CH 126

These two days, Mo Zenian went to the Upper Valley to restock, and Mo Yan didn’t sell dried fruit. The last of the goods had to be saved to continue waging a price war.

In Yanling Storefront, apart from the dishes made by Ms. Liang, there was also something special. Those were the shoes Ms. Liang made for Mo Zenian.

A customer asked, “Why are you selling shoes?”

She sighed and said, “I originally made these shoes for my husband, but he abandoned us for his mistress. Otherwise, why would we be running a business? No one will wear these shoes now, and it’s a pity to throw them away, so I’m selling them.”

After hearing this, he replied, “These are such obedient children, he’s heartless to have abandoned them!”

The shoes had been placed in the shop for several days, but none of them had been sold. The regular customers had named them ‘Heartless Shoes’.

When Mo Zenian came back from the Upper Valley, he set up a stall in front of the Upper Valley again, and Mrs. Liang also set up the stall to match him.

Zhong Cheng’s men were buying Mo Zenian’s goods as usual. He felt something was off, and questioned how they were eating so much.

Someone replied, “I’m not underpaying. If you don’t want to sell, don’t set up a stall.”

Mo Zenian said, “I’m raising my prices.”

After he said that, Ms. Liang yelled,”Everyone, come and have a look! Dried fruits from the Upper Valley being sold at low prices.”

Zhong Cheng’s men ran over, pretending to be shopping, but just took the goods to the alley and handed them back through the back window without even entering the yard. They loudly said that the dried fruit was good and cheap, and they would buy here again.

Mo Zenian has worked in a commercial firm for many years. Although he had never operated a small business, he had probably figured out what was going on.

He went outside their storefront and looked at the candied fruit they were selling, “How much dried fruit do you have left? I want it all!”

Mo Yan replied, “We only sell items for retail and don’t sell in bulk.”

Ms. Liang took out a pair of shoes and came out of the shop, “Honoured customer, your shoes are all worn out, why don’t you buy a new pair?”

Mo Zenian looked down and saw his shoes were worn, so he asked, “How much for a pair?”

Ms. Liang sighed softly and said, “Oh! These shoes fit your feet, so I’ll charge you a little cheaper than usual. It’s fifty dollars for a pair.”

These handmade shoes were really cheap. Mo Zenian knew these shoes were originally made for him, but now he was in no position to ask for them, and he really needed them, so he bought two pairs at once.

Ms. Liang handed the shoes to him, and a regular happened to come to buy something, “Is there really someone who’s buying your ‘heartless shoes’?”

She smiled and said, “I’m good at handcrafts, so of course someone will buy these. It’s also rare for someone to fit them so well, it’s like they were made for him.”

Mo Ling said from the side, “These were made for him!”

The customer looked at Mo Zenian and said, “So you’re the heartless man. You’re just a food vendor with no future, and you abandoned your wife and children for a mistress?”

Mo Zenian smiled awkwardly, took the shoes and hurried away.

Lu Junming and his workshop was ready. The materials Chi Jie needed have arrived, and a few workers who lived nearby had been recruited to start making raincoats.

They were much more convenient than the cumbersome coir raincoat, and would sell well. They planned to sell it at the market first to promote it.

Somehow, the news that the workshop was going to recruit workers reached the ears of Mrs. Liu, their neighbour, and she went to the Mo family cheekily.

Mo Ling naturally wouldn’t treat her well, and Ms. Liang wouldn’t want to see her, so she could only go to Mu Yan and asked with a smile, “Yan’er, I heard you opened a workshop and want to recruit workers?”

“Yup!” Mo Yan replied perfunctorily.

“Then can you see if I can join your workshop? If you need men, you can choose from the three boys in my family too.”

Mo Ling sneered from the side, “Who would choose your children? It’s a sewing workshop, what can they do?”

” I know how to sew! Look, I sewed the clothes on my body!” Mrs. Liu pulled up her sleeves and showed them.

Seeing Mo Yan hesitate, Mo Ling shook her head to show they couldn’t hire her.

Mrs. Liu begged bitterly, “Yan’er, let me try. If I can’t do it, then fire me.”

Mo Yan said, “You’re the only woman in your family and need to take care of everything. You’re indispensable here, but we have a lack of male workers to do manual labour. I wonder if Brother Dagan is willing to work there?”

“Yes, yes, of course. How much is the pay?”

“The workshop has just opened, and the wages won’t be high. For now, male workers get a thousand dollars a month, and female workers eight hundred a month. They have a rest day every week. Pay will be deducted proportionally if it’s harvest season. If business improves in the future, wages might be increased, and we might give bonuses during the holidays.”

That was one thousand dollars a month, or twelve silver taels in a year, excluding any bonuses. Their family has never had so much money!

“Then I’ll let Dagan go to the workshop tomorrow! The two other boys in my family…”

Mo Yan shook her head, “The workshop has only just started operating, so we don’t need that many people.”

“Then let Dagan go. If you need someone in the future, remember our family.”

The woman left happily, and Mo Ling snorted coldly, “We’ve sinned to be her neighbour, she’d make it seem like our fault if we didn’t hire her! But you’re right to hire Dagan.”

Ms. Liang also said, “He’s the only nice one in their family, the other two sons are miscreants.”

That woman was born to be a gossip. The news of their workshop’s recruitment quickly spread throughout the village. People kept coming to theirs to inquire, even Daqiang.

It was only then did Ms. Liang realise working in the workshop was a good way to make a living, so she asked Mo Yan to bring Mo Feng to the workshop as well.

Mo Yan knew that this day would come, and had already prepared for it.

“Mother, the male workers in the workshop have to carry bundles of oilcloths, and they are busy all day. Do you think it is so easy to earn a thousand dollars a month?”

“Then can’t you find him an easy job?”

“Lu Junming’s the manager, not me. Besides, there was really no suitable position for him.”

Ms. Liang frowned and said, “You won’t even help my own brother!”

“Who says I won’t help him? After Mo Ling gets married, I don’t plan to run the shop anymore. Just take him with you! I’ll help you if necessary.”

Hearing that, Ms. Liang’s face softened a bit. They still had a shop, so they wouldn’t lose face from it.

Post-translation notes: Mo Feng is the least useful person in the entire plot…when is he finally leaving his room and being productive? As always, thank you for reading! The next chapter should be on 27/3/2023