The people of Song’s village did not pay taxes this year, so every family saved up their silver, and as the New Year approached, they all prepared their New Year’s goods early, and even the least well-off families cut two catties of meat.
Even the least well-off families had cut two catties of meat, and even the few women who worked in the workshop had a large pile of peanuts and melon seeds, as well as pastries, which they carried back with them, causing a wave of envy in the village.
People gathered in twos and threes to talk about it, especially those who had been called by the village head’s daughter-in-law to go, but whose families had prevented them from going, and who regretted it.
As soon as the Gu family’s two carriages entered the village, the village people noticed them and looked out on tiptoe, thinking that the Gu family must have sent a gift to the Song family, and were envious.
When the carriages stopped at the entrance to the workshop, Gu Yi and Song Wan Yue got down and called Song Shen over.
Gu Yi’s voice came from afar, “My father said that the workers in the workshop had worked hard, so this is the New Year’s gift for them, so go and call them out, and give them a share.”
New Year’s goods for the workers in the workshop?
The crowd couldn’t help the curiosity in their hearts to come out of the house and gather around.
Gu Yi had already asked the boy to unload the things on the floor there was meat, rice, flour, and a fine cotton cloth.
The women in the workshop came out from inside, they had heard Gu Yi’s words earlier and could not believe their ears until they saw the things on the floor, the joy on their faces could no longer be concealed and they all burst into laughter.
“Five catties of meat for one person, ten catties of fine rice, ten catties of fine flour, plus a clothing material, the cloth is in piles, you carry it back and share it yourselves.”
The eyes of the onlookers were red with envy, even for the New Year, their families had not bought so many goodies.
“Young Master Gu ……”
One of the villagers took a step forward with his hand in his pocket, “Is your workshop still looking for people after the New Year?”
He was the first one to go to his house when the village head’s daughter-in-law called for someone, but once he heard that he had to sign a five-year contract of sale, he said nothing, threatening to break his daughter-in-law’s legs if she wanted to go.
He was the one who regretted it the most. He had been to the county town numerous times this winter, but hadn’t found a job once, and if he hadn’t paid the tax this year, I’m afraid his family would have starved.
This is what the people of the village wanted to ask, and when they heard him ask, they all pricked up their ears.
“No recruitment for now.”
The man retreated in disappointment, watching as the women’s families in the workshop gleefully carried their things home.
“Second brother, you accompany me to the village headman’s house.”
When the crowd had dispersed, Gu Yi said to Song Shen.
“Oh, okay.”
Song Shen came back from his shock and gestured for Gu Yi to wait for a moment, pulling Song Wan Yue to the side, “Little sister, where did you pay for all these things?”
The hot pot base was shipped out almost every day, but he hadn’t seen a single coin yet, and the account book was just empty numbers, even with the incoming money from the pills and the daily sale of spicy hot pot, he was still unsure of himself.
“This is prepared by Master Gu.”
Song Shen was relieved and happily got on Gu Yi’s carriage and took him to the village headman’s house.
The village chief’s two sons, both of whom had dragged their families out to work, had now returned for the New Year, and several children were playing in the courtyard when they heard the carriage and ran out to see.
Gu Yi instructed Xiao Si to take candy and give it to them, so the children got the candy and turned around to run home.
“My father said that the family workshop is bothering the village head, and asked me to send you some New Year gifts.”
“How can this be made ……”
The village chief hurriedly brushed it off, it should be him who thanked Elder Gu for being able to open a workshop in Songjia Village.
Song Shen and Xiao Si had already brought in the things, there was meat, fine flour, fine rice, a small jar of wine, two pieces of fabric, and a large packet of tobacco.
The village chief was so flattered and excited that he didn’t know where to put his hands and feet, thanking him over and over again.
“It’s getting late, so I won’t go and sit in the house. I’ll ask the village chief to take care of the workshop in the coming year.”
“I should, I should.”
The village chief personally sent the people out and watched the carriage go far away before he turned around excitedly and went back, circling around the things several times, picking up the tobacco and wine jars and greeting, “Eldest and second, quickly carry the things in.”
……
“Gu Yi ……”
Song Shen squirmed around in the carriage, looking inside the carriage for a moment and then back again, torn between them before turning his head towards the carriage again and shouting.
Gu Yi lifted the carriage curtain, “What is it?”
Song Shen swallowed, “That, I, I want to ask, when will the money for the hot pot base be settled to us?”
“It’s already been given, it’s in the little girl’s hand.”
“Gave it?”
Gu Yi nodded, “Gave.”
“How much?”
Song Shen was impatient.
Gu Yi but Gu Yi didn’t tell him, “You’ll know if you go back and take a look.”
Song Shen immediately jumped off the carriage and ran towards home, shouting as he ran, “It’s getting late, you should hurry home, no need to go home.”
As the words left his mouth, he had already run a long way away.
Gu Yi smiled, let down the carriage curtain and ordered the coachman, “Go home.”
Song Shen ran back in one breath, and with one foot in the courtyard, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Little sister, little sister!”
Song Si happened to come out of the house and frowned unhappily, “Didn’t I tell you? Be more steady, don’t shout.”
“No, big brother ……”
Song Shen was incoherent with excitement, “It’s tied, it’s tied!”
Said the man, running towards the door of Song Wangyue’s room.
Song Si frowned even more tightly, thinking that she had to teach him well during the New Year, after the New Year, he would be twelve years old and still be so impetuous, how could he support the family business in the future?
Song Wan Yue came out of the house with her account book and almost collided with Song Shen.
“Little sister, how much money, how much did you settle?”
Song Shen couldn’t wait.
Song Wan Yue shook the account book in her hand, “Guess?”
Song Shen snatched the ledger straight away, took it and ran into his house, banging the door shut, but in a moment, a series of shouts came from inside.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhh ……”
Everyone in the family was startled and came out of the house.
Bam!
The door was opened vigorously, Song Shen ran out from inside and ran directly to Song Wan Yue, “Little sister, it’s all ours or ……”
“It’s all ours.”
“Ahhhhhhh ……”
Song Shen let out another series of screams.
“Oh no, the boy is possessed? Boss, you go quickly ……”
Before Grandma Song could finish her sentence, Song Wangyue smiled and said, “Grandma, don’t worry, second brother is not possessed, it’s the money for the hot pot base that’s settled.”
“Settlement is settled, as for so ……”
Song grandmother said halfway, suddenly thought of something, immediately paused, a rare swallow of summer saliva, “Yue, Yue’er, no, it’s not a lot of settlement, right?”