The soap factory was completed in May.

The site was built at the entrance of the village; the village chief had specially arranged for someone to approve the land.

A factory that can accommodate 100 people could provide 100 jobs if it hired all the workers from their village.

It benefits a hundred people, and the workplace is right at their doorstep.

Meng Xinyu's small workshop can be shut down now.

The person in charge of the new factory is still Meng Xinyu.

With his experience managing his own small workshop, coupled with the guidance Mu Zhiyue had given him during this period, he was fully capable of handling the task.

Meng Pingkang was an honest man, without any guile or cunning, and he was not one to take shortcuts.

Ye Lingyu asked him to assist Meng Xinyu and work part-time as an inspector of the workers.

Recruiting workers can easily offend people.

No matter how big a venue is, it can't employ everyone who needs to work.

Moreover, in every place, there are always some people who like to reap without sowing.

Identifying them and preventing these parasites from causing chaos is also something Meng Xinyu and her team need to pay attention to.

The soap factory was put into use in late June.

The weather was dry, so Cheng Qingyan had to go over from time to time to check for any potential safety hazards.

Making money or not is less important right now; safety comes first.

The village chief also took this matter very seriously and spontaneously organized a meeting of the villagers of Mengjia Village.

The threshing ground is still empty, so it has become a good place for the village to hold large meetings.

There are many people, so don't worry about crowds; adults and children alike can come and listen.

Village chief Meng Qiuliang is already an old man in his fifties. At this moment, he is standing on a high platform next to the threshing ground.

The audience was buzzing with discussion, whispering amongst themselves, trying to find out if they would have to pay taxes again.

Meng Qiuliang did not inform Cheng Qingyan in advance about gathering the villagers.

In his view, Cheng Qingyan and her team built a soap factory in the village, where many people in their village could work.

With a stable income, the villagers' living conditions can be greatly improved.

Cheng Qingyan and Ye Lingyu were also preparing to go out when they saw many people heading towards the threshing ground. After inquiring, they learned about this matter.

Meng Qiuliang shouted at the top of his lungs, "Everyone, quiet down and let me finish what I have to say."

"Everyone knows that Cheng San built a soap factory in the village. What I want to say now is that I discussed it with the village head. In order for the soap factory to operate better, we plan to select a few young and strong men from the village to form a patrol team."

As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers started talking about it.

The main topic of discussion was the concern that if they joined the patrol team, the village wouldn't pay them.

Meng Qiuliang had been the village chief for half his life, and he knew the villagers' ulterior motives all too well.

Give them money, and they'll cooperate; anything is negotiable.

Without money, you'd be working for free, especially when others can earn money. It's safe to say no one would step forward to be a member of the patrol team.

Since he had already discussed it with the village head, he naturally wouldn't force the villagers to participate in the patrol.

"Quiet! The patrol team's wages are seventy coins a day, paid through the public account."

The so-called public account is the money Cheng Qingyan and her group earn from renting land, hilltops, and rivers. It's kept in the village, and after the village decides how to distribute it, it will be allocated to the villagers.

If the money is accounted for through public funds, the villagers' share will be reduced, which some people are naturally unwilling to accept.

Meng Qiuliang lost his temper and slammed his hand on the table in front of him: "Don't you all have any conscience? If Cheng San hadn't rented these hills and rivers, and hadn't wanted everyone to make more money by building the soap factory in our village, would you, who are already working at the soap factory, or those who are about to go to work at the soap factory, have this income?"

"It's not like we're making you work for nothing. Besides, with the patrol team, when it gets hot, they can help keep an eye on any kids who sneak into the river."

“This is something that benefits everyone. The patrol team isn’t always at the soap shop, they don’t patrol.”

Thinking about it carefully, that makes sense.

With the patrol team, the village has gained an extra layer of security.

But some people disagree, preferring to watch the drama unfold.

Mengjia Village was once a notorious hoodlum, almost on par with Cheng Qingyan. He had previously gone to work in the town but recently returned to the village.

He shouted, "Since they're patrolling the soap factory anyway, why not let Cheng San pay for it? Cheng San is so rich now, shouldn't he share more of the burden for the village?"

Meng Qiuliang was furious. That brat, he didn't even know when he got back!

He started causing trouble as soon as he got back; he really needs to be taught a lesson.

"Dazhuang and Mengjia, throw Meng Changbei out of the village!"

Meng Dazhuang was tall and strong, with a muscular build and dark skin.

Meng Jia was rather thin, but her skin wasn't fair either; you could tell at a glance that it was tanned from working in the fields all year round.

Cheng Qingyan had some impression of the two of them.

The one who impressed me the most was Meng Dazhuang. He lived up to his name, being tall and strong, and looked a lot like a bodyguard in black.

Meng Dazhuang and Meng Jia obeyed the village chief's orders and headed towards Meng Changbei's location.

Meng Xinyi was also in the crowd. He echoed Meng Changbei's words and said to Meng Qiuliang, "Wait a minute!"

“I think Meng Changbei is right. Since the money is going through the public accounts, it’s as if everyone has contributed.”

"Since everyone has contributed money, and the patrol team is going to inspect the soap factory, why shouldn't Cheng San contribute? That doesn't make sense, right, everyone?"

In the end, it all comes down to money.

Ye Lingyu whispered a few words in Cheng Qingyan's ear, and Cheng Qingyan then gave her a look that said, "You're the only one I can count on."

Meng Xinyu really looked down on his cousin, thinking him short-sighted and petty.

He knew that Meng Xinyi harbored resentment towards Cheng Qingyan because Meng Chuying had fallen into the water, Cheng Qingyan had made him lose face, and his son had almost been thrown into the river by Cheng Qingyan.

Meng Xinyu pointed at Meng Xinyi and said loudly, "Cousin, don't try to stir up trouble here because of your own petty nature."

"Brother Qingyan will be hiring more workers later. Everyone here, think carefully about whether you want to listen to the village chief or Meng Xinyi's nonsense!"

Some wavering people now seem to be leaning towards listening to the village chief, since the village chief wouldn't harm them.

Meng Xinyi glared hatefully at Cheng Qingyan, who was whispering to Ye Lingyu in the crowd, and shouted at her, "Cheng San! Now that you're here, stop pretending you can't hear me!"

"This whole thing started because of you, so tell me, should you pay this money or not?"

One person earns seventy coins a day. If you hire three to five people, you can earn several hundred coins a day. Over time, this will not be a small amount.

Some people are unwilling, which is understandable.

Cheng Qingyan hadn't intended for these people to pay for it, but since someone had mentioned her name, she naturally had to step forward.

Under everyone's gaze, Ye Lingyu released her hand: "Go~"

She walked slowly to Meng Qiuliang's side and stood with him on the high platform.