NOVPUB
Chapter 681: Chapter 686 The Way to Control a Husband_1
The next morning, Qiao Duo’er personally delivered the fabric to the Embroidery Room.
Aside from instructing Chao Lian to fetch cloth from the Ji Xiang Cloth Shop, she also took the opportunity to gather everyone to discuss the holiday arrangements.
As the end of the year approached, everyone’s minds were less and less on their work.
By announcing the arrangements in advance, she also provided a measure of reassurance.
"The situation is special this year. We will work until the twenty-seventh of the twelfth lunar month. On the twenty-eighth, everyone will come to settle their wages and receive holiday bonuses. Since the Embroidery Room has only been operational for a month, those who have taken more than three days off will forfeit their holiday bonus. But so far, no one has taken that many days off."
Qiao Duo’er, sitting among a group of Embroidery Ladies, exuded a great deal of charm.
"What’s included in the holiday bonus?" one inquisitive Embroidery Lady asked.
"Two pairs of Spring Festival couplets, and the rest is a secret for now. But I’m sure no one will be disappointed," she teased.
Qiao Duo’er deliberately kept them in suspense; otherwise, they would have nothing to look forward to on the twenty-eighth.
If she hadn’t been worried that they would buy duplicate couplets, she wouldn’t have mentioned even that.
"Even just the Spring Festival couplets alone would be good enough—they’re worth more than twenty wen!"
A person beside tugged at the speaker’s sleeve—how could someone complain of getting too much in a holiday bonus?
"Hehe, forget I said anything."
The woman who had just spoken touched her nose, her face flushed with embarrassment; she was inherently blunt and not skilled at diplomacy.
Qiao Duo’er said with a smile, "The holiday bonus is already decided. Whether you think it’s too much or too little doesn’t matter. Everyone should note the time: you’ll have the afternoon off on the twenty-eighth. Please arrange your domestic responsibilities ahead of time."
Some with mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law at home were not worried at all, but for those who lived alone, they were feeling the pressure.
With only one woman at home responsible for all the cleaning and washing, and the Embroidery Room not closing until the twenty-eighth, they would certainly not finish the pre-New Year house cleaning in time.
Among those feeling the most stressed was a member of the Qin Clan.
She had given birth to seven sons, none of whom were married yet, leaving her with no one to lend a hand.
"This is bad; no one at my home will sweep the floors. How are we supposed to celebrate the New Year?" lamented the woman from the Qin Clan.
Yet she was reluctant to take a day off since working one more day could earn her several dozen wen more.
"Isn’t your man at home? Why can’t he sweep the floor?" someone beside asked.
The woman from the Qin Clan sighed. "Forget about him, he’s of that sort—he’s never touched a broom even though he’s no longer young."
As for her brood of little brats, they all took after their father.
"You’ve spoiled them," someone pointed out.
With a look of frustration, she replied, "The men in my household naturally don’t know how to cherish others. I work myself to exhaustion, and they act as if they don’t see it."
"Same at my house. Every night, that cursed man of mine demands I wash his feet. It’s so annoying!"
This sparked a chorus of complaints from several women.
"Duo’er, how do you manage your Zheng Hong?" someone suddenly asked.
"Exactly, when it comes to cherishing a wife, Ah Hong in our village is first, and Erhu comes in second. Everyone else has to step aside," another added.
Why were other people’s husbands so nice? Every time they saw Zheng Hong, he was obedient to his own wife and reluctant to let her do any hard work. 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
They toiled tirelessly in the Embroidery Room, but when they went home, they didn’t even get a word of concern.
All were women, but the treatment they received was worlds apart.
After thinking it over carefully, Qiao Duo’er replied, "It’s simple. I can earn my own money, and can live without him, so of course he cherishes me."
Tan Zhenghong had known her background from the start and knew he had to treat her even better to keep her.
Of course, what mattered most was that Tan Zhenghong was naturally well-disposed.
