Van Der Linde's Iron Will

"Whoosh!"

The iron door on the side of the train was pulled open from the outside, and the dazzling sunlight instantly illuminated the dim carriage, bringing with it countless screams.

"Ah!"

The sudden change in the external environment caused the already nervous Blackwater residents to cry out, looking out anxiously and fearfully.

Having just arrived in a completely unfamiliar place with no foundation whatsoever, this group of people felt utterly helpless. They didn't even dare to think about Dutch Van der Linde's past promises, only praying in their hearts that they would be safe, that Dutch Van der Linde wouldn't sell them as slaves to black factories, that they and their families would be safe and free. They didn't dare to hope for a real job paying twenty dollars a month.

If West Elizabeth hadn't truly been beyond saving, if those damned gang members hadn't completely trapped them in Blackwater, they really wouldn't have dared to make such a drastic decision.

As the Blackwater residents in the train carriage were tense and apprehensive, a loud voice emanated from Valentine First School's electric loudspeaker.

"Hello, hello! Hmm! Oh, ladies and gentlemen, don't be nervous. Please disembark from the train in an orderly fashion and enter the carriages driven by Valentine police officers. Mr. Van der Linde has prepared your respective houses. Now, please line up in an orderly manner for household registration!"

Electric loudspeakers had not yet appeared in this era, so when this enormous sound rang out, it immediately caused a stir among the Blackwater residents on the train.

"Ah! Dammit, what's making that sound?"

"Sh*t! Gentlemen, save me, save me!"

"Quiet, don't panic! Dammit, didn't you hear that Mr. Van der Linde has prepared houses for us?"

The train carriage immediately became noisy. Some old folks and cowards were scared out of their wits by the huge sound, while the bolder ones or adults paid more attention to the content of the voice.

Inside the train, there was a clamor, and the Valentine residents gathered on both sides laughed and made noise. Some kind-hearted people loudly explained the source of the sound to them, while mischievous ones constantly teased the timid residents inside the train.

"Gentlemen, don't panic, this is a loudspeaker invented by Mr. Van der Linde!"

"Oh, the monsters are coming, that's right, our Valentine is a city of monsters! Hahaha!"

A group of people laughed together, glared at by the police officers nearby.

"Gentlemen, don't be nervous, this is just Mr. Van der Linde's invention. Now, start disembarking the train in an orderly fashion. Hurry, after registering your household, you still need to be assigned rooms and jobs!"

Sheriff Malloy lightly whipped a few pranksters with his small leather whip, then rode his tall horse along the train, shouting continuously. He was full of vigor, practically soaring to the sky.

He felt great, he had been living so well lately!

He had no power in his hands, but that didn't stop others from giving him gifts. Most importantly, his status had truly become exalted. Now, even the wealthy people coming from Saint Denis respectfully called him 'Sheriff Malloy, sir'!

Dammit, he couldn't even have imagined such treatment before. Mr. Van der Linde had even said that if he was willing, he would be one of the New Hanover state assemblymen in the next term! Becoming an assemblyman for Lemoyne would be just as easy!

Damn it, Malloy had reached the pinnacle of his life by just slacking off in his office! The only right thing he had ever done in his life was to stand firm with his chosen side and not be indecisive.

Under the arrangement and cooperation of the police officers, the Blackwater residents disembarked from the train one by one and climbed into the carriages they were driving.

Once a carriage was full, it would start moving slowly towards Valentine, and the empty carriages behind would follow closely to fill its vacant spot.

Carriages moved slowly along the newly built brick roads of Valentine, filled with Blackwater residents. Some carriages held entire families, while others held two or three unfamiliar families traveling together.

As the carriages advanced, the Valentine residents standing on both sides of the street watched the group of Blackwater residents in the carriages, dressed in shabby clothes, some even barely covered, as if watching monkeys, seeing their former selves.

The Valentine residents whispered among themselves, lamenting their wonderful lives and Mr. Van der Linde's greatness.

The Blackwater residents in the carriages looked at the luxurious shops around them, the decently dressed people, and the brick-paved ground, feeling a subtle sense of inferiority slowly arising within them.

Especially the dense gazes from both sides of the street made them feel completely uncomfortable.

The women tugged at their tattered clothes, lowering their heads, afraid their garments couldn't conceal their inner inferiority. The children hid in their mothers' arms, cautiously peeking out with two eyes, curiously and nervously observing everything around them. As for the men, though equally inferior and nervous inside, they still held their heads high, looking at the surrounding environment and crowd, wanting to understand this place as quickly as possible.

And the leader of the group dutifully explained everything they needed to accomplish next.

"Gentlemen, ladies, from now on, you are officially residents of Valentine!

To live in Valentine, you must abide by the town's laws, not commit any illegal or criminal acts. Besides that, remember one thing: everything you have is given by Mr. Van der Linde!

And when you become a member of Valentine, your children will have the right to free schooling. Valentine First School, which the train just passed, is a free school established by Mr. Van der Linde. Children can learn knowledge from thirty-five subjects there, including 'mechanics, medicine, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and art.' After they graduate, they can directly become Mr. Van der Linde's senior workers, earning a minimum salary of fifty dollars per month!"

"Wow!" Along with these words, the Blackwater residents in the carriages gasped in astonishment.

Dammit, a fifty-dollar salary? Senior workers in the East earn at most twenty-five dollars a month, and their children can earn fifty dollars after graduating?

Damn it, fifty dollars a month? What does that even mean? It means their whole family can live in a fully furnished big house, choose what to eat and drink every day, and not worry about clothes or housing! They could even save some money and afford luxuries!

However, that wasn't all; the leader continued to explain their benefits.

"Mr. Van der Linde has instructed that as residents of Valentine, your food and housing must be guaranteed. Mr. Van der Linde considered that many of you might not have savings after coming from Blackwater, so he has prepared a policy of work-for-housing for you.

After registering your information, each household will receive a six-square-meter house with a bed, a cabinet, and complete bedding for living. The monthly rent for the house is three dollars, but considering that you currently have no savings, Mr. Van der Linde has decided to let you move in first and will collect the rent when the first month's salary is issued. At that time, if you wish to continue living there, you can; if not, you can move out. This is to ensure your stable lives.

In addition, after you register, you can receive the work Mr. Van der Linde has arranged for you.

Currently, there are many types of jobs: female garment workers, female cooking workers, sweepers, New Hanover state soldiers, as well as farming and breeding personnel, all earning twenty-five dollars per month, with Mr. Van der Linde providing food and lodging.

Male transport workers and male factory workers earn fifty dollars per month, with Mr. Van der Linde providing food and lodging.

Mine workers, arms manufacturing workers, and teachers earn seventy-five dollars per month, with Mr. Van der Linde providing food and lodging.

Mr. Van der Linde's personal gunmen earn one hundred dollars per month, with Mr. Van der Linde providing food and lodging!

You can choose a suitable job according to your circumstances. Of course, jobs are not absolute; if you don't want to work for Mr. Van der Linde, you can find work on your own. If you don't want to live in Valentine, you can also take the train to Saint Denis."

"Oh, sh*t! Is this real? Sir, did Mr. Van der Linde not lie to us in Blackwater?" The Blackwater residents were incredulous, but their questions were immediately interrupted by the surrounding Valentine residents.

"Hey, kid, watch your mouth. If there's a next time, I'll blow your brains out! Mr. Van der Linde is never afraid of lying. My wife is a female worker in Mr. Van der Linde's factory, and honestly, Mr. Van der Linde not only provides food and lodging but also cigarettes and alcohol!"

"And they only work twelve hours a day!"

"Mr. Van der Linde doesn't allow overtime!"

"There are also two days of family visit leave every month!"

"Mr. Van der Linde even paid out of his own pocket to buy dairy cows for the children's health! My son now drinks a glass of milk every day, and he's shot up five centimeters in the past six months!"

The surrounding crowd one by one vindicated Mr. Van der Linde, becoming increasingly excited and fervent as they spoke.

In Valentine, as long as you follow Mr. Van der Linde, as long as you respect Mr. Van der Linde, then you are a truly good person! Everyone approves of you.

Regardless of whether you know someone or not, as long as you praise Mr. Van der Linde, someone will inevitably invite you to the tavern for a drink, and the two of you will drink and talk, crying and laughing as you recount Mr. Van der Linde's greatness and his help to you.