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This was a win-win solution. Pan Yuheng and Tang Jiyang agreed. “Brother Fang, thank you.”

Fang Mingyi replied casually, “We’re all students from the same school. Making a scene would look bad on all of us.”

Pan Yuheng nodded with a smile, his temper cooling down, “You’re right, Brother Fang. How about I treat you tonight? Let’s have a drink at the Hongyun Restaurant. Brother Xu, you should come too. What do you say?”

Xu Guannan declined, “I need to prepare for the Imperial Examination. You guys go ahead and enjoy.”

Fang Mingyi wasn’t in the mood for drinking either, “I also need to prepare for the examination. You guys go.”

Pan Yuheng wasn’t upset but rather easy-going, “Alright then, next time. Let’s all focus on preparing for the Imperial Examination and aim for good results.” Tang Jiyang smiled, “Brother Pan, let’s go. We shouldn’t disturb Brother Xu and Brother Fang’s study.”

Pan Yuheng bowed to them and left with Tang Jiyang.

Fang Mingyi gave Xu Guannan a wry smile, “I’m off to deliver a music score to a friend. I’ll come back later to study with you.”

Xu Guannan nodded, “Go ahead.”

In the workshop area.

Chu Qingzhi was pleasantly surprised to see twelve taro pies on the table.

These taro pies were made by the newbies recruited today.

Her eye for talent was not bad. The new recruits, all women used to cooking at home, watched her make a taro pie and spent a long time observing the apple pie technique. The taro pies they made looked great, and if they tasted good too, they’d be considered fully trained today.

She took a plate and spoon and tasted a piece from each pie.

All were made following her specified ingredient ratios, and not a single flavor was off.

The twelve women lined up in front of the table, watching Chu Qingzhi nervously.

They thought to themselves that if Chu Qingzhi wasn’t satisfied, they probably wouldn’t be able to stay. This thought made them even more anxious.

After tasting, Chu Qingzhi praised each one and then announced, “You can all stay. Go home and adjust your schedules, sort out your household affairs, and come to the workshop on time tomorrow to work.”

“Also, each of you will have four days off per month. Due to the workshop’s unique requirements, these will be days off in lieu.”

“What that means is, within a month, you can choose any four days to take off, but no more than two people can be off on the same day. Coordinate your days off amongst yourselves. If you choose not to take days off, you’ll receive extra pay for those four days.”

The women hadn’t expected to have any days off, as other workshops didn’t offer such a benefit, plus the chance to earn extra by working more was an excellent opportunity.

“Miss, we understand.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “If you have any questions, now’s the time to ask.” Zhao Lan looked around cautiously before asking, “Miss, does the workshop need more taro? My husband is excellent at making charcoal. His charcoal doesn’t produce white smoke and is very good. Would you be interested?” This woman knew how to seize an opportunity. Chu Qingzhi replied, “I’ll send someone with you to your village to check it out. If it’s good, I’ll buy it.”

Zhao Lan was thrilled, “Thank you, Miss.”

Chu Qingzhi concluded, “That’s all for now. I’ve tasted these taro pies. If you want, you can take them home.”

Everyone widened their eyes in surprise. There was such a good thing?

“Sure. Thank you, Miss.”

Chu Qingzhi fetched twelve pieces of wax paper, one for each woman, to wrap their taro pies to take home.

Then, she summoned Chu Haodong to accompany Zhao Lan to check out the taro and charcoal. She didn’t need to instruct Chu Haodong further; he knew what to do.

Currently, charcoal was supplied by a pair of brothers from the same village. They hadn’t been negligent, but relying on them alone was risky. If they stopped, the workshop would have to halt production. Having multiple suppliers was a way to mitigate risks.

Li Village.

A five-year-old boy with sparse hair and a slim figure, a skinny girl about ten years old, and an old woman with white hair were constantly looking out at the entrance of the village, as if waiting for someone.

Suddenly, a woman appeared in the distance. The eyes of the three at the village entrance lit up, and then the boy and the girl ran towards the woman.

“Mother!”

“Mother!”

The old woman wiped her eyes. She had finally returned.

A few days ago, a young woman in the village who had already had two children ran away because she couldn’t stand the poverty. Her own family wasn’t wealthy either, and she was quite afraid that her daughter-in-law would also run away with someone.

Seeing the two children running towards her, Zhao Lan couldn’t help but smile,

” Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at home?”

The little boy politely said, “We missed you and specially came to meet you at the entrance of the village.”

Zhao Lan raised the taro pies in her hand, happily saying, “Mom has brought you something good. These were given by my employer. If these were sold outside, they would cost several coins.”

The two children showed exaggerated expressions, and the little girl said,

“That’s so precious? The employer is really nice.”

Zhao Lan thought of a very good adjective, “The employer is beautiful and kind-hearted.”

Talking, the three met up with the old woman, “Mother, you don’t have to come to meet me with your leg and foot conditions. I can come home by myself.”

The old woman waved her hand, smiling, “Then I’ll wait for you at home next time.”

Zhao Lan nodded, “Mother, let’s go home and have something tasty.”

“Okay.” The old woman was very happy, but her smile suddenly froze. She noticed a man following not far behind Zhao Lan.

The man was tall and skinny, very strong, dressed in fine clothes, and seemed quite wealthy.

Her heart skipped a beat, fearing that her daughter-in-law had bought something for the family to enjoy and was then planning to leave their family.

She pulled Zhao Lan over and asked softly, “Who is the man behind you?”

Zhao Lan replied, “He came to our village to buy taro and charcoal.”

The old woman sighed in relief, scared to death, “That’s good, that’s good.” When they returned home, Zhao Lan’s husband, Li Dashan, was preparing to go out with a knife to make charcoal at the foot of the mountain.

He was currently supplying charcoal to a breakfast shop in the county town, but the shop also took supplies from its relatives. They only needed twenty pounds of charcoal from him daily, selling for just sixty copper coins. After recently paying taxes, the family was extremely strapped for cash.

Zhao Lan stopped Li Dashan, “Dashan, a distinguished guest has arrived, go make some tea.”

Chu Haodong waved his hand, “No need, I have a lot of things to do. Shall we go directly to see the taro and charcoal?”

Li Dashan was puzzled. Zhao Lan quickly explained to him. Li Dashan was overjoyed and ran over to get a hoe. “Brother Chu, please. I’ll take you there immediately.”

Chu Haodong nodded, “Sorry to trouble you.”

Li Dashan, with a beaming smile, said, “Not at all troublesome, this way, please.”

The business was settled smoothly. After sending Chu Haodong away, Li Dashan returned with a spring in his step, holding two contracts in his hand, almost as if he were dreaming.

Zhao Lan took the two contracts and carefully put them away, “Dashan, if we work hard, our lives will surely get better gradually.”

The old woman was delighted, “I’ll take care of the children for you in the future. You both work hard and earn more money.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Zhao Lan took out the taro pies, divided them into five portions, one for each person, “These were given by the employer, let’s eat together.”

The taro pies were very fragrant and sweet, sweetening the hearts of the entire family.