bayedsolid Chapter 128 Two Things
Chapter 128 Two Things
Yunyi returned to the village but did not go home immediately. Instead, she asked Lao Zhou to take the children back while she went to the village chief's house.
The village chief now treats Yunyi like a lucky star, since almost all of the dozen or so households in their village have benefited from her. From the wild boar meat at the beginning to the construction of houses later, everyone's quality of life has improved a lot.
Especially now that a school is being built, almost everyone in the village has work to do and can get paid.
"Yunyi, you've come at the perfect time. We just set the table." Gao Shunfang greeted Yunyi as soon as she saw her. "Sit down and have a bite with us."
Daughter-in-law Li Xiuhong hurriedly brought out new bowls and chopsticks.
"Auntie, I won't eat. Sister-in-law, don't bother. I've come to talk to the village chief about something."
“Then sit down and talk. I’ve made some soup. Even if you don’t eat, have some soup.” Gao Shunfang handed Yunyi a bowl of mushroom soup. “Sit down and talk.”
Yunyi didn't refuse and took a sip: "So fresh."
"Drink more if you like." Gao Shunfang was delighted.
"One bowl is enough, thank you, Auntie."
"Alright, you guys eat your food. I need to talk to Yunyi." Xia Baolai waved his hand, then picked up his pipe and sat down on the threshold. "What is it?"
"Two things," Yunyi said, putting down her bowl. "One is that Xia Xiaoyue is back."
"How dare she come back?" Gao Shunfang was the first to exclaim in surprise.
"She was crying and shouting in town today, saying that I should pay off her debts; she owes twenty taels of silver."
"Twenty taels?" Gao Shunfang exclaimed again, "Why didn't she just rob it?"
"Alright, stop making a fuss." The village chief tapped his pipe, then put it away and tucked it into his belt. "Yunyi, what do you suggest we do?"
“She will definitely go back to the village, so Uncle Village Chief, you'd better tell the families with children to be careful. Also, be careful with the girl, and don't listen to anything she says. The man she eloped with has connections to the brothel. I'm worried that besides selling children, they might also lure the girl to the brothel.”
“This…” Gao Shunfang wanted to refute it. After all, from her perspective, Xiaoyue was her niece, and from her husband’s perspective, Xiaoyue was their cousin. They were all very close relatives. But that girl had gone astray, and the things she had done left her speechless.
"I understand." The village chief nodded. "Don't worry, we won't let her cause any more trouble." There are only a few people left in the village. If she manages to trick them out again, the young men in the village will never be able to get married, and the girls will never be able to get married.
“There’s a second thing. I want to build a furniture workshop in the village.” Yunyi had been thinking about it on the way back. If she really cooperated with the Guo family in the future, the demand would definitely be huge. The courtyard in the town simply couldn’t meet the production needs. Moreover, furniture requires wood, so it would be more convenient to come to the village.
"That's great news!" The village chief perked up immediately. "But Yunyi, I have a question for you: once the workshop is built, won't we need people?"
"Don't worry, village chief. I put the furniture workshop in the village because I want to use the villagers for work."
"Great!" The village chief slapped his thigh excitedly. "If it can make the villagers rich, then I will definitely support it."
“Here’s what I’m thinking: since the workshop is built in the village, we should give back to the village. I will give 10% of the profits to the village. Then, whether it’s for road repairs, ancestral hall renovations, or helping families in need, the village won’t be short of money. What do you think?”
"One percent?"
“Yes.” Yunyi nodded. “Although it might not be much, once the workshop grows larger, then…”
"It's not just a little, it's quite a lot." The village chief hurriedly waved his hand, his eyes reddening. "Then I'll thank Yunyi on behalf of the villagers."
"No need for thanks, but I need your help. Can you handle this?"
"Sure, why not? I promise I'll do a great job for you."
"Then it's settled. During the preparation period, you'll be my supervisor, earning one tael of silver a month..."
"What prison?" Gao Shunfang asked, frowning.
"Director."
"What's that? All I know is a eunuch."
Yunyi chuckled: "Auntie is so funny. This director means the overall supervisor, the general manager."
"Then I understand."
"You're really talking nonsense, woman. What will you do if I become a eunuch?" The village chief glared at his wife.
"You already have sons and grandsons, so what if you're a eunuch?"
"You..." The village chief choked for a moment, "I'm not talking to you anymore."
Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"But girl, isn't one or two taels a month too much? I know that in town..."
“Uncle Village Chief, that’s because you have a lot of things to do. You’re worth the price.”
"Alright, I'll make sure you do it." The village chief straightened his back; he was now a manager-level figure, which felt even more prestigious than being the village chief.
Yunyi explained the requirements to the village chief in detail, then left fifty taels of silver and went back.
"Sigh." The village chief looked at the five large gold ingots in his hand and couldn't help but sigh.
"Why are you sighing?" Gao Shunfang frowned. "If you can't do this eunuch job, no, Director, I'll do it."
"Why are you always meddling in this?" The village chief glanced at his wife. "I was just remarking that our village will definitely have to rely on Yunyi to get ahead in the future."
“She herself said she was the young lady of some wealthy family in the capital, and I think it’s definitely true,” Gao Shunfang said in a low voice. “Otherwise, how could she know so much?”
“Yes.” Daughter-in-law Li Xiuhong nodded as well. “I heard that the young ladies of those aristocratic families in the capital are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting from a young age. They even have to learn accounting and housekeeping. Some daughters of military generals also have to practice martial arts.”
"Wow, you've learned so much!" Gao Shunfang exclaimed in surprise, then waved her hand and said, "Never mind all that, let's just live our lives well. With Yunyi's character, as long as we don't hurt her, she'll definitely take care of us in the future."
“Mother is right.” Xia Qiang, who hadn’t spoken until now, nodded. “So, let’s just focus on doing our jobs well.”
"Alright, you guys think this through even better than I do," the village chief laughed. "Then let's eat quickly. After we eat... Qiangzi, go and call the men over, and we'll discuss how to get started..."
Yunyi had only taken a few steps when she saw Xiao Hei pulling a cart, running towards home. The cart was full of people, and the driver was Lao Quan. She quickened her pace and arrived in front of him when the cart stopped, saying, "Uncle Lao Quan."
“Girl, I’m back.” Old Quan hurriedly jumped down from the carriage shaft. “I brought them with me.”