The group was amused by Liu Fangfang's reaction.
Zhang Xiujuan knew they were selling eggplants and that eggplants could fetch a lot of money. She loved gossip, but she would never say anything she shouldn't, not even to the men in her family.
Su Luo and the others promised to plant the seeds for her next year. If others find out, who knows what jealous people will do.
"Aunt Chen, your eggplants weigh fifty-eight jin, and this fifty-eight liang is your eggplant money."
"This three hundred coins is your wages."
Su Luo separated their wages and eggplant money, just in case they couldn't figure it out; this way it was simple and quick.
The men were all smiles after receiving the silver.
"Grandma, this is yours."
Su Luo walked to Zhao Ruyun's side and gave her three hundred copper coins.
Zhao Ruyun didn't accept it, but the joy in her eyes was impossible to hide.
"I don't need to give it to you. Luo Luo, you can keep it. I haven't spent the money you gave me before."
Su Luo took Zhao Ruyun's hand and placed three hundred coins in her palm.
“Mother-in-law, what I’m giving you is what I’m giving you. This wage is what you earned, and it’s different from what I’m giving you.”
"But Luo Luo!"
Zhao Ruyun looked at the silver in her hand, speechless.
"Take it."
"Hey!" Zhao Ruyun smiled and put the silver into her pocket.
Now they have all received their wages.
Chen Yan handed fifty-eight taels to the village chief: "Old Li, you can keep this silver."
The village chief pushed the silver to Chen Yan: "You grew the eggplants, so take them and buy whatever you want."
They've been married for so long, and they're still out there. Chen Yan, feeling embarrassed, stuffed the silver into the village chief's arms.
"Just take it."
Su Luo asked the village chief to call everyone over.
Everyone smiled when they heard they would be paid.
"Don't rush, everyone. When your names are called, come forward. Everyone gets a turn."
The village chief told everyone not to crowd around Su Luo.
"Village chief, we're not in a hurry, we're all waiting."
"Yes, once I get paid, I can buy fabric and make new clothes for my son."
With each word spoken, laughter filled the entire village entrance.
Su Luo took out the list the village chief had given him and called out the names one by one.
"Quiet down, everyone! Chen Ping'an!"
"I am here!"
Chen Ping'an immediately sat down opposite Su Luo, placing his hands on the table.
“Uncle, you have worked for twenty days. You earn thirty coins a day, so that's six hundred coins.”
Su Luo then took out six strings of copper coins from the bag and gave them to Chen Ping'an.
"Uncle, here's six hundred coins, take it."
"Hey, thank you, Su Luo."
Chen Ping'an was excited about receiving the silver, but before he could even finish his excitement, Liu Fangfang gave him a look, and he had no choice but to obediently hand the money over to her.
Liu Fangfang manages the family's finances, mainly because Chen Ping'an is too honest. Whenever the two of them have a little money, Chen Dazhi will come to borrow it.
Chen Ping'an couldn't bring himself to do it, so he lent money to Chen Dazhi every time, but afterwards, both Chen Dazhi and Luo Mei forgot about it and didn't pay them back. Chen Ping'an didn't feel comfortable asking for it back.
Over the years, Liu Fangfang has stopped letting Chen Ping'an manage the family's finances.
"Next, Wang Jianxing!" Su Luo called out...
"You also have six hundred coins..."
“Li Xinwang…”
It took Su Luo half an hour to finish distributing the wages. She was quick at calculating, and she mainly waited for the workers to count the money in front of her before distributing it to the next person.
Fan Gaocen hired bricklayers and carpenters, and he paid them his own wages. Su Luo was only responsible for paying the villagers' wages, while the rest was outsourced to Fan Gaocen.
Su Luo had carefully calculated that after the courtyard was built, there would be labor costs, and Fan Gaocen could earn five or six hundred taels of silver.
For a top designer, and with a contract that includes both materials and labor, he could earn more than twice what Su Luo earns elsewhere.
Last time, she only gave him eight hundred taels to buy materials. When she walked to Fan Gaocen's side, Su Luo told him to come to the kiln to find her after he finished eating.
The villagers ate faster than usual tonight, everyone eager to finish their meal quickly, take the money home, and bring joy to their families.
Su Luo ate a quick meal and then went to find Li Niu.
Settle the money for the tofu with Li Niu as well.
"Aunt Li, where is Uncle Li?"
When Su Luo entered the room, she only saw Aunt Li picking out soybeans and throwing away the bad ones.
"Yan Chuan's mother, please come in and sit down. Your Uncle Li is at home."
Li Niu was feeding the cattle when he heard Su Luo coming to find him, so he brought her a stool to sit on.
"Uncle Li, I've come today to pay you for the tofu."
“Yan Chuan’s mother, why are you in such a hurry? Fu Man Lou pays us every day, and we don’t have any urgent need for money. If you are short of money, you can pay us later.”
Aunt Li was worried that Su Luo didn't have enough money, since she was currently working on the house and needed money for everything.
"Yes, Yan Chuan's mother, what your Aunt Li said is also what your uncle wanted to say."
Su Luo smiled and took out the list recorded by the village chief, saying, "Uncle Li, Aunt Li, I know what I'm doing. When it's my turn to ask you for help, I won't hold back."
However, I will give you what is due to me, as soon as I have the money.”
Aunt Li poured a bowl of water for Su Luo: "Why are you so stubborn?"
Su Luo did the math and said, "Ten catties of tofu a day, and you take care of me at thirty coins per catty, that's three hundred coins a day, and six taels of silver in twenty days."
Uncle Li also used a few sticks to calculate on the ground, and after a while he said, "Yes."
Su Luo gave six taels of silver to Uncle Li before returning to the kiln.
When I returned, I saw Fan Gaocen already waiting there, with Yan Chuan sitting opposite him.
An old man and a young boy, I wonder what they were talking about?
Zhao Ruyun was boiling water, and Yi Huan also made tea for the two of them.
"Mother, you're back?"
Yi Huan saw Su Luo first and ran over to hug her.
"Hmm! What are you doing?" Su Luo led Yi Huan inside the fence.
“We are entertaining guests. My brother said that since you are not here, it is his responsibility to receive the guests.”
Yi Huan proudly spoke of her and Yan Chuan's sense of responsibility.
"Great job, you guys are awesome."
"Mother, Master Fan has arrived." Yan Chuan got down from the chair and gestured for Su Luo to sit down.
"Okay, Chuan Chuan, be good."
Fan Gaocen stroked his mustache and laughed, "Lady Su, your son is no ordinary man, hahaha..."
Su Luo knew her son was smart, but Yan Chuan must have some special qualities to have won Fan Gao Cen's favor.
"The child is simply slow-witted."
"Master Fan, have you found the timber for the main beam?"
For the best beams and pillars, use Phoebe zhennan wood.
“Madam Su, the best wood for the main beam is Phoebe zhennan, but Phoebe zhennan is the most expensive of all woods, which will increase the cost of building this house.”
Using ordinary wood would be cheaper, but of course, I'm just giving you a suggestion.
The choice of wood is up to you.
An inch of nanmu wood is worth an inch of gold. A house is the foundation of a person's life. Su Luo has the ability to use the best, so why not?
“Okay, let’s use Phoebe zhennan wood. I can afford the cost.”
Fan Gaocen nodded: "I have a good friend in Anchangzhou. He has a way to get Nanmu. As soon as the money arrives, he can bring it to us."
It's already August, and the autumn harvest is just a month away. The house needs to be built as soon as possible.
"Alright, I only gave you eight hundred taels last time, but this time I'll give you a thousand taels. Winter is coming, and I want to see a new house."
A thousand or so is enough to buy Phoebe zhennan wood.
Fan Gaocen accepted Su Luo's thousand taels of silver notes, wrote her a receipt, and then said...
"Don't worry, Madam Su, as long as it doesn't rain, I will finish your house as soon as possible."
The foundation for the new courtyard has been laid, and the carving craftsman Fan Gaocen has already found someone to do it. Once the beams and pillars are completed and erected, the interior decoration can be installed gradually.
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