Chapter 339: Establishing Might
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling left Teacher Liu 300 taels of silver and said, “The grains in the storeroom can definitely feed everyone until the beginning of spring. Use this money for the daily expenses of the nursery. This is the account book. I’ll come over every five days to take a look. If you encounter any difficulties, just tell me.”
After saying that, Mu Yangling brought Teacher Liu to meet the teachers and workers hired by the nursery. She even gathered the children and officially announced that Teacher Liu would take over immediately as the Nursery Manager.
Teacher Liu stayed at the nursery that night, but Mu Yangling stayed at the cattle farm. Zhang Wu and Zhang Liu had just returned from patrolling and were very happy to see Mu Yangling. After reporting their recent work, they said, “Miss, are we going back for the New Year this year?”
Mu Yangling said apologetically, “I’m afraid you brothers will have to stay in the cattle farm for the New Year this year since those workers are all new hires. Although we’ve signed a contract, I’m still worried about handing over such a huge cattle farm to them, so you guys have to work harder. If it’s regarding the New Year’s goods, I’ll send some over to you. If you want to buy anything, you can take the time to make a trip to the city. Do you still have enough money on you?”
Zhang Wu hurriedly said, “Yes, yes. Everything is provided for in the cattle farm, so I didn’t spend much money.”
Mu Yangling nodded slightly and smiled. “I’ll leave the cattle farm to you. I hope these oxen can be of use in spring.”
Mu Yangling originally wanted to visit Qi Haoran, but who knew that he was not there when she went to the military camp? Fei Bai had clearly said that Qi Haoran was staying in the Hanzhong Prefecture’s camp.
Mu Yangling thought that Qi Haoran had something on and went out. She felt that she was simply unlucky to have missed him, so she drove the mule cart home.
Mu Shi was meeting Xu Jian and Chen Sanzhu in the hall.
Although this was not the first time they had seen Mu Shi, the two of them could not help but feel nervous. The aura exuded by Mu Shi was too strong. Xu Jian and Chen Sanzhu only felt their hearts tremble and subconsciously felt afraid.
Mu Shi was very satisfied with their reaction. With only his defenseless wife and children at home, it was better to make them fearful than to make them feel that his family was easy to bully.
Mu Shi explained the Mu family’s rules with a straight face before saying some encouraging words. Then, he took out four taels of silver and said, “I know you’ve only come to work for my family for a short time, but the Mu family has never mistreated the people who work for us. You don’t have much on you either and it’s almost the New Year. Take these to buy some New Year goods.”
The two of them widened their eyes. Two taels of silver per person. Even if they worked in the city, they might not be able to save two taels of silver a year after paying for food and clothing. A little nervous, the two of them smiled apologetically. “Master, this is what we should do.”
Mu Shi only nodded slightly and gestured for them to put away the silver.
When the two of them saw that Mu Shi was sincere about giving them the silver, their hearts surged. They carefully put away the silver and chuckled at Mu Shi. Looking at Mu Shi’s cold face, they felt even more reverence.
When Mu Yangling came in from outside, she saw the two long-term workers smiling apologetically at her father.
Mu Yangling was confused, not knowing what they were up to. However, when she saw her father nod slightly at her, she didn’t read too much into it. Instead, she thought of something.
Mu Yangling said to Xu Jian and Chen Sanzhu, “If you hadn’t come, I would have forgotten. You’ve almost finished eating your grains, right? Bring two bags over with me later. By the way, we went to buy New Year’s goods the day before yesterday. Bring some of that over too.”
Xu Jian and Chen Sanzhu stole a glance at Mu Shi and whispered, “Miss, we can buy the New Year goods ourselves…”
“I know, but we bought some candies and whatnot for you guys as employee benefits. Hurry up and get them from Miss Xiuhong.” Mu Yangling said with a beam, “After eating my family’s New Year treats, you have to work hard next year.”
Xu Jian and Chen Sanzhu knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times to Mu Yangling. They promised loudly, “Don’t worry, Miss. We’ll definitely work hard and not slack off!”
Startled, Mu Yangling looked at the two of them in a daze. She nodded in a daze. “Alright, I understand. You can leave.”
Seeing that they had left respectfully, Mu Yangling patted her chest and said, “Father, what’s wrong with them? They scared me.”
“Although you have to show kindness to your employees, you have to establish your might even more. Your great-aunt said that you’re too tolerant of them. Now that they’ve just arrived and haven’t familiarized themselves with the place, they’re naturally respectful to you. However, when they become more familiar in the future, they won’t be so timid any more. When that time comes, it’ll be difficult for you to manage them. Therefore, you should have made them revere you from the beginning.” Mu Shi looked at his daughter and sighed in his heart. Ultimately, she was still too young and soft-hearted. She only knew how to show kindness but didn’t know how to establish her might.
However, Mu Yangling smiled and said, “Father, it’s not like I can’t do without them. If they become unreasonable, I’ll just fire them. Why would I need to show kindness and establish my might?”
“Then why are you being so nice to them?”
Mu Yangling was at a loss. “Do I treat them well? That’s their employee benefits. I’ve already reduced it a lot…”
Mu Shi looked at his daughter speechlessly. “Do you know what the prices of things are outside?”
Mu Yangling smiled when she heard that. “Father, I’m not ignorant. How can I not know? All I did is to let them eat their fill and wear warm clothes, and have a little extra money. If they don’t have anything to look forward to, how can they work for me in peace?”
“Then if they bully you…”
“They can’t bully me.” Mu Yangling interrupted him. “In all my life, have you seen anyone bully me when I’m unwilling? In my relationship with them, they’re the weaker party. If anything, you should pray that your daughter doesn’t bully them.”
Mu Shi immediately said, “I don’t mind you bullying them.”
Mu Yangling: “…” Aren’t you afraid of leading your child astray like this?
Although Mu Shi trusted his daughter, he still decided to ask Liu Ting and the rest for help. He felt that his daughter was sometimes too soft-hearted and thin-skinned, so sometimes, others had to help her do such things. He heard that Liu Ting and Liu Yuan also followed his daughter to work on those experimental plots of land.
Mu Shi specially brought a bunch of things over. Of course, he brought his entire family over, including Great-aunt, Shu Wanniang, and the twins.
The entire family and the New Year goods filled up the mule cart.
Mu Shi said regretfully, “I’ve been sitting at home these past few days until my bones are loose. I should have gone into the mountains and hunted some wild animals for your great-uncle and the others.”
“What’s so difficult about that? Seeing that it’s still early, I’ll bring Cousin Lang and the others into the mountains later.”
Xiuhong immediately raised her hand. “I want to go too.”
Bowen followed closely behind. “I’ll go too.”
The twins immediately joined in the fun. “I’ll go too! I’ll go too!”
Mu Yangling pinched their faces and asked with a smile, “Do you know what they’re going to do there?”
Kejia blinked and said, “Anyway, I’ll go wherever Sister goes.”
Bosi nodded seriously. “Don’t even think about leaving us behind.”
Mu Yangling laughed out loud and hugged them in her arms. She said with a smile, “When you’re a few years older, I’ll bring you there. Not now though. Since you’ve only started learning to run steadily, I don’t dare to bring you into the mountains.”