CHAPTER 558: CHAPTER 236 ORPHAN

Construction projects like the Kui River Arch Dam are numerous in East Africa, ranging from quick projects to those with heavier workloads and longer schedules.

In fact, what are considered to be major projects in East Africa are not many; they are a coalition of countless smaller projects forming a larger whole. For example, many of East Africa’s major rivers remain undeveloped because developing these rivers requires profound astronomical and geographical knowledge, which East Africa lacks professional talent in.

Without professional oversight, major incidents can easily occur. Take reservoirs, for instance: a miscalculation or technical failure could lead to a risk of dam failure. Therefore, East Africa mainly builds medium and small-sized reservoirs, minimizing potential losses and allowing for timely corrections.

...

Hengshui.

Yang Family Village.

"Fugui’Er, I’ll entrust these kids to you. These are orphans in the village, poor souls; you absolutely must take care of them!"

"Uncle Dayang, rest assured! You know me well enough; I’ve always been an honest person in the village," Yang Fugui said cheerfully to his granduncle.

"Ha, honest person. If you were truly honest, you wouldn’t have gone off to that place called East Africa. I’ve heard that it’s a foreigner’s domain. Look at you, you’ve even lost your queue. It’s fortunate you worked for the foreigners, otherwise you would have long been beheaded."

"Uncle Dayang, I don’t like hearing that. What do you mean by foreigner’s domain? We are bona fide citizens of the East African Kingdom. Do you understand what ’citizen’ means? It means being a part of the East African Kingdom, just like you all are citizens of the Great Qing."

"All the same, all the same. It’s all about moving to a different place to make a living. How impressive can it be? You’re still under the thumb of the foreign masters."

"There’s a big difference. Us Germans overseas hold quite a respectable position. Take the Great Qing, for example: when ordinary people see my attire and demeanor, they’re always courteous. It’s only because you’re my granduncle; no one else dares to act superior in front of me."

Yang Fugui is the quintessential case of someone gaining a little success. It’s not hard to understand though; in East Africa, it might not be obvious, but in the Far East, it’s distinctly visible. After all, East Africa is filled with immigrants where everyone is equal under nobility.

East Africa does have a number of ennobled nobles, but Ernst has always kept a strict check, amounting to just a few hundred people. It’s more of an honorary title, but the social status achieved through becoming nobility is quite significant. Most of the nobles in East Africa originate from the military or the Heixinggen financial group, or are talents serving East Africa, such as Count Arman, Count Felix, Count Sivert, who all hail from the military origins... Benz, Leno, the Mauser Brothers, and other scientists and inventors also hold East African titles.

Besides newly ennobled nobles, East Africa also has traditional nobles. The Heixinggen Principality was once an independent country. Apart from Ernst and his son, there are some serving the Heixinggen royal family. This noble class is recognized by East Africa but simultaneously acknowledged in Germany, thus carrying slightly higher prestige, assuming they are on the same level.

However, without merits, rewards aren’t given. Old nobles following the Heixinggen royal family find it difficult to rise higher because when Heixinggen Principality joined Prussia, many capable ones had long been mingling with Prussia. Many continuous followers of the Heixinggen royal family were mediocre and many are unwilling to suffer in East Africa, choosing to idle away in Germany.

Of course, East African law states that East Africa is a nation of equality without emphasis on the distinction between nobility and commoners, yet the noble system’s existence is a tacit acknowledgment.

"I’m not discussing these with you. What I want to know clearly from you is how your East African Kingdom plans to arrange for these few kids after they get there. Is it like some people say, digging out hearts and livers?"

Uncle Dayang’s words made several surrounding seven or eight-year-old children shiver internally.

"Uncle Dayang, don’t listen to those nonsensical talks. I’ve already told you long ago what East Africa is like; it’s practically a paradise. Our King is kind-hearted, providing these children with an opportunity to pursue further studies in East Africa."

"Ha, let’s see if I believe it. Crows everywhere are equally black; no foreign monarch would go out of their way to care for outsiders. Where in the world is such a good thing?"

"I say you’re too stubborn. If you had listened to me earlier and let the villagers go to East Africa, wouldn’t it have been great? Look at my life: eating well, dressing well, every day feels like a celebration."

"Oh, now that you mention it, I remember! Weren’t you recruiting people earlier? Why have you suddenly stopped recruiting and instead are focusing on finding orphans?"

Yang Fugui: "Ha, granduncle, it’s too late now. The recruitment threshold in East Africa has increased, and I hear many large ships running routes have withdrawn."

Immigration has always been a major expense for East Africa. After exhausting the population potential in Germany, recruitment from other regions has also relaxed, as many ships used for transporting immigrants have shifted focus to serving East Africa’s commercial interests.

"By the way, you still haven’t said how these kids will be arranged! And what do you mean by further studies?"

"I’m not entirely clear on the intricacies, as you know that my knowledge is quite shallow. I only speak German and can’t write it, essentially remaining a literate illiterate in East Africa. However, according to the higher-ups, these children will be sent to school in East Africa where they can study and eventually serve East Africa."

Previously, it was understandable why East Africa didn’t recruit orphans in the Far East because East Africa was poverty-stricken and urgently needed able-bodied individuals to cultivate land and create immediate value. East Africa wasn’t a daycare but a colony.

Now that East Africa’s population is rising, and land development is proceeding well, East African government’s fiscal revenue has increased. Coupled with declining immigrant demands, East Africa now has the capacity to support orphans.

Germany only has so many orphans, and the schools of the Heixinggen Principality simply can’t accommodate them. There’s an incalculable number in the Far East during this era.

"School?" This concept had gone beyond Uncle Dayang’s understanding again.

"You can think of it as a private school, like those for people taking exams for Xiucai or Tongsheng."

"Could East Africa possibly plan for these children to become officials in the future?"

"That’s overthinking it. Schools in East Africa are quite common; all children can attend. Even my three kids are in school!"

"What’s the benefit of that? You can’t take the imperial exams."

"I don’t know either, but studying is always a good thing, right? In East Africa, you have to study; otherwise, you risk going to jail."

"Isn’t this just forcing kids to study?"

"That’s true, but I heard from colleagues in Europe that this is how it’s done back in their homes too. It’s called compulsory education, where all children must attend school or risk fines or imprisonment. East Africa skips the fines and goes straight to imprisonment if children don’t study."

Even Yang Fugui doesn’t know the use of studying, at least not in East Africa, where he doesn’t see any benefit. Yet, abroad, being literate seems meaningful. When Yang Fugui mentions overseas, he refers to countries outside East Africa, including the Far East Empire.

"Anyway, rest assured, Uncle Dayang. Life for these kids, even if subpar, will still be better than it is here."

"Oh, yes. Our village has limited capabilities and can’t support them. Let them venture out with you; maybe it’ll pave a path to survival."