Chapter 302: Improving Conditions
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The villagers talked as they walked home with bright smiles. Back then, they would only look joyful at a bumper harvest during autumn. However, they were now working at the tofu factory and were in high spirits.
They felt reassured when they thought of their monthly salary. The villagers’ families would live better lives with more money. Moreover, it was almost winter and time for the New Year celebrations.
By then, they could afford some New Year goods and would no longer feel reluctant to buy things. Moreover, the villagers also heard that the Su family was selling charcoal at more affordable prices. So they could afford some for the winter.
Of course, the villagers would still feel reluctant to use the charcoal and would burn some to keep their families warm only when it became freezing. After thinking about the upcoming winter, the villagers started feeling cold. The factory was just behind the village, so the villagers did not have to travel far to get home. Everyone welcomed Yao Cuihua with a smile as soon as she reached home.
The Yao family still lived together, and Yao Cuihua’s mother-in-law was in charge of the house. Yao Cuihua also had two younger sisters-in-law. The two were usually amiable but secretly compared themselves to Yao Cuihua.
Yao Cuihua was the eldest daughter-in-law, and her mother-in-law favored her because she could work. However, that reason did not convince Yao Cuihua’s two younger sisters-in-law.
Nonetheless, only Yao Cuihua’s mother-in-law smilingly greeted her when she returned, “Cuihua, you’re back. Come in and drink some warm water that I just boiled.”
“Sister-in-law, you’ve worked all morning and can rest now. We’ve fed the chickens, ducks, and pigs.”
“That’s right. We’ll cook dinner tonight, so you don’t have to.”
The two younger sister-in-laws’ caring attitudes made Yao Cuihua suspicious as the duo would never treat her like this. Of course, she did not mind how they treated her in the past because she knew her family was poor.
Still, Yao Cuihua’s in-laws were not bad people and just wanted to live good lives. However, the duo typically did their work slowly with several mistakes.
When Su Binglan was hiring the villagers to work at the tofu factory, Yao Cuihua and the duo went for an interview, but only Yao Cuihua got the job.
When Shen Qiuhua went to inform them of who Su Binglan had hired, Yao Cuihua’s two younger sisters-in-law felt ashamed. At that time, they realized they were not as capable as Yao Cuihua.
Since the Yao family had to rely on Yao Cuihua to provide for them, the two sisters-in-law naturally started treating Yao Cuihua courteously.
Moreover, they also heard the Su family would have more similar jobs in the future and would need to hire more workers. The duo knew they could no longer be lazy and had to change their habits of working slowly with several mistakes to work faster and more efficiently.
At that time, if there were more jobs, they would be able to do it well.
Yao Cuihua’s mother-in-law said they were from the same village. Everyone knew each others’ situations and how each other worked. She also advised her daughters-in-law not to become complacent.
That was why the two younger sisters-in-law were now competing to do housework.
Still, Yao Cuihua did not care about these things. It was not tiring to work at the tofu factory. Moreover, everyone could talk when they worked, and the atmosphere was perfect.
It was just like playing and relaxing. So when Yao Cuihua went home, she could still do more work.
Nonetheless, the two sisters-in-law were fighting over the work. The family had become harmonious, and Yao Cuihua thought it was terrific. She quite liked being home now.
“Sister-in-law, will the Su family recruit more people for their tofu factory in the future?”
“Yeah, will there be other jobs to earn money?”
The duo also wanted to earn money to improve their family’s conditions. They felt embarrassed that they had to rely on their eldest sister-in-law to earn money.
Yao Cuihua said, “Miss Shen said her family would expand the tofu factory in the future and hire more people. Also, Miss Su will do other important things in the future. When the time comes, she will also need more workforce.’
The duo smiled when they heard their eldest sister-in-law’s words. They would work hard and strive to show the villagers they were diligent and capable. This way, the Su family would also hire them in the future.
When Liu Qiaoshi returned, her parents hurriedly pulled her over with worried expressions. “Are you tired?”
Liu Qiaoshi shook her head, saying, “Father, Mother, I’m not tired. Working at the factory is not tiring, but I can’t tell you the specifics because we’ve signed an agreement. We have to keep our work a secret.”
“We know, we know.”
Meanwhile, when Li Mei returned, her younger brothers and sisters happily said, “Big Sister, we just fed the chickens. Big Brother is outside chopping firewood.’
“Big Brother wants to collect firewood for the winter to heat the platform so you won’t catch a cold.”
Li Mei felt sad when she heard her younger brothers’ and sisters’ words. “Tell Big Brother to come home earlier next time and to be out so late. What if a wild animal attacks him?”
“B-But…”
Li Mei was the one who went up the mountain to cut firewood in the past. She was the one who did the most at home, like caring for her younger siblings.
Since she had started working at the factory, her younger siblings felt sorry for her and wanted to do more housework.
Li Mei said, “We can save a little more when I get paid. Then we can buy charcoal and add it to the firewood so we won’t freeze during the winter.”
She thought she could buy some charcoal if she saved up her monthly pay. With that thought in mind, she revealed a faint smile.
Li Mei’s second sister was delighted to see her smile. After all, Li Mei seldom smiled since their parents passed away.
“Big Sister, you’re smiling! You’re smiling!”
Li Mei was stunned when she saw her younger siblings’ happy expressions. ‘Am I smiling? Are they that happy to see me smile?’
Li Mei stroked her siblings’ heads. “Don’t worry. Our family’s conditions will improve in the future. I will also buy meat for us to cook and eat.”
She did not have enough stamina to work in the past and could not harvest many crops from the fields. However, things had changed since she got a had and could earn money.
She could earn a lot yearly, including her potential bonuses. With that, her younger siblings would never go hungry again. With those thoughts in mind, Li Mei’s mood improved. She was in a better mood these days because she saw hope for her and her family.
Everything was on track for the tofu factory as many merchants cooperated with it by ordering tofu products. Even the hotpot restaurant and many people from other towns got their tofu supplies from the factory.
Su Teng Village became livelier because of the tofu factory. Many more people were coming and going through and fro.
However, Su Binglan was worried this would disturb the villagers, so she made a road at the back and set up a sign with an arrow at the village entrance. She wanted to let everyone know how to get to the tofu factory.
Many drove oxcarts to buy goods, so they went through the back road and arrived at the factory’s entrance. Su Fengmao was in charge of selling tofu with Luo Kang alongside him.
Meanwhile, Shen Qiuhua and Qiu He were inside the factory, overseeing everyone’s work.
On that day, Su Binglan took some money to the administrator’s office in town to buy more land. After buying 400 acres of land, she prepared to return when she met Xu Yunchu, the owner of Drunken Cloud restaurant..
