Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

Days passed by in busy work. After digging the fishpond, Xia Yu suddenly thought of the mulberry-dike fishponds she had seen in the south in her previous life. That kind of production method could still be used in modern times with high yields, so it must have many benefits.

After Xia Yu explained this efficient recycling concept to her parents, she received their strong support. So, a large number of mulberry trees were transplanted around the pond in preparation for raising silkworms the following year.

Those working there understood that so many mulberry trees were intended for silkworm rearing, and everyone realized that Zhang Youtie's family would need to hire more people; otherwise, they certainly couldn't finish all the work with just their few members. So, someone suggested that Zhang Youtie build a few more houses on this wasteland, otherwise, they would have to hire more people to build them later.

Meanwhile, construction began on the large garden in town. Ordinary workers were paid 25 cash a day, with lunch not provided. Many men from the village went there to find work, including Zhang Tianming. Although he earned less than the Zhang family, he reasoned that even if the Zhang family paid more, the work would only last a little over a month, while he could work for a high-ranking official in town for at least a year and a half. All things considered, he would earn more than he did with the Zhang family, which made his wife, Li Cuilan, feel much more at ease.

When talking to Zhang Tianliang's wife, she no longer felt jealous; in fact, her words carried a hint of boasting. Wang Guixiang had lived with her neighbor for several years, and since the two families shared the same father, she naturally understood what kind of person she was. She didn't argue with her and let her boast as she pleased, simply remaining silent.

Those who worked for Zhang's family appreciated the work even more after hearing the news brought back by the villagers.

As the saying goes, "He who listens to advice will eat his fill," so Zhang Youtie, following everyone's suggestions, simply built a row of north-facing, south-facing brick and tile houses, totaling more than a dozen rooms. This row of houses was located near the southernmost edge of the wasteland, with ponds surrounded by mulberry trees behind them. A considerable amount of open space was left in front of the houses; besides areas for growing vegetables, a two-meter-wide bluestone path was paved. The eastern end of the path connected to the main road in front of Zhang Youtie's courtyard, while the western end, turning past the row of houses, led to the ponds and mulberry groves behind the houses. The rest of the area was enclosed by wooden fences.

In this way, Zhang Youtie's yard is more than 100 meters away from the nearest fishpond in the east-west direction, so there will be enough space even if the yard is expanded in the future.

Everyone initially thought it would only take about a month to complete, but as more and more were added here and there, it took almost three months to clear the wasteland. Many mulberry trees were planted in areas where ponds hadn't been dug, but where and how they were planted was all planned, with pond locations reserved below. From an aerial view, the wasteland appears as circles formed by mulberry trees, some containing ponds, others just open space.

Other villagers came to wander around and found it strange to see them planting trees like this. Everyone else plants trees in rows, but here they were planted in circles. Apart from Zhang Youtie and his family of three and Uncle Ma, no one knew the answer and couldn't explain it.

With the help of Xia Yu's spatial well water, although the transplanted mulberry trees were quite large, a few drops of spatial well water were dripped under each tree, and they quickly took root lushly in this barren land. After all the work was finished that day, Zhang Youtie gathered everyone together.

"Thank you all for your hard work over the past three months. Tomorrow at noon, let's have a good time drinking and eating in the open space in my yard. We'll settle our wages afterward." Zhang Youtie stood on a stool, clasped his hands in thanks, and loudly expressed his gratitude to everyone present.

"it is good……"

"well……"

As Zhang Youtie finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted below, accompanied by cheers, shouts, and whistles. Everyone's face was filled with excitement. Even the usually silent Uncle Ma showed a happy smile, even though the wages had nothing to do with him. But seeing the design of the house by his master, he could tell that it was out of consideration for Aunt Ma's feelings. That's why the pond was placed behind the house, so Aunt Ma wouldn't have to pass by it to get in and out, making it very safe.

Zhang Youtie waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, before he could finish speaking. After finally getting everyone to quiet down, Zhang Youtie continued, "All of you brothers here, bring your parents, wives, and children tomorrow, and let's have a good time together."

Before everyone could cheer again, the village chief spoke up, "Third brother, this is going too far. The wages you pay are already three copper coins higher than in town, and the lunch you provide includes meat and eggs, so it's already added up quite a bit. We all know you want to thank everyone, so it's enough for us men to have a good time together. If your wife, kids, parents and all come, it'll be dozens of tables."

The previously excited crowd instantly calmed down upon hearing the village chief's words. Indeed, the village chief was right. Zhang Youtie's family already paid high wages, and their meals included meat every day. Inviting the families of these dozens of people would be quite expensive. Zhang Youtie was a kind and righteous man; they couldn't be ignorant of social etiquette.

Everyone understood what was going on, so one of them said from the crowd, "Third Brother, just treat us guys to a good time, don't invite the women from your families. If the wives come, it won't be convenient for us men to talk, right?"

"It's just... it won't be convenient for us to talk then, haha... haha."

"Yes, when my wife comes over, she'll stop me from drinking. So we won't be able to drink or eat to our heart's content."

"Third Brother, just prepare the wine and food. We brothers won't leave until we're drunk. It would be a hassle if the women came."

Everyone chimed in, trying to dissuade Zhang Youtie from bringing his wife over, saying it would delay the drinking. Zhang Youtie knew they were just trying to save him money. Finally, the village chief made the final decision: Zhang Youtie should prepare plenty of good food and wine so his brothers could drink to their hearts' content the next day. His wife and children wouldn't come, as everyone had work to do. Once the matter was settled, everyone went home, having told their families what had happened.

That evening, Liu went to the village chief's house and invited his wife and two daughters-in-law to come to her house early the next morning to help prepare a meal. The village chief's wife and daughters-in-law readily agreed. To be honest, in the village, if someone asks you to help prepare a meal when they have something to do, it means that the two families are close, and it also means that you are a clean, efficient, and good cook. After all, who would want to eat food cooked by a slovenly person? This is also a recognition of a woman's ability in the village, so everyone who receives the invitation is happy to accept.

After the village chief's wife and the others agreed, Liu asked who else would come to help. The village chief's wife had lived there for decades and knew everyone's situation very well. She immediately led Liu to several people's homes and invited the women to help at Liu's house the next day. These women were all working for Zhang Youtie's family. Besides Li Xiaomiao and Tian Guihua, who were already helping, the village chief's wife and her two daughters-in-law, Liu invited four more people to help the next day.

Of course, some weren't invited. Lying on the kang (heated brick bed) that night, they complained to their husbands that Liu Shi looked down on them. She'd just gone next door to invite Li Gensheng's wife, but she hadn't even told her to come. The husband, having worked all day, was finally able to lie down and wanted to sleep, but his wife was buzzing in his ear like a mosquito. Annoyed, he sat up, and his hand grabbed something. Holding it up in the moonlight, he saw it was his pants from the day before, emitting a foul, rancid smell. He angrily yelled...

"You want me to go? Can you even eat the food you cooked? These pants were taken off yesterday and left on the kang all day, why didn't you wash them? I've never seen such a lazy woman. Get yourself cleaned up first. And don't go around spouting nonsense. If you say anything bad, I won't call you next time Third Brother has chores, and I'll beat you up!" After yelling, he turned his back to the woman and lay down to sleep.

Seeing that the man was truly angry, the woman dared not speak again and lay down beside him, looking aggrieved. She casually tossed the pants he had thrown on her onto the floor, where they continued to reek.