Chapter 115: The Hiring

After weighing, the batch of mushrooms at the back totaled as much as 225 jin. Qin Huiyin still bought them at the price of one wen per jin. As for how Xiang Chuntao and Wang Juying explained things to the other sisters-in-law, that was their own business.

Xiang Chuntao and Wang Juying took the money and left with endless gratitude.

Li Taohua remarked from the side, “They should be able to get themselves a warm set of clothes this year.”

“Mother, I don’t care about others; as for you, you only need to be responsible for looking beautiful forever,” Qin Huiyin said, holding Li Taohua’s arm.

Li Taohua’s smile was radiant, like peach blossoms blooming all over the hills. Her name suited her well—she was as beautiful and vibrant as her name suggested, living boldly and freely.

“By the way, I told Aunt Yu that we’re willing to buy her house. She asked when we could go to complete the transfer, which has to be done at the village chief’s office,” Li Taohua said. “When should we go?”

“Let’s first deliver this batch of goods. After the delivery, we’ll come back in the afternoon to handle the transfer,” Qin Huiyin replied. “Mother, what do you think of those two sisters-in-law? Should we invite them to work for us next time?”

“I think that’s a good idea. After observing them for a while, their families seem quite reliable. Both the men and women can keep secrets and know how to be grateful,” Li Taohua said.

“There’s too much going on now. It’s impossible to keep this pace—no time even to catch our breath. We should give the tasks that don’t require skill to others. Like washing mushrooms, washing soybeans, and making vermicelli... Later when Brother Song and Brother Zhang come back, we still have to clean those crabs. No, the more I think about it, the more I feel we should definitely hire some help. I don’t want to make money and then have nothing to spend it on,” Qin Huiyin said.

“Pah, may you have great fortune; children speak without fear. Work is never done, and money is never enough. If you can hire help, then by all means, do so,” Li Taohua said, poking Qin Huiyin’s forehead gently.

In the afternoon, Song Tieniu and Zhang Jieba returned, driving a cart full of crabs.

Qin Huiyin saw so many crabs, even larger than she had imagined, and gave Song Tieniu and Zhang Jieba a thumbs-up.

“Are these the ones you wanted?” Song Tieniu asked.

“Yes, exactly what I wanted. Brother Song, Brother Zhang, you’re so clever to think of tying them up with straw leaves,” Qin Huiyin said.

“These pinchers hurt like hell; we don’t want to be pinched. Sister Huiyin, please count them,” Song Tieniu said.

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“Brother Song, Brother Zhang, I want to discuss something with you,” Qin Huiyin said. “Don’t unload the goods just yet. I’d like you to help wash them clean first, and I’ll pay you thirty wen for labor. How does that sound?”

“Sure, no problem,” Song Tieniu agreed immediately. “So, we haul them away first, and then deliver them after washing?”

“I’ll show you how to wash them,” Qin Huiyin said, taking a pot scrubber from the kitchen and demonstrating where to scrub. “Also, we have too many tasks here. We want to hire a few temporary workers at fifty wen a day. Could you ask your wives if anyone wants to come help?”

“Can we do it?” Song Tieniu gestured towards himself and Zhang Jieba.

“Yes. We need to wash these clay pots, cook the crabs and soybeans, and handle other miscellaneous chores. If your two families, four people total, come, that should be enough.”

“Come tomorrow?”

“Yes, early tomorrow morning.”

“Then we’ll start washing the crabs,” Song Tieniu and Zhang Jieba said, pulling the cart loaded with crabs away.

Tang Luwu and Tang Yi smiled as they approached. “Should we wash the mushrooms ourselves?”

“There are so many mushrooms, and they need to be carried to the well to wash. Our well isn’t ready yet and won’t be for some time. There are three hundred jin in total, so let’s have them wash it!” Qin Huiyin said.

“That’s fifty wen per person, two hundred wen for four people,” Tang Yi calculated with a smile, feeling the sting of the expense. “We bought a lot of goods today; it cost quite a bit.”

Qin Huiyin pinched Tang Yi’s cheek. “You’re really a money magnet—you only take in and never let out!”

“What’s a money magnet?”

“It’s a mythical beast that feeds on gold and silver treasures, with no rear end—money only comes in and never goes out. Calling you a money magnet means you’re a money lover.”

“Well, I like that beast. From now on, I’ll be a money magnet.”

“A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it properly. Don’t lose yourself over money,” Qin Huiyin said. “To keep you grounded, you’ll be the one paying later.”

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Song Tieniu and Zhang Jieba worked quickly, finishing washing the entire cart of crabs in less than an hour.

Counting by size, there were 1,320 crabs priced at one wen for five, totaling 264 wen. There were 170 larger crabs priced at one wen for three, totaling 57 wen. The smaller ones were fewer since Song Tieniu and Zhang Jieba released the very small ones back into the river; those were counted at one wen for ten, totaling 30 wen. Altogether, the crabs cost 351 wen. Adding the previously promised 30 wen labor fee, the total came to 381 wen.

Tang Yi handed over the strung copper coins.

“Thank you both for your hard work,” he said.

“Sister Huiyin, thank you for giving us the chance to earn,” Song Tieniu said, returning the thirty wen. “Forget the washing fee. To be honest, we made a little profit in the middle,” he added, scratching his head shyly.

“That’s what you should earn. I said I wouldn’t interfere. The washing fee was promised beforehand. With so many crabs, you scrubbed each one many times. If you don’t make money, who will? Alright, you’ve worked hard all day. Go home early and have a good meal with your wives. And remember to come early tomorrow,” Qin Huiyin said.

The two men didn’t decline further and expressed their thanks repeatedly before driving away with the cart.

Li Taohua looked around at the yard full of goods and pressed her fingers to her forehead. “Daughter, there’s too much stuff here; it’s giving me a headache.”

“Mother, it’s just that our yard is too small. If we had a big yard, all this wouldn’t take up much space. That’s why building a house needs to be put on the agenda quickly,” Qin Huiyin said.

“We need one hundred jars of mushroom and minced meat sauce. Should we wash the mushrooms first?” Tang Luwu asked.

“No rush on the mushrooms. Let them wash them first thing tomorrow morning, then we’ll focus on making the mushroom sauce in the morning. In the afternoon, we’ll cook the crabs and extract the crab roe, but don’t finish it all at once. The crabs are still alive and can be kept for a few days. We’ll start with ten jars and make the rest later. As for the soybeans, pick them out tonight and soak them in clean water because making fermented black beans takes time. Luckily, we still have some fermented black beans left from before; otherwise, it would be impossible to make them last minute. This batch will take half a month to mature. Tonight, we focus on this first,” Qin Huiyin outlined the plan.