Li Mai smiled and glanced at her.
Aunt Chun's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly brought up some things about Li Mai's grandmother when she was alive.
Li Mai's smile faded, and she listened silently without making a sound. In fact, her memory of some things before the age of nineteen was already very vague.
Perhaps after she remembered the events of the apocalypse, many of her previous memories faded. This is why, when she first woke up, she thought she had traveled directly from the apocalypse, and those vague memories were the original owner's memories.
As she listened to Aunt Chun recount the story, her impressions gradually deepened and became clearer.
When Li Wanchun saw that Li Mai was silent, he thought she didn't like people bringing up the past, so he quickly gave his wife a look to stop her from talking. Instead, he said with a smile, "Xiaomai, last winter, Uncle was elected as the clan leader of the Li clan. The old clan leader said he couldn't manage things anymore."
Li Mai smiled and congratulated him, "Congratulations, Uncle Wan Chun, clan leader of the Li clan, you are capable of taking on this role."
"Hehe, thank you. As you know, our Li Family Village is only so big, with so few people. The children have no future in the village. It just so happens that your Li Family Trading Company is short-handed. We can use outsiders or our own family members. I'm not asking you to take all these children. I just brought them here so you can choose which ones are suitable to work for you. If they're not suitable, let them go back to farming. The fields in Li Family Village can't be left uncultivated, don't you think?"
Li Mai smiled and nodded, “Alright, since the uncles and aunts in the clan trust me, I can naturally help my brothers. However, as you know, my place is quite large now, and most things are managed by the managers. Zhou Quan and I don’t manage everything ourselves.”
“In the Li family business, unless it’s a matter of life and death, the decisions are usually made by the heads of each workshop. So, if the heads think someone is a promising talent who can be trained, I’ll let him stay. What do you think?”
"Furthermore, those who choose to stay must understand a few things: once you stay, you've signed a work contract with me, and your life and death are in my hands. If you get into trouble during your work period because you disobey or violate the rules, you can't come after me for my life."
"Let me also say something unpleasant. Of course, since I've left these people behind, and they're all my brothers from the same clan, I naturally hope they'll do well. I'll not only like those who are obedient, well-behaved, sensible, smart, and capable, but I'll also reward them and nurture them."
"But as you all know, your own children are at home, and you watch them closely. There's no guarantee that they won't get hurt while doing things. What I'm afraid of is that if my child gets hurt even a little, the parents will come after me and yell at me for being heartless. So, if you can't accept this, then don't participate in the selection."
“After all, I’m often not in town. When they stay, they’ll be working with other day laborers or long-term laborers. I don’t know which personality they’ll get along with. If they don’t get along and something happens, they can’t just take advantage of my status as members of the Li family to bully others. I’ve said this to Li Dong and Li Shan several times.”
“Once they’ve joined the workshops or shops under the merchant guild, they’re no different from the other laborers who work for us.” As Li Mai spoke, his eyes swept over the children and their parents.
Some nodded in agreement with her, some frowned as if they disagreed with her, and some looked repulsed.
Having figured things out, Li Mai said to Zhou Quan, "Go and invite a few of the head managers over to see if they have anyone they want to choose. Don't let Li Dong and Li Shan come over yet."
Zhou Quan responded and stood up to leave.
Uncle Wanchun followed them out, wanting to see each workshop.
Li Dong's father glanced at Li Wanchun, wanting to follow him out, but too embarrassed to go, and just sat there silently.
Zhou Quan glanced at Li Mai, who nodded slightly. Zhou Quan then led Li Wanchun out, explaining to him as they walked what kind of workshop this was.
Li Wanchun sighed, "You two are truly capable people. Third Aunt was so unlucky; how could she have passed away like that!"
Zhou Quan quietly inquired about Li Mai and her grandmother's past in the village, and Uncle Wan Chun explained it to Zhou Quan in detail.
They chatted as they passed through each workshop, and then called the head manager to go to the trading company to select people.
"By the way, Mr. Zhou, I would like to ask you and Xiaomai to think of some ways to help our Lijia Village get rich when you have time, so that everyone can have enough to eat every year and live a better life."
“I even visited your village. Your Zhou family has built a truly wonderful place.”
As Li Wanchun walked back with Zhou Quan, he said with a smile.
Zhou Quan shook his head. "I can't think of any ideas. Our family business is all managed by Xiaomai, and the success of the village is the result of everyone's hard work."
"Uncle Wanchun, if you want to change the current situation in the village, you should first think about what advantages your village has, or what other places don't have but you do. You should also discuss with the villagers to see if everyone wants to change or if only you want to change."
“You guys know what you're doing, and then Xiaomai and I might be able to offer some advice,” Zhou Quan said with a smile.
Zhou Wanchun understood. "So, this is how your village got into all this turmoil?"
Zhou Quan nodded, "Yes, it's no use if only the clan leader thinks this way or that way; everyone has to want to change for it to work. There's a saying that many hands make light work, and that's the point."
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