After the six bricklayers left, Luo Jingyan also left the construction site. However, instead of returning to the educated youth settlement, she went to Qianjin Brigade. When she arrived at the village secretary's house, seeing that no one was around, she took out a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) from her spatial storage and carried it into the secretary's house.

The Party Secretary was tidying up the vegetable garden in the yard when he saw her coming with gifts. He assumed it was for official business again and hurriedly said, "Why are you bringing things again, young lady? Let me tell you, after your brother graduates from the elementary school here, his middle school education is not my responsibility, and I can't help you with that."

Luo Jingyan knew he had misunderstood her, so she quickly said, "Uncle, you've misunderstood me. I didn't come to see you about my brother's schooling."

"What is it?"

The Party Secretary put down his hoe, walked to the stone table in the courtyard, sat down, picked up the cup on it, and took a sip of water.

Luo Jingyan placed the Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) on the stone table. "It's a private matter, not a public one."

The Party Secretary was puzzled. "Just tell me what happened."

He pointed to a stool next to him: "Sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Uncle." Luo Jingyan sat down and said, "Uncle, I used to live in the educated youth settlement in Shengli Brigade. Now I want to build a house outside and move out. I originally found a bricklayer from our brigade to do the work for me, but one of my neighbors is also building a house. That neighbor is rich and powerful. He pays the workers higher wages and also provides them with good food and drink."

I was just an ordinary educated youth, with little money, so I couldn't compare to her. I only offered my workers average prices, which is why all my workers went to work for her. I'd like to ask you, Uncle, to help me find some good bricklayers in this brigade; you definitely won't shortchange them on wages.”

The Party Secretary finally understood: "So that's what happened." He glanced at the bottle of liquor instinctively, and Luo Jingyan quickly pushed the bottle towards him: "Uncle, this is genuine Beijing Erguotou, which I brought with me when I went to the countryside."

The Party Secretary grinned and put the wine under the table.

“Young lady, this is easy to handle. It’s just a matter of finding you a few bricklayers. No one in our brigade has been building houses these past few days, so the bricklayers are all idle at home. Uncle will find them for you right away. You can sit here and wait a while.”

"Okay, Uncle. Once you find them, you'd better bring them over. I have something to talk to them about."

"OK."

Before leaving, the Party Secretary called to his wife inside the house: "I'm going out to find some bricklayers. You come out and keep this girl company and talk to her for a while."

A woman dressed in a gray cloth shirt with her hair in a flat bun came out of the house and poured tea for Luo Jingyan: "Miss, please have some tea first."

"Thank you, Auntie."

After waiting for about an hour, the Party Secretary returned, leading five bricklayers into the courtyard.

"Young lady, the bricklayers who came with me are the best in our brigade. Their house-building skills are excellent, and you can rest assured that they will be working for you."

"Thank you, Uncle."

Luo Jingyan sized up the group of people. The youngest looked to be over thirty, and the oldest was probably in his forties.

Luo Jingyan walked up to the five people and asked them, "If you're willing to build a house for me, I'll pay each of you 50 cents a day, no lunch provided, but hot water will be available. What do you think?"

Without needing to discuss it further, everyone nodded in agreement.

They're sitting at home now, not earning a single penny. Luo Jingyan is paying them a dime more than they usually earn, and they're very happy about it.

"Okay, young lady, what you say is acceptable."

Every construction team needs a team leader, usually someone who is older, more respected, and has the best skills. The person who answered Luo Jingyan was named Li Duofu. He spoke with a smile, giving people a very approachable feeling.

To avoid a repeat of the incidents involving Uncle Wu and others switching jobs midway through their careers, Luo Jingyan had to give these people a heads-up.

“There’s something I’d like to add: right next to my construction site, there’s another group of educated youth building houses. They already have a dozen or so workers there, but the wages they pay are double what I pay. Their workers can also eat apples and drink sugar water whenever they want. The six workers I originally hired couldn’t resist the temptations and all went to work for her.”

What I want to say is that if you are willing to build a house for me, you must do it wholeheartedly. You can't mess around with me just because the treatment there is better. The wages I pay you are enough to cover your labor costs. I think the price I give you is fair enough and I am not treating you unfairly.

If you think the wages I'm offering are too low, then we can call it a day. You can continue resting at home, and I'll find other bricklayers. There are several production brigades around here; I'm sure I can find some. Also, if you agreed to work for me, you have to finish building my house. You can't just leave it halfway through. If you do that, no matter how much work you've done, I have the right not to pay you. What do you say?

The group didn't have much ambition; they were just happy to make money right now.

If you're distracted and waver, you might end up missing out on both the big and small opportunities.

“I can agree,” Li Duofu replied.

After one person took the lead in agreeing, the others followed suit.

"I can do that too. We just need to earn our own fair share of the money. I don't expect to put in less effort and earn more money."

"I agree, as long as you don't give me too little."

“Doing some work is better than staying at home doing nothing. The wages Luo Zhiqing is paying are good. I agree.”

Luo Jingyan could tell that these were honest and reliable people.

“Alright, let’s agree on that.” To further ensure that these people wouldn’t embarrass themselves halfway through, she looked at the Party Secretary and said, “Uncle, we’ve already discussed it. We’d like to trouble you to be our witness. I won’t pay them less than they deserve, and they can’t give up halfway through.”

"Alright, young lady. Don't worry, these are the people I found for you, they're all trustworthy. If they don't do their job properly, just come to me, and I'll take care of it for you."

"Thank you so much, Uncle."

"Oh, you're welcome."

Before leaving, Luo Jingyan thought of something and specifically instructed those people: "I have something to do tomorrow morning and won't be at the construction site. You can rest at home in the morning and go to the construction site in the afternoon. I'll give you the specific address."