Priceless: A widow with a baby asks the prince to marry again

Digging a canal is not just about digging a canal, but also about building embankments. The excavated soil and rocks will be transported to the riverside on both sides of the canal mouth, and two long embankments will be built with the rocks as the outer foundation, so that when a flood comes, it can be ensured that the overflowing water will flow into the ditch as much as possible.

The workers in the accompanying team and more than 200 villagers were sweating profusely. The horses they brought and the villagers' cattle and sheep transported earth and rocks. The canal digging project was carried out smoothly on the first day. A mile-long canal was dug and the corresponding dam was built.

The project had been discussed with Fujiang Village long ago. Their seven-day construction team would only dig about five miles to a natural depression. That depression was estimated to be able to store nearly 100,000 cubic meters of water. In addition, the water would seep into the ground, so it was expected to be able to withstand flooding of the same level as in previous years.

After digging the channel there, the next step is to deepen and widen the channel and transform and deepen the depression. In this way, although the project only takes seven days, it is also a water conservancy project that can preserve a small area of ​​water and soil.

By dusk, the day's hard work temporarily came to an end and the workers all went back to their own places.

Although this place is not far from Fubin City and can be reached in a quarter of an hour by horseback riding, the few people do not want to go back and forth, so they plan to stay in the tents set up here.

But Chu Shiyu raised a question. His luxurious carriage was still in the inn, and he had no carriage to sleep in...

Liu Rusi squinted at him and thought, why not ask someone to go back and bring the carriage over, or he could go back to sleep and take the carriage over tomorrow.

Chu Shiyu pretended not to understand anything and suggested with a righteous look: "How about you and Caiyun sleep in one room, and Xiao Qinhao and I sleep in another? Anyway, there is a hall in the middle of the big tent."

"This is originally Mr. Chu's tent. I'll go ask the villagers over here if I can borrow it for the night." Liu Rusi didn't want to give in. It was hard to explain if they just slept in one tent, and outsiders wouldn't care whether there were two rooms in the tent or not.

"No, I'm just asking. If it doesn't work, I'll have someone set up a tent." Chu Shiyu hurriedly stopped Liu Rusi from walking out. Another attempt failed... But after so many failures, he was no longer discouraged. He would try harder next time.

But Liu Rusi did not accept it, because it was against the etiquette. As Prince Duan, his food and daily life must be the best unless the emperor and empress are present. This is clearly stated by etiquette.

The luxurious carriage and the big tent were both symbols of Prince Duan's status, and they were of equal rank. It was reasonable for him to choose the luxurious carriage and give the vacant big tent to them. But if they stayed in the big tent and Prince Duan slept in an ordinary tent, that would be beyond the rules!

"Forget it, let's go back to the city and rest before it gets dark." Liu Rusi changed her mind in an instant. She didn't want to leave any trouble for herself.

Now Chu Shiyu is willing to be good to them and deliberately indulge them, but what about the future? Once Chu Shiyu withdraws his favor, he only needs to ignore them, and other people with ulterior motives can turn today's transgression into a disaster in the future.

Chu Shiyu frowned. Although her tone and expression did not change, he vaguely felt that she had become a little distant.

"What are you thinking?"

"Mr. Chu, it's getting dark." Liu Rusi didn't want to explain. Since they couldn't reach a consensus, there was no need to argue.

Chu Shiyu refused to let it go this time. He could accept her fickleness, but he couldn't not even know the reason. How could he solve the problem if he didn't know anything?

He tried to ask gently, "Rusi, tell me, what were you thinking about just now?"

Looking at the sky getting darker and darker, Liu Rusi sighed and said, "It is always the guest who follows the host's will, but it is not reasonable for the host to follow the guest's will... Since we can't coordinate, then we can go back to the city to stay, so as not to wrong anyone."

"Guest?" Chu Shiyu found it hard to accept that she had always regarded herself as a guest.

"Although we are traveling together, Mr. Chu is the main person in charge of the carriage and accommodation, so we are naturally the guests." Liu Rusi smiled as a matter of course.

"Travel together?" Chu Shiyu was a little overwhelmed. Does this mean that she thought they could go their separate ways after this journey?

Liu Rusi stopped laughing and asked seriously, "Mr. Chu, do you think something is wrong?"

Nothing is right! Chu Shiyu did not refute. There has always been a problem between them. Even though they both knew what he thought of her, they had never made it clear.

Because he knew that once he made it clear, she would firmly refuse, and she also knew that it would be useless for her to refuse... This was the room they chose to keep after several attempts, at least to maintain basic decency.

"I have always treated Qin Hao as my own son, so I never thought of you as guests. Hearing you say this, I am really a little sad..."

Chu Shiyu made a heartbroken expression, and then suggested: "But it may be that I haven't expressed my feelings enough. How about this... I want to adopt Qin Hao as my adopted son, okay?"

Liu Rusi's eyes widened. It was amazing. There was actually such a solution to this problem.

Before Liu Rusi could answer, Chu Shiyu squatted down in front of Xiao Qinhao and asked seriously, "Are you willing to recognize me as your foster father?"

Little Qin Hao's big eyes were so bright that they seemed to sparkle with stars, but he still looked at Liu Rusi inquiringly.

Could Liu Rusi still say no? They had a good relationship, and it was also a blessing for Xiao Qinhao to recognize such an outstanding person as Chu Shiyu as his godfather, so she nodded to Xiao Qinhao.

Little Qin Hao immediately turned around and said happily with a smile on his face, "I do! Can I call you foster father now?"

"Okay, even if you acknowledge him now, we can hold the ceremony when we return to Beijing." Chu Shiyu rubbed his head and thought, although it is unlikely, it would be best to skip the ceremony of recognizing his father when he returns to Beijing.

Although her son suddenly had a foster father, Liu Rusi was still a little worried about the accommodation problem. Looking at the sky which was almost dark, she said helplessly, "How about Mr. Chu sleep in the big tent tonight, and the three of us can sleep in other tents."

"I just want my adopted son to sleep in the big tent, but considering that he is young and cannot leave his mother, I might as well give up the whole tent. Who dares to say anything? Don't worry." Chu Shiyu said everything reasonably.

Liu Rusi thought about it seriously. Although the story of a certain Bu recognizing his father was so classic, in fact, the relationship of recognizing as father and son was very reliable. No matter what their relationship was in the end, with the relationship of adopting father and son, others could not easily embarrass them with this matter.

The night was silent till dawn.

Before and after breakfast, Liu Rusi repeatedly urged Chu Shiyu to move his luxurious carriage over. Some things are better to be avoided. You can be lucky once or twice, but it can't happen all the time.

"I've sent someone to pick up the car early in the morning, don't worry." Chu Shiyu looked at her with amusement. He had never seen her anxious about so many things, but how could she be so concerned about such a small matter?

Soon the carriage arrived, and Liu Rusi felt relieved and helped the construction team record today's temporary workers - they could only receive their wages after recording them in the morning.

There were obviously many more people coming today. After asking, I found out that several surrounding villages had heard the news. Many people came from several miles away with hoes and shovels in order to make money.

The engineering team accepted everyone who came. Ten people only earned one tael a day. Even if they recruited five hundred temporary workers, it would only be fifty taels a day. The one thousand taels contributed by Lord Li was more than enough.

However, after recording for a while, another person who was recording nearby became troubled. A woman in his team also came with a hoe and wanted to sign up as a temporary worker.

"Sir, look at my physique. I am stronger than many men and can work just as well as men! I have three children to support and my old man is ill recently. I am in need of money! Please accept me!"

Liu Rusi turned to look and saw that the woman was about thirty years old. She was indeed quite big, probably half a head taller than her, at least 1.7 meters, and her arms seemed strong.

But the manager didn't say anything, and many people nearby sneered: "What kind of work can a woman do? Don't delay things."

"If we don't do much work but still get the same pay, then will everyone just work without putting in any effort?"

"That's right. If women are accepted, then I will bring my wife along. Anyway, I can get the money as long as I have a head."

Liu Rusi wanted to say something. Even someone like her could work as well as some weak men. This woman was obviously used to farm work. Her physique alone exceeded the average of these men...

Seeing her expression, Chu Shiyu on the other side handed the pen to Xiao Qinhao who was sitting next to her and said softly, "You can decide whether to accept it or not."

Liu Rusi frowned and said, "The key point is not whether to accept it or not, but how to accept it and convince the public."

"Then let's set a quantity? How much work is considered qualified? This way no one can make irresponsible comments." Chu Shiyu suggested.

"Of course you can, but wouldn't that mean someone would have to supervise the work and measure the goods?"

"So what? It's not as if no one was lazy yesterday. Maybe if we assign some people to supervise the work and calculate the cost according to the work, we might get better results." Chu Shiyu said with a smile.

Someone over there thought the woman was blocking them from registering, so they pushed her to the side. The woman gave way but kept begging the manager to accept her.

Liu Rusi also made up her mind and asked calmly, "Then let's change it today?"

Chu Shiyu smiled gently and said, "Let's change it today. You can arrange it."

"Okay." Liu Rusi did not back down. She would feel uneasy if she didn't try some things.

Liu Rusi gave up her recording position to Chu Shiyu, walked towards the team where the woman was, and first gestured to comfort the woman with her eyes.

Stopping the man who had left the woman behind to register, she asked in a friendly manner, "Hero, were you here yesterday?"

The man nodded. He was from Fu Jiang Village. He was not only there yesterday, but also at the previous blessing ceremony. He knew that the woman in front of him must not be offended.

"How much soil did you dig yesterday? How many baskets like this?" Liu Rusi pointed to the basket next to her. This is a common tool. Most people put the soil into such baskets, then carry them on their backs and pour them into horse-drawn or ox-drawn carts. It is easier to measure by baskets.

"Probably about thirty or forty baskets..." The man couldn't remember clearly.

"Okay, I understand." Liu Rusi asked someone to go to the side first, and then continued to ask the men who had registered, asking twenty or thirty people in total.

After figuring out what was going on, Liu Rusi stood in the middle, waved her hand and shouted, "Everyone, please pause. The situation has changed a bit today. I'd like to explain it to you before we start working."

"I know that most of you folks come here to make some money, but only one penny of silver a day, which is one hundred coins. Does anyone feel that it is not enough?" Liu Rusi asked with a smile.

Who would think that the money was enough? Someone brave enough immediately shouted, "Not enough!"

Liu Rusi picked up the empty basket in her hand and said, "I asked some people who came to work yesterday. Some people can dig more than 50 baskets a day, and some can dig about 30 baskets a day."

"In order to allow those who are strong and hardworking to earn more, we have come up with a solution: pay by basket! One basket of soil is worth three cents, so any normal person can earn a hundred cents, and those who are more hardworking can earn a hundred and fifty cents or even more. What do you think?"

Some people who had been there yesterday estimated that most of them had exceeded that amount, so after a brief silence, some people began to respond and shouted, "I dug fifty baskets yesterday, and I haven't even started to work hard yet! At least seventy baskets today!"

"I estimate that I can dig forty baskets. It's not much, but I can earn an extra twenty cents!"

"Okay! Just follow this!"