Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 50 - 50 051 Hiring Long-term Workers_1

?Chapter 50: Chapter 051 Hiring Long-term Workers_1 Chapter 50: Chapter 051 Hiring Long-term Workers_1 “Qinghe, take these ten taels of silver as your dowry, and also the ten taels of betrothal gifts from the Qiao family—bring them together as your dowry. Although your brother isn’t much capable, he certainly can’t let others look down upon you when you’re getting married.”

Li Cheng stuffed the ten taels of silver into Qinghe’s hands.

Qinghe looked at him dumbfounded, her eyes immediately reddening, “Brother, how much savings do we have in total? You give me so much, what will you do in the future? You need to get married too!”

Li Cheng turned his head away, “Don’t worry about that; I will still make money in the future, you just take it.”

“No way! I can only take five taels. As for the betrothal gifts from the Qiao family, you keep them. It’s unheard of to pay to marry off a daughter,” Qinghe knew Li Cheng loved her, but he still had to live.

However, Li Cheng was adamant, “Keep the money safe! Don’t you know what kind of people the Qiao family are? They are willing to give ten taels of silver as betrothal gifts because they fear losing face for the Qiao family. If you don’t bring enough money back, who knows how they will make things difficult for you in the future! It’s okay if I suffer a bit, being rough and tough. But if you, having married into that family, still suffer such injustice, how could I ever rest easy?”

Thinking of the Qiao family, Qinghe finally hung her head, and tears began to roll down, “Brother, I’m sorry.”

“Qinghe, as long as you are happy and well, your brother will be happy. Now, stop crying. I’m now working at Muniang’s place, and the pay is good. The work on the fish pond alone will take at least half a month to complete. By that time, I should have earned at least two more taels of silver. We still have some money at home, and I can go hunting in the mountains. We can make ends meet, and next year, I will surely have saved enough for a wedding. It’s different for you; you have to win over the Qiao family. If you bring more dowry, they will feel better about it.”

Qinghe hugged Li Cheng and wept, turning into a teary mess, unable to utter a single word. In her whole life, the person she owed the most was her brother.

The business at Dongxing Building was indeed exceptionally good. As Muniang and Erliang walked by, they noticed that several other taverns couldn’t compare to the bustling scene at Dongxing Building.

A sharp-eyed servant spotted Muniang and immediately invited them to come inside to sit, even opening up a private room specially for them.

“There’s no need to be so polite; we’re fine sitting in the main hall,” Muniang said with a smile.

“This is Manager Fang’s instruction. Please, take a seat. You’re our building’s lucky star after all. Manager Fang will be here shortly,” the servant said with an accompanying smile.

Muniang and Erliang reluctantly sat down, and the servant brought them tea. It wasn’t long before Manager Fang appeared.

“What brings the young lady here today?” Manager Fang greeted her with a beaming face, clearly in high spirits from the flourishing business.

“I came to ask about that tiger skin. I’m wondering if Manager Fang has kept an eye out for me, to see if anyone is willing to buy the tiger skin?”

Manager Fang laughed, “Of course. I was going to ask our esteemed guests about it, but I mentioned it to our boss by chance, and it turns out he wants it.”

“Oh?” Muniang raised an eyebrow. “That’s perfect then.”

“Yes, could the young lady show me the tiger skin first?”

Erliang then unfolded the bundle he was carrying, revealing a neatly folded tiger skin. Manager Fang examined it and lit up, clicking his tongue in admiration, “This tiger is not small! Such a big one, how was it hunted down?”

Muniang said with some pride, “My husband hunted it. He’s an expert hunter; ordinary game can’t escape his hands.”

The shopkeeper looked at Erliang with surprise and then teased with a laugh, “You two are really a well-matched couple—one as capable as the other in earning money.”

Muniang smiled, “Then, Manager Fang, please make an offer.”

After inspecting the tiger skin, Manager Fang said, “Eight hundred taels. You can rest assured, young lady, my offer is absolutely fair. Our boss has instructed us not to shortchange you—nobody should.” He thought, “Because you can’t afford it,” but Manager Fang didn’t say this last part out loud—it would have been too embarrassing.

Muniang nodded in agreement, the price had already exceeded her budget, but Manager Fang’s words were sincere; she had become the lucky star of the tavern, so he naturally wouldn’t dare to cheat her.

Manager Fang ordered the boys to take down the tiger skin, and Muniang then said, “By the way, I have another favor to ask of Manager Fang.”

“Go ahead, it would be my fortune to be able to assist you, young lady.”

“Do you know any traffickers by any chance? I would like to buy a few long-term workers.”

“Yes, I do. Shall I take you to see them right away?”

“That would be great, thank you for the trouble.”

Manager Fang led Muniang through twists and turns to a small courtyard, and shouted, “Lai, Lai!”

Soon after, a woman came out, around the age of forty, her face exuding shrewdness, as she ran out while calling, “Coming, coming!”

Upon seeing Muniang and Manager Fang, she smiled and asked, “Manager Fang, are you introducing me to buyers?”

“Yes, they would like to buy a few long-term workers. Call out the men.”

“Wait,” Muniang suddenly interjected, “Call out the clever and skillful girls as well. I’d like to find a maid to serve my mother.”

“Oh, such a filial girl,” Lai said with delight at the prospect of more business. Grinning at Muniang, she winked and made faces.

Muniang felt a shiver of disgust and managed a strained smile in response.

The men were called out first, each of them dirty and dispirited, without any hope for their fate. Muniang pitied such people from the bottom of her heart, but she lacked the capacity to show mercy to the world and rescue all souls; that monumental task was left to the emperor.

What she could do was to give these people a last shred of dignity, without looking down upon them with an attitude of arrogance.

“Everyone, lift your heads so I can see you,” Muniang said softly and gently, as if she was afraid of startling them.

The lifeless faces suddenly showed a hint of surprise as they lifted their heads to look at the young girl, who was only fifteen.

Muniang walked past each of them, and in the end, she chose ten men who looked honest and were robust. After counting them over, she said to Lai, “These will do.”

Lai, naturally pleased, smiled and said, “Alright, ten silver pieces per person.”

However, one of the men Muniang had selected suddenly knelt down with a ‘plop’, his voice trembling with a slight sob, “Please be kind, miss, and buy my wife as well. We drifted all the way here from Puhai, relying on each other to survive, please let us stay together as your servants!”

Lai had clearly not anticipated this twist, and her expression changed. She grabbed a whip and lashed it across the man’s back, “How dare you make demands in front of your betters, you’ve gone too far!”

As she moved to deliver a second lash, Muniang stopped her.

“Lai!”

Lai put down the whip, smiling at Muniang and saying, “These people, there’s always some who are ungrateful. A little punishment usually sets them straight; it’s no big deal.”