Bai Zhi chuckled twice, then said: “I have seen a lot more refined paintings. I painted this one according to other people’s drawings. I just changed the measurements. I don’t deserve Song Bobo’s praised.”
Seeing her so modest, Song Gong felt even more happy inside his heart. Although it’s important to get work, receiving a job to the people that were hard to talk to, was very unfortunate.
This family in front of him, all their smiles were kind, they work diligently, and their words were polite. It’s very easy to get along with them.
Seeing Song Gong and Song Qingfeng began to calculate the number of bricks and woods. Bai Zhi looked outside, she noticed the time was not too early: “I will go to cook, it’s already late, stay here and eat together with us.” ”
Song Gong hurriedly waved his hand: “That can’t be. We haven’t finish any work, how can we eat first?”Bai Zhi waved her hand: “We don’t pay attention to such a thing. It’s already noon, and I delayed a lot of your time. Just eat here with us.”
When Bai Zhi finished, she went to the kitchen. Zhao Lan also went to help her cook, while Hu Changlin smiled and said: “Just eat here, it’s nothing but a poor people eat, alright?”
Song Gong also smiled and said: “Oh, then the two of us will eat here, we will make you spend more money.”
Hu Changlin happily replied: “What spend more money? It’s good if you will bring some snack back to your home. Zhi’er is a kind person, so don’t worry about it. As long as you work hard, she will not treat you badly.”
Song Gong pointed his finger to the drawing and said: “Once this house is finished, I don’t know how many people in the town will follow suit. So, even if I won’t be paid for this, I will do it.”
Hu Changlin can’t understand what’s on the drawing, so he doesn’t know what it was all about. However, because of what Song Gong had said, he thought the drawing must be a very beautiful house.
*After lunch, Song Gong finished listing and calculating all the needed materials. The things written was only for the materials cost, there were no labor fees yet, so the amount cost 30 silver coins.
Bai Zhi faintly took a glance, then nodded her head: “Alright, the materials cost is 30 silver coins, how about the labor fees?”
Song Gong replied: “Because you let us build such a house, you don’t need to pay me and Qingfeng. You just pay the labor of other workers.”
Bai Zhi shook her head: “How can that be? If you work, I must pay you. Just tell me the usual price.”
Zhao Lan also opened her mouth and said: “That’s right. There is no reason for you to work free. Just tell us how much is it.”
Seeing their persistence, Song Gong just offered a friendly price, which had a 30% discount on the usual labor fee.
Bai Zhi looked at the price and calculated inside her mind. She knew that Song Gong deliberately lowered the price. However, she didn’t say another word, she will just pay him the right amount when its time.
“Should we give an advance payment for the materials or we should pay in full?” Bai Zhi asked.
Song Gong busily replied: “This will be the case, we should give 2 silver coins first as a deposit, so that the bricks, woods and some other things that are needed will be delivered. After the house is completed, we will do the inventory, to see if we used much or less, then we will settle the final amount.”
Bai Zhi nodded her head and asked: “What about the workers’ wages? How we will settle it?”
Song Gong answered: “I am the foreman. My wages will be paid after the completion of the house. The masons only come every three days. Carpenters and small workers work every day. Their wages are counted based on the day they worked.”
Bai Zhi made calculations inside her mind, then ask Hu Changlin to take out 10 silver coins. Then, she handed them to Song Gong: “Song Bobo, I will give you these 10 silver coins in advance. Take away the deposit for the materials, then use the rest to help me find good workers. If it’s not enough, just come and find me.”
