In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 587 Punishment

The Chenjia Village drill ground was bustling with people, as the villagers, gathered by Chen Dao, were discussing the matter animatedly.

"Why did Brother Dao suddenly call us here?"

"I do not know!"

"Brother Dao specially gave us a day off to come and gather, so it must be something important."

"I know it's not a small matter, but what exactly is it?"

"I don't know!"

"..."

Yesterday, Chen Dao instructed the village chief, Chen He, to inform all villagers and all migrant workers employed by the village that today would be a day off, and everyone must assemble at the drill ground.

So as soon as it got light today, the villagers, who were used to getting up early, gathered at the drill ground to wait for Chen Dao's arrival.

"Uncle."

A young villager asked Chen Da, who was leading the group to maintain order, "Do you know why Brother Dao called us here?"

"do not know."

Chen Da shook his head. Chen Dao had only informed the Chen family army to maintain order today. As for why the whole village had been called over, Chen Da really didn't know.

"Even the old man doesn't know?"

"Where is the village chief? Does the village chief know?"

"I asked, and the village chief doesn't know either."

"Brother Dao hid it too well."

"..."

A sense of unease arose among the crowd. Surprisingly, not a single person in the entire village knew why Chen Dao had gathered everyone together today.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait too long.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Chen Dao was standing on the high platform of the training ground.

With Chen Dao's arrival, the noise at the scene immediately disappeared.

Chen Dao's prestige in Chenjia Village was beyond question. When he appeared on the high platform and was about to start speaking, every villager subconsciously fell silent, afraid of disturbing Chen Dao's speech.

Chen Dao scanned the puzzled faces below and said, "You're all probably wondering why I called you all here?"

"Yeah, Brother Dao, we're doing a great job, why should we get a day off?"

"Brother Dao, is there anything you can't send someone to inform us of?"

"Yes, yes! Just send someone to let them know, why go through all this trouble?"

"..."

The villagers were naturally very puzzled, or rather, confused.

Chenjia Village is not a big place. If Chen Dao has something to say, he can just send someone to notify them. Why give everyone a day off and then gather them all at the drill ground?

"The reason I've called everyone here is because what I'm about to say concerns everyone!"

Chen Dao said slowly, "I plan to raise your wages!"

That's right, that's what Chen Dao is going to talk about today!

He was never a heartless capitalist. The reason he was only willing to pay each villager 500 coins was simply because Chenjia Village had low output and a large number of villagers at the time. If the wages were not lowered, Chen Dao would not be able to pay them at all.

As for why the villagers' wages weren't increased later, that brings us to the issue of food.

Due to food shortages, the growth rate of the village's chicken and duck population slowed down, and eventually came to a standstill...

However, with the bumper harvests in Taiping County and Dingxing County, the problem of food shortage has been solved, and it is time to raise the wages of the villagers.

"A raise?"

Upon hearing this, the villagers' eyes lit up, and they all became excited.

"A raise is great! A raise is wonderful!"

"Brother Dao, are you really going to raise our wages?"

"Great! I'll be able to earn even more money."

"I knew Brother Dao wouldn't forget us!"

"Long live Brother Dao!"

"..."

The villagers were so excited that they even shouted "Long live Brother Dao!" To be honest, they were already quite satisfied with the monthly wage of 500 coins. Who would complain that their wages were too high?

Therefore, when they heard Chen Dao say that wages would be increased, everyone's face was very excited, and some villagers with more families even jumped up with joy.

"Quiet."

Chen Dao gestured with his hands to quiet the villagers on the training ground, then said, "I have seen your hard work. You have all worked so diligently, so naturally I will not treat you unfairly. However..."

Chen Dao changed the subject, saying, "The vast majority of people work very hard, but there are also some slackers who see the job I provide as a secure job, thinking that no matter what, they will still get five hundred coins a month, so they go through the motions but don't put in the effort."

As it turns out, a fixed wage breeds laziness. Chen Dao provided the villagers with a fixed wage of 500 coins and almost never fired anyone. A small number of villagers developed a lazy and cunning nature, going through the motions of working but being exceptionally eager to collect their wages.

Of course, the vast majority of villagers cherish this job and work diligently; only a small number of them try to slack off.

However, if this continues, it is difficult to guarantee that other villagers will not be influenced by those who cheat and shirk their duties, and their enthusiasm for work will decline.

"Shh!"

On the drill ground, the villagers' eyes almost instantly fell on those cunning and deceitful villagers that Chen Dao had mentioned.

As people who work together every day, they know all too well who likes to slack off.

"Dao Ge'er must be talking about Chen Feng. That kid always slacks off when he's working."

"And then there's Chen Gong. He's always the most enthusiastic when it comes to getting his wages, but when it comes to actually doing the work, he doesn't do this or that."

"Chen Hai too, I always see him slacking off when I'm working!"

"Chen Chang is the same, lazier than a pig. He's never willing to do any work."

"..."

Faced with the villagers' gazes, those who usually liked to slack off at work immediately blushed and felt embarrassed, wishing they could disappear into the ground.

Although Chen Dao did not name them, the villagers knew each other so well that they would know that the villagers liked to slack off.

"Brother Dao, this is my dereliction of duty."

Village chief Chen He said with a face full of shame that supervising the villagers' work was his responsibility, but it was clear that he had not done a good job, which made Chen Dao feel dissatisfied.

"I also bear some responsibility."

Chen Hou also spoke with a face full of embarrassment. Chen Feng, Chen Gong, Chen Hai and Chen Chang, the three people who liked to shirk their responsibilities the most, all worked in the construction team. As the person in charge of the construction team, Chen Hou was naturally responsible for the problems that occurred among his subordinates.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Chen Dao waved his hand. He knew very well that laziness was human nature, and the village chief and other officials had done enough. At least they had ensured that the vast majority of villagers were hardworking. As for the remaining few bad apples...

Chen Dao naturally had to deal with them; otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to the others if the lazy ones received the same pay as the hardworking ones.