In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 637 Heartwarming

At a time when ordinary people can only afford two meals a day, the allure of having a free meal is undeniable.

Not to mention, the meals in Chenjia Village are not like those in other places where you can only eat until you're half full. In Chenjia Village, the meals are real white flour steamed buns that you can eat your fill.

"Village Chief Chen, please summon me quickly, I can't wait any longer!"

"Me too! Village chief, start recruiting quickly."

"Village chief, let's get started! We can't wait!"

"..."

The crowd urged Chen He to start recruiting as soon as possible, their voices filled with anxiety.

However, Chen He did not rush to start recruiting, but continued, "There is something I need to explain beforehand."

After a pause, Chen He said, "The thousand people recruited this time are temporary workers. Temporary workers means that you will only be employed for a few months. After a few months, most of you will have to leave this job!"

"what?!"

The people in front were taken aback.

"Can it only be done for a few months? I thought it could be done indefinitely."

"Temporary workers are fine! Anyway, I can go back to farming in a few months!"

"Yes! Work for a few months to earn some money to get through the winter, and then we can go back to farming after the winter."

"..."

After a brief moment of surprise, everyone accepted their status as temporary workers. Most of them were farmers from villages outside the city who came to the county town to do odd jobs. It was appropriate for them to work in Chenjia Village for a few months before returning home to farm.

"Village Chief Chen."

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoliang mustered his courage and asked loudly, "You're talking about the majority of people, what about the remaining minority?"

Upon hearing this, Chen He glanced at Zhao Xiaoliang at the back of the crowd and smiled, "Good question! The reason I said that most people will have to stop working is because a small number of people who have worked diligently and performed well during these past few months can become formal workers in Chenjia Village. Once they become formal workers in Chenjia Village, they can work there forever, and their wages will increase to 800 wen per month, the same as the current workers in Chenjia Village!"

Is there still a chance to be promoted to a permanent position?

Everyone's eyes lit up immediately, and they became excited. As for the prerequisites for becoming a full-fledged employee that Chen He mentioned... no one thought it was a problem.

As farmers, they are never afraid of hardship; what they fear is that after enduring hardship, they still cannot receive the rewards they deserve.

"That's great! I'll definitely work hard and become a full-time worker in Chenjia Village, living the same carefree life as the villagers!"

"Me too! Eight hundred coins a month. If I can get a permanent position, that's much more than farming."

"Yes! We must work hard and become official workers in Chenjia Village."

"..."

Everyone was enthusiastic and eager to be recruited immediately so they could work hard and become official workers in Chenjia Village.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Chen He smiled slightly and, taking advantage of the crowd's high spirits, had the villagers bring pen, ink, paper, inkstone, and a table, setting up a recruitment stall and officially starting the recruitment process.

"Those who want to participate in the recruitment should line up and come forward one by one to register."

Soon, under Chen He's arrangement, the people who came to recruit workers lined up on their own and stepped forward one by one to report their information.

"Village Chief Chen, my name is Zhang Dashan, I am 25 years old, and I live in Shixi Village."

"Okay, next one."

“My name is Wang Dayong, I am 22 years old, and I live in Shixi Village.”

"next."

"..."

Recruiting a thousand workers was clearly no small undertaking, and the recruitment process lasted for two full days.

"Writing is really not an easy thing!"

Looking at the paper in his hand covered with names, Chen He rubbed his sore wrist. He hadn't done anything else for the past two days but had written names, and his wrist was now aching.

"you do not say!"

Another young man from Chenjia Village who came with Chen He to recruit workers said, "Luckily, the three of us registered together. If it were just you, village chief, it would have taken forever to register."

"Alright! The recruitment is over, it's time for us to head back to the village!"

Chen He put away the paper and pen, said goodbye to the shop assistant at San Gou's General Store, and returned to the village with the two young men who had accompanied him.

As for the recruited workers... Chen He had already told them to gather at the entrance of Chenjia Village tomorrow, where Chen Hou from the construction team would lead them to work.

…………

…………

The next day.

As dawn broke, Zhao Xiaoliang also woke up from his bed and, with great willpower, got out of his warm blankets.

"Father, Mother, why are you up so early?"

Stepping out of the room, Zhao Xiaoliang was immediately stunned.

But his parents were already sitting in the living room, and they had prepared breakfast in advance.

"Aren't you going to work today?"

Zhao Xiaoliang's mother said with a smile, "Your father and I thought you probably wouldn't have time to make breakfast, so we got up early to prepare breakfast for you."

Hearing this, Zhao Xiaoliang felt a warmth in his heart. His parents may not be capable or able to provide him with a comfortable life, but they cared for him no less.

"Mother, there's no need for that."

Zhao Xiaoliang said, "The village chief of Chenjia Village said he would provide us with lunch."

"Lunch is lunch, and breakfast is breakfast!"

Zhao's mother shook her head and said, "You had to work as soon as you arrived in Chenjia Village this morning. How can you have the energy to work if you don't eat breakfast?"

After saying that, Zhao's mother pulled Zhao Xiaoliang to sit down at the dining table and urged, "Eat quickly, before it gets cold!"

Zhao Xiaoliang sat down and looked at the food on the table, which was a bowl of wheat rice.

Wheat rice is a food made by steaming whole wheat grains that have not been hulled. It has a rough texture and is not easy to digest, and was regarded by the upper class as "the food of savages and farmers".

But for a family like Zhao Xiaoliang's, wheat porridge is already considered a good thing, after all...

Before the autumn harvest, his family had to rely on bran and chaff to survive.

Zhao Xiaoliang picked up the rice bowl and quickly ate it to fill his hungry stomach.

Looking at Zhao Xiaoliang wolfing down his food, Zhao's mother instructed him, "Xiaoliang, when you go to Chenjia Village, you must work hard and never slack off or cheat, and never cause trouble with others."

Zhao Xiaoliang's parents took his job in Chenjia Village very seriously. They knew how rare such an opportunity to earn money was, so even though they knew Zhao Xiaoliang wasn't a lazy child, his mother still needed to give him some advice.

"Don't worry, Mom, I will definitely work hard!"

Zhao Xiaoliang said resolutely, "I will definitely strive to become a formal worker in Chenjia Village, and then I will bring my parents and younger siblings to Chenjia Village to enjoy a better life!"

Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Zhao exchanged a glance and smiled.