"Hey, I heard there is something weird going on in the western courtyard?"
"Western courtyard? Isn't that where the workers have been sent to fill up all the inner water reservoir of the empty residences? What could be happening there?"
"Oh...I have seen it! It looks so funny! There is such a long human line snaking all the way from the back reservoir to the residences – it is really funny!"
"Long line? Don't they usually fill up the water in pairs? What use is the line?"
"They seem to be passing the vats through the line. Apparently the work gets done easier and quicker. I thought it was quite efficient and intelligent!"
"Huh! That's the commoners way! Poor things, they need to use so much brains just to shift water from one place to another!"
"Still, it is pretty rare to see commoners coming up with such interesting methods to make their work easier."
"True. Most of the time they are too scared of us and stick to whatever we tell them, and rarely come up with their own methods."
"I even heard someone along the line singing! It was really entertaining! I came back to take you guys to watch – let's go!"
And so, on a hot summer afternoon, dotted with intermittent rainfalls, a whole horde of cultivators gathered around the western courtyard to watch the strange 'Singing Human Line' as they worked their butts off trying to fill the water vats and pools of all the residences.
One must say that Rihanna was extremely glib tongued, and worked hard to raise the commoner workers enthusiasm in order to lessen her own burdens! She felt like a marketing salesman, and her first task was selling off this age old earthly method of transporting goods from a short distance.
After almost talking her mouth dry, these people finally showed some positive response, and thus the very first 'Human Line' was formed. Indeed, transporting water buckets from one person to another along the line made the work less hard and more efficient.
But Rihanna still felt there was a marked lack of enthusiasm amongst the workers. So then she recalled the way she had seen people in films doing the same thing....Ah, they usually sang songs, didn't they?! And songs were said to heighten the enthusiasm and lessen the burden of the task!.....But all she could remember were Bollywood songs!
Helplessly she looked around, and then her greedy eyes fell on 'Little An'....Perfect!
Little An felt a chill creeping on him as he glanced at 'Grandpa's' sparkling stare. Why did he feel this old man bore no goodwill?
Very soon he knew he was right, as he awkwardly tried to sing broken lines from songs generally sung around the Ghetto! By now all the workers were giving him weird glances, worried that the old man would soon convince them to sing along using his 'tongue-power', and they would be unable to argue!
Rihanna charged ahead like a bull on energy drink.....talking right and left, till they were all singing - they didn't know if they were singing because they were convinced, or they were singing to shut her up!
And thus the large entertainment program was born in their very own 'Western Courtyard', with the audience swooping in from all directions. This sudden increase in the spectating cultivators, needless to say, confused the working commoners, and sent them into panic. As soon as the last vat of water was emptied, all the workers dispersed like magic, leaving behind a very speechless Rihanna and two scared but extremely loyal young siblings.
Rihanna scratched her head, then gave a brilliant smile and bow to denote the end of the entertainment event, and quickly scurried off to the kitchen with the two 'wooden-humans'.
After lunch they had a time-off for resting. Rihanna had just stepped into her dormitory when one of the workers came rushing to inform that she had been called over to the main hall. Did she just manage to make a mess of her plans of 'laying low'? However, since her employers had called, she had to go face whatever music was coming her way!
Straightening her crumpled and dirty clothes, Rihanna followed after the fellow to the outer hall of the main residence.
Meanwhile, a group of old men and women had gathered below a raised dais with a large stone chair in its center. A middle aged man with a sharp but gloomy aura was seated on this main chair. The group of chattering elders were busy gossiping and sniggering, seated on low and wide wooden chairs with soft seats and plush cushions. A large stone table in the center was overflowing with fruits, snacks, nuts and refreshing drinks.
Unfortunately no one paid any attention to the middle aged man as he almost laid back on his seat looking rather bored. Rihanna entered and silently stood in a corner, yet no one even glanced at her. She felt like a teacher visiting the classroom during recess time!
"Who are you? Where have you come from? And what kind of antics are you coming up with, disturbing the peace of our home?"
Well, every idol had their anti-fans.....that is how Rihanna decided to interpret this sudden verbal attack. These were the elders of the clan – not only did they bear immense responsibilities of the clan, they were also way too powerful for her to handle. That they had deigned to meet her was in itself a great compliment for any commoner! So she needed to get into their good books.....and stay there!
She took a deep breath, and kneeled down on one leg, to give a long, low bow, with one hand on her chest, and one hand behind her back. Which in turn left the elders rather confused, as this was not yet a culture in these lands! Nevertheless, Rihanna gave an ingratiating smile as she continued.
"Sirs and Madams, I am Ke Kuroba from Dark Forest City. As I have already narrated to the guards before, I came across some Devil Cultivators during my mission from Dark Forest City to here. Since the group got separated, the payment I was supposed to receive at the end of the trip was also lost. After such a long journey, I was too tired to return back immediately, and also lacked money. I was very lucky to come across young An and young Siyu, who turned out to be my long separated distant relatives. So when they told me that Chen Clan was hiring, I too decided to try my luck! And I am very grateful for this opportunity."
Was this too ingratiating? Weelll....you always needed to keep the HR department happy!...Rihanna mused on this thought for a second, then tossed it out of her mind.
The middle aged man was still looking bored, but his eyes sharpened at her words..
"I had heard that you are glib tongued.....seems like you really know how to flatter people to get your work done! But I have been to Dark Forest City before.....how come I have never come across such a strange method of working?.....Not to mention, I have never seen a commoner as sharp and gutsy as you before! Who did you work for in Dark Forest City?"
Rihanna blinked, feeling a cold sweat forming at her back. This was not a stand-up comedy show, and these people were not gullible....what to do?!
'Tell them you have come from the villages at the interior of Dark Forest. Many people often flee from these villages to the cities because surviving inside these dangerous forests is very difficult. There will always be small, hidden villages within these forests. And I think Dark Forest is at the Border of Madsa-Tamu and Ruaan-Jamphu. They will have different cultures, and also, no one can possibly know all the villages inside the forest.'
Rihanna took a shaky breath, trying to steel herself against the probing gazes of all the elders. The sharp gaze of the middle aged man, aka, Clan Leader, had never left her face!
She gave another brilliant smile and parroted off whatever the Voice had just fed her mind. Of course she needed to add some details....Hmmm...she came from Dataotie village....hope no one knew these mythological creatures of 'ye old earth'! Anyhow, cultivation aside, her skills of weaving intricate stories was definitely growing stronger. She could now even create fine embroideries to decorate the story-servings!
"Hmmm.....you seem to have lived a very interesting and informative life. I wonder how many more tricks and methods you have up your sleeve?"
Rihanna wanted to reach out and wipe her forehead.....why did she try to outsmart the methods of these people. Two people carrying water to and from....it would only have taken a longer time and more effort.....at least she would not be facing a court-martial like now!
"He-He-He.....I really don't have much in my repertoire. This was just something I had come across in one of the villages while I was trying to make my way out of the forest. It looked very interesting and effective, so I remembered it....."
"Oh....That is too bad.....we are running low on enough cultivators to supervise everything you all are doing. Seeing that you seem to be quick on your feet and are gifted with a sharp mind and strong body, we were planning on making you the supervisor of the Western Courtyard. That way, you will only need to report to the Chief Supervising Elder from the Main Residence every day in the morning and at night. We were really hoping to see some more entertaining and un-seen methods of working."
Rihanna blinked.....Whaaaat??...Was this like a double promotion....and on the very first day?.....However she looked at it, it didn't look promising at all!! Was this some kind of a trap?
'Doesn't matter. This is a good opportunity. It will give you more time to look around the territory. Also...what are you worried about....it's always me digging you out of potholes....so leave all the worrying to me!'
Rihanna was still scratching her head, as she accepted this new post, bowed and exited the hall.....was this an opportunity.....or had she just jumped from the frying pan into the fire??