The preparation of cotton and grain was in order, and Mo Yan had also purchased a batch of coarse cotton and hemp fabric from the Cloth Shop. Peasants often engaged in heavy labor and, except for visiting relatives during festivals and holidays, they rarely wore good clothes, so the coarse cotton and hemp were just right.
A grain of rice of benevolence, a bucket of rice of grudge! Although Mo Yan was willing to help others, she was by no means a soft touch. If the villagers of Liu Yang Village urgently needed grain and clothing to keep out the cold, she was willing to provide it, but she wouldn't give it away for free. Moreover, she hadn't priced these goods at market rates—strictly speaking, she was the one "at a loss."
Lizhong volunteered to draft the written contract, which could be considered an ancient version of an employment contract. The terms outlined in the document were clear and very equitable.
