Chapter 238 First Business Trip

This is not just a simple math problem. If this pursuit problem is put into actual combat, they will almost immediately know when they can catch up with the enemy troops!

Bai Ci'en suddenly understood why Xu Zhenying's army had to learn these complicated arithmetic operations!

In Qianzhou, Bai Ci'en was trying hard to get closer to the world constructed by Xu Zhenying, while in Jinzhou Prefecture, Xu Zhenying received a letter from Feng'er.

Feng'er was thoughtful and said that she and Wang Sanniang had already made the handover and were ready to set off.

But considering the soap business and cotton, she planned to take a detour to Xingyuan Prefecture and visit Miss Qi Er.

Feng'er's words reminded Xu Zhenying. She remembered that she had asked Miss Qi to help her buy land to grow cotton, and the harvest season was approaching.

If this winter is still as cold as last year, then cotton coats and cotton pants will become a necessity for winter!

Besides, Feng'er's intelligence network said that several thousand soldiers who resisted the Tartars in the north froze to death last year. Considering that most of the Zhou Dynasty's troops are currently in the north, Xu Zhenying feels that sometimes they still have to unite against a common enemy.

Otherwise, if the Tartars invaded, the Zhou Dynasty would be devastated. What would be the point of her picking up a ruined kingdom?

So she called Zhou Houfang and said, "Contact the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the next few days and ask them to organize a group of women from various counties and villages to go out and work making clothes. About 200 people, 30 wen per person per day plus commission, food and accommodation provided, but they need to go to Xingyuan Prefecture."

Zhou Houfang was a little puzzled: "Why do we have to go to Xingyuan Prefecture?"

"I bought some land over there and planted cotton. I don't know the scale yet. October is the cotton picking season, and then I'll make cotton-padded jackets and trousers to sell. Oh, and Feng'er from the Ministry of Commerce hasn't arrived yet, so I'll let my second aunt take over. Have her talk with the owners of the various clothing stores in Jinzhou Prefecture and Xingyuan Prefecture about cooperation, and try to create a sales channel for cotton-padded jackets and trousers this year. Also, keep 5,000 pairs of cotton-padded jackets and trousers from the production and send them north when the time comes."

"North?" Zhou Houfang was stunned. "Is the city lord going to sell it to the Tartars or the Zhou Dynasty soldiers?"

Xu Zhenying smiled slightly, a gleam in his eyes, "I won't sell it, can I give it to them for free?"

Zhou Houfang's heart skipped a beat. Even now, she often couldn't tell whether Xu Zhenying was joking or serious. "City Lord, are you really giving it away for free?"

But after thinking about it, Zhou Houfang understood it instantly.

This is to win over the relationship with the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Unexpectedly, Xu Zhenying actually admitted it directly, and said, "Of course, establishing connections is the first priority. Secondly, the soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty are resisting the Tartar attacks on our front lines, so we have to contribute a little in the rear."

Xu Zhenying's words sounded very reasonable, but Zhou Houfang always felt that it was not as simple as she said.

Although Zhou Houfang had only been in office for a dozen days, she had been walking on thin ice since Qian Zhenniang took office in the Propaganda Department. Of course, she would never look down on Xu Zhenying.

How could Xu Zhenying, a fourteen-year-old girl, be in power?

So no matter what Xu Zhenying said, Zhou Houfang subconsciously turned it over and over in her mind several times, trying to savor the hidden meaning in her words.

After Zhou Houfang communicated with Qian Zhenniang from the Propaganda Department about Xu Zhenying's idea, the news of Xingyuan Prefecture's recruitment quickly spread to various counties and villages.

Zhou Houfang was not clear about the local situation, but he knew that working outside the home was big news in Jinzhou Prefecture.

Wherever Zhou Houfang went, he could hear people discussing this matter excitedly.

Especially among women on the streets.

Even when she returned to Zhou's house, Amber, who always knew she was busy and rarely bothered her, showed up.

Amber said right away that her parents had been released by the Madam and were living with some old sisters. They had read the notice issued by Jinzhou Prefecture today about recruiting women to work outside the city and were undecided, so they had sent her to ask Zhou Houfang.

Zhou Houfang was very surprised.

She knew that Amber's father died early, and her mother was expelled from the mansion when she turned fifty a few years ago, and now she settled in Jinzhou Prefecture.

But she didn't expect that Amber's mother was already quite old and the family's income was relatively stable, so why would she want to go out to work?

Amber said, "My mother just had this idea, but her old friends were very tempted and were encouraging each other. They thought it was okay for a group of women to go to other places to work together, but they were worried that there might be something fishy going on—"

Zhou Houfang asked, "What are they worried about?"

"There are rumors in the city that the women are either being taken out to engage in the flesh trade, or that they are working with kidnappers to sell them! Others say that the women have seen the world and earned money outside the city, and they are afraid they will not return to Jinzhou Prefecture!"

"This is absolute nonsense!" Zhou Houfang was furious, slamming her pencil down on the table. "Who the hell spread this rumor?! It's fine if these people don't want to make money themselves, but they're trying to stop these helpless widows from making a living. They deserve to be cut into pieces!"

Amber quickly comforted her, "Miss, don't be angry. I've also told mother that our young lady works in the government office. How could she possibly do such a wicked thing? It must have been spread by those men who are worried about women working outside the home!"

"You bastard!" Zhou Houfang had never felt so angry before.

She and Qian Zhenniang discussed it for an entire night, and finally came up with the idea of ​​recruiting as many widows as possible so that they could earn some money to live.

The wages for making clothes are high, so it is better than working as a laundry and mender for others.

But there are some people who gossip and twist such a good deed into pimping!

Those widows are already very sensitive, and now they are frightened by the rumors, who would dare to go out to work?

Wouldn't that mean people would starve to death at home?

Zhou Houfang was so angry that her chest heaved. It took a long time for her to calm down. Finally, she said to Amber, "Don't listen to them. This was ordered by the city lord. Minister Qian and I discussed it. The city lord has a large cotton field over in Xingyuan Prefecture. It's said that the cotton will be ripe next month. It's time-consuming and laborious to pull the cotton back. It's better to directly recruit female workers to work there and sell some cotton-padded clothes and trousers to make the women more financially comfortable. This is a good thing, and this matter could have been done by directly recruiting female workers from Xingyuan Prefecture, but the city lord always thinks of the people of Jinzhou Prefecture, so he recruited some people from our side and some from Xingyuan Prefecture. Don't listen to the nonsense those bastards outside say. This is a huge good thing. It's purely about making money. Besides, the Minister of Commerce, Xu Feng, is waiting for you there. The city lord's second aunt personally took the women there. Once they get there, they'll work. I'm afraid they won't even have contact with other men."

Amber nodded repeatedly after hearing this, feeling relieved. "Thirty cents a day, plus commission, that's probably about one or two taels of silver a month! Don't worry, miss. I'll tell my mother the news when I get back, so her old friends can go out and earn money without worry!"

Zhou Houfang held her back and said, "Have your mother's friends help us keep an eye on who is spreading these rumors in the city. If you find out, don't touch them yet, just report to me!"

Amber's eyes lit up. Something was going to happen. That was great—

These bastards who spread rumors and don't allow women to go out to work need to be punished!

Just as she was speaking, she heard a maid outside rushing to the screen wall to report, "Miss, someone's coming from the government office! They say the city lord has an urgent decree and needs to rush to Lan County in a quarter of an hour!"

ah?

Zhou Houfang was stunned. Was he going on a business trip just ten days after taking office?

What’s more, it’s so late at night?

But Zhou Houfang didn't dare to be careless at all. Almost immediately, he packed up his things while thinking about what happened in Lan County. "Amber, don't put away those things. Help me put away the materials and books! Don't take the clothes! Don't take the food! Hurry, hurry, hurry--"

Zhou Houfang didn't ask how many days he would be gone. He simply packed a small bag and ran out of the door amid his mother's tears.

She felt that her ability to take action was getting stronger and stronger.

I'm not as pampered as before.

She had never in her life imagined that she would be able to pack up and leave in just a few minutes.

In the past, no matter where you went, your luggage had to be packed with at least one carriage.

Now I don’t have any clothes, shoes or socks with me, I’m going alone.

However, she knew the style of Xu Zhenying's subordinates. When working for Xu Zhenying, one must first be punctual and secondly be serious.

When she goes there later, she will definitely not be the only one there. Qian Zhenniang, Fang Ningmo and the others will definitely not bring anything with them.

This was a very rare experience for Zhou Houfang.

When she hurried to the government office, she saw that the entire office was brightly lit and people were coming in and out. Qian Zhenniang, Xu Anping and Fang Ningmo had arrived earlier than her. Zhou Houfang observed them and found that they did not bring any luggage!

Qian Zhenniang, in particular, seemed to be accustomed to this state of being on call at any time. Even her hair was tied up carelessly, and she looked a little unkempt.

When Zhou Houfang saw Qian Zhenniang, it was as if he saw his future self.

The job of secretary is really not for humans——

So when will the legendary other secretary arrive? If this continues, she really feels like she might as well get married.

After waiting for about a minute or two, thanks to Xu Zhenying and others, Zhou Houfang was now completely accustomed to looking at the largest clock in the Jinzhou Prefecture government office.

Xu Zhenying appeared with a large carriage.

Xu Zhenying was beaming with joy as he walked with the wind, and the people behind him kept up. Qian Zhenniang couldn't help but ask first, "City Lord, is there any happy event in Lan County?"

Xu Zhenying smiled, "What great news! Qiu Ju-niang lived up to everyone's expectations and finally developed a vaccine for cowpox!"

Zhou Houfang was still a little behind and hadn't reacted to what this "cowpox" was. He only saw that everyone around him almost jumped up at once, and then cheers broke out in the crowd!

Somehow, this excitement seemed to be contagious. Even though Zhou Houfang didn't know what was happening, he was still excited.

Qian Zhenniang whispered to her, "Cowpox is a key research project being promoted by Lan County Medical College, specifically for treating smallpox! Houfang, smallpox will be eradicated from our history from now on!"

"What?!" Zhou Houfang widened his eyes.

Treat smallpox?

That terrifying plague in the legend, which, once it breaks out, will kill a large number of people in nine out of ten houses?

A small Jinzhou Prefecture, a place of rebellion, actually developed a drug to control smallpox?

Who would believe this?

Zhou Houfang was so excited that his heart was about to jump out, and there were only two words in his mind.

——God.

Zhou Houfang is going to witness history!

It’s no wonder that the crowd was excited and in turmoil. Curing smallpox was such a milestone!

Everyone present will be a witness to history!

At this moment, Zhou Houfang couldn't wait to go to Lan County, to the legendary dreamland.

Amidst the panic, Xu Zhenying continued to give instructions in an orderly manner: "Zhenniang, immediately send someone to have Huang Weiguang and others write a propaganda article about cowpox overnight, saying that I will personally vaccinate against cowpox in Lan County tomorrow."

Someone reminded: "City Lord, I'm afraid Huang Weiguang won't agree..."

"Such a historically significant event, and it can also bring him fame, why wouldn't Huang Weiguang be happy? If he weren't a juren and had good literary talent, this good thing might not have happened to him. If he doesn't have the vision, then find someone else. I think there should be plenty of people in Bailu Academy who want to sing his praises—"

Ming Xiaoshuang disagreed: "City Lord, the cowpox vaccine has just been developed and its effectiveness is still unknown. How can you test it yourself? Why don't you let me do it?"

Qian Zhenniang also immediately said without hesitation: "City Lord, let me do it!"

An Peilin also immediately said: "City Lord, I'm here!"

Then there were eager shouts of “I’ll come!”

Zhou Houfang looked at those faces that were still a little immature but full of enthusiasm, and felt indescribable in his heart.

This bunch of nominal traitors, united as one, chased each other, united and friendly, helping each other. This was much better than the official atmosphere of the Zhou Dynasty, which was full of intrigue and flattery!

Zhou Houfang seemed to be infected by the atmosphere for some reason and raised his hand, shouting, "City Lord, let me do it!"

Xu Zhenying was surrounded by people, but the smile on his face did not fade. "Don't worry, let's go to the medical school to see what's going on first! Xiaoshuang, harness the horses, we'll go there now!"

There were two carriages in total, with men and women sitting separately, and there were more than a dozen guards beside them. The group of people went to Lan County in a mighty manner.

After taking two steps, a figure flashed by. Xu Zhenying stopped the carriage and turned his head to look at the man several times.

Zhou Houfang looked over curiously and saw that it was a ragged woman who looked to be no more than 30 or 40 years old. She was wearing a shabby and worn long skirt. She was hunched over and carrying a vegetable basket. She was walking carefully along the corner of the wall.

Zhou Houfang clearly noticed that after the team stopped, everyone became a little strange.

To be precise, it was the old people in the Xu family who became strange.

Qian Zhenniang whispered to Xu Zhenying, "City Lord, Cao Qin'er was divorced by Li Xiucai half a year ago, and now that concubine is the head of the Li family. Since Cao Qin'er was driven out, she has been relying on laundry, mending, and picking up leftovers to make a living. It's very miserable."

As soon as she finished speaking, the woman turned her head and seemed to see Xu Zhenying for the first time.