Shen Yu prepared a table full of delicious dishes to entertain the migrant workers. When the craftsmen saw a pot of braised pork, a braised fish, a pot of pork rib soup, and four side dishes on the table, they decided that they must work with all their might.
"Madam Shen, your family's life is getting better and better. We worked for that landlord's family a while ago, and we never ate such good food! Your family has meat every meal!" "I think it's no wonder your family is getting rich!"
Craftsman Li Sidao.
Li Si is Li Sheng's brother.
Chen Yu laughed:
"We're just ordinary people, we never dream of getting rich. Being able to eat and drink our fill is already a blessing! I only made this meal for you because I saw how hard you've been working. It's your first meal of the day, so I thought I'd cook something nice for you so you'd have the energy to keep working, right?"
The craftsmen all came from poor families. Although they had some skills and earned more than farming, they usually had a family of more than a dozen people, including their parents, wives, and children.
Throughout the year, how could they afford to eat meat and drink soup more than a few times? After working as craftsmen for so many years, Li Si and his colleagues had only eaten such good food when they worked for Jia Dafu's family, but that was more than ten years ago.
The craftsmen ate with their mouths covered in oil, as did Niu Cuihua and Niu Meihua at another table. Little Fubao, held by Old Lady Zhong, was quite well-behaved, quietly playing with Old Lady Zhong's clothes, not disturbing her eating at all.
"Sixth girl, look at you, what a good girl you are! She's really here to repay your family!"
When Little Fu Bao heard Old Lady Zhong praise him, he immediately obediently gave her a sweet kiss. The little guy's lips were soft and warm, and it felt quite comfortable on his face.
Old Mrs. Zhong was so happy she couldn't stop smiling.
Niu Baolan is already one year old. She is too young and doesn't like to eat, so Niu Baozhu runs over and sits down to eat with her. Niu Baozhu is two years older, so she eats faster than Niu Baolan, and she also eats meat faster than Niu Baolan.
Who knew that when she saw Niu Baozhu eating meat so quickly, she was afraid that her older sister would steal her food, so she ate spoonful after spoonful of rice mixed with minced meat, enjoying it very much! Xiao Fubao is half a year younger than Niu Baolan. Although she needs to be fed, she is very well-behaved.
Chen Yu and Niu Da were much more relaxed, at least they didn't have to feed the three little kids.
Niu Meihua and Niu Cuihua ate until they let out several burps. Niu Meihua said, "Mom, the braised pork was so delicious!"
Chen Yu stroked Niu Meihua's hair. Life at home had improved in the last six months, and the three little girls were taller and had rosier complexions than last year.
"From now on, Mom will cook for you every seven days! After you finish eating, wipe your mouths and rinse your breath!"
Shen Yu always taught her children to develop good hygiene habits. After eating anything, they had to rinse their mouths with water. Although the family couldn't afford expensive toothpaste in the past, no one had bad breath.
The three sisters, Niu Meihua, Niu Cuihua, and Niu Baozhu, took a sip of water, gulped it down a few times, and spat out the leftover vegetable leaves from their mouths.
After lunch, Niu Cuihua planned to take Niu Meihua to sell eggs on the street. Their family hadn't sold eggs for a month or so, and the eggs at home were already piled up like a mountain.
When Old Mrs. Zhong heard that her dozen or so old hens were laying so many eggs a day and selling them so well, she found it unbelievable. "Oh my, how are we going to sell all these eggs? Tomorrow, your father-in-law and I will take your two younger sisters and help sell the eggs!"
Niu Cuihua said, "Mother-in-law, you're not familiar with the people there, they won't let you take up a stall!"
Old Mrs. Zhong was worried: "What are we going to do with all these extra eggs?"
Niu Da thought for a moment: "Perhaps we can wholesale them. Let's talk to the villagers about wholesaling them first. We'll start with a minimum order of 100, one coin each! And if you buy ten, we'll give one free."
Shen Zishan looked at his young son-in-law. He used to think he was just a kind-hearted man, but now it seemed he had some business acumen. If his father-in-law hadn't died young, he probably wouldn't be stuck in this small village.
"I think it's great!"
We're just ordinary folks; we never dreamed of becoming rich and powerful, but we certainly dared to dream of starting a small business.
In March, the perfect time for planting rice seedlings, Niu Yaba and Zhang Min came to find Niu Da carrying a chicken.
"Oh, Brother Ya, what are you doing here! Please come inside and sit down!" Niu Dadao said.
Niu the mute helped Zhang Min into the house, and Zhang Min said:
“Since last year, the mute man and I have been thinking about leasing your family’s dozen or so acres of land to farm, but we were afraid of putting you in a difficult position, so we came to ask, brother, are all your hundred acres of fertile land rented out yet?”
"Eighty mu of land belongs to previous tenants, and another twenty mu were bought from individual farmers. Last year, we leased ten mu to the Niu Xiangguo brothers." "If you want to farm my land, go ahead! We won't charge you rent. Our relationship is special; we've been very fortunate to have your help in the past."
Niu Dadao.
"Hey, how can that be? If you don't charge us rent, how can other people feel comfortable paying their rent? We're already grateful that you're willing to leave us the land! Besides, when my husband lent you the money, I cried, made a scene, and even threatened to hang myself. When it came time to pay it back, you even brought me fish and eggs. I feel so guilty!"
Niu the Dumb's family was known as the poorest of the poor in the village. Even if other families couldn't afford meat, they still had seven or eight acres of land to cultivate, so they didn't have to worry about having enough to eat.
Niu the Mute's family didn't own a single acre of land. They used to have a few acres, but Niu the Mute lost his father and then his mother in the same year. They didn't even have enough money for a coffin, so Niu the Mute had to sell the few acres of land to pay for the funerals of his elderly relatives.
Niu the Mute worked as a laborer at the docks, enduring beatings and insults. The dock foremen discriminated against him because he was mute and illiterate, and often shortchanged him on wages.
They lived a very frugal life.
He had finally saved up a hundred coins, which he then lent to Niu Da. As a result, he was scolded by his wife, Zhang Min, and the whole village heard it.
Fortunately, although Zhang Min was unwilling, he didn't come to ask for it right away. Niu Da and Shen Yu understood Zhang Min. In those days, no one had any surplus food. His family was living on chaff and thin gruel. It was understandable that Zhang Min had objections.
"Let bygones be bygones. Remember kindness, not grudges. Your family has done us an immense favor." "Here's the deal: I'll only take 10% of the rent from you, and you'll take 90%!"
Niu Dadao.
The profit split between landlords and tenants was usually 30/70, with the tenants receiving 30% and the landlords 70%. The landlords also had to pay 20% of the profit to the local government as tax.
Upon hearing Niu Da's words, Zhang Min almost wanted to kneel down and kowtow, "Brother Niu, then your wife thanks you!"
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