统御（1/9）』
It also has three skills!
At least we can confirm that what he said is true!
This guy is a real talent! This slave purchase was incredibly lucky!
Vijay sighed, feeling some sympathy for the Vaishya, and promised, "If you work hard, I will send slave traders to search far and wide, and try my best to bring your family back to reunite with you!"
This pancake is already the simplest and most practical one.
Surya understood this as well, but he bowed deeply, satisfied, as if he had regained hope for the future.
Vijay didn't waste any more time and made his request: "I need you to replan the overall layout of Mittal village, design twelve Dalit settlements, build new servants' quarters, plan village roads, and design and construct sentry posts and fortifications. I need to provide you with all the necessary manpower and funding. Can you do that?"
Upon hearing this, Surie considered for a moment and then replied frankly, "Master, I need to conduct an on-site survey to determine the required manpower and resources. Furthermore, the village's renovation requires more detailed planning. As long as the conditions are met, I can accomplish it!"
Excellent, this is the attitude Vijay needs.
He immediately instructed: "Rajan, you grew up on this land and are familiar with every inch of the terrain, water source, and soil conditions. Take Surya to conduct an on-site survey, mark the specific locations of the mountains, wastelands, water sources, and roads, and have him calculate the required materials, manpower, and construction period, and produce a detailed construction plan as soon as possible."
Rajan bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, sir!"
"Shu Hu, continue to inspect the various work areas, keep a close eye on the six major tasks of logging, mining, land reclamation, well drilling, road construction, and maintenance, ensure progress, and report the situation to me every evening."
Shu Hu replied, "Understood!"
Everyone accepted their orders and went their separate ways.
Surrey was somewhat incredulous.
The oxcart creaked and groaned on the country dirt road, its slow, monotonous rhythm carrying a languid, bumpy feel.
As the wheels rolled over the potholes, the cart swayed gently. Suriya sat on one side of the cart, leaning against the rough wooden railing, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the treetops overhead, looking up at the sky.
The warm sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, and dappled golden spots fell on him, carrying the unique lazy warmth of the afternoon. For a moment, he felt a sense of unreal bewilderment.
He squinted slightly, his thoughts drifting uncontrollably to the distant past as the oxcart swayed along.
He couldn't remember the last time he had traveled so safely in an oxcart.
At that time, he was not a slave to be bought and sold at will, but Surya, a well-known construction merchant in Vaishali.
He was from a well-off family, with no worries about food or clothing. He had three virtuous wives and five lively and lovely children. The whole family lived happily together, enjoying a rich and comfortable life.
In his spare time, he would often take his wife and children, riding in his spacious and comfortable oxcart, to the green hills on the outskirts of the city to enjoy the scenery. The family would chat and laugh, their joyful voices filling the road. Or they would go to the city market to buy exquisite items and fresh food. The children would jump around, and his wife would accompany them gently. Those peaceful and happy times now seem like a distant and unreal dream.
Who could have imagined that the once glorious future would be completely shattered by a construction mishap?
At that time, he undertook the construction of the Brahman's wonders in Vaishali, hoping to use this project to rise to prominence, elevate his family's status, and become the city's top construction family.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans. As the project neared completion, a sudden torrential rainstorm washed away most of the completed buildings, and all the hard work and resources invested were instantly lost.
The project's failure not only failed to elevate his status, but also plunged him into debt overnight.
Taking advantage of the situation, the local Brahmins stripped him of his identity on the grounds of "blasphemy and incurring divine retribution." His property was confiscated by the Kshatriyas, and his wife, children, and elderly parents were forcibly separated and sold to different places, never to be heard from again.
A once wealthy merchant can become a slave overnight, falling from grace and into the mire in the blink of an eye.
Suli didn't want to think too much about the hardships she had endured over the years, yet they would always resurface in her dreams at midnight.
Starting from Vaishali, he was sold from city to city, traveling from south to north through seven or eight city-states. He witnessed the filth of the slave markets, suffered the beatings and scoldings of slave owners, and experienced hunger and lack of clothing.
He remembered clearly that his initial asking price at the slave market was fifty gold coins.
This was already a high price among slaves, simply because he possessed construction skills and was a rare craftsman.
Even so, no one was willing to spend a lot of money to buy a destitute Vaishya. In the eyes of slave owners, no matter how high the skill, it was not as practical as the lowly slaves who could work directly.
During the long wait, his treatment deteriorated again and again, from the initial clean living quarters and barely enough food to his full capacity, to living in a damp shack, eating coarse grains that were hard to swallow, doing the heaviest physical labor, and being beaten and scolded for the slightest mistake.
He had fallen into despair countless times, foreseeing his own end: his skills would gradually deteriorate, his value would continuously depreciate, and he would eventually become the lowest-level laborer, exhausting his life in endless toil, dying in the wilderness, forgotten and without a trace.
He had long since lost all hope and had no expectation for the future.
But fate always takes unexpected turns.
He had never heard of the Mittal family before, nor had he ever imagined that he would be noticed by a Vaishya lord and bought for a large sum of money.
When he first met Vijay, he only felt that this master was dressed simply, but had a calm demeanor and was generous enough to buy fifty Shudras and five Vaishyas in one go. Such a gesture was not something that ordinary Vaishyas could do.
When he first arrived in Mital village, Suriya was full of doubts.
He had envisioned a grand family estate with towering walls, rows of houses, and a retinue of servants. But what he saw before him was just a remote village with simple houses, sparse population, and an atmosphere of decline and decay—a far cry from what he had imagined.
He had secretly wondered why such a dilapidated village would buy them, these slaves, at such a high price. Could it be that they had ulterior motives?
Kovijay's words completely overturned his ideas: not only did he want him to design houses and build sentry posts, but he also wanted him to lead the craftsmen and return to his old profession.
At that moment, a faint glimmer of hope suddenly ignited in my heart, which had been dormant for many years.
At this moment, the oxcart moved slowly forward, its wheels rolling over the mud, making a monotonous sound.
As Suriya gazed at the gradually clearing outline of the dense forest in the distance, his mind was filled with a turbulent mix of emotions.
He recalled the day the slave traders brought him to the inn. Vijay did not treat them as lowly slaves. Instead, he gave them clean clothes and plenty of food. The coarse grains were no longer hard to swallow, but rather long-awaited wheat cakes, meat soup, and even fresh fruits and vegetables.
That was the first time he had eaten so peacefully and contentedly since he became a slave.
When the warm broth entered his mouth and the familiar warmth spread throughout his body, Surie's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
All the suffering, grievances, and despair of these past years surged into my heart at this moment, almost bringing tears to my eyes.
He then thought of Rajan, his master's trusted servant, who was respectful and showed no disdain, addressing him as "Mr. Surya" with genuine respect in his eyes.
For so many years, he had become accustomed to contempt, scolding, and beatings. This kind of equal respect made him feel at a loss for words, and a long-lost warmth welled up in his heart.
But amidst the hope, deep in my heart lies a heavy longing.
He thought of his eldest son, who must be a teenager now, tall and straight, with features like his own. He was intelligent and sensible back then, helping to manage the household affairs and already a little helper. He thought of his youngest daughter, who was exquisitely beautiful, soft and cute, and always clung to him, her calls of "Father" melting his heart. He also thought of his three wives, gentle and virtuous, who managed the household affairs and took care of the family's life.
The images of his wife and children became clearer in his mind, and his longing surged like a tidal wave.
What sustained him through the hardships over the years was this belief.
He dared not hope for a reunion, only wishing that they were still alive, safe and sound, and free from suffering.
Now, Vijay's owner has given him the opportunity to regain his skills, gain respect, and possibly even have his own followers.
He couldn't help but have a sliver of hope: if he could help his master build the village and make contributions, could he use his master's power to find out where his wife and children were and find his lost family?
Once this thought arose, it grew wildly in his heart, becoming his greatest expectation at that moment.
The oxcart slowly came to a stop, and Rajan jumped off first, bowing respectfully to Surya: "Mr. Surya, we have arrived."
Suriya snapped out of his daze, collected his chaotic thoughts, straightened his clothes, and slowly stepped off the oxcart.
Before my eyes came a simple logging workshop: stone foundation, wooden beams and pillars. Although not spacious, it was neat and sturdy. All kinds of logging tools were neatly arranged, with axes, saws and chisels all available. It was clear that this was a place where people worked year-round.
The workshop is surrounded by an endless, dense forest, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, thick trunks, and lush foliage. Sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow, making it an excellent logging site with extremely rich timber reserves.
As Suriya gazed at the dense forest, a light gradually shone in his eyes.
He had designed countless large workshops and palaces, and the simple workshop in front of him was, in his eyes, a starting point where he could unleash his full potential.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement and trepidation.
Regardless of what lies ahead or whether his hopes can be realized, at this moment, he must seize the opportunity and do everything in his power to help his master build the village, plan the workshops, and construct the houses.
This is not only an opportunity to repay a debt of gratitude, but also a chance for him to return to his profession and regain his dignity. Perhaps it is also his only hope of finding his family.
He raised his head, his gaze resolute, looking towards the workshop and the dense forest, secretly making up his mind: he must do his best to live up to his master's trust and this hard-won new life.