Qingmu listened to his mother and shook his head. "Mom, you're getting on in years. It's our duty as your children to be filial; how could we expect you to do work? I already have a plan. I'm going to have Uncle Ma and Aunt Ma come over and help. We'll build a few more rooms for them to live in on the east side of the courtyard. With the two of them here, the chores around the house will be taken care of."
The Uncle Ma and Aunt Ma he mentioned were hired laborers for the Zheng Family. They had three sons, who all worked for the Zheng Family as well.
Juhua asked hesitantly, "Brother, but... is the Ma Family reliable?"
Qingmu nodded. "Don't worry. We've known them for a while; they're from Qingbei Village, too. If you don't believe me, ask Uncle Liu Heizi. They're honest, hardworking people. It's just that with so many sons and grandsons and so little land, they were completely ruined by that corrupt official."
