Everyone in the labor market was busy with their own things, either dozing off or picking lice, or chatting idly with their hands folded under their heads; no one even glanced over.
Zheng Ruqian, feeling utterly helpless, cleared his throat and said, "We are hiring long-term workers here. Is anyone willing to sign a ten-year contract? Renewal or termination upon expiration is up to you; we are not forcing anyone."
Long-term worker?
The people at the labor market looked at them with curiosity, but quickly turned their disdain into scorn.
In their eyes, a ten-year long-term job is tantamount to being sold into slavery; compared to that, a short-term job is much more comfortable and easier.
Zheng Ruqian called out again, but still no one responded.
Just as he had accepted his wasted trip and was about to leave with his sister, a tall figure stood up and said, "I'll go."
"A ten-year contract, what about the monthly salary?" The man strode over, followed by a slightly younger boy.
The two look like brothers when they stand together, but upon closer inspection, you can tell that they look different.
The man was tall and dignified, a typical adult strongman.
The slightly younger boy was quite ordinary... his features were normal, his face shape was normal, but when they were put together, it was hard to remember what he looked like.
Jiang Sheng was still curiously observing the person.
Zheng Ruqian had already prepared his prepared statement: "The long-term laborers I hire will not do hard labor, but they will have to travel around. The locations are uncertain. They will be paid five taels of silver a year, with an increase depending on the situation the following year."
Five taels of silver!
Even if you work non-stop 365 days a year, you can still earn more than ten coins a day. The key is that you don't have to do hard labor, which is much better than unstable day labor (repaired).
As soon as Zheng Ruqian finished speaking, more than a dozen day laborers with bright eyes came forward, wanting to volunteer themselves.
But Zheng Ruqian shook his head and refused, only looking at the burly man.
Without hesitation, the man pointed to the boy behind him and said, "I have no other requests, I just hope that my younger brother can come with me. Don't worry, master, he can do any job, and he's also very good at driving a carriage."
After a moment's thought, Zheng Ruqian agreed and took the two to the yamen to sign the deed and formalize the marriage, then brought them back to the second courtyard.
at the same time.
In the courtyard, Jiang San and Jiang Si also brought back the results of their investigation.
Zhu Zhi was very bold; his mistress lived not far from the Zhu family home, just around the corner in an alley.
Because they lived so close, the Zhu family did not notice anything unusual, simply assuming that he liked to loiter around their home.
It is true that the mistress gave birth to the eldest son. When Jiang San was following them, he also heard Zhu Zhi promise the mistress that he would raise the eldest son as his heir and have him inherit everything from him in the future.
This violates the laws of the Dayu Dynasty. According to the regulations of the time, children born out of wedlock can never surpass children born out of wedlock.
“If Zhu Zhi wants to become an official, he wouldn’t dare to favor his illegitimate son over his legitimate son and designate his illegitimate son as his heir.” Chang Yan tapped the table with three fingers of his right hand. “Unless… he has no legitimate son.”
Xu Mo and Wen Zhiyun felt a chill run down their spines.
Zhu Zhi is too hypocritical. He made the Zhu family arrange for him to marry a lady from a prestigious family, but in private he kept a mistress. Before he even married the lady, he had already planned to make her childless.
Both morally and logically, they should expose this matter, both to expose Zhu Zhi's hypocrisy and to save a young lady from a prestigious family.
But how to tear it is the key.
The power of aristocratic families is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Taking rash action will only lead to more trouble, and no one, from Xu Mo to Jiang Sheng, will be able to escape.
This is probably why Zhu Sihuan didn't take action himself.
“Using their strength against them is the best approach, but we don’t even have a single familiar aristocratic family in Fengjing.” Chang Yan took a deep breath. “We can only try to find outsiders and beggars to do it, and we have to hide their identities to avoid implicating us.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Ruqian and Jiang Sheng led the two brothers in.
The burly man in front was nothing to worry about, but when Chang Yan saw the young man behind him, his eyes lit up.
An ordinary appearance, so ordinary that it wouldn't make a splash in a crowd, is more effective than any disguise.
When Chang Yan learned that the two were Zheng Ruqian's newly hired long-term workers, he could not hide his joy.
Zheng Ruqian was startled. "What's wrong with Xiao Wu? Has he been using his brain too much and gone stupid?"
Chang Yan chuckled, his eyes fixed intently on the two of them.
After a brief introduction, the two people's resumes were clarified.
They were not brothers, but villagers from the same village. The older one was called Gao Dawan, and the younger one was called Gao Yan. They agreed to come to Fengjing to work and earn money, but they were almost tricked into signing a contract of servitude in the east of the city.
“Although ten years is a long time, it’s still different from a contract of servitude,” Gao Dawan said honestly. “We’re new here and can’t even find short-term jobs in the labor market. If we don’t find a job that pays, we’ll starve to death.”
"Then why don't you go back to your hometown?" Jiang Sheng asked, puzzled.
If she can't make it in Fengjing, she'll definitely pack her bags and go back to Xieyang County, back to Shilipu Village, to beg for food so she won't starve to death.
Gao Dawang looked a little embarrassed.
Gao Yan whispered, "We need to support our parents and get married, so of course we can't go back to our hometown looking disheveled."
Of course, homeless children without parents can beg for food to survive.
But people with parents and families have responsibilities and heavy burdens on their shoulders.
Jiang Sheng nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Chang Yan took out two pieces of silver from his pocket and said, "Do me a favor, and these two taels of silver are yours."
Gao Dawan and Gao Yan both widened their eyes at the same time.
The employer was already paying five taels a year, which was considered a high price. But this person was even more generous, paying two taels for one thing.
"Will it be difficult?" Gao Yanshang was still somewhat doubtful.
Gao Dawang was so excited that he said, "No matter how difficult it is, I will go through fire and water for my employer."
Chang Yan and Xu Mo both curled up the corners of their mouths at the same time.
The matter was not difficult at all. All that was needed was for Gao Yan to change into the clothes of a servant of the Zhu family and take the initiative to arrange a meeting with a young lady from a prominent family in Yong'an Lane.
Yong'an Lane was where Zhu Zhi kept his mistress; it was the first house on the corner, making it very easy to spot.
According to Jiang Si's observation, Zhu Zhi would go to Yong'an Lane every evening and return to the Zhu residence as darkness fell, claiming to be composing poems with friends, but in reality, he was with his beloved.
Although the young lady from a prominent family was puzzled, the messenger was a servant of the Zhu family, and the location was exceptionally precise. Having already exchanged birth certificates with Zhu Zhi, she would naturally and logically meet him.
Gao Yan gave him a time that was a little later in the evening, which was just the time when Zhu Zhi had been intimate with Yong'an Lane for half the night. The young lady from the noble family was waiting at the corner, and Zhu Zhi should have come out of Yong'an Lane when she was about to get impatient.
The kept mistress had a habit of clinging to Zhu Zhi, reluctant to part ways until they reached the alley entrance before leaving.
The irritated young lady from a prestigious family turned her head and saw her fiancé being escorted by a voluptuous woman, their arms linked, and they were still whispering sweet nothings to each other at the alley entrance. Even the most composed person would crumble at this sight.
"Zhu Zhi!" The man inside the carriage jumped down angrily, his anger blazing. "What are you doing! Who's that person next to you!"
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