Zhou Nianmei didn't believe that at all. Her father-in-law wasn't the kind of person to reason with people like that. He must have given her some kind of benefit, but that wasn't what she cared about.
"Eldest brother, second brother, how have you been lately?" Old Xu thought for a long time before finally remembering his wife's instructions to ask his eldest brother how they were doing.
"Oh, Dad, you've finally hit the nail on the head. I was going to tell you if you hadn't asked. Tomorrow, the two of them are just helping people build a stove. A few days ago, they took on a job building a single-story room, and that's all the work they've done."
"I'm so anxious! It's almost May, and I've only gotten two jobs. What am I going to do?"
Zhou Nianmei was really anxious. When she was working with the master craftsman, she was always thinking about finishing her apprenticeship and starting her own business as soon as possible. Now that she was working on her own, she had no work to do and was never at ease!
"Boss, this can't be right. Didn't I introduce you to a house construction job before? What, you didn't go? I thought you'd been gone for so long just to do this job!"
Old Xu personally found the homeowner and vouched for his two sons, saying that they were skilled, would build quickly and well, and would charge less for their work. The homeowner had already agreed, so why did they stop working?
Xu Mingri looked at his father with some difficulty, "Dad, we went to see the uncle's house that you introduced us to, and we were about to discuss the details, but then they said they had already found someone and didn't need us anymore."
As he said this, Xu Minghui, who was standing next to him, still looked somewhat indignant. Old Xu was no ordinary man; he was an old hand at the world, and he saw through the problem at a glance. "What? Is someone setting you up?"
Xu Minghui couldn't hold back any longer and started complaining to his father: "Dad, you don't know, among the people who learned from Master Zhao with us, there was one named Zhao Dahai. He stole the job you introduced to him. He even told people in private that we didn't study hard when we were apprentices, and that our skills weren't as good as his. Because of this, people who build houses are not very willing to hire us. Even if we go out of our way to hire, they won't even look at us."
"Why didn't any of you tell me about this? Turns out there were these guys causing trouble. I'll give them a good slap. Just wait, I'm going to their village this afternoon to find them. There's no way they can be so shameless. We're even fellow disciples! How can they be so jealous of others' success?"
Zhou Nianmei jumped up. That's really something. She had been wondering why her husband and brother-in-law, who were both very skilled, couldn't find work. So that's why.
Old Xu waved his hand, gesturing for his eldest daughter-in-law to sit down and not act like a flustered chicken. Then he looked at his eldest son and asked, "Those people wouldn't just believe a few words from someone, would they? There must be something else going on behind the scenes!"
"Old ginger is spicier," that saying is absolutely true. Old Xu immediately grasped the crux of the problem.
Xu Mingri nodded honestly and said, "Zhao Dahai's family has connections in brick factories and sand factories, so they can get the cheapest prices. Besides, he is Zhao's cousin, who is a few generations removed from Master Zhao. With him backing him up, people are willing to trust him."
Old Xu sighed deeply, "That's it. Sigh, this area is only so big, and there are only a few experienced craftsmen doing this kind of work. It's definitely more difficult for you guys starting out on your own. Sigh!"
Zhou Nianmei sat back down. Well, this is where connections come in, and they can't compete with that!
But then she thought about it again and tentatively asked, "Dad, how are Lao San and Xue Mei doing in Tianshui City? Why don't we let Mingri and Minghui go there to work too?"
Old Xu knew what she meant from her words. He rolled his eyes and said impatiently, "Third brother runs a snack stall, and Mingri and Minghui are bricklayers. Do you think they can work together? Besides, if you ask Mingri and the others to give up the skills they've learned over the years, do you think they'd be willing to do that?"
"We can't bear to," the two brothers shook their heads before anyone could ask. They were used to doing this job, how could they just give it up like that!
"Then what can we do? You can't get any work, and you're not willing to do anything else. What? You really want to come back to farming?" Zhou Nianmei also looked dejected. She knew her husband was unwilling, but what could they do if they couldn't earn money?
The three Xu family members looked bitter and resentful. None of them had any particularly good ideas, since they didn't have any good connections at the brick factory!
"How about..." Chen Fengjuan tentatively began to speak, but before she could finish, she saw four people, eight eyes staring straight at her, which frightened her so much that she swallowed back what she was about to say.
"Oh dear, Fengjuan, what were you going to say? Hurry up and say it."
Zhou Nianmei urged, "Now we should share every idea we have, just in case it works!"
She originally wanted her husband to go to Tianshui City with her third brother. Although Xuemei and the others modestly said they hadn't earned much money during the Spring Festival, it was a remarkable thing that they had paid off Granny Liu's debt. They must have earned quite a bit of money. Since that was the case, it wouldn't hurt to help their own brother!
However, they have already rejected this idea, even though she genuinely thought it was a good one.
"Fengjuan, just say what you have to say, let's all think of a good solution." Old Xu looked up at his second daughter-in-law, thinking that she might actually have a good idea.
Looking at their expectant eyes, Chen Fengjuan slowly said, "I was thinking that since there's no work around here, we might as well go further away. Why don't we just go to Tianshui City? It just so happens that Lao San is there. We can call him first and ask."
"If it's not good enough in the village, will it be good enough in the city?" Zhou Nianmei was really a little uneasy. Although she thought her husband and brother-in-law's skills were quite good, they might not be good enough in the city.
"Yes, sister-in-law, you think too highly of me and my second brother. We can understand things in the village and the surrounding area, but to go to the city is too bold. No, no, it definitely won't do."
Xu Mingri waved his hands repeatedly, saying that his sister-in-law was being too unrealistic and suddenly went to the city!
Old Xu didn't speak, but stroked his chin and thought for a moment. Maybe it really would work. It's easier to make money in the city than in the village. Ah, no, it's easier to make money. Didn't you see that Xue Mei and Xiao Wan, those two women, made a lot of money selling short-sleeved shirts? Ming Ri and Ming Hui, those two grown men, can definitely do it too.
Thinking this, Old Xu suddenly stood up and said loudly, "It's settled then. You wait here, I'll go make the call right now." Without waiting for his son and daughter-in-law's reaction, he ran off to make the call.
Xu Mingri looked at his father, who had run away, and then at the people in the room. "Wait, what did Dad just decide? I didn't hear it. Second brother, did you hear it?"
Xu Minghui shook his head, and Zhou Nianmei and Chen Fengjuan followed suit, though they did have a vague idea in their minds.
"Xuemei, it's me. I just wanted to tell you that your eldest and second brothers are going to Tianshui City to visit you tomorrow. Remember to pick them up tomorrow!"
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