diskusbooks Chapter 59 Holiday Red Envelopes
Chapter 59 Holiday Red Envelopes
“Yes, if our village doesn’t have enough people, we can find some from other villages. This time I need to build four workshops and dig cellars on the slope. If we don’t have enough people, we’ll not be able to make it in time. The wages and conditions will be the same as before. I’ll still have to trouble you, the village chief, to manage it.”
Song Jiaojiao still wanted to get the workshop done as soon as possible so that it would be useful later.
"Can you give me a general idea of how you plan to do it?" The village chief asked, having heard that Song Jiaojiao wanted to build four workshops. He thought he should ask her first before ordering bricks, tiles, wood, and other materials.
"I plan to build a large sweet potato workshop, as it needs to operate year-round, and the main issue is that it needs to be surrounded by walls..."
As Song Jiaojiao talked about her plans, the sun was almost setting before she knew it.
“I have a general understanding. Although this is not like building a house, we will still need a lot of bricks and tiles. There may not be any in stock there. I will order these things tomorrow so that they can be delivered when construction starts. Draw the blueprints in the next couple of days, and I will take a closer look at them later.”
After listening to Song Jiaojiao's words, the village chief had a general idea of what to do.
"Okay, I'll finish drawing it in the next couple of days. Tomorrow I'll give the money to Wang Hefan and have him bring it over."
"Alright, it's getting late, I'll head back now," the village chief said, looking at the darkening sky.
"Uncle Wang, please eat at my house before you go back." Song Jiaojiao thought that since she had talked with the village chief for so long, it wouldn't be right not to invite him to have a meal.
"No, I have to go back and prepare the procedures for tomorrow. I can't delay. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. I'm leaving now." The village chief left quickly without giving Song Jiaojiao time to react.
......
After returning home, Song Jiaojiao told Wang Hefan about it and asked him to take Xu Sen to handle the matter the next day and buy half a pig while they were at it. The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and everyone will be on holiday. How can we not give out perks? Two catties of meat per person. Meat is a very good thing in this era.
Song Jiaojiao handed 250 taels to Wang Hefan. 200 taels were for the village chief, 50 taels were for meat and pastries, and some other things that she hadn't bought last time.
After assigning the tasks, Song Jiaojiao told everyone to go wash up and go to bed.
Back in her room, Song Jiaojiao hurriedly entered her spatial dimension. Looking at the money box in the room, she saw that there wasn't much silver left. The money she had left over from selling medicine last time, plus the 50 taels from upgrading her spatial dimension, and the silver she had earned from selling vegetables and sweet potato noodles during this period, she had just taken out 250 taels, leaving her with only about 180 taels.
This money might be enough for an average family, but considering that we need to go to Tongan County after the Lantern Festival to find a martial arts school for Wang Hefan, as well as the apprenticeship ceremony, tuition, and accommodation fees, we don't know if it will be enough.
Looking at the ginseng and he shou wu that had grown for quite some time in the space, as well as the tremella that had accumulated during this period, Song Jiaojiao was no longer so anxious. At worst, she could just go and sell the tremella again.
The next day, when Wang Hefan returned, it was already late afternoon. Song Jiaojiao asked Meng An to divide the pork into two jin portions and then invited everyone over.
"First of all, thank you all for your help over the past few months. Without you, I might not have been able to start this workshop. Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, and I'll be on holiday from tomorrow until the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. From the fourth to the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, I will still be paid double wages."
There's no other way this year; our workshop can't function without you all, so we've had to shorten everyone's rest time. Alright, I won't waste any more time. Today, everyone can take two pounds of meat home with them, plus a red envelope—this is a benefit for our workshop. We hope everyone can continue our efforts next year.
After Song Jiaojiao finished speaking, the people below burst into cheerful laughter, never expecting such a perk during the Chinese New Year.
Song Jiaojiao had Aunt Li and Sister-in-law Sun distribute meat and red envelopes to everyone. After receiving the meat and red envelopes, everyone could go home.
"Hey, how much did you send out in red envelopes?"
"200 coins, what about you?"
"Me too, I didn't expect to get a red envelope, it's equivalent to half a month's wages."
"Yes, yes, there are still two pounds of meat left. Jiaojiao is good. Only if the workshop keeps running can we keep making money. We can't ruin everyone's work for a pittance."
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly echoed, promising that they would never go out and spread rumors, since no one could afford to pay 100 taels in compensation.
"Aunt Li, this is for you. Sister-in-law, this is for you. You've worked hard these past few months." Song Jiaojiao handed over red envelopes specially for Aunt Li and Sun Meihua.
"What are you saying, Jiaojiao? We're not without pay. This little bit of work is nothing compared to not having enough to eat," Aunt Li said, laughing happily as she held the red envelope.
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll have to trouble you again next year. I'm building a new workshop on the fourth day of the lunar new year, Auntie. I'll need twice as many people to cook as last time. If you can't find anyone in the village, you can look for people in other villages. As the workshop expands, I'll have to trouble you with hiring people."
Song Jiaojiao talked about what she wanted to do next year, and gave Aunt Li a heads-up in advance so that she wouldn't be caught off guard later.
"Okay, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"Oh, right, there's one more thing. Don't sell the chicks your family registered this year. I need them. If anyone in the village wants to sell, sell them to me right away. I need to feed the chickens on that barren mountain. I also want any ducklings that anyone has." Song Jiaojiao was thinking that she would have to feed the chickens next year. The chicken coop on the barren mountain was already built, and the chickens and rabbits at home had already been sent up the mountain.
"Alright, I'll tell them. As for ducks, Old Yu's family at the village entrance seems to have some, but I don't know if they take ducklings. These ducks aren't very tasty, so not many people buy them, and the duck eggs are fishy, so they don't fetch a good price. Jiaojiao, why are you buying ducks?" Aunt Li didn't waste any more words with Song Jiaojiao and asked her any questions on the spot.
Song Jiaojiao liked Aunt Li's straightforward personality. "I'll need her later. If she does a good job, it'll be another source of income."
Aunt Li didn't say anything more when she heard Song Jiaojiao's words, thinking that she would know in time.
After seeing Aunt Li off, Song Jiaojiao looked at the remaining ten or so pounds of pork and thought that she hadn't had steamed buns in a long time, so she asked Xu Fang to make half of the dough into steamed buns and the other half into dumplings.
As soon as Song Jiaojiao gave the order, some chopped filling and others kneaded dough. Since she started earning money, Song Jiaojiao had long since replaced the cornmeal in her home with wheat flour. She never skimped on food, clothing, or shelter. Otherwise, what would be the point of earning so much money?
After finishing their New Year's Eve dinner, everyone gathered around the brazier to keep watch through the night. This was Song Jiaojiao's first New Year since she transmigrated. Luckily, she had a spatial dimension; otherwise, with Song Jiaojiao's limited ideas, she might still be crammed into the courtyard next door. Although she wouldn't be starving or cold, it would still be very difficult to earn enough money to build a house in three months.
Hearing everyone's cheerful laughter, it was midnight before they knew it. Wang Hefan went into the courtyard and lit the firecrackers, which crackled and popped, ushering in the new year.
Mu Qing and Mu Xue wished each other a Happy New Year. Song Jiaojiao smiled as she watched them. After the firecrackers were finished, everyone went back to their rooms and drifted off to sleep amidst the crackling sounds.