122 Unlocking Labor Potential

Compared to those researchers whose brains are solely occupied by their studies—those who care nothing for Wu Qingchen’s safety and even view the crisis in the Medieval World as a new avenue for securing funding—the vast majority of scientists are relatively sane. At the very least, they aren't sharpening their knives, constantly hoping for the relative of the "Cowherd" in the Medieval World to do something foolish.

China, a certain medical research institute, lounge.

When the third column of the threat coefficient, updated in real-time by the staff group, appeared above the heads of the natives associated with the Cowherd, the several researchers lying sprawled across sofas, armchairs, massage beds, and the carpet in the lounge collectively let out a sigh of relief.

"Very good."

Near the corner, slumped in a sofa, a middle-aged researcher closed his eyes in peace. "Everyone, let's get some sleep. Nobody should be coming to wake us up again for a while."

The other researchers also closed their eyes one after another. The researcher closest to the display screen tapped the keyboard a few times, turned the volume of the speakers to the lowest setting, and the lounge fell silent.

A few minutes later, amidst the rising and falling of soft snoring, one researcher opened his eyes again and sat up.

"Can't sleep?" came a voice from a nearby researcher.

"Yeah." The researcher who had sat up sighed and turned toward the source of the voice. "Exhaustion-induced insomnia. I'll go to the affiliated hospital later to get some medicine. Old Zhang, do you want some?"

"Forget it!" Old Zhang also sat up and rubbed his greasy hair. "I think I’ll just head to the dormitory to take a shower. Relaxing should do the trick; at least I won’t have to take medicine—it’s bad for the IQ!"

"Does your IQ even need any more damage?"

The two walked toward the door together. When passing by the display screen, Old Zhang glanced at it and saw O'Connor, labeled as the "Headman," leading a dozen villagers from the Medieval World, marching grandly toward Thor, the "Recorder," and Wu Qingchen.

"Huh, what is this about?" Old Zhang asked, feeling a bit curious.

"Targeted instruction, mining labor potential," Old Liu replied after just one glance.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you not read the 'Mill Strategy'?" Old Liu asked in surprise.

"I didn't." Old Zhang scratched his itchy scalp. "I don't even have time to shower, let alone read that stuff. Besides, it’s on the way anyway."

"The content of the targeted instruction is extensive. If you haven't read it, given your intelligence, it’s hard to understand," Old Liu frowned slightly. "You recognize the people around Wu Qingchen, right?"

"Let me see... Richard, Freeman, Old Holt, Torld..."

At this moment, Old Zhang had already opened the door to the lounge. Standing at the entrance, he looked at the screen a few more times, reading the labels above the natives' heads. He hesitated and said, "The names sound familiar, and their faces look familiar too. Are they the families that have a relatively good relationship with Wu Qingchen’s 'father'?"

"Exactly, those are the ones." Old Liu nodded and walked out of the lounge first. "The staff group believes that these families are the group with the closest ties of interest to Wu Qingchen in the Medieval World, aside from his relatives."

"Hmm, nepotism."

"Tsk, why do you have to put it so bluntly?" Old Liu rubbed his gums. "Besides, do you know the effect of the 'Beehive'?"

"You don't sound very pleasant either!" Old Zhang glanced sideways at his colleague. "If I didn't even know that, how would I have managed to get in here?"

"Hey, still unconvinced? In modern science, the distance between laboratory research and industrial production is not small at all, especially since our institute has nothing to do with the field of agriculture—it's a world apart."

"If you were talking about Earth, I'd agree. But the Medieval World?" Old Zhang looked unconvinced. "You could grab any two middle school students off the street, drop them in there, and they'd pass for prophets."

"Middle school students?" Old Liu couldn't help but laugh. "Never mind middle school students; let me ask you, Dr. Zhang, once the beehives are successfully installed, what kind of problems will the village of Eklé face in terms of labor?"

Bee-mediated pollination, all-natural, fully automatic—what problems could there be? If this were a normal question, Old Zhang would have given this answer without hesitation. However, considering his colleague's expression, Old Zhang thought carefully before saying slowly, "After discovering the benefits of the beehives, the village will need to move a large number of them, which will require occupying a certain amount of labor?"

"See? That’s your low IQ showing." Old Liu wore a triumphant smile. "Compared to the massive labor shortage Eklé village will face once the beehives are fully installed, the consumption of moving them is negligible."

"A massive labor shortage?"

"Yes, quite massive." Old Liu looked up slightly, recalling the content of the 'Mill Strategy.' "With sufficient bee pollinators participating in the pollination process, I recall the seed-setting rate of buckwheat can increase by 80% to 205%."

"Oh!" Old Zhang immediately realized. "During a bumper harvest, there will be a huge increase in the workload..."

"Look at you, never done farm work, have you?" Old Liu shook his head again. "Do you think it's like planting a potted plant in an office? You plant it, forget about it, and just wait to harvest in the autumn?"

"Hmm."

With the right line of thought, Old Zhang immediately understood his colleague's meaning. Even on 21st-century Earth, with efficient herbicides, pesticides, high-performance fertilizers, trace elements, and a large amount of machinery, agricultural production still involves many labor-intensive stages. In the Medieval World, a significantly increased seed-setting rate meant a greater need for water and nutrient supplementation, more weeding, pest control, and an overall surge in field management labor. An 80% to over 200% increase in yield could potentially lead to a three-fold to tenfold increase in workload.

So that’s it!

"Hiss."

Thinking this through and considering the next point, Old Zhang gasped. The labor burden of ordinary villagers and serfs in the Medieval World is obvious. Almost every villager spends most of their time and physical strength in the fields from the moment they open their eyes until the sun sets, and even then, they still cannot finish all the farm work. They are already operating at full capacity; how could they handle the exponentially increased labor demand caused by the beehive boost?

"That’s why targeted instruction is needed."

Hearing Old Zhang’s concerns, Old Liu smiled slightly. "According to the staff group’s calculations, even from the perspective of feudal society, the existing potential of Eklé village in the Medieval World is being utilized at less than 20%."

"Hmm." Old Zhang nodded. "Working their fingers to the bone—it's truly pitiful. However, the level of organization and labor efficiency in this village is indeed too low."

"It's fine. With Wu Qingchen there to improve the work methods and streamline the division of labor..."

At this point, Dr. Liu looked up again, but the 'Mill Strategy' involved too much content. The doctor could not recall the specific details from that thick, heavy tome in his head. "In short, that's how it is: organize the villagers, successfully complete the harvest, and expand his influence along the way."

"Hmm, so you're using the four familiar neighbor families to practice first?"

Connecting this to what he saw on the screen, Dr. Zhang stroked his chin. "Setting up specimens? Conducting demonstrations? Building a model project? Preparing for future promotion? These four families don't seem very suitable, do they?"

"Huh? Why aren't they suitable?" Hearing Dr. Zhang’s series of questions, Old Liu felt very strange. "These four families are the ones with the best relationship with Wu Qingchen’s Medieval family. If I remember correctly, Wu Qingchen treated cows for two of them, sent food to the other two, and even helped each of them borrow cows during the busy farming season a few days ago. If these four aren't suitable, who would be? The parents' brothers over there? I recall there are very few of them, right?"

"No, relatives are even less suitable."

Old Zhang shook his head slowly. "Old Liu, when it comes to IQ, we’re about the same, but regarding emotional intelligence... haha, it’s a good thing you joined a research institute."

"What?"

By this point in the conversation, the two researchers had reached the dormitory. Standing at the door, Old Liu grabbed Dr. Zhang, who was about to enter. "How is my emotional intelligence low? Hurry up, I didn't hold back when you asked me earlier!"

"Tsk!" Old Zhang gently pulled Dr. Liu's arm away. "In the Medieval World, the mining of labor potential is meant to show the villagers—or rather, the masters—that tasks which are usually very heavy and time-consuming can actually be completed easily and efficiently, right?"

"Yes!" Old Liu nodded repeatedly.

"The key point of showing off is the organizational methods, the division of labor, process improvements, and all that other new stuff, which improves labor efficiency, right?"

"Of course!" Old Liu continued to nod.

"Alright, since that's the case," Old Zhang continued, "We are researchers; we know the importance of a control group. Although I haven't read the 'Mill Strategy,' whether it's making specimens or conducting demonstrations, the fewer interfering factors, the better. How can we get accurate data from these four families that are so close to Wu Qingchen?"

"Hmm."

Interfering factors...

Thinking about emotional intelligence, and then thinking about this point, Dr. Liu became thoughtful.

On the other side, inside the Medieval World.

Looking at the four families—Richard, Freeman, Old Holt, and Torld—a grand group of nearly twenty people, with almost everyone wearing an excited expression, Wu Qingchen secretly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Even these bumpkins of the Medieval World have anticipated what is about to happen...

No wonder the staff group gave me such strange looks during the last round of training when I thought these four families would be the demonstration specimens for mining labor potential.