Muk Ziquan returned to Changping Village and brought back the good news Yang Ruoqing had been hoping for.

“Qing'er, Tangyazi, you said that Bai Shu, is he really amazing?” Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"Let's not bring up the rejected matter from Lord Xu anymore. As for the irrigation of Qingshui Town, Lord Xu has fully entrusted its management to me."

"Mr. Zhang also said that we should work hard to manage the water, and if we achieve results, he will reward us!"

Mu Zichuan said excitedly, a smile finally appeared on his face after a long time without smiling.

Yang Ruqing and Luo Fengtang were also very happy to hear the news.

"Master Bai is truly amazing. Next time I see him, I'll treat him to a big feast to show my appreciation!" Yang Ruqing said.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Luo Fengtang smiled and said, "I'll write him another letter later and tell him what you said. He'll definitely be very happy."

"Good, good!"

People began enthusiastically digging the irrigation canal.

All the drawings and circuit diagrams are ready-made.

From Zhengjia Village, it was excavated all the way to a large river ahead.

Along the way, small ponds were dug to store a moderate amount of water. Excess water was then diverted from the irrigation channels and sent into the river.

The Da is a tributary of the Anjiang River. The Anjiang River flows eastward to the sea.

Townspeople were digging with great enthusiasm, and Yang Ruoqing also kept her promise.

To provide meals for our fellow villagers and care for their families.

Also involved was Yang Huilin from the second branch of the Lao Yang family.

There's no way around it, the common people have to serve the government without pay. We've all had to do this kind of labor before.

Back then, Yang Hualin was wealthy and used money to solve everything.

Right now, I'm down on my luck and have nothing to eat.

Let's dig a canal! Not only will I be able to feed myself, but Yang Shi and Yang Ruolan and Yang Yongbai can also get porridge and steamed buns. Come on!

Digging and digging, the first question came up.

We are short-staffed.

When it came time for dinner, everyone gathered together to discuss the matter.

Li Zhengdao said: "Every household in the village sent a strong man to do corvée labor, and no one was left out."

"Not enough manpower, what are we going to do now? We can't just pull more people away, can we?" he asked.

Yang Ruqing said, "If we don't have enough manpower, we definitely need to recruit more people from the village!"

"However, this time it's conscription, so they have to pay."

At this point, Yang Ruoheng's gaze fell on Mu Zichuan.

Mu Zichuan pondered for a moment, "We can't be short-handed. We must conscript, absolutely conscript. Each laborer will be paid daily wages."

Yang Ruqing raised an eyebrow, and Mu Zichuan seemed to have seen what she wanted to ask.

"Don't worry, Zhang-shi has given me the authority. I can handle this." he said.

Yang Ruqing nodded.

"However, I'm not quite sure about the price for this job..."

>

Yang Huazhong said, "I understand that."

“Before the family split up and during the slack season in farming, I went to apply for two rounds of corvée labor.”

Back then, the government paid twenty wen per day for labor, and included two meals.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

“But that was four years ago, and I’m not sure what the price is now,” he said.

Yang Ruqing looked away from Yang Huazhong and said to Mu Zichuan, "Let's pay him based on the craftsman's wages."

"A craftsman's wages for a day are thirty wen."

Mú Zǐchuān nodded. "Then release the message, and recruit another thirty laborers from the nearby villages. Forty wen a day, with two meals provided."

Li Zheng said, "Alright, I will go to the villagers tonight and tell them about this. There are some families in the village with many male members, and there are plenty of idle hands around!"

Yang Huazhong said, "I've finished eating, Big Brother Li Zheng, I'll go with you!"

Here, Yang Huainan, who had been silent all along, walked up to Mu Zichuan: "Zichuan ge'er, I'll sign up my third son Yongzhi. He's turned sixteen and can apply to be a conscripted laborer..."

"Uncle, your third cousin isn't in the village." Yang Ruqing said.

Yang Huai'an said, "He will be back tomorrow morning when I go to call him back from his master's place."

Yang Ruqing rolled her eyes: "Uncle, if you want that work money, why don't you go dig the canal yourself?"

"Your cousin, San Tang, is so thin and lanky, still growing. What if he accidentally steps on you? Wouldn't you feel sorry?" she asked.

Yang Huainan said seriously: “Boys, they need more tempering. I'll go get him back tomorrow. It's this time already, what is he still doing over there!”

Where there is great reward, there are brave men.

When Yang Ruqing woke up the next day after a good sleep, the headman and Yang Huazhong had already gathered twenty laborers.

“There are still ten vacancies. Let’s go back to Yujiacun and Zhengjiacun near here to find people, we’ll definitely make it!” Yang Huazhong said.

In the middle of the day, nearly twenty people from Zhengjia Village near Yujia Village heard about this and came over in one breath.

Now there are enough people.

A new batch of conscripted laborers were immediately deployed to the canal.

Yang Ruqing organized the women of the village, who went back and forth between the village and the irrigation canal every day to deliver meals to the men.

Everyone worked together with great enthusiasm and energy.

Yang Huai'an came back with a mournful face.

"What's the matter? Isn't your third son coming with you?" Old Yang saw his expression and quickly asked.

Yang Hu'an said, “That stinky brat, he actually hid it from us and went to do corvée service for his master’s family! He's digging canals on the other side of Qingshui Town. I'm furious!”

Old Yang sighed.

“You usually let him run wild, you don't fulfill your duty as a father.”

"Now your son doesn't get close to you, he's closer to his master father. Oh, what a waste of raising a son! Who can blame?" Please let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

The old man shook his head and left.

Yang Huai'an was unwilling to give up, and he walked up to Yang Ruqing.

"Qing'er, have you seen Brother Zichuan?" Yang Huai asked.

Yang Ruqing said, “What do you want from him?”

"Say something."

“What's the matter? If it's about digging canals, just tell me.” she said.

Yang Huainan pursed his lips and turned away.

Yang Ruoqing also had no time to pay attention to him, and turned around to busy herself.

When they had dinner, Luofengtang and the others came back from outside.

Yang Ruqing stepped forward and took the small bamboo tube filled with water from Luofengtang's hand.

“You must be exhausted after digging a whole day’s worth of ditches,” she asked.

Luo Fengtang grinned: "Not tired, can take it!"

Yang Ruqing glanced at the crowd but didn't see Mu Zichuan.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

"Where's Mu Zichuan?" she asked again.

Luo Fengtang said: "Just came back, met your uncle outside."

"Your uncle said he wanted to talk to him about something. He's waiting back there, I guess he’ll come in after they finish talking." he said.

Yang Ruqing nodded: "Come on, let's go into the house and rest for a while. We'll be able to eat dinner soon."

After everyone had taken their seats in the hall, Mu Zichuan came in shortly after.

And Yang Huai'an was still following behind.

Yang Huainan walked inside while talking to Mu Zichuan, his face full of pleading.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Mú Zǐchuān's attitude, however, was rather resolute.

After Yang Hua entered the main hall, he followed in but didn't dare to beg anymore. He just stared at Mu Zichuan with hopeful eyes.

That resentful little look...

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Yang Ruqing's eyes flashed, she was thinking about whether to ask, when someone else spoke up first.

"Big boss, where did you go this afternoon? Why didn't I see you anywhere?" Old Yang asked.

Yang Hua'an stammered, "I didn't go anywhere, just wandered around the canal..."

"Oh, Uncle's gone to the canal too? It seems even after figuring things out, he's going to enlist as a laborer?" Yang Ruoqing asked. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Yang Huai'an was stunned and said nothing.

Mù Zǐchuān drank a cup of tea and raised his eyes to see Yáng Huā'ān still staring at him expectantly.

Mù Zǐchuān couldn't bear it any longer and smiled helplessly.

“Uncle Yang, please don't look at your junior like that. I really can’t agree to what you said!”