Chapter 674: Chapter 674: Workshop

In the base’s regular residential area, everyone—man or woman, young or old—had to work to be allocated housing and various supply subsidies. The only exceptions were pregnant women and children under three. The people living in the small courtyards, however, were another matter. They not only enjoyed the benefit of "one person works, the whole family eats," but also received the base’s best resources. Wild vegetables and meat were supplied to this area first, simply because its residents were the base’s leaders and their families.

Evelyn Ford wasn’t holding a double standard. In her own household, besides Liam Sterling and Ronan Kendrick, only she and Wendy were currently working for the base. Since Liam and Ronan hadn’t worked this month, they hadn’t collected any subsidies or vouchers. The supplies she and Wendy brought back weren’t nearly enough to feed everyone, so their daily expenses were covered by the supplies from her personal dimension. They hadn’t taken a single extra thing from the base. The only favor they’d received was Liam pulling some strings to get their toilet built.

But these "special favors" were a return she had rightfully earned for unconditionally gifting the base various grain seeds for farming and cultivating the cacti and the Earth-Surging Golden Lotus.

Her conscience was clear.

In contrast, these gossips did nothing but spread rumors, start trouble, and wag their tongues all day. They performed no labor, yet they took the clothes and food distributed by the base. Evelyn didn’t care what their status or identity had been in the past; here in Eldoria, people who didn’t work didn’t deserve to live here. This was especially true since they were enjoying a privileged life that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine.

She had deliberately made a scene this time, so the base would certainly send someone to deal with it. If those people wanted to get out of jail, there was only one way: go to work and create value for the base. They couldn’t just keep wasting resources, behaving like useless troublemakers and stirring up public resentment.

Evelyn was in such a good mood that she ate two extra bowls at dinner.

After dinner, everyone gathered in the living room to chat when Quincy suddenly brought up the idea of moving out.

After discussing it with everyone, Quincy announced his plan to move out with Zoe and Wyatt Vaughn once the rice planting in the dimension was finished. He’d asked Liam Sterling to help him make the necessary connections to apply for a small, family-style workshop in the courtyard’s service area. He’d taken the fabric that Evelyn had culled from her stores; once washed, it could be cut and sewn into clothing. That’s why he planned to open a children’s clothing shop in the courtyard area.

The idea was somewhat unexpected, and everyone was curious why he wanted to open a children’s clothing store.

"I remember Liam Sterling saying they’re going to build at least a thousand small courtyards here, so more and more people will be moving in. The base is encouraging everyone to have children to expand the population. Once life stabilizes, I expect a lot of people will start having kids like crazy. Besides, there are already many children in the courtyard area now. I’ve noticed that about one in every three families has a child. Even if the base starts planting cotton, raising silkworms, and growing kudzu for linen, it would take two or three years to produce anything. Meanwhile, the old clothes and fabrics that Evelyn cleared out of the storage area have piled up into a mountain. I think we can put them to good use."

After listening to Quincy, Evelyn nodded. "That’s a solid idea. I support you. Go ahead and do what you want. By the way, Annie, you should move out with Quincy and the others too. They’re already building a school in the courtyard area, and registration should open in a few days. No matter what era we’re in, people can’t go without an education."

Annie nodded. "I understand, Aunt Ford."

"When are they coming to connect the water and power for the courtyards?" Evelyn asked, looking at Liam Sterling.

"They’ll connect the water and power at eight a.m. the day after tomorrow."

"Once the courtyards have utilities, you can move the sewing machines and fabric out. You all don’t need to worry about the rice paddies. If it gets to be too much, we’ll just call the laborers back from the mining area."

Quincy nodded. "Thank you all for your support."

"Don’t thank us. We’re all family."

—

The next afternoon, the dark-faced uncle came to the courtyard looking for Evelyn. He had finished his investigation into yesterday’s incident. The matter had alarmed the base management; after all, the old men and women locked in the stockade had influential backgrounds. The son of one of the old women was even the director of the third residential district. That director had sent three of his assistants over. They weren’t just there to take the old woman back—they wanted to throw Evelyn in jail, too.

Right at that moment, the base commander’s assistant arrived.

The final resolution of the matter was that the group of seniors would spend a month in the stockade. Upon their release, they would have to find jobs. Anyone who didn’t work would be denied all base subsidies and would not be permitted to live in base housing.

The dark-faced uncle informed Evelyn of the result, but she wasn’t surprised in the least. Even if Rhys Chase hadn’t intervened, the outcome would have been the same.

As a result of this incident, the base issued a new regulation: with the exception of special personnel, any resident without a job was forbidden from collecting base supplies. Anyone caught falsely claiming provisions would be treated to a ten-day tour of the stockade.

Evelyn shot to notoriety over this incident. Now, whenever she appeared in the courtyard area, people passing by couldn’t help but stare before quickly giving her a wide berth.

She happened to overhear people talking about her behind her back. She had merely dragged the group of seniors to the service area, yet an absurd rumor was now spreading through the courtyards that she had beaten them all to death.

And just like that, the title "The Demon Queen" was pinned on her.

"I never thought I’d see the day I was so feared my name alone could stop a child from crying. Kids start bawling the second they see me from a distance. On my way back just now, I ran into an old man who got so scared he practically sprinted away. And I remember seeing him a few days ago—the man has a limp! Ronan Kendrick, look me in the eye and tell me honestly, am I really that terrifying?" Evelyn rested her chin in her hands and blinked at him pitifully.

Ronan Kendrick reached out and ruffled Evelyn’s hair. "You’re not scary at all. You’re so well-behaved."

Evelyn nodded. "Exactly. I don’t go looking for trouble. These people are taking it too far."

"They certainly are." Ronan Kendrick’s eyes darkened, and Evelyn quickly grabbed his hand.

"I’m just venting a little, don’t go and kill anyone."

Ronan Kendrick chuckled softly, straightening her messy hair. "If they were all dead, no one would be left to misunderstand you."

Evelyn was left speechless.

"Let them misunderstand me! I don’t care what they think." ’This guy looks so gentle, but he’s actually more ruthless than anyone,’ she thought. ’If I don’t stop him, he’s fully capable of going on a killing spree just to make me happy.’

"Then whose opinion do you care about?"

Evelyn threw herself into his arms. "Yours, of course. You’re the only one I care about."

Seeing his expression return to normal, Evelyn quietly let out a sigh of relief.

’Unless it was absolutely necessary, she didn’t want the people close to her to stain their hands with any more blood—especially not Ronan Kendrick.’

"When those people were bullying you before, you didn’t ask for my help, and you wouldn’t even let me go teach them a lesson." His tone was a bit sullen. Evelyn patted his back gently, as if coaxing a child.

"I was wrong. From now on, if any other clueless idiots try to bully me, I’ll come find you, and you can help me teach those bad guys a lesson."

"Okay. Whoever bullies you, I’ll kill them."

Evelyn put a hand to her forehead. "That’s... a bit more brutal than necessary."

"You think I’m brutal? See? You really don’t like me as much as you used to."

Evelyn was exasperated. "I’m being falsely accused!"

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