"Let's build it, we'll build it right now!"
"Yes, we must build it immediately!"
"......"
Hearing that they could earn even more money later, everyone raised their hands in agreement.
"Alright, now we'll take a vote by a show of hands. The minority obeys the majority. Those who agree to use this money to build the factory, raise your hands now," Song Nianchu announced.
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone present raised their hands, almost unanimously.
After all, the money they now held in their hands was real, and they believed that following Song Nianchu would definitely lead to earning more money.
Moreover, with a factory, they would no longer be just farmers; they could tell others they were workers.
How impressive would that be!
They would be the only village for miles around to have one.
"Good, since everyone agrees, the matter of building the factory is settled!" Song Nianchu didn't even need to count, knowing it was a unanimous vote.
"Great!"
"Our village is going to have a factory!"
"......"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
Song Nianchu looked at the villagers, each face beaming with smiles, and felt a warm glow in her heart.
In her past life, many netizens said that there was a difference between merchants and entrepreneurs.
Merchants prioritize profit, while entrepreneurs get things done.
People don't much respect a mere merchant, but they do respect an entrepreneur.
Every year, official media would select outstanding enterprises, and she had missed the recognition several times.
Given a second chance at life, she wanted to become one of those entrepreneurs acknowledged by official media, to do solid, practical work for everyone.
"......"
With the money distributed and the factory announcement made, Wu Zhenggui dismissed everyone to rest, giving them the afternoon off.
Everyone joyfully went home to count their money.
Song Nianchu was no exception, returning home with Mu Shi'an, Mu Haoxuan, and Mu Yongnian.
Once the door was closed, Mu Shi'an handed the money he received to Song Nianchu.
"I didn't earn much, only two yuan and fifty cents."
"Sister, I only have eighty cents," Mu Haoxuan said pitifully.
"Sister-in-law, I only have one yuan too," Mu Yongnian added, somewhat embarrassed.
This was mainly because Song Nianchu, considering their young age and that lack of sleep could stunt their growth, didn't allow them to work late with the adults. They had to be in bed by eight o'clock sharp.
Therefore, their work points were much fewer.
"You've already done very well. You're so much younger than your big brother, and he only earned this much," Song Nianchu said with a smile, comforting the two little ones.
"Really?" Mu Haoxuan looked up.
"Of course it's true," Song Nianchu affirmed.
"Then I'll give all this money to you!" Mu Haoxuan stuffed all his money into Song Nianchu's hands.
"To me?" Song Nianchu was surprised.
"Yes, mine is for Sister-in-law too," Mu Yongnian also handed his one yuan to Song Nianchu.
"You're willing to part with it?" Song Nianchu asked, looking at the small bills in her arms.
"We live in sister's house, and sister cooks delicious food for us every day. This is for..." Mu Haoxuan thought for a long moment but couldn't recall the word.
"Household expenses," Mu Yongnian supplied for him.
"Yes, yes, that's it, household expenses!" Mu Haoxuan nodded repeatedly.
"You little ones know about contributing to household expenses already?" Song Nianchu couldn't help but laugh.
"Of course, we're little men. Men are supposed to contribute to the household," Mu Haoxuan declared, lifting his chin.
"Alright then, in that case, I'll accept your contribution," Song Nianchu said with a smile and a nod.
The two little ones immediately straightened their backs a bit more.
Next time his second sister said they were freeloaders, burdens, and would be kicked out sooner or later, he could righteously tell her that they paid household expenses too, they were definitely not freeloaders!
After saying this, Song Nianchu counted out one yuan from the money and handed it to Mu Shi'an.
"This is your pocket money."
Then she gave Mu Haoxuan and Mu Yongnian fifty cents each.
"And this is pocket money for you two."
"There's... there's pocket money too?" Mu Haoxuan was astonished.
"Of course there is. Ask your big brother, I give him pocket money every month," Song Nianchu glanced at Mu Shi'an.
"That's right, your sister-in-law gives me pocket money every month. You should both accept yours too," Mu Shi'an nodded, putting his one yuan into his pocket as he spoke.
Seeing him do this, Mu Haoxuan and Mu Yongnian finally clutched their fifty cents joyfully.
They had money too!
Even if it was only fifty cents, it was money they had earned themselves.
"Alright, go play now," Song Nianchu ruffled the hair of the two little ones.
The two little ones immediately hurried back to their room with their fifty cents, probably to hide it somewhere.
"Oh right, our family has another source of income," Song Nianchu said, pulling out twenty yuan from another pocket.
"What income is this?" Mu Shi'an asked.
"This is the fee from the village for renting our net-weaving machine. Don't you remember?" Song Nianchu reminded him.
"I didn't think of it for a moment," Mu Shi'an chuckled.
"We didn't produce many fishing nets this month, so it's only twenty yuan, but it's still good. Oh, and there's the four handcarts you made earlier. The total income from those is forty-eight yuan. The wood was readily available, almost zero cost. Yes, yes, and there's another sum." Song Nianchu said, taking out another thirty-two yuan from a different pocket.
"What income is this?" Mu Shi'an inquired again.
"Hehe, this is a separate bonus the village chief gave me," Song Nianchu explained.
"A separate bonus?" Mu Shi'an was puzzled.
"Yes. The village chief said I worked hard organizing all this, so from now on, I get a separate ten percent of the village's dividends as a reward," Song Nianchu said proudly.
"That's impressive," Mu Shi'an said, his eyes smiling.
"Naturally, I'll definitely earn even more later!" Song Nianchu declared confidently.
"I believe you," Mu Shi'an nodded.
"So, adding it all up, our family now has..." Song Nianchu counted, "exactly one hundred yuan!"
Song Nianchu looked at the bills in her hand, her eyes crinkling into happy crescents.
"That's a lot of money," Mu Shi'an said, his expression softening as he watched her joy.
"Yes, but most of this money was earned by you," Song Nianchu said, smiling warmly at Mu Shi'an.
"It was earned by the two of us together. If you hadn't helped me sell the things, no matter how much I made, it would just pile up at home," Mu Shi'an corrected.
"Right, this is money we earned together!" Song Nianchu wasn't one for false modesty.
To her, a family should pull together in the same direction; that's how life gets better and better.
As she spoke, Song Nianchu took out another ten yuan from the hundred and handed it to Mu Shi'an.
"Why are you giving me more money?" Mu Shi'an asked, confused.
"I forgot to do the full accounting earlier. One yuan is a bit little. These ten yuan are your proper pocket money," Song Nianchu explained with a laugh.
"No need. I hardly leave the village, money isn't much use on me," Mu Shi'an refused.
Just as Song Nianchu was about to insist, Mu Shi'an spoke up again.
"If you really must give me money, then when you go to the county town tomorrow, could you buy me some notebooks and pencils? I've used up my old ones."
"Alright, I'll go give it to you tomorrow," Song Nianchu said decisively.
"Mm," Mu Shi'an nodded.
At Mu Shi'an's insistence, Song Nianchu finally accepted the ten yuan, thinking she would see if she could buy something else for Mu Shi'an when she went to the county town tomorrow.
Also, the contract with the supply and marketing cooperative had expired. She needed to go and ask whether they would renew it or not.
This was of the utmost importance.
