Chapter 48: Protecting the Younger Generation ◇

◎ Standing before his daughter-in-law, he shielded her protectively. ◎

The villagers arrived as promised the following day.

Yu Lian took out the list she had prepared the day before and read it aloud. The first batch called were for land-clearing tasks, followed by those for house construction.

The villagers who heard their names called felt a mix of joy and regret. They were glad to have been chosen at least for some work, ensuring their wages, but they also felt envious of those who had landed higher-paying jobs in house building. Unbeknownst to them, the remaining villagers were nervous, with some already convinced they wouldn't be selected, fearing they would lag behind their neighbors in terms of income. If they didn't make the cut, how could they not feel their annual feast losing its taste?

The disappointment would cast a shadow over their New Year's celebration.

After reading out the names for the land-clearing group, Yu Lian paused and instructed them to form a line. One by one, they stepped forward to press their thumbprints on the labor contract. Uncle Two, literate, took the document first, read it aloud, and assured the villagers that there were no issues with the agreement.

Uncle Two, respected for his wisdom and seniority in the village, was a trusted figure, and the villagers believed him without hesitation.

However, they couldn't help but express their curiosity.

"We've never had such formalities when working for folks in town or the county. No thumbprints, no signatures—what's the point of this?"

The questioner seemed unconvinced, thinking that Yu Lian, the young lady from the capital, was making a fuss over nothing. In their opinion, it would be more practical to spend this time farming with a hoe.

Second Uncle chuckled and didn't scold them. Instead, he said, "It's good to be meticulous, very good. This contract clearly states who hires whom, how much the wages are, and what hours you'll work each day, leaving no room for misunderstanding. It ensures that you won't be taken advantage of. Isn't that great?"

"Think about it, when you work for those landlords and merchants, don't they often prolong your working hours until day and night? Today you work two extra hours, tomorrow three, yet you still earn the same few copper coins. Isn't that a huge loss?"

"You can't even get such clear terms when working for government officials. Yu Lian does this mainly for your benefit. Even if she didn't write it down, would you dare to slack off?"

After Second Uncle finished speaking, the experienced laborers exclaimed,

"Forget about the government; they would never think of us. They only know how to exploit us. Last year during corvée labor, I almost died on the job and barely made it back. Afterward, I had to rest for half a month before I could work again, covered in injuries."

"Second Uncle, you're right. Before, when we worked for others, we did as the employer said, never daring to slack off or leave without permission. We were afraid they wouldn't pay us, and we feared losing our jobs. We dared not complain. If we quit, there were always others lining up to take our place."

"Yes, yes, indeed."

"Well then, signing this contract seems like a wise move. As expected of a young lady from the capital, she handles matters meticulously and fairly. It protects us from being wronged, so we'll work hard for her and make sure she gets her money's worth!"

Yu Lian nodded with a gentle smile, but inwardly, she sighed. Living in such a feudal era, the common folk led difficult lives, especially for rural villagers trying to earn a few coins. The labor market was oversaturated, allowing landlords, merchants, and wealthy gentry to dictate terms and exploit workers at will. The ordinary people had no means to resist, let alone dare to resist. They obediently followed orders, fearing non-payment of wages and losing their source of income.

For a long time, an exceedingly exploitative system of labor has been entrenched.

She let out a soft sigh, and after a brief moment, she pressed her hand down and said, "Countryfolk who have affixed their fingerprints may now return home. Be sure to come back to work early tomorrow morning at the beginning of the hour of Mao. At that time, kindly bring your tools along; there will be an additional allowance provided for this task."

Given the substantial land to be cultivated, the number of laborers required far exceeded those needed for construction. If they were to purchase farming tools like hoes on par with the workforce, the cost would escalate dramatically, manifesting as obvious extravagance. Moreover, once the land clearing was finished, there would be no need for such an abundance of hoes at home. Even if Yu Lian had plans for a farm, it wouldn't justify such unnecessary expenditure.

Let the villagers bring their own farming implements to clear and cultivate the land. These agricultural tools are sturdy and experience minimal wear and tear; thus, providing a modest subsidy for depreciation would suffice. The cost is virtually negligible, while it also safeguards the interests of the villagers—this indeed achieves a dual benefit.

Having worked as an HR professional for years, Yu Lian was accustomed to fairness and impartiality in managing people and tasks. She neither wanted to exploit herself nor her workers; instead, she believed in mutual benefit as the foundation for sustained success.

The villagers were simple folk and believed that bringing their own tools for tilling was a matter of course. Did they expect to dig the earth with bare hands? Surprised by Yu Lian's mention of additional compensation, they blushed and waved their hands repeatedly, insisting it wasn't necessary.

"It's our duty, how can we ask for extra pay?"

"These farming tools are used for work anyway, whether at home or in the fields. They won't break from a few days' use. How can we accept compensation from you for this?"

"Exactly, we're all neighbors. There's no need for such formality. We've already been paid for our labor, so we can't accept more money just for using a hoe."

Yu Lian replied, "The compensation is small, one copper coin per tool per day. If any damage occurs, that will be accounted for separately."

Having expressed her admiration for the simplicity and vulnerability of the common folk, she reminisced about the various allowances provided in her modern work life: housing subsidies, food allowances, heat allowances, transportation subsidies, and even afternoon tea allowances in some considerate companies. Compared to that, the benefits here seemed negligible.

Due to Yu Lian's insistence, the villagers didn't dare to argue further. Instead, they were momentarily moved, perceiving this young lady as honest and benevolent, a rare gem in the world who wouldn't let them suffer any loss, even paying for a mere hoe. Her kindness knew no bounds.

"Isn't she too good? Even the fairest officials aren't as considerate as she is. She thinks so much about us, I feel heartache just thinking about how she spends her copper coins."

"Why are you so narrow-minded? She comes from an influential Marquis' household and has seen the world in the capital. Her mindset is on a different level from our small-town folks. She doesn't begrudge giving us those coins openly, that's called grace, the grandeur of a noble!"

"Pah, what has her grace got to do with you? A copper coin a day may not seem much, but consider how many of us there are. Each extra day means more expenses. I say we should act with conscience, work diligently, and strive to finish the job sooner, so as not to waste her silver – it's almost too hot to handle, and we'd feel guilty accepting it!"

"Indeed, that's the way to think. Let's work hard and finish the land clearing promptly. We mustn't be ungrateful for her kindness."

"Exactly right. Go home, wash up, have an early meal, and get a good night's rest. Tomorrow, we'll gather our strength and work with renewed vigor!"

"Wait a moment, let me see who has been chosen for the house construction."

Those preparing to leave immediately paused to watch, curious to know who had been selected and what qualities they possessed that set them apart from the rest.

Yu Lian didn't delay either, immediately announcing the second batch of workers needed – those for constructing the house.

She called up two individuals. One was quite well-known among the villagers; he was a local carpenter who had been working on houses for years. His name was Hua Dameng, a sturdy man with broad shoulders and a strong build. In this line of work, physical strength was essential before other considerations were taken into account. Most landowners would first assess a worker's appearance and physique before anything else.

The other person was the elder brother of SanShu's wife from the neighboring village. Some villagers recognized him and called out, "Ma Dafen, why are you here? You're not from our village."

This name made the corner of Yu Lian's mouth twitch slightly. Yesterday, he had mentioned that his name was 'Dafen,' as in diligent, not 'Dufen' as in manure. However, being illiterate, villagers often associated his name with 'manure.' This nickname had stuck since childhood, and everyone believed his name to be Ma Dafen.

Though not a pleasant-sounding name, it was common enough. There were plenty with names like 'Niu Tou Ji Fen' (Ox Head Chicken Manure), so 'Ma Fen' was nothing extraordinary.

Ma Dafen scratched his head, giving an honest smile. "I wanted to give it a try."

He was confident in his skills and didn't believe he would be inferior to Hua Dameng. However, his honest nature prevented him from directly challenging the other by saying he was stronger or more capable. Why not hire him instead?

Hua Dameng's thick brows knitted together almost into a knot. He asked in an unfriendly tone, "What does this guy do? We're just building one house, and I've built annexes for landlords that are much larger than this courtyard. I can handle it alone, why do we need another person?"

Being a villager himself, Hua Dameng had the home-field advantage, and his personality was naturally more assertive. The moment he spoke, the atmosphere became tense.

Ironically, the villagers found his argument reasonable. Even if Yu Lian intended to build a grand house, wouldn't one foreman suffice? As Hua Dameng was one of their own, the villagers took his side, turning to look at Yu Lian, waiting to see how she would respond.

Sanshu's wife quietly approached her eldest sister-in-law and inquired, "Why did you bring your elder brother along? I was wondering why you would come back to your natal home for no reason. So it's because you wanted him to snatch some work. If Uncle Dameng finds out about this, he'll surely become our adversary in the future. Why would you do something like this?"

Hua Dameng, with his intimidating appearance and frequent travels outside the village, was rarely challenged by its inhabitants. Moreover, he had two younger brothers, Ermeng and Sanmeng, both of whom were burly and formidable. The entire family was not to be trifled with. Even though it was only his eldest sister-in-law who had offended someone, the consequences wouldn't discriminate; Sanshu would likely suffer greatly as well when the time came.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Dashu's wife felt somewhat embarrassed. However, moved by Yu Lian's mention of generous wages for the foreman and her offer to recommend anyone she knew, she contemplated introducing her elder brother to the position.

Though working outside does entail labor, as Yu Lian mentioned, the employers outside are not easy to deal with. They constantly make things difficult for you, and should your work fail to meet their expectations, they might deduct your wages or even demand revisions, wearing you down in the process. Yet, at the end of the day, you still earn the same amount. Moreover, when working outside, one must not only endure the moods of the employers and their managers but also compete with others and know how to ingratiate oneself with them.

In the county and towns, there were job agencies run by brokers. Someone as dull and unskilled in conversation as her brother was far from favored by these agents. Sometimes, he would wait for days on end just to secure a job. Concerned about her elder brother's tireless efforts, she had secretly run back to her parents' home to send word.

Now that my sister-in-law has put it this way, she tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Just act like you don't know. Pretend he came on his own. Even if Brother Dameng seeks revenge later, I'll take responsibility and won't involve you or Sanshu."

"My sister-in-law is also about to give birth. I thought, with my brother always out and about, he missed the birth of their first daughter. This time, I want him to be there to witness the birth of their child."

Sanshu's wife wasn't truly sharp-tongued. Seeing her elder sister-in-law's plea, she didn't press the issue further but grumbled, "Next time you have such an idea, Sister, please let us know beforehand. It doesn't make sense to help outsiders more than our own family. Otherwise, the villagers will point fingers at us."

Hua Dameng was an impulsive man. Without waiting for Yu Lian's explanation, he raised his voice and said, "Are you saying you don't trust me, so you brought in this outsider to confront me?"

He was a large, burly man with a fierce expression and a loud voice. His accusation towards Yu Lian made the villagers who had just benefited from her kindness unhappy. They stepped forward and said, "What are you doing, Dameng? How are you talking to her? Why are you being so aggressive? Speak calmly and rationally."

Indeed, you only dare to be fierce at home. Do you have the audacity to treat those landowner masters with such an attitude when you're working outside?"

Hua Zhan had been standing quietly on the side, allowing her daughter-in-law to take charge. At this moment, she stepped forward and stood protectively in front of her.