Mu Wei and Su Xiao didn't go back to the house. Instead, they trekked up the mountain. Standing on the massive,empty snow covered expanse of land, they smiled at each other. This was going to be their new home in the future. Su Xiao remembered something and turned to him.
"We need labour. A lot of it"
Mu Wei didn't interrupt. He kept and listened as she explained her plans.
"I plan to hire the villagers for the job. We can't do the job alone. We can pay them and offer meals to those who are willing to work. I will leave the supervision of the job to you"
"I will listen to you. Anything else?"
"Yes. The abandoned building is safe for now so we can temporarily stay there. We need to build a tent and cooking area for the workers when they start working. I will place an order for a huge amount of coarse rice from boss Chu to be delivered by three days. In the meantime, we cook with our own"
As the talked, she dragged him into the mountain. Without arguing, he indulgently followed her. As they trek further, she suddenly takes out a dagger and hand it over to Mu Wei.
"Shh. These footsteps belong to a huge animal"
Mu Wei squats down and inspects it with her. His expression grew serious on confirming the animal.
"It's a wild boar. Estimating on it's footstep it's likely to be around 300 pounds"
Su Xiao's eye lit up. This would perfectly solve the issue of meat. She turned to Mu Wei and gave him a knowing smile,
"Husband... I'm but a weak and delicate female unable to handle such gore sight. Therefore, you're given the task of bringing back this meat for the laborers"
Mu Wei felt his lips twitch as she spouted nonsense with a straight face. At same time, his heart warmed. He knew she was letting him do it because she had seen how downcast he felt at not being to contribute.
"Since my dear wife has commanded, I'm sure to execute it perfectly. After all, your word is law"
With that, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and left. Su Xiao stood there with her cheeks flaming hot as she fanned herself. She couldn't believe this ancient man dared filrt with her.
"I thought ancient man were reserved. Tsk, reserve my ass. He is nothing but a rogue"
With that, she patted her heated cheeks and went back. She was not worried about anything happening to him. She knew the type of man she married. Rather than standing there freezing, she might as well make herself useful. She took three rabbit as what she hunted and went down. She walked directly to the abandoned building and gave the pheasant to Bai Ling to handle. After cuddling with kids, she left with the three men. They arrived at the mountain base and she briefed them on the plan.
They stared at her in awe at her decisiveness. She awkwardly coughed to hide her embarrassment. Then took out the logging axes and saw and gave it to them. She instructed them to fell enough pines suitable for building a tent and kitchen place for the workers. As they commenced with their job, she took out a shovel and dug pits where everything need to be placed. As they drew the logs to the camping ground, she sawed and arranged them. With the combined efficiency, the job was finished in three hours.
Just as they were about to begin. Mu Wei came out carrying the carcass of the wild boar. They quickly rushed to help him as the dropped the huge boar on the open ground. The blood was already freezing saving them the trouble of doing that.
"You have already begun working. Take it easy, let me get the other bear I hunted before the smell attracts wild animals"
"You hunted a bear too?
"Yes. It was scavenging for food when I attacked from behind"
"That's incredible master"
Shi Dong and the two brothers couldn't help exclaiming in shock. Their boss and madam were indeed incredible. They felt proud being the subordinates of such formidable couple. Mu Wei interrupted cooly,
"Enough chattering. Help your miss do the job before she takes everything on herself"
"Rest assured master, we won't let her do the work"
Mu Wei said a few reminders before trekking back. With the boss gone, they threw themselves back into work. With Su Xiao as the inspector, the tent slowly took shape. The log were used to create interlocking poles, a triangular A-frame shelter was created. With it like this, they didn't need to worry that the snow might make the shelter collapse as it slides off as it falls. They dug a safe fire pit inside and brought wood which would be dried and used.
The kitchen was the normal one found at every home. It wasn't anything fancy as long as it was practical and neat. The bear and wild boar was immediately taken care of and hung in the kitchen. Lu Tui was sent back to get the kitchen utensils which would be needed while Lu Dan was given silver to order for the coarse rice they would need for the workers. This time, she cut some fatty part of the wild boar and wrapped it in leaves as a gift.
Shi Dong was assigned the job of announcing the recruitment which would start tomorrow. The pay was five wen per day with coarse rice accompanied by meat soup. This not only kept the idlers busy but gave them less time to scheme against them. Lu Dan was the first to come back with boss Chu promising to deliver it in three days. Next was Lu Tui and the kids behind him. Bai Ling shouted after them reminding them to be careful. They immediately ran to their parents and chattering about how they missed them.
Seeing there was nothing left for her to do there. She handled the kitchen work to Bai Ling and took the kids to play in the snow. The made snow balls and had a lot of fun. Shi Dong came back and joined his wife in the kitchen. The recruitment had been announced, they just had to sit and watch tomorrow. Su Xiao left the job assessment to Mu Wei trusting his judgement. With her temper, she might end up killing someone before the assessment was finished.