Jiang Nuan, who had just finished applying a face mask and was about to wash her face and eat, heard an urgent shout from outside the door, "Ya Ya, hurry up and come with me to see the clan leader."
"Mother, your uncle is calling you."
“Okay,” Jiang Nuan gave Xie a reassuring look. “You two continue applying the compresses. Wash your faces after one incense stick’s time. I’ll go out first.”
I quickly washed my face, dried my hands, and went outside.
"Brother, what does the clan leader want with me?"
"Regarding the corvée labor, I told him your thoughts, and he wants to ask for your opinion."
"Ask for my opinion?" Jiang Nuan looked at him strangely. "Brother, are you kidding? Since when did it become a woman's place to speak in our village?"
As far as she knew, Chief Huang seemed easygoing, but he didn't take women seriously at all. His wife, who had been with him for decades, could only eat in the kitchen and couldn't even sit at the table.
"How can this be the same?" Village Chief Huang gave her a disgruntled look. "You're an educated person, knowledgeable, and quick-witted. Why can't we consult with you?"
In Village Chief Huang's mind, his sister-in-law was far superior to any man, even to him as the village chief.
Is it really okay to praise someone like that?
She was getting shy.
However, I have to admit, I'm really happy.
Jiang Nuan made up her mind that even if it was just because of her older brother's words, she would do her best to come up with a plan.
A short while later, the two arrived at the Huang clan chief's house.
The moment he saw Jiang Nuan, the Huang clan chief's face beamed with joy. "Fifth sister-in-law, what's your plan regarding the corvée labor?"
These words made Jiang Nuan feel flattered.
She really didn't expect that Chief Huang, with his traditionally masculine mindset, would value her so much.
Realizing this, Jiang Nuan couldn't suppress the smile that was playing on her lips.
Clearing her throat, she spoke earnestly, "Breaking the deadlock in this labor service isn't difficult, but the task is too heavy, so we must be flexible."
"First of all, it is essential to take good care of the supervisor. This is extremely important. Only by taking good care of him can we make things easier for ourselves."
"Another measure is to take turns serving, so as not to exhaust people and ensure that their lives are not in danger."
"But that's not enough."
"If the body is overloaded, problems will arise. Even if you survive, you will be left with hidden illnesses. Therefore, we must be fully prepared."
"What comprehensive preparations?" Chief Huang couldn't help but ask.
"Concentrate resources and do a good job in logistics!" Guessing that the two didn't understand what she meant, Jiang Nuan explained, "It means concentrating the best tools, rations, spare herbs, and so on."
“Ya Ya,” Village Chief Huang said, looking puzzled, “these are all prepared by our own family, we don’t need to get involved.”
Who needs the village to prepare things for their family's corvée labor?
“That’s true,” Jiang Nuan explained, “but every household has different circumstances, so the things they prepare are also different.”
Take shovels for example. Many households in the village have used their shovels for years, and they're practically useless, slowing down their work. If we collect the best shovels in the village and give them to the young men performing corvée labor, we won't have to worry about tools hindering the progress of the work.
When she first arrived, the Huang family had a shovel full of chips, which was used to dig dirt like digging rocks. People who used that kind of shovel to perform corvée labor would exhaust themselves to death before finishing the work.
“I’m afraid not,” Village Chief Huang shook his head. “Every household treats good shovels like treasures; they’re not willing to lend them out.”
“This year is different,” Chief Huang retorted disapprovingly. “This year, we’ve been assigned tasks, and we can’t fail to complete them. If we’re not skilled with our tools, it will definitely cause delays.”
He was careless; he had completely forgotten about it.
Some people have used their shovels for over ten years, and the shovel head is only half left, yet they still haven't replaced them.
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