SLH | Chapter 63

The Liu Family Wants to Hire Workers

“Father, Mother, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, you guys are overthinking it. Half of this money is the deposit from Manager Pan.”

Song Tingzhu explained the situation clearly, and only then did the family feel relieved.

Ruan Xiulian sighed, “Manager Pan is really generous, ordering two thousand jin at once. Even a well-doing business like Sifang Zhai might not sell that much in a year or so.”

Song Tingzhu laughed and said, “Two thousand jin is still not much. The Pan family has many shops, and when divided among them, it’s not a lot. Plus, our family has limited energy and can’t make that much wine, so we only ordered two thousand jin. Once the business stabilizes, we’ll have to expand the workforce and build the distillery.”

Tang Chunxing quickly asked, “Brother-in-law, how many people do you plan to hire? Can you hire my big brother too? Don’t worry, my big brother is an honest person and won’t slack off.”

Being accustomed to poverty, naturally, when there’s a way to earn money, you think of your family. Ruan Xiulian didn’t say anything and even helped to speak well of him. “The Tang family boy is indeed a good one, and their family is also living tightly. Now that we have the ability, we should help if we can.”

Song Tingzhu said, “Even if Mother and Sister-in-law didn’t mention it, I would have brought it up. The method of brewing is extremely important, and workers entering the distillery must be strictly selected. Outsiders can’t understand, but we know our family’s temperament best. At that time, we can call Uncle Ruan, Big Brother Tang, and Brother Tian, and hire some others with good character for miscellaneous tasks.”

“Woman and husband?” Ruan Xiulian asked.

“As long as they have a good character, anyone can work at the distillery, regardless of gender.”

“That’s great. Your Aunt Zhao and Aunt Yang are both quick with their hands and feet, and they work just as well as men.”

Song Tingzhu nodded in agreement and thoughtfully said, “Besides the two thousand jin ordered by the Pan family, we also need to brew more for ourselves. It might not be enough just to collect grain from the neighboring village, so it will be hard on my husband and Big Brother to go further and collect more grain. The brewing method is already there, so we don’t have to wait until winter this year. We can start brewing as soon as the new grain comes in.”

Liu Dasheng said, “Three thousand jin of wine, our courtyard is not big enough to handle that.”

“Father is right. The money we have will cover three to four parts of the cost of buying grain for wine. After distributing the dividends to each family, the rest is just enough to build three or four brick houses. My husband and I are thinking of building two houses first for emergencies, and then expanding the distillery when we have more money. I wonder if Father, Mother, Big Brother, and Sister-in-law agree with this plan?”

Xia Ge’er was listening drowsily, and Ruan Xiulian took her grandson in her arms, saying, “Why would we disagree? This money was earned by Zhu Ge’er, so he can spend it as he sees fit.”

Liu Dasheng nodded along.

Tang Chunxing also said, “Mengzi and I have no objections. You make the decisions on business matters, brother-in-law.”

Seeing the whole family trusting him so much, Song Tingzhu felt a warmth in his heart.

“The blueprint for the distillery will be ready tomorrow. Then we’ll need to trouble Big Brother to make a trip to town to find some skilled craftsmen.”

Liu Meng waved his hand, “What’s the trouble? I’ve been staying at home so long I almost have lice from idleness.”

Xia Ge’er, half-asleep and confused, heard this and thought he was dreaming, mumbling in his sleep, “Mom, there’s lice biting Xia Ge’er…”

Everyone around Song Tingzhu burst into laughter upon hearing this.

The next day, after breakfast, Liu Meng took the finished blueprint and headed to town.

Song Tingzhu and his husband went to find the village head to measure the land. The villagers were all surprised to hear that the Liu family was going to build a distillery.

“The Liu family really made a fortune. Just yesterday someone came to cooperate on selling wine, and today they’re already planning to build a distillery.”

“Who says they aren’t? The Liu family is really lucky, marrying a money-making god of wealth into the family.”

“Auntie, you didn’t say that before. When Zhu Ge’er first got married, you all were predicting that the Liu family would soon turn a red event into a white one. Why are you changing your tune now? Are you trying to curry favor with the Liu family for some benefits?”

“We never said that. It’s clearly you, Pan Qiaozui, who has a grudge with the Liu family. Don’t drag others into it.”

A few women and husbands, standing a bit further away, turned around the big banyan tree in the village and started talking about the Liu family hiring workers.

“From what Sister Xiulian said, their distillery is only hiring quick hands. Whether it’s women, men, or young men, as long as they work diligently, they’ll hire them.”

“Even from other villages?”

“Yes, but the first batch is only hiring from our village. They said when the business grows, they’ll expand the distillery.”

“My goodness, the Liu family is really something. From now on, we better befriend them. If we can’t eat meat, at least we can drink some soup.”

“What soup? Sister Xiulian said it doesn’t matter if it’s men or women, the daily wage is twenty-eight copper coins, which is eight hundred and forty coins a month, more than working in town!”

With these loud voices, the news of the Liu family hiring spread throughout the village in less than half an hour. People carrying baskets and buckets, in groups of three or four, went to their door. By the end of the day, the Liu family’s doorstep was almost worn out.

At dinner, Ruan Xiulian talked about this.

“There were a lot of people coming today. I picked four or five, all diligent and quick. Zhu Ge’er, you can rest assured.”

Tang Chunxing laughed and said, “My family also agreed. They can come help with the construction tomorrow.”

Everyone at the table was smiling, except Liu Xiaomei, who was holding her chopsticks, hesitating whether to speak.

Song Tingzhu saw that she had something to say and asked, “Xiaomei, do you have something to say?”

Liu Xiaomei frowned and hesitated, asking, “Can we let Aunt Meng come work for us too?”

“Meng Yinhua?” Tang Chunxing raised her voice. “She and her husband came to our house to make trouble before, and not just once. Who can trust her to work at the distillery?”

Ruan Xiulian said, “Yes, Xiaomei, did the Qian family girl say something to you?”

Liu Xiaomei shook her head, “Sister Shuang’er didn’t say anything. It’s my own idea, Mom. Actually, Aunt Meng isn’t that bad. She’s just forced by Old Master Qian.”

Tang Chunxing didn’t believe it. “With her fiery temper, who could force her to do anything?”

Ruan Xiulian glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law, “Eldest daughter-in-law, you say less and let Xiaomei finish.”

“It’s not Sister-in-law’s fault for not believing. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it either.”

Mentioning the Qian family, the first thing everyone thought of was the fiery-tempered and mean Meng Yinhua. The villagers all believed that Meng Yinhua was in charge of the Qian family, and that even the eight-foot-tall Qian Youliang had to bow down in front of his wife.

The Liu family, having had disputes with the Qian family, naturally thought the same until Liu Xiaomei accidentally saw the scars crisscrossing Meng Yinhua’s wrists, only then realizing what kind of life her little sister was living at home.

“Old Master Qian often gets looked down upon while working in town. After being humiliated in town, he vents his anger on Aunt Meng at home. Sister Shuang’er said Old Master Qian also picked up a drinking habit, spending all the family’s money on alcohol. When Qian Yang got sick and they really had no money for treatment, Aunt Meng listened to the Niu family’s words and came to our house to ask for money.”

Ruan Xiulian sighed, “If she had grievances, why didn’t she say anything?”

Liu Xiaomei shook her head, “Sister Shuang’er said Aunt Meng is talking about divorce.”

Ruan Xiulian was shocked, “What, divorce?!”

———————–
Author’s Note: Starting tomorrow, there will be more updates. [Throwing flowers][Throwing flowers]