The Lady’s Sickly Husband

Translator: Antonia

Sending away Ning Shaoqing, Mo Qianxue felt somewhat annoyed.

The land was bought with her money and the house was built on her money, but in the end, the properties should be notarized under his name. It was really not a happy thing.

The point was that he looked so leisurely that it seemed things were supposed to be so.

Yes, Ning Shaoqing had made his effort and helped her in the nick of time, but…

The ancient women regarded it as justified that their own properties also belonged to their husbands.

But she had accepted modern education, so it wasn’t that she cared too much about the properties but was an unspeakably uncomfortable feeling.

Tidying up the mood and finishing household chores, she went to Fang house next to hers. In these days, everything was well-prepared in the tofu workshop. After today, the tofu-making work would be complemented in the newly-built workshop, so she didn’t need to run between different sites.

There gathered a dozen of people in the yard, some of who Mo Qianxue knew and others didn’t. Upon her entering, everyone nodded to her awkwardly as a kind of greeting.

Mo Qianxue was confused and Fang Datang ran over shyly, “Mrs. Ning, these are carpenters and bricklayers in our village. We know that you’re going to build a restaurant at the dock, so we’re wondering if we can get the construction work.”

He was a shy man in nature and didn’t want to voluntarily ask her, but the men begged him again and again, saying that his wife was in good terms with Mrs. Ning and that as long as he asked, Mrs. Ning would definitely agree. Therefore, Fang Datong forced himself to make the request.

Fang Datang asked falteringly, “The daily pay is still twenty cents. The construction could start tomorrow after we get some wood. There the foundation has been laid, so if we act quick, it could finish in half a month.”

To be honest, the purpose of Mo Qianxue coming here was first to check the tofu-making and second to ask Fang Datang help her find some guys to build the house at the dock.

However, she was a little startled by the crowd of people.

Seeing that Mo Qianxue remained silent, Fang Datong rubbed his hands and looked to Wang Tiansong calling for help.

Wang Tiansong’s eyes darkened too and said, “It’s okay you don’t agree.”

Seeing that both of them changed their expressions, Mo Qianxue explained quickly, “No, no, no. It’s just too sudden. I didn’t get it at once. Brother Tiansong, I’m more than happy if you can help me. How can I disagree?”

Mo Qianxue’s smile relaxed Wang Tiansong. He pointed at a thin man next to him, “This is brother Lisan living in the east of our village. He’s an expert in making stoves. He makes the best stoves. The one in the new workshop was made by him.”

“This is…”

Either the one Mo Qianxue was unfamiliar with or not was introduced to her one by one. She laughed, “So I’ll bother you in the future. I’m a woman and know nothing about your work, and my husband is a scholar, so I should thank you first for your willingness to help us. During the construction days, besides daily pay, I’ll offer you lunch every day. The lunch will be sent to the dock at noon.”

The men looked at each other and shook their heads to refuse. Here was far from the dock, so that would be no less than difficulty to let her take all the troubles to send them lunch.

Most of the men’s children were Ning Shaoqing’s students, and he had just donated to restore the ancestral hall. Originally, they should help her for free, but most of them were not rich and on the other hand, they didn’t have income in winter, so they had to mention about wage.

Mo Qianxue could tell that they were honest guys, smiling, “These days, I’ve been trying to make a few delicious and filling dishes that sell at a low price. You can help me taste first. I owe you one.”

The joke was made, and she should also warn them, smiling and continuing, “If you really think that you’re taking advantage of me, just help me build a solid restaurant, don’t let it be smashed by one single blast. Then I’ll cry.”

Everyone listened to her jokes and found her a funny and amiable person, so the atmosphere instantly got relaxed. One man even added a joke, “As long as you don’t give us the hard corn buns that can damage teeth, anything you make will be fine.”

All of them laughed hearing this. Wang Tiansong promised seriously on behalf of them, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Ning. The restaurant will definitely be solid and pretty.”

The group of men nodded to show their agreement.

Mo Qianxue smiled and thanked them. Then she went to the kitchen to tell sister Fang a few matters, check the tofu, and then took the men to the dock.

There were still people coming and going through the dock, taking on a lively scene.

Yet, by Mo Qianxue’s guidance last time, the site was in better order. The goods-carrying up and down became easier and more time-saving.

Mo Qianxue pointed to the land she owned, greeted a few people, told the workers things to notice, and went to the management office.

General Tang was a nice guy, so as she was starting the construction, she should tell him and build good connections with him.