When the Wang couple heard this joyous news for their family, they couldn't help but feel elated.
"This … is this true?" They only had to take care of five mu of new land, and they could earn three taels of silver a year. After the autumn harvest, they could even earn ten percent of the harvest.
Where else could they find such a good deal?
"Since I've come to tell you, it's naturally true." Su Shuiche nodded with a smile.
The Wang family was famous in Blossom Town for being a farmer. Their family of six, the two elders, the eldest son and his wife, and the youngest son and daughter, all knew how to farm. Apart from their own three mu of fertile farmland, they should be able to take care of the new five mu of land that the monastery had just opened up. That shouldn't be a problem.
"Thank you!
Thank you, Madam!
Thank you, Madam! "Mrs. Wang couldn't help but wipe the corners of her eyes.
Over the past three years, he had seen the other neighbors, with the support of the main family, start small businesses and prosper. Those who did carpentry had endless orders. Those who farmed at home also had channels to sell their vegetables. Only their family relied on a few acres of land for a living. Their vegetables couldn't be sold at a good price, but they couldn't do anything if they were asked to give up farming and do something else.
Now that the main family had come to them to take care of the five mu of new land, how could they not be overjoyed?
Three taels of silver a year was more than enough to support their family of five.
The remaining grain and vegetables could be sold back and forth, and it would all be surplus.
If they took care of it well, the main family would let them take care of it every year, and their savings would increase.
Their youngest son wouldn't have to worry about finding a wife.
"I should be the one thanking you.
The main family doesn't have enough manpower and energy, so I'm very relieved to entrust you to take care of it. "Su Shuiche said with a smile.
She then took out two taels of silver, "It's not that I'm worried, but the main family has its own rules. These two taels are the deposit.
The remaining one tael and ten percent of the harvest will be given to you after the autumn harvest.
Is that okay? "
She had Xin Zhi hand over the contract she had drawn up in the morning to the village head for him to bear witness. The two sides could be considered to have signed the contract.
"Yes, yes, yes." The Wang couple nodded.
They pushed their husband to the village head to put their handprints on it.
She carefully took the two shiny silver taels that Su Shuiche handed to her.
She thought that the three taels of silver could only be taken after the autumn harvest. Who would have thought that she would receive it before the harvest even began?
"As for the farming tools, fertilizers, and other necessities needed to take care of the farmland, you can get them directly from Manager Xiao."
The farm tools in the side courtyard were all stored in the storage room of the newly built side courtyard. If there was a need, they could go to Xiao Heng to register, and then they could get it whenever they needed it.
There was no need to pay any money.
"Alright, alright, alright."
The Wang couple nodded vigorously. They didn't expect that they didn't even need to pay for the fertilizer and other consumables.
Then these three taels of silver were purely for their labor.
His heart was filled with gratitude.
They knew that the master family was trying to help them.
"Uncle Wang, Auntie Wang, if you really can't take it … just come look for me directly.
I can arrange for more people to come over.
Don't force yourself. "Before leaving, Su Shuiche couldn't help but remind her.
Seeing that Mr. and Mrs. Wang were almost forty years old, and adding five mu of new land all of a sudden, he was afraid that the pressure on the Wang family would be too great and harm them.
"Alright.
We know what we're doing.
Madam, please don't worry. "Mrs. Wang patted her chest and promised.
Their family's three mu of fertile farmland was usually left to their eldest son and youngest son to manage.
Except during the harvest season.
However, the master family had also said that there would be helpers during the harvest season, and they wouldn't be required to harvest all five mu of grain.
Thus, how could there be any tiredness?
Normally, her husband would be so idle that he would go fishing on Xiu Feng.
"That … Madam, if there's a maidservant in the side courtyard, can we also let our Xiaomei try?
She's already thirteen years old this year, and she's completely capable of handling the household's matters. "According to Mrs. Lao, her husband also worked as a gardener and earned several taels of silver a year.
Then, if they let their youngest daughter in as a little maidservant who poured tea and poured water, it should also be enough, right?
"Eh?"
When Su Shuiche heard this, she stopped in her tracks and turned her head to look at Aunt Wang, whose face was full of expectation. Then, she swept a glance at Xiaomei, who was somewhat embarrassed as she tugged at the corner of her clothes.
She had never taken the initiative to recruit maidservants from the villagers of He Garden. Firstly, she was afraid that they would say that the master family was bullying them by actually letting their precious maidservants and sons enter the residence to be maidservants.
Secondly, she was afraid that the maidservants and sons, whose parents were still alive and who were close to home, would only think about returning home and not work seriously, breaking the rules of the side courtyard.
At that time, she couldn't punish them, nor could she scold them.
Therefore, she had only recruited long-term helpers from Qingtian Town for the sake of the operation of the pickled vegetable brewing workshop.
The other people she needed were all orphans or people from single-parent families who were recruited through Yangxin Hall.
"You also want to go?" Su Shuiche asked Xiaomei, who had her head lowered.
"Mn." Xiaomei lightly nodded her head.
She had already seen the maidservants who worked in the master family. They wore better clothes than the ones she currently wore.
When they went out, they didn't look like maidservants at all.
Moreover, according to the village head, if they did well, they would have the opportunity to enter the school to study, and they could also go to the shops in the city.
After hearing this, she had long wanted to give it a try.
Even if she couldn't become a shopkeeper like her older brother Dabao, being a stable shop assistant and having a fixed monthly income was also good.
"However, if it's a long-term contract, it will take at least two years.
Are you confident? "Su Shuiche asked with a smile.
She didn't mean to make things difficult.
It was just that when they entered the side courtyard, they would first need to train with Chun Lan for a month or so. Then, according to their progress, they would be assigned to various positions. Every season, they would rotate. After a year, their final positions would be decided based on their strengths.
"Yes."
Xiaomei straightened her chest, but the bashful expression on her face betrayed her. In fact, she was only a thirteen year old girl and didn't have much courage.
When Auntie Wang heard Su Shuiche's question, she guessed in her heart that it would be successful. She smiled and rubbed her apron, "Madam, about that, it's almost noon. We don't have any big dishes. If you don't mind, why don't you have lunch before going back?"
"No, Auntie Wang, I still have to go to the Silk Weaving Workshop. Since Xiaomei is interested and you all agree, I'm naturally happy to let her join.
Come find Chun Lan tomorrow at five in the morning. She will take you through the procedures.
As for the income, it won't be much in the first year. Two hundred copper per month, including food and lodging.
If you want to go back home, that's fine.
However, you have to stay behind on your shifts. "
Su Shuiche roughly described the income of the maidservants who had just entered the side courtyard, so that the family would have a good idea. They still had one night to think about it.
"Good, good, good. Xiaomei will go.
Don't worry, I definitely won't embarrass Madam. "When Auntie Wang heard that there would be two hundred copper per month, that would be at least two taels per year.
It would also include three meals.
Why didn't they think of such a good thing earlier?!
Su Shuiche saw that they didn't have the slightest intention of backing down, so she smiled and nodded at Xiaomei. After bidding farewell to the Wang family, she boarded the carriage and had Xin Zhi drive it to the Silk Weaving Workshop.
A few days ago, she had been busy with the Dragon Boat Festival banquet and hadn't gone to check on the situation of the cocoons for a long time. Today, she saw that Ah Yao had gone to the city early in the morning to find a place to stay at the Fengyao Pavilion. She also had some time to go to the Silk Weaving Workshop.
She didn't want him to complain that she didn't rest properly and was busy everywhere when he came back.
However, if she had to stay at home all day and helplessly watch him busy, she would also feel distressed.
She couldn't be like Jingzhi and Yingyun, who shouldered the burden and occasionally patrolled the industry.
Moreover, the Silk Weaving Workshop was her idea.
Because she also wanted the people here to wear clothes made of silk.
… …
"Madam, why are you here?
Have you eaten lunch? "
Aunt Luo, the cook and manager of the Silk Weaving Workshop, had just finished preparing lunch when she saw Su Shuiche and Xin Zhi coming down from the carriage and shouted in surprise.
Hearing Aunt Luo's voice, the old weaver, the weaving girl, and the manservants who were washing their hands and preparing to eat also ran out of the workshop happily.
"I didn't come to see you yesterday on the Dragon Boat Festival.
Did you all eat the dumplings? "Su Shuiche smiled and nodded at them in greeting.
"We ate, we ate. We ate all kinds of flavors. There were also a few delicious dishes. We also drank a jar of osmanthus wine. We ate until we were full …" The old weaver in the lead scratched his head and said with a smile.
"That's good.
There are also a few boxes of pastries here. They are Sirou and Yingyun's wedding cakes. Everyone, share them and try them. "Su Shuiche gestured for Xin Zhi to bring the large boxes of wedding cakes from the carriage to everyone.
"Madam and Miss haven't eaten yet, right?
Do you mind eating together? "Aunt Luo took the wedding cakes and invited them warmly.
"Sure.
We just wanted to freeload a meal at Aunt's place.
After eating, we also want to see the cocoons.
Elder Ying, how have things been these days? "Su Shuiche nodded and asked the old weaver in the lead about the latest situation of the Silk Weaving Workshop with a smile.
"Everything is good.
The first batch of cocoons can all be used.
These days, we have been using the same method as before to soak and soften the cocoons. The effect is very good.
Qi Luo and Wen Hui have already started to pull out the warp and weft from the first bucket of softened cocoons. Although it hasn't been woven into fabric and dyed with color, it looks very good just by looking at it.
After it is woven into silk and put on the market, it will definitely cause a sensation in the whole of Dahui. "Elder Ying explained with eyes full of expectation, which made everyone laugh.
"Good!
Let's do it well.
Let's strive to release the first batch of 'He Yuan' quality plain spun yarn before the end of the year. "
Su Shuiche couldn't help but smile. She had personally interviewed and selected these helpers, and they all had great interest and longing for the silk weaving she had mentioned.
She believed that in the near future, the Dahui would add another type of close-fitting and comfortable fabric that would be praised endlessly — silk.
Currently, the relatively simple raw "georgette" was the first silk fabric she had tried to produce.
Of course, as she became more familiar with the technique and improved, she believed that more types of silk would emerge from the Silk Weaving Workshop in an endless stream.
When the time came, she would expand the Silk Weaving Workshop into a workshop that integrated silk weaving, embroidery, and ready-to-wear.
Moreover, it wouldn't be just a comfortable fabric that only wealthy families could afford.
Yingyun and her eldest sister had also said that if she wanted to expand the Silk Weaving Workshop, their "Yue Yun Embroidery House" would be the first shop to join. It would be a home that she deeply missed, a home that she and Ah Yao worked together to manage, and a beautiful home that everyone worked together to create.
(To be continued.
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