"Liu Nian, will all the lobsters in Daming Lake be yours from now on?" Zhang Laoshi stepped forward curiously.
"For the next ten years, they are all mine. Anyone who touches them is breaking the law." Zhang Liu Nian swept his gaze across everyone present, making their hearts skip a beat.
This lazy bum had truly changed; his words alone could make them uneasy.
"Since they are yours, we naturally won't touch them. However, besides Daming Lake, there are many other places that have these lobsters." Zhang Laoshi's words were a reminder that these lobsters were found in many places beyond Daming Lake.
Zhang Liu Nian naturally knew they were everywhere, but those outside were different from the ones in Daming Lake.
"The ones in Daming Lake are clean and large; that's the difference."
"..." It seemed he had thought of everything. There was nothing for him to worry about anymore, so Zhang Laoshi fell silent. However, he felt relieved for Zhang Liu Nian in his heart.
He had been truly scared earlier, thinking Zhang Liu Nian was actually going to let Tu Mei Li be taken away. Fortunately, Liu Nian was clever and had managed to get rid of the troublemaker instead. It was wonderful.
"However, I need two divers now, and I might need some shrimp peelers later." Seeing everyone's complex expressions, Zhang Liu Nian decided to extend an olive branch to cooperate with the villagers and change their attitudes towards him.
"Divers?" Zhang Laoshi had never heard this term before.
In the past, when they fished in Daming Lake, they had professional fishermen.
This was the first time he'd heard of shrimp divers.
"Just two hours in the morning. Young men who can swim are preferred. One dollar and fifty cents per day per person." Zhang Liu Nian's announcement shocked the entire village.
Earning one dollar and fifty cents in just two hours a day would amount to 45 yuan in a month, which was even higher than the salary of a factory worker.
Who wouldn't want such good treatment?
However, before that, they needed to confirm if it was true.
"Brother Liu Nian, is what you're saying true? Just two hours of work, and one dollar and fifty cents a day?"
Could such a good job exist in the world?
The one who spoke was the village secretary's youngest son, Zhang Li. He was a year younger than Zhang Liu Nian, so by theory, he could call him "brother."
"That's right, two hours for one dollar and fifty cents. But it requires young men who are good swimmers. Others should not apply." Zhang Liu Nian didn't want to get into any major trouble.
"Your family just finished paying off their debts. Do you have the money to pay us?" Wang Xiao E asked, as her family also had three sons.
"Daily wages. Don't worry about the salary." Zhang Liu Nian's words made the already eager young men even more enthusiastic.
Daily wages, one dollar and fifty cents for two hours, and no other requirements besides knowing how to swim.
This was truly a windfall!
And the positions were limited; first come, first served!
"Liu Nian, I can swim. Do you think I'm suitable?" Zhang Liu Sha from the crowd stepped forward, the first to express his desire for the job.
As soon as he spoke, a second person followed, then a third.
"Liu Nian, I have ten years of swimming experience and am strong as an ox. Do you think I'm suitable?" The young man who said this was indeed as stout as an ox.
"Yours is more like a pig; I am the one strong as an ox."
"Liu Nian, ignore them. Look at me, I can catch fish, cast nets, and even free dive."
"..."
Their爭搶 (zhēngqiǎng - scrambling/competing) almost escalated into a fight, but it was the village head's shout that finally stopped them.
"Quiet, all of you! Let Liu Nian choose." Zhang Laoshi roared, then turned to Zhang Liu Nian with a smile and asked, "Liu Nian, how do you want to choose?"
It was he who needed people, so these two spots naturally had to be decided by him.
"Let's draw lots. Whoever draws the short stick gets the job." Zhang Liu Nian saw that there were many suitable candidates. He found sticks of the right length and then broke two of them. Afterward, he had them step forward and draw a stick they felt was short from Zhang Liu Nian's hand.
Just then, Zhang Liu Shui arrived. He had been replanting seedlings in the field and, upon hearing that Tu Mei Li was bringing people to trouble his third brother, he dropped his work and rushed over with muddy legs.
Wu Gu Di, seeing him like this, also wanted to see Zhang Liu Nian's predicament. But by the time they arrived, they saw everyone surrounding Zhang Liu Nian, looking at him as if he were their benefactor.
What about the trouble he was supposed to face?
How could it have turned into this?
Wu Gu Di was extremely angry, thinking that the villagers who had said Zhang Liu Nian would be troubled must have had poor eyesight. Why else would things turn out this way?
Zhang Liu Nian noticed his eldest brother's arrival, saw his uneven breathing and bare, muddy feet, smiled at him, and then announced the two lucky winners.
"Zhang Li and Zhang Liu Sha drew the short sticks, so starting tomorrow, they will be my divers."
Upon hearing this, some were happy, and some were disappointed.
"Everyone, don't be sad. I will need more help soon. For now, focus on your farming and wait for my good news." Zhang Liu Nian had no intention of cooperating only with the machinery factory; he wanted to collaborate with many others and strive to accumulate wealth as quickly as possible.
Therefore, these words were not meant to deceive them.
The unsuccessful candidates felt a bit better hearing this and looked forward to Zhang Liu Nian offering them similar good jobs.
Only Zhang Laoshi's family was extremely proud and happy because their entire family had benefited from Zhang Liu Nian. His sons all had jobs, and his eldest son had even become an employee at the machinery factory.
Thinking of this, Zhang Laoshi cast a look of admiration towards Zhang Liu Nian.
Zhang Liu Nian, not noticing the village head's gaze, turned to the chosen two and said, "Tomorrow, you two come to my house at five-thirty in the morning, and I'll take you to catch them."
"Okay, thank you, Brother Liu Nian."
"Thank you, Brother Liu Nian."
After they dispersed, Zhang Liu Nian called out to Zhang Liu Shui, who was also about to leave, "Big Brother, wait a moment."
Zhang Liu Shui turned and walked over upon hearing this, "Third Brother?"
"Big Brother, let's talk inside."
"Okay."
The two brothers entered the house. Zhang Liu Nian poured his elder brother a bowl of sugar water and said, looking at him, "Big Brother, I've secured the Daming Lake lobsters for ten years. I want you to help me guard the lake, and I'll give you two hundred a month.
Your job every day will be to help me watch the lake and make sure no one fishes out the lobsters. Will you do it?"
Securing them for ten years meant he definitely needed someone long-term to guard the lake for him.
Zhang Liu Shui was confused. "What are lobsters?"
Zhang Liu Nian slapped his thigh, realizing his elder brother hadn't been involved and thus didn't know the poisonous insects were lobsters.
"Lobsters are what we call poisonous insects. They're called lobsters, and they're not poisonous; they're edible.
I'm cooperating with the machinery factory and promised to send them several hundred kilograms of cooked lobster meat daily. To maintain a long-term partnership, I've acquired all the lobsters in Daming Lake for the next ten years from the county magistrate.
Now I need a lake guardian. Can you do it?"
With Zhang Liu Nian's explanation, Zhang Liu Shui understood.
"I can, but the salary is too high. Two hundred a month, even the leaders don't earn as much as I would." Zhang Liu Shui knew his third brother wanted to help him, but it wasn't easy for his third brother. How could he accept it?
"You are my elder brother. Giving you a higher salary is brotherly affection; please don't refuse."