With land taxes visibly increasing, anyone with sense knew farming alone was no longer sustainable. Those with means were already looking for alternative livelihoods.
Huo Shu, seeing Ji Taoyu’s response, felt somewhat reassured.
“Don’t worry. No matter what, I won’t let you go hungry.”
After reaching a tentative agreement, they didn’t rush to inform Ji Yangzong just yet.
The next morning, Huo Shu went to Hongli Village.
Though the two villages were neighbors, aside from his previous visits to slaughter pigs, Huo Shu had rarely been there.
Following the main path, he reached a particularly lively family at the end of the road—people were bustling on the roof and in the yard, likely doing repairs.
In the courtyard stood a pear tree over a decade old, its leaves long fallen, leaving only bare branches.
He strolled forward, and before even entering the courtyard, someone called out to him: "Brother Huo!"
"Am I seeing right? What brings you to my humble abode today?"
Ge Liang, slightly slurring his words, hurried over from a distance, shouting as he came.
"Repairing the house?"
Huo Shu raised his chin slightly.
"Almost done. The winter months bring too much rain, what should've been a small job dragged on for nearly two months."
Ge Liang sighed as he spoke.
Huo Shu looked at the new tiled roof, which seemed to have replaced the old thatched one.
"Why not repair it in autumn?"
"Ah, when I first returned, I mentioned I had some extra money and suggested fixing up the house. But my parents refused, saying I was too eager to throw money around. Likely because they’re worried I’m still unmarried, they didn’t want me spending money recklessly."
Ge Liang lowered his voice: "Lately, they’ve been rushing to arrange a match for me. The matchmaker visited a few decent families, but nothing came of it. My parents started thinking our house was too shabby, scaring off potential brides or gers, so they panicked and told me to fix it up."
"At least it’s done now."
"Look at me, rambling on. Brother Huo, come inside and sit. The roof’s finished, and we’re cleaning up today so we can celebrate the New Year in peace."
Ge Liang led Huo Shu to a tidy side room.
The Ge family had many villagers helping out, and inside, people were busy cooking - likely preparing a feast as thanks.
Huo Shu knew his timing wasn’t ideal, but since he was here, there was no point turning back.
"Have some hot tea, this weather’s freezing."
Ge Liang handed Huo Shu a bowl of coarse tea: "Brother Huo, did you need something from me?"
Huo Shu got straight to the point: "I’m no longer a butcher. I’ve been looking into a new trade these past few days and need some hands. Came to see if you’re interested."
Ge Liang’s eyes lit up: "Brother Huo, tell me more."
Huo Shu laid out his plans.
The moment he finished, Ge Liang slapped his thigh: "Brother Huo, I’m in! I’ll follow you on this venture."
"Don’t decide on impulse. Think it over."
Ge Liang waved his hands: "I’m not being rash. Since coming back to the village, I haven’t found anything suitable. If you’ve got a plan, I’ll feel more secure working with you."
"Either way, I need work. Why not take the chance?"
Besides, transporting southern goods to sell in the north was profitable business. Having spent years up north himself - though mostly confined to military camps, he at least had some understanding of the market conditions there.
Truth be told, the idea had crossed his mind before, but only as a fleeting thought. Going it alone seemed too daunting. He simply lacked the confidence to pursue it independently.
Yet now, with Huo Shu proposing the venture, he suddenly felt steadied - as if he'd finally found solid footing
"Still, just the two of us isn’t enough. We’ll need a few more reliable hands."
Ge Liang nodded: "I know. If we’re serious about this, I’ll ask around these next few days, see if any trustworthy brothers are willing to join."
Huo Shu said: "First, see if we can gather enough people. If it’s feasible, then we’ll find suppliers."
"Alright."
____
With only two days left before New Year's Eve, almost everyone who had left the village had already returned. If they wanted to secure workers, they needed to finalize the arrangements as soon as possible.
After the New Year, spring would arrive before long, and every family would be busy with plowing and sowing. Even if someone wanted to join them, it was likely many people wouldn’t be able to leave their fields.
They needed to give people time to consider and prepare in advance so that they could properly plan how much manpower they would have and how much land they could cultivate the following year.
Huo Shu thought they couldn’t rely entirely on Ge Liang’s side, they could also look for workers in the village themselves.
To achieve twice the result with half the effort in this matter, they still needed Ji Yangzong’s help.
So the two of them informed Ji Yangzong of their plans ahead of time.
Upon hearing the news, Ji Yangzong remained silent for a long while.
Ji Yangzong’s silence was not without reason. Though there were many merchants in Tongzhou, the social hierarchy placed scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants in that order - merchants being the lowest in status.
The Ji family wasn’t some prestigious, scholarly clan that looked down on merchants, but he still had reservations about his child taking this path.
That aside, the two were newly married and clearly fond of each other, so he wondered why they were already considering this kind of itinerant livelihood.
Life at home was comfortable. Who would willingly leave their homeland unless they had no choice but to make a living, or unless they couldn’t stay in one place any longer?
"Did you and Xiao Taozi have a fight?"
Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly, wondering where did that come from. "No."
Ji Yangzong couldn’t read Huo Shu’s expression. "Really, or are you just saying that?"
Thank you for the chapter!!!
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