Chapter 357 Discussion

Mao Qiang and the others had never expected things to go so smoothly. They were pleasantly surprised and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Princess, for your generosity."

His expression was filled with deep gratitude.

After the ceremony, Chu Feng hesitated for a moment and said cautiously, "The princess has contributed money and manpower to Tingzhou. Her contribution is enormous. Even if she doesn't give the county government a share, she deserves it."

When Chu Ci heard this, he had actually already thought of the various difficult problems that might be faced in the future.

However, once the words have been spoken, there is no way to take them back.

Her expression was firm as she spoke loudly, "If I say 30%, then it's 30%. As for the follow-up issues, don't worry. There will always be a way forward. Let's build this sheep oil soap workshop first."

Chu Feng wanted to say more, trying to continue persuading Chu Ci to change his mind.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, he was stopped by Mao Qiang and Shan Yu Feng.

Mao Qiang gently pulled Chu Feng's sleeve and shook his head slightly, while Shan Yufeng held his shoulders, with obvious restraint in his eyes.

Chu Ci smiled slightly upon seeing this, pretending not to notice their little tricks, and simply handed over these trivial matters: "To build a sheep oil soap workshop, you need suitable land and sufficient labor."

"You are all very familiar with Tingzhou. Do you have any suitable places to recommend to this princess?"

"Furthermore, regarding manpower, how should we prepare it? Should we recruit from the local people, or is there some other way? I hope you can give me some advice."

After Chu Ci said this, Mao Qiang and the others immediately shifted their attention away from the issue of profit sharing.

Unexpectedly, the chief clerk, who had always had little presence, spoke first.

"I, I know that." His face was filled with a hint of anxiety and excitement. "There's a piece of land in the south of the city. It's quite spacious and the terrain is flat and open."

"There's also a clear stream nearby with plenty of water, which will be convenient for the workshop to draw water for use in the future."

"Also, the road conditions near the land are quite good and smooth. Whether it's transporting raw materials in or shipping finished products out, it can ensure relatively convenient transportation conditions."

Chu Ci nodded slightly, "Since..."

Wang Baiyi's face lit up when he saw this. He quickly clasped his fists, bowed even deeper, and said respectfully, "I'm the clerk in charge of the county office, Chief Clerk Wang Baiyi."

Chu Ci's lips curled up, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "Since Wang Zhubu knows so much about that piece of land, then this matter will be handed over to you. You must do your best to arrange the relevant matters properly and make sure there are no mistakes."

After saying that, she turned to look at Fan Jingrui with a questioning look in her eyes: "Husband, should this be okay?"

Fan Jingrui looked at Chu Ci's slightly guilty expression and smiled inwardly, but nodded calmly, "Okay. Handling the relevant paperwork is also within the scope of Wang Zhubu's responsibilities."

"However, Chief Wang must carefully measure the land. This matter is of no small importance and must be handled impartially. No favoritism is allowed and it must be carried out strictly in accordance with the regulations."

"There can't be any mistakes. This is related to whether the sheep oil soap workshop can be successfully built, and even more so to the future development of Tingzhou."

Wang Zhubu originally wanted to get the best discount, but when he heard Fan Jingrui say this, his heart skipped a beat.

But after only a moment's hesitation, he quickly agreed. "As you command."

Seeing that the chief clerk took the lead, the other people naturally did not want to be outdone. They racked their brains to think of what role they could play in building the sheep oil soap workshop, so that they could show their faces in front of the princess and the county magistrate and get some opportunities to show their abilities.

Mao Qiang was the first to speak: "My Lord, County Magistrate, I can be responsible for organizing the manpower to ensure that there are enough strong laborers available for the construction of the workshop."

Shan Yufeng followed suit, saying, "I am willing to oversee the progress of the project and ensure that everything proceeds smoothly as planned without any delays."

Chu Feng was not willing to be left behind and said anxiously: "I can help the chief clerk measure the land and ensure the data is accurate."

For a moment, everyone was talking to each other, vying to contribute to the construction of the sheep oil soap workshop.

However, despite their active and proactive attitude towards responsibility, Fan Jingrui remained silent.

He just had a sullen face, his eyes darting back and forth among the crowd, as if he was thinking about something.

This made several people feel very nervous. They lowered their heads and dared not breathe, for fear of displeasing Fan Jingrui.

Finally, Chu Ci couldn't bear it any longer. She glared at Fan Jingrui and said, "Alright, look how scared you made the county magistrate and the others. They're all trembling with fear."

"Don't worry, everyone. The conscripted workers are paid 30 cents a day."

"In my place, we don't allow the habit of hiring people for free. As long as everyone works hard, I will definitely not treat you unfairly in terms of wages."

Thirty cents a day?

That’s nine hundred coins a month!

Everyone present widened their eyes and gasped.

Shan Yufeng even subconsciously asked, "Do we have it too?"

Chu Ci smiled and nodded, "I mean everyone, including you, of course. As long as you have contributed to this sheep oil soap workshop, you can get the wages you deserve."

After saying that, he turned to Qiao Chi and said, "Madam Qiao, I'll leave this matter to you. Is that okay?"

Qiao Chi bowed slightly and replied, "Don't worry, Princess. I will see to it."

After dealing with the county magistrate and the others, Chu Ci deliberately turned her head to look at Fan Jingrui beside her, her eyes full of cunning, and said in a delicate voice: "Husband, do you want this salary?"

Fan Jingrui naturally knew that Chu Ci was taking revenge on him for deliberately mentioning that official matters should be handled impartially.

But he was not embarrassed. Instead, he smiled and bowed, saying, "Then I would like to thank you here. Your generosity will be remembered in my heart."

The county magistrate and his men were unaware of the brief confrontation between Chu Ci and Fan Jingrui. Seeing this scene, they felt uneasy all over.

That disgusting feeling made them feel like they were being stabbed in the back, so uncomfortable that their teeth almost fell out.

Mao Qiang was the first to break the silence, bowing and saying, "Sir, since the sheep oil workshop has been basically completed and the subsequent matters have been arranged, I will take my leave first and go back to prepare for my part of the work."

Shan Yufeng also immediately echoed, "Yes, sir, I will take my leave first. I will definitely fulfill my mission and complete it."

Others also said they wanted to leave.

Chu Ci looked at the people who suddenly left in a hurry and couldn't help but frowned, wondering, "Is this how people in Tingzhou act? They just leave without saying anything. It's quite abrupt and really confusing."

Upon hearing this, Fan Jingrui immediately started coughing. After a long pause, he said helplessly, "My dear, please be more restrained when joking around outsiders. We should at least pay attention to our image."