My humble days in ancient times

Xu Ruyi asked, "How has Big Brother been doing lately?"

"It's pretty good. We've opened two in the city and two in the next county. I think the business is pretty good."

Xu Ruyi nodded. Now Meng Xiaotian, Meng Xiaole, Wang Xiaoqing and Yang Mingxuan each had a shop.

Jiang Jingchen and Zhou Yifan continued to follow Xu Qinghe.

Xu Qinghe took out the peppers he had picked, examined them carefully, and said, "Not bad, they're growing quite well."

Xu Ruyi came over to take a look, then nodded.

Afterwards, Xu Ruyi hired five women from the village to pick the fruits.

Xu Ruyi said to Zhou seriously, "Aunt, please help me keep an eye on it. If someone picks the flowers too roughly and damages the branches and flowers, that's not allowed."

Zhou nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, we are all women, we all understand a little bit. If someone does something intentionally, I don't want her anymore."

Xu Ruyi nodded with confidence: "I'll leave it all to Aunt Zhou."

In the chili pepper field, Widow Wang was picking peppers skillfully while excitedly saying, "I never thought I could earn money now. Thirty cents a day, much better than transplanting rice seedlings."

Mrs. Zhou smiled and continued, "Yes, I have to thank Miss Xu a lot! No wonder you didn't come when we were planting rice. You didn't want to come!"

Mrs. Liu and Aunt Pang also looked happy, and they didn't even bother to wipe the sweat from their foreheads as it slid down their cheeks.

Zhang San's wife even raised the corners of her mouth and smiled, as if she had already seen the money waving to her.

Widow Wang said enthusiastically, "I'm not good at transplanting rice, but I can do this job well. Let me tell you, from now on, I'll take care of this job. No one else can take it away from me."

"Yes, yes, no one else can snatch it away." Zhou said with a smile, without stopping her hands.

Five people wearing straw hats were busy picking peppers in the field. After picking, the peppers were neatly placed in baskets, and Du Lei would send someone to take them away in time.

Under Du Lei's meticulous management, Ruyi Chili Shop thrived. To expand production, he recruited five more people from the village to work there.

They are Xu Shi, Xu Baolin, Zhang San, Da Niu and Da Hu.

However, they only do some unskilled work such as carrying materials and cleaning tools. The proportions and key steps in making the chili sauce are still strictly controlled by Du Lei's family.

When Xu Shi and Da Hu saw Huang Guiyun's portrait, a look of shock instantly appeared on their faces, and their eyes were full of surprise and astonishment.

Du Lei asked Xu Ruyi with some concern: "Is this inappropriate?"

Xu Ruyi nodded slightly and said, "Take it down and don't hang it in the living room. We have to consider everyone's face."

Du Lei nodded in agreement: "That's good."

Then Du Lei asked again: "How much are their wages?"

Xu Ruyi lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Xu Shi, Zhang San, and Xu Baolin will all get the same salary, 800 Wen a month, and Daniu and Dahu 500 Wen!"

After hearing this, Du Lei nodded again and said, "Well, this arrangement is quite reasonable."

After returning, Du Lei quickly removed the image. Xu Shi understood the reason as clearly as a mirror, but he acted as if nothing had happened, maintaining his composure and saying nothing.

That year, the village was bustling with activity, as many villagers built large, blue-brick, tiled houses. First came Zhuzi's family, their brand-new tiled house gleaming in the sun, a truly magnificent sight. Then came Wang Youcai's, whose house, with its carved beams and painted rafters, drew everyone's attention. Then came the Liu family, whose newly built house was spacious and bright, a sight to behold.

Liu's husband Xu Dagui has been helping Xu Ruyi's family, whether it is moving bricks and tiles when building the chili shop, wielding a hoe when clearing wasteland, mixing mud and building walls when building a large courtyard, carefully building a chicken coop, or working hard when clearing wasteland, or bending over busy when planting rice, he has never missed a day.

Later, when he saw Da Niu and Da Hu going to work, he hurriedly asked Da Gao and Dapang to go to work.

This made Liu feel proud for once, and she walked around the village with her head held high. But Huang Guiyun was furious, and she was sullen every day at home, dissatisfied with everything.

When Xu Shi saw that the Chili Shop was hiring, he immediately ran over excitedly with Da Hu.

When Liu saw this situation, she immediately bought a hundred chickens and then bought five pigs.

Liu said to Xu Dafu, "Since there's no work for the time being, let's raise some chickens and pigs first!"

Xu Dafu nodded repeatedly and said, "Very good."

The villagers are busy again. One family is building a house while another is putting up the beams of a building. The sounds of hammering and banging are heard one after another, and it is very lively.

Now Tian Yuhe could no longer sit still.

Tian Yuhe said to Xu Dachuan, "When can we build a house?"

Xu Dachuan, however, looked nonchalant and said casually, "Just build it when you have money!"

Seeing him not being anxious, Tian Yuhe suddenly became angry: "Others are already building houses, aren't you anxious?"

"I don't envy others. Besides, building a house requires money. Where is the money?" Xu Dachuan said with a frown.

Tian Yuhe suddenly became angry and raised her voice, saying, "This thatched house is too cold in the winter. Now that we have Dachun, even if the two adults can be more comfortable with the cold, what about Dachun?"

Xu Dachuan was moved by what he said, so he said, "Who doesn't want to live in a good house? But don't you have money right now?"

Tian Yuhe suddenly perked up, and said with shining eyes: "No, let's go and borrow some."

"But building a house will cost at least fifty taels! First build three main rooms, then build three west wing rooms, and then build a big wall. Everyone in the village builds like this, so we can't fall behind." Xu Dachuan thought.

"That's right, we can't lose the upper hand." Tian Yuhe agreed with Xu Dachuan firmly.

"But fifty taels is not a small amount. I'm embarrassed to ask for it." Xu Dachuan suddenly lost his temper and said with a sad face.

Tian Yuhe came over and said, "The villagers won't lend so much, but we can lend to a few more families."

"No, this is not good. How can I not have money? I have to borrow money from others to build the house." Xu Dachuan shook his head repeatedly. He felt that it was unreliable just thinking about it.

Tian Yuhe was a little unhappy, his face darkened and he said, "Why not? No, you should ask your parents to borrow it first."

Xu Dachuan remained unmoved and still insisted on his own ideas.

In a fit of anger, Tian Yuhe turned around and quickly went to Li's house to borrow money.

Mrs. Li was busy washing dishes and pots in the kitchen.

Tian Yuhe rushed into the house in a hurry, bringing up a gust of wind.

Li turned her head and saw that her face was gloomy and not very pretty, so she hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with Dachuan?"

Tian Yuhe shook his head gloomily.

"What's the matter? Just tell me what's going on. Don't keep it in your heart." Li stopped what she was doing and looked at her with concern.

Tian Yuhe hesitated for a moment, "Well, several families in the village have built houses recently, and I was wondering if Dachuan and I should build one too."

Mrs. Li listened and smiled gently, "This is a matter between you two. You don't need my consent. But do you have the money?"

Tian Yuhe shook his head in frustration.

Li understood a little, so she asked tentatively, "Did you come here just to borrow some money?"

Tian Yuhe bit her lip and nodded shamelessly.

Li smiled tolerantly and said, "I can lend you some. But only ten taels. You can figure out the rest yourself." After that, Li quickly turned around and went into the house. After a while, she brought out ten taels of silver and handed them to Tian Yuhe.

Tian Yuhe took the silver, but there was not much joy on her face. She frowned slightly, and still felt it was too little.