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

Chapter 494 Abundance

Whether it's hiring workers or farming, people prefer men with greater strength; as for women...

The fate of most women in the Xia Kingdom was simply to help with farm work to the best of their ability, and then get married when they reached a certain age.

As for going out to find a job and supporting themselves, that was something girls like Cao Zhu had never even considered.

That's why Cao Zhu reacted so strongly when she heard Jiang Xiaobai say that she could also work.

"OK."

Jiang Xiaobai replied, "In this Chenjia Village, whether you are a man or a woman, you can find a job that suits you. As long as you are hardworking, you will not have to worry about supporting yourself."

"Great."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhu's face lit up with surprise.

Cao Qiang and Yin Xiaoniang looked at each other in bewilderment. Women working was something they had never heard of before.

Of course, it's not that women in the Xia Kingdom didn't participate in labor, but rather that apart from a few jobs like prostitution, no employers were willing to hire women.

Therefore, the vast majority of women either stayed at home to take care of their husbands and children or helped their families with farm work.

"noob."

Yin Xiaoniang looked at Jiang Xiaobai with eager eyes: "Can the women of Chenjia Village really work?"

"Yes Auntie."

Jiang Xiaobai nodded and said, "You may not know this since you just came to Chenjia Village, but whether it's the clothing factory or the farmland, most of the workers are women, and their wages are no less than those of men. They can earn 500 coins a month."

Upon hearing this, Yin Xiaoniang's eyes widened. Not only was she willing to recruit women, but she was also offering such high wages. Could Chenjia Village be a charitable institution?

"So, can I find a job in Chenjia Village?"

"I asked with anticipation," Yin Xiaoniang asked.

"OK."

Cao Shui chimed in, "Mother, your needlework is so good, getting a job at the Chenjia Village Garment Factory shouldn't be a problem. Tomorrow I'll go ask around and see if I can help you find a job there."

The garment factory in Chenjia Village is not hiring at the moment, so Cao Shui doesn't dare to make any definitive statements.

"As for you, Father..."

Cao Shui glanced at his father's thin yet capable figure, thought for a moment, and said, "Father, you can try working for the construction team in Chenjia Village. If you can get in, you can earn 500 coins a month."

Upon hearing this, Yin Xiaoniang and Cao Qiang both beamed with joy: "Brother Shui, you must ask him carefully. We are not afraid of hardship, as long as we can make money."

A job paying 500 coins a month was like a windfall for the two of them; they couldn't help but think...

If the two of them could earn 500 coins a month, that would add up to one tael of silver. Adding Cao Shui's monthly income of one tael, their family would have an income of two taels of silver a month, enough for them to live a comfortable life.

"Okay, I'll go ask about it tomorrow."

After finishing discussing work, everyone's attention finally returned to the food, and they quickly devoured the chicken and steamed buns on the table.

In less than fifteen minutes, all the food on the table was gone.

Cao Yun touched his bulging belly and said with a satisfied look, "The meat is so delicious. I wish I could eat meat every day."

Upon hearing this, the adults present all laughed. Children just can't hide their feelings; they say whatever comes to mind.

"I'll clean up the dishes."

Yin Xiaoniang got up very conscientiously and rushed to clear the table of dishes.

Cao Shui looked at Cao Yun and Cao Zhu, and said to Cao Qiang, "Father, I plan to send Xiao Yun and Xiao Zhu to school."

"read?"

Cao Qiang was taken aback. "Where would we get the money to go to school?"

Although Cao Qiang was a peasant with little knowledge, he knew that studying was not an easy thing. Although Cao Shui could earn one tael of silver a month, it was not enough to support a student.

Putting aside other things, just take the scholar in Yunshui Village where he used to live. His family owned 20 mu of land, but even for such wealthy farmers, it would take a lot of scrimping and saving to support a scholar.

Moreover, Cao Shui was to supply not just one scholar, but two.

"Don't worry, Dad, there's no need to pay for school in Chenjia Village."

Cao Shui explained, "In Chenjia Village, all children of school age can attend the school for free, including girls."

"But……"

Cao Qiang hesitated and said, "What's the use of studying? Can you pass the imperial examination and become an official?"

In Cao Qiang's limited understanding, studying was of no use to ordinary people like him, because given their circumstances, it was impossible for them to support their family members until the scholars in their families could put their knowledge into practice, that is, until they passed the imperial examinations and became officials.

After all, there were countless scholars in the Xia Kingdom, but only one in ten thousand could pass the imperial examinations and become an official. It was simply unrealistic to think that one could change one's fate through studying.

Moreover, women were not allowed to hold official positions, meaning that Cao Zhu's education was completely useless.

In Cao Shui's view, the two children should help with household chores, and the proper thing to do is to find a job in Chenjia Village to make a living when they grow up.

"Father, you don't know this, but in Chenjia Village, the benefits of studying are immense."

Cao Shui said, "Whether it's the shops in the village, the construction teams, or the garment factories, they all treat literate people very well. As soon as the students graduate from Chenjia Village School, they are immediately hired by shops and garment factories with high salaries."

The school in Chenjia Village was less a school and more a crash course in literacy. As long as students knew most of the commonly used characters and could write them, they could graduate smoothly.

Now, many of the older, faster learners in the school have successfully graduated. When they graduated, Chen Dao kept his promise and immediately gave them jobs, with wages much higher than those of ordinary workers.

Ordinary workers could only earn 500 coins a month, while students who graduated from school could earn at least 700 coins a month as soon as they started working.

This sparked a surge of enthusiasm for education among the villagers of Chenjia Village, with countless parents sending their children to school, hoping that their children could also earn high salaries like those graduates.

This is also why Cao Shui planned to send Cao Yun and Cao Zhu to school; those who work for Chenjia Village must be at least 16 years old.

Cao Yun is only 10 years old and Cao Zhu is only 13 years old. They obviously do not meet the requirements of Chenjia Village. Rather than letting them waste their time at home, it would be better to send them to school so that they can learn to read and write and then get the job opportunities given by Mr. Chen and earn high salaries.

"Is there such a thing?"

Cao Qiang said in surprise.