Chapter 347: Chapter 347 - 243: Winter Has Come (Part 3)

"Living well is the best reward you can give me," he said, his tone deep yet weighty.Emily walked by his side, not at all surprised. She'd been through these scenes several times already.And as Louis's wife, she also received the same respect.She knew that the Red Tide People's reverence for Louis wasn't built on noble bloodlines or ceremonies,they didn't worship nobility; they placed their faith in Louis Calvin.Emily's gaze was gentle as she looked at the old farmers, artisans, hunters, and children.As she saw the way they looked at Louis, there was no fear, only respect, reliance, and a certain heartfelt sense of security."In their hearts, you're no longer a noble but a kind of belief," she murmured softly, though Louis didn't hear her.Weir almost stood as straight as a rod, as if he was worried about not being worthy of standing beside Louis. His eyes were lit up, yet he couldn't help but grin.In this way, surrounded by the respect and gaze of the people along the way, Louis and his entourage arrived at the first destination for today's inspection, a semi-underground communal dwelling under construction on the outskirts of the residential area.This used to be a forest, but now it had been flattened neatly.Rows upon rows of new house foundations were arranged in a staggered manner, with the clay walls and wooden beams taking shape, as if they were new life growing from the snow.The structure of these semi-underground houses was very practical.About one-third of it was sunk into the permafrost, cleverly utilizing the ground's temperature for warmth.Round logs were used to prop up the framework on all sides, the walls were woven with willow branches and then daubed repeatedly with a mixture of clay and mud, compacted; although the final windproof cloth hadn't yet been added, it was evident that this was a good dwelling to last through the harsh winter."Originally, we planned to first build forty pilot houses," Mike stood beside a work shed with a cloak on, holding a blueprint to briefly report to Louis, his eyes full of fervor, "It's been less than a month, and we've completed half the progress."Not far away, by the steaming boiler, dozens of artisans and residents were working in an orderly manner: sawing wood, transporting mud, weaving willow, applying coatings, everything was well-organized.The construction site was divided into groups of twenty, each led by a senior artisan, ensuring high efficiency and good order.This was precisely the "work for labor" policy promoted by Louis: those without homes had places to live, those with strength had work to do, and those willing to sweat could earn food and accommodation."No one worries about being kicked out anymore," Mike said with firm eyes, "Sir, this is more powerful than any speech."Upon hearing the Lord's arrival, the entire construction site was instantly energized, with everyone working more vigorously."Quick, tidy up that firewood on the roof!""Lend me the hoe for a moment, if the lord sees we're moving slowly here."The workers, though sweaty-faced, wore smiles, as if they had never had such enthusiasm before.Louis scanned the surroundings, nodding, and suddenly stepped forward to a pit where the foundation was still being dug, saying nothing more, just lifted a shovel, rolled up his sleeves, and bent down to dig into the permafrost.".Ah?