Chapter 432: Chapter 224: Ladder_2
"I knew you were a straightforward person, big brother," said Lian Shouxin, who promptly invited Old Huang to the back room for a meal as there were not many customers left in the store. While Old Huang was eating, Lian Shouxin told him about Lian Shouli and the others wanting to work up in the mountains.
"It’s still a couple of months before it’s time to plant the crops. We’re idle at home anyway, so it’d be great to earn a little money working up in the mountains to make ends meet. I won’t hide it from you, our family has a lot of mouths to feed, and there are many places where money needs to be spent," Lian Shouxin said.
"That’s an easy matter," Old Huang quickly agreed, being the foreman and having quite a bit of power; arranging for a few people to work was just a matter of his say-so. "Where are the folks? I’ll take them up the mountain later and they can start working today."
"Brother, are all who want to go your brothers and nephews? They’re all strong farming types, capable of hard work, right?" Old Huang asked further.
"They all can work," Lian Shouxin assured him, "but we still have to ask for your care, Big Brother Old Huang."
"I have that in mind," Old Huang said.
"Uncle Old Huang," Lian Manman hurriedly interjected, "my third uncle, named Lian Shouli, is a very reliable person and is particularly skilled. Whether it’s carpentry in our house or in the village, building a kang or setting up a stove, we always ask for him, and the work he does is excellent. Uncle Old Huang, do you think you could get him involved in some skilled work? You can rest assured, my third uncle will definitely do a good job and make you proud."
Lian Manman’s claims were slightly exaggerated, but still based on fact.
Lian Yeye was also helping out in the store and nodded in agreement upon hearing Manman speak.
"My dad is definitely up to the task."
"The children are right... and if it’s not possible to arrange something, even being an assistant is fine," Lian Shouyi said.
"That’s a bit difficult; the skilled craftsmen up in the mountains are all very reputable, and it depends on whether he can perform," Old Huang said, "but I’ll give him a chance to try. For the rest, it’s up to him to prove himself."
Having made arrangements with Old Huang, Lian Shouxin quickly sent Lian Yeye to call over Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouli, Erlang, and Sanlang. Old Master Lian, not feeling at ease, also came along.
After some pleasantries, Old Huang, having finished his meal, led the four men up the mountains.
By noon, Lian Shouyi, Lian Shouli, Erlang, and Sanlang had all come back, bringing good news. They could all start working up in the mountains the next day.
Old Huang assigned Lian Shouyi and Sanlang to dirt-digging jobs, while Lian Shouli, as hoped for, got to be an assistant in the carpentry team.
It turned out that Old Huang remembered Lian Shouxin’s request and, after bringing the four men up the mountain, had them try out for the carpentry team right away—only Lian Shouli, with his nimble hands, was kept on.
Lian Shouli’s daily wage was six wen money plus a noontime meal, while Lian Shouyi and Sanlang were paid according to the amount of dirt they dug, also including a noontime meal.
Unexpectedly, Erlang chose the hardest and most exhausting task: smashing rocks. Of course, this job also paid the most, calculated per cubic measurement, with each cubic earning one wen money more than digging dirt, including a noontime meal as well.
Old Master Lian was pleased and set a time with Lian Shouxin and Old Huang for a drink.
Only Lian Shouyi was less than happy.
"...Didn’t they say Old Fourth had a rapport with that foreman Huang? Old Fourth, didn’t you mention to him about getting us a lighter job?" Lian Shouyi complained to Lian Shouxin, "The carpentry work Old Three got is passable, but Erlang, Sanlang, and I digging dirt and smashing rocks, it’s backbreaking, and the pay isn’t much more."
Lian Shouxin had anticipated Lian Shouyi’s dissatisfaction.
"Second brother, I discussed this with our father in advance. My ability is limited. I know Old Huang, but we are just ordinary folks, so don’t we have to rely on physical labor for a living? For other jobs, if people ask us to do them, we still have to be capable, right? Besides, carpentry is a bit lighter, but didn’t Old Huang first arrange for you to try out there? Second brother, you tried and didn’t pass, so what else can anyone do?"
"Second Brother, don’t spout nonsense. We should be glad to have work and earn some money. You should not be choosing. Don’t say another word. From tomorrow on, all of you better go to work obediently," Old Master Lian decisively ended the discussion, leaving Lian Shouyi with no leeway to argue further.
Before long, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month passed. In the eyes of tenant farmers, the new year was truly considered over after the fifteenth day, marking the time to start preparing for the new year’s provision.
On this day, after serving the last breakfast customer and just as the breakfast shop was about to close, a carriage screeched to a halt at the shop’s entrance. Zhao Wencai, his wife Lady Wu, Zhao Xiue, and Zhao Xiue’s sister-in-law Lady Cai disembarked from the carriage, waving and walking towards the shop.
Lian Manman held her forehead, wishing she could pretend not to see and close the door on them. But the grocery store diagonally across the street and the passersby on the main road were all watching. With no choice left, Lian Manman let the group into the shop.
Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin had already come out to meet them, too. Zhao Wencai and the others took their seats without waiting to be invited, sitting themselves down beside a table.
"Brother Lian Si, your shop is doing well. It must be bringing in a good income, way better than what I could make in a month with my grocery store..." Zhao Wencai said to Lian Shouxin with a smile on his face.
The intention of their visit was clear to any discerning observer. This time, both Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang had learned to comply, only dealing with the inevitable and steering clear of a specific topic.
The Lian Family held the advantage firmly this time, driving the Zhao Family to impatience. Zhao Wencai had already approached the Wu Yuchang and Wu Yugui brothers, who were on good terms with the Lian Family, hoping they would mediate. However, Old Master Lian had already made his position clear, and the Wu Family Brothers certainly did not want to provoke that misfortune, so they refused.
Left with no other options, the Zhao Family came to return Zhao Xiue themselves.
Stopping by wasn’t just a matter of convenience but also an attempt to save face and to use them as a stepping ladder.
However, after getting to know the Zhao Family’s true colors, the Lian Manman family had unanimously decided.
No ladder would be provided for them—no way.
***...****
The writer’s block is fierce; it took four or five hours just to get out this one Chapter. Isn’t there some deity out there who can cure writer’s block? I’d really like to make an offering.
Apparently, an increase in pink tickets can relieve writer’s block. I’m waving my handkerchief, begging for pink tickets. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
