Chapter 148: Esteeming the Worthy

"Hiring people?"
Merdon looked at Master Li in astonishment!

Master Li nodded. His purpose in coming to Chang'an this time, besides supporting Merdon and promoting compulsory education in Mo Family Village, was also to fulfill the instructions of Li Yi and Old Man Zhang to discuss the issue of labor shortages in Mo Family Village with Merdon.

"Mo Family Village currently has many places requiring labor. Old Zhang's workshop alone employs half of the village's population. Coupled with the village guards, the transport team, the personnel stationed in Chang'an, and those sent to various parts of Guanzhong, all available manpower has been fully utilized. If we don't recruit more people, I'm afraid there won't even be enough hands to harvest the crops when autumn comes!" Master Li stated the current situation of Mo Family Village matter-of-factly.

Listening to Master Li's boastful complaint, Merdon couldn't help sighing with emotion. Just half a year ago, Mo Family Village was utterly impoverished, with everyone trapped in the village, relying solely on their fields and leaving their fate to the heavens. Who could have imagined that half a year later, they would face a situation of insufficient manpower.

"Recruiting people is fine, but it just so happens that Mo Family Village needs to transform as well," Merdon said after a moment of thought.

The businesses of Mo Family Village had become too numerous and complex. Previously, Merdon had chosen labor-intensive projects to ensure that all the villagers, young and old, could find a livelihood. Now that the circumstances had changed, the structure of Mo Family Village must also change and no longer be confined to a single village.

...

"Mo Family Village is hiring workers!"

"Monthly salary of three hundred *wen*. Those who can read get three hundred and fifty *wen*. Those who can both read and do accounts get five hundred *wen*!"

At every recruitment spot in Chang'an City, one or two youths from Mo Family Village were holding copies of the *Mo Gazette* and shouting at the top of their lungs.

The recruitment advertisements of Mo Family Village once again ignited people's regard for education. This time, Mo Family Village was investing a heavy sum. Although temporary workers were once paid fifty *wen* a day during the digging of wells in the Mo Family experimental fields, that was a matter concerning the harvest of the experimental fields and brook no delay, leaving them no choice but to spend money to buy time.

A monthly salary of three hundred *wen* for ordinary labor was definitely not low in Chang'an City; it was an absolute conscience price, not to mention the astronomical figure of five hundred *wen*.

For the first time, people discovered that knowledge was truly linked to wealth. Previously, passing imperial examinations could indeed lead to official posts and soaring success, but that was a privilege for only a tiny minority. This recruitment by Mo Family Village made people truly understand the saying: one regrets running out of books only when it comes time to use them.

"Five hundred *wen* a month!"

Outside the South City Gate, several laborers were discussing animatedly among themselves.

This news stirred up a thousand ripples in Chang'an City. Everyone who heard it clicked their tongues in wonder, as five hundred *wen* was an absolute high salary in the Chang'an of that era.

"You illiterate fellow shouldn't even dream about it. What they want are people who can both read and do accounts. You'll be doing well just to get three hundred *wen* a month if you go," a man in hemp clothing bantered with the dark-faced man beside him. The word "illiterate" could be said to be the hottest buzzword this year second only to the Mo Family Descendant; it was biting and sarcastic, yet hit the nail right on the head.

A monthly salary of three hundred *wen* was still more than current wages.

"What's wrong with three hundred *wen*? That's still a lot. Aren't you just relying on knowing a few characters?" the dark-faced man said, flushing with shame and anger. Even three hundred *wen* a month was much better than the precarious, hand-to-mouth existence guarding the city gate, and that was solid, hard-earned income.

"That's still three hundred and fifty *wen* a month!" the hemp-clad man said proudly.

"Old Ma is going to make it big this time! You rascal actually studied in a private school for two years and know how to keep accounts!" a burly man sighed. Built with powerful sinews and muscles, he looked with undisguised envy at the slender man not far away.

Old Ma was the skinniest among them. He usually didn't have much physical strength when doing hard labor, and his wages were always the lowest of the group. However, he had a quick mind, and he usually helped the others keep accounts without a single mistake.

Several of them had been planning to apply for this recruitment by Mo Family Village, but it had turned the tables in Old Ma's favor. Usually, the dark-faced man earned the highest wages and Old Ma the least, but now the tides had turned, and Old Ma would get the most while he got the least.

Similar events were happening all over Chang'an City. Many literate people chose to leave for Mo Family Village, or their original employers hurriedly raised wages to retain them.

Suddenly, knowledgeable and learned individuals became hot commodities.

Meanwhile, businesses like Zhou Chen's short-term literacy classes experienced an explosion in popularity. Everyone could do the math: spending just one hundred *wen* to send a child to school for half a year could be earned back in half a month of work. No matter how one calculated it, it was a profitable deal.

In the past, attending school not only cost a lot of money but didn't even guarantee a future. Now, with tangible benefits right before their eyes, it naturally drove the rise of education.

Chang'an City, Qunxian Lane.

"Is it here?" Merdon asked, frowning as he looked at the dilapidated alley before him. There were only two or three scattered households in the alley, with sewage spreading across the intersections and piles of garbage everywhere. A pungent odor assaulted their noses.

Tie An also frowned, looking around vigilantly. Places like this were usually the most chaotic.

"Young master! According to the information given by the matchmaker, this is indeed the place," said Mo Er. Mo Er was the cleverest among the brothers, most familiar with Chang'an City, and usually responsible for running errands for Merdon.

Led by Mo Er, the group arrived in front of a shabby thatched cottage. The cottage was very rundown, its walls covered in cracks. Clearly, it had been standing for many years and could rival the dangerous houses of Mo Family Village. Such a house was rarely seen in Chang'an City.

Before even entering, the sounds of smashing and a woman's weeping came from inside.

"Surname Xu, if you know what's good for you, obediently agree to the young master's request, or else your household will never know peace!" an arrogant voice came from inside the house.

Hearing this, Merdon frowned and said, "Tie An, go take a look!"

"Yes, young master!" Tie An acknowledged. With a flash of movement, Tie An stepped directly into the house!

In an instant, several screams rang out, and three ruffians were thrown out of the house one by one by Tie An.

"Who the hell are you, daring to meddle in my, Third Brother Ma's, business!" The leader of the ruffians slowly climbed up, looking at Tie An with fear, and put up a bold front. He had witnessed Tie An's martial prowess firsthand; the three of them hadn't even lasted a single move in Tie An's hands before being tossed out.

"Are you leaving, or do you want a continued beating?" Tie An clenched his fist, narrowing his eyes.

Third Brother Ma's heart suddenly failed him. He looked at Tie An, who stood like an iron tower, and then glanced at the two youths at the door, the leader of whom was dressed in brocade robes, obviously from a noble and wealthy family.

"Surname Xu, you're lucky today!" Third Brother Ma glared fiercely into the house and said.

"Thank you, young master, for your rescue. I have made a fool of myself in front of you," a middle-aged man of about forty walked out of the house and bowed to Merdon with cupped hands. From his discerning eye, he could clearly tell that these three regarded Merdon as their leader.

"May I ask if you are Master Xu Jie?" Merdon asked, cupping his hands in return.

"I am indeed he. May I ask what important business brings the young master to find me?" Xu Jie hurriedly returned the greeting.

"I am Merdon of Mo Family Village, sincerely hiring you, sir, as the chief external manager of my Mo Family Village." Xu Jie would never forget this day—a young boy who gave him the utmost respect when he was at his lowest ebb.

"Thank you for your kind favor, young master, but I have offended someone I cannot afford to cross. Those ruffians just now were merely foot soldiers. I have received your rescue, young master, and dare not bring you any more trouble," Xu Jie said bitterly.

"May I ask if you have any debt disputes, sir?" Merdon raised an eyebrow and asked.

"None!"

"Do you have any lawsuits pending against you?"

"None."

Merdon said confidently, "Then this Mo believes I have no trouble whatsoever."