Chapter 147 - Goddaughter? (1/2)

At this time, the supervisor jogged over, wiped the sweat on his forehead, and smiled flatteringly, “Lord Imperial Envoy, according to the scale of the expansion of the harbor and the estimated construction period, we will need a large number of masons and construction workers. What do…”

“You have to ask me about such a trifling matter? Then what do I need you supervisors for?” Fang Zizhen had a straightforward temperament, and always spoke bluntly to vile people who only knew how to curry favors and don’t do any practical work.

But the supervisor wasn’t someone completely without merit either. He was just uncertain about the temperament of the imperial envoy who was sent over, so he didn’t dare act recklessly! Since he was willing to delegate power to him, what worries would he still have?

When Yu Xiaocao heard that they needed masons for the harbor construction, she immediately thought of her youngest maternal uncle. Her youngest maternal uncle didn’t have any other abilities, but he was even more skilled as a mason than a carpenter. Since Brother Han’s martial uncle was in charge of this matter, it would be a waste to not use this connection!

“General Fang…”

“What General Fang! You make it seem like we’re strangers!! With your family’s relationship with my martial younger brother, you can just call me Uncle Fang!” Fang Zizhen was quite cordial towards this bright and clever young girl.

Yu Xiaocao also didn’t act courteous with him anymore and smiled even sweeter, “Uncle Fang! Xiaocao has a small matter, which I would like to ask you for a little help with…”

“How small is this small matter?” Fang Zizhen teased her.

Yu Xiaocao glanced at the supervisor and deliberately whispered into his ears. In fact, she spoke in a voice that could be heard by the people around them, “Uncle Fang, the construction of the new harbor must require a lot of workers, right? Are these people sent from above, or are they recruited onsite?”

Fang Zizhen also deliberately lowered his voice and spoke in a secretive manner, “The Ministry of Works sent several people over, but except for this, everyone else will be recruited onsite. Why? You have family who wants to work at the docks?”

The supervisor had a lot of doubts within his heart regarding the relationship between the imperial envoy and the fisherman’s daughter who sold braised food at the docks. But he could tell that the imperial envoy treated the little girl like she was a child of his family. The smooth and slick supervisor naturally knew what to do.

He listened attentively and heard Xiaocao say with slight embarrassment, “Uncle Fang, my youngest maternal uncle is very good with masonry work! There aren’t any villagers in the surrounding villages who don’t know this! I heard that he had also came to look for work at the docks… Perhaps you can test him?”

Fang Zizhen raised his eyebrow and gave the supervisor a look. Then the supervisor tactfully said, “What’s there to test? Would there even be anything wrong with someone that Miss Xiaocao recommended? Do you see that new hut over there? Later, just tell your youngest uncle to go there directly. I will be there registering the new recruits!”

Yu Xiaocao waved at Liu Zhiwei and told him, who had jogged over, “Oldest Cousin, do you know where Youngest Uncle is? Tell him to come over quickly and go register with this sir.”

“Registration? For what?” Liu Zhiwei couldn’t think straight for a moment as he looked cautiously at the official’s robe that General Fang and his subordinates were wearing.

Yu Xiaocao glared at him and said, “Of course it’s the registration for the recruitment of masons… Just go, why are you asking so many questions? If you mess up this matter, just see if Youngest Uncle will spare you!”

Liu Zhiwei took another look at the officials present and widened his eyes: ‘Oh my god! Little Sister Xiaocao actually has connections with the officials in charge of the construction of the harbor. Tsk-tsk, Little Sister Xiaocao is seriously too bold, to be able to keep a straight face in front of all these officials. If I were in her place, I probably wouldn’t even dare to say a word! But, the most surprising thing was the fact that Little Sister Xiaocao actually had some face in front of the officials. What exactly is going on?’

Although Liu Zhiwei had thousands of questions in his heart, he still managed to hold back perplexed feelings and swiftly ran off to find his youngest paternal uncle. He knew very clearly what this job meant to his youngest uncle and his family.

It would definitely take at least three to five years to complete the harbor construction, which meant that his youngest uncle would have a stable income for the next three to five years. He would have a stable job! He had heard that the emperor attached great importance on the construction of the harbor and sent an imperial envoy to supervise the progress of the construction.

There had been a rumor at the docks that workers who participated in the construction of the harbor could have a salary that was no less than the porters on the docks! Many of the dockworkers were interested in job and were preparing to try out at the recruitment site.

Liu Zhiwei pulled out his youngest paternal uncle from the crowd in front of the recruitment hut. Liu Hao was working hard to squeeze his way to the front because the chance of being recruited would increase if he was closer to the front. However, the people enlisting were all burly men who were used to heavy manual labor. He didn’t have a strong-built figure, so how would he be able to squeeze through the crowd?

Liu Hao, who was abruptly pulled out by his nephew, said with a displeased face, “Zhiwei, what are you doing? I finally managed to squeeze into the middle but ended up being dragged out by you. All my efforts have been wasted! What exactly is the matter?! Quickly say it!”

“Youngest Uncle stop trying to squeeze into the crowd! Little Sister Xiaocao used her connections for you, so you can just directly go meet the person in charge of recruiting workers!” Liu Zhiwei pulled his youngest uncle further away from the crowd and whispered with excitement.