The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

As evening fell, villagers returned home from working in the fields.

Gu Dahan also returned home from the fields in Xishan.

Along the way, people kept asking Gu Dahan about hiring people, and some members of the Xu family even secretly stopped Gu Dahan on the road to plead for help, hoping to work for the Gu family.

Gu Dahan knew that not all members of the Xu family were as wicked as Xu Si, but without Tong Huaqiong's permission, he dared not easily agree to her request. So he turned into the cornfield and used the dense corn as cover to return home.

Just as Tong Huaqiong finished discussing with Gu Dahan the matter of digging up the remains of Hong's parents under the crooked tree, Village Chief Liu Tielian arrived with hired workers.

Liu Tielian had originally promised to bring the person over that evening.

But everyone was so enthusiastic that we had to bring them along ahead of time.

“Aunt Tong, Da Han knows how hard I work. Back when we were carrying sandbags together in Pingchuan, Da Han was the only person who could outwork me.”

"Aunt Tong, I can try working here for three days first. If you feel it's not suitable, then we can make further plans."

“Great Heat Mother, my family’s land borders yours. You know how hard I work, I don’t slack off or cheat.”

The hired laborers, brought by the village chief, flocked to Tong Huaqiong's yard. Upon seeing Tong Huaqiong come out, they all began to volunteer.

Tong Huaqiong knew from the scene that Liu Tielian had been cunning. He hadn't told these people that they had already been secretly chosen by Tong Huaqiong and that they could come and work as long as they were willing.

Tong Huaqiong expressed her understanding of Liu Tielian's thoughts.

Firstly, there's a concern that jobs obtained too easily might breed malice and a lack of appreciation.

Secondly, it also lets them know that Tong Huaqiong's family receives generous treatment and that there is no shortage of people in the village to do the work.

"I'll call the people over for you first. I'll only tell you the conditions your family offered. Whether they'll work out or not depends on their trial work," Liu Tielian whispered to Tong Huaqiong.

When it comes to understanding the hearts and minds of the villagers, the village chief is the best.

Tong Huaqiong looked at the dozen or so laborers, both men and women, all of whom were very capable.

"I'm sure the village chief has already told everyone that you won't be treated badly working at my house. I won't beat around the bush; I've seen how efficiently you all work, which is why I asked the village chief to hire you. If you're willing, we can start a trial period tomorrow for three days. Don't worry, you'll get paid and have meals during the trial period."

“I know that most people are fine during the trial period, but if some people become lax or shirk their duties after the trial period, I will fire them without considering the feelings of the villagers. They will not be able to do any other work in my family after that.”

Tong Huaqiong then began her lecture.

She originally hoped that Gu Dahan would do this, but Gu Dahan still couldn't get out of the mindset that "it's just that we're all neighbors helping each other out, so it's embarrassing to make a request." Tong Huaqiong had no choice but to take charge herself.

However, these people will still need Gu Dahan to supervise their work from now on.

“Some of us grew up with me, and some of us went out to carry sandbags together. As you all know, no one pays more than my family, and no employer is as kind as my mother. Just the fact that she provides meals is rare in the whole of Yanguan Town. When I'm supervising the work, don't think that I'm easy to talk to and try to slack off, or take advantage of my honesty and hard work.”

"If it were anything else, it would be fine, but I'm the kind of person who doesn't cut corners when it comes to farming, and I won't allow anyone else to cut corners either. If anyone tries to slack off under my nose, I won't say a word, and don't blame me for disregarding our friendship and driving them off my land."

After Tong Huaqiong finished her speech, Gu Dahan took the initiative to stand up and said the above words.

After Gu Dahan finished speaking, he rubbed his hands together and looked at Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong nodded approvingly.

She had been worried that her stepson wouldn't understand the boundaries between employer and employee, and would get entangled in the local community. But after hearing Gu Dahan's words, all her worries vanished.

Gu Dahan isn't very good at managing people yet, but he has one rare quality: a stubborn passion for the land. His eyes are always on the land and the crops, and his level of dedication is top-notch in the entire Qinghewan area.

He himself loves the land and will not allow others to ruin it.

He absolutely cannot tolerate anyone who squanders the land right under his nose, especially if it is the Gu family's land.

Therefore, with Gu Dahan supervising the construction, Tong Huaqiong felt very reassured.

Tong Huaqiong stood up for her stepson, then turned to everyone and said, "I've handed over all my family's land to Da Han. Don't take advantage of him just because he seems honest. If that happens, you've made a mistake. From now on, Da Han's will is my will."

It means that you shouldn't treat Gu Dahan as the master of the Gu family just because she's a stepmother.

Liu Tielian flattered Tong Huaqiong from the side, saying, "Everyone in Qinghe Bay knows that you treat Dahan like your own son. Anyone who tries to bully Dahan is blind."

A group of hired workers couldn't help but twitch their lips.

Everyone knows how much Tong Dajiao tormented Gu Dahan.

But then again, that's all in the past.

In the past six months, Tong Dajiao has treated Gu Dahan no differently than her own son.

We're here to work, not to meddle in the Gu family's affairs. Since Tong Dajiao says Gu Dahan is in charge of the family's land, then we'll just listen to Gu Dahan.

Anyway, the wages are quite good, and one meal a day is provided, which is already beyond my expectations.

They exchanged glances, and each saw surprise in the other's eyes. They all smiled and made their promises.

"Aunt Tong, don't worry, I'll treat your land as my own. I'll take care of your land just like I would my own, and I promise I won't slack off or cheat."

"I advise those who are lazy and shirking their responsibilities to give up as soon as possible, so as not to drag everyone down with them. I finally found such a good job, and if anyone messes it up for me, I won't let them off the hook."

"Anyone who thinks that Brother Dahan is honest and hardworking but doesn't work hard should go back as soon as possible. Such a black-hearted and rotten person is not suitable to be a hired worker."

Tong Huaqiong couldn't draw any conclusions about how well these hired workers performed their jobs.

But she wasn't worried at all, since everyone started working on a trial basis the very next day.

"I have something else to discuss with everyone." Having been entrusted by Tong Huaqiong in advance, Village Chief Liu Tielian spoke to the hired workers, "Someone has bought the wasteland in the backyard of the Gu family to build a house and perform a ritual for those who were killed by the rebel army. I discussed it with Aunt Dashu and we want everyone to help dig out the remains."

As soon as Village Chief Liu said this, the courtyard erupted in an uproar.

To be honest, no one would get goosebumps if they suddenly heard a request to exhume corpses.

After all, the wasteland belonging to the Gu family had always been a taboo subject for the villagers.

Some even muttered under their breath, "Who would buy that piece of wasteland to build a house? They must be out of their mind."

In the past, let alone that wasteland, even the Gu family rarely had anyone come to visit.

While Tong Dajiao's difficult nature was a major reason, it's hard to say that fear of the vengeful spirits in the wasteland behind her also played a role. (End of Chapter)