Divorcing your wife might feel good for a moment, but seeing me make money will make you regret it f

Upon hearing that a job had been offered, the crowd surged toward Xu Qing, each voice louder than the last.

"Madam, I am strong, just give me a dark-colored steamed bun for lunch."

"Madam, I don't want steamed buns, just a bowl of wild vegetable porridge will do. Please treat me."

"Madam! I can bring my own food!"

Xu Qing's lips twitched. Is it really that hard to find work these days? The competition is even fiercer than when she graduated from university and was looking for a job.

In the end, Xu Qing selected 20 men who looked slightly stronger.

“The oxcart might not be able to hold so many people, you’ll have to walk. My home is in Xujia Village, is that alright?”

"Row!"

The resounding response from 20 people was deafening.

They were all from the villages most severely affected by the disaster. It was already difficult enough for them to find work and earn some money, so they wouldn't be picky.

Xu Qing led 20 people back to Xujia Village in a grand procession.

She asked Xu Gong to drive the oxcart to pick up Lao Shi, as they were preparing to start work that afternoon.

When Wen saw that her daughter had brought all the workers back, she hurriedly prepared the grain measure and sacrificial offerings, which would be needed for the groundbreaking ceremony.

It was already noon, and there wasn't enough time to cook for 20 people.

Xu Qing bought 40 pre-made steamed buns in the mall, steamed them, then cracked 20 eggs to make scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and cooked a large pot of cabbage and tofu soup with a large spoonful of lard. A layer of oil floated on the surface of the soup.

When the food was served, everyone's eyes widened.

In their eagerness to get work, they had all agreed to bring their own food. They never expected the employer to give them steamed buns and eggs!

Xu Qing urged everyone, "Hurry up and eat. You'll have the energy to work when you're full. Use this wooden plate to hold the steamed buns and vegetables. You can get the soup after you've finished eating."

We didn't have enough bowls at home, but luckily the wooden plates provided by the roujiamo vendor could also be used as plates.

The strongest man in the crowd stepped forward and organized everyone to line up for food.

Two steamed buns and two spoonfuls of scrambled eggs with tomatoes for each person.

Xu Qing glanced at the man and thought to herself that he was a good person with leadership qualities.

Someone ate one bun, then secretly put the other one into their pocket and took it home for their child.

Some people brought their own dry food, and carefully put away all the steamed buns.

Xu Qing didn't stop them. She provided the food, and how they disposed of it was their right, as long as it didn't interfere with their work.

After they finished eating, Xu Qing and Wen Shi led them to the foot of the mountain, to the place where they planned to build a house.

Old Shi has already drawn the lines; we just need to dig according to the lines.

Wen placed the grain container on the ground, along with some fruit for making jelly, lit incense and candles, burned mulberry smoke, and offered sacrifices to the Earth God and the Dragon God.

After muttering incantations and completing these tasks, the group began to dig the foundation.

Xu Qing was working diligently when the villagers heard the commotion and came to watch. Some of them were indignant to see that Xu Qing had managed to hire someone.

"Isn't this just letting people from other villages benefit for nothing?"

"Why not wait until after the autumn harvest to build the house? That way we'll have time to work and earn some money."

"What are you thinking? Just wait and see. The Xu family has made some money from their business, but she's hiring so many workers, which costs 600 coins a day. Where is she going to come up with that much money?"

"Maybe all these people are just working for nothing."

Thinking of this, the villagers felt a little better.

Some workers who lived near the villagers of Xujia Village felt a little uneasy after hearing what they said.

They're being fed such a good lunch, could it be that they're just trying to avoid paying them? In the past, when they worked elsewhere, the employers would at most give them a bowl of thick vegetable porridge.

With Old Shi supervising the work, Xu Qing, Xu Jian, and others went up the mountain to collect jade, and also to look for trees that could be used as roof beams.

Seeing that some workers were being persuaded, Old Shi loudly retorted, "The master is not that kind of person. As long as we work hard, the master will definitely not delay our wages."

The villagers said sarcastically, "You're the foreman she hired, of course you'll speak up for her."

"If she were truly wealthy, the Shi family wouldn't be willing to divorce her even if she couldn't bear a son."

Old Shi blushed. He didn't know how to refute these words, so he could only keep saying that Xu Qing wasn't that kind of person.

People work to earn money, but now that they think they might not get paid for their work, more and more people are wavering.

The strongest man among the workers stepped forward and said, "What are you thinking? We ate so well at noon, it's worth it even if we work for free for half a day. Let's get to work and see if we get paid tonight."

The workers quieted down and buried themselves in their work, ashamed.

……

County government.

After Xu Qing left, the county magistrate immediately sent people to each village to summon the village chiefs to the yamen.

The course begins on rice disease management.

They also bought a batch of medicinal herbs that were needed and distributed them free of charge to the village chiefs so that they could take them back and use them in their villages.

When the topic of the taro came up, the magistrate, to be on the safe side, only said that he already knew how to eat it.

He will make a batch tomorrow and send it to various villages, then he will teach them how to process the taro.

The village chiefs returned home in high spirits with these two pieces of good news.

The magistrate returned home exhausted, and his wife snorted and smashed a teacup at his feet.

"You still have the nerve to come back? What right do you have to arrest my people? Give that bitch her her permanent stall. She even kidnapped my son, and instead of arresting her, you're grateful to her? I think you're getting more and more backward!"

The magistrate rubbed his throbbing forehead. His wife, originally a lady from a prominent family in the capital, remained devoted to him even after learning that he would be transferred to this godforsaken town.

He was very grateful, but it was just his personality that made people feel a little uncomfortable.

"Is this your excuse for settling personal scores? You saw it yourself, Chenggong stayed at her house and didn't want to come back. Why is that? Isn't it because we parents have failed us too much?"

Moreover, Chenggong has become much more sensible since he came back this time. He helped me teach the villagers how to brew Chinese medicine and worked hard without complaint. When has he ever done anything like this before?

Moreover, Xu Qing has helped me solve such a big problem this time, which has improved my political performance. There may even be hope for promotion and transfer back to the capital.

We should be thanking them! I think you're the one who's regressing as you get older.

The magistrate's wife was originally jealous of her son, but after hearing the magistrate sing praises of Xu Qing, she immediately became jealous of her husband.

She said sarcastically, "I heard she was dumped by her husband and is now single. She's so great, why don't you marry her?"

"You like her, and I like her too, so I'll make room for her and let you two be together!"

The magistrate was helpless with his wife and could only coax her, "What nonsense are you talking about? I haven't even taken a concubine all these years. Don't you know my feelings? I'm just simply thanking her."

The magistrate's wife was pleased, and the matter was dropped.

It's tough on the yamen runners who collect stall fees in the jail, who are still waiting for the magistrate's wife to back them up and make decisions for them...