Chapter 164: 164. Chapter 164: Recruiting for the Soap Workshop

164. Chapter 164: Recruiting for the Soap Workshop

Jiang Wei's smile faded visibly: "My daughter is still young; it's inappropriate to discuss such things."

As soon as Zhang Family Sister-in-law saw Jiang Wei's expression, she knew she was angry and hurriedly said: "Sigh, Xiaoxiao's mother, don't blame me for being meddlesome. Your family is not what it used to be... You have a house, and your business in town is booming. I don't know how many people are envious. You two mother and daughter have no man to look after you at home, so I'm afraid..."

"We live just fine without a man." Jiang Wei interrupted her coldly.

She knows Zhang Family Sister-in-law also has good intentions. In this feudal era where the husband is heaven, a family without men is indeed easily targeted, especially with Xiaoxiao at such a young age. If she is targeted by someone with evil intentions, no matter how young she is, the girl's purity will be ruined...

She softened her tone: "Don't worry, Zhang Sister-in-law, I have my own judgment on this matter. Xiaoxiao is young, and discussing a childhood engagement is truly too early."

"I don't want to get married!" Jiang Xiaoxiao pursed her little lips and pretended to be innocent: "I want to stay by Mother's side forever and show her filial piety for a lifetime!"

Joke, her mother is the female lead of the original text. Without her protagonist halo, what kind of good life would she have?

The table of people was amused by her words.

"You girl, there's no girl who stays by her mother's side for a lifetime; you'll have to get married sooner or later when you're older." Qiulian Niang teased with a smile.

"If she is willing to stay by my side, what does it matter if I raise her for a lifetime." Jiang Wei's voice was calm, but her tone carried an air of finality.

The people at the table were stunned upon hearing this, but then they laughed, assuming Jiang Wei said this as a joke to coax Jiang Xiaoxiao.

In this day and age, what mother doesn't hope for her daughter to marry into a good family?

But only Jiang Xiaoxiao knew that her mother wasn't joking; she was truly willing to raise her for a lifetime.

Jiang Xiaoxiao felt wonderful, hugging Jiang Wei's arm and rubbing against it. Her mother is simply a beautiful and kind-hearted great female lead...

"Alright, stop acting spoiled." Jiang Wei glanced at her helplessly and then pulled her arm away.

She rose from her seat and walked to the center of the courtyard.

Jiang Xiaoxiao naturally knew what her mother was going to do and hurriedly sat up straight.

By now, the people in the village had eaten and drunk their fill and were chatting with the people next to them.

Jiang Wei stood still in the center of the courtyard and said slowly: "I suppose everyone already knows that I've built a few more rooms in the front yard. I plan to use these bungalows as a soap workshop."

"Soap workshop, what is that?" Some families in the village didn't know about the soap and asked the people next to them one after another.

When they heard that this soap was something like bath beans, they couldn't help but sigh repeatedly: "Oh my, this is amazing. I heard that bath beans are very expensive, only rich families can afford them, and you can't even buy them in town."

"I saw even someone as experienced as Master Zheng scrambling to buy soap a few days ago. This Jiang Shi is too amazing; snow cakes, soap, how does she know how to make everything?"

"You don't know this, do you? This soap was made by Xiaoxiao herself, and my Xiaoshuan even helped out on the side."

Upon hearing this, everyone was even more surprised: "Made by Xiaoxiao?! That can't be, she's only five years old! She actually made such a good thing!"

Seeing everyone discussing this more and more intensely, Jiang Wei hurriedly said: "Everyone, quiet down, listen to me first. After the autumn planting is over, my family's soap workshop will be almost built. By then, I plan to recruit thirty people to work, fifteen men and fifteen women. Those of you who are interested can come and sign up."

She paused and added: "Of course, I won't be stingy with the wages. Workers who come to my house to work will get five hundred wen a month for women and six hundred wen a month for men."

As soon as the words fell, everyone at the table widened their eyes in disbelief.

What! Even women get five hundred wen in wages?!

"My goodness, five hundred wen in wages, even if you work at the Cao family's house in town for three months, you wouldn't earn that much money!"

"Xiaoxiao's mother, when does your house start work? I want to sign up!"

"Xiaoxiao's mother, add me, I'll come after my family's autumn harvest is over!"

For a time, everyone stood up one after another and surrounded Jiang Wei, fearing they wouldn't be able to grab one of the thirty spots.

Jiang Wei called Liu Dahong and handed the recruitment matter to him as usual.

She had already instructed Liu Dahong in advance that the people recruited must be honest, capable, and reliable; those who are lazy or slippery are not wanted.

Jiang Xiaoxiao also found paper and brushes from the room and spread them on the table. Liu Dahong sat beside her, and a long line formed in front of the two.

Making soap is not easy, nor is it difficult. For example, filtering plant ash requires great detail, so try to find careful women. Pouring the boiled lard into the lye requires vigorous stirring, so it needs strong men to do it.

Naturally, the wages for physical labor are higher.

"Wang Dachui, Zhao Youcai, and Cheng Yougui... these few can be kept."

Most of these people had helped build her house, had experience, and were honest and capable.

Every time Liu Dahong said a name, Jiang Xiaoxiao would pick up the brush and write it down.

Soon, Jiang Xiaoxiao had written a full page. When it was the women's turn, Li Dayong's wife was the first to jump out: "Me, me, me! Hurry and pick me!"

Jiang Xiaoxiao frowned and said: "Auntie, you'd better not. Your family has four people; if you come to work at my house, there will be no one to take care of Dazhuang Ge."

To be honest, she didn't want Li Dayong's wife to work at her house. This person is narrow-minded and usually likes to stir up trouble for no reason. Who knows what kind of mess she'll make if she comes.

Moreover, she has old people and young children at home. Who will take care of the old people at home after she comes, and who will do the chores at home?

Li Dayong's wife was immediately dissatisfied: "What does this girl mean! Looking down on me, right?!"

"Oh my, Dayong's wife, you'd better not come. Your mother-in-law is over sixty years old, at such an old age, are you going to leave all the chores at home to her?"

"You—" Li Dayong's wife was so angry she gritted her teeth, "Daniu's wife, you can't say it like that. Doesn't your family also have only four people, and your Gao Xiaoyan is already working here, why are you still coming?!"

"Dayong's wife, you don't need to worry about that. My Yanzi and Shuanzi are very sensible, no need for us to worry, and the chores at home are all covered by the children's father." Gao Daniu's wife said as she stepped forward and squeezed Li Dayong's wife out of the way.

Li Dayong's wife was so angry she stamped her feet, but had nothing to say.

After all, Gao Daniu's wife has no parents-in-law above her, no need to serve the elderly, and her daughter and son are sensible and obedient, making her quite popular in the Jiang family.

Unlike her family, her son Da Gang has just turned ten, the age when dogs hate people, playing in the mud all day and coming home for her to wash, and the mother-in-law above her beats and scolds her at every turn... that's fine, Li Dayong isn't a worry-free person either. If he were to be left to cover all the housework alone, he definitely wouldn't be willing.

Li Dayong's wife walked away angrily. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 165 =====