The workers all wore solemn expressions. The vast majority felt immense gratitude towards their employer's wife, as their current jobs were the only means to support their families. They hadn't expected such shameless mother and daughter to emerge from Caomiao Village.
They secretly resolved to give the mother and daughter a good talking-to after work when they returned to the village.
A small number of people, particularly some women, felt a twinge of guilt. They had frequently gossiped behind the employer's wife's back, calling her low-born, merely lucky, and skilled at seduction.
Now, it seemed the employer's wife was not only lucky but also highly capable. This household was clearly run by her.
Fortunately, they hadn't acted foolishly like the Pang family mother and daughter. Otherwise, they would have lost everything.
Bai Sheng then announced loudly, "Road construction is complete. Our household also plans to plant trees and crops. If you are willing to work, there will be continuous employment. However, I expect those who work for us to silently perform their duties. If anyone has ill intentions or causes trouble, they will be immediately dismissed and never rehired! Conversely, those who work diligently will never be mistreated."
Although everyone doubted the employer's wife could grow crops in such a dry desert, they didn't voice their objections. Whether crops could be grown or not was irrelevant to them and beyond their control; they only needed to work according to the employer's wife's instructions.
"Employer's wife, please rest assured. We will work diligently. If there are any more like the Pang family or Wang Donghua, we ourselves will drive them away!" declared Wang Dama from Caomiao Village, who was Wang Xiaoma's father.
Xiaoma was now working with the employer's wife planting trees, earning 400 wen a month and unlimited use of well water. Coupled with the road construction work, his family's life was improving with each passing day.
The father of Xiao Goudan from Hongliu Village also declared loudly, "Employer's wife, the people from our Hongliu Village will also supervise each other. If we discover anyone with wicked intentions, we will not let them off."
Goudan's father was considering moving to Hongshupo to live and could not allow those rotten apples to ruin their good life.
Many of the people working here from Huangsha Village were from the Li clan. The Li clan leader had forbidden them from participating last time they caused trouble, so most of the clan members hadn't been involved. Now, they were very grateful.
In their hearts, they understood that in the past, the Zhang family controlled the village's only well. Even if they knew the Lu Ye family was being bullied, they dared not step forward rashly, lest their own families be implicated.
Now that the Lu Ye family had a well, they could survive and no longer feared the Zhang family.
Among the Lu clan, only Lu Ye's cousin, Lu Xing, came to work.
Old Woman Chen's family only had her eldest son, Lu Xing, who had always treated the second branch kindly. As the elder brother, Lu Dahai, though mindful, was too timid and had always allowed his wife and mother to bully the second branch. Lu Ye must have witnessed all of this.
Lu Xing stepped forward and said, "Brother Xiao Ye, sister-in-law, please be assured. I will also keep an eye on the people from Huangsha Village."
Bai Sheng nodded, "Thank you all for your trust. From now on, anyone who works for our household and performs exceptionally will receive an additional monthly reward of 30 jin of grain and 5 buckets of water. Brother Dazhuang and Brother Ma San will be responsible for supervision, Uncle Dama, Goudan's father, and Lu Xing will assist in supervision, and Sister Du will handle the record-keeping."
Zhao Dazhuang and the others immediately agreed.
The road construction workers were all overjoyed upon hearing this. If they performed well, they would receive such generous rewards of grain and water, and their future would no longer be uncertain.
Bai Sheng increased the monthly rewards for Zhao Dazhuang, Ma San, and Du Min by 200 wen each, while Wang Dama, Goudan's father, and Lu Xing each received 300 wen.
This made Wang Dama and Goudan's father ecstatic. Now, not only did they receive daily rations, but they also had a monthly salary. Good days were on the horizon. Henceforth, they would firmly cling to the employer's wife.
Lu Xing was also very excited; his sister-in-law was entrusting him with responsibility. He was determined to do a good job.
With this matter completely resolved, it was already afternoon. The road construction workers, eager to show their commitment, immediately returned to their tasks, and the people of Hongshupo also returned to their respective posts.
After Bai Sheng and Lu Ye returned to their room, Lu Ye impatiently entered the space to bathe. That woman had touched him, and even through his clothes, it made him incredibly disgusted. He wanted to scrub his skin off three times!
After bathing, he approached Bai Sheng, a faint mist of moisture clinging to him. He wrapped his arms around her and said, "I'm sorry, my dear, for making you work so hard."
Bai Sheng chuckled, "What hardship? Tearing apart green tea is exhilarating; I felt energetic and fully motivated. Besides, with husband's looks, physique, and charm, who knows how many more 'green teas' we'll have to deal with in the future? Today's incident was a good practice run for me."
Lu Ye sighed, "Perhaps... I should disfigure my face?" After all, a man's most important part isn't his face.
"That won't do at all. I like handsome men. Moreover, even if husband's face were ruined, people would still covet your wealth. There are just so many shameless people in this world. We should live our own lives and not change ourselves for them. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I have plenty of ways to deal with them!"
Lu Ye breathed a sigh of relief and buried his face in Bai Sheng's neck, "In the future, when we go out, in places with many women, I'll wear a mask to avoid trouble."
Bai Sheng's eyes lit up, "That's a great idea. Husband, I know of a mask that makes one look exceptionally handsome. I'll have one custom-made for you then."
Lu Ye put his hand to his forehead. He wanted to wear a mask precisely to avoid becoming even more handsome. How much did his dear wife truly like handsome men?
However, as long as his dear wife liked it, he would do everything in his power to satisfy her and make her happy.
The two embraced and began to kiss. Lu Ye, fearing he would lose control, gently pushed her away, gasping, "My dear, we can't do this. It will harm you and the baby. I... I'm going out to work."
With that, Lu Ye clutched himself, and only after it calmed down did he leave the space.
Bai Sheng also found it difficult to control herself. Whenever she and Lu Ye were alone, it was as if they were powerfully charged positive and negative poles, with an irresistible attraction, making them want to be intimate at all times.
Especially these past few months. The food had been better, Lu Ye had gained some weight, and his body had become stronger, his arm and chest muscles bulging. His hormones were off the charts, and Bai Sheng truly couldn't resist looking at him.
Alas, she still had to endure for another 7 months!
Lu Ye no longer wanted to do road construction, nor did he want to be anywhere women were present. He simply called over Lu Yun, Lu Yu, Tian Dou, Tie Zhu, and Tian Ya, deciding to focus on teaching them martial arts.
Bai Sheng came out to check on Yang Ming and the others' tree-planting progress.
The phoenix trees planted on both sides of the open space in front of the houses had all survived. However, even with simple shade sheds made from branches, the saplings were still somewhat wilted from the sun.
Most of the osmanthus trees planted on the sides of the houses had also survived, with only a few dying and being replanted.
Yang Ming was leading the seven people planting trees along the newly built road, planting maple trees. Each sapling had a shade shed made of branches. Once the saplings survived and gradually grew stronger, the shade sheds would be slowly removed.
Every evening, Bai Sheng, accompanied by Lu Ye, would secretly water each sapling with pure spiritual spring water.