210. The Big Recruitment

"Let's go check the front. I wonder how many people Jon, McCann, and Bud have recruited!" Jason Liu said, leading the four men toward the front store.

"My lord, would you like to have lunch now?" Lina asked as soon as she saw him approach. She immediately put down her pen and walked over with a warm smile. "The kitchen is already preparing the meal!"

Jason glanced out of the window and saw that the farmers and village women from around Winterfell were already sitting down, eating bread and vegetable soup provided by Old Lord and the others.

Only then did he realize it was already noon.

"Alright. I'll eat in the store today. Have the kitchen bring the food here," Jason decided, taking a seat at the long wooden table in the lobby with dicken and the other four men.

Soon, the cooks arrived, carrying trays of freshly baked bread that filled the air with the scent of wheat. Alongside the bread were roasted chicken, beef, a large fried and marinated fish, and bowls of steaming vegetable soup.

Lina and the other staff joined him at the long table, as they usually had their meals there as well.

Martha sat down, holding her little daughter Lilian, who was not even two years old yet, and fed her small bites of bread dipped in soup. Her son Michal, nearly six years old, was seated beside her, eagerly nibbling on the drumstick Aunt Lina had given him.

Dicken and the others had large plates in front of them, and the food on the table was plentiful. A large pot filled with roast beef sat at the center, accompanied by several roasted chickens and plates of fresh vegetables.

However, dicken, Kent, Chris, and Rubin showed little interest in the vegetables. Even though they had been eating meat regularly for the past few months, the hard days they had endured without it made them appreciate every bite of roasted meat. They never seemed to get tired of it.

Jason Liu had an average appetite. But as someone who wanted to maintain the appearance of nobility, he kept a modest demeanor while eating. A white dinner plate was placed in front of him, and he carefully cut his roast beef with a knife and fork.

As usual, Lina had already cut the bread for him. After so much time in her care, he had grown accustomed to being served.

Outside, the morning recruitment had finally ended. Jon walked into the store carrying a thick list in his hands, followed closely by McCann and Bud.

As he passed by young Michal, who was sitting at the table and gnawing on his drumstick, Jon smiled and ruffled the boy's hair before making his way to the seat reserved for him near Jason Liu.

"Jon, how did it go this morning? How many people did you recruit?" Jason asked, swallowing a bite of beef. He wiped his mouth with a napkin before turning toward Jon Snow with a smile.

Jon sat down and grabbed a glass of water from the table, taking a long drink before letting out a deep sigh. The exhaustion on his face lessened slightly.

Hearing Jason's question, Jon set down his cup and gave a wry smile. "My lord, the conditions you set were too good. More than a thousand people showed up to apply this morning, and I expect many more to come this afternoon."

"That many?" Jason raised his brows in surprise.

Jon nodded. "This morning, McCann, Bud, and I selected recruits according to your criteria. As long as they looked physically fit and capable, we accepted them. So far, we've recruited 914 people."

McCann and Bud, who had just taken their seats beside Jon, nodded in agreement.

"Our table outside was nearly overwhelmed by the excited crowds," Bud added, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "These farmers and their wives all rushed to sign up. It was chaos."

Recalling the experience, Bud shuddered. The sheer number of people pressing in on them had nearly crushed them to the ground. And the smell—sweat from dozens of farmers packed together—nearly made him sick.

McCann hadn't fared much better. However, having lost his parents early and growing up struggling to survive with his younger sister, he had built up more endurance than Bud, who had been raised in a well-off home.

"My lord, with the way things are going, we should easily reach your target of 2,000 people by this afternoon," McCann estimated.

Jason took a sip of water, nodding in satisfaction. "You're all doing a great job. Keep up the good work this afternoon. It would be best if we recruited everyone we need in one go. That way, tomorrow, I can take them to the wasteland I selected and begin building the lumber mill."

Suddenly, he remembered the masons who had helped construct his house in Winterfell. Turning to Lina, he said, "Lina, send someone to inform the masons who worked for us last time. Tell them I have another job for them—building the lumber mill."

Lina, who had been eating a piece of bread with roasted meat, quickly swallowed and set her food down. "Understood, my lord. I'll send someone to inform Master Torrant right away."

Jason recalled that Torrant was the head mason in Winterfell, an elderly man with thinning white hair and a beard.

"No rush," Jason said, stopping her from getting up. "You can go after lunch. There's still plenty of time."

Lina giggled and stuck out her tongue playfully. "Alright, then I'll finish my meal first!" She eagerly picked up her bread again and continued eating.

After lunch, the farmers and villagers who had come to apply for work outside the store had also finished their meals. Even their children had enjoyed rare treats—white bread and vegetable soup, things they seldom ate at home.

Jon and his team headed back outside to continue the recruitment. Meanwhile, the boy Lina had sent returned, bringing Master Torrant with him.

Torrant, a thin and slightly hunched old man, carefully stepped inside the store. As soon as he spotted Jason Liu, he quickly bowed. "My lord, it is an honor to be summoned by you."

"Please, Master Torrant, have a seat. I have something to discuss with you," Jason invited him to the long table in the hall.

Torrant hesitated, looking nervous. He was not used to sitting at the same table as a noble.

Seeing his reluctance, Jason decided to stand instead and got straight to the point.

"I'm planning to construct a lumber mill, and I want you to gather your masons from Winterfell and nearby villages to work on the project."

Torrant had already heard rumors about the lumber mill earlier that morning. The recruitment drive had drawn thousands of people to Jason Liu's store, and news spread quickly throughout Winterfell.

Hearing the confirmation directly from Jason, he was not surprised. Instead, he was delighted.

"My lord, it would be our honor to serve you!" Torrant said eagerly.

Jason smiled. "Good. Gather your men and be ready to start work soon."

With everything set in motion, Jason was confident that his plans would progress smoothly.

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