Just as Liu Changsheng was worrying about how to face the many craftsn’s inquiries when he went outside, a commotion arose outside.
This employer was a middle-aged man with the surna Chen, who looked ordinary. In the past, he had watched operas with Ye Hongyang and was considered an old acquaintance. He knew that hiring Dongze Construction Firm to build this courtyard was like catching a big fool. So he was eager to settle the wages quickly and get rid of everyone.
Upon hearing the noise outside, Chen the Official instinctively thought about whether those craftsn might be causing trouble because of the unprofitable project.
He was anxious and didn’t care about propriety, pushing Liu Changsheng outside while saying, "What’s wrong, why is it so noisy? Is it your people? Quickly pack up your tools and belongings and leave. Before handing over the work, you should have cleared the site properly, this is your doing!"
The project was not yet due for delivery, but this Chen the Official repeatedly urged completion, claiming urgency, leading Dongze Construction Firm to wrap up hastily, and now he ca to complain.
Liu Changsheng opened his mouth but ultimately, mindful of his status, didn’t argue with Chen the Official.
The commotion ca from the open land in the outer yard where horses were parked, which indeed was where craftsn were moving construction tools.
Chen the Official and Liu Changsheng hurried towards the noise, footsteps quick, followed closely by Chen the Official’s attendant who summoned several servants.
Sure enough, the craftsn were causing a racket while wrapping up, splitting into two groups of about twenty people. Two of them were holding each other’s collars, flushed and thick-necked, seemingly about to fight.
Liu Changsheng stepped forward in a few steps, separated the two groups, and shouted, "Is everything organized? Making trouble here! Hurry up and let go!"
The two entwined n looked at Liu Changsheng’s arrival and gave him no face, instead, one urgently protested, "This courtyard job was so tedious that it took us brothers nearly two months to complete. Foreman Liu, give us a straight answer, did we earn any silver from this job? When can we get our wages?"
Chen the Official imdiately felt threatened upon hearing the word ’wages’, afraid these craftsn would cause trouble and recompute project fees with him. Though secretly assured the project wouldn’t have issues, it would be bad if Ye Hongyang was upset.
Since the work is completed, it’s better to clear ties with these people as soon as possible.
He imdiately darkened his face and said sternly, "This is my Chen family’s courtyard. Since it’s completed, this is no longer a place for you. Take it outside, and if you’re really upset, fight or kill outside; no one will care. Just don’t cause trouble here."
Though Chen the Official couldn’t compare to Ye Hongyang, in the eyes of these ordinary craftsn, he still held a significant status, and their wages were unrelated to the employers.
One man proudly said, "Take it outside, sure, but we can’t work without getting paid. The elderly and children in our families, who will feed them?"
The man held by the collar angrily retorted, "Go find whoever you want to, what are you grabbing for? You think I’m just soone with a soft scalp to bully?"
"I’m talking about wages, and you’re making snide remarks? So you found another employer already and are unafraid of going hungry, is that it?"
Chen the Official indeed didn’t bother discerning right or wrong among them. He just commanded the attendant and so servants, combined words with persuasion, pushing them outside the main gate.
Chen the Official also persuaded Liu Changsheng to solve his issues outside.
Liu Changsheng watched the new gate of the Chen family shut, feeling indescribably angry.
He turned and angrily said to the craftsn still arguing, "Hurry and let go! Can’t you talk back at ho? Must you lose face here?"
The lead craftsman defiantly replied, "Can’t get food, who cares about losing face? Foreman Liu, give a straightforward answer, can we get our wages? If there’s a shadow of a doubt, we’ll wait, if not, we’ll seek out the employer ourselves."
Liu Changsheng hadn’t yet spoken when the craftsman entwined with him sneered and retorted, "Looking to the employer? Like you have such big face. Who is the employer? Soone you can offend possibly? Advised you to leave early, but you refused, acting like I’m trying to harm you."
A worker nearby chid in, "Working for money is natural, it’s ordained by the Emperor, why leave unpaid? Ji Family being scholars shouldn’t do such unsavory acts."
"Right, whether the Construction Industry earns or not, that’s Fourth Grandmother of Ji Family and The Old Master of the Duke’s Mansion’s business. What’s it got to do with us workers?"
The other group discontentedly countered, "Look at yourself, thinking the Emperor would side with you labor workers?"
"Who are you calling labor workers?" More and more people chid in, and the temper between those two rose. Amidst pushing and shoving, unclear who started, they indeed began fighting.
This bunch, under cajoling and pushing by Chen family servants, left the alley where the Chen family was located, arriving at a street corner.
With so many people, plus construction tools, scaffolding, boards, etc., they imdiately attracted much attention.
"Aren’t these craftsn rebuilding the Chen family courtyard? Why did they start fighting among themselves for no reason?"
"Didn’t you hear? They haven’t received their wages."
"Would Chen the Official be so heartless? No way? Then they should find the Chen family, why fight each other?"
"Not Chen family, seems so scholar’s Ji Family, didn’t Ji Family pay them wages?"
"Which Ji Family? Which Ji Family is it?"
Curious people gathered, one bold person approached, suggesting to an outer craftsn, "Then go seek wages from the employer, fighting here isn’t the correct way?"
The craftsman looked honest and innocent, seeing more people gathering, full of helplessness, whispered, "Our foreman asked the steward under Fourth Grandma Ji, the steward said to find the Duke’s Mansion’s The Old Master."
Duke An’s notoriety among civilians was far greater than Ji Family’s, imdiately soone comnted, "Duke An’s Mansion, I know, it’s a top-notch noble household of the court, fabulously wealthy, no doubt."
Another sneered, "Like we didn’t know," turning to provocatively push the craftsman, saying, "Then go to Duke An’s Mansion, won’t that The Old Master also push your issue out?"
The craftsman appeared even more troubled, frightened, hesitating whether to continue.
Idle onlookers kept jeering, "Afraid of what? Can’t even eat, why hesitate?"
The craftsman deliberated repeatedly, then lowered his voice even more, "The Duke’s Mansion always liaised with our foreman through that The Old Master’s attendant, he promised us wages the next day but upon stealthily pawning item from the mansion, was discovered and beaten out."
Everyone went silent, glaring eyes wide, mouths agape, speechless.
After a long ti, one stamred saying, "No way, right? Duke’s Mansion allegedly with no money, even pawns items for wages? Isn’t it a prestigious house? So miserable?"
"You don’t know, The Old Master of Duke’s Mansion is good-for-nothing, tightly controlled by Duke. In fact, this trouble wasn’t originally The Old Master’s, but his daughter, Fourth Grandmother of the Ji Family’s doing, except..."
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