This decree by Emperor Yongkang effectively transferred Ginkgo Paste and Yunshan Tsui from private ownership to state ownership, and Dingxian Village's workshops were also legalized. This move was naturally made after consulting Ding Youtian. Yunshan Tsui's original merchants were Ding Youtian and Jian Ning, so it was only natural that Emperor Yongkang was unaware of their true ownership.

Ding Youtian, born into a farming family and deeply influenced by Liu Xiazi, shared Liu's deep concern for his country and his people. The transfer of ginkgo paste and Yunshan Cuijiu to state ownership, with the imperial court funding the establishment of workshops producing them in various prefectures and counties, would not only increase tax revenue and enrich the treasury, but also provide more jobs for the common people, improving their quality of life – a move that would benefit both the country and its people.

The income of Chang and his family from their work not only did not decrease but increased a bit, and they gained an additional status as people who received imperial food. Although the village's income was slightly less, the village no longer had to pay for the winery's expenses, as they were all arranged by officials sent by the court.

As the only village in Dayanchao that has set up a Yunshan Cui Winery, Dingxian Village still enjoys 20% of the income, which is used for the children's education in the village, medical consultation and prescription of medicine, etc. This is because this is the birthplace of Yunshan Cui Wine and the village where Nan Xianghe, the current Shaofu and General Ningyuan lived.

The happiest person among them all was Tian. She had never dreamed that she, an ordinary peasant woman, would one day become a court official. She was the Princess of Wu thanks to Wu Yanxu. If Wu Yanxu were still around, she would have been content with being the Princess of Wu. But now that the King of Wu was gone, she didn't care about the empty title of Princess.

But now it was different. She seemed to have come back to life. After all, career is a woman's second life! The day before she changed into her official uniform, she came to find Jian Ning. Her whole state made Jian Ning feel like she was reborn. She walked like she did when she first started working at the winery in Dingxian Village. There was a hint of wind in her feet as she moved.

Jian Ning seemed to see the past Tian Shi again. She liked this Tian Shi and also understood why Wu Yanxu fell in love with her. Tian Shi was the typical person who looked ordinary at first glance but became more attractive the more she looked at him. Especially the cheerful and confident look between her eyebrows made her whole person glow with a different kind of brilliance from head to toe.

For many days in a row, she and Jian Ning went to the Banquet Office with other officials to discuss plans and the operation of wineries in the capital and other places, or took Jian Ning to the newly built winery of the court to check the progress.

That morning, she came over again and took Jian Ning to the official winery. In just a few days, it had grown to a considerable size, able to accommodate thousands of people. Tian was amazed at the sight. She quietly pulled Jian Ning aside and said, "Oh my God, there are only a few people in our village's tiny winery, and they always have arguments. Didn't Cui Gu cause a scene before? Now, with thousands of people in such a big winery, it must be a mess. How can we manage it? Do you have any ideas?"

Jian Ning smiled and said, "Managing people is also about management. It's a science. I also crossed the river by feeling the stones in the beginning. But don't worry, Huo Jincheng's mother has been managing the household for many years. She manages hundreds of people in the Taifu Mansion and all affairs in the mansion are well organized. We can ask her to be a consultant and ask her for advice if there is anything we don't understand."

"Also, Sister Mei and her family will be coming to the capital soon, and her husband has been promoted to an official position. Sister Mei comes from a noble family and is extremely intelligent. I think she understands management. When she arrives, I'll ask her. If she's willing, we can recommend her to be a manager. As long as we can employ talented people, we don't need to do everything ourselves."

Tian was no fool. After hearing what Jian Ning said, she excitedly patted her thigh and said, "I understand. What you just said is just like what I said before, that I should delegate power to Xiaomai and let him take care of the two little ones so that they don't cause any trouble for me. I only need to take care of Xiaomai, right?"

"That's right! My sister Tian just didn't read enough books. Her brain is no worse than others. If she had been born in a wealthy family and studied more, she would definitely have won the top prize in the imperial examination!"

"I wouldn't dare to think about that, but now I know the benefits of reading and learning. Let's not talk about the distant past, just look at you standing right in front of me. Sister, if you weren't well-educated, how could you say such words that make people feel relieved when they hear them? I have to force those little kids to study hard for me. As I said before, I don't ask them to pass the imperial examination for me, I just want them to have more knowledge and not be a fool."

Tian was a man of action. Once she truly understood the benefits of reading, she immediately took action. No matter how busy she was during the day, she would learn to read with Xiaomi at night. She told Jian Ning, "Isn't it strange? Your team leader also forced me to learn to read before, but back then I didn't really understand the benefits of reading. I would feel sleepy as soon as I learned to read. Now it's the other way around. I feel full of energy as soon as I learn to read. Isn't that strange?"

"Not at all." Jian Ning smiled. "It's like brewing wine. You know it can make money and make your family's life better, so you don't need others to force you to learn it. You're willing to put in the effort. As long as you know the benefits of learning something, or it's something you're extremely interested in, you can learn it well."

"Look, you're more knowledgeable than me, and you can reason things out clearly. I understand after just a few words." Tian said cheerfully. She raised her wrist to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and said with a smile, "I finally understand why Xiaomai's father and your captain are always stuck in the government office and the military camp. Now, if I don't go to the Banquet Office and the New Distillery for a day, I feel empty inside."

The Banquet and Revenue Department was under the Ministry of Revenue, which managed the imperial court's taxation. Naturally, the emperor held supreme power. Tian Shi, now a first-rank Guanglu Lady, wore her official uniform daily and entered and exited the Banquet and Revenue Department, much to her mother's delight. She had never dared to dream of such a wonderful achievement. Not only had she become a court lady, but she had also recovered from the grief of losing her husband. Her mother couldn't help but praise her achievements.

"Guizhi, it's right to listen to your mother. In the past, your mother asked you to follow Madam Jian well, but now you are not getting any good results."

"Yes, my mother is very powerful. If you don't remind me, I won't be able to tell the good from the bad."

"You damn girl! The salt your mother eats is more than the rice you eat..."

Tian Shi didn't wait for her mother to finish her words before she laughed and said, "Could our family afford to buy so much salt in the past?"

The old lady raised her arm and clapped her hands under her buttocks. "Don't argue with your mother! I have something to say to you. Don't forget your roots when you gain power. We come from a farming family. We can't go against our conscience and oppress the poor in the future. And the people in Mai's father's family, there are those who have a hard time but are honest and hardworking. You should also consider helping them. Don't let people stab you in the back, and don't let them raise people who are greedy and hateful!"

"Do you understand?"

The old lady asked her with a stern face.