The two stood at the city gate and exchanged polite and friendly greetings for quite some time, a scene witnessed by many and sparking speculation.
The patient's family member standing closest to the two, although he missed the Cheng family's recruitment, was still very familiar with her. Therefore, as soon as Ruyi appeared, he pricked up his ears to listen carefully to their conversation. Fortunately, the two did not try to hide anything, so the content of their conversation was heard clearly.
Before long, their conversation had spread far and wide within half a day!
Actually, when Cheng Ruyi discussed this matter with Manager Huang, she wasn't very confident that she could persuade the Zhou family. However, since this matter was beneficial to everyone, the Zhou family had no reason to refuse.
Moreover, this will make the Zhou family's reputation for charity even more prominent, achieving their goal of doing good deeds and accumulating merit, while also giving Cheng Ruyi a boost in her visibility—a triple win!
A few days later, the news that the Zhou family was conducting free medical consultations and providing relief to refugees at the South Gate at the suggestion of the Cheng family spread throughout the county. The number of people in front of the Cheng family's shop suddenly increased dramatically. Many people had heard the rumors and wanted to come and see this "Great Philanthropist Cheng." Although they came to watch the excitement, since they were already there, they naturally bought some things to support him. As a result, the Cheng family's business became even better.
The furniture shop suddenly received a surge in orders, which Cheng Yan and Cheng Yunping couldn't handle. So they had to hire two apprentices to share the workload, paying each of them 500 cash per month.
Although apprentices are theoretically not paid, Cheng Yan felt bad about not paying the two children he hired, who were children of neighbors. As an elder who had watched them grow up, he was reluctant to do so.
As for the food stall, since Lin Xiaoman and Cheng Yun'an are now proficient in making egg pancakes and scallion pancakes, they can handle even a lot of orders on their own.
Since the Cheng family's business is booming, the Zhou family's business is naturally even more so, with reportedly their turnover and sales volume increasing several times over.
Other merchants were naturally envious, so many people followed the Zhou family's example. For a time, the south gate of the county town was bustling with activity, with more than three or four stalls distributing porridge almost every day, and another two or three stalls imitating Ruyi by setting up stalls to recruit workers.
In any case, in the end, things actually did solve the problem of food and clothing for the refugees.
Within a few days, the refugees outside the city gates had undergone a dramatic transformation. Everyone had shaken off their previous despondency and seemed to have found hope for life again. Many had even found places to stay temporarily.
Of course, Cheng Ruyi was the happiest about this unexpected gain. It was a case of good things happening unintentionally, and everyone was delighted!
Another piece of good news is that the workers at the Cheng family's construction site have become even more diligent. They arrive at the site early every day, full of energy, and refuse to leave even when urged to do so at night. As a result, the construction period for their house has been shortened by several days, and there is a very good chance that it can be completed ahead of schedule.
As the Cheng family's residence gradually took shape, it was no longer a dilapidated construction site. Standing on Lishan Mountain and looking down, the houses, with their varying heights, white walls, and black tiles, along with the distant green hills and clear waters and wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, created a picturesque landscape full of Jiangnan poetic charm.
Cheng Ruyi felt that such a beautiful house was a bit unsafe if no one was on guard at night, so she found Meng Daya's family and two other families who were strong and tall to take charge of it. They were paid ten coins a day and allowed to live in the front house. However, each family had to send at least two people out to patrol at night.
This job is the dream of homeless migrants far from home. Who wouldn't want to sleep peacefully at night in a place with a roof that can shelter them from the wind and rain? Especially now that it's mid-November, the weather is getting colder and colder, and there are even snowflakes falling at midnight.
As for the others who were not selected, Cheng Ruyi temporarily gave the workers a piece of wasteland at the foot of the mountain near the official road, allowing them to build simple thatched huts there. The area was close to a stream and the construction site, making it convenient for employees and their families to live together.
Before checking in, Ruyi made a three-point agreement with them: First, they should live in peace and help each other, abide by the rules and laws, and absolutely not quarrel or fight; second, they should pay attention to personal hygiene, not make a mess, throw garbage in a fixed place, and use the outhouse, and even the simple outhouse was built outside, and there were separate rooms for men and women.
Anyone who fails to comply with the above two points will not only have to move out immediately, but their job will also be cancelled.
Most of the refugees were ordinary people who knew how to repay kindness. How could they not understand the Cheng family's good intentions? Therefore, they did not complain about these strict requirements. On the contrary, they cleaned up the wasteland.
Because the younger brother of the Meng family received timely medical treatment and had a house to live in, his condition was quickly brought under control, and he looked more energetic and was no longer in a coma all day.
Ruyi also noticed that they often had meat to eat, which must mean that the Meng family father and daughter were both skilled hunters. She wondered how they had time to hunt when they worked all day and patrolled at night.
That day, while distributing food to Meng Daya, she casually asked the question, only to be greatly surprised.
"What? Your mother went hunting? Was your mother a hunter before?"
"No, it's just that our family was poor. We never had money to buy meat before, so we had to hunt in the mountains ourselves. My mother was the best hunter; she always caught a lot of pheasants and rabbits!" Meng Daya's smile grew wider and wider as she spoke, whether from talking about her mother or from thinking about eating meat. "But in winter, when the snow blocked the mountains, my mother wouldn't let my father and me come with her anymore. She would go hunting deep in the mountains by herself, and sometimes she could even catch deer and wild boar! They were so delicious~~"
It turns out that Meng Daya's mother was the most skilled person in the family. It seems that Daya learned her kung fu from her mother.
Cheng Ruyi recalled that the tall, slender woman who always took gentle care of her family, although unable to speak, was always very calm and composed. Thinking about it, she must have been confident in her own skills.
So after finishing work in the afternoon, Ruyi went to the room where Meng Daya was temporarily staying. The room was empty of furniture, but it was very clean, which made her have a better impression of the Meng family of four.
Meng Daya's mother, You Sanniang, was preparing dinner for the day. It was a big pot of wild vegetable porridge, which smelled quite delicious, so she guessed there was some minced meat in it.
"Third Aunt, it's just in time for you to make dinner. We had a few eggs left over from lunch today, so we thought we'd give your child some to eat."
During this period, since the Meng family was temporarily staying at the Cheng family's villa, Ruyi often brought various foods to visit, hoping to get closer to everyone. However, she didn't expect that she had mistaken the people she was talking to before.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com