176 Chapter 176: Hiring Workers
Two copper coins less for a bucket of water. The price was reduced by almost half.
With so few money-making opportunities, how many people would not mind earning less?
Didn’t Qin Xiaoyao also suggest that a bucket of water should only be one copper coin less than the market price?
“Then when we come here to get water…” Qin Erhu became somewhat hesitant.
His family used up a lot of water.
Previously, they had used about ten buckets of water a day.
It was better now, but they still needed to use seven or eight buckets of water.
Even if it were three copper coins per bucket, it would still cost more than twenty copper coins in all!
In the past, their younger sister’s family didn’t sell water to outsiders, so they didn’t feel any psychological burden when they took advantage of her. However, now…
Qin Xiaoyao looked at her two brothers with a smile.
“You guys can just come over! We’re family. Don’t tell me Big Brother and Second Brother think that I will still ask you for money?” she rebuked them with a laugh.
The two brothers exchanged looks with each other and felt relieved.
“However, your little sis needs Big Brother and Second Brother’s help again,” Qin Xiaoyao continued.
As she said this, she looked at the few thatched sheds in her house.
Qin Dahu immediately asked, “What kind of help?”
He even put down the burden on his shoulders.
“Little Sis, just tell us what to do.” Qin Erhu also put down his burden.
Qin Xiaoyao chuckled.
“Well, I want to build another thatched shed there and plant more bean sprouts.”
“Today, when the neighbors came to buy water and eggs, they heard that the bean sprouts were from my family. So many people came to buy from us directly. They even said that if they wanted to buy them in the future, they would simply come to my house.”
“I was thinking that the bean sprouts are also selling well in your area. If I plant more, I won’t have to worry about selling them.”
The Qin brothers’ eyes lit up when they heard this.
“How can one shed be enough? If you want to build, why don’t you build one more shed!”
“This way, you can produce an extra 200 catties of bean sprouts a day.”
“As for the market on West Street, even if you give us another 100 catties, it’s not a problem!”
“As for Sister Big Girl and Xiaomei, it shouldn’t be a problem for them if you allocate them 100 catties,” Qin Dahu said.
The bean sprouts grown by his younger sister were really good sellers.
The 110 catties of bean sprouts that they got every day would be sold out very quickly.
They wanted to sell more, but there was no stock.
At the moment, the family’s meat business was not doing well, so it was also good to sell more bean sprouts to make up for the income loss.
Qin Xiaoyao’s heart skipped a beat when she heard this.
“Is there really such a big demand in the market on West Street?” she asked the two.
The two of them quickly nodded.
“It’s not just individual customers now. There are also eateries that want to talk about long-term collaboration after seeing that we have bean sprouts every day.”
“It’s because we don’t get enough stock every day, and we can’t even meet the individual customers’ demand that we didn’t agree.”
“If you can allocate more stock to us, we are not worried that we can’t sell them.” It was just a matter of earning more or less.
After all, they would be working together on a long-term basis. If they bought a lot, the Qin brothers would have to give them a discount.
A look of hesitation flashed across Qin Xiaoyao’s eyes.
“It’s mainly because we have limited manpower in our family. Now, our family has another business selling water. I’m afraid I won’t be able to take care of the vegetables in two more sheds.”
Early in the morning, her mother and husband would have to keep an eye on the water-selling business.
She, Xiaomei and Yun’er had to harvest the bean sprouts, weigh them, and sort them into baskets.
At that point, there might not even be anyone at home to make breakfast.
Although Big Girl had told Liu Xiaomei to come over to help, she couldn’t expect too much from other people.
“That’s easy. I’ll get your sister-in-law to help when we get back! If it doesn’t work out, I can come over too!” Qin Dahu immediately replied.
Qin Xiaoyao was taken aback, and she suddenly had an idea.
“If Eldest Sister-in-law is here, can Second Sister-in-law handle the family chores by herself?”
She knew that the men in the Qin family were usually in charge of matters outside the house.
The women stayed at home to do laundry, cook, feed the pigs, and clean. The work was not easy.
As for what her big brother said about him coming over to help, she didn’t dare to think about it.
She didn’t have much heavy work to do at home. If there was, she could do it herself.
There was no need to let Big Brother, a strong laborer, come over and waste his time.
“Why can’t she handle it?” Qin Erhu continued.
“Now we only kill one pig a day, so Big Brother and I have more time at home.”
“I take turns with Big Brother to feed the pigs and clean the pigpen. Your second sister-in-law only does some light work, such as cooking. It won’t be a problem.”
...
Ever since their father divorced Madam Zhang, their two households had actually combined again though they were said to have separated previously.
During this period, the two households had been eating together.
Eldest Sister-in-law and Qin Erhu’s wife took turns cooking and did the household chores together.
Due to Second Sister-in-law’s pregnancy, Eldest Sister-in-law took on more chores.
“That’s right! At most, your second brother and I can be more diligent at home!” Qin Dahu added.
The bean sprout business was of great significance to them, so they had to convince their younger sister.
Seeing the two brothers looking at her with anticipation, Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and finally nodded.
“How about this? I’ll pay 50 copper coins a day and have Eldest Sister-in-law come over to help.”
Before Qin Dahu could speak, Qin Xiaoyao quickly added, “The working hours are from 5 to 7 am in the morning, and in the afternoon from 1 pm to 7 pm. A total of eight hours.”
The morning was the busiest time at home. Her mother-in-law and husband had to sell water from 5 to 7 am.
She had to bring people to harvest the bean sprouts and other vegetables.
...
With more people helping out, she could afford to set aside a person and arrange for her to make breakfast.
In the afternoon, when her Eldest Sister-in-law came over, she could help Qin Xiaoyao filter the bean seeds and soak them. Maybe she could also learn how to make century eggs.
With Eldest Sister-in-law to help her with some basic tasks, she only needed to prepare the mud paste for the century eggs and work in the sheds.
It didn’t take much effort to make the century egg’s mud paste.
The work in the sheds was mainly watering the plants and flipping over the cloths that covered the beans. There was not much to do in reality.
Even if she had to take care of the bean sprouts in two more sheds, she would be able to handle it without any problem.
“How about this? She will only work from 5 to 7 am in the morning, and Eldest Sister-in-law can go home after that. It won’t delay the chores at home.” Qin Xiaoyao looked at Qin Dahu with a smile.
“Deal! However, let’s forget about the salary. She’s just here to help. Why pay money?” Qin Dahu said.
Qin Xiaoyao chuckled.
“Of course I must pay her.”
“Even if I don’t hire Eldest Sister-in-law, I will still have to spend money to hire someone else. But I don’t feel at ease using outsiders.”
Whether it was century eggs or bean sprouts, they were her family’s livelihood.
If she didn’t guard against outsiders, it would be troublesome later.
If her eldest sister-in-law came over and discovered anything, she would not dare to do anything on account of Qin Xiaoyao’s big brother and father.
This was the most important thing.
Qin Dahu was taken aback.
After some thought, he finally nodded.
“Alright, but the pay is too high. You can just give 40 copper coins. She’s only working for two hours in the morning, so it won’t cost that much money.”
His younger sister was giving his wife work, which was already taking care of his family. How could he ask for such a high salary?
“Hehe! She is only working for two hours in the morning, but she has to work for six hours in the afternoon. The work isn’t as easy as you think.”
“Besides, I’m asking Eldest Sister-in-law to work, not you. You don’t have the final say in the salary.”