The busy days flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
The last batch of mangoes from Zhuang's orchard had been transported to the capital city.
Luo Shiyan sent a letter saying he would return in a few days.
Meanwhile, the workshop had been completed.
As Luo Ge had promised earlier, she announced job openings once the workshop was finished.
Villagers flocked to apply upon hearing the news. The village head and Gu Jinchen were selecting candidates, while Luo Ge called Wang Sister-In-Law and her husband aside for a private chat.
"Luo Ge, you wanted to see us?" Wang Sister-In-Law asked.
The workshop was now handling large quantities of goods, keeping everyone extremely busy every day. Wang Sister-In-Law and her husband had just come out from the workshop.
Wang Big Brother was now helping in the workshop too, specifically managing the warehouse and shipments.
The couple, along with Aunt Zhang, now all had jobs. With the old man's health improving, their family's situation had greatly improved compared to before.
Aunt Zhang's face was filled with smiles every day, the worries of the past long gone.
Seeing the puzzled expressions on Wang Sister-In-Law and her husband's faces, Luo Ge nodded.
"Yes, I wanted to discuss something with you."
Hearing this, Wang Sister-In-Law perked up and stood straight. "What is it? Is there something we can help with? Just say the word, sister, and I'll take care of it."
Seeing Wang Sister-In-Law's instinctive desire to protect her, Luo Ge's eyes crinkled with a smile.
"We'll likely be leaving the village for Ningzhou soon, so we're planning to entrust the management of the workshop to you two.
Sister, you'll be in charge of the workshop, managing production and the workers.
Wang Big Brother will handle the warehouse and shipments. The two of you will manage the workshop together."
Truth be told, this had been her plan from the beginning.
Now that their business was expanding, there were many things to handle, and they couldn't always be there to manage everything personally.
They needed to cultivate helpers.
That's why she had been letting Wang Sister-In-Law handle many workshop matters all along.
For instance, she had Wang Sister-In-Law train and manage people, deal with various workshop affairs, and even help with accounting.
Now, without realizing it, Wang Sister-In-Law had become proficient in managing the entire workshop.
Wang Sister-In-Law didn't have to work so hard on these tasks, as this extra help was truly laborious without much reward.
Luo Ge hadn't given her any special treatment or bonuses for all this extra work.
But Wang Sister-In-Law had never complained, always eagerly helping Luo Ge, following her instructions diligently and uncomplainingly.
So Luo Ge felt Wang Sister-In-Law truly deserved this opportunity she was now proposing.
She was both a friend worthy of deep friendship and a trustworthy assistant.
But Wang Sister-In-Law was completely caught off guard by Luo Ge's proposal. She was stunned for a good while before reacting.
"How can you suddenly decide to leave? This... I can't do this. I can't manage all this."
Having come to her senses, Wang Sister-In-Law waved her hands repeatedly, full of refusal. Even Wang Big Brother chimed in to agree with her.
"That's right, we can't handle this."
But hearing their words, Luo Ge just looked at Wang Sister-In-Law with determined eyes.
"You can do it."
"Sister, over these past days, you've already mastered all the workshop affairs and have done very well. You've also managed the workers competently."
"I've seen all of this with my own eyes. I believe in you, sister."
Hearing Luo Ge say this, Wang Sister-In-Law fell silent for a moment, as if only now realizing these things from Luo Ge's words. But the next instant, she shook her head.
"But what qualifications do I have, Luo Ge? I..."
Hearing her words, Luo Ge grasped her hand, interrupting her.
"You are more than qualified. Moreover, sister, you're the person I trust most in this village. With you watching over the workshop, I can rest easy."
"So, sister, please do this to help me, alright?"
Wang Sister-In-Law's family was the type who, no matter how close the relationship, would never take advantage of others' kindness.
Luo Ge had anticipated Wang Sister-In-Law's refusal early on and had prepared her persuasive words accordingly.
As long as she used the word 'help', Wang Sister-In-Law would basically not refuse.
Sure enough, hearing Luo Ge put it this way, Wang Sister-In-Law fell silent.
She turned to look at Wang Big Brother, then after a moment's pause, looked back at Luo Ge.
"Well, then I'll help you keep an eye on the workshop. If you have any instructions, just have someone let me know. I'll also have Tie Dan write to you about workshop matters."
"I promise I'll help you look after the workshop well."
Throughout this entire exchange, Wang Sister-In-Law had only agreed to 'help look after' the workshop, not accepting Luo Ge's proposal of management.
Luo Ge felt helpless about this but didn't push them too hard.
"Alright."
She would definitely not shortchange them on what they deserved.
......................
"How did it go?"
Seeing Luo Ge return from her talk with Wang Sister-In-Law and her husband, Gu Jinchen bent down and asked in a low voice.
Luo Ge smiled and nodded. "How about on your end?"
Looking at the selected candidates, most were from their Gu Clan, with only a few from the Wang Family Clan for now.
"We've selected our own people. We're waiting for you to choose theirs."
Although they were all from the same village and saw each other frequently, hiring helpers wasn't the same as finding gossips.
Naturally, they had to be careful and couldn't be careless.
In this regard, his wife's intuition came in very handy.
Hearing his words, Luo Ge nodded without saying much. She turned to select some quick and trustworthy individuals from the Wang Family Clan members who had come.
"Hey, why didn't you choose me?"
"Second Brother's wife, look, aren't I more robust than that old Zhu woman? I'm more capable than her. Why did you choose her and not me?"
Seeing that woman about to approach Luo Ge and grab her, Wang Sister-In-Law stretched out her hand and pushed her back. The woman staggered a few steps.
"Look at you, you can't even withstand a light push. How weak have you become? Why should we choose you?"
"You call that robust? That's just pure fat! Everyone in the village knows that you, Li Dahua, are the laziest and most cunning."
"All that fat is from laziness. Why should we choose you? To watch you eat and take up space?"
"And you, Qian Erya, are you also dissatisfied?
Have you returned the eggs you stole from Old Lady Wang next door? Always stealing and pilfering, wherever you visit, something goes missing."
"Why weren't you chosen? Don't you have any self-awareness? What would we choose you for, to let you pilfer things from the workshop every day to fill your belly?"
"And the rest of you, don't you know why you weren't selected? Do I need to list out the reasons for everyone to hear?"
"Luo Ge and his wife are kind-hearted, expanding the workshop to give everyone a chance, but don't mistake their kindness for foolishness."
"What are you trying to pull here day after day?"
Wang Sister-In-Law looked at those who hadn't been chosen and were dissatisfied, shutting them down with a few sharp words, leaving them speechless.
Her fighting spirit was formidable.
"You, hmph!"
"If you're not coming, then don't. As if anyone cares."
After hearing Wang Sister-In-Law's words, those who were disgruntled deflated, letting out an angry huff before turning to leave.
"Tch!" Seeing them still grumbling, Wang Sister-In-Law shot back with a dismissive sound of her own.
Noticing Luo Ge looking her way, she proudly lifted her chin, causing Luo Ge to chuckle.
Seeing this, she felt completely at ease.
Because most of those left with complaints were from the Wang Family Clan.
And no matter what, Wang Sister-In-Law's family was still part of the same clan.
Moreover, Wang Sister-In-Law had some influence in the workshop.
Luo Ge had been worried that those who couldn't get permission from them would go bother Wang Sister-In-Law, fearing she might give in to their persistence.
But now it seemed her concerns were unnecessary.
Wang Sister-In-Law could be trusted to handle things.
"Those who are staying, come to the workshop at the hour of Chen tomorrow. Follow Wang Sister-In-Law's arrangements then."
Looking at those who remained, Luo Ge gave her instructions and didn't linger any longer.
It was getting late, and she needed to go home to feed the children.
Watching Luo Ge and the others leave, Wang Sister-In-Law opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end held her tongue.
Turning to look at the few dozen people left, she sighed.
"You all go home for now. Just be here on time tomorrow."
Well, she had promised Luo Ge after all. Whether it would work out or not, they had to give it a try, right?
It was just managing more people. She had promised Luo Ge, so she would definitely make it work!
Let's do this.
