Mu Yuanxiu looked slightly embarrassed, "I’m much older than you! Frequenting the village, I’m naturally aware of some matters here."
Li Yuzhu found it amusing, much older than her? Clearly only three years older!
The Princely Heir frowned, "Brother Mu, since Liu the bricklayer and his two sons can’t go out to work, are there any other bricklayers in the village?"
Mu Yuanxiu shook his head, "In Taohua River Village, only their family knows the bricklaying trade."
"What about other villages? Do you know?" Li Yuzhu asked him.
Mu Yuanxiu looked at her and said, "Besides Taohua River Village near Niu Tou Mountain, about seven or eight miles north, there’s another village called Qingshui River Village. They also have a father-and-son pair of bricklayers, but they only take cash, no credit."
"Cash upfront? That won’t do." Li Xing’an waved his hand.
Their family currently doesn’t have a single coin!
The Princely Heir asked again, "Aside from these two villages, are there any other bricklayers?"
"The other villages are relatively far, all over ten miles away. I haven’t been to those places, so I’m not sure about their situation," Mu Yuanxiu said.
Second Young Master Li sighed, "What should we do? Big Brother? Head back now?"
Li Xing’an was also downhearted, "If we can’t find a bricklayer, aren’t we just going home empty-handed."
As the Princely Heir hesitated, Li Yuzhu said, "No, let’s go to Liu the bricklayer’s home."
Everyone looked at her in confusion.
Li Xing’an said, "Third Sister, that family is having a domestic fight; how would they be in the mood to work?"
Li Yuzhu said, "I know, we can’t hire Liu the bricklayer, but we could ask if he knows any other bricklayer. He should have connections with others in the same trade."
Bricklayers, unlike other crafts, rarely work selfishly solo.
Because their work is collective in nature, such as when a wealthy family wants a garden or mansion built quickly, without hiring fellow tradesmen for help, the work can’t be completed.
If they don’t have a few good professional contacts, they won’t get big projects and will earn much less money.
Sometimes, bricklayers even pass on the work to other colleagues and take a referral fee for themselves.
Mu Yuanxiu looked at Li Yuzhu with eyes full of surprise, "You’re right, he probably knows some colleagues."
Second Young Master Li and Li Xing’an exclaimed in surprise, "Third Sister, how do you know even this?"
Li Yuzhu snorted lightly, "Nanny Sun told me, she knows everything!"
"Really? If I’d known things would be today, I would have learned more from Uncle Tian." Li Xing’an sighed, regretting that he used to only know how to play and not to learn more things, ending up hungry today.
The Princely Heir said, "Then there’s no time to lose, let’s go to Liu the bricklayer’s home to inquire."
Mu Yuanxiu said, "I’ll lead the way for you, so you don’t have to ask people in the village again."
Second Young Master Li and Li Xing’an wanted to say "No need."
But the Princely Heir spoke first, "That would be great, thank you, Brother Mu."
Mu Yuanxiu nodded to everyone and walked ahead down the mountain.
The Princely Heir and Li Yuzhu followed behind him.
Second Young Master Li pulled at Li Xing’an, "Third Brother, slow down, I have something to talk to you about."
Li Xing’an raised his eyebrows, "What is it, Second Brother?"
Second Young Master Li glanced towards Mu Yuanxiu in the front and whispered to Li Xing’an, "Third Brother, do you think that Mu guy has taken a fancy to our Third Sister?"
"What?" Li Xing’an’s eyes widened, "Is he considering me dead? I haven’t agreed yet!"