When Jiang Shuyun got home, he quickly washed his hands and ate, his stomach was growling.
"Hurry up, we've been waiting for you. Shao Yun's mouth is watering."
"Mom, the dumplings you and Aunt made smell so good!"
After the New Year, Jiang Shaoyun's communication skills improved day by day, and the guy was also very good at talking.
"Thank you so much. I'll eat more later."
Mu Yi'an smiled as she looked at Shao Yun, preparing to eat.
As the head of the family, Jiang Shuyun was the first to pick up her chopsticks, and the others followed suit.
After eating a delicious meal of dumplings, I felt much better.
Mu Yi'an refined her plan again that afternoon. Once Uncle Jiang decides on the long-term worker tomorrow, she'll begin working on it. She also plans to send a copy to her older brother for his reference.
The next day, Uncle Jiang came over with his second son.
"Shuyun, Shuyun's wife, this is my second son, Jiang Shuhe, who is twenty years old. He can drive a cart, plow the fields, is strong, and doesn't like to talk much."
Looking at his simple-minded second son, Uncle Jiang also had his own selfish motives. He hoped that his second son could learn some skills by following Shuyun and her husband.
"Third Uncle, Brother Shuhe, let me state my request first."
Mu Yi'an sat next to Jiang Shuyun; she held the dominant position in this matter. Uncle Jiang understood this clearly, and even the seemingly simple-minded Jiang Shuhe knew that from now on, he would have to listen to Shuyun's wife.
“Shuyun’s wife, just say what you want to say. We’ve known each other for a long time, and we’re both straightforward people. If you’re being frank, we can understand you.”
"Third Uncle, then I'll keep it simple. Our requirements for farmhands are, simply put, that I tell them what to do. To put it more bluntly, they can't tell anyone, including their family, about what I ask them to do without my permission. We're always experimenting with any new crops we're planting, and we don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble."
After Mu Yi'an finished speaking, she glanced at Uncle Jiang and then at Jiang Shuhe, waiting for their reply.
"Shuhe, think about it yourself. Can you do what your brother Shuyun's sister-in-law said?"
Uncle Jiang did not make any guarantees for his son; he wanted him to think it through and understand whether he could do it.
"Dad, Brother Shuyun, Sister-in-law, I can do it."
Jiang Shuhe's gaze was firm. He knew this was an opportunity. Shuyun and his wife were both capable people. He wanted to seize this opportunity to become capable, earn money, and eventually get married and raise children.
“Alright, since Brother Shuhe has guaranteed that he can do it, then I will tell you the conditions for becoming a long-term worker.”
As Mu Yi'an spoke, she picked up a piece of paper from the table and began to explain the terms she had discussed with Jiang Shuyun beforehand.
"The farmhand's annual wage is eight taels of silver, which includes three meals a day, two sets of clothes, and two pairs of shoes. If the harvest is good at the end of the year, there will be an extra bonus. Third Uncle, Brother Shuhe, do you think there's anything else that needs to be added?"
Uncle Jiang and Jiang Shuhe were both surprised. The wages were no different from other families, but the other conditions were truly preferential. Shuhe was a strong laborer, and his meals were quite substantial. Plus, there were clothes, shoes, and other amenities—the conditions were really good.
“Shuyun’s wife, your conditions are already very high. We have no further requests.”
Jiang Shuhe didn't speak, but kept nodding.
“Third Uncle, if there are no other issues, let’s sign a document. I’ve listed all the terms that Yi’an mentioned earlier, including what Shuhe must abide by and what we have promised. If either party violates these terms, they will be punished.”
Jiang Shuyun placed the two completed documents in front of Jiang Sanshu and Jiang Shuhe, letting them make their own decision.
"Signing documents? Shuhe, it's up to you to decide whether you can do it."
"I can do it, I'll sign. I can't write, can I just leave my fingerprint?"
Jiang Shuhe was resolute. Eight taels of silver a year, plus food and clothing, meant he could save enough to buy a wife in two years. He knew their family's situation; they were already doing well enough to feed and clothe their family. Finding a wife for himself was far too difficult. This was his only chance, and he didn't want to miss it.
"Yes, we also asked Third Grandfather to act as an intermediary, and he has already signed it."
Jiang Shuyun said the key point: Third Grandfather is the clan head, and having him act as a mediator is both a guarantee and a constraint for both sides. After all, in this era, the reverence for the clan is much deeper than that for the government.
"Can I press it here?"
Jiang Shuhe pointed to one of the places where his name seemed to be written; he recognized it.
"Sure, that's your name. Just put it on there."
Jiang Shuyun glanced at it; he was referring to her name, but he didn't seem to recognize it.
Jiang Shuhe pressed the button without hesitation. From this moment on, he became Shuyun's long-term worker.
"Okay, it's settled then. Starting tomorrow, you'll have to come and work every day. As for what you'll be doing, just follow instructions."
Jiang Shuyun handed one of the agreements to Jiang Shuhe and the other to Yi An.
"Okay, I got it. What time will you come tomorrow morning?"
"Just come over at dawn tomorrow, do some work first, then have a meal."
Mu Yi'an thought for a moment and figured that the beginning of Mao Chu (5 a.m.) would be fine.
"Okay, I've got it."
After finishing their business, Uncle Jiang left with Jiang Shuhe.
"Yi'an, what do you think of Shuhe?"
"He seems honest and reliable, and he should be a good worker. The most important thing is that he has something to ask for. Once a person has something to ask for, he will think twice before acting."
"You have a request? What do you mean?"
Jiang Shuyun didn't quite understand, and looked puzzled.
"Uncle Jiang's family's circumstances are what they are. Jiang Shuhe is already twenty years old. Most families would be married by now. He's not, which means that Uncle Jiang's family doesn't have the means to find him a wife for the time being."
"The conditions we offered him, if he saves up for two years, he'll have enough to get married. That's why he's so determined to work for us, and he's willing to sign the agreement."
After Mu Yi'an finished speaking, Jiang Shuyun suddenly realized that he hadn't thought of this aspect.
"By the way, Shuyun, between our two dry plots of land, there's a five-mu field. Go ask Third Grandfather whose it is and if we can connect it with ours so it'll be easier to manage in the future."
"Okay, I'll go ask about it in a bit."
Jiang Shuyun knew that the ten acres of dry land she received after the family division were near the dry land that Yi'an had purchased. She hadn't expected that she had already seen them.
Mu Yi'an was relieved. Tomorrow, she would have Jiang Shuhe clear the wasteland outside. She also needed to find time to buy an ox, a cart, and a plow. She also needed to check if she had enough money; she needed to hold out until June or July, after the watermelon harvest, then she wouldn't have to worry about money. If things didn't go well, she would have to tighten her belt.
I'll stop thinking about it for now. Life is what we make of it, and how will we know the outcome if we don't try?
Mu Yi'an, keep it up! This time your start is much better than before, things won't get too bad!
Secretly giving herself a pep talk, Mu Yi'an went to check her secret stash of money!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
