5. New channels are taking shape day by day, and the progress is very fast. There were about 30 people digging ditches every day, and they were 60 yuan a day, which was 1,800 yuan a day. Of course, it refers to iron money, copper money is impossible, and no one wants to ask for it. Nowadays, money is tight on the market, iron money is tight, and the money has always been 900 Wen, which actually subverts Zhou Dao's previous perception that it has always been 1,000 Wen.

A strong man has to eat close to one liter of grain in one meal (Song Shi 1 stone of rice is 59 kilograms, 1 stone is 10 buckets, 1 bucket is 10 liters, 1 liter is 10 he, about 1.2 catties per liter, and about 7 he's rice is scooped out per liter of grain. The staple food of ancient farmers has long been vegetarian, and there is little oil, so the food is large. The current market is a liter of grain for thirteen dollars, even if the miscellaneous grains are nine dollars, two meals a day and some miscellaneous things, the daily consumption of more than 20 Wen, this is a strong labor, wages are the end of the month. Fortunately, most of the hoes and other tools used to open the canal are brought or borrowed, except for a few sledgehammers and iron drills, so it also costs money like running water.

These 30 or so people not only dug the ditch, but also shoveled a path by the canal, leading to the Zhuxi River one by one. Zhou Dao wanted to pave a stone slab or gravel road, but he was really short of money, so it was simply a dirt road. At the same time, take advantage of the dry season to dig about six feet deep at the backwater of the river, fix the shore with a stone, make a simple wharf, and pave a stone ladder trail with a stone, so that a few small boats can be docked, and it is also convenient to go up and down the riverbank. In addition, on this canal, which is not too wide, two small bridges are built with miscellaneous wood. The total construction period is set at fifty days, which is not what Zhou Dao thinks about himself, it is calculated by a few old tricks, and the time is quite tight. If it drags on any longer, Zhou Dao will be about to go bankrupt! It's best to call it a day before the New Year's holiday.

When the canal was first opened, Zhou Dao called everyone together during dinner and said a method: that is, if it is completed within 50 days, an additional three days' wages will be rewarded. If it is exceeded, one day's wages will be added within five days, and three days' wages will be deducted for more than 10 days. Everyone felt a little confused and fresh, and after thinking for a while, they pulled the old style aside to discuss, and felt that they had a great grasp and agreed.

"Is it decided, and is there anything you don't want to do? This is a matter of everyone's money and food, think clearly? Zhou Dao asked. If you don't want to do it, get out. "Shen Shun on the side is also happy." It's like, what's there to grind about this good thing, I don't see anyone who doesn't want to do it, right? "That's right, I've suffered a loss when I was working for Zhou Gongzi." The crowd agreed, and the matter was settled.

In the evening, Zhou Dao pulled Xu Wa'er aside, "You have to be careful about the progress and quality of the work, and you must hurry up." "Yes, I know." Xu Wa'er nodded vigorously and clenched her fists, as if she wanted to express her determination, but she didn't know what to say, so she just let out a heavy "um" again. Xu Wa'er's salary is 100 wen a day, which is a lot higher than others, although he also opens the canal with everyone, but he has some sense of being in charge. He understands what Zhou Dao means, and Xu Wa'er knows that he is not the only one in this group of people who will open a ditch, which is important to him.

On the sixteenth day of the lunar month, the canal was dug one day earlier than expected.