Chapter 119 Monthly Salary 400?

Lu Cheng’an’s eyes lit up instantly when he heard this, a look of incredulous joy spreading across his face. He bowed deeply to Miao Yunyou, his voice full of gratitude: “That’s enough! This is already enough! I thank Miao Sect Leader from the bottom of my heart. On behalf of all the county’s people, I thank you!”

Miao Yunyou was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time: “Ah? That’s enough? Your appetite is too small! You make me feel like some heartless capitalist, just giving you a few seeds and calling it a day.”

She waved her hand firmly: “No, no. I’ll add a few more things. How about I let you take some cloth back with you?”

In that era, where productivity was very low, cloth was extremely valuable. Many people would only be able to get a new outfit once every few years. No matter how worn out their clothes were, they patched them up and kept wearing them. Some poor families could only afford for one person to go out at a time, because the entire household had only one set of clothes suitable for leaving the home.

Lu Cheng’an lowered his head to think, a hint of gratitude in his eyes, and slowly nodded: “That works. Autumn is coming soon; the weather will get colder. Many people have very thin clothing and really need more to keep warm.”

He changed his tone, speaking cautiously: “But I can’t take really high-quality cloth, like fine silk and satin. Our county people can’t afford that; it would just raise suspicions and bring unnecessary trouble. If convenient, Sect Leader Miao, please give me some low-quality, rough cloth—just enough to cover the body and keep warm.”

Under the cold moonlight, the two of them discussed briefly.

Miao Yunyou opened her phone WPS and recorded each item carefully.

The final arrangement was that Miao Yunyou would provide Lu Cheng’an every month:

10 bags of extra-large vegetable seeds: 500 silver coins.

500 meters of cheap solid-colored cloth: 1000 silver coins.

20 piglets for breeding: 6000 silver coins.

20 rabbit kits for breeding: 500 silver coins.

300 jin of cured meat suitable for storage: 4500 silver coins.

Total: 12,500 silver coins.

Looking at the number automatically calculated on her phone, Miao Yunyou twitched her mouth, utterly speechless: “…Are you sure you only need this little?”

Thirty people working for a month, total wages 12,500 silver coins. Average monthly salary per person: 416.66 silver coins.

Less than 500 a month…

Heavens, even a capitalist would shed tears at this…

But Lu Cheng’an shook his head, his gaze serious, tone solemn: “You can’t calculate it like that. According to our local prices, these things would cost roughly 800 taels of silver.”

Keep in mind, Lu Cheng’an spent less than 200 taels in total to hire this group.

“800 taels a month, 9,600 taels a year. The Crown Prince’s annual salary isn’t even 10,000 taels… For a small county like ours, to receive this much material each month is already a tremendous favor,” Lu Cheng’an said with reverence, even a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in his voice. “We can’t ask for more. Any more… I’d be afraid myself…”

Since the Crown Prince had been mentioned, Miao Yunyou’s curiosity was immediately piqued. Her tone carried a hint of gossip: “By the way, what kind of person is your Crown Prince?”

Her father was already known to be a terrible man—debauched and cruel, imposing heavy taxes that made life unbearable for the people, sparing not even his own daughter.

She wondered what the son was like.

It was said that in his childhood, Xie Dingnian had even taught him for a while. With Xie Dingnian’s upright, knowledgeable character, he shouldn’t have produced a bad child, right?

When Lu Cheng’an heard the question, his expression immediately became complicated. He fell silent for a moment, his eyes dim and uncertain, as if carefully weighing his words. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly: “The Crown Prince… he’s not a bad person. His heart is fairly kind, and he does care for the people. It’s just… his personality is a bit too weak…”

Miao Yunyou nodded knowingly, her tone blunt, casually adding: “Oh, so he’s a useless one.”

“…” Lu Cheng’an was startled by Miao Yunyou’s bold remark. Instinctively, he glanced around nervously, afraid someone else might overhear. Cold sweat broke out along his back, and his hands and feet stiffened.

Saying something like that here was fine, but if it had been anywhere else… it would have been a goodbye to his entire clan.

Lu Cheng’an asked stiffly: “Can… we… change the topic?”

Miao Yunyou nodded, her tone light: “Oh, then let’s talk about the work schedule. By the way, for people in their situation—working for a master—how often do they usually get a day off?”

Although Miao Yunyou had spent three years in the past, most of her time was up in the mountains. She didn’t really understand the world down below—actually, she knew less than from watching dramas.

Lu Cheng’an replied: “Strictly speaking, there isn’t a fixed rest schedule. Usually, they can take a few days off during the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, or the master’s birthday.”

Miao Yunyou asked: “Can they go home?”

Shaking his head, Lu Cheng’an said: “For people like them, who have signed indenture contracts, they strictly belong to the master. Even their lives are the master’s. They absolutely cannot go home freely. If they want to visit home, they must get the master’s approval and be granted leave. If they go home without permission, they are considered runaway slaves. If caught, the consequences are terrible—at minimum, they face corporal punishment or resale; at worst, execution. Even their family may suffer as a result.”

Miao Yunyou clicked her tongue and shook her head, thinking how terrifying feudal society really was.

“So,” she asked, “your initial plan was to have them work here with me the whole time?”

Lu Cheng’an nodded, hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of entreaty: “If possible, I hope Sect Leader Miao could allow them one day off per month.”

Miao Yunyou paused.

What a humble request… this is really treating her like a heartless capitalist.

She said helplessly: “…Well, actually, today is just a special case. Normally, we don’t have this many visitors. Under usual circumstances, it’s mostly Friday, Saturday, and Sunday when visitors are numerous. We can split the 30 people into two groups, on a 7-day cycle: the first group works days 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; the second group works days 5, 6, 7, 1, 2. This way, each group gets two days off. How does that sound?”

Lu Cheng’an was silent for a long while. His brows furrowed slightly, a look of confusion on his face. Hesitantly, he looked at Miao Yunyou and asked softly: “…What does Friday mean? And Saturday, Sunday… I’ve never heard of these before.”

Miao Yunyou froze for a moment. Oh right—almost forgot. The concept of “weekdays” came from the West; people in ancient times wouldn’t have known about them.

She said: “It’s not important. I’ll have Mr. Xie make a work schedule for you. Just follow the schedule. This way, they can work properly and also rest properly—no one will be treated unfairly.”

Hearing this, Lu Cheng’an immediately bowed and said: “Thank you, Sect Leader Miao, for your consideration. That’s more than perfect.”

Later, we can set up a facial recognition check-in machine at the secret passage exit, linked directly to the smart door lock—automatic entry!

Haha, our makeshift little team is getting more and more organized!