Chapter 973: Chapter 973: Three Questions

Shu Yu gave them time to think it over, then returned to the living room to drink tea.

The courtyard buzzed with murmurs, occasionally interrupted by high-pitched exclamations.

After half an hour had passed, someone finally came forward, wanting to ask Shu Yu a few questions.

Shu Yu looked up and saw that it was the neighbor woman from the Cui Family.

Shu Yu had a deep impression of her and found her perceptive, so she nodded, “Go ahead and ask.”

“What crops does Monarch Lu Xiang plan to plant on the purchased land?”

Shu Yu smiled and replied, “I want to plant something you’ve never seen before, a type of food.”

“Never seen before?” Ms. Guo’s eyes widened. “If we’ve never seen it, we’d have no idea how to cultivate it. What if we ruin the crops? Would we have to compensate?”

Shu Yu shook her head. “The food I plan to grow is called a sunflower. It doesn’t require high-quality soil and grows easily. My elder brother has already had success with trial planting. Later, my brother will live on this manor, and he will guide you all and teach you how to cultivate it.”

Daniu, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Ms. Guo was astonished–was the boss’s elder brother really going to work in the fields personally?

She couldn’t help but swallow nervously, “Then, what about the wages?”

“The wages will align with the usual rates for long-term workers in Jiangyuan County–600 coins a month. Of course, if the work is done well, I’ll increase the pay and even introduce rewards.”

Initially, the wages couldn’t be set too high. Otherwise, making money here would seem overly easy, which could lead to a misunderstanding and foster laziness.

But she also couldn’t let her long-term workers live in hardship. If they couldn’t eat their fill or stay warm, how could they focus on their work? As long as they worked earnestly, she wouldn’t treat them poorly.

Ms. Guo was quick-witted and caught the deeper implications of these words, and her heart began to stir.

She clenched her fists slightly, “How many people does Monarch plan to hire?”

“Tentatively, thirty people. Of course, not all thirty will necessarily be recruited from here. I have to assess whether you’re suitable. Only those who fit the criteria will be employed.”

Ms. Guo understood this point.

Shu Yu saw her lower her head in contemplation, “Do you have any other questions?”

Ms. Guo shook her head, “No.”

Shu Yu thought to herself, after discussing for so long, only three questions were raised?

It seemed she’d have to take the lead herself.

Last night at home, Shu Yu had already drafted the contract.

She took out the contract and pushed it toward Ms. Guo, “This is the contract. It lists many things to take note of. Ask around–if there are no issues, then I’ll start selecting people.”

Ms. Guo lowered her head to look; the page was densely packed with written words, and she could only recognize a few.

Such… so many terms? She suddenly felt short of breath, a bit suffocated.

Luckily, Jiang Kuanyu, who was standing nearby, knew that most of the group couldn’t read. He took the contract and began reading it out loud, one clause at a time.

The more Jiang Kuanyu read, the more astonished he became.

The contract didn’t just outline the obligations for the tenants; it also imposed equivalent restrictions on Shu Yu.

No wonder there were so many terms. But she was the landlord now–this was incredibly considerate! She was even more reasonable than he, the previous landlord.

Shu Yu noticed the expression in his eyes and immediately knew what he was thinking. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

What she wanted wasn’t slaves resigned to exploitation, enduring beatings and scoldings. What she wanted were employees willing to strive and work hard for a better life.

Besides, she wasn’t Skin Ripper Zhou–she didn’t have the heart to cruelly add to the suffering of people already living tough lives. Wouldn’t it be better if everyone prospered together and made money in harmony?