Chapter 49 - Commencement

◎ It's none of your business to interfere with what my daughter-in-law is doing. ◇

Hua Dameng wouldn't dare to act recklessly if he truly wanted the job. Besides, he was surprised that so many villagers were already defending this newcomer family. He thought that his identity as a fellow villager and clan member of Shangyixiang Village would make the villagers side with him, forcing Yu Lian to chase away that outsider who dared to snatch the job. Then, he could take charge of how the house was built, and even justify profiting from it.

This was an unspoken rule in their trade. No matter whose house they worked on, whether it was a wealthy family or the government, once they secured the job, they held the reins. They could manipulate costs for materials, labor wages, and even prolong the construction time for personal gain.

He understood that regardless of whether the outsider was trying to snatch the job or share it, with him around, it would be difficult to manipulate things or deceive those who didn't know better. This person was simply obstructing him!

Frowning deeply, Hua Dameng said solemnly, "I don't want trouble. It's just building a house, and I alone am enough. Why do we need another person? I'm doing this for your family's sake. Hiring one more worker means extra expenses, which is a waste of money. Moreover, we're from the same village and clan. By seniority, you should call me Uncle. Would Uncle Dameng cheat you?"

"Go ask around. Isn't it well-known that Hua Dameng's craftsmanship in building houses is famous within a ten-mile radius? Even in the town and county, I have a reputation. I'm not someone who learns a few carpentry tricks to swindle money. He says he can build a house? Nonsense!"

Ma Dafen, despite his honesty, knew that the man was indirectly insulting him, barely holding back from pointing at his nose and saying, You have no skills, and you're here only to scam money!

His face flushed red. "Y-You're slandering me! Although I haven't been in this trade as long as you, I've learned diligently and worked earnestly. No employer has ever complained about my work. I earn my wages with a clear conscience, deserving of the money given by my employers, and I live up to my conscience. I'm not here to swindle money!"

Hua Dameng sneered. "You? I've heard a thing or two. You're always running around the town and county, begging everyone, but few people actually hire you. What does that say? It means you don't have anything in your hands, no real skills. Otherwise, why wouldn't others use you?"

Ma Dafen was so furious that his neck turned red. However, he couldn't find any words to refute. It was true that he took on fewer jobs than others, but that had nothing to do with his craftsmanship. Unless one was at the pinnacle of their profession, most workers like him relied on recommendations from their former employers or brokers for work. How many jobs could acquaintances provide throughout the year? Most still needed brokers to make connections. Whenever one relied on such referrals, interpersonal relationships mattered. One either needed to be good at networking and win the broker's favor or offer generous bribes. The broker would naturally prioritize giving jobs to those who did.

There were many intricacies involved.

Ma Dafen lacked both qualities. He wasn't skilled in socializing or pleasing others; his straightforwardness didn't endear him to people. Moreover, he didn't have enough money to bribe the brokers. How could he secure good jobs?

Occasionally, he would get lucky and land one or two projects, but that was only because the clients were notorious for being difficult to work with. Others didn't want the trouble, leaving the job for him.

Seeing Ma Dafen unable to respond, the villagers thought that Hua Dameng had exposed him as a fraud trying to swindle money. They then advised Yu Lian:

"Everyone says the foreman pays well. Let's not waste this money. Save it and use it to buy some carved furniture, wouldn't that be better? He claims to know woodworking, so if you really want to hire him, let him handle the carpentry. Won't you need tables and chairs once the house is built? It'd be great to have a few new beds too. You come from an esteemed family; don't plays always mention how young misses have screens in their rooms? Save your money and ask him to make one for you. Wouldn't that be nice?"

"Yes, yes, Lian, listen to our advice. Don't waste money on someone useless."

"Don't judge Dameng by his fierce appearance. He's reliable when it comes to work. With us around, he won't dare to play tricks. He'll surely help build your house honestly. I heard that when the Chen landlord in town built his new courtyard last time, he hired Dameng. I saw it from afar - that courtyard was huge, so impressive. You couldn't see what was inside from outside, and there were even two stone lions at the entrance. It was very grand."

"We're all villagers, and Dameng wouldn't dare to cheat you. Trust him with the job."

Hua Dameng's sharp response left the outsider speechless, and with so many villagers now on his side, he felt a surge of pride. He agreed, "Of course, I, Hua Dameng, carry the name of Hua. How could I deceive my fellow villagers? Entrust the house construction to me, and I promise you a magnificent abode that will be worth every penny."

Seeing her own brother unfairly slandered and unable to retaliate, while the villagers were swayed by Hua Dameng's words, believing he was a fraud, the wife of Dashu became both furious and anxious. Ignoring Sanshu's attempts to hold her back, she rushed forward.

"Auntie Dameng, my brother has always been honest and has never done anything wicked. He has been in this trade for over a decade, diligently fulfilling every task given to him without any shortcuts. He is not here to swindle money. How can you defame him like this?"

She understood that whether they accepted the job today or not was secondary; her brother's reputation was at stake. Although they weren't from the same village, who didn't have relatives in neighboring villages? If this misunderstanding wasn't cleared up, people might spread rumors about Ma Dafen from Ma Village being incompetent and deceitful. This would not only affect his ability to find work but also tarnish her family's name, causing real harm.

Unfortunately, her brother was an honest man with a straightforward mind, not skilled in articulating his thoughts. When cornered, he found it difficult to defend himself, which made others assume he was guilty and too ashamed to respond.

Worried about her brother's reputation and livelihood, as well as the potential backlash from her family if she mishandled the situation, she now deeply regretted bringing her brother to solicit work. She knew very well that Hua Dameng was not someone to trifle with, so why had she dared?

Upon seeing Dashu's wife step forward, Hua Dameng's expression darkened even more. He raised his eyebrows and said, "So it's your family member, huh? No wonder. Who in a ten-mile radius doesn't know that I, Hua Dameng, am the one for this job? Yet, you brought him here to snatch work from our village. Dashu's wife, you're married into our village, which makes you one of us. How could you betray your own people to help your family?"

Dashu's wife, usually quick-witted, found herself at a loss for words. The villagers, influenced by Hua Dameng's words, now looked at her with suspicion. Caught between her loyalty to her family and her village, she felt trapped.

"What's wrong with you, Dashu's wife? Why would you do such a thing? Regardless of his shortcomings, Dameng is still your elder and a villager. How could you treat him like this?"

"I wondered why Ma Dafen seemed so familiar. He's been to our village a few times before to visit his sister. So he turns out to be Dashu's brother-in-law."

The villagers' chatter left Dashu's wife speechless, feeling both embarrassed and angered. The resentment she initially felt for her brother being wrongly accused had faded away, and her husband, Hua Dashu, looked at her with confusion.

Sanshu's wife quickly stepped in to mediate. "My eldest sister-in-law didn't know that Uncle Dameng was also going to work. Didn't he mention taking on a job in the county town recently? It's just a coincidence that they crossed paths. Now that Uncle Dameng is here, how could we possibly take over his job?"

She gently took her sister-in-law's hand. "Isn't that right, Sister-in-law? Please speak up."

Although Dashu's wife was unwilling, she felt oppressed. Her dear brother was unjustly labeled a fraud and had no chance to clarify, yet they were already urging him to step aside for Hua Dameng. Was this fair?

But under the circumstances and with her husband staring at her, she hesitantly nodded...

At that moment, Yu Lian spoke up. "Neighbors, brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts, both Uncle Dameng and Uncle Dafen were invited by me. Our family is large, and before long, my two younger brothers will grow up and marry. We need a bigger house to avoid future expansions. As we're not in a rush to move in, I thought it would be efficient to have two foremen complete the project together, with Uncle Dameng and Uncle Dafen each leading a team to handle half the work."

The twin boys, hiding behind their father and aunt, were playing with mud. Hearing this, they puffed up in embarrassment. They were still kids, too young to think about marrying! Their aunt was being too embarrassing!

Hua Dameng stepped forward, his face turning menacing. "Can you build a house any bigger than the one owned by Landlord Chen in the town? I built his house all by myself. Why do you need two people?"

His bold move caused Hua Zhan's brow to furrow as he sternly replied, "My daughter-in-law's affairs are none of your concern."

There was no need to explain further; it was up to you whether you wanted to do it or not!

Hua Zhan, having held a high position and dominated politics for many years, had even almost conspired with his son to seize the throne. When his imposing manner rose, even if Hua Dameng was a village dragon, he would still have to coil up! Hua Dameng was pushed back several steps, his face involuntarily breaking into a more respectful smile than he would show to wealthy merchants as he explained, "No, no, that's not what I meant..."

Only after saying this did he realize that this person was no longer a noble but had fallen to the countryside, even lower than a local landlord or merchant. Why should he be afraid of him?

He quickly added, "If you say you've hired someone else, I, Hua Dameng, won't be left without work. Why should I come to your house to be treated poorly?!"

Although Yu Lian considered how her actions would affect her future in the village and her uncle's reputation, and was careful to attend to all aspects, she was not a pushover. Perhaps the steel in her spine was even stronger than her father-in-law's. At this moment, she ignored Hua Dameng.

She said, "Uncle Dameng and Brother Dafen will each lead a team. Divide the work between you. Whoever finishes within half a month and does a good job will receive an additional reward of no less than six taels of silver. Half will go to the foreman, and the other half will be divided among the rest of the team. That's settled."

"Additionally... Brother Dafen has indeed been in this line of work for over ten years. I would naturally investigate before hiring anyone. Rest assured."

Dashu's wife and Ma Dafen's sister looked at her gratefully. Yu Lian's explanation as the employer was worth more than a hundred of theirs.

With her reputation preserved and the job secured, Dashu's wife was immensely grateful to Yu Lian. She planned to help out at Yu Lian's house whenever she had free time, doing whatever she could. Although Yu Lian's family was large, the elders were old and the young ones too young to do much.

Hua Dameng, initially too embarrassed to stay and angry enough to leave, paused when he heard this. His feet were glued to the ground, and he wouldn't budge!

First, Yu Lian had mentioned that apart from the wages, there would be an additional reward for their efforts. Six taels of silver, even if divided in half, would still amount to three taels – no more than what he could earn through illicit means.

Secondly, he realized that if he were to leave now, wouldn't he be letting that Ma fellow from another village have an easy win? It would make it seem as though he, Hua Dameng, was afraid!

He intended to show this young upstart that when it came to constructing houses, he was leagues ahead!

So, with a stern expression, he stood his ground and challenged, "Who wants to be on my team, Hua Dameng's team? Step forward, and I promise you efficient work and excellent results. That silver is ours for the taking!"

His words carried weight, given his experience and his status as a fellow villager. People here trusted him more than the unknown outsider.

Promptly, quite a few villagers moved to stand behind him.

The twins grumbled, "What's the rush? Big Sister hasn't even chosen her team yet, and you're already eager to join? Are you fools or what?"

Their comment silenced the crowd, only to be followed by a burst of laughter.

"Ha ha ha! The kids are right, what's the rush? Look at you all, so eager to choose your foreman before being selected. Do you think it's your decision?"

Those who had already aligned themselves with Hua Dameng blushed in embarrassment, urging Yu Lian to make her choice quickly.

"An early death leads to a swift rebirth. If I'm not chosen, I might as well hang myself with a rope back home." Knowing the villager was joking, others chuckled, "If you're going to die, do it quickly. Don't drag Yu Lian into it. With your cowardice, that's all we can expect."

Yu Lian wasted no time and announced the pre-written list, "Hua Dashu, Hua Ershu, Hua Shitou, Hua...,"

She named about twenty individuals before pausing, "That's all for now. You may choose among yourselves first. If there are any left, the foremen will decide."

The selected ones were overjoyed and hastily started lining up, fearing they might lose their chance if they waited.

Within less than half a cup of tea's time, everyone had found their place.

Yu Lian observed and sighed inwardly; almost everyone had gone to Hua Dameng's side. Only a few remained on Ma Dafen's team, like Hua Dashu, who was reluctantly standing with his brother-in-law. His wife must have held him back, and thinking he couldn't let his family suffer alone, he also pulled his younger brother, Hua Ershu, along.

Hua Ershu: "...."

Then there was the third son of the second elder, who had a grudge against Hua Dameng's younger brother, Hua Ermeng. He didn't want to work under his brother, so he chose the outsider's team.

The other two also had past conflicts with the Hua Dameng family. Their family was naturally domineering and had offended many within and outside the village. While they couldn't confront the family physically, they still held resentment in their hearts. How could they possibly work alongside them?

Lastly, some simply looked down on Hua Dameng, like the lazy Hua Sanduo. He believed that though he was lazy and not an ideal person, at least he was honest about his flaws. Unlike Hua Dameng, who had a manly face but did things even women would despise!

"Hua Sanduo? How did you get chosen? Have you finished your farm work? With your lazy nature, how could you possibly be selected?"

Hua Sanduo held a blade of grass between his teeth, his chin lifted proudly. "I have my own unique qualities..."

Before he could finish, Yu Lian chuckled. "He knows many people from all walks of life and has connections to buy bricks and tiles. That's why I hired him as my chief procurement manager."

"Mercy girl... Him? He's idle all day. Be careful, your money might just be swindled away by this good-for-nothing."

Hua Sanduo raised an eyebrow. "Who are you calling a good-for-nothing? Yes, I'm lazy, but that's because I don't want to do farm work. I prefer doing business, something that earns money quickly. Is that wrong? My family is poor, I have no capital, and my physique isn't suited for manual labor. As a procurer, helping others buy quality goods is perfect for me. People trust me, so why are you spouting nonsense?"

Seeing even someone as lazy as Hua Sanduo was chosen, those who were not selected felt a bit upset.

The shy ones didn't dare to ask, while the bold ones ventured a question.

"I may not be the hardest worker in the village, but I do work diligently."

"So do I, yet I wasn't chosen either..."

"It's fine if I wasn't picked for building houses, but not even for land clearance? What's the problem here?"

Yu Lian reassured them, "I mentioned earlier that we need this many people now. If you're not selected this time, you'll have priority for future jobs."

She paused, "Of course, this doesn't apply to those who slack off or try to cheat."

"Are you showing favoritism towards the Hua Dashu family? Two of his three brothers were chosen, and his eldest brother became the foreman. Also, all three sons from Uncle Two's family were selected. You chose them just because you're close, right?"

Hua Sanshu whispered to his wife, sounding rather aggrieved, "What about me? I've helped Uncle Log pull the carriage several times. If anyone should be familiar with it, it should be me. Why wasn't I chosen?"

His wife discreetly replied, "Don't say anything now. Ask Lian later, maybe there are other plans."

Her husband was not as strong as his older brothers, and he wasn't suited for such laborious work anyway, so it was understandable that he wasn't chosen.

Yu Lian had lost patience for explanations and jokingly said, "Then you should try to win me over. Once we become familiar, maybe I'll choose you next time."

Although it was a jest, it also conveyed a firm message: I'm the boss, and I can choose whoever I want. Do you think you can pressure me?

People were like that; sometimes, you needed to show strength rather than always being lenient. This approach left them speechless, and they would strive harder to be selected in the future.

Uncle Two watched silently from the back, not interrupting. After observing, he sighed inwardly, confirming his initial impression. The young bride from the Log family was indeed extraordinary. She knew when to be gentle and when to be firm, never at a disadvantage, and even gained the villagers' admiration.

When it came to Hua Dameng's competition for the foreman position, she didn't explicitly express her disdain but instead found another person to compete against him. Would Hua Dameng dare to slack off or cut corners now?

Certainly, he would strive to work hard and efficiently to please her.

Though it seemed like an extra six taels of silver were spent, the outcome of two people competing would be much better than one person handling everything alone. They would undoubtedly race each other to not only do a good job but also finish quickly. The money saved might even surpass the initial six taels.

"Such a remarkable young woman."

Second Grandma: "What did you say?"

Second Great-Uncle: "Nothing much, just praising someone."

With the hiring issue settled, work began the following day.

The villagers were mostly honest and accustomed to working; idleness felt unusual to them. Those who were given tasks arrived early the next morning, ready with their tools.

Some started clearing land, while others began construction. For a time, the area bustled with industrious activity.

Yu Lian had chosen a location upstream from the river, backed by a mountain. The people of Shangyi Village called it Bai Diao Mountain. It wasn't very tall, and its rounded, gentle slope was covered in lush forests. The verdant scenery was truly delightful.

Villagers would occasionally venture into the mountains to dig for bamboo shoots, gather mushrooms and wild vegetables, or chop down trees for furniture when needed.

The vast expanse of land below was designated for farming.

When it came to clearing land, the villagers were more experienced than Yu Lian. All she had to do was mark out the boundaries in the four cardinal directions, and they would take care of the rest. They knew far more about it than she did.

Yu Lian's main focus was on the construction of the house.

She had already drawn up the house plans and discussed them with her family. The old lady and Hua Zhan both approved, while Mrs. Chen, not understanding such matters, simply trusted their judgment.

In rural standards, Yu Lian's house seemed rather large, but the old lady and Hua Zhan had spent most of their lives in the capital's marquis residence, so they were accustomed to spacious dwellings and didn't find it unusual.

The two foremen took one look at the plans.

Hua Dameng furrowed his brows. "This is even bigger than the landlord Chen's house in town... Did you draw it incorrectly?"

Ma Dafen nodded in agreement. Indeed, it was huge, with four courtyard designs alone, rivaling, if not surpassing, the grandest homes of wealthy merchants in the county.

"And what is this?"

Yu Lian looked over and said, "This is the bathing room."

"Why are there two? Separated by gender?"

Yu Lian nodded.

She had planned to include a bathing room from the start. Nowadays, people bathed in tubs within their own quarters, which could accidentally fill the room with steam, causing inconvenience. A dedicated bathing room would be much more practical, and water could be directly channeled from the river, eliminating the need for manual water fetching.

The water drainage system was not complicated. It involved using bamboo as pipes and creating a suction mechanism with bamboo tubes at both ends. Even without a background in engineering, Yu Lian was capable of designing it.

However, the toilet system was slightly more intricate and required higher-quality materials. As they were hiding in the countryside to avoid trouble, Yu Lian didn't want to draw attention by incorporating too many sophisticated features. Otherwise, she would have loved to design a flushing toilet; visiting the privy was quite an ordeal.

Nonetheless, this alone was enough to astonish the two foremen.

"What's this?"

In the past few days, I've been in a genuine rural village where there's no internet connection and the mobile signal is weak... This village is truly remote, surrounded by mountains for miles around. Only now do I truly understand what TV shows and books mean when they say that it's difficult to escape from a small mountain village on your own. You simply can't leave, as the nearest civilization is at least tens of kilometers away, accessible only through winding mountain roads. We have to rely on cars to come and go.

But the scenery and air quality are fantastic! The uncles, aunts, grandpas, and grandmas in the mountains are incredibly kind and hospitable. They serve simple meals, perhaps because there's not much flavor, and no shops to buy snacks or drinks, so there's always a feeling of not being full every day, haha.

There's another observation I'd like to share: the mountains are swarming with mosquitoes! The insect population is abundant, and it has surprisingly cured my obsession with cleanliness. On the first day, I found it extremely challenging. My skin was dotted with itchy bites, and when Auntie offered me a towel for a bath, she claimed it was new. However, when I took it to the bathroom, I discovered insects crawling on it! In the end, I resorted to using disposable face wipes for my body. While lying in bed, besides the mosquitoes, I occasionally spotted smaller creatures. On that first night, exhaustion was overwhelming, but I dared not fall asleep, fearing bugs or snakes might bite me! After two hours of struggle, I finally gave in, deciding to brave it. I laid flat and thought, "Well, if they bite, they bite. Let them win!" And then I drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep. Haha.

Here, cleanliness and sophistication mean nothing. Each morning, I'm greeted by a lush green landscape outside the window. The house I'm staying in sits at the foot of the mountain, with trees towering just beyond. I love gazing at those trees, and there's a stream of mountain water flowing down. At night, the chirping of cicadas and unknown insects fills the air, while early in the morning, before daylight, the sounds of chickens and birds create a symphony. After a few days, I feel refreshed and content.

Life in this small mountain village is tranquil, and it has inadvertently adjusted my sleep schedule. Haha.

I absolutely adore eating mushrooms freshly picked by the villagers, they're delicious when stir-fried with meat (drooling).

(A side note: It's important not to venture alone into remote mountain villages for safety reasons.)