Soon, a line formed in front of Song Mei. Smiling, Song Mei distributed benefits to each worker who came forward: two catties of pork, one catty of braised pork, ten rich, oily eggs, and one hundred coins as a token of appreciation. Lin Da Sao, Han Po Zi, and Shi Tou Niang, being mid-level technical staff who usually helped Song Mei manage things, received one hundred and fifty coins as a token of appreciation.

To everyone's surprise, not only did they receive something, but they also received a hundred coins as a gift! Wow! They hadn't even received their wages yet, and they had already received a hundred coins as a gift. They felt incredibly lucky to have been chosen to work.

Uncle Lin's wife, Aunt Sun Cuiying, trembled as she accepted the gifts, then took the string of one hundred coins, closed her eyes, and fainted from excitement.

Song Mei was startled and quickly helped her up. Sister-in-law Lin quickly pinched her philtrum, and the workers who were lined up in an orderly manner also came forward to check.

Fortunately, Aunt Cuiying woke up slowly after a short while. She opened her eyes and immediately looked into her arms. She breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, everything was still there, including the money.

"Aunt Liang, what's wrong?" Granny Han asked worriedly.

"Yes, Grandma, are you alright?" Lin Huaxiang asked.

Aunt Cuiying got up, feeling embarrassed. "It's nothing, it's nothing. I'm just so happy. Thank you so much, Aunt Fengnian. You've really brought us good fortune..."

The group of people instantly understood Aunt Cuiying. Yes, even if they gritted their teeth and bought meat during festivals, there was only a little bit, and they would give it to their husbands and children. Some of the girls in the family could not even dream of eating it.

Now that they are working here, they not only get such high wages, but also so much meat and eggs, and even a gift of money. They are happy and excited.

So they all started saying, "Thank you so much, Aunt Lin and Meizi..."

For a moment, Song Anxin and Song Mei were at a loss for words. In Song Anxin's mind, this was just a normal holiday perk, but she never expected it to make everyone here so happy they almost fainted. Song Mei was even more speechless; this was all arranged by her mother, and if anyone should be thanked, it should be her mother, and even herself.

Song Anxin smiled and said to them, "Alright everyone, let's continue lining up to get our things. Oh, by the way, Aunt Cuiying, could you get one for Uncle too? He's been working so hard transporting goods with the harvest every day."

When Sun Cuiying heard that her husband also had one, she quickly thanked him and almost fainted from excitement.

Song Anxin also gave holiday gifts to the pig offal washers, but these non-staff members did not receive the 100 coins.

After the workshop workers received their gifts and money, they left the workshop and walked into the village, looking incredibly proud. When the villagers saw that these people were carrying so much meat and eggs, they all rushed over to ask what was going on.

The workers in the workshop couldn't hide it any longer, and they proudly announced that this was their Mid-Autumn Festival bonus, and they had even received one hundred coins.

The other villagers stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

"My goodness, how can the workshop of my mother's family be so generous during this bountiful year!" said Granny Liu.

The woman's eyes widened, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Why wasn't I selected back then? No way, next time they recruit workers, I must work in Aunt Lin's workshop."

Another old woman said, "Come on, didn't you see that the workshop only hires honest and hardworking people who live in the village? You're the only one who stays at home all day and tries to find ways to slack off. Do you think they'd hire you?"

The two were a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The young woman said awkwardly, "Mother, I'm not feeling well."

The old woman wasn't buying it: "You always complain about feeling unwell, but I didn't see you feeling unwell while eating."

The villagers nearby covered their mouths and laughed when they heard this.

However, this made the villagers realize that the women and girls that Aunt Lin had chosen were honest and capable. They secretly resolved to perform well and not be lazy, so that Aunt Lin could see that they could also do a good job.

In a short time, the atmosphere in Linjia Village became more diligent and enterprising.

Lin Li was wondering why the villagers had been so peaceful these past few days, with far fewer arguments and fights.

The next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Many villagers went to the county early in the morning to buy vegetables for the festival. Some of them had received festival pay at the workshop, some had earned money by doing odd jobs at Aunt Lin's house, and many more had earned some money by selling persimmons with Song Anxin's guidance.

Just a few months ago, they were tightening their belts and didn't even dare to eat much wild vegetable cakes. After the autumn harvest, the new grain was harvested ahead of schedule, and they could finally relax. Now, they can still earn money during this period, and quite a lot of it. This year, they can afford to buy some meat for the holidays.

The villagers sat on the oxcart, chatting and laughing, no longer looking worried as before because they couldn't even afford a decent meal during the festival.

Uncle Lin was very happy driving the cart. His family had meat now and didn't need to buy any. He would buy some of the children's favorite foods later. With so many people going to the county today, he could earn some more money pulling the oxcart.

Since Song Anxin's family no longer needed to deliver large quantities of goods and had bought a cow, they no longer needed to rent Uncle Lin's oxcart.

Lin Fengshou also drove his oxcart to buy vegetables early in the morning, and also took Shi Tou and Xiao He with him. Lin's elder brother and sister-in-law also brought Lin Erxi and Dongzi's family to the city for a rare trip.

The sun slowly rose high in the sky. The Mid-Autumn Festival was a cool and comfortable day. Song Anxin, Song Mei, and Grandma Song were preparing today's meal in the courtyard.

The chickens were slaughtered, and the ducks were plucked. The chickens were brought by Sister-in-law Lin, and since it was a festival today, the two families ate together. The ducks were delivered early this morning by people from the western village, and a few were left quacking in her backyard.

Song Anxin was planning to make two Peking ducks and was having a few boys build another oven when they heard a shout from next door:

"Father, Mother, Erxi, Dongzi, are you home?"

Lin Fengnian, who was building the stove, stood up and listened carefully. He turned to his mother and said, "Mother, it's Sister Daxi. Sister Daxi is back."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fengyao rushed to the courtyard gate. When he saw that it was indeed Sister Daxi, he excitedly called out, "Sister Daxi, Sister Daxi, and Dacao and Xiaocao, you've come!"

Song Anxin and Lin Fengnian and a few others also came out.

When Song Anxin saw the three people standing at the gate of her sister-in-law's courtyard, she was shocked. Was this Lin Daxi?! How had she become such a ghost? She was dressed in tattered clothes covered in patches, but her body was empty underneath. Song Anxin couldn't believe how thin she had become. Her face was full of vicissitudes, and her eyes were lifeless. She looked like a refugee. Lin Daxi was only in her early twenties, but she looked like an old woman who had suffered all kinds of hardships.