But these are apparently not among Lin Qingyan's concerns, and compared to sending gifts, the basic construction of the farm is naturally more important.

  The Lin family began recruiting short-term workers again. This time, the villagers of Changfu Village and Qingfeng Village took advantage of their geographical location and signed up first, followed by idle laborers from Chengxi and surrounding villages.

  At this time, various crops have been sown and not yet harvested. Daily fertilization, weeding, pest control and other farm work are tedious but do not require daily attention, and the women, elderly and children at home can all do them, so every household can spare able-bodied labor.

  In the past, they could at most go to the city to stroll around, and those with good luck might be able to get a porter job, earning one or two dozen cents. Those with bad luck would probably have to do short-term work for a landlord's family, but that pay was much lower.

  Those who work hard can earn around 10 cents or more, while those who don't may only get a few cents, plus one meal at noon.

  But lunch was also very poor, barely enough to fill the stomach.

  But such a job is hard to come by, because there are few jobs and many people competing for them, so those with even worse luck will be left with nothing.

  It's also because of this that most farmers won't go out to find work during their leisure time, and would rather stay at home with their families to weed and fertilize.

  Otherwise, going out for a run for a day is just a waste of a day's work.

  But this time it's different, the one looking for a job is Lin Jia Bie Yuan.

  There is still a large group of people in Lin's family land every day to cut grass and open up wasteland, I heard that the wages are paid once every ten days, except for meals not included, accommodation is also included.

  But this time, the lodging is not included, but one day's two meals are included, and it's still twenty cents a day, which is a good job that can't be found even with a lantern.

  Everyone who heard the news carried their own hoes and ran to Changfu Village to sign up, by the time people from the north of the city heard the news and rushed over, Lin's family had already recruited enough people.

  The northerner couldn't help but stamp his foot, "The news came too late, it's a mistake, a mistake..."

  But there was no way, and they could only leave a message with Linquan, repeatedly reminding him, "If you still want people to work, be sure to notify us first. We will spare no effort in our work and absolutely not be lazy."

  Lin Quan smiled and said, "Don't worry, next time there's work I'll have someone notify you, but you also need to hurry up, after all, there are many people who want to do the job, our Lin family can't just rush others for your sake."

  The man at the head of the city's north side gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Lin, next time there's work to be done, call us first. We can take less pay."

  Lin's heart moved slightly, he had heard what Zhong Daguantie and the girl said two days ago, now there is not much money in the mansion.

  Lin Quan said calmly: "I need to report this matter to the young lady."

  The man let out a sigh of relief and smiled all over his face: "Then I'll have to trouble Lin the manager."

  Lin Quan arranged for the workers to finish their work and then hurried back to find Lin Qingwan to report. Lin Qingwan looked at Lin Quan's self-satisfied face, put down her teacup and asked, "Do you know why I set the wages at twenty cents?"

  Because the wages in the city are eighteen to twenty-five cents, most people still pay twenty cents.

  Lin Qingwan nodded and said, "Indeed, there is this reason. Also, now one dou of rice costs ten cents, they work here for a day and only get two dou of rice, do you think this wage is high?"

  Lin said in a low voice: "But our Lin family often cooks them all kinds of soup, not just providing two meals a day or accommodation, which is even better than the conditions in the city..."

  Under Lin Qingyan's gaze, Lin Quan couldn't continue speaking.

  "This wage is barely enough for them to make ends meet, and it's all hard-earned money, so I don't plan on lowering the price for now. Lin Quan, I also won't allow those below us to have any crooked ideas." Lin Qingwen looked at him warmly and said: "You did well this time, knowing to come ask me first. Do you know the consequences of letting them suppress wages?"

  Lin Quan was unaware.

  Lin Qingwan said: "You go ask Zhong Daguantie for advice, in the future, this matter of workers still needs you to manage, you need to learn from Zhong Daguantie."

  Lin Quan hung his head and went to find Zhong Daguantie.

  Zhong Daguan had always looked down on Lin Quan, but recently he has changed his opinion of him somewhat. Although he is still glib and cunning, he handles matters steadily. For the sake of Old Master Zhong and Madame, he is also willing to teach him.

  "This malicious price-cutting is as detestable as price-gouging," said Zhong Daguantie. "Our Lin family is a virtuous household, and even if we haven't reached the point of desperation yet, it's still unacceptable to do such malicious price-cutting. Otherwise, our ancestors' accumulated virtues will all be consumed."

  "In the future, we can't do things like this. Old Master said that doing things that harm others for one's own benefit will ultimately harm both oneself and others. We don't have to sacrifice ourselves for the benefit of others, but we must be fair-minded. If we act with fairness, what we do will benefit both others and ourselves." Zhong Daguan paused for a moment before continuing: "The person who proposed this matter is quite clever, but his character isn't very good. You don't need to target him specifically, just notify him next time there's work to be done. When he comes, treat him like any other ordinary worker. If you think he's useful, then use him, but keep a close eye on him and don't let him stir up trouble among the workers or create discord."

  "He's no good, so why hire him?"

  Zhong Daguanshi shook his head and laughed, "You were lazy and mischievous when you were at the old house, not only didn't do any work, but also often bullied other servants relying on your father's identity. If it were me, I wouldn't have used you either, but Lady just brought you along and promoted you."

  He implied: "Everyone has pros and cons, it depends on how you use them. Although you are not very good in many ways, you have two advantages: one is that you are loyal to the young lady and the sisters, and the other is that your brain is quick-witted and your mouth is clever. You can't turn black and white upside down, but you can make people happy. It's most suitable for you to manage people. The main reason I let you watch him is that he is cunning, but he has no sense of belonging to the Lin family, he is an outsider, and such a person will dare to do anything for the sake of interest."

  Lin Quan's face turned red with shame, but he was also deeply moved. With a determined expression, he guaranteed: "Don't worry, Director Zhong, I will definitely take good care of him, and not just him, but all the workers under him as well. I won't let them do anything that would bring shame to our Lin family."

  He walked away with an air of triumph and pride.

  Zhong Daguanshi looked at his back with satisfaction, stroking his beard and couldn't help but smile.

  Lao Zhongbo came out from the inner room and bowed to Zhong Dasuan: "Thank you, Manager Zhong."

  Zhong Daguan hastily retreated, supporting him and saying: "Zhong Bo, don't be too hard on the little one. Lin Quan is fine, if it weren't for you, I would also have something to say to him, but it's not as good as your words."

  Lao Zhongbo's eyes were filled with relief and he sighed, "This is not what I thought, it was all thanks to the young lady's guidance. My child has been spoiled by me since he was young, and there was no one to discipline him in the old mansion, so he became so unruly. I had originally planned to swallow my pride and ask the young lady to let him be a gatekeeper, just to give him a way out, but who knew that the young lady would bring him out and even promote him."

  "My heart has been unsettled since the day he left, afraid that he would do something to wrong the young lady. But the young lady is wise and saw my worry, so she specially brought me here to take a look and also enlightened me." Old Zhongbo wiped away his tears and said: "My son may be foolish, but he is loyal to the young lady and the Lin family, and for this reason, he would not do anything to wrong the young lady. I was too distrustful of him before."

  Zhong Daguantie just sucked in his mouth and secretly thought: Who would have thought that he had this trait? Not to mention you, Lin Guanjia and I didn't see his loyalty to the Lin family, so we've been on guard against him all along.

  But now it seems they were narrow-minded after all.

  "Now you can rest assured, sir?"

  "Don't worry, don't worry, with the young lady arranging everything so well for the father and son, what do I have to worry about? From now on, this old body of mine will be hers."

  Yes, Master Lao has become Mistress now.

  Zhong Daguan thought to himself, "The young lady's tactics are indeed formidable. She is truly the daughter of Old Master and the younger sister of Young Master."

  Just didn't want Old Master Zhong to be heartbroken, so Lin Qingyuan casually found a job for Lin Quan: ……You're all thinking too much!

  The second wife of the Shang family, who had just come out from the old lady's place, was so angry that she couldn't help but grab a handful of flowers and grass by the roadside, only to end up cutting her own hand.

  Jin Zhu was shocked and lost color, hurriedly using her handkerchief to cover her hand, "Madam, what's wrong with you?"

  Zhao pushed her hand away and calmed down, "What's the panic? It's just a scratch from picking flowers. Go, cut all these flowers and take them back to arrange in a vase. Later, send a bouquet to Old Lady's place too."

  Jin Zhu nodded and agreed, seeing Madame standing still and didn't dare make a move either.

  "Zhao covered her hand, and her face changed several times. She said in a low voice: "Didn't Master Zhuang send some seasonal vegetables earlier? Pick out some that the three young ladies like to eat and have them sent to Lin's other courtyard. Say it's the old lady showing her affection for them, specially sending them over."

  Jin Zhu thought of the old lady's smiling face from earlier and couldn't help but shiver, nodding her head in response.

  Zhao's eyes narrowed, thinking of keeping my daughter for a long stay? I'll make you send the child back to me immediately.

  Unfortunately, Lin Qingyan won't overthink like Zhao's family.

  Received the seasonal vegetables sent by "old lady", Lin Qingyan waved her hand and let the kitchen take them to cook, and said: "Remember all the dishes that Miss Biao loves to eat, don't forget to make them for her in the future."

  The kitchen maid responded loudly and went happily.

  Bai Mei winked, exchanged a glance with Bai Feng, and couldn't help but say while pouring tea for Lin Qingwen: "Miss, is Old Lady Shang sending seasonal vegetables at this time not because she wants to take the young ladies back?"

  "Why bother sending vegetables to express it? Lin Qingwen shook her head and smiled: "You guys think too much, I think the old lady just cares about a few girls."

  No, maybe you forgot something.

  Bai Mei and Bai Qing silently swallowed their words, those vegetables were seasonal, they just lived in another courtyard, there weren't many other things, would the seasonal vegetables be scarce?

  It's fine if you bring something for a farewell gift, but bringing this thing isn't it just the old lady being unable to put her mind at ease about the three children and subtly expressing that she wants to take them back?

  However, seeing Auntie's pleasant expression, the young ladies' smiles increased as they stayed at home more often. The two maids tacitly stopped talking.

  Forget it, anyway your family didn't explicitly say anything, let's just pretend we don't know. Anyway, as long as our aunt is happy, that's all that matters.