Chapter 78

......

"Although that's true, this development project costs tens of thousands of gold pieces," Liu Yuanrui calmed down and had some doubts, "I heard that in recent years, the Wang family..."

In recent years, the Wang family has been declining, where would they get so much money?

"Yuanrui, don't worry," Wang Shouzhe said calmly, "I have made arrangements for this."

Liu Yuanrui's expression froze. Is this a matter of worrying or not? I'm just curious... However, he ultimately knew propriety and rules, and immediately stopped talking.

Wang Shouzhe was very clear that his marriage to the Liu family's daughter was a morale booster for the Wang family, as the Liu family was quite powerful and could provide support for the Wang family.

Even the family elders had this mindset.

However, for the Liu family, the idea of their noble daughter marrying into a declining family was met with some resentment and dissatisfaction. But since this marriage was arranged by the ancestors of both families, the younger generations naturally couldn't oppose it.

This is why Wang Shouzhe was quite calm about the marriage, neither overly excited nor disdainfully rejecting it. The Wang family needed to become truly powerful, not by relying on connections or favors.

Even though he knew that the Liu family's younger generations would inevitably have some complaints, he showed great understanding. After all, from the surface, the Wang family and the Liu family were vastly different, and he would naturally feel the same way if he were in their shoes.

"Eh? Brother Shouzhe, there are a lot of people coming from over there." Liu Ruolei, who had sharp eyes, saw a group of people coming from a distance through the carriage window.

And behind that group, more people were coming from even farther away.

"Those are the commoners from our Ping'an Town," Wang Shouzhe said with a smile, "They must have heard about the recruitment for our Wang family's project and are coming to apply."

"So many people are applying?" Liu Yuanrui was surprised, "Brother Shouzhe, what kind of wage are you offering? Stop the carriage, I want to take a look."

His curiosity was piqued. This dredging and filling project was already a massive undertaking, and if the wages were increased, the cost would be enormous. How could the Wang family afford it?

Since Liu Yuanrui wanted to see, Wang Shouzhe naturally didn't stop him and ordered Wang Lao Shi to stop the carriage. The other family guards also stopped and guarded around the carriage.

This imposing presence naturally made the commoners hesitant to approach, so they could only go around and head towards the work sheds.

"Don't crowd, come one by one to register," two boys around fourteen or fifteen, who still looked somewhat young, maintained order, "Our Wang family offers work in exchange for relief, with generous rewards. As long as you are willing to work, we guarantee that your entire family will have food to eat."

"Come, come, come, register here. Our Wang family provides food and lodging," two little girls moved tables and chairs to start registering the applicants, "For men aged sixteen to forty, the monthly wage is half a dan of old rice. For healthy women, the monthly wage is twenty pounds of old rice. For boys aged twelve to sixteen, the monthly wage is twenty pounds."

The two little girls spoke clearly and efficiently, registering the applicants. To avoid the trouble of explaining repeatedly, they found a clever young cousin to repeat the message over and over again.

As for putting up a sign, the two girls weren't that foolish; most tenant farmers and small landowners couldn't read.

These young people were naturally Wang Shouzhe's younger siblings. For such a significant family event, Wang Shouzhe didn't want them to be idle. Participating together would help train them.

Whether it was launching a major project or providing work in exchange for relief, it would help shape their sense of family honor and a correct worldview.

"You, name, place of origin, do you have your household registration document?" Even Wang Luqiu, who was destined to "exterminate gods and destroy Buddhas," was now seriously registering each applicant.

However, her gaze was sharp and stern, as if she were scrutinizing each applicant, determined not to let any ill-intentioned person slip through.

"My name is Ouyang Gousheng, a villager from Liuzigou Village in Ping'an Town," a thin and weak young man trembled as he handed over his household registration document.

"You're only fifteen? You can only be counted as half a worker, with a monthly wage of twenty pounds of old rice," Wang Luqiu said.

"Ah, miss," Ouyang Gousheng looked disappointed and pleaded, "Look at my strong body, I'm used to hard work. Can you count me as a full worker? My mother hasn't had a grain of rice for two days."

"No, rules are rules," Wang Luqiu, though young, was very principled, "However, we provide food and lodging. I can also advance you twenty pounds of old rice to ensure your mother doesn't starve."

"Thank you, thank you, miss." Ouyang Gousheng bowed repeatedly, tears of joy streaming down his face.

"Take these two bamboo tokens, and you can get twenty pounds of old grain," Wang Luqiu gave him two tokens, "Remember, you start working from today. After work, you can collect your grain. Also, do your best and work hard. If you perform well, I'll count you as a full worker."

"Yes, I won't be lazy," Ouyang Gousheng held the two bamboo tokens as if they were his lifeline.

"Take this work token, there's a porridge tent over there. With the work token, you can drink porridge for free," Wang Luqiu, after registering the work token, sternly waved him away, "Go, don't delay my work. Next, name, place of origin, age!"

Ouyang Gousheng left with the work token and two bamboo tokens, expressing his gratitude repeatedly.

Wang Luqiu was very efficient, never dragging her feet, and usually finished one in just a few steps.

"Wang Luojing, what are you dawdling about? Can't you focus on your work?" Wang Luqiu turned around and almost fainted with anger. She had already handled five, but Wang Luojing was still纠缠不休 with the second applicant.

Unable to bear it, she walked over, glanced at the young man with a fair complexion, and checked his household registration document: "A scholar?"

"Indeed, I am," the young man nodded slightly, with a hint of pride.

"Can you do physical labor?" Wang Luqiu was skeptical.

"How can a scholar do such hard labor?" the young man said, "I am well-versed in literature and classics and can serve as a supervisor, requiring only ten dan of grain as monthly pay."

In this era, the literacy rate among the common people was very low.

Therefore, scholars still had many opportunities. Government offices, noble families, and other institutions all needed knowledgeable people to serve as backbone members.

"We don't need a supervisor," Wang Luqiu responded coldly, "You can leave."

"You, you, you, how dare you look down on scholars! Little girl, let me tell you, reading books is the way to understand the world... You are so young... Ah~"

Before the scholar could finish his sentence, he was thrown out and fell face-first into the dirt.

"He's even more talkative than Brother Shouzhe," Wang Luqiu huffed, "Someone."

"Here I am, Sister," Wang Shoulian ran over eagerly.

"Drive this person away, add him to our Wang family's blacklist, and never hire him again," Wang Luqiu ordered with authority, then went back to her registration work.

Seeing her stern and serious face, some applicants who were trying to take advantage quietly left the queue.

Not far away, Wang Shouzhe and the others had already walked over.

Seeing this scene, Wang Shouzhe's lips twitched. This brat, Luqiu, really has a commanding presence. If someone didn't know better, they might think this little lady was the head of the family.

Liu Yuanrui, who followed, was dumbfounded: "Brother Shouzhe, a full laborer gets half a dan of rice per month. Isn't this wage too low?"

Moreover, that little girl is so fierce, and she seems to have a grudge against scholars, while he, Liu Yuanrui, considers himself a scholar... It feels a bit dangerous.

"Yuanrui, whether it's high or low, you can ask the people in the queue," Wang Shouzhe said.

Liu Yuanrui didn't hesitate and asked a few people, who all said it was enough. They thanked the Wang family for stepping up in a critical moment to provide them with food. Many of them secretly complained about the Liu and Zhao families.

When Liu Yuanrui returned, his face was quite grim: "The Liu and Zhao families, as usurpers, are truly ruthless. Fortunately, Brother Shouzhe came up with the idea of work-for-relief."

"Brother, you didn't quite agree with Brother Shouzhe's idea earlier," his sister-in-law, Liu Ruolei, added, "Now, with the current policies and the noble families exploiting the grain shortage to seize land, if the grain prices were completely deregulated, the lives of countless commoners would be in the hands of a few powerful families, who have the means to manipulate prices."

"Also, don't complain about Brother Shouzhe's low pay. Everyone is short of grain, and it's already impressive that he can offer work-for-relief."

Liu Yuanrui's face turned red, and he glared at Liu Ruolei. This brat, always undermining her brother. Before she came, she said she would help train her future brother-in-law, didn't she?

Before he could scold her, he saw Liu Ruolei walking towards Wang Luqiu.

She quietly approached Wang Luqiu and asked curiously, "Little girl, what's your name?"

"Little girl you...," Wang Luqiu was about to explode but saw a pretty and refined older sister, so she slightly restrained herself, though still impatiently, "I'm Wang Luqiu. Who are you? Go away, go play somewhere else, don't disturb me while I work hard for the family's rise."

"My name is Liu Ruolei, oh, your handwriting is so ugly," Liu Ruolei covered her mouth and giggled, "Why don't you ask the questions, and I'll register the applicants. It will be faster this way." She then went to help.

Wang Luqiu almost fainted with anger. How dare she say her handwriting is ugly?

Hmph, in the vast Wang family of Ping'an, even Wang Shouzhe wouldn't dare...

Then she saw the older sister's handwriting, which was indeed very beautiful, so she quickly swallowed her words.

She thought for a moment, and the name Liu Ruolei sounded familiar. Immediately, her eyes widened in surprise, "Are you the famous Liu family's older sister?"

"Indeed," Liu Ruolei smiled, surprised by her reputation, and quickly registered the applicants.

"But you look so young, how can you have children with Wang Shouzhe, no, my fourth brother?"

"Ah?" Liu Ruolei blushed and stomped her feet, "What do you mean by young?"

No, that's not the point...

The point is, what do you mean by young?

Spit, that's not the point...

What is the point, then?

...