It's hard for my elder sister. I rely on the mountains to farm and pay off my debts.

Mrs. Wu couldn't help but look at her son's arm. It was really red and swollen, just as her granddaughter said.

She said nervously, "Dashan, is your hand okay? I'll ask Azhi to call his master to take a look at you later."

Song Youshan waved his hands repeatedly, "It's okay, Mom. I'll just apply some cold water to it tonight."

Song Zhi said in a firm tone, "It's not up to you to decide whether you're okay, uncle. I'll ask Doctor Zheng to come and feel your bones to see if they're dislocated."

"If the hand bones are damaged, not only will my movement be hampered in the future, but it will also be extremely difficult to recover. If they really grow crooked, I will have to break them and reconnect them in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wu and Mrs. Yang shuddered. Without waiting for Song Youshan's approval, Mrs. Wu immediately made the decision, "Azhi, then you should ask Doctor Zheng to come and feel your uncle's bones. If there are any problems, we can find them in time."

After this little incident, when Song Zhi proposed hiring someone again, Wu was no longer so opposed.

Song Zhi continued, "It just so happens that I'm making Jinyu Cakes, and I'm really too busy to handle it all by myself. I need your help. You work in the fields during the day, so how can you have the energy to work at night?"

"I think we could just use the profits from selling cakes and hire people to come back and help with the summer harvest. That way, we can both do cake business and harvest at the same time, wouldn't that be great?"

"It's the busy farming season now, so it might not be easy to find a temporary worker. Even if you find one, the price will probably be high." Mrs. Wu said hesitantly.

Song Zhi had already made up her mind, "Grandma, you don't have to worry about this. Not everyone living in the city has land, so there are always those who don't have land and are struggling."

"As long as we offer a reasonable price and provide lunch, I think there will be people willing to do the work."

So the matter was settled.

When we went to the county town the next day, all the ox carts going to the county town had stopped because it was the busy farming season.

Song Zhi had no choice but to walk to the county town.

After delivering the pastries to Wei Yue Fang, Song Zhi did not stay for long. She left the pastry shop and went straight to the west of the city to find work.

A large number of civilians live in the west of the city, including some very poor people. They usually make a living by carrying goods for passing merchants or doing various porterage jobs.

Song Zhi shuttled through the streets and alleys in the west of the city, and from time to time asked passers-by where she could find labor.

After some inquiries, she finally arrived at the entrance of a narrow but bustling alley, where laborers from the west of the city often gathered to wait for their employers.

However, the scene today is quite different from usual. At the entrance of the alley, there are only a few children playing and fighting carefreely, but no trace of the coolies waiting for work in the past.

Song Zhi had some guesses in her mind that these laborers might have returned home to harvest or been hired as temporary workers.

But there was no one here, which was something Song Zhi had not expected.

But since she's already here, Song Zhi definitely doesn't plan to go back like this.

She looked around, her eyes finally landing on the children playing, and an idea came to her mind.

She waved to the children and asked gently, "Would your mothers or aunts be willing to do some odd jobs? I have a job here and I'd like to ask them for help."

One of the boys, a skinny boy about seven or eight years old, wearing a patched jacket, was the first to ask, "Sister, are you really willing to hire my mother and the others to do some work?"

Although this era was not as conservative and feudal as later generations, people generally never considered women when hiring temporary workers.

Firstly, women are less strong and do not have as many advantages as men in many physical tasks.

Secondly, traditional concepts are still deeply rooted in some corners, believing that women should focus on family affairs, and going out to work, especially physical labor, is considered to be inconsistent with the "weak" image of women.

It is under this kind of prejudice and discrimination that employers often unconsciously tend to prefer men when making choices, believing that they are more reliable and efficient.

Although this perception is often based on stereotypes rather than actual ability assessments.

However, Song Zhi, who had been influenced by the idea that "women can actually hold up half the sky", would not underestimate the power of women.

She nodded without hesitation, "Yes, does your family want to come?"

I have seen men hired as temporary workers, but I have never seen women hired as temporary workers.

The other children playing nearby asked curiously, "What kind of work is that, sister? How much can you earn for a day's work?"

Song Zhi thought about the hard work of farming and the lack of temporary workers at the moment, so she made an offer: "Come to my house and help with farm work. The wages are 20 cents a day, and a meal is included. How about it?"

"If anyone in your family is willing to go, please go home and tell me. I'll be waiting here."

"Oh, by the way, my home is in Xiaohezi Village. It only takes a little over an hour to walk from the county town to my home, so it's not far!"

The children playing in this alley were not born in wealthy families, and they have tasted the hardships of life at an early age.

When the children heard Song Zhi offer twenty cents a day, their eyes lit up with joy.

One child asked again, unsure, "Is it really twenty cents a day? That's more than what my dad earned working for Landlord Chen. They only earned eighteen cents a day!"

In order to hire someone, Song Zhi promised again: "Of course it's true, and the wages will be paid immediately. As long as you are willing to help, you can get your wages by tonight!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the children did not hesitate and ran home like a swarm of bees.

Some of those who were halfway there worried that Song Zhi had left, and they stopped to shout at her, "Sister, wait for us, don't leave!"

Song Zhi also nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, I'll be waiting here."

The children then hurried home, fearing that if they were too late, the good thing would be gone.