People from surrounding villages came to sell vegetables, others came to the early market, and still others came to buy winter clothes or grain for their homes.

Yan Xia lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside.

There were many stalls on both sides of the street. People walked on the blue brick road, picking out the items they needed. Some were haggling loudly, while others were sitting at the street food stalls eating breakfast. The aroma of food mingled together and wafted into Yan Xia's nose.

She took a deep breath.

If I hadn't just eaten, I probably would have been drooling with envy.

Yan Xia lowered the curtain.

The hawking cries could still be heard outside the carriage.

It's so prosperous and lively!

Although it cannot compare to Jiangnan County, it is not bad either.

Before I knew it, the carriage had stopped at the school gate.

Yan Xia was helped down from the carriage by Jin Yu.

She could have jumped down, but her hair ornaments would have fallen to the ground. Given her age and the fact that many people in town knew her, Yan Xia pretended to be dignified and helped Jin Yu down by holding his arm in an attempt to look cool.

"Little Yu, you've served me very well. I'm quite satisfied." Yan Xia teased Jin Yu in a low voice when she saw him raise his arm, looking just like a handsome young eunuch in a TV drama.

Jin Yu's face instantly turned red.

"Sister Xia! Serving you is what I should do." The voice sounded somewhat resentful.

No man likes being compared to a eunuch, and Jin Yu, who was perfectly healthy and exceptionally long-lasting, was no exception. Seeing his sullen expression, Yan Xia coughed lightly, feeling guilty.

Just as she was trying to change the subject...

The noise from the side drew her attention.

"I can do it, and I'll learn it well. I'll carry bricks, I can do any hard or tiring work. You don't need to provide meals, even half the wages will do. Please, sir, let me stay."

Jiang Dafeng pleaded.

"Keep you here? You think you're worthy? Don't we know how to do these kinds of jobs? Who do you think you are? Get out of here, or I'll hit you if you say another word."

Zhang Tietong shoved Jiang Dafeng.

He was even thinking of bringing in his three cousins ​​from his uncle's family, but what if this kid in front of him got in?

We have enough staff, but what if we can't hire more people later?

"Brother, why bother arguing with him? Steward Jinyu is coming soon. Don't let him see him. Leave it to me, I'll get rid of him."

During the argument, two people walked out of the schoolhouse.

It's more accurate to say "push" than "leave."

The worker who pushed the person was the one in charge of building the schoolhouse.

He was muscular, big and strong, and his skin was jet black, clearly the result of years of sun exposure.

Jiang Dafeng, who was pushed, staggered out and almost tripped over the threshold.

Upon seeing Yan Xia and Jin Yu, the worker immediately lowered his hand. He dropped his menacing demeanor, adopted a fawning attitude, ignored the man, and jogged over to Yan Xia, speaking obsequiously to them.

"Oh, Master Yan, Steward Jin Yu, you've arrived! We're working on it urgently, we're definitely not slacking off."

"Who is that person?" Yan Xia didn't answer him.

Instead, they asked the man standing at the door.

"Oh, him? He's just some random guy who suddenly came in and asked us to hire him to work. How could we hire someone we don't know anything about? Of course, we didn't agree to his request, but he wouldn't leave, so I had to kick him out."

The worker turned around and glanced at Jiang Dafeng.

His eyes held a warning.

"Are you in charge of hiring?" Jin Yu asked, frowning her handsome eyebrows.

"Uh, no, but I think we have enough people, so, so..." The worker was sweating profusely.

He stammered, his voice sounding somewhat anxious.

"Just do your job and stop trying to meddle in everything. I remember you were brought in by Zhang Tietong, right? I don't care what your relationship is, but if you're working for me, you better use your brain. If you dare to use the Yan family's name to bully others, I won't let you off! Go back!"

Jin Yu's voice was stern.

This was the first time Yan Xia had heard of it.

"I was wrong, I'll go back and work properly right away." The worker wiped the cold sweat from his brow and ran inside.

He was afraid that if he stayed even a moment longer, he would hear Jin Yu tell him to get lost.

The treatment here is incredibly good. Even the lowest-paid laborers receive a string of cash a day, plus three meals a day, with meat at every meal, and they are always full.

Even if you work for a month, you can still earn three taels of silver.

That's enough for a family to eat and drink for more than a year.

Who wouldn't want to stay?

"You, come here."

Yan Xia waved to Jiang Dafeng at the door.

There are still not enough workers to build the school.

Jin Yu was always looking for people, so he was very angry when he heard that the workers had driven away the casual laborers who came to his door.

It's rare for him to lose his temper.

"Madam, did you call me?" Jiang Dafeng pointed to himself, and seeing Yan Xia nod, he walked over.

"What's your name? What kind of work do you do? Where do you live?" Yan Xia asked him.

“My name is Jiang Dafeng, and I live at the end of the city. My home is not far from here. You can ask around about the Jiang family, Madam. My family has lived in Shuangqiao Town for generations. I know a little carpentry and I’m very strong. I can do any kind of dirty or hard work. Madam, please hire me. I only need eight coins a day, no, seven coins will do!” Jiang Dafeng looked at Yan Xia with pleading eyes.

He had a very unpleasant conversation with his older brother this morning.

When they went to carry sandbags, they were told that they didn't need that many people anymore.

So, the eldest brother stayed.

He left.

Jiang Dafeng could only try his luck at Yan Xia's school, but as soon as he spoke up, he was met with a rebuff. The two workers who had just spoken to him immediately chased him away when they heard that he wanted to come and work.

Jiang Dafeng thought they were in charge and had been pleading with them for a long time.

But after seeing what had just happened, he was a little confused.

Since he's not in charge, why not let him come?

What are they worried about?

He heard Yan Xia ask him.

Jiang Dafeng felt he had a chance.

He quickly replied.

Fearing that Yan Xia wouldn't hire him, he even lowered his wages on his own.

He used to carry sandbags from morning till night, earning only eight coins a day, but that was still better than casual labor. At least he had work every day, whereas most casual laborers were exploited and sometimes didn't even earn five coins a day.

"Can do carpentry? Hmm... Jinyu, take him in and see what he's suited for. His wages will be the same as everyone else's. And those two from earlier, are they brothers? Let them finish their work today and leave, with their wages settled in full. Even if we're short-handed, we can't use these bullying bastards!"

Jin Yu's ears are not as good as Yan Xia's.

Yan Xia had heard the entire argument clearly and knew how the man named Jiang Dafeng had been humiliated.

In ancient times, many men were very concerned about saving face. They would not lower themselves like this unless absolutely necessary. Yan Xia probably had some difficulties at home. In addition, he was scolded in school, had an honest appearance, and could do some simple carpentry work. So Yan Xia relented and hired him, which could be regarded as a way of compensating him.