For the entire morning, Chen Lishu let Xie Dani entertain the guests. Chen Lishu noticed that Xie Dani seemed to have little experience interacting with people, appearing somewhat awkward and hesitant to speak. However, she was extremely diligent, mopping the floor and wiping tables when there were no customers. When Chen Lishu told her to stop, she seemed flustered.
After observing her for most of the day, Chen Lishu felt she was a good person and decided to hire her, though she felt she still needed to train her for a couple more days.
"Thank you, big sister. Thank you," Xie Dani exclaimed, feeling a huge weight lifted off her shoulders upon learning she could stay. A genuine smile, the first since she entered the shop, finally graced her face.
"Your salary for the first month's probationary period is twenty-five. Here is twelve yuan and fifty cents. From now on, you'll receive your salary on the fifth of every month. You can go home early today to settle in, and come back tomorrow morning to start officially."
After advancing Xie Dani half a month's wages, Chen Lishu let her leave early.
In the following days, Chen Lishu trained Xie Dani at the shop. Although her personality wasn't particularly quick-witted, she was very sincere and, most importantly, willing to learn. Chen Lishu finally felt she could gradually let go.
During this time, Yuan Lihua also finished the two cashmere coats. All seams were hand-stitched, with no visible thread on either side. This method greatly tested one's craftsmanship, and Chen Lishu was full of praise after seeing them.
Cashmere fabric itself was high-end, elegant, and sophisticated. In Yuan Lihua's hands, they became even more luxurious and tasteful. Chen Lishu priced the men's coat at one thousand yuan and the women's at twelve hundred yuan.
There were very few people in the county town who could afford such a price for a coat. Therefore, during Zhou Bin's last trip to the provincial capital before the New Year, Chen Lishu carefully packed the coats and asked him to deliver them to Wang Aixiang.
She then called to give a few specific instructions before returning to the village with peace of mind.
The land measurement was finally completed in the twelfth lunar month, just before the New Year. The village cadres gathered everyone for a plenary meeting.
Based on the measurement results, each laborer would receive an average of ten mu of land in total.
In the spirit of fairness and justice, and with the unanimous approval of the villagers, the land distribution would be done by drawing lots.
As the rules had been clearly communicated beforehand, no one complained regardless of the land's location.
Chen Lishu's household registration had been moved when she was in school, and Gu Xingdong's was with the army. Therefore, neither of them was eligible for this land distribution.
However, everything comes with gains and losses, and Chen Lishu did not regret it.
Compared to the smooth land distribution, significant disagreements arose when it came to allocating livestock and tools, with some villagers even resorting to physical altercations in front of the Party secretary and village head over ownership.
"The village provided these items for everyone's use with the intention of benefiting everyone. Who said that whatever is kept at someone's house belongs to them?" Zhang Changhe's expression turned grim.
After saying a few more words and seeing no reaction from the crowd, he announced, "In that case, they will be sold at a price. The team has a total of thirty-two horses, large and small, and ten yellow oxen. Carts, plows, and hoes will all be priced at market value. Those who are interested can sign up. If you don't have enough money, you can record it as debt and repay it by the end of next year."
After all, a horse alone cost around a thousand yuan, along with the accompanying cart and other tools. A complete set would cost at least fourteen to fifteen hundred yuan.
"Secretary, what about us who can't afford to buy them?" Liu Widow couldn't help but ask.
She had been the most vocal from the beginning, but now that the carts and horses were to be sold at a price, she started to panic.
Yue Hongmei had already returned home. Her family had four laborers, and they were allocated forty mu of land this time. Without horses and tools, how would they manage plowing and harvesting? They couldn't possibly carry everything back one by one, could they?
"If someone has them, you can discuss among yourselves and hire them."
"This is unfair!" Liu Widow immediately objected upon hearing that they had to pay. Initially, she could use them for free, but now she had to pay.
However, no one paid her any attention. Following Zhang Changhe's words, everyone began calculating in their minds.
Some families had not yet divided their property and had more laborers, so having a set of horses, carts, plows, and hoes was definitely more cost-effective. For young couples who had just set up their own households and only had twenty mu of land, spending over a thousand yuan to purchase horses and carts would be unnecessary.
"The meeting for today will conclude here. Anyone who wishes to keep the horses and carts can register with me at any time."
After Zhang Changhe finished speaking, everyone dispersed and went home to discuss.
"Although we have already separated, we still live together. My husband and I discussed it, and we will pay to keep a set of horses, carts, and tools with the team. This will make it convenient for you brothers to use them. However, we are considered to be under the fourth son's household, so the fourth son will have the final say regarding these tools, though we are temporarily lending them to you."
She and Gu Shoufu could still earn money and were not short of funds. Therefore, after discussing it, they decided to pay for the children.
As long as they didn't have to pay out of pocket and could use them for free, Liu Yuemin was one hundred percent in favor.
Zhang Qin and Gu Xingguo offered to contribute some money, but Li Xiulan and Gu Shoufu refused.
The matter was settled, and Gu Xingye went to his father-in-law's house to register for a set of horses and a cart.
After dinner, Chen Lishu informed Li Xiulan and then took Rui Rui back to the Chen family.
Chen Lishu: "Mom and Dad, do you want to keep a set of horses and a cart too?"
"Your father and I were only allocated twenty mu of land. Besides, a set of horses and a cart costs over a thousand yuan. We don't have that much extra money at home."
Wu Chunmei sighed, saying, "Second child is old enough, but unfortunately, her household registration was moved for school. It's a shame about losing ten mu of land like this."
If she had known about the land distribution, she would never have let Chen Liyuan go to the provincial capital for school.
Seeing her bring up the matter again, Chen Liyuan's eyes dimmed slightly.
Chen Lishu smiled, "Second sister will be able to work and earn a salary next year. Accounting majors are already in high demand, and she's a vocational school graduate, so her salary will definitely not be bad. Isn't that better than farming?"
Wu Chunmei opened her mouth. While she agreed, she still felt that they had lost out.
"Mom, your health isn't good. I was thinking it would be better for the family to keep a set. That way, after tending to our own land, Dad can also use the cart to earn money for other families."
Chen Mantun was somewhat tempted. "But, a set costs over a thousand yuan, and the family simply doesn't have that much money."
"I'll pay for it."
"You'll pay?" Chen Mantun and his wife were both astonished.
Chen Lishu nodded. "Actually, I'm not paying for it for nothing. I want to contract the green mountains behind the village. In the future, we'll definitely need horse carts for transporting things..."
Before she could finish speaking, Chen Mantun stood up from his stool with a gasp of shock, "You want to contract a mountain?"