Chapter 126: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 126

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

After Zhang Zhongtian left, Wang Changgen and Li Xiulan were still sulking at each other.

Wang Changgen did not understand Li Xiulan, and Li Xiulan did not understand Wang Changgen.

Their thoughts could not align, nor could they shake each other's notions.

So in the end they could only argue.

"Now there are plenty of people coming to me for work, and it's not like Zhang Zhongtian is the only project. Why insist on taking his? That man is very shrewd; we can't take advantage of him!"

Wang Changgen said so.

Most importantly, he felt finding other mud workers to work with was terribly troublesome.

He was not cut out to be a boss.

Previously in the city, when he partnered with others to open a shop, he even lost his shirt.

This dealt him a great blow, made him recognize himself, and he no longer daydreamed about being a boss.

Now he had long since lost his former ambition and passion, only wanting to work steadily and earn a day's wage for a day's work.

Li Xiulan, however, felt that doing day labor like this was not a solution; working oneself to death still couldn't earn much money.

"Even if we can't take advantage of Zhang Zhongtian, Zhang Zhongtian certainly wouldn't cheat us. We're all from Shanggou Village—heads down, heads up, we see each other. If he dares to cheat us, we'll ruin his reputation and make it so he can't hold his head up in Shanggou Village anymore!"

Li Xiulan said angrily, and she also said to Wang Changgen:

"Actually, this is our best opportunity to transition from day laborers to foremen. Going to other villages to do other people's projects, if cheated there's no way to complain. But on Zhang Zhongtian's side, we can definitely negotiate with him. As long as he still wants to be the Village Committee Secretary, he will definitely talk to us nicely! As long as we contract his project and finish it smoothly, gaining experience, then in the future we can all contract projects and won't have to work ourselves to death ourselves anymore!"

Li Xiulan's words seemed quite reasonable.

Wang Changgen, however, said coldly:

"Anyway, I don't like the look of Zhang Zhongtian. This guy is extremely cunning. In such a short time, he earned enough money to build a luxurious Western-style building. He must have embezzled and made money illegally!"

Wang Changgen deeply hated corrupt officials in his mind.

Zhang Zhongtian had been Village Committee Secretary for less than a year and had already made so much money. This was what he detested, and it was also an important reason why he was not very enthusiastic about Zhang Zhongtian's project.

Li Xiulan, however, said:

"Why do you care so much? If others can make money, that's their ability. What does it have to do with us?"

Wang Changgen said with a black face:

"Anyway, I won't contract his project. If you want to contract, you contract it yourself!"

Li Xiulan was furious:

"Fine, fine, fine, then I'll contract it myself! I'll contract it, pay you day wages, and you don't have to worry about anything else. Is that okay?"

Li Xiulan looked down on Wang Changgen very much. Her own husband was simply a good-for-nothing!

She really didn't know how he had deceived those women back in the city!

Why couldn't he put that effort into his current career!

Wang Changgen said coldly:

"Zhang Zhongtian previously coaxed you into doing the expressway, and now you're being coaxed by him again. You really don't learn a lesson!"

Li Xiulan, however, said:

"How did they coax me? They didn't not pay me wages. It's just that I couldn't do such heavy work myself and couldn't continue!"

Li Xiulan found Wang Changgen's face annoying:

"Don't say anymore. I'll contract it myself. I'll calculate everything clearly and guarantee I won't lose money!"

That evening, after dinner, Li Xiulan took a flashlight alone and went to visit Zhang Zhongtian's home.

"Uncle Zhongtian, good evening!"

At this time, Zhang Zhongtian was having dinner with his wife and child.

Zhang Zhongtian hurriedly got up to greet her:

"Xiulan, have you eaten? If not, eat together!"

Li Xiulan hurriedly refused:

"No need, no need, I've already eaten!"

Then she said:

"Isn't this about you asking me and my husband to discuss contracting your project during the day? We've already discussed it."

"So you're not planning to contract it?" Zhang Zhongtian, seeing Wang Changgen hadn't come, thought maybe they weren't contracting it.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiulan said:

"No, no. We've decided to contract it, but this price needs to be calculated carefully!"

Zhang Zhongtian said:

"Material costs, transportation fees, etc., are all on my side. You just need to give a labor price. For my building, it covers an area of 150 square meters, three stories high. I don't really know exactly how much labor it will cost. It's hard to say. How about this: you go back and estimate with your husband, then give me a quote."

Li Xiulan nodded hurriedly:

"Okay, okay. I'll talk to my husband later! By the way, are the blueprints drawn?"

Zhang Zhongtian laughed hehe:

"Not yet. Can you draw blueprints?"

Li Xiulan said:

"My husband knows a little. He can draw simple rural styles, but those complex city styles, he probably can't."

Zhang Zhongtian said:

"Here's what we'll do: I'll go to the city these two days to find a professional to draw up the blueprints, and I'll show them to you when I get back."

"Fine, no problem!"

Li Xiulan left Zhang Zhongtian's home and went back to tell Wang Zhanggen, asking him to help estimate what price would be best to quote.

Wang Zhanggen said with a stern face:

"A building this big—if I do it myself, it'll definitely take at least a year and a half. A year and a half is eighteen months; let's just say twenty months. Better to overestimate than underestimate!"

Li Xiulan took out a pen and calculated:

"Twenty months, twenty yuan a day—that's twenty times thirty times twenty, equals... twelve thousand? Labor costs twelve thousand, we quote fifteen thousand, and we make three thousand. How about that?"

Wang Zhanggen immediately said in a bad mood:

"You didn't calculate it right at all! I said I'd do it alone, needing twenty months. If there's another Big Worker, the situation is definitely different. Plus, we have to count the Small Worker's wages! At least two Big Workers need one Small Worker!"

Li Xiulan pursed her lips:

"You're better at math, so you calculate it!"

Wang Zhanggen was very impatient, but in the end he still came to help calculate.

He didn't want Li Xiulan to take on this project only to end up paying out of pocket and losing money.

If that happened, it would all be for nothing.

"How many workers do you plan to hire?"

Wang Zhanggen asked.

Li Xiulan said:

"Hire one more Big Worker. I'll do the Small Worker's job myself, no need to hire another."

Wang Zhanggen said instead:

"Hiring one more Big Worker probably isn't enough. Mr. Zhang wants to move in by next spring's Lunar New Year, which means we have to leave time for renovation!"

"Then how many do you say we hire?"

Wang Zhanggen thought for a moment, then said:

"Hire two to three more Big Workers, plus one Small Worker!"

Li Xiulan was surprised:

"We need to hire that many!"

Wang Zhanggen sneered:

"Heh, what did you think! You really think it's that easy? And the ones hired must be experienced hands, otherwise it definitely can't be finished on time!"

Li Xiulan lost confidence, but still spoke stubbornly:

"Then calculate based on hiring two more Big Workers and one Small Worker! See how long it takes and how much labor costs!"