Chapter 232: Chapter 232

Because the government was hoarding, following the steps of those in power was undoubtedly the right move, filling the family with confidence.

Ultimately, after a family discussion, Mrs. Jing invested 1,500 Virtual Coins for a 20% stake. She then contributed another 1,500 Virtual Coins on behalf of Grandma Jing and Mr. Jing for their 20% stake, with all future profits designated for the elderly couple.

Jing Shu contributed 1,500 Virtual Coins. Her contribution also covered all the Fuel, coal, natural gas, electricity, and other utilities, so Jing Shu held a 40% stake.

Then, the elder aunt would be responsible for the factory’s labor and operational costs, as well as managing it, holding a 20% stake.

The ultimate sales and storage would be handled by Jing Shu’s side, meaning the elder aunt was only responsible for production and didn’t even have to worry about sales.

Uncle’s mouth gaped open; he couldn’t believe it. Jing Shu’s family could casually shell out so many Virtual Coins? Well, it made sense. They were the ones who had provided the pigs; one would need some substantial backing to dare to give away pigs like that. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel·fiɾe·net

The elder aunt was slightly flattered. "Labor is so cheap now. If I just put the word out, people willing to work for two meals of gruel or rice congee a day would queue up long enough to circle the county town. Besides, all we’re doing is collecting red earthworms and processing them into feed. It’s not a big undertaking. How can that be worth 1,500 Virtual Coins?"

What did 1,500 Virtual Coins represent? It was a civil servant’s annual salary! Enough to eat white rice once a day for two and a half years! In this apocalyptic era of famine, as long as the government didn’t fall, it meant you could live quite well!

"Aunt, there’s no guarantee when this feed factory will turn a profit. You’ll have to contribute a significant amount of grain daily. Plus, since we won’t have time to manage the factory, everything will depend on you. We can’t trust outsiders; we can only rely on our own family."

"But even with family, business is business; we must keep clear accounts according to the contract. Elder aunt, regarding factory personnel and management, you can decide on allocations and salaries as you see fit.

However, your responsibilities will be to collect red earthworms, maintain accurate accounts, and process the red earthworms into feed. Every few days, I’ll send someone to pick up a batch. We need to ensure a smooth handover and keep detailed records. Future profits will be strictly divided into four parts based on these records. This includes ensuring that the accounts for collected red earthworms and spent Virtual Coins are balanced."

"Whatever you say goes. Don’t worry—my parents’ money is invested in this, so I won’t be the least bit careless. I’ve thought it over. I’ll be responsible for collecting the red earthworms. I’d rather handle the money myself for peace of mind; I don’t trust anyone else with it," the elder aunt said. She was genuinely touched that her sister-in-law, Mrs. Jing, had included the old couple.

Contracts were signed, and Jing Shu, Mrs. Jing, Grandma Jing, and Jing Pan all affixed their fingerprints. The family then efficiently selected a factory—though ’factory’ was perhaps too generous a term. It was merely a simple prefabricated building, the kind where displaced residents from the flooded Wu County lived.

Some of these prefabricated buildings were still available. When the Wu County Government learned that someone intended to open a factory and, moreover, hire workers, they couldn’t have been more pleased—it was a significant burden lifted from their shoulders.

"These temporary buildings are vacant anyway, so we’ll rent them to you for free. I heard you also need cooked feed machines; we happen to have those. Whatever equipment you require, we have it. We’ll sell it all to you as a package deal for 200 Virtual Coins."

After all, this wasn’t like making compressed biscuits for the government, which had a much higher cost. Jing Shu’s operation was primarily to produce feed for Domestic Poultry, so it only needed to be roughly cooked and dried enough for storage.

Thus, with 200 Virtual Coins, the equipment and location were secured; next was hiring workers.

"Work can start after the second day of the Lunar New Year. We can begin hiring then, and people can report directly for work."

"This process will require at least eight strong, able-bodied workers."

The elder aunt clenched her teeth. "Alright, then we’ll hire eight more people. After the New Year, Qiao Lian and her family will have to return home. Our family can no longer afford to support them."

Working eight hours a day with no holidays and receiving two meals daily of either gruel or rice congee—these were quite favorable terms in Wu County, a small county town.

Although purchasing gruel would only cost 0.5 Virtual Coins, the portions were usually pitifully small. The gruel provided by the elder aunt’s family, however, was enough for a proper meal, representing an investment equivalent to 1 Virtual Coin per day.

However, the grain the elder aunt’s family used was leftover from the previous year, and they had also profited from raising several pigs this year, so their actual costs were relatively low. Even so, feeding the workers would amount to about 1,600 Virtual Coins for more than half a year.

Yet, the potential return on this investment was more than tenfold, so the elder aunt’s family wouldn’t lose out; in fact, it was very much worthwhile.

When she returned at noon, the elder aunt explained the situation to everyone. "Qiao Lian’s mother," she began, "you see, your family will need to return home after the first day of the Lunar New Year. Once we open the factory, the grain must go to the workers. After feeding them, there won’t be enough left to provide for your family as well."

Qiao Lian’s mother, her face creased with a smile, replied, "My dear in-law, don’t treat us like strangers! Actually, I’ve already thought of a plan. Once the factory starts, you’ll be busy, your husband will be busy, and even Wei Zheng will be busy. I can come look after Qiao Lian. My husband and our three sons can go work at the factory. And if we include your second sister’s family, won’t that be just the right number of people? Why would you need to hire anyone else, right?"

Qiao Lian fiercely kicked her mother. How could she say such a thing!

When the second aunt heard this plan, she was excited. Two meals a day just for helping out at the factory, and I can even rest when I’m tired! Plus, it’s a factory run by my own elder sister and close family! "This is great, Sister!" she exclaimed. "The water should flow back into our own field, not to strangers. Let’s just work there ourselves."

Jing Shu narrowed her eyes. She was curious to see how the elder aunt would handle this, and whether her investment would prove worthwhile. It wasn’t that Jing Shu lacked these Virtual Coins; rather, her family members needed to earn Virtual Coins by proving themselves. They needed to become stronger on their own.

The elder aunt smiled. "The factory isn’t mine alone. It belongs to my elderly parents, my sister-in-law Su Lanzi, and my niece Jing Shu. We must strictly adhere to the division of labor outlined in the contract. The machines are all manual. As long as you can spend eight hours a day crushing red earthworms, then cooking and compressing them, anyone capable of doing the work can have the job. However, if you can’t meet the daily order quota, you won’t get a single meal."

"So, who wants to work?" the elder aunt asked.

Qiao Lian’s maternal family members balked at such hard labor, but her eldest son stepped forward. He declared he would take the job and ensure he met the order volume. The elder aunt approved, stating, "In the factory, even between close relatives, accounts must be settled clearly. We judge based on completed orders, nothing else."

The second aunt’s son, Li Yun, nudged her. "Mom, you should go work, or we won’t have anything to eat."

Seeing her good-for-nothing husband, the second aunt finally clenched her teeth and said, "Alright, count me in."

With that, the elder aunt still needed to recruit six more people, a decision she would have to weigh carefully.

The dinner was exceptionally rich as it was prepared by Jingshu’s house.

Dinner was originally going to be just rice congee. However, Uncle had specially brought out last year’s pickles, frozen pears, and a cold dish. But as soon as everyone gathered, the children swarmed in, each snatching an item. Before Jing Shu and the others even had a chance to see the delicacies, they were all gone.

"Well, let’s just make some dinner for ourselves."