The first ray of sunlight spilled over from the eastern horizon, reflecting a dazzling pure white light on the Black Rice Wasteland.
It had been snowing all night last night and although it had stopped before dawn, there was still a thick layer of snow on the ground. When Cook stepped down, his calf sunk in.
Shaking his head, he pulled out his right foot from the snow and Cook continued walking around the non-ferrous metal smelting factory.
As the manager of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce's non-ferrous metal smelting factory outside the Voller Tribe, Cook's responsibility was heavier than others. Even if it was the first day of the new year, he still chose to stay at his post. The first thing he did after waking up was to inspect the factory.
But because of the New Year holiday, the factory had been closed for several days, so there wasn't anyone here. Cook looked around and found nothing strange, so he ended his work for the day.
When he was hesitating whether he should go back to the warm dormitory with the Magic Air Conditioner to sleep or go to the mine on the other side to take a look, there was a wolfman that quickly ran over from the direction of the Voller Tribe.
Cook looked over and found that this wolfman was Wolf who worked as a porter in the factory, so he raised his hand to greet him.
"Hey, Wolf, it's the first day of the new year and you're not with your wife and child at home, what are you doing running to the factory?"
Wolf broke out in laughter and ran over to grab Cook's arm, "Manager Cook, the chief had me invite you to the tribe as a guest, let's go."
"Guest?" Cook was stunned.
Cook was stunned, "I am a human, it isn't good for me to run to your wolfman tribe on the first day of the new year, right?"
"What?
Manager, are you looking down on us wolfmen? "Wolf asked with wide eyes.
"No, no, no, I didn't mean that.
I just feel that since today is the first day of the new year, you wolfmen should have your own activities and it isn't appropriate for a human like me to participate. "
"What is there to be inappropriate about?"
Wolf grinned and said in an uncaring voice, "We've been working together for half a year, do you still treat yourself as an outsider?
The chief said that it would be boring for you to spend the new year alone, so he had me invite you and let you see how we wolfmen spend the new year. "
"But … …"
"Alright, don't say so much.
You weren't even this shy when I asked you to drink with me last night. Let's go! "
Without another word, Wolf pulled with all his might.
How could Cook compare to the strength of an adult werewolf like Worf? Thus, he was dragged towards the Voller werewolf tribe.
After entering the Voller werewolf tribe, Cook realized that the tribe today was indeed different from usual. Other than every house being decorated with red cloth, there was a strong smell of meat coming from every door and window. Just a whiff of it would whet one's appetite.
After seeing Cook, all the werewolves in the tribe, regardless of gender or age, smiled warmly at him.
Although the wolf faces didn't look that good when they smiled, one could still feel their enthusiasm.
Cook couldn't help but sigh.
He still remembered that when he was sent by the chairman to be in charge of the non-ferrous metal smelting factory, the Voller Tribe's Wolfmen had always looked at him with suspicion and vigilance.
But in just half a year, there was a large change in the attitude of these werewolves.
The reason was very simple. It was because with the mining of the mine and the non-ferrous metal smelting factory that Cook was in charge of, there were werewolves working in every household of the Voller Tribe, earning several gold coins each month.
When it was close to the end of the year, each werewolf worker was the same as the human workers, receiving a minimum of thirty gold coins as a year end bonus.
With this stable income, adding in the fact that they were equal to humans in purchasing goods with their labour cards, the lives of the Voller Tribe's Wolfmen had clearly improved.
For example, not only did chief Voller's wooden house have Magic Air Conditioners installed on the walls, making the room as warm as spring, there were also household magic machines like the Magic Stove, the Magic Kettle, the Magic Bread Maker, and other household magic machines.
Of course, they were all Xinfei Brand.
Cook looked over these household magic machines and he couldn't help secretly laughing in his heart.
Last time when the company's CEO Kennard came to inspect the non-ferrous metal smelting factory, he had secretly talked to Cook about the Voller Tribe's werewolves buying Xinfei Brand household magic machines.
According to the statistics, in just half a year, these werewolves had bought over three hundred Magic Air Conditioners and over five hundred Magic Stoves from New Flyer. As for the other household magic machines, each household had one or two.
Just by selling these household magic machines to them, it could be said that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce had earned back all their wages. This meant that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce didn't spend any money on these wolfman workers.
These werewolves were very grateful to New Flyer, so they were very friendly and respectful to Cook.
In the end, their lives were much better compared to before.
Right now, the Voller tribe's wolfmen had already become the most envied beastmen tribes in the Black Rice Wasteland. When the other beastmen saw the good living conditions of the Voller tribe, they quickly changed their attitude towards cooperating with humans from their previous vigilance and resistance to cooperating with humans to being more proactive and welcoming.
Not far from the Voller Tribe, there was a production base built by the four merchant guilds. In just two short months, a prototype had been built.
If it wasn't for the fact that it was winter and the Black Rice Wasteland was even colder and they had to stop construction, perhaps one or two factories would have already started working.
"Come, factory manager Cook, let me give you a toast." Chief Voller's voice woke Cook from his thoughts.
Seeing the giant wine cup in chief Voller's hand, he gave a bitter laugh in his heart before drinking it all.
"Good!
Straightforward enough!
I like humans like you, Manager Cook. "Patriarch Voller praised and filled Cook's wine glass to the brim.
"Come, let us give a toast to your New Flyer's Chairman Xu.
Although he isn't here, I still represent all of our clansmen in thanking him.
If it wasn't for him choosing to invest near our tribe, our clansmen wouldn't have had such a good life.
Come, let's toast! "
Cook naturally couldn't reject this toast. Looking at the giant wine cup in his hand, he shook his head. He never would have thought that he would be drunk on the first day of the new year in a beastmen tribe.
"Come, toast!" With this thought, Cook raised his cup and clinked it with chief Voller's before drinking it all.
###
When Cook drank his second cup of wine, old man Afaylia had just led Archie out. He was planning on going to the houses of the other farmers from Banta City to give them a New Year's greeting.
Looking at the bright sunlight above him and feeling the warmth from his body, old man Afaylia muttered before shaking his head with a strange expression.
He was already fifty four this year, but this was his first time spending New Year's outside Banta City. This feeling really was strange.
Moreover, the climate in the Principality of Constantine was different from the Lampari Kingdom. If it was Banta City, even if it wasn't snowing, it would be very cold. Every year when they went out to give New Year's greetings, old man Afaylia would wear thick cotton clothes to resist the cold.
But now that they were in the Principality of Constantine, the New Year's weather here was around the same as Banta City's spring and autumn. Old man Afaylia only needed to wear a jacket to go out.
Archie beside him was young and strong, so he only wore a single shirt and didn't even have a jacket.
Of course, what was different from last year was that old man Afaylia and Archie were wearing new clothes made of fine materials. Compared to last year where they could wear new clothes without any patches, it was without a doubt much better.
Looking at Archie who was wearing a set of clothes that cost thirteen gold coins, looking very handsome, old man Afaylia's heart was filled with gratitude towards Xu Yi and the New Flyer. He patted Archie's shoulder and led him in the direction of Leia's house.
Because of the New Flyer's recruitment this time, there were over two thousand farmers that had moved from Banta City. There were many that were like old man Afaylia and Leia's family, moving their entire family here.
When they came here and lived in the houses that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce had prepared ahead of time, they naturally formed a village of Banta City's farmers.
Before this, most of these farmers were not familiar with each other, but after coming to a foreign country, they naturally began to communicate frequently, and their relationship with each other quickly became close.
Because the Principality of Constantine was too far from Banta City, it took close to a week to go back and forth. So during the New Years this year, most of the farmers chose not to go back and stayed here to celebrate.
After old man Afaylia and Archie came out, there were countless people who greeted them and wished them New Years.
When they came to Leia's house, Leia's father was also preparing to go out. When he saw old man Afaylia and his son, he quickly welcomed them in.
Archie respectfully wished Leia's parents a happy new year. Then he ran into the room and pulled Leia who had just put on her new clothes out.
Seeing Leia who looked even more beautiful after putting on her new clothes standing together with Archie, old man Afaylia's heart skipped a beat. He looked at Leia's father and signaled him with his eyes.
Leia's father understood and waved his hand at Archie and Leia, "Alright, you two can go out and play. You don't need to worry about the family matters, just remember to come back for lunch."
Archie happily grabbed Leia's hand, "Let's go, Leia, let's go to the pier by the sea to play.
I've already rented a boat from the fishermen by the sea, we can go out to play.
Think about it, being able to go out to sea on the first day of the New Years, how fun would that be! "
Leia also had an excited look as she asked her father with her eyes. After receiving an affirmative answer, she gave old man Afaylia a bow and happily ran out with Archie.
Seeing the two happily leaving, old man Afaylia revealed a smile. He turned to Leia's father and said, "I think ….. these two children are quite compatible, how about we just let them get married?"
Contrary to old man Afaylia's expectations, Leia's father didn't hesitate at all and directly nodded.
"Un, I already had this idea.
After the New Years, we'll find a good time to let them get married. "
Leia's mother on the side also nodded and said, "That's right, letting them get married early is also good. If they stay together all day, something will happen sooner or later."
Old man Afaylia looked at Leia's mother and thought about it, but he couldn't refute her.
If young people like Archie and Leia stayed together for a long time, it really was hard to predict what they would do.
But old man Afaylia was very satisfied with the quick reaction of Leia's parents.
Thinking of why they agreed so quickly, it must be because his family had moved here and could earn several hundred gold coins each year, old man Afaylia's heart was filled with gratitude towards New Flyer.
"Alright, let's discuss this … …"
Archie and Leia who were running towards the sea never thought that their marriage would be decided by their parents at this time.