Chapter 328 So That’s What It Means

After plowing the fields, the men walked barefoot up the field ridges and washed the mud off their feet at the ditch.

Put on straw sandals, lead the oxen and carry the plow to prepare to go home.

After working all day, the Su family's paddy fields were finally plowed. Tomorrow, some green fertilizer will be spread, and then they can start raising seedlings for the next season.

Smoke rises from every household, creating a pastoral scene under the setting sun.

"Uncles, wait a moment!" Su Ying chased after him.

"What's the matter, Aying?" Wang Sanlang asked.

"Come to my house, I have something to tell you!" Su Ying smiled mysteriously.

"What's delicious again?" Pei Sanlang joked, "Aying, this won't do. Your food costs are too high!"

"Let's go! It's a good thing anyway!" Su Ying said with a smile.

"Let's go! Let's see what good things are!" The men chatted and laughed as they followed Su Ying to Su's house. There were two baskets in the middle of the yard, covered with cloth, and it was impossible to tell what was inside.

"Here we are! Gentlemen, please have some mung bean soup!" The three sisters-in-law warmly greeted the villagers.

"You're welcome, you're welcome!" The men took the mung bean soup and drank it all.

After a busy day, I sweated a lot, my back was covered with sweat, and I was very thirsty.

"Aying, what's the matter? Tell me. We will never refuse to help if we can!" Wang Sanlang drank two bowls of mung bean soup in a row and wiped his mouth after finishing.

"It's not a big deal, it's just that all the uncles have worked hard these days, helping my Su family harvest the rice and plow the fields! I'm really grateful!"

"Aying, what you said is true. We are from the same village. Your family doesn't have any laborers. It's just a matter of convenience. Don't make a fuss about it!" Pei Silang wiped the sweat off his face while pulling at the corner of his clothes.

"Everyone's help is seen and remembered by our Su family! This is the salary for the past few days, please accept it, uncles and aunts!" Su Ying lifted the cloth covering the basket.

The smiling men froze, their expressions not looking good. "Aying, what do you mean?"

"My dear uncles, we are all fellow villagers. It's right to help each other, but it's only once or twice, not three times!

During the busy farming season, everyone has their own fields to mow and plow, and when it rains, there's nothing left, but everyone still prioritizes the Su family! The Su family is incredibly grateful!

"Help has to have a limit, it can't be endless, otherwise it will become the Su family exploiting the villagers! How can the Su family bear this!" Su Ying said sincerely.

"Aying, your Su family has helped us so much, this little favor is nothing! Take it back now! Don't hurt our feelings." Wang Sanlang replied.

"That's right, Aying! Since you came, our lives have changed every day! We have enough food and clothing! This little bit of work is nothing!" The men talked in unison.

"Uncles, please listen to me!" Su Ying raised her hand to stop everyone from talking.

"First of all, our Su family doesn't have to pay taxes. Whether the grain is collected a few days earlier or later won't have much impact, but everyone should take care of our Su family first. This kindness cannot be measured by money, and our Su family will always remember this kindness.

Secondly, helping each other among fellow villagers can enhance mutual feelings, but if we are like vampires, always asking everyone to pay, and one day others do the same, how will you uncles and aunts deal with it?

Furthermore, it is only natural to be rewarded for one’s labor, and one cannot use favoritism to erase the salary one deserves. Over time, everything will become distorted.

For the sake of our harmonious coexistence and maintaining this hometown sentiment, please accept this gift, uncles and aunts!" Su Ying raised her hands and bowed solemnly to everyone.

The men were silent. They wanted to thank the Su family from the bottom of their hearts for all their help and support, and didn't think about anything else.

But after Su Ying said this, it was true that if someone asked her for help, how should she deal with it?

During the busy farming season, everyone is busy and tired!

Over time, it will really cause various conflicts and damage the harmony.

"Uncle Yang, Uncle Yang! You take the lead!" Su Ying waved at Yang Dalang and Yang Erlang.

"Aying! We are relatives, how can we accept this money!" Yang Dalang seemed to be scalded, and waved his hands and backed away.

It is natural for relatives to help each other. If you take the money, won’t people retaliate?

"Uncle Yang, take it quickly!" Su Ying didn't care and stuffed a string of money into Yang Dalang's hand.

He then stuffed another string of money into Yang Erlang's pocket and said, "It's not much, uncles, please don't despise it!"

The wages Su Ying paid were neither low nor high, and she did not raise the market price.

"Aying, take it back quickly!" Yang Dalang pushed it back.

"Brother, please accept it!" Yang Erlang, who had been silent, pulled Yang Dalang.

"Erlang, what do you mean?" Yang Dalang frowned. "Isn't it right for us to help our brother-in-law's family? How can we accept payment?"

"Brother, please accept it. We can't break the rules!" Yang Erlang put the money into his arms and said loudly.

"Everyone, take it! Ah Ying is right, it's only natural to be rewarded for your hard work!"

The three sisters-in-law took turns giving money to the men who came to help them, but the men blushed and refused.

After hearing what Yang Erlang said, he accepted it reluctantly.

"Thank you all for your help! Here are some freshly baked white flour buns. Thank you for your hard work! Take them as a base!" Su Ying distributed buns to everyone one by one.

The men thanked him repeatedly and went home with the steamed buns and money.

"Erlang..." Yang Dalang felt uncomfortable on the way and wanted to say something, but his brother winked at him to go back and talk.

When he got home, Yang Dalang sat down angrily.

"What's the matter?" It was the first time that Old Man Yang saw his eldest son look unhappy.

Yang Dalang said nothing and took out money and steamed buns from his pocket.

"?" Old man Yang was puzzled. He didn't leave the village. Where did he go to work?

"A Ying gave it to me!" Yang Dalang said in a muffled voice, "Helping my brother-in-law's family with the harvest is also considered wages. What kind of family affection can we talk about?"

Yang Erlang also handed over his share without saying anything.

Old Man Yang was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and said with a smile, "This kid is not simple!"

"Father, what are you laughing at?" Yang Dalang looked at his father in confusion.

"Brother, if we don't take it, how can others accept it? If we accept it, it will be easier for others to accept it." Yang Erlang finally started to explain.

Yang Dalang looked at his brother and thought for a long time before he understood the reasoning. "Isn't it good for villagers to help each other? It's too strange to measure it with money!"

"You!" Old man Yang shook his head helplessly.

"It's okay to do some minor work during normal times, but now it's busy farming season, who has extra labor? Su Ying pays the workers because she doesn't want the village to lose its rules and harm the harmony in the future!

Although it is not a good idea to ask for money, it has become a rule that people who are hired during the busy farming season should be paid, and no one can complain.

Those who help will not suffer any loss, and helping one family while ignoring another will not damage the relationship.”

Old man Yang pointed out the deep meaning of this. The eldest son was of upright character. He loved to be generous and charitable since he was young, and his temper has not changed over the years.

"But it still feels awkward!" Yang Dalang thought for a while and said.

I helped out of good intentions because I felt sorry for my sister who had no one to take care of her, but after I was done, they threw a bunch of money at me and said thank you for your hard work and this was the reward for your labor!

That feeling was like a lump in his throat, tarnishing his feelings.

"You're so hypocritical!" Old Man Yang scolded with a smile. "If the situation was like last year, and I asked you to work without paying you, would you agree?"

"Why? I..." Yang Dalang wanted to say something, but paused. He finally understood what it meant!