48: Chapter 48 Dawn City

Liang Qiming did not give a long, rambling speech. He knew that at this moment, no words could compare to actual food and stable housing.

He only said in a clear voice:

"This is Blue Winter Star. You are safe."

"There is food here, there are places to live, and there are jobs. As long as you follow the rules and are willing to work hard, you and your families can survive here, living better than on Aovis Star."

"Specific arrangements will be announced later."

After speaking, he nodded to the guard captain beside him and turned to leave.

He didn't need to gain these people's loyalty immediately; that would take time. The most important thing now was to let them settle in, adapt to the environment, and feel tangible changes.

Next, he would use the controlled management of Blue Winter Star to gradually arrange some basic, harmless work for these people—cleaning, maintenance, auxiliary agricultural production, etc.—so they had things to do and wages to receive, slowly establishing a new life order and trust.

Meanwhile, screening and observation would also be conducted secretly to find those who were relatively clever, reliable, or had special potential, preparing for more core tasks later.

While settling these people, Liang Qiming was also calculating another matter in his heart.

News about the golden flame spear had already been released through Tiangong Merchant Bank's channels and was currently fermenting.

-

A month passed, and the immigrants from Aovis Star gradually adapted to life on Blue Winter Star.

Their initial panic and unease were smoothed over by regular work, sufficient food, clean housing, and a relatively safe environment.

Color began to return to their faces, the numbness in their eyes decreased, and more hope for the future appeared.

The settlement area was constantly expanded and improved, forming a fully functional and orderly planned small town. Liang Qiming named it "Dawn City."

On this day, all the immigrants were gathered at the central square of Dawn City.

Over four thousand people stood in a dense crowd, still somewhat nervous, but no longer as panicked as when they first arrived.

Liang Qiming stood before them once again.

"From today on," his voice spread through a simple amplification device, "all of you officially become vassals of the Liang Family. Your household registration will be recorded in Dawn City. You are the Liang Family's first batch of subjects in this world."

Many people showed confusion on their faces. They didn't quite understand the specific meanings of words like "vassal" or "subject" in the context of the Liang Family, but they could feel that this was different from simply being hired or taken in; it seemed like a closer, more long-term relationship.

Liang Qiming did not explain too much. He took out a thick register and began to assign housing by family units.

Not the prefabricated houses of the settlement area, but newly built, single-family residences within Dawn City.

The houses were uniform in style, with white walls and grey tiles, and included small courtyards. Although not luxurious, they were sturdy, bright, and fully equipped. For these people accustomed to trash heaps and broken shacks, they were villas they wouldn't dare imagine even in dreams.

"Andy, with one son and one daughter, assigned to No. 7, Sector A."

"Ian, with two daughters, assigned to No. 12, Sector B."

...

After their names were called and confirmed, the families were led to their new homes by staff.

Every step was taken cautiously, in disbelief.

Someone pushed open a brand-new wooden door and saw clean rooms, simple furniture, and even basic cooking utensils in the kitchen. They froze on the spot, their eyes turning red.

The family of the little girl who had once asked the orphan Shitou was assigned to No. 3, Sector C.

The little girl held her mother's hand, her eyes wide as she looked at the beautiful little house, then looked up at her mother.

Her mother's lips trembled as she tightly hugged the son in her arms, tears falling silently.

As an orphan, Shitou was assigned a single room in the collective dormitory. To him, this was already paradise.

The housing distribution lasted all day. When the last family received their keys, the sky was near dusk.

Some elderly people and particularly anxious individuals remained in the square.

A white-haired elder with deep wrinkles on his face, supported by his family, walked tremblingly to Liang Qiming, bowed deeply, and said hoarsely:

"My Lord... you gave us a way to live, gave us houses... what can we old bones still do for the lords? Please instruct us, my lord, our hearts... are not at ease."

Liang Qiming looked into the elder's cloudy eyes, a trace of a smile appearing on his face.

"Old sir, and everyone else,"

He raised his voice, "You are now people of my Liang Family. Working for the Liang Family is only natural. There is much to do: farming, labor, maintenance, learning new skills, and even protecting our home in the future. But the Liang Family does things with fairness."

"Work comes with pay. Doing well brings rewards. Children can go to school to learn literacy and crafts. Those with ability and willingness to work hard will have channels for advancement in the Liang Family; they can become managers, master craftsmen, or guard captains."

"What I want are not slaves, but people who can move forward together with my Liang Family. Only when you live well will the Liang Family be better."

His words were simple and direct. It wasn't a free handout; work was required. But work brought rewards, hope, and a future.

After hearing this, the elder was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears of joy. He was about to kneel again but was supported by those nearby. He choked up, repeatedly muttering, "Good... good... there's hope... there's hope..."

For these people who had struggled at the bottom for a lifetime, accustomed to being exploited and ignored, and willing to give their all just for a bite of food, what Liang Qiming provided was not just warmth, satiety, and shelter, but a path to look up to and climb.

Give them a bite of food, and they would risk their lives.

Give them a hopeful way to live, and they would entrust their lives and futures to you.

Dawn City quieted down in the twilight. The lights of ten thousand homes began to shine, illuminating faces that still bore a hint of unease but were mostly filled with excitement and anticipation.

On Blue Winter Star, the Liang Family finally had its first batch of flesh-and-blood roots that truly belonged to them, with homes and families.

After settling the residents of Dawn City, Liang Qiming did not immediately arrange work.

He needed these people to recover their health first, adapt to the environment, and establish an initial sense of identity and belonging to their new life.

He observed secretly and began to conceive a simple contribution and promotion system—giving different treatment, permissions, and even future opportunities to participate in core affairs based on work performance, learning progress, special skills, or loyalty.

But this would take time and couldn't be rushed.

For now, Dawn City's facilities were complete. Every month, a steady supply of materials arrived from other farms on Blue Winter Star or through Tiangong Merchant Bank's channels. Food was sufficient and life was peaceful. To those who had come out of the Ash District, it was already a paradise.

Only after handling these basic affairs did Liang Qiming turn his attention back to the Tiangong Merchant Bank's plan.

Through an encrypted channel, he issued new instructions to the Hub: utilize the merchant bank's promotional channels to start a large-scale hype in the Goth Starfield and several adjacent starfields.

The content was vague yet highly provocative—"The Tiangong United Trading Company exploration team has once again discovered suspected relics from the Dark Age of Technology; specific information will be announced in the near future."

No pictures, no details, only a hook once again linked to 'relics from the Dark Age of Technology.'

He wanted this news to ferment, letting curiosity, speculation, and covetousness brew and swell within specific circles, building up high enough expectations for the official debut of the golden flame spear.