80: Working odd jobs in coal mines

Although Shen Bei had achieved success in his Cultivation, he had a clear understanding of the current situation.

Once he confronted the deliveryman head-on, it would become a chain reaction, affecting everything.

He needed to proceed slowly and cautiously, never acting impulsively, otherwise, the situation would spiral out of control.

Shen Bei exhaled a turbid breath, thought long and hard, and ultimately decided to remain hidden for now.

He would wait for a good opportunity or a situation with an entry point to make his move.

...

That day, Shen Bei returned to his normal working routine.

He seized every opportunity to work and raise his attribute values, as there were still ten days left.

In ten days, all the students of Lingnan City Martial Arts University would be mixed and dispatched to carry out missions, bringing glory to the university's name.

Other students were not very enthusiastic.

Even though Principal Zhang was full of passion, he was stingy when it came to motivating them, especially with rewards, which was met with disdain.

The students' enthusiasm was low, and most adopted a perfunctory attitude.

But Shen Bei took it seriously.

Whether it was a military mission or a Patrol Bureau warrant, they all offered bounties, and his cheat could double those bounties!

Don't let this Martial Artist-dominated society fool you; money makes things easier, and that's a universal truth everywhere.

Especially for Medicinal Pills that nourish the body, like qi and blood pills, and Hemostatic Pills, among a whole range of other Medicinal Pills.

Shen Bei also had a demand for them, but what if the school's resource library was scarce and couldn't provide them?

He could only buy them.

After all, Medicinal Pills don't fall from the sky.

Arriving at the Labor Market, several laborers who had met Shen Bei before stared at him intently.

"Move, let me squat in the C-spot."

Shen Bei, with his thick skin, quickly claimed a good spot and squatted down, waiting for work.

Soon, Shen Bei seamlessly blended into the group of laborers.

They chatted and laughed, even sharing a handful of Gua Zi, eating happily.

These ordinary people were simple, honest, and sincere; after all, earning a living through physical labor was more honorable than selling one's integrity.

As long as you didn't speak in an overly refined or pedantic manner, you could easily get along with them.

Of course, a few dirty jokes would make it even better.

You would be the center of attention, and Gua Zi and cigarettes would never run out for you.

Soon, Shen Bei received a big job.

A foreman had contracted a tunnel excavation in a coal mine on the outskirts of the city.

This was commonly known as an "outsourcing team."

Normally, working in a coal mine required professionally trained workers.

No one would ever hire temporary workers; after all, workers going down the shaft also needed a certain level of skill.

However, in recent years, the development of coal mines entered a golden age.

A large amount of capital flowed in, beginning to excavate the black gold.

Driven by profit, training became unimportant, and knowing how to use self-rescuers also became unimportant.

It was not uncommon to see one or two experienced coal miners leading twenty or thirty novices down the shaft to work.

"Although it's working down the shaft, it's only to clear debris inside the tunnel and clean it up, providing conditions for subsequent equipment entry."

The foreman, fearing that everyone wouldn't understand, further explained, "Just imagine it as cleaning. If my team of workers hadn't been stuck at Shanhai Pass for several days, I wouldn't be looking for temporary workers.

Aside from being a bit dark, everything underground is safe."

"Eight hours, 400 yuan, anyone interested?"

There were only a few respondents.

To be honest, this price was quite good.

Official coal miners who worked underground, doing odd jobs and exerting physical labor, earned just over 10,000 yuan a month.

Skilled trades, such as drilling machine operators, electricians, and equipment repairmen, might earn more, around 15,000 yuan.

As a temporary worker going down the shaft to clear tunnels and clean, 400 yuan was already a considerably high wage.

But the key was that coal mines were somewhat dangerous.

There were countless various dangers.

Although modern coal mines had significantly improved safety after national rectification, explosions and water gushing accidents still occurred every year.

Despite the foreman's hoarse shouts, not many laborers dared to work down the shaft, only five or six people.

At this moment, Shen Bei raised his hand: "Me, I'll go!"

For Shen Bei, earning money from odd jobs was one aspect.

The important thing was to earn attribute points!

Moreover, the more unfamiliar the work, the more it could increase strange "Fifth Dimension Attributes."

"Good!"

Foreman Li Quanyou patted Shen Bei's shoulder and said, "You're a good young man, you need to venture out. Maybe you'll even like working underground."

After another round of recruitment with no further responses, Li Quanyou waved his hand.

He drove Shen Bei and the other workers to the Diaobingshan Coal Mine.

Modern coal mines were different from the dilapidated coal pits of decades ago.

The surface environment was, needless to say, built like a residential community.

Shen Bei looked around curiously and was surprised to find that, in addition to office buildings and dormitories, the factory area had various gardens and flowing water, like a park.

However, there was no coal piled up on the ground.

Shen Bei even asked, "Where's the coal?"

Li Quanyou laughed and pointed to the dozens of meters high coal silo in the distance: "All the coal that comes up goes in there for screening; the coal doesn't touch the ground, and it's directly transported away by train."

Shen Bei said, "Oh."

It was indeed different from what he had imagined; he had thought coal mines would be smoky and filled with muddy water everywhere.

He learned something new...

Li Quanyou led Shen Bei and the others to the changing room.

For a mine, workers' clothes must be pure cotton to prevent static electricity from generating sparks through friction.

They wore boots on their feet, black mining helmets, and a mining lamp clipped to the helmet.

A self-rescuer, similar to a lunchbox, was tied to their waist.

They went to the warehouse to collect tools.

Shen Bei was given a shovel.

"Follow me, I'll take you down the shaft."

Li Quanyou checked the workers' equipment and led Shen Bei and the others to the wellhead.

The wellhead was a large slope, with stairs on one side and mine cart tracks on the other, leading directly to the working face.

They descended the stairs.

After walking for about twenty minutes, they reached the underground level.

Shen Bei looked back at the wellhead.

It had already become a tiny speck of light.

"Watch your step, don't walk on the tracks; mine carts can pass at any time."

"Follow me, don't get distracted and get lost; this place is a maze for you."

Li Quanyou instructed, walking ahead, heading straight for the working face.

Shen Bei looked left and right, everything was new and exciting.

The support steel beams on the ceiling, the wrist-thick cables arranged on the walls, the huge ventilation ducts...

Half an hour later, after many twists and turns, the group arrived at the working face.

Here was a brick wall, sealed off.

Li Quanyou patted the brick wall and said, "Smash it for me. Load the bricks into the mine cart and push them into the underground parking lot."

"Be careful, smash it from the outside, don't go in. It hasn't been ventilated for a long time, and toxic gases have accumulated, which can make a person lose consciousness in minutes."

"Let's get to work."

Li Quanyou gave a series of instructions regarding safety.

Shen Bei and the others swung their sledgehammers, knocking down the brick wall.

With a rumble, dust and smoke filled the air, and bricks and stones collapsed.

Smashing walls was a basic skill for laborers; they tore it down in minutes.

Then they started loading the bricks onto the cart.

After cleaning up, Li Quanyou went to the power distribution room and connected the ventilation fan's wires.

He started the ventilation, continuously sending fresh air into the tunnel.

Meanwhile, Shen Bei and the others rested aside.

Half an hour later, the gas inspector, wearing a gas mask, entered the tunnel to measure the gas levels.

The air was deemed safe.

Li Quanyou waved his hand: "Come on, go in! Clear out all the trash, sleepers, scrap iron, and such inside. That's today's work finished."