The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 525 - 514: Participation

Chapter 525: Chapter 514: Participation

The long-term workers all wanted to marry women who had helped out at the manor before,

In the past two years, whenever the farming seasons got busy and it was hard to hire men, Manbao and the others would even hire women for the same wages.

At first, only about a dozen women, mostly older ones, came to work, but apparently, they found working in Qili Village safe, without any harassment, and they were actually paid, so the number of willing women increased.

Eventually, there were so many that they had to be selective each time they hired help.

Moreover, not only did Manbao find that women worked more meticulously and efficiently, Manor Head Bai also grew fonder of hiring women.

Apart from some heavy physical labor, women were no less capable than men in most other farming tasks.

The three long-term workers met their future wives this way.

All three women were widows, not old, and had had a tough time at their in-laws or parents’ home, prompting them to consider taking on short-term jobs.

The conditions of the three long-term workers were not good. Two years ago, they were awakened by an account calculation done by Manbao and began to save money by living frugally.

Essentially, besides the food provided by the farm, they seldom bought anything additional to eat.

Consequently, over two years, they managed to save some money and started thinking about getting married.

They consulted Matchmaker Wang, but despite their savings, the potential fathers- and mothers-in-law in the vicinity of Qili Village still didn’t think highly of them.

With no land, no money, and even their houses belonging to their employers, who would marry their daughter to such men?

Thus, their marriage prospects remained uncertain.

Matchmaker Wang suggested widows to them. After meeting two or three times, the men took a liking to them and pursued matters on their own.

This year’s continuous summer and autumn harvests presented a perfect opportunity; the manor hired many women to work.

The men were no longer as reserved as before, sticking only to their designated harvesting areas, but began to wander with their sickles.

As long-term workers, they were different from the short-term ones and could choose which sections to reap.

Possibly Manor Head Bai had noticed their intentions and let them be, so they helped here and there and eventually won over brides for themselves.

Of course, they also wanted to celebrate with a lively banquet, but their relatives were not here, and their friends were merely the Bai Family’s servants and other long-term workers.

Most importantly, they didn’t have much money, so after thinking it over, all three families decided not to hold any banquets. They planned to pool money for a banquet table during the New Year, making it a bit more lavish, and just having a meal together with their families would suffice.

But Manbao felt this was rather shabby, mainly because she had never seen such a quiet and uncelebrated wedding in her life.

Bai Shanbao had not seen such either.

So, the two of them discussed it and decided that a marriage should indeed be celebrated.

The next day, they got Bai Erlang involved, and after hounding their respective families, managed to get some firecrackers intended for the New Year’s celebrations.

Then they pooled money to ask Manor Head Bai to buy some ingredients from the market. They directly hired the cook to prepare food at Little Manor to allow the three long-term workers to invite friends and celebrate together.

The three long-term workers and the three young widows arriving at Little Manor with their belongings were astonished.

But Manbao and the others were very happy, bustling in and out of the excitement. The long-term workers’ eyes reddened, and they wanted to kowtow in gratitude.

However, the three youngsters didn’t appreciate the kowtowing. Bai Shanbao said seriously, "After you’re married, you must work even harder. We’ve already increased your wages once, and if you perform better, next year’s wages will be even higher, as will the New Year’s red envelopes. With that money, you can take better care of your families."

The three men nodded repeatedly, bending forward, "Mr. Shan, would it be okay if we prepare a table to feed you and yours?"

Bai Shanbao was about to eagerly agree when he saw the servants and long-term workers gathering on the other side, not skittish but lacking cheerfulness, not as boisterous and joyful as the wedding feasts he had attended in the village.

He thought for a moment and said, "Let’s not worry about us, just give us some wedding candies to share in your happiness."

"Share, share," the long-term workers were overjoyed and immediately grabbed a big handful of wedding candies to give to the three young masters, "It should be us benefiting from the masters’ good fortune..."

Bai Shanbao exchanged pleasantries with them briefly, then took the wedding candies and left with his companions. They didn’t head back to the village but turned to climb the mountain instead.

Unnoticed by the long-term workers who had just seen off the young masters, they immediately returned to hosting their guests.

The yard quickly became lively as their closer friends rushed up to slap their shoulders and chest, laughing heartily and teasing, "You guys are impressive, snagging three brides all at once. Come on, tell us, how did you go about holding hands?"

Bai Shanbao walked a little way off and looked back down. He had a good view of the lively scene in the courtyard and nodded slightly, "We really shouldn’t have stayed there."

Manbao also nodded, "This is more like a proper celebration."

Bai Erlang looked around and asked, "So, what’s for lunch?"

Manbao ran over to Daji and, opening the food box he held, laughed, "We’re eating this."

Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang also rushed over to look and, seeing a whole steamed chicken and several side dishes inside, became excited, "Where did these come from?"

"Given by the cook," Manbao said, "Shanbao mentioned we would not stay, so the cook prepared this for us, and we’ll enjoy it on the mountain."

Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang readily agreed, and the three of them found a spot with a good view and relatively clean to sit down.

Seeing them plop down on the grass, Daji couldn’t help but think of Manor Head Bai and paused as he laid out the food.

"Hurry up, we’re really hungry," they urged.

"Daji, sit down quickly. If you sit here, you won’t block our view of the front," they said.

Daji shifted his position with a smile, spread out the food from the box, and said, "Young masters, had you told us earlier that you were planning a picnic, we should have brought a mat, so we wouldn’t have to sit on the ground."

Manbao didn’t mind, "Carrying a mat out is such a hassle, where can’t we sit in the wilderness?"

Bai Shanbao nodded, "Anyway, it’s not like we haven’t sat on the ground before."

Bai Erlang added, "Right, we’ve even rolled around in mud puddles."

Bai Shanbao immediately objected, "I haven’t, I’ve never rolled around."

Manbao remained silent.

After laying out the dishes, the four of them began to eat, looking at the rolling fields in the distance, and for some reason, felt exceedingly happy.

Manbao pointed at the fruit trees above and said, "By next year, they should bear fruit, right?"

"They should," Bai Shanbao also looked up at the fruit trees and smiled, "The year after next will be the third year. Judging by the canopy, they should be able to flower and bear fruit."