Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, but no one believed it.
But if that's not the case, then it's hard to explain why Wu Yueying would kneel before Zhao Zheng with her child.
Zhao Zheng looked at the two children and said, "They were already thin, and they got even thinner after visiting the Zhong family. Go to Grandpa Zhao's house and ask your Aunt Zhaodi to get them some food. I'll be back in a bit."
He patted the two children's heads tenderly and said to Wu Yueying, "Let's go home, it's windy outside."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhao!"
Wu Yueying nodded gratefully before taking the child and leaving.
After the mother and her two daughters had walked away, everyone in Team Eight stared intently at Zhao Zheng.
"Captain, what's going on?"
"Did you really redeem these two children?"
The Wang family and Zhao Zheng have a feud.
They even helped the Wang family redeem their child?
Zhao Zheng smiled and recited the explanation he had prepared in advance, "Where would I get so much money to redeem the children? It was Yueying who begged me for help. I helped her find a landlord and bought the Wang family's land, raising more than ten taels of silver. But she was still short a little money. I saw how pitiful the mother and her two daughters were, so I lent them some money, raising fifteen taels of silver in total."
"This money wasn't lent for nothing. I even signed a contract with Yueying. From now on, she will be my family's long-term worker and will have to work to repay the money."
Everyone suddenly realized what was going on.
Pan Da Nao gave a thumbs up, "Captain, you're a real man! The Wang family tried to extort you, but you still helped them. You're so righteous!"
Everyone agreed.
Zhao Zheng sighed, "Yueying's husband is a scoundrel, but Yueying is still a very good person. However, Yueying's hard days are over. She has already made arrangements with the Wang family. They will live separately from now on. After the two daughters get married, they will give one of their children to the Wang family so that the Wang family line will not end!"
"If you ask me, the Wang family should be wiped out!" one of the team members said.
"That's right, it's so despicable! If he hadn't sold his daughter, I doubt he would have been childless!"
While everyone mocked the Wang family, they also praised Zhao Zheng.
Zhao Zheng listened to the praise but didn't take it to heart at all.
If he falls on hard times again, these people will laugh at him for overestimating his abilities.
Therefore, he can only move forward, not backward.
Getting back to the main topic, Zhao Zheng said, "I called you all here today for a serious matter. As you know, I'm currently working for Yao Youjiao, specializing in collecting mountain delicacies and medicinal herbs."
"Currently, Da Lei, Da Pan, Wo Gua, and Hu Zi are all helping me with the work. I have entrusted the collection of goods in the small mountain village to the four of them."
"I wouldn't dare say we'll make them rich and powerful, but at least we can improve the lives of those four families. If you're willing, I can entrust the task of collecting goods from other villages to you."
Before Zhao Zheng could finish speaking, a team member blurted out, "We'd be willing! Only a fool wouldn't!"
These past two days, Niu Dalei and three others have been scavenging for mountain goods in the village, and it's said they've made a lot of money, more than Niu Dalei earned as a carpenter.
It's just a matter of passing the buck; anyone with eyes can see that Zhao is taking care of them.
Everyone's watching closely, all wanting to hitch a ride on Zhao Zheng's coattails.
"Don't rush, don't rush," Zhao Zheng gestured, "Let me finish what I have to say!"
Everyone immediately fell silent, staring intently at Zhao Zheng.
"Doing business requires capital. If you go to collect goods, you need to put up capital. I can't give you capital to collect goods."
"Da Lei and the others would first pay a deposit, then give me the goods, and then pay the balance after receiving the money. Because we are from the same village, everyone trusts each other, but it's not necessarily the same when we go to other villages."
"Moreover, it's the end of the year now, and the management inside and outside the village is tight, making it difficult to leave the village. This money is not so easy to earn."
"It's not safe outside, so if we're going to do it, we need to go in groups of three to five... That's going to be a hassle!"
Zhao Zheng's gaze swept over everyone. "Those who want to participate, think it over carefully and prepare your capital first!"
"Captain, I'll definitely work for you!"
"We don't have much capital, so a few of us will pool our resources and make more trips!"
"These days, nobody can find work, everyone's practically starving. I'm even thinking of becoming a bandit and going up in the mountains. If there's money to be made, everyone's fighting tooth and nail for it!"
No one wanted to miss this opportunity, and they all trusted Zhao Zheng's character.
Zhao Zheng had them completely under his control, both in terms of social skills and character.
Doing business under such a person makes them feel safe and secure!
"Alright then." Zhao Zheng nodded. "Those who are willing to do it, come to my house and sign a document. I'll authorize you, and I'll train you on some details regarding receiving the goods beforehand!"
Zhao Zheng waved his hand and led everyone back home.
In the courtyard, Zhao Zheng personally wrote more than thirty documents and gave one to each person. "Sign this document and you will be my subordinates. You can use my name to collect goods outside, but you can't do anything bad. If you are found to have done anything wrong, your qualification will be revoked on the spot."
"Next, I'll tell you some things to keep in mind when buying mountain goods..."
Zhao was training everyone in the courtyard.
Liu Tieniu and Yan Dali, who were making adobe bricks nearby, also listened attentively.
Inside the house, Wu Yueying and her three children ate millet rice while listening to Zhao Zheng's training.
"Uncle Zhao is really amazing, so many people are willing to work for him!" Wu Yueying said sincerely.
"My father-in-law is very capable." Yang Zhaodi and Zhang Xiao'e both looked proud when they talked about Zhao Zheng.
"I really envy you, being able to live in a tiled house." Wu Yueying never expected that when she returned after only two days away, the Zhao family had even started using tiled houses. Thinking about her own useless husband, he wasn't even worthy of carrying her shoes.
"Sister-in-law Yueying, this will be your home from now on too," Zhang Xiao'e said, holding her hand.
As Wu Yueying ate, she burst into tears. "I never dreamed that one day I could live in a tiled house and eat such good millet rice. This is not a farmhand job. People who don't know me would think I'm a guest at the Zhao family's house!"
"I owe your family too much, I can never repay it in this lifetime. Zhao Di, Xiao E, don't worry, I will die in the Zhao family. From now on, leave all the heavy and tidy work at home to me."
Hua Hua and Xiao Cao chimed in eagerly, "We'll help Mom with the chores too!"
Yang Zhaodi patted the heads of the two skinny children, "You need to eat your fill so you'll have the strength to help your mother!"
"By the way, Sister Yueying, does the Wang family know you're back?" Zhang Xiao'e asked.
Wu Yueying nodded. "You should know by now. But don't worry, the Wang family is more than happy to have me here. If I stay here, no one will compete with them for food."
Yang Zhaodi knew that although Wu Yueying said that, she still hoped that the Wang family would come and ask, even if it was just to ask.
But no one from the Wang family came to the door until dark.
Wu Yueying was completely heartbroken. "From now on, I am a servant of the Zhao family, and no longer a member of the Wang family!"