Zhou Cang's face turned bright red: "Zhou Fugui, don't talk nonsense. We're just looking for people to farm. There's no such thing as a two-legged sheep."
"Farming? Who are you trying to fool?" Zhou Fugui looked at him like he was a fool: "What does farming need? Rainwater!"
“But look at the fields, they’re so dry they’re practically cracking open. How are you going to plant anything? Uncles and aunts, you’ve farmed all your lives. Do you think anything will survive in this condition?”
Those present were all skilled farmers, and their expressions changed instantly.
"Yes, it's because it hasn't rained for a long time that we can't plant crops. If we could, I would plant my own crops."
“Who says otherwise? I’m not a tenant farmer. I have my own land. I’m just afraid that planting there would be a waste of seeds, so I’m looking for other ways to make a living.”
“We’ve farmed all our lives, and now we don’t even dare to farm anymore. Can this head of the household manage it?”
Is Zhou Cang really trying to trick them into becoming two-legged sheep?
"Zhou family's second son, you really wouldn't do such a despicable thing, would you?" An elderly man with white hair looked at Zhou Cang with heartache.
“Uncle, how could that be? You watched me grow up, I’m not that kind of person,” Zhou Cang tried his best to explain.
"Then tell me, how do you cultivate this land?"
"..." Zhou Cang was speechless.
Honestly, he himself wasn't confident in farming in this kind of weather.
When he couldn't answer, the crowd erupted in anger, pointing at him and cursing him. If they weren't afraid of the men in black behind him, they probably would have rushed over to beat him up.
After a while, only about forty people remained at the once crowded entrance.
Zhou Fugui smiled smugly: "Brother, you should be honest and kind, instead of always going down crooked paths."
"You used to debase yourself and sell yourself into servitude to the Zhao family, and that was one thing, but now you've actually colluded with bandits to do such a despicable thing. How can you face the ancestors of my Zhou family?"
"From now on, don't say you're my brother. My Zhou family can't afford to lose face like that."
After he finished speaking, he walked away with his head held high, like a hen that had won a fight.
Zhou Cang's face turned pale, and veins bulged on his forehead, but he could only clench his fists and desperately suppress his anger.
"Uncle, are you... are you alright?" Gu Heizi asked worriedly.
Zhou Cang took a deep breath and managed to force an awkward smile after a long while: "You...you're still here?"
"Of course!" Gu Heizi chuckled. "I'm even waiting to put my handprint on it."
“Yes, Manager Zhou.” Those who remained said with a smile, “We’ve known you for a long time, we know exactly what kind of person you are, and we believe you are definitely not that kind of person.”
"That's right, but I don't know if you'd think highly of us. Would you like us to stay and work? Hehe~"
Zhou Cang's cold heart gradually warmed up.
After a quick glance, he realized that the people who remained were all those who had worked under him before. He never expected that in the end, it would be them, rather than his so-called...family, who would believe in him.
"I think it's good enough." He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the crowd: "I haven't thanked everyone for their trust yet."
The villagers hurriedly returned the greeting.
"Uncle, we're all so familiar with each other, can you not be so polite?" Gu Heizi grimaced and shook the goosebumps off his body.
"You'd better take us to see the big boss quickly, and let us put our handprints on his seal." His eyes were full of anticipation.
The woman is in charge!
Will it look just like a black bear from the mountains?
"What are you thinking about, kid?" Zhou Cang's mood improved a lot after being interrupted like that, and he raised his hand and flicked him on the forehead: "You think you can just see the boss whenever you want?"
"Zhou Yan, you take the villagers to the hall to wait. I'll go ask the head of the household for instructions first."
“Okay, Uncle Zhou.” Zhou Yan took the lead and walked forward: “Everyone, follow me.”
Gu Heizi's face fell, but after a short while, he bounced over and put his arm around Zhou Yan's shoulder, acting all friendly: "Brother Zhou Yan, have you met the Boss? Tell everyone what she looks like, and whether she's easy to get along with..."
The others also turned to look, their expressions filled with apprehension.
Will the leader be extremely fierce?
I've heard that bandit leaders are all burly, with menacing faces and eyes fiercer than wolves...
I'm a little scared...
"Uh..." Zhou Yan was speechless for a moment, thinking of the super handsome leader who deliberately smeared him with excrement but also brought them food and helped them avenge their deaths.
"You'll know when you see her!" he said, stunned.
Gu Heizi's face fell completely, but the villagers were even more frightened. Was it because the head of the village wasn't a good person that he didn't say anything?
As Zhou Cang watched the others walk away, the smile on his lips vanished, replaced by a deep sense of self-reproach.
The boss entrusted him with such an important task, but he messed it up because of his past grudges.
He's so useless!
But after hearing Zhou Cang's description, Luo Xi didn't take it seriously at all. Instead, she asked, "Do you want me to take care of him for you?"
Do you think your own people are so easy to bully?
"..." Zhou Cang looked up in astonishment, thinking he had misheard.
"Big... Boss, you... don't blame me?" he asked blankly.
Blame him? This question startled Luo Xi for a moment, but she quickly realized what it meant and chuckled, "What's wrong with that?"
“We are robbers, so it’s normal for them to have some concerns.”
If everyone rushes into the manor without even a hint of doubt, that's when Rosie should be worried.
"But that Zhou Fugui, he doesn't seem to have any good intentions. Do you really not want me to take care of him?"
Speaking of this person, Zhou Cang's expression was complicated, but he finally said, "Thank you, Chief, but I still can't. After all, he is my half-brother."
Luo Xi glanced at him for a moment, then nodded knowingly: "Alright, whatever you say."
We still have to give Zhou Cang face.
"However, if he dares to do anything to harm the manor, I cannot guarantee that he will still be safe and sound."
Zhou Cang's face paled: "Don't worry, Chief. If he really dares to do that, even if you don't intervene, I will handle it myself."
Rosie saw the determination in his eyes; this man was indeed capable.
"You decide what to do," she said.
Seeing that Luo Xi wasn't angry, Zhou Cang breathed a sigh of relief.
“Boss, because of this, we don’t have enough people to do the work. What should we do?” he asked again.
"We'll take as many as come, that's perfect. Those who dare to come are all willing to go all out." Luo Xi picked up a pastry that Liu Xiaoyu had brought over and took a bite.
“That’s true, but… we don’t have enough manpower. Spring plowing is already a bit late, and if we wait any longer, I’m afraid…” Zhou Cang said with some worry.
The timing of spring plowing is crucial; if it's too late, the crops won't grow as well.
“That’s easy.” Loxi, with his wealth, tossed out two thousand taels of silver: “Use it all to buy oxen. It’s best if each person has one to work with, so they can take turns using them. Is that enough manpower?”
There's nothing that money can't solve, and coincidentally, that's exactly what she has in abundance right now.
Zhou Cang: "!!!"
It took him a long time to close his mouth: "No need to give, no need to give, I haven't even used the money you gave me last time."
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