CHAPTER 322: CHAPTER 304: BUYING SERVANTS (PART 2)

Jiang Dingcai and Lu Shi had just run away in panic when they saw another long procession coming from the village entrance, heading straight towards the Yu Family.

Jiang Mangzi didn’t recognize these people, but he knew the leader, Sun Mancang. Out of curiosity, Jiang Mangzi asked, "Why are these people here? Is the Yu Family short of hands?"

They had already helped sow the winter wheat a few days ago, so why were these people being summoned now? Each of them looked strong and sturdy, clearly used to hard and tiring work. He considered that he worked diligently for the Yu Family, never cutting corners, so why would the Yu Family hire people from outside the village?

Sun Mancang knew Jiang Mangzi as well, and seeing him ask questions, he stopped and replied, "These people were hired by my cousin to be long-term workers to help with work at home. There’s just too much to do and not enough people."

Indeed, there weren’t enough people. Usually, everyone worked steadily, each in their own role, so there didn’t seem to be a lack of hands. But come autumn harvest, everyone gets busy with their own fields, and the raw material workshop becomes noticeably short-staffed. Especially since Sun Wuye bought ten acres of wasteland in July, both Daji and Sanji, as the main labor force of the family, naturally had to cultivate the land. Cracking the ground took effort, and soon after, they would have to plant.

Fortunately, they planted autumn cabbage, which they rushed to harvest before the frost. All of Sun Wuye’s cabbage was bought by Yu Changhe, some of it was used to make pickle, and some were stored in the Yu Family’s vegetable cellar.

Yu Changhe thought that since there were many workers at home, they needed to provide lunch for them as well, thus it’s good to store more vegetables.

"Are all these... bought?" Jiang Mangzi stared at the long queue, somewhat incredulous.

How could the Yu family’s little girl buy long-term workers like buying cabbages?

"Oh, there must be forty or fifty people!" Ding Wulang’s wife, Zhang Shi, exclaimed.

Sun Laotai and Sun Fengshou were also heading to the Yu Family and seeing Sun Mancang talking with Jiang Mangzi, they joined in the conversation.

Yu Xiaolian was in charge of buying people, and Sun Laotai and Sun Fengshou knew about it. Sun Laotai had even specifically asked her granddaughter, Yu Xiaolian, not to bring back young maids.

It’s said that men with money might indulge in having concubines, and she was worried Yu Changhe might do the same. So she advised Yu Xiaolian to buy coarse servants and young lads, but not to bring home those pretty maids.

Sun Laotai examined the lineup behind Sun Mancang and saw there were no young women, which put her mind at ease. It seemed her granddaughter listened to her advice.

Sun Laotai asked Sun Mancang, "How many have been bought?"

Sun Mancang replied, "Thirty laborers, five skilled protectors, ten coarse servants, five young lads, and two clerks capable of accounting, totaling fifty-two people."

"Wow, why buy so many?" Sun Laotai frowned, thinking about how much grain it would take to feed such a group.

Even the affluent families in Luocheng don’t have this many people, right?

But then, considering the son-in-law’s plan to expand and grow more peppers next year, Sun Laotai thought these people would barely suffice.

"Hurry and lead them inside, how come they’re all dressed so lightly?" Sun Laotai thought about making cotton clothes for these people and clicked her tongue in distress.

Sun Mancang saw Sun Laotai worrying about the money; it wasn’t just her, he also felt ownership over the concern.

The key is that it’s too cold outside, and he hadn’t finished speaking—buying fifty-two people wasn’t all that his sister had done.

Sun Mancang led the grand procession into the Yu Family’s gates. Seeing so many people, Yu Changhe suddenly felt his house might be a bit too small.

After arranging accommodations for some of the people, Yu Changhe felt intensely moved; it was truly vibrant and orderly.

Sun Shi pulled her old mother to the warm kang and sat down, "Ma, Lian’er said you can choose a coarse servant to take home. Look at which one you favor? Later, you can lead her back, and she’ll handle the cooking and laundry chores for you."

Sun Laotai shook her head, "I don’t want one. There are few people at home, not much work to do, and I’m still quite robust. I can handle the housework myself, rest assured!"

Nowadays, eating white rice every day, killing chickens and buying fish when craving meat—if I don’t do some work, life doesn’t feel real.

The only thing that’s recently been troubling Sun Laotai is the fact that her daughter-in-law, Qi Dalian, is pregnant.

Of course, Qi Dalian’s pregnancy should be cause for joy, but her mother keeps using her pregnancy as an excuse to visit frequently, taking advantage of it to mooch meals, which is rather annoying.