Chapter 9 Gu Family Village Tyrant
When a house is first built, there are countless things that need to be purchased. Even though Zhao Liya and Hu Ling tried to streamline the house, they still bought a lot of miscellaneous things.
Zhao Liya is still thinking about buying the big water tank!
A large water tank is not enough for a family. But there is no other way to put it. The ox cart they hired was already full. They will make do with the buckets for now and think about it tomorrow.
After a quick battle, the two men arrived at the city gate, where Uncle Ruan Gui and others were already waiting.
When they saw Zhao Liya and Hu Ling, they were very friendly and rushed up to greet them with "Boss, Boss!"
After chatting for a while, everyone headed towards Yan Village.
There were too many things piled on the ox cart, so Zhao Liya and Hu Ling had to walk like everyone else. They chatted along the way and arrived there unknowingly.
It's normal to see my daughter and adopted son buy a lot of things after going out, but why did they bring back such a large group of people?
Zhao Xiang and Deng were shocked!
After hearing Zhao Liya's explanation, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Uncle Ruan Gui and his family were from Zaihu Village, genuine locals, about ten miles from Yan Village. Since it was getting late, they didn't waste any time and discussed with the Zhao family how to build the new house.
After walking around the place and asking the Zhao family what they needed, Uncle Ruan Gui said, "I have an idea. Master, let's go back first. We'll come back tomorrow morning and tell you how much materials you need. As for manpower, since you're in a hurry, I'll bring forty people with me. Is that okay with you?"
Zhao Liya looked at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang smiled lovingly and said, "Ya'er, you can make the decision on these matters."
Uncle Ruan Gui also looked at Zhao Liya. None of them thought it was strange that Zhao Liya made the decision. After all, there were many women in charge of the family here.
In the past, when the imperial court had not yet recruited them and they were still in a tribal form, there were many female chiefs.
Zhao Liya wished the more people there were, the better. "Okay, you guys can do whatever you want. We just ask that the house be built firmly and quickly, and we can pay you the wages every day."
"Oh, okay, I'll see to it!" Uncle Ruan Gui's voice became a little crisper.
It makes people happy to hear that there is a conclusion every day.
After the matter was settled, the Zhao family saw Uncle Ruan Gui and his group off. Zhao Liya then said, "By the way, Uncle Ruan Gui, if it's convenient for you, could you please drive a bullock cart over tomorrow? We want to go into town to buy some things tomorrow. Also, my mother and I might not be able to handle the food for forty people. How about you ask two more aunts and sisters-in-law to come over to help? The wages are fifteen cents per person per day, including lunch. If you have any firewood, please bring us a cart for emergency use, and we'll buy it too."
Uncle Ruan Gui nodded in agreement and said with a smile, "We have plenty of firewood at home, and there's plenty in the mountains too. I'll bring a load over for you tomorrow, no charge."
Zhao Liya smiled and said, "I want it, I want it, but I can't do it without money!"
After seeing off Uncle Ruan Gui and the others, the Zhao family planned to prepare dinner.
Zhao Liya bought two stoves, one for cooking and the other for frying vegetables, which was enough for the time being.
I also bought some beans, green peppers, eggplants, loofahs, white radishes, and two live chickens today. These are enough for me to eat for the next two or three days.
For dinner, we have ready-made dishes that we can just heat up without having to stir-fry.
Hu Ling prepared to fetch water with an empty bucket.
I asked Widow Qu yesterday. There are two wells in the village. The closest one is nearly a kilometer away. It is neither far nor near, but it is difficult to reach.
The main reason is that the residents of their village are too scattered and the area is too large.
Zhao Liya thought that after the new house was built, she would dig a well.
This area has abundant rainfall and many rivers, so it is easy to dig wells.
Zhao Liya also bought some pastries today, keeping some for herself. Later, she and her mother will take two bags to Aunt Qu as a token of appreciation.
Thinking that everything went smoothly today and that a new house would be built tomorrow, everyone was in a good mood and the yard of the simple and dilapidated house was filled with laughter.
Everyone was about to go back to their own work when four men and women in their twenties or thirties came shouting and pulled open the flimsy fence door that looked good but was useless and came into the yard, followed by three boys and girls who were less than ten years old.
Seeing this, Hu Ling quickly put down the empty bucket and strode forward: "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
A woman laughed shrilly, "Didn't they say the decision maker was a girl? Where is she? Uncle Zhao, you didn't tell your family about such a big thing?"
Zhao Xiang and Deng’s expressions changed: I forgot!
Zhao Xiang grabbed Zhao Liya and said, "Ya'er..."
In a few words, she explained what had happened to the group today. The young woman smiled and said, "Let us do the work of rebuilding your house. We won't ask for much for the wages, just the same as the market price. We are all from the same village, so we should take care of each other. We won't take advantage of you! Then it's settled. Tomorrow we will come over and tear down this old house!"
When Zhao Liya heard her father talk about the Gu brothers, she immediately became alert.
She had previously asked Widow Qu about the situation in the village. There were some things that Widow Qu was not willing to say too directly, but the meaning was conveyed.
The three brothers of the Gu family are the village bullies of Yan Village.
What were those three hooligans who caused trouble that day? The Gu family was eating meat, and they were just grabbing a mouthful of leftover soup.
They didn't treat everyone in the village as "one of their own." Whose vegetable garden hadn't they pulled out, whose chickens and ducks hadn't they stolen? They also committed many other acts of theft and abuse, but no one dared to speak out.
The only good thing about their existence is that, apart from their Gu family, those few gangsters, and three or four families who hardly interact with others but even the Gu family dare not offend, other families are very united and are willing to help each other when they really encounter problems.
Otherwise, no matter how capable Widow Qu was, the walls of her home were too high, and she would not be able to live alone with a beautiful daughter.
Taking a look at the age of the woman who was speaking, Zhao Liya smiled and said, "You are Mrs. Gu, right? We have already hired some people when we went to the city today. Forty people will come to work early tomorrow morning, so thank you for your kindness."
It sounds good, the market price? Who knows if they’ll raise the price midway? Who knows if they’ll delay the construction?
Can you trust what the village tyrant says?
That must not happen!
As soon as Zhao Liya finished speaking, the Gu family members all looked ferocious.
"What do you mean!"
"What? You dare not give us face?"
"You shameless thing! Say it again!"
Hu Ling shouted angrily: "Keep your mouth clean!"
Zhao Xiang was also angry and said, "Everything has a first come first served basis. We have already hired someone, how can we go back on our word? We can't be unreasonable."
Zhao Liya coldly watched the ferocious men targeting her, presumably to scare her so they could control her. Without batting an eyelid, she said coldly, "My father is right. Now that this matter has been decided, it won't change. No need to say more."
(End of this chapter)
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