Chapter 307: Planting The Land ( 2 )
After Xi Yi finished her words, the workers discussed in low voices with their friends or family members. Although the pay was not as high as they wanted, the employer provided lunch, which saved them some money.
What’s more, the promise of hiring them during the off-season was tempting. It’s not easy to find work during the off-season. If they could secure a spot, it would alleviate their family’s burden.
Xi Yi didn’t rush them and let them think about it. 5 minutes later, one of the workers asked, "Lady, you said that you are hiring workers for the long term. What if you don’t hire us again despite a good result of our work?"
"About this matter, we can add it to our agreement contract. As long as your work can reach the standard, we will hire you again for the next planting season."
She paused for a moment before she added, "For your information, my Master will be planting the land twice a year."
The moment they heard this, everyone was taken aback. Since their ancestors, they have always planted their land once a year. This practice had lasted for generations. So, they were skeptical about the possibility of planting twice a year.
"Even if the harvest fails, as long as you work according to the Master’s orders, you will be paid as per agreement," Xi Yi said with a smile.
Now that they had received the guarantee, the workers had nothing to worry about anymore.
"When do you want us to start?" one of the workers asked.
"The work will start in 5 days. You can go to Yang Village and wait at the wasteland located near the mountain foothills. If you can’t find the place, just ask the villagers for directions."
After she said this, she glanced at the clerk, who gestured to the servants to lead the workers away.
When they were alone, the clerk asked, "Lady, do you have other instructions?"
Xi Yi opened the booklet and said, "I don’t want the people I marked." When she finished her words, she took out a 5-tael silver ingot from her sleeve and placed it on the table.
She stood up and said, "Thank you for your help, Sir."
"This is what I should do," the clerk cupped his fists and bowed to her.
Usually, the broker’s office would only receive 1 or 2 taels of silver at most for introducing workers. This was the first time he received so much.
When Yao Zhi and Xi Yi left the broker’s office, Ling Shijiu had already returned.
Looking at the medicine packs on the cart, Yao Zhi asked, "Shijiu, why did you buy so much medicine? Are you feeling unwell?"
After they took their seats, Ling Shi’er drove the cart while Ling Shijiu replied in a low voice, "Master, these are good things. I plan to make something. When it’s done, I will give it to you first."
Yao Zhi was curious and asked, "What is it?"
Ling Shiliu smiled mysteriously and replied, "Master, you will know when it’s time."
Since he had said so, Yao Zhi didn’t insist and dropped the topic.
For the next 4 days, Yao Zhi spent her time watering the seeds. With so many people helping her, she had a lot of spare time to visit her land every day.
On the 19th day of the 2nd month, the workers hired by her arrived and had been waiting for them before dawn. When Yao Zhi and the Ling squad finally went to the land, they saw a large number of people waiting there.
Seeing them, Yao Zhi walked over and greeted them with a smile, "Good morning, everyone."
When the workers saw her, they recalled that she was a servant following the woman who hired them. They nodded at her and asked, "Girl, where is the steward?"
"The steward will arrive soon."
Just after she said this, Yang Dalang arrived with his brothers and the villagers. Seeing so many people come, the workers were taken aback.
There were a total of 42 hired workers and 189 villagers who came to help her plant the land today. With 20 people from her Ling squad, the work progress would be faster.
Since everyone was here, she clapped her hands and said, "Everyone, today, our task is to plant the seedlings. The seedlings have been prepared; we only need to transplant them to the land."
After she said this, she gestured to them and said, "Please follow me."
She led them to the area near her backyard and said, "These are the seedlings. You can use the cart to transport them to the land."
Then, she pointed at 5 water vats on the side and added, "Also, if you need water, you can take it from here. This is boiled water prepared for everyone. Lunch will be placed here at noon."
When she finished her words, she glanced at everyone. "Let’s do our best and finish this work as soon as possible."
Following her words, everyone started to work. Since the Ling squad members didn’t know much about farming, they were tasked to transport the seedlings while the workers and villagers would plant them in the land.
Yao Zhi supervised them for an hour before she returned home. Since there were 255 people who needed to eat, she went to the kitchen to help Xi Yi and Xi Si prepare lunch.
Following Xi Yi’s suggestion, she didn’t prepare a lavish meal as she had done before.
For the staple, they prepared steamed buns, but the flour was mixed. She used all-purpose flour and whole wheat. To make it denser, the ratio of the whole wheat was higher than that of the all-purpose flour.
For the side dish, she used pickled napa cabbage and pork bones to make soup.
Besides that, she also prepared another dish, stir-fried cabbage. Although it was a vegetable dish, she used garlic, oyster sauce, light soy sauce, oil, sugar, and some chili oil. The flavor was not worse than the soup.