The next day, while it was still slightly light, the men in the village began to work.

The first thing to do when building a house is to dig the foundation. There are still some young and strong men in the village who don't need to build houses. He Tiantian had already asked Zhao Tingzhang to help her find thirty people to do the work.

Each person earns twenty coins a day, and thirty people can build all four houses in about ten days.

He Tiantian didn't understand the details of building the house, so Zhao Tingzhang confidently assured her that he could come and supervise the construction.

He Tiantian's house has the deepest foundation, and the adobe bricks were prepared beforehand. If that's not enough, He Tiantian plans to buy some more from the village.

After all, she was going to live in the house permanently, and she didn't want to be careless at all.

If it weren't for the fear of incurring jealousy, she would have gone to the county to buy bricks and build a brick house. That would be much more comfortable to live in.

The new house was built next to the dilapidated temple, and He Tiantian had already prepared a large vat of warm water for the workers to drink.

Wearing a hat woven from wild grass, Zhao, the pavilion chief, stood beside the foundation and diligently directed the work.

"Everyone, keep up the good work and be serious. Twenty coins a day is more than what you earn in the mine. We have to be worthy of the wages they pay us."

A man asked curiously, "Chief, whose house is this?"

Wow, twenty coins a day, that's really rich! Luckily he signed up early, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to get such a good job.

"Go away, go away. Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Just get back to work," Zhao, the village head, urged.

In addition to preparing a meeting for the workers, He Tiantian also steamed some cornbread to help them fill their stomachs when they were hungry.

Thirty men, well paid, with food and drink provided. They worked incredibly hard, starting before dawn and not going home until the moon was high in the sky.

They were afraid that if the village head saw someone slacking off, he might send that person home if he was unhappy.

Such a lucrative job, anyone who gives it up would be a fool.

More than half of the miners at Changfeng Mine have taken leave to go home and build houses. There's nothing we can do about it; we can't keep letting these villagers stay in other people's homes or in haystacks.

Director Song was quite understanding of the matter and agreed on the spot.

He also wanted to take this opportunity to go back to the capital, since he hadn't been back for the Spring Festival and it would be more than half a year since he last went home.

Back in the capital, the old lady at home has sent several letters urging us to hurry up.

Mo Zhu packed her bag casually; it contained only a few changes of clothes and nothing else.

However, Director Song's horse, Zhui Feng, was killed in the mine explosion, and Mo Zhu later bought another horse from the county.

Although it was a very ordinary horse, it was already the best in Changning County.

After harnessing the horse and carriage, Mozhu loaded all the luggage onto the carriage.

"My lord, we may set off now."

Song Yun nodded, and just as he stepped onto the carriage, he heard a voice.

"Director Song, I heard you're going back to the capital?" Widow Zhang, carrying a basket, walked briskly from a distance.

She had long since finished work, but she had been waiting here because she heard that Director Song was going back.

Song Yun lifted the carriage curtain, frowned slightly, and looked at Widow Zhang without saying a word.

"Director Song, you're heading back to the capital, and the journey is long with no one to take care of you. Why don't I be your maid and accompany you?" Widow Zhang shamelessly offered her services.

Mo Zhu, who was standing to the side, turned ashen-faced. What? Don't you consider him human?

Widow Zhang actually wants to be a maid for their master? Ha, she'd be more like an old woman!

"No need. You're just the cook in the mine. Just do your job." Song Yun coldly refused.

Widow Zhang looked embarrassed. "Well... these are some pancakes I made. Please take them and eat them on your journey, Lord Song." As she spoke, Widow Zhang handed over the basket she was carrying.

Song Yun glanced at it but didn't take it.

Mo Zhu took it with a smile, "Aunt Zhang, you should give it to me."

Widow Zhang had no choice; Director Song wouldn't listen to her, so she could only give it to his servant.

The carriage had traveled quite a distance when Song Yun lifted the curtain again and asked, quite annoyed, "Was that the cook from the mine who came later?"

Mo Zhu nodded. "Yes, sir."

"When you come back this time, please let her know that she doesn't need to work in the mine anymore." People who don't put their heart into their work are better off without.

"Yes, sir," Mo Zhu replied as he drove the carriage.

His family has always been kind-hearted, so why does it seem like they're holding back a lot of anger this time?

Forget it, forget it, this isn't something a mere follower like him can control.

"By the way, is Sister He about to give birth?" Song Yun then asked.

"Probably, it'll be next month."

Song Yun lowered the carriage curtain, seemingly lost in thought.

Widow Zhang was somewhat conflicted, and seemed absent-minded on her way back to the village.

She'd been working at the mine for a while now, and everyone said Director Song had a good temper and was easy to talk to. But why did she feel that Director Song was so cold just now, as if he wasn't giving her any face?

Perhaps she's overthinking it?

Widow Zhang shook her head again. It shouldn't be. Perhaps it's just because Director Song is in a hurry to leave today.

As we were walking forward, a figure suddenly darted out from the grove.

"Ah!" Widow Zhang screamed in fright. After she saw who it was, she looked around with a worried expression.

She pulled him to a secluded spot in the woods and impatiently whispered, "Zhao Ergou, are you a ghost? You're haunting me in broad daylight!"

Zhao Ergou glanced at Widow Zhang with a sinister look on his face.

"Auntie, if it weren't for me, you would probably be a ghost in the underworld now."

In short, Zhang the widow was speechless.

"What exactly do you want? Don't forget, I'm your aunt. Don't get any funny ideas!" Widow Zhang said, pulling her clothes tighter around herself.

She had a beautiful figure, especially her well-defined curves. This was why, despite being a married woman, Widow Zhang was so popular in the brothel district of the county.

Zhao Ergou glanced at Widow Zhang's chest and frowned with some disgust.

"I don't have such heavy tastes. Don't think I don't know about your shady dealings with my dad..."

"Shut up!" Widow Zhang interrupted Zhao Ergou's speech sharply. Ever since Zhao San went to prison, she felt very fortunate and happy.

She originally thought that her past with Zhao San was over and no one would know about it anymore. But unexpectedly, Zhao Ergou guessed it.

How hateful!

“Auntie, you have the guts to do it but not the guts to admit it? My older brother and my mother have both gone back to Changfeng Village, they don’t know about this yet. If my mother finds out about this, how will you face people in the village…” Zhao Ergou said leisurely, with a hint of threat in his tone.

[Author's Note]: This is still featured on the recommendation list today, so please vote with your votes!