FID – Chapter 419

Chapter 419: Eat Out

  The Xinghua villagers were busier this year than the Xinghua villagers. 

  For a month, they’ve been counting those 30 days.

  They were waiting for this day to receive food and pay.

  Counting on their fingers, how many years had Xiapo Village been poor?

  They had no hope before, and the more prosperous the village on the other side of the river was, the more miserable and desolate they were; the more decadent they were; and they were even unmotivated to till their fields. They just barely maintained eating a mouthful of porridge.

  Now that they were also working in the new wine shop and could also receive a monthly pay, their future days were bound to get better and better. They might not catch up with the Xinghua Village, they wouldn’t be worse.

  With this in mind, they felt a surge of energy all over.

  It was said that people were in high spirits when involved in happy events. When that energy radiated, the whole person would feel refreshed.

  As a result, the Xiapo Village transformed.

  This was not only true for Xiapo Village, but also for other villages in eight villages in ten miles.

  Early this day, the villagers rushed to the workshop to work, waiting and hoping for a carriage to park at the door.

  It was the first month of operation of the new wine workshops, so the partners, Liu Yusheng and Qian Wanjin, couldn’t laze around. They needed to personally go to show their faces, so as to let the workshop workers feel at ease, and also to motivate them to continue being active in the future.

  The task of exchanging bills and issuing monthly salaries had been assigned to the Village Chiefs two days ago. Hence, the two got into the carriage, carried only the larger end of silver bills, and went to visit empty-handed. They would just show their face and exchange a few words to get familiar with the workshop workers.

  The first place they went was the new wine shop in Shangpo Village.

  It was because it was the closest.

  When they arrived, the two Village Chiefs were already waiting, and the workers were gathered together.

  Seeing Liu Yusheng and Qian Wanjin appear, the whole workshop was in an uproar. The workers got jittery, nervous and excited.

  Their jittery and impatient appearances were inexplicably simple and lovely in the eyes.

  Liu Yusheng smiled and asked, “Are you all anxious?”

  ”No, no,” The Village Chief of Shangpo waved his hands, then added, “We’re just waiting for the two bosses to arrive.”

  Precisely, that meant they were anxious.

  The workers laughed.

  The box with the silver coins had been placed on the open space in the courtyard of the wine shop. It sat on a small square table, just waiting for the bosses to come and issue them.

  ”Since everyone is impatient, let’s not talk too much and get on with giving everyone their monthly payment.” Liu Yusheng smiled at the crowd. “Although this is a new wine workshop, and it’s everyone’s first time to work on making medicinal wine, the wines brewed have all passed the inspection. They can be loaded and shipped to the county for distribution to the major merchants we’ve collaborated with. When you go out, you’ll be able to see the wine you made yourself in various cities and towns. When brewing the wine, no one has slacked off. You’ve been conscientious and did solid work. Naturally, you should be rewarded. What I can give back to you is to pay your monthly salary on time and never default. “

  The laughter rose again, and this time, it was of excitement.

  It was their first time at work, she praised them, which made them as happy as when receiving their pay.

  Especially the Xiapo villagers, who were notorious for being lazy and sly in the past; they worked seriously for a full month this time, and a compliment was equivalent to affirming their changes and efforts.

  Qian Wanjin raised his hand to suppress the workers’ excitement momentarily, signaling that there was more to be said, “The remuneration for the new wineshop is the same as that of the Xinghua Village Winery, with each worker receiving a fixed monthly payment of ten taels of silver. As for your bonuses, they are contained in the small wooden box on the table. The amount each of you can receive depends on your individual ability. This criterion for this is handed over to the two Village Chiefs. After a month’s investigation, they know you well enough and know exactly how your performances stand. I hope that everyone with higher rewards won’t be too proud and continue to keep striving, those with lesser rewards won’t be discouraged and catch up next time. Okay, that’s all. Next, the two Village Chiefs will issue your monthly payment by name!”

  Once the villagers heard that their salary would be issued soon, the applause and cheers in the wine shop almost raised the roof.

  The two Village Chiefs cooperated. The Shangpo Village Chief was responsible for the roll call, and An Cai was responsible for issuing the monthly payment.

  When it was proposed that the Village Chiefs would supervise the winery, along with the consideration that the scale of the new wineries were larger than that of Xinghua Village, and there were more workers, it was finally decided that two Village Chiefs should be responsible for supervision. They could also consult each other for matters involved.

  The Shangpo Village winery was a special case among the new wine shops.

  It was because the Xiapo villagers were mixed. Over the years, they were accustomed to restlessness, and their minds could always come up with opportunistic tricks, so only when An Cai was present could the villagers be deterred.

  A month down the road, facts had proved that the effect was indeed remarkable.

  An Cai was the only one who could control the Xiapo villagers. Otherwise, with only the Shangpo Village Chief, who knew how many mishaps he had to deal with?

  Once the monthly salaries and bonuses were issued, that moment when the workers touched the real thing in their hands, their hands couldn’t help but tremble.

  Ten taels of monthly silver, plus bonuses; in ordinary homes, even if the family worked hard together, their savings for half a year couldn’t probably amount to this.

  Their monthly salary was equivalent to half a year of backbreaking labor from all of the family members.

  No wonder Xinghua Village became the first wealthy village in eight villages in ten miles. No wonder so many people cut their heads in their desire to enter the Xinghua Village Winery.

  Such a rich monthly salary was comparable to being a high-ranking manager in restaurants in the town.

  The workers of the Xinghua Village Winery were treated well. It was worthy of their reputation, and even more so than ever.

  The least amount of bonus they received was one or two silver coins.

  The winery workers cheered and hollered, about to go crazy with joy.

  ”I really got the money. I have been looking forward to it for thirty days. I really got it. Can someone pinch me? I’m afraid I’m dreaming!”

  ”I worked hard for 30 days, in a whole month. I didn’t work in vain. When we get off work, let’s go for a drink together!”

  ”Let’s arrange an ox cart. I’ll go to town later and have a few pounds of fat slices. I must eat to my heart’s content today!”

  The two Village Chiefs stood behind the small table and watched the workers’ cheerful appearance, but their reactions were different.

  The Shangpo Village Chief was feeling the joy with them, and he was grinning from ear to ear.

  An Cai, on the other hand, still had a sullen look on his face, looking like he was unhappy.

  Qian Wanjin nudged Liu Yusheng’s arm: “Lucky Nannan, why is that old man pulling a long face? Is he not satisfied with the monthly salary? He and the Village Chief of Shangpo received a lot more money than the workers. This is a bit greedy of him, ah.”

  He dared not say things on other matters, but when it came to the treatment of workers at the brewery under his and Lucky Nannan’s name, no one in the whole of Nanling could catch up with them.

  Otherwise, the reputation of the Xinghua Village Winery and its reputation in the area of Xiangshan would not be so loud.

  Liu Yusheng helplessly replied, “What are you thinking about? Didn’t you listen to what the villagers said just now?”

  ”What did they say?” Qian Wanjin frowned suspiciously, followed by perking up his ears to listen, “…”

  Eat out!

  Bet on Hi-Lo!

  Look for beauties!

  The food at the little widow’s house at the end of town smells good!

  Dang, who are these people, ah?!

  No wonder An Cai’s inverted triangle face is so ugly. It’s 80% because he’s the people under his own hands irritated him.

  When the Shangpo villagers got their money, they talked about buying pork, adding vegetables to the table and giving their wives some allowance.

  Comparing the two, An Cai really should be ashamed.