Unfortunately, they went when Luo Auntie was home and the Village Chief hadn't returned yet.
"Second son, Luo Ge? Didn't you say you'd come over later?"
Hearing the noise outside, Luo Auntie put down her sewing and came out of the house.
"Auntie, we've brought the land deed for the Village Chief, so you don't have to make a separate trip."
"Please sit down. The Village Chief just stepped out." Luo Auntie pulled over two stools.
"No need to trouble you. We have another errand, so we'll be leaving shortly. We just wanted to ask if you could help collect the eggs and keep the accounts."
Luo Auntie was literate and usually handled small matters in the village. She was efficient and could keep people in line.
Helping to collect eggs and keep accounts shouldn't be difficult.
"Ah? I'll collect them?"
Hearing what Luo Ge said, Luo Auntie was taken aback, as if she hadn't expected them to ask her to help collect the eggs.
Luo Ge nodded.
"Yes, you know our little workshop is opening, and my wife and I will be too busy managing everything."
"So we thought to ask you to help out. People will bring eggs to settle accounts, you can record them and store the collected eggs. We've already set up the stall."
They set up the stall daily, but since they had discussed going out to "collect eggs," they had closed up early that afternoon.
"If you're available, you can take over tomorrow. The pay is 900 wen per month.
However, you know the stall's situation – it'll be tiring and will require your effort."
Collecting eggs wasn't as simple as working in the production area. It required courage and the ability to handle difficult situations.
It was no different from doing business – you'd encounter all kinds of customers.
Many would try to haggle and pester endlessly.
They had experienced this often since they started collecting goods. Luo Auntie had witnessed it many times too and was aware of the situation.
Hearing the 900 wen salary, Luo Auntie was deeply tempted. 900 wen was almost two taels of silver.
Her husband earned just over two taels a month. Of course, there were occasional windfalls from land sales, but those didn't count.
However, very few could afford to buy land that year.
"What's there to be troubled about? I'll do it. Start tomorrow then?"
Seeing Luo Auntie's reaction, Luo Ge smiled and nodded.
"Yes, and there's one more thing we need to clarify with you..."
Luo Ge then explained the employment contract, the need to keep the workshop's operations confidential, and the penalties for violating the terms to Luo Auntie.
"We know your character, but we've written these terms in the contract, so we need to go over them with you." Luo Ge smiled again.
"Don't worry about me. You know what kind of person your auntie is. If anyone dares to do anything, just tell me and we'll ask the Village Chief to resolve it."
Hearing Luo Auntie's words, Luo Ge smiled and nodded, "Okay."
"But... are you worried the womenfolk will gossip about you hiring me?" Suddenly remembering this, Luo Auntie frowned again.
Her status was rather awkward – few in the village would ask her for help, fearing gossip that she was using connections.
She didn't care about that herself, since both she and her husband had established their reputation.
Moreover, she held the title of Village Chief's wife, so even if anyone had ill thoughts, they wouldn't dare voice them in front of them.
Did that mean the Village Chief's family couldn't earn a living? The Village Chief was human too and needed to make ends meet.
Luo Ge shook his head, glancing at Gu Jinchen beside him, then at Luo Auntie meaningfully. "Don't you know our temperament?"
Luo Auntie looked at Gu Jinchen and smiled.
"You're right." Second son wasn't one to be trifled with.
"As long as you don't mind, it'll be fine with us," Luo Ge said with a smile.
Hearing this, Luo Auntie waved her hand dismissively.
"What's there to mind when earning silver? Shall we draw up the contract now?"
"We've prepared one in advance. Take a look, and if it's acceptable, we can sign it," said Luo Ge, producing the pre-written contract.
Luo Auntie gave it a quick look, then found the Village Chief's brush and ink to sign.
"My writing's not very good, so don't laugh at me," she said with a smile as she put down the brush.
"Of course not."
After settling the terms with Luo Auntie and signing the contract, the matter was concluded.
When they were about to leave, the Village Chief returned, so they left a copy of the land deed with him.
"You seem cheerful?"
Seeing his wife grinning happily at the contract, the Village Chief smiled and asked.
"Of course! From now on, I won't be just eating for free at home."
The Village Chief was a good man, but his late mother had been a rather muddled woman.
When she was alive, she never stopped looking down on Luo Auntie, often calling her a freeloader.
Since she had a son who was the Village Chief, she was very proud and thought Luo Auntie didn't deserve him.
"It's been so many years, and you still haven't let it go?"
Hearing his wife's words, the Village Chief was taken aback before replying, "How can I let it go when she said those things to you so many times?"
After that, Luo Auntie took the contract and returned to their room.
The two of them were an uncommon couple who married for love in that era, rather than an arranged match.
From the beginning, her mother-in-law had disliked her and looked down on her.
She felt that since her son was the Village Chief, his wife should be from a better family.
Someone from an affluent household or at least a daughter from a wealthy family, not someone like Luo Auntie, whose family had to rely on others to support a sick relative.
So ever since Luo Auntie married into the family, she had never received a kind look and was often scolded to tears.
It wasn't until a few years ago, when her mother-in-law passed away, that she could finally breathe easy.
But after enduring half a lifetime of insults, it wasn't something she could easily let go of.
"Sigh." Watching Luo Auntie's retreating figure, the Village Chief let out a sigh.
...........................
"Luo Ge."
Early the next morning, Luo Auntie came over.
"Auntie, you're here so early."
Luo Ge had just gotten up, and Gu Jinchen had only just dropped off the two little ones at the school.
"Not that early. I came with my silly husband."
"So what are the procedures? Fill me in," Luo Auntie said as they approached the stall.
"Two wen per egg. Take a careful look and see if there's anything amiss."
As they spoke, a few egg sellers arrived, so Luo Ge took Luo Auntie to greet them.
Luo Ge collected the first batch, paid them, and handed the rest to Luo Auntie.
After a few rounds, Luo Auntie got the hang of it.
