Chapter 50
Ji Jiu walked around to make sure he didn't disturb the workers. She still hadn't found a single flaw. It shows that Uncle Ai really does a quality job. It's been ten days since she started working. As far as Ji Jiu can see, it won't be long before she can move into her new home.
Ji Jiu walked back and waited to eat lunch with her aunts in a good mood. She asked Aunt Qiao if she wanted her to build a room in the new house or if she wanted to separate the house like Uncle Kang's family. Aunt Qiao looked at Ji Jiu and then turned to look at Uncle Yu. So she asked her daughter what kind of life she wanted to live in. Ah Yu told Aunt Qiao that she could stay with her. It gave Aunt Qiao a headache. She had already told Ji Jiu that she would stay in this house if Ji Jiu built a new house. Just make good improvements and live comfortably for the two mothers.
Aunt Qiao thought for a while and then told Ji Jiu that she still thought about staying in this house. Just renovating it would be enough so that we wouldn't waste time rebuilding it. Ji Jiu could only sigh and said that she would tell Uncle Ai later that she would continue renovating the house. Aunt Qiao smiled and thanked her.
Until we finished eating lunch, Ji Jiu, who was free, wanted to go up the mountain to collect herbs. But he was first stared at by Aunt Qiao. She said it was afternoon and she didn't have to go. She didn't want Ji Jiu to return after dark again. Ji Jiu could only give up. Who would let her have someone as worried as Aunt Qiao? Besides, if Aunt Qiao complained, she would be afraid that she wouldn't be able to eat this delicious food. The parasites in her stomach are also very picky.
In the past ten days, Ji Jiu had only gone up the mountain three times to collect herbs with Uncle Yu, Kang Jie, Kang Jin, and the four brothers who had already recovered. As there were many people at Ji Jiu, there were additional workers to help cut firewood. Until now, her warehouse was more than half full of firewood. In addition, the money from each sale of herbs was as much as 4 taels, 200 Yi Pae crispy crackers. She gave Aunt Qiao the money to keep, a total of 12 taels, 600 Yi Pae. As for the others, she waited to pay their wages at the end of the month. Each of them were slaves who never received wages. Therefore this matter had never been mentioned before. Ji Jiu also didn't say anything.
Her house also held a ceremony for raising the beams of the house today. Ji Jiu, who didn't know anything about it, did as Aunt He and Uncle Elder said according to the steps. When they finished, they all ate together with all the workers and their families. Unfortunately, Boss Yuan was busy so he couldn't come. Aunt Qiao went shopping early in the morning using both a horse and a donkey cart. Ji Jiu pays the remaining 19 house fees. She gave Uncle Ai a long time ago, and she also prepared another 40 taels for Uncle Ai to renovate Aunt Qiao's house, just saying she would make Kang's bed and add another room for Aunt Yu. Including changing the entire roof to tiles, in front of the house a new floor was poured and the tiles were laid well enough. Uncle Ai has given a price that includes workers' wages. As for the two new houses that they plan to build for the Kang family and their four brothers, they don't want them. They said that just replacing the roof with tiles would make them comfortable to live in. So Ji Jiu had them make beds for them as well. Uncle Ai priced everything for Ji Jiu to be the same as the cost of renovating Aunt Qiao's house, because most of it was labor costs. Making a bed is more wasteful. The material can be dug up from clay at the water's edge. Ji Jiu didn't bother any more and let Uncle Ai take care of it instead.
As for the cost of food until today's house raising day, Ji Jiu calculated it to be only 20 taels. It was worth the food for such a large number of people. Even including the cost of today's ceremony, she was smiling all day. In total, she deducted 119 taels from her account. She still had a bill of exchange of 6,000 taels, 81 taels of silver, 600 taels of I Pae. Ji Jiu secretly had Uncle Kang exchange 30 taels of I Pae money for her. She also used the cloth she bought while selling. The herbs were given to Gui Hua to help her make 56 small, simple canvas bags for her. Luckily, Gui Hua was already good at embroidery. It only took her 6 days to complete it. Ji Jiu took the E Pae money and put it in 500 E Pae bills each.
When everyone was seated after helping to put food on the table, Ji Jiu stood up and thanked everyone who had helped her build a new house. She also said that she had renovation work on 3 more houses. If anyone wanted to continue doing it, they could contact Uncle Ai. The villagers and regular workers applauded Ji Jiu and said they were happy to continue because they had food. Delicious food every day Making Ji Jiu laugh. Then she allowed everyone to start eating. Today, after eating, let's rest first. Tomorrow we will begin work on improving the house.
Ji Jiu sat and ate for a while until she was full. Then she beckoned to the four brothers who were helping each other carry a box containing her bag of bonus money. The people sitting at the event were confused as to what Ji Jiu would do. Ji Jiu started at her table first. From the elder uncle, Uncle Ai, and the four aunts. Then she went to hand out bags to all the workers with a thank you for helping build her house so well. When they opened the bag, each person burst into tears. They wanted to return the money, but Ji Jiu said it was a thank you from her heart. So they had to accept it.
By the time the bonuses were distributed to everyone, Ji Jiu was sweating. But with her first goal accomplished, she was still able to smile.
After everyone had had their fill of food, they helped each other wash the dishes, put away their belongings, and carry the tables and chairs they had brought home in an orderly manner. Ji Jiu sent everyone away with a smile. The fence of the old house has been removed. main house door Ji Jiu had Uncle Ai move it closer to the new house earlier because if he kept it in the same place he wouldn't be able to hear people calling him, she waited for Ji Jiu to be free before she found a bell and strung it up and stuck it in front of the door. Whoever comes, just pull the rope so you don't have to shout and get tired.
In the evening, they were still full, so they sat and talked in front of Ji Jiu's new house. Uncle Kang consults Ji Jiu about moving the temporary house closer to the old house and the new one near the gate of the house. They will be able to care for them comfortably. The temporary home is now a bit too far from their new home. If something happens, you probably won't hear the call.