The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 202: Hiring Workers

"Then... then I’ll go hire people."

Having thought it through, Gu Dahuan decided to go hire people in the village.

Tong Huaqiong stopped him, saying, "You go check on the pigs at the pig farm, I’ll go hire people."

Although Gu Dahuan came to terms with the limitation of his previous thinking and agreed to hire people to tend the crops, it’s not easy for one’s mindset to change quickly.

He might go to hire people with an embarrassed attitude.

Even if they offer sufficient wages, Gu Dahuan would still feel he’s asking for a favor.

Tong Huaqiong had to personally step in to handle the hiring.

After sending Gu Dahuan to the pig farm, Tong Huaqiong took two packages of the newly released Taohua Desserts to see the village chief, Liu Tieshan.

She planned to entrust the village chief with the hiring task.

After all, the village chief is familiar with everyone in the village.

Tong Huaqiong arrived at Liu Tieshan’s home and explained her intention.

"This is a good thing, a hugely good thing."

The village chief was excited upon hearing Tong Huaqiong wanted to hire people.

Most people in Qinghe Bay have relied on a few acres of their own land for generations, usually going to the town, Pingchuan County, or the provincial city to earn household expenses, typically doing heavy labor like carrying sandbags.

Some of the Xu Family’s younger members have connections, most follow Xu Jin up the mountain to make charcoal. The work is hard and coal mines collapse from time to time, crushing two people to death last year.

Such work, Xu Jin is reluctant to hire outside the Xu Family.

Some work in landholdings or tend crops, but most landlords are stingy and exploitative.

Even when hail or other weather causes crop failures, some landlords demand compensation from workers.

Liu Tieshan, as village chief, also has ambitions, hoping to uplift Qinghe Bay to achieve the "abundance" described by County Magistrate Lord Liu.

But making money isn’t so easy.

For so many years, only Tong Huaqiong’s business has thrived in the town.

Taohua Dessert doesn’t need more employees now, and even if it did, you can’t fit the whole village in there.

Now, Tong Huaqiong’s dozens of acres need workers; Liu Tieshan genuinely believes this is a significant opportunity.

It offers villagers the chance to earn money right next to home while taking care of their families, plus he knows Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t shortchange anyone financially.

Moreover, talking about the clerks at Tong Huaqiong’s dessert shop, they’re said to earn one of the highest wages in Yan Guan Town. Plus, two elderly villagers working at the pig farm get to eat white bread every meal and earn money.

Seeing this, Liu Tieshan considered that Tong Huaqiong trusting him with hiring is a gesture of trust, shows high regard, and boosts his standing as village chief.

He silently vowed to ensure Tong Huaqiong gets the best candidates.

"Dashi, rest assured, I’ll handle the hiring. Lazy and slick operators won’t be considered, slick talkers won’t be included, and those with a history of petty theft or gambling won’t be hired," Liu Tieshan assured Tong Huaqiong, pounding his chest, "I’ll make sure you get clean, reliable workers."

Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, this is why she’s seeking out the village chief; what a fellow, setting such thorough standards for hiring.

"I need ten people initially, and I intend to hire them long-term. If they’re willing, they can rent my land," Tong Huaqiong said.

With about fifty acres of land, Tong Huaqiong estimated that ten people would be sufficient for spraying medicine and decontamination, as well as for the upcoming corn harvesting season.

But these ten people need to work consistently for Tong Huaqiong, not just on the land but also at the pig farm. Additionally, Tong Huaqiong plans to grow cotton and lease mountain tops for orchards, all requiring manpower.

Future tasks could take them to different places based on their suitability.

If manpower is insufficient this season and other villagers want to do odd jobs, Tong Huaqiong also welcomes them.

The village chief said, "It’s easy to find ten young and strong workers in the village."

Tong Huaqiong considered and replied, "Not necessarily all men; women can work too. From what I’ve seen, many women in our village are skilled in fields and mountains, often working harder than men."

"Like Guang Kui’s wife, Bai Family’s eldest daughter-in-law, Mr. Xu’s son’s wife, they all work capably. Our Taohua Dessert doesn’t lack staff now, otherwise, I’d want to recruit them for the shop."

The village chief understands Tong Huaqiong’s hiring style; she welcomes anyone competent and of good character.

She doesn’t even exclude hardworking individuals from the Xu Family.

She frequently favors capable women.

Liu Tieshan began to plan certain people in his mind and quickly got an idea.

He then described his choices to Tong Huaqiong as if listing treasures, including some she was familiar with and some she wasn’t.

For the unfamiliar ones, Tong Huaqiong searched the memory of Tong Dajiao and found several who had advised Tong Dajiao in the past, shown sympathy for Chen Sufen, and secretly provided food to Man Er...

Tong Huaqiong felt these people’s characters were definitely dependable.

In the entire village, apart from Huang Pozi and Yan Pozi, the ones who clashed with Tong Dajiao acted reasonably.

Tong Huaqiong was initially very satisfied with the selections; as for how they’d perform, they’ll be trialed for a few days and evaluated.

If unsatisfactory, she could dismiss them.

It’s no big concern.

"Monthly wages won’t disappoint everyone. In addition, those who accept meals provided at my place get lunch there, those who decline meals will receive fine rice and flour as subsidy. Those who don’t want the rice and flour can opt for exchanging it for millet and grains," Tong Huaqiong stated her worker benefits, immediately sparking the village chief’s interest.

It was his first time hearing about such subsidies for declining provided meals.

Currently, in Qinghe Bay aside from Gu Family and Xu Jin’s family, no household has fine rice and flour every meal, and Tong Huaqiong starts with fine rice flour.

He could imagine that if this news spread, the doorstep would be crowded with people wanting to work.

"Of course, the wages and rice flour aren’t free; work must meet my standards. If anyone violates them, they leave after two attempts and won’t be rehired," Tong Huaqiong said.

Liu Tieshan replied, "Rules should be established, after all, no rules, no squares."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Then I’ll trouble the village chief to ideally hire people today."

The village chief replied, "Dashi, don’t worry, I’ll gather them soon, they can come to your place by evening."

Tong Huaqiong nodded, indicating she awaited good news from the village chief.

After discussing hiring, Tong Huaqiong stopped the departing village chief and said, "Village chief, there’s another matter I want to discuss with you."

Liu Tieshan paused and asked, "What matter?"

He thought whatever Tong Huaqiong said must be good news.

Tong Huaqiong revealed that most villagers’ corn had developed blight and bollworm, and she formulated a disinfectant and insecticide.

"I want to distribute the formula for everyone to spray; whatever can be salvaged from this year’s corn harvest, we’d save," Tong Huaqiong said, "Village chief, you’d surely suggest I hide the recipe and use it myself. But I have my ulterior motives; living in the same village, if everyone’s crops wilt and only my harvest prospers, wouldn’t it incite jealousy?"

"Besides, my spray crew can’t keep it secret, so I’m prepared to make more so everyone can use it."

Tong Huaqiong’s sincerity was evident, showing her concern for Qinghe Bay.