Du Min and Feng Pingyuan reported to Bai Sheng about the seven people from the planting department, all of whom planned to move their entire families to Hongshu Slope.
Bai Sheng instructed Feng Pingyuan to arrange things according to the Hongshu Slope plan, first lending them some bamboo or wood to help build temporary shelters, and letting them build their houses slowly when conditions improved.
As dawn broke, in Hongliu Village.
Xiao Goudan’s entire family pushed a wooden cart; Xiao Chibao carried large bags and packages, along with his elderly grandfather and two younger sisters; Deng Sanwa’s family and Qian Chengchuo’s family had all organized their belongings, and several families planned to leave Hongliu Village together.
The village head of Hongliu Village, along with those who could not go to Hongshu Slope to work, blocked their path.
“What? Village Head, doesn’t the village have a rule against people leaving?” Goudan’s father, pulling the cart, said coldly.
The village head snorted, “This village head is not here to stop you, but to inform you that if you go to Hongshu Slope, this village head will erase all your household registrations, meaning you will all become refugees. And you won’t be able to claim a single inch of land in Hongliu Village again.”
Xiao Chibao looked unconcerned, “If it’s removed, so be it. Anyway, the Eldest Madam will establish a village sooner or later, so the earlier we go, the earlier we enjoy!”
The village head sneered, “Wishful thinking! Do you think establishing a village is that easy? Not only do you need to gather 60 households, but you also have to pay a considerable amount of grain and taxes to the county every year. With Hongshu Slope? It will take ages!”
Deng Sanwa’s father, Deng Datong, said, “Let’s hurry and go. There’s no need to argue with them. We’ll all see who lives well and who doesn’t in the future. Arguing is useless.”
Chengchuo’s mother also nodded, “Yes, let’s hurry and go. Don’t waste time here. We still need to build shelters when we get there. Don’t delay.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, those pushing carts pushed carts, and those carrying things carried things. A group of people, big and small, passed directly through the village head and his group.
Those standing with the village head saw that the people who could work at Hongshu Slope had all gotten a bit fatter, their spirits much better than theirs. It would be false to say they weren’t envious.
But now they had no choice. They had offended that family by going along with the village head to cause trouble, and now they could only continue to follow the village head.
Two li away, in Caomiao Village.
Wang Dama’s family, Wang Zhugan’s family, Wang Guierzi’s family, and Sun Gami’s family had all packed their belongings. They had borrowed three carts from the employer. In any case, their families didn’t have many things, and they were easily loaded.
Before leaving, the village head of Caomiao Village also brought people, and his words were similar to those of the Hongliu Village head.
Sun Gami directly said, “For a beautiful life, never entangle yourself with bad people and bad things.”
Then, without another word, they pushed their carts and left.
“Gami, your words are truly skillful now,” Wang Dama praised sincerely.
Gami’s father tilted his neck, very proud, “Of course. Our Gami studies with Miss Luhua every day, can recognize many characters, and has become an educated person.”
Guierzi’s father chuckled, “If Gami were a boy, he could take the imperial examinations.”
“The Eldest Madam said that studying is not a male patent; women can also study. Even if they don’t take the imperial examinations, they can accomplish something,” Sun Gami raised her small face, her eyes shining.
She was now Luhua’s teaching assistant.
Luhua and Sun Gami had become close little sisters. Luhua spent a lot of extra time teaching Sun Gami counting, arithmetic, and literacy. Sun Gami was not particularly intelligent but learned very diligently.
After learning herself, she helped Luhua tutor the students, big and small.
Then she was responsible for some cleaning, distributing and checking homework, and conveying Luhua’s notices.
Bai Sheng paid her a monthly wage of 200 wen.
Sun Gami cherished this job very much and worked with great enthusiasm. Her parents, seeing her teaching literacy by the blackboard, felt for the first time that their daughter could bring them honor.
The two groups arrived at Hongshu Slope one after another. Feng Pingyuan had already designated a shelter area for them, which would also be the future house-building area. It was located 200 meters to the right of the employer’s house, and very close to the well.
Originally, they had also thought of setting up temporary shelters to make do, but Bai Sheng later realized it was better to do it in one step and suggested they build houses directly, so as not to cause trouble later.
They thought about it and agreed that the employer’s wife’s words made sense, but they lacked building materials.
Feng Pingyuan said that the stones for building houses were readily available, and the walls would be built with stones.
The mortar used for building walls, as well as the bamboo and wooden planks for the roof, could be provided by the employer. As for the cost, they would first sign an IOU based on the quantity used, and repay it according to the market price when they had money in the future.
How could these families refuse? This was clearly offering them benefits. They had never dared to dream of building such good houses before.
Everyone was so moved that their eyes welled up with tears. The adults, with their children, knelt down together and kowtowed three times in the direction of the employer’s house.
The employer’s family was like their reborn parents. They would follow the employer for the rest of their lives and live good lives with them.
Thus, these seven families went to work during the day, and when they returned in the evening, they moved stones like ants, transporting them to the big sand pit to build houses.
Xiao Chibao’s family had no strong laborers, so the other six families lent them a hand, and they could slowly gather enough building materials.
Luhua and Sun Gami were under the thatched pavilion, preparing the teaching content for the evening. The two were chatting and laughing, looking very happy.
Qian Zhaodi walked over.
“Xiaohua, Gami, I embroidered a handkerchief for each of you.”
Luhua took the handkerchief and smiled, “Thank you, Zhaodi sister.”
Sun Gami hesitated for a moment, then took it, “Thank you, Zhaodi. You’ve worked hard.”
Qian Zhaodi looked at their expressions and asked with a smile, “Can I study with you two?”
Luhua was stunned and didn’t reply. Qian Zhaodi smiled, “Sister Zhaodi, everyone can study together every evening. You can arrive early to get a front seat.”
Qian Zhaodi quickly explained, “I mean, can I study privately with Sister Xiaohua like you do?”
“Of course, as long as Sister Zhaodi has time, you can come anytime,” Luhua smiled.
Sun Gami frowned, “But, Sister Zhaodi, don’t you have to work with Sister Yang to make clothes and shoes during the day? When do you have time?”
Qian Zhaodi felt a little embarrassed, a hint of dejection flashing in her eyes, “Oh, that’s right. I’m quite busy during the day. I’ll just study in the evening.”
“Yes, okay, Sister Zhaodi, go early and get a good seat!” Sun Gami said with a smile.
Qian Zhaodi smiled, turned, and left.
The moment she turned, the smile on her face disappeared. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The Eldest Madam said she didn’t hold a grudge about the broken leg incident, but in reality, she still minded. She had been assigned to the clothing and shoe-making group and had endless work to do every day.
On the other hand, Sun Gami was assigned to the learning group, not only could she study privately with Luhua, but she could also be a female teacher and teach others literacy, and her work was easier.
This was clearly favoritism.
Moreover, Sister Luhua was not as intimate with her as before, and it must have been Sun Gami instigating things behind her back.
Qian Zhaodi returned to the thatched pavilion for sewing with a heavy heart.
“What’s wrong, Zhaodi?” Yang Shi asked her with a smile.
Qian Zhaodi smiled and shook her head, “It’s nothing, Sister Yang.”