Stepmother in charge: Making a fortune through farming and raising her children to fight back

The official hurried back to the courtyard and immediately reported what had just happened: "Sir, I just tried to invite her over with kind words, but she looked down on you. I didn't do anything to her, but she inexplicably vomited a large mouthful of blood. It looks quite serious. Perhaps it's a congenital disease. I don't know if she can survive... Sir, this incident has been witnessed by many people. This person has a good reputation here. If it gets out, I'm afraid it will be bad for you..."

Lord Liu sighed with a slight regret. He had always liked beautiful girls, but this was the first time he had such inappropriate thoughts about a widow. He didn't expect that her health was so poor. It was really bad luck for her.

As for the reputation that the official mentioned, he didn't care much about it. The Liu Jia family was like a towering tree, and it was impossible for these lowly people to shake it.

He could only put Pang's thoughts aside for the time being and instructed the officer, "Since she's unlucky, then forget about it. Go find them something to do so they don't have time to discuss these things. Spread the word now! We're hiring workers here at the Salt Lake. Anyone with some strength or skills can sign up. Ordinary workers will get 20 wen a day, and skilled workers 30 wen a day. We'll pay you the same day!"

The official took the order and quickly drafted a notice. There were many types of workers that needed to be recruited. The most were ordinary workers who did hard labor. The next ones had to be skilled in refining technology, carpenters who could repair roads and build houses, etc. The first quota for recruiting was a full one hundred people.

This is the number of people needed in the initial stage. Once we are on the right track, we will have to expand enrollment.

The official was waiting under the notice with a full heart and eyes. He wanted to wait for those unruly people to come and register, and then humiliate them severely to see if they dared to go against the government again.

But the notice had been posted for a whole day. He waited from dawn to dusk, and many people passed by, but no one came to sign up.

There are even some impatient men who would spit in this direction and speak with disdain when passing by.

"This official is so stingy with wages! Skilled workers only get thirty coins a day, while the wages of ordinary workers in Sister Yun's workshop have been raised to thirty coins a day. They are so stingy. Whoever wants to go can go."

"That's right. My son has learned quite a few words in school. He told me everything on the notice. It says there are a lot of requirements. He has to go to work before dawn every day, and he has to squeeze in his meal time. He can't go home until dark. That's six or seven hours a day. They really treat people like animals. Even animals need time to rest."

"Okay, let's not talk too much. Just don't do this kind of work. Don't let the officer hear us. He might beat us up for no reason. It's really disgusting."

"That's right. I have to go back and tell my neighbors about this. Tell them to be careful and not get scammed."

"..."

Of course, some people were tempted to go, especially those who were not in the yarn workshop or on patrol, and who did not have any skills to make a living. They were still tempted by the wages.

But when I think about what those people did a few days ago, I secretly despise them in my heart. After all, this group of officers and soldiers have incurred public anger. No one else will go, but if they go, they will be drowned in the spit of the people around them.

After all, we are all from the same village. No matter how much immediate benefits there are, we should advance and retreat together with the whole village so that we can work together as a team.

then.

A strange scene appeared in Qinjia Village. People from the entire village took hoes to work in the fields every day. They had begun preparing for spring plowing.

Spring plowing usually starts in February. Now, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the villagers have already started weeding, loosening the soil and applying fertilizer in the fields in preparation for later.

The notice was posted for two days, but still no one came to sign up.

The official went from being complacent at first to feeling vaguely anxious now. He could no longer sit still and had to go back to report to Lord Liu.

"Sir, these lowly people are simply lawless. They don't even look down on our wages." The official reported to Lord Liu cautiously, fearing to anger him. "I went to inquire about it. It is said that in this village, Ruyi'an has opened his own woolen workshop. Many villagers work there. They only need to go for four hours a day and earn 900 coins a month. They also have four days off and are paid for their rest time. In comparison, our wages are indeed inferior. You see..."

Lord Liu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Oh, this Ruyi'an is quite interesting. She actually opened a workshop in this poor place and can still pay such high wages. I guess she is doing a profitable business... Come here. Hasn't she been in poor health recently? How is she now?"

"Xiaodao also consulted the doctor. He was told that it was due to anger and a relapse of an old injury. I'm afraid he won't live long."

"Tsk, what a country bumpkin who's never seen the world! She's so devastated by such a small incident that she's already bedridden." Lord Liu's eyes didn't conceal his disdain at all. "This is our chance. Find a way to prevent her from getting well. Then, you can take over this workshop naturally. Then, we'll have a firm grip on this lucrative business."

When he came here from Kyoto, he also visited the homes of many dignitaries and had seen the blankets they made. It was said that they were created by the Ruyi'an people. A small blanket could be sold for ten taels of silver. The profit was really enviable.

"I also heard that this Ruyi'an family has a lot of small animals at home." Lord Liu sneered, "Especially, he has a dog and a wolf at home. I have lived for so many years and have never tasted such fresh game. Later, you take a few people and catch those two little guys to satisfy my craving."

The officer nodded and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and turned back: "Sir...what should we do about the recruitment of workers?"

"Oh, since you don't appreciate the money, then just bring them here by force." Lord Liu played with the jade pendant in his hand, with a look of amusement on his face. "The government has a lot of corvée quotas every year. I think it's a waste if they don't use them. Since they don't want the money, then let them all work for me for free. They really don't accept the toast and then drink the forfeit. I will oblige these unruly people..."

"Your Excellency is wise. This is a stroke of genius. I'll do it right away." The official flattered him. "Once I've caught some wolf meat for you to satisfy your craving, I'll handle the rest right away. Maybe I can even get that Ruyi'an to personally cook you a stew of wolf meat as an apology."