"The Song family, no way."
To the brothers' surprise, Ruan Meng refused.
The Fan family wanted to reclaim wasteland and plant wild millet peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and other wild peppercorns. The Song family was talented and always protected the Ruan family. Whenever the second and third sons could think of something, the Song family was the first choice.
Ruan Meng explained, "If we were trapped, they would be in the same boat."
"I still have a great use for them!"
The second and third brothers perked up immediately upon hearing this.
The eldest brother, Ruan Qian, smiled and asked Ruan Meng, "Little sister, have you chosen someone?"
Ruan Meng paused for a moment, then asked, "Brother, what do you think about asking the village chief's two daughters-in-law for help?"
The elder sister-in-law asked with a smile, "Why not the village chief's two sons?"
Ruan Meng explained, "Oyster harvesting only happens after the villagers have finished their harvest; it doesn't take up the whole day."
"It doesn't take too much effort, but it requires care and patience. I've observed that the two sisters-in-law are perfectly capable of handling it. After helping us harvest the oysters, they can still take care of the children without any delay."
“Brother Feng Xi is skilled; he collects oysters every day, which takes up his time. The eldest brother also has his own helpers when he cuts down trees.”
“If the two sisters-in-law can help us, they can earn more income, and we will feel at ease.”
"Sister-in-law, there's one more thing, actually, I think..."
"We invited the village chief to oversee things because he knows the villagers well and can ensure the quality. I saw it today, and the two women are just as efficient and decisive when harvesting oysters."
“If we talk to them, we can buy fresh oyster meat, which reduces the amount of work involved in washing and shucking oysters.”
"The konjac, razor clams, and sand crabs I made today would require a lot of raw materials if sold in the city. If we rely solely on ourselves, or the Song and Fan families, the problems that my second and third brothers mentioned will still occur."
The eldest sister-in-law, the second brother, and the third brother all nodded and pondered seriously.
The older brother's eyes were gentle, and a tender smile graced his face as he continued to ask Ruan Meng:
"Little sister, have you thought of a plan?"
Ruan Meng thought about it and discussed it with her older brother and sister-in-law:
"I was thinking, could we do this: discuss it with the village chief and ask him and the two women to oversee the process..."
“We cooperate with the village collective. They still distribute rewards according to work done, instead of the communal system.”
“Whenever we need something, we communicate the time, quantity, and requirements with Sister-in-law Feng or Sister-in-law Er, and they arrange for the villagers to provide it according to our needs.”
"We will inspect and accept the seafood we collect, and pay the village collective according to the agreed price. Then, Sister-in-law Feng or Sister-in-law Er will distribute it according to the villagers' contributions."
“Although the villagers are simple and honest, we are not familiar with their situation. We have only been here for a short time, and we are acting like customers, assigning them tasks. Even if it is consensual, trouble is bound to arise in the future.”
"With the village chief mediating, we'll give the village chief, the eldest sister-in-law, and the second sister-in-law three monthly allowances. Firstly, to thank them for their hard work, and secondly, to prevent any villagers from making things difficult for them..."
"Whether the price is high or low, it has nothing to do with them."
"When the time comes, since it will save us effort in collecting seafood, we can offer some discounts so that the village collective can have a proper surplus..."
"In this way, if the village chief wants to use this money to care for the poor households in the village, or to do something, such as repairing houses or digging wells, he will have the funds."
Upon hearing Ruan Meng's words, her three older brothers and sister-in-law all showed expressions of surprise and delight.
Unexpectedly, in such a short time, Ruan Meng had already thought of so much and considered all aspects.
The second child exclaimed in admiration, "My little sister is amazing! Everything she said is right!"
The third brother added, "Although we wanted to come and help the village chief's family, we also considered their situation, lest they be blamed by the villagers..."
"My sister is very thoughtful; I should learn from her."
His serious demeanor made Ruan Meng feel a little uncomfortable.
The elder brother's eyes softened even more as he nodded, waiting for Ruan Meng to continue.
Ruan Mengsuo took out the tray:
"Originally, I thought my sister-in-law was good at managing people and money, but now it seems there will be a lot of business to come. It would be a waste of her talents to only let her communicate with the villagers."
"Big brother, this is what I'm thinking..."
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