Just as Zhang Xiaobao had expected, when more than half of the hundreds of people had finished harvesting, the rain started to fall. The people who were working immediately left the fields and hid in the sheds that were specially set up for them, eating the food that was specially prepared for them.
The masters of the Zhang Family and Wang Family in Zhuangzi even took out wine for their own farmers to drink. This was included in Zhuangzi's bill, so the masters did not have to pay for it. The children and the elderly were also given an extra portion of congee with preserved egg and lean meat, which was also paid for by Zhuangzi. Of course, this money had long been earned back from the triple price.
However, the Ge Family's farmers and hired people did not think so. The Ge Family's farmers knew that they could not compete with the others, so they were already used to it. Fortunately, the food was not bad. There were actually two dishes and a soup. As for the other people who had five dishes, they pretended not to see it.
The hired helpers also had two dishes and a soup. This time, no one made a fuss. They thought that it was the same as at noon. When they saw the wine, some people who liked to inquire asked. When they found out that the wine was really given by the masters, they were all envious and jealous.
They were also farmers from Zhuangzi in Sanshui County. In the past, they had always heard that the masters of the Zhuangzi and Zhang Family were very good to the farmers. They did not think much of it, but this time, they saw it with their own eyes and wished that they could immediately become farmers here.
Not only did they eat better than their own people, but there was also a doctor who came over with his disciple to check on them one by one. He was afraid that they would catch a cold if they were swept by the rain. The two housekeepers of Zhuangzi also wandered among the crowd, stopping from time to time to ask the older people what was wrong with them.
Those who ran too slowly and whose clothes were wet were pulled to a small shed at the side to change into a new set of clothes.
"Brother, I see that the clothes on these two Zhuangzi are the same. Other than the words on the chest, the workmanship and cloth are from the same place, right?"
A helper asked a Ge Family's Zhuangzi man beside him when he saw those who changed their clothes come out. Those who did not change their clothes were given a set of clothes to hold on to.
"You just saw it? How many days had it been like this? Didn't you see those people who gave the clothes to look at them with the help of the light? That depends on the name. First, get someone to measure your body one by one and remember your name. Then, go to a tailor shop to have them made. They will use the same cloth and style. Only the men and women will be separated. All the money will be paid by the owner, including the shoes. "
The Ge family's farmer could only drink a mouthful of soup as he watched the other party drink. He said to the person who asked the question.
"So good? Where's your Zhuangzi? "The person who asked the question enviously looked at the happy faces of the Zhang Family and Wang Family before asking the Ge Family.
"We're not bad either. This year, we can hand in less than half of the grain. Yesterday, the main family sent someone to measure our sizes and shoes. In a few days, we'll be able to wear new clothes. This is all thanks to the two Zhuangzi." When the Ge family talked about clothes, they were equally happy.
The person who asked the question was stunned. "If you don't thank the master of your main family, how are you going to thank them?"
"Without them, there wouldn't be such a good harvest. Without Between the Clouds and the Water, there wouldn't be a market, and the main family wouldn't think of us. When comparing the two places, the main family is afraid that we'll run away, so they can only learn from their main family and treat us better. Not only Ge Family's Zhuangzi, but also Li Family's Zhuangzi."
The villagers of the Ge family had long understood this point. The children of the Ge family went to study in the other side's school. Now, the main family had an agreement with the other side. They would send food to the other side for them to cook. Although it was slightly worse than what the other side ate, it was much better than what they brought back.
"Yes, that's true. It's a pity that my Zhuangzi doesn't have Zhang Family and Wang Family. It's a blessing to follow such a main family."
When the person who asked the question heard that the Zhuangzi around him were also enjoying the food, he didn't have the mood to talk anymore. He lowered his head and ate with all his might. It wasn't easy to have a good meal, and it would be even better if they could bring it back home.
*****
Compared to the carefree people who were working, the owners of the grain stores were listless. At the same time, they were feeling very sad.
"We still haven't gotten everything back. What should we do? Let's see how much we have in total. Otherwise, we won't plant anymore. Hopefully, we can get enough from others. Otherwise, we will have to pay a lot of money. "
Boss Wang sat in the shed and watched the others eat and drink. He couldn't swallow the food in front of him, but he drank two big bowls of wine. His face was drooping, and he seemed to be talking to himself.
"It doesn't seem to be enough. Even if we don't plant our own, we still have to pay others. Let's calculate. It's about six thousand taels of silver. How much can we earn from the handprint? Six thousand taels, and we still have to pay for the workers, the lanterns, the food, and the scythe. It's more than six hundred taels. The scythe is good, and it works faster, but it can't be sold for one tael of silver, right? "
Boss Lu heard Boss Wang's words, and calculated how much money they would have to pay this time.
The others also heard it. After working for so many days, not only did they not earn any money, they still had to pay. It's not that they couldn't afford it, but that they would lose too much.
"Everyone, listen to me. Don't worry. Isn't it just a portion that hasn't been collected? How about this, we'll go according to the original price, sixty-five copper coins. Zhuangzi will help you make up for it. Don't forget that Zhuangzi harvested some rice during the day. I reckon that other than the seeds left by Zhuangzi, it's just about the amount that you didn't collect. "
Steward Zhang listened from the side, and timely told the Little Young Master's arrangements. He had an almost blind worship for the Little Young Master and the Little Young Lady. One by one, people came to cause trouble, and look at the results.
Just like the Little Young Lady said, that small bridge was the Bridge of Helplessness. Those who did good would be reincarnated into a good family, while those who did evil would be directly thrown into a pot of oil to be tormented. One thought to heaven, one thought to hell. There was no escape.
The owners of the grain company didn't know what Steward Zhang was thinking. Seeing that there was still hope, they became happy again.
"Steward Zhang, are you telling the truth?" Boss Jin carefully asked with a hopeful expression.
"Yes, Zhang Family and Wang Family. Zhuangzi doesn't intend to harm you. Just take the rest and you can still make money. That sickle is not bad, take it back and use it. It's easier to use than the original one."
Steward Zhang said with a sincere expression.
"Good people, you are all good people, we are bad people. We didn't have good intentions when we first came. Do you still want to exchange for a shop in the capital? Don't worry, this time we won't keep a single copper coin. We'll take as much as we deserve. "
Boss Wang interjected at this time. There was no need to compensate, and they could still make some money. Now that they looked good, they wouldn't come to cause trouble in the future. Zhuangzi was too evil.
Steward Zhang smiled and said: "You can exchange for anything. Whatever is convenient for you, Zhuangzi will accept. Oh, the rice soaked in the rain, what are your plans? If you are willing to sell it to Zhuangzi, Zhuangzi can use it to make wine. The price …? "
"Just sell it at the normal price, or a bit less." Boss Jin saw that people were willing to buy the rice that was not good for use even if they brought it back, so he quickly gave a price.
*****
"Xiao Bao, tomorrow we will go to Little Luoshui to play. I heard that there will be a lot of talented men and women there. Let's see what the dock looks like at this time of the year. If you have anything else to arrange, do it quickly."
Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao had just finished their lesson and were chatting on the couch.
"There is one more thing. Just now, the housekeeper sent someone to say that they are willing to sell the rice soaked in the rain." Zhang Xiaobao thought for a while. This was the only thing that was left.
"Aren't you going to keep it to make wine?" Wang Juan planned to do so.
"I won't use such good grains to make wine. Before we leave tomorrow morning, I'll get someone to bring them back and steam them to make rice cakes or popped rice flowers. Each grain is better than ordinary rice. It's a waste to use them to make music or wine. Hmm, I'll make more popped rice flowers. When the time comes, I'll glue them with sugar and follow us to Little Luoshui. I reckon the price of selling them will be about the same as selling the seeds."
Zhang Xiaobao turned over and faced Wang Juan and said.
Wang Juan reached out and pinched Zhang Xiaobao's face. "Let me see how smart you are. They bought it with the same price as the seeds, but you bought it back with the same price as the normal rice. Then you reprocessed it and sold it at the same price as the seeds. If they knew about this, they would definitely regret it."
"This is the difference between raw material supply and deep processing. What we need to do in the future is to find more deep processing methods. Let's sleep. We will get up early tomorrow morning and go to Little Luoshui to get a small boat. You sit there and I will row. I can row very well. With a single paddle, I can make the boat reach the shore horizontally."
"Don't brag. Aren't those who make a living on the river better than you? Can you row the paddle and make the boat reach the shore? "Wang Juan replied.
"I can't do that. Can you?" Zhang Xiaobao admitted that he was not good enough.
"Of course. I can row the paddle against the shore and push the boat away in two strokes."
*****
When the boat passed by, the ripples on the water gently curved. A handful of fish gathered together. The fairyland in the painting was once far away. The dreamland in the poem was never encountered. The dark clouds thinly penetrated the sunlight. The blue water surged and reflected the remaining green. The sound of the crowd was heard. The autumn geese were two lines of rain on the river.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan got up early in the morning and rushed to the Little Luoshui River at noon. They just happened to see the sun penetrating the clouds, the drizzle like silk, the boat moving, the fish floating, the geese crying in the sky, and the human figure heading south.
"It's so beautiful. Xiao Bao, you get a camera. I'll take a picture of this. It's so beautiful. Looking at the landscape, it seems like it's fake. It seems like a splash-ink landscape painting."
Wang Juan was eating snacks made with sugar and made with a pot of rice that was hurriedly given to her in the morning. When she got off the car and saw such a charming scene, she began to talk nonsense.
"The camera is not good. Why don't we use the tape used to shoot movies? That's more artistic. Once it's in the computer, there's no need to do any follow-up processing. That's settled. Keep the environment here. When we succeed in our research, we'll record it."
Zhang Xiaobao still retained a little of his rationality. He knew that this matter was not much different from a dream.
"Let's go. You said that the two of us went to the place where the scholars gathered to play. What should we say?" Wang Juan watched the geese leave and pulled Zhang Xiaobao to the shore, preparing to enter the first house in Linshui.
"Can we say 'we're just looking, not talking'?" Zhang Xiaobao replied seriously.
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