Chapter 995: Chapter 995: Lowering One’s Stature_Part 1 Chapter 995: Chapter 995: Lowering One’s Stature_Part 1 “What is a two-wheeled vehicle?” Li Rou, sitting aside and listening, immediately asked.

“It’s a vehicle that can move with just two wheels.”

“Is learning to make them free like with the kang beds? And can you sell them after you’ve learned how to make them?”

Qiao Xiaomai glanced at her and said, “You want your man to learn too?”

Withstanding Qiao Xiaomai’s indifferent gaze, Li Rou smiled uneasily, “If he can learn, then why not? He has Xiaoxing and Xiaoyue to provide for, and there’ll be plenty of expenses in the future.”

Now the family only has fifteen acres of land, and vinegar production has long since stopped; no more is being sold.

The silver given by Qiao Xiaomai was tightly held by Tong Xingda, even the Zhang Family couldn’t touch it.

Now that the family had no source of income, they couldn’t go on like this. Now that Qiao Xiaomai had a good opportunity available, of course, she wanted Tong Dala to go.

“Didn’t you all used to feel that since your family had produced a scholar, you couldn’t stoop to do those rough jobs?” Qiao Xiaomai asked mockingly.

Ever since Tong Tiehu became a scholar, these people started to feel their own worth had risen; they stopped making vinegar and stopped working the fields, wanting to relive the leisurely and prosperous life of the past.

Back then, they had their fields and vinegar shop, so they could afford to be prosperous.

But now, although Tong Tiehu had become a scholar, he only had an annual stipend of 500 jin of grain and nothing else of real benefit.

Clasping tightly to their status, they garnered no real advantage and were on the brink of facing the biting winds of hardship, but now they were finally willing to lower their pride.

Li Rou, directly ridiculed by Qiao Xiaomai, momentarily showed discomfort on her face and said, “That’s all in the past. With New Year’s not far away, earning some New Year’s money to get through the festival would be good.”

“Since the family split, Xiaoxing and Xiaoyue haven’t tasted anything good, and for the past half year, they haven’t even gotten a single new piece of clothing. After all, they are the niece and nephew of a scholar and shouldn’t look so shabby.”

On hearing this, Qiao Xiaomai raised an eyebrow. “Tong Tiehu doesn’t care about his reputation or face; you don’t need to dress up in new clothes for his sake, he isn’t concerned about that.”

Li Rou “…”

Her smile grew even more strained, “Wearing new clothes would also make them happy.”

This explanation was somewhat acceptable to Qiao Xiaomai, who nodded, “As long as your man is willing, then let him go.”

She had previously told Tong Tiehu that if these people were willing to change, then she would give them a chance.

Li Rou, upon hearing this, was delighted and asked, “Then tell me, how exactly does it work?”

“Learn how to make two-wheeled vehicles. Make as many as you can, and distribute the earned silver evenly among all the workers.”

“So how much can we earn, roughly?” This point was of most concern to Li Rou.

“Who knows? It depends on the specific situation.”

One tael silver per vehicle was acceptable for the people of County Town and town folks, but for the farmers in the countryside, it was a different story.

A pile of wood plus a chain worth one tael silver?

If they couldn’t sell the vehicles for one tael silver each, they would lower the price.

Right now, she genuinely couldn’t make any guarantees.

After hearing this, Li Rou hesitated momentarily but then nodded, “Let’s sign up Dala then.”

During the previous kang bed repairs, everyone from the village went to County Town and other places to work, and each family earned at least ten plus taels of silver.

Back then everyone in the village learned the trade, but this time Qiao Xiaomai only needed thirty people; with fewer people, perhaps they could earn even more silver…

With the thought of earning silver, the next day, Tong Dala went to the manor along with the other villagers.

Once at the manor, Tong Tiehu and Qiao Changshun, the two masters, instructed these people on what exactly to do and how to do it.

Seeing Tong Tiehu, Tong Dala could not help but feel a burst of grief and indignation; it turned out his grandfather was involved in this work too!

Last time the kang beds were divided among the people, and now the two-wheeled vehicles as well.

With such good opportunities, why was it that they always seemed to be turning their elbow outwards!

His own great-grandchildren didn’t even have new clothes to wear!