In Dashui Village, at the old Yun family's home.
Little Xi Tian sat on a small stool, holding a blueprint and examining it with great care...
Seeing her third brother approaching with Gao Jingde and Chen Xiaoran, carrying large bags and packages, Little Xi Tian asked, "Third Brother, where are you going?"
Yun San Man pursed his lips and smiled, "To the magistrate's mansion. If you're not busy, Sister, you can come along too!~"
Mother and Father said that if they took Sweet Baby with them when they went out for business, they would definitely have good luck...
Upon hearing Third Brother San Man say this, Chen Xiaoran also ran over, tugging at Little Xi Tian's hand, "Yes, Xi Tian Sister, you should come to my house to play too!"
Having known each other for so long, Little Xi Tian had only been to her house once, and that was when she was swept away by a mountain flood in Tuofeng Mountain, then traveled to the prefectural city, and stayed at Xiaoran's house for a night on the way back to the village with the brat.
At that time, Magistrate Chen was still the prefect...
Just then, Madam Gu, having finished sweeping, walked over with the broom. Seeing Chen Xiaoran's earnest invitation, she smiled and persuaded Little Xi Tian, "It's good to go out for a walk. San Man, bring your sister back before it gets dark, don't be too late!~"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
It was so cold outside, she really didn't want to go out.
But the invitation was too warm to refuse. If she didn't agree, Xiaoran would probably cry.
"Alright!~" Little Xi Tian replied, put away her blueprint, went back into the house to get a clean little floral jacket, and tied a red hair tie onto her bun.
Shangguan Fang'er was fast asleep on the kang. She hadn't slept well these past few days due to her worry for San Man...
Hearing a crisp singing voice, Shangguan Fang'er opened her eyes and saw Sweet Baby humming a tune while putting on her floral jacket.
"Sweet Baby, where are you going?"
"To the county town!~"
"Mmm, I want to go too!"
Shangguan Fang'er scrambled up, tidied her hair, and pulled Little Xi Tian's hand as she walked outside...
"Oh, Fang'er Sister, walk slower!" Little Xi Tian followed with her short legs.
Seeing that Shangguan Fang'er's clothes were terribly dirty, Madam Gu called Zhao Guihua over, "Go find Fang'er some clean clothes, nothing too flashy!~"
Fang'er wasn't very bright and liked to go into the kitchen, not paying attention to hygiene when eating, so her clothes got dirty very quickly...
But living in a farmhouse, especially in winter, no one could guarantee washing clothes every day. Over time, Shangguan Fang'er's dirty clothes piled up.
"Mother, where do I have any more clothes!" Zhao Guihua said helplessly, "Didn't I give all my few clothes to Fang'er?"
This was the truth. Ever since Shangguan Fang'er came to the old Yun family, her and Du Tieshan's clothes had almost all been given to Fang'er...
Yun San Man heard this and smiled, "It's alright. When we get to the county town, I'll buy Fang'er a ready-made outfit. Let's go!~"
After all, it was the first time going to the magistrate's mansion, so they couldn't be too casual or shabby.
Seeing this, Madam Gu thought to herself that with the New Year approaching, it was time to buy new clothes for the family. On New Year's Eve, everyone dressed cleanly and brightly, which would be festive...
If everyone looked dusty and disheveled, how could they celebrate the New Year?
The family's horse-drawn sleigh had been taken by Fourth Brother, so Yun San Man had to hitch up the horse carriage. He loaded Little Xi Tian, Shangguan Fang'er, Chen Xiaoran, and Gao Jingde, and slowly drove out of Dashui Village.
As it neared noon, the group arrived at the county town.
Little Xi Tian wanted to visit the shops, while Yun San Man took Shangguan Fang'er to buy clothes. Gao Jingde and Chen Xiaoran, having nothing else to do, also came to stroll around the shops...
"Oh, Miss Yun is here!" Foreman Li greeted her with a smile, "It's too messy here, dusty and grimy. Don't get Miss Yun's clothes dirty!~"
Little Xi Tian pouted and looked around, "Uncle Li, where have all the workers gone? Why are you the only one here?"
Foreman Li scratched his head at her words, "To be honest, they've all gone to buy New Year's goods. I heard pork is cheap these days, so they wanted to buy more to take back..."
Little Xi Tian frowned slightly upon hearing this, "Uncle Li, don't their families know how to buy pork or prepare for the New Year? If all the workers are gone, who will stay to work?"
Alas, it seemed she had been negligent. Matters like renovating shops really required her personal supervision...
"Miss Yun, you may not know, but there are too many people buying pork in the county town. Those women and elderly people simply can't compete. If their men don't go to help them, the pork and eggs will be snatched up!" Foreman Li explained.
Little Xi Tian: "..."
What sophistry.
Did they think she was young and easily fooled, easily bullied?
Little Xi Tian's face turned cold, and she puffed out her cheeks, "Uncle Li, our agreement is clearly written in black and white. If the work isn't completed before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, you won't get a single cent of the remaining payment. You've worked hard all year; you don't want to go back empty-handed for the New Year, do you?"
"But, but..."
"But what?" Little Xi Tian frowned, crossing her arms. "If you don't have enough manpower, you can hire some temporary help. I'll pay for their expenses as well. But you're just loafing around here every day, taking the deposit and not doing the work. Our family's money doesn't grow on trees. If you think you can't continue this job, just say so. Let's not waste each other's time here!"
Little Xi Tian rarely got this angry; she was truly upset today...
Foreman Li's face turned red with shame. He opened and closed his mouth, unable to speak.
Just then, Gao Jingde ran over, "Little Aunt, Little Aunt!~"
"What is it?"
"Little Aunt, I just went to the second floor for a walk and found three or four workers drunk and passed out, sleeping soundly!"
Little Xi Tian: "..."
With this kind of crew, so lazy and negligent, let alone finishing by the fifteenth of the first lunar month, they probably wouldn't even have the floor laid by May Day next year.
Little Xi Tian grew more and more angry. She directly extended her hand, "Return the deposit. Considering your hard work these past few days, just give me ninety taels of silver back, then pack your things and leave with your men!~"
Little Xi Tian had paid a hundred taels as a deposit initially. She also paid out of her own pocket for materials and other expenses. Foreman Li and the workers only earned their hard-earned money...
Ten taels of silver divided among thirteen people meant each person earned quite a bit. Little Xi Tian just considered it as selling a few less days of milk.
Foreman Li was in a panic, waving his hands repeatedly, "Miss Yun, it's really not what you think. Yesterday was my daughter's birthday, and the workers were happy, so they drank a little more. Please don't be angry. I'll call them up to work now, and I'll call back those who went out to buy pork..."
Little Xi Tian's face turned red with anger. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a loud 'clang' as the door was kicked open.