BDSMST -Chapter 27 The Points System — Igniting Enthusiasm for Labor

Under the cover of night, the courtyard was lit by a single oil lamp placed on the stone table at its center. The dim yellow glow cast shifting shadows across everyone’s faces. Wei Ziqian and the others crowded around the wooden board, craning their necks curiously to see what was written on it.

“What’s this?” Qian Duoduo was the first to speak, squinting at the charcoal handwriting.

Jiang Suisui did not answer directly. Instead, she motioned for Gu Xuan to stand beside the board.

Gu Xuan cleared his throat. It was his first time “speaking publicly” in front of so many people. He straightened his small frame and, adopting a deliberately steady tone, read aloud:

“Provisional Regulations for the Estate Points Management System.”

“Article One: Earning Points. Points will be awarded daily based on the quantity and quality of farm work completed. Details are as follows: Weeding one fen of land earns one point; turning one fen of land earns two points; carrying one hundred loads of water earns one point; feeding chickens and pigs once earns half a point… Special contributions, such as making tools or repairing houses, will receive additional points at the discretion of the Chief Person in Charge.”

When he read the words “Chief Person in Charge,” Gu Xuan paused deliberately and subtly puffed out his chest.

“Article Two: Using Points. Points may be exchanged for daily meals, lodging, and other living necessities. Specifics are as follows:”

“Meal Tiers:
Tier One Meal (wild vegetable porridge and coarse buns), provided free.
Tier Two Meal (white rice porridge and one vegetable dish), costs five points per day.
Tier Three Meal (white rice and one meat, one vegetable dish), costs ten points per day.
Premium Meal (two meat dishes, one vegetable, and one soup—customizable), costs twenty points per day.”

“Lodging Tiers:
Tier One Lodging (communal straw bedding), free.
Tier Two Lodging (individual straw bedding with mosquito net), costs two points per day.
Tier Three Lodging (wooden bed with bedding), costs five points per day.”

“Article Three: Points Settlement. After work each day, team leaders will report completed tasks. The Chief Person in Charge will verify and record them. Before each meal, points must be exchanged for the corresponding meal tier.”

When Gu Xuan finished reading in one breath, an odd silence fell over the courtyard.

The young dandies stood there, mouths slightly agape, exchanging glances. They might not fully understand how large “one fen of land” was—but they clearly understood words like “points,” “exchange,” and “tiers.”

In other words, from now on, they wouldn’t just be working vaguely for “a dinner.” They would be working for concrete “points.” If they wanted braised pork or pork rib soup, they would have to toil hard enough to earn twenty points. If they wanted to sleep comfortably without being bitten by mosquitoes, they would have to spend points for that too.

“Th-this is too…” Li Rui stammered, at a loss for words.

“Too fun!” Qian Duoduo’s eyes lit up instead. Counting on his fingers, he calculated rapidly. “So if I turn five fen of land a day, I can eat Tier Three meals—with meat? And if I work even harder and turn ten fen, I can get the Premium Meal? I can even choose the dishes? Beggar’s chicken included?”

“In theory, yes,” Jiang Suisui added calmly. “Provided your work quality is approved by the Chief Person in Charge.”

Every head turned in unison toward Gu Xuan.

Chief Person in Charge? Him?

Gu Xuan’s little face flushed under the collective stare, but he quickly steadied himself. Mimicking Jiang Suisui, he clasped his hands behind his back and said in a serious tone, “I… I will be fair and impartial.”

Wei Ziqian’s expression shifted between green and pale.

On one hand, he felt deeply insulted. For noble young masters like them, having meals and beds determined by “points” like servants—what humiliation!

And yet—

He couldn’t deny the system held a certain irresistible appeal.

Especially the “Premium Meal—customizable” option. It struck directly at his heart. He could already imagine earning enough points through his own effort, ordering an exquisite dish unavailable even in the capital, and feasting under the envious gazes of others.

Inside him, pride and appetite clashed fiercely.

“I have no objection.”

Unexpectedly, the first to speak up was Wei Ziqian.

He lifted his chin and shot Gu Xuan a challenging look. “Chief Person in Charge? Let’s see if you’re really capable. Tomorrow, who earns the most points—that’s not decided yet!”

The competitiveness in his bones had been fully ignited. He could not tolerate losing to Gu Xuan in anything—even in farming.

With Wei Ziqian taking the lead, the others quickly voiced their agreement as well.

Thus began a competition centered around “earning points and exchanging them for delicious food.”

The very next day, the entire atmosphere of the estate changed.

Before dawn had even broken, Wei Ziqian was already the first to crawl out of the straw bedding. Grabbing a hoe, he rushed toward the field he hadn’t finished turning the day before.

Qian Duoduo followed close behind. As he worked, he muttered to himself, “One swing of the hoe, one piece of meat. Two swings, one bowl of soup…”

Even the laziest among them, Li Rui, worked hard cutting weeds—just so he could sleep in a bed with a mosquito net.

These young masters, who had once regarded labor as beneath them, had now completely transformed into “striving youths.” They no longer complained, no longer slacked off. Their eyes focused only on the weeds and soil in the fields; their hearts were fixed on the ever-changing points leaderboard.

Gu Xuan, as the “Chief Person in Charge,” played his role convincingly.

He no longer did the heavy labor himself. Instead, with his hands clasped behind his back, he patrolled the fields.

“Wei Ziqian! That section isn’t deep enough—redo it!”

“Qian Duoduo, that row is crooked like a dog crawled over it—minus half a point!”

“Li Rui, pull the weeds out by the roots! Are you cutting chives? Trying to muddle through?”

With a stern little face, he criticized without mercy. He executed the standards he had learned from Jiang Suisui with meticulous seriousness.

Though the young masters were inwardly indignant, they had no choice but to comply. After all, he was the “professional,” and they were merely “apprentices.” For the sake of points, they swallowed their pride and redid their work according to Gu Xuan’s demands.

Watching the bustling scene, Jiang Suisui smiled faintly.

This was exactly the effect she wanted.

The points system not only solved the management issue, but more importantly, it transformed the young nobles’ individualism and competitiveness into motivation for labor.

By evening, it was time for the most exciting moment of the day—points settlement.

On a new wooden board, Gu Xuan carefully recorded each person’s score in charcoal strokes.

“Wei Ziqian: eight points for turning soil, two points for weeding—total, ten.”

“Qian Duoduo: seven points for turning soil, three points for carrying water—total, ten.”

…

Everyone had worked especially hard today. Most had earned ten points and exchanged them for Tier Three meals.

When steaming white rice and two dishes—one meat and one vegetable—were served, cheers of satisfaction erupted across the courtyard.

Wei Ziqian and Qian Duoduo were tied for first place. Though their arms were so sore they could barely lift them, their hearts were brimming with accomplishment as they looked at their “achievements.”

As the Chief Person in Charge, Gu Xuan had not worked in the fields today. However, because he had “managed well and supervised diligently,” Jiang Suisui awarded him fifteen “management points.”

He redeemed a Tier Three meal for himself. After a moment’s thought, he took the remaining five points and walked quietly over to Chunxing, who was silently drinking white rice porridge.

“Sister Chunxing,” he said softly, “use these five points to exchange for a bowl of rice.”

Chunxing froze and waved her hands repeatedly. “I can’t, I can’t, Young Master. H-how can I use your points?”

“If I’m giving them to you, just take them.” Gu Xuan pushed his bowl slightly toward her. “You’ve been busy all day too, cooking for everyone. That should count for points.”

After saying that, he ignored her reaction and carried his bowl to sit farther away. Only the faint redness creeping up the tips of his ears betrayed his inner turmoil.

Jiang Suisui watched the entire scene. The smile in her eyes deepened.

The once self-centered little tyrant was finally beginning to care about the people around him.