Chapter 50: Joyful Laughter

◎Women Are No Less Than Men◎

Putting aside the fact that the house design had broadened the horizons of both foremen, Hua Dameng and Ma Dafen, who were constantly seeking answers from Yu Lian, the difference in their progress was evident from the start.

Most of the villagers chose to work for Hua Dameng. As a result, he retained the strong and efficient men in his team, leaving the rest for Ma Dafen. This initial imbalance caused Ma Dafen's team to fall behind.

The villagers on Ma Dafen's team were deeply concerned for him.

Everyone has a competitive spirit, especially when Yu Lian had offered silver as a reward. Who wouldn't want an extra share of it?

Ma Dafen was an honest man, not skilled in social interactions or management. He simply worked tirelessly, never criticizing his team if they couldn't finish their tasks. Instead, he would frown and do it himself, often being the last one to leave. On one occasion, he even slept on-site without returning home.

His sister, Dashu, who was married, also worried about her brother. Although the neighboring village wasn't too far away, it still required a considerable journey. Eventually, she prepared a shed at her own home as a temporary guest room for him. She would frequently come to assist him, lending a hand with the work.

When Yu Lian saw this, she offered to pay her for her labor, but Dashu declined, "How can I take money for helping my own brother? Besides, you've already done us a great favor by keeping him here. My brother is straightforward and slow-witted, often struggling to understand. Please bear with him, Lian."

Yu Lian didn't insist. Observing how efficiently Dashu worked, not inferior to the male workers, she casually asked if she would be interested in working full-time.

Dashu's wife had mud on her hands, but she hesitated to wipe them on her clothes before wiping her face. "How can I? I'm not one of their men; they're stronger and work faster. You'd be hiring me at a loss."

Village women were skilled in both domestic and agricultural chores, but when it came to construction, the tasks were typically left to men. Most homeowners assumed it was not cost-effective to hire women for such labor, as men could accomplish more with their greater strength and stamina. Women, being physically weaker, were generally not preferred, as it seemed like a waste of money.

Not a single woman had signed up to help build the houses this time around. They all assumed Yu Lian wouldn't hire them, even for tasks like clearing land.

Women shared the same mindset as Dashu's wife – how could they, with their lesser strength, be hired?

Yu Lian chuckled and said, "Sister Dashu, although you're a woman, you're meticulous and adaptable. Big Fan only needed to explain once, and you grasped it. Moreover, you can apply what you've learned creatively. Your work on connecting the pipes was excellent."

The pipes were made from bamboo cut from the mountains, connected piece by piece. As they needed to channel river water to the bathing area, they had to be buried about a foot underground. Once the foundation was laid, they would be placed in pre-dug trenches as the construction progressed. This task required delicacy and patience, rather than brute force. Dashu's wife had helped with this part.

Praised by Yu Lian, Dashu's wife felt a mix of joy and embarrassment. However, Yu Lian's proposal intrigued her.

Yu Lian offered twenty copper coins per day for construction workers. Given the size and complexity of her house, it would take at least a month or more to complete the basic structure. If she continued working, she could earn six hundred coins in a month, almost a tael of silver in a month and a half!

She had never earned so much from daily farm work. In good harvest years, after paying taxes, any surplus grain was sold at the store to provide for the family. But during bumper harvests, grain prices plummeted, and a full cart might not fetch much. The family lived frugally, saving every coin for their children's future marriages.

If she could secure this job, she could afford new clothes for her children by the end of the year and even buy two kilograms of fatty meat – a significant blessing.

She pondered for a moment and said, "The men earn twenty copper coins per day, so I'll take less. Fifteen, no, ten coins will do."

From a distance, someone called out to Yu Lian. As she was about to go see who it was, she heard these words and turned back with a smile. "Women are no less capable than men. You're nimble and meticulous, which is your advantage. Just focus on doing a good job."

With that, she continued on her way.

Dashu's wife stood behind, staring blankly. The young lady had a slender and graceful figure; her posture was straight as she walked, exuding an air of nobility. The sun was somewhat blinding, so she raised her hand to shield her forehead. When she looked again, the girl had already turned a corner and was out of sight.

Despite this, Dashu's wife still felt that this girl was different... not that she didn't seem feminine. She was incredibly beautiful, but her demeanor and aura exuded a composed confidence. Even after losing her young husband and descending from a prominent family in the capital to live with her in-laws in the countryside, she maintained her pride and self-confidence. This girl seemed more like a noble gentleman at heart.

She stood there, observing and thinking. Finally, she lifted her head, puffed out her chest, and tried to mimic the girl's proud smile. Then she shook her head and laughed, realizing it was impossible to replicate.

Nonetheless, Dashu's wife was delighted to have received Yu Lian's approval and unexpectedly landed this job. She spent the whole day working cheerfully. Her husband thought she had lost her mind, putting in such effort for free. Even if she was grateful to Yu Lian for helping her brother, it didn't explain her dedication.

As evening approached and the sun was about to set, he called his wife over. He had just carried several large logs with others, which would be used as load-bearing pillars. They were thick and heavy, leaving him drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

"Why haven't you returned home? If dinner isn't prepared, what will my children and I eat?"

Dashu's wife lifted her chin. "My apologies, but starting today, I am also a working person."

Dashu's face was adorned with a myriad of question marks. "Huh?"

His wife beamed with delight and said, "Lianniang mentioned that I am meticulous in my work and perform tasks just as well as any man. Hence, she has decided to retain me here for the job. Since we both earn our wages here, from now on, you can ask our mother to prepare dinner along with Chun'er."

Having finished boasting about her encounter with her husband over here, upon returning home, she was met with questioning from her mother-in-law for not having prepared dinner. Yu Lian had a ready explanation too; she extensively recounted how flatteringly Mrs. Yu spoke of her, and even added a few embellishments to further praise herself.

No one cared how she praised herself, but the crucial point was that in a month and a half, she would also be a woman with a silver or two in her hand. Upon hearing this, her mother-in-law's face immediately lit up. She took her two grandchildren by the hand and said, "Go ahead with your business, there's no need to come home for dinner. I'll take the kids next door to your second and third brothers' homes to make do. When we're done, we'll bring food back for the both of you, so there's no need to cook."

Dashu's mother gave birth to three sons and three daughters, all of whom have married out. The sons, though not fully separated, each have their own households, with their dwellings constructed adjacent to one another, expanded as they grew up. They live together, each family in its own courtyard. Ordinarily, the elderly couple would dine with the eldest son's family, while the second and third sons take care of their own meals. Half of their earnings are contributed to their mother, and at the end of the year, the wealth is evenly distributed among them.

Dashu Mother, neglecting her dinner, carried her bowl to her second and third sons' courtyards, calling out to them that their eldest sister-in-law would now be working for the Hu family and wouldn't be returning to prepare dinner. The elderly couple, with their two grandsons, found it troublesome to cook, so they inquired if the brothers could share meals with them for a while.

"I'll bring my own provisions; it'll just require a bit more firewood. You help with the cooking, and I won't be taking advantage of you."

Sanshu's wife had recently gone back to her parents' home and had yet to return. Sanshu's wife quickly emerged, as her mother-in-law's request was not an arduous one. Country folk were accustomed to large pots, so adding another portion was not difficult, but...

"How did Eldest Sister-in-law find work? Did Lian'er mention it?"

She glanced back at her husband, "Sanshu wasn't even chosen, yet he's still a man, no matter his health. How can he not measure up to Eldest Sister-in-law?"

Initially, she had intended to ask Yu Lian about it, but Yu Lian was far too busy and hardly had any free time. She was afraid that someone might overhear her and misunderstand her intentions, so she didn't have the courage to approach her specifically.

But now, even her sister-in-law could contribute; why couldn't her own husband? This thought had been bothering her for days. Both Second Brother and Third Brother were working and bringing in income, while her family remained idle.

Dashu's wife had recently felt a sense of guilt for almost implicating her siblings and their spouses due to her brother's situation. Therefore, she decided to be open and honest, saying, "I helped out there for a few days, and when Lian saw how well I did, she asked me to join the workforce."

The next day, Yu Lian was surprised to discover...

Third Sister-in-law had also arrived, dressed in rough homespun linen, with her pants rolled up, diligently following her eldest sister-in-law and working hard, exerting more effort than anyone else.

Yu Lian: "…"

However, like her husband, Third Sister-in-law was short and slender, better suited for agricultural work than construction. The labor on the site proved challenging for her, and she nearly exhausted herself.

Yu Lian called her into her home to inquire about the situation.

Third Sister-in-law, being bolder than her elder sister-in-law, admitted that seeing her sister-in-law get work, she wanted to give it a try as well.

"Third Tree wasn't chosen, and now there's no farm work for him. He's just idling at home, chasing ants all day. So, I thought I'd come and see if I could help."

Not asking directly why Sanshu wasn't chosen, perhaps she already understood that his slender frame made it reasonable for him to be overlooked.

Yu Lian smiled and replied, "There's no rush. He'll have his hands full in a few days."

Sanshu's wife's eyes lit up. "What will he be busy with? You can use him however you like. Although he talks a lot, he's diligent when it comes to work. Whatever you say, he'll follow obediently and do it well."

Yu Lian explained, "Hua Sanduo is out discussing business. Once the deal is settled, he'll need people to bring back the purchases. Let Sanshu accompany him. He can drive the carriage and assist with transporting goods. They can work together as a team."

She then added a gentle reminder, "I kept your sister-in-law because she's really competent at what she does. She's suitable for this task. Don't strain yourself."

Sanshu's wife felt a bit embarrassed. "Alright, I won't cause any trouble. I'll go home and tell Sanshu to come to your place tomorrow to drive the carriage and help with the cargo."