Chapter 50: Seeking Medical Treatment in Desperation

"Why is my daughter here at your house? Didn't she go with the grocery store owner to meet his boss?" Su Bucheng was shocked, worried that his daughter would get into trouble like himself.

"My Erlang is the boss. Your daughter's Jiangdong plow is very good, so I asked her to learn from him! I heard that you were outside the south gate of the city, so I sent someone to invite you, but I didn't expect to meet you here." County Magistrate Hu explained.

Su Bucheng and his entourage followed County Magistrate Hu to the reception room.

"Father, what happened to you?" Su Ying was shocked to see her father and brother, Yang Dalang and Pei Silang in such a miserable state.

"After selling the wild boar, we rushed out of the city to the beat of drums, but were caught by the yamen runners as bandits. They insisted that we were bandits!" Su Bucheng sat down.

I was hit on the back several times and it was burning with pain.

I have been in charge of several counties and I am not unaware of the chaos caused by the yamen runners, but to see them arresting people at random is really eye-opening.

If it weren't for the fact that my daughter Jiang Dongli happened to be at the county magistrate's residence, I'm afraid that if I and the others tried to escape from the cage, I would be in great trouble, if not dead.

"Why do they think you are bandits? Have there been any major cases in Wu County?" Su Ying was puzzled.

Wu County is extremely poor. How desperate must the bandits be to commit crimes here?

"Your brother bought a can of soy sauce, and the money we earned from selling the wild boar fell into the eyes of those yamen runners." Su Bucheng replied.

"Haha, is this the thief crying thief or robbery in the street?" Su Ying was indignant.

The new dynasty has just been established and everything is new, so how could it be so chaotic?

If it weren't for the accidental acquaintance of Hu Erlang, my father and brothers would definitely not be able to leave Wu County today.

Su Ying has a concrete understanding of the chaos among yamen runners in ancient times.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!" County Magistrate Hu smiled awkwardly.

"Did those guys down there catch the wrong person again?" Hu Erlang saw that Su Bucheng and the others came with his father.

"Haha!" County Magistrate Hu said nothing.

"Father, we can't let those yamen runners continue to do this!" Hu Erlang was heartbroken.

"They arrest anyone they dislike as a bandit. Hardship is already here, and if this continues, it's only a matter of time before there's going to be a civil uprising!"

"Oh! Erlang..." County Magistrate Hu sighed in embarrassment.

The mountains and rivers here are poor and the life here is difficult, let alone the people below.

The establishment is incomplete, the area is vast and the population is sparse, so the number of yamen runners is insufficient, and the county government cannot afford the cost of recruiting yamen runners.

In order to survive, the yamen runners turned to exploiting the prisoners.

If there are not enough prisoners, they will fabricate charges and arrest passers-by. No matter whether they are bandits or not, they will not let them go until they have skinned them alive.

County Magistrate Hu knew it very well, but he could do nothing about it.

How can the county government get the money to pay the yamen runners if they can't stop them from committing crimes? Without money to support their families, who will run errands?

It's like a vicious circle that can't be broken.

It's like drinking poison to quench thirst. Even though you know it's poisonous, you have to drink it.

"Su Ying, let me take a look at Jiang Dongli." Su Bucheng couldn't get involved in other people's business, and didn't comment on County Magistrate Hu's character or management ability.

"Here, Mr. Su!" Hu Erlang handed over the drawings.

"Su Ying! How could this Jiangdong plow be so exquisite?" Su Bucheng understood the mystery without his daughter's explanation.

"Yes! The production efficiency is far better than the current straight-beam plow. If it is promoted vigorously, it can greatly improve productivity." Su Ying nodded.

"Great! This good thing should be promoted quickly! It's a pity that we found out too late! If it were promoted in Chang'an, it would be popular throughout the entire Tang Dynasty in just two or three years!"

Su Bucheng said excitedly, but after the excitement came disappointment.

"Mr. Su is a man of high moral character!" County Magistrate Hu raised his hand and bowed to Su Bucheng, "You care about the people!"

"Thank you for the compliment, sir!" Su Bucheng said modestly.

Su Bucheng did not have much good feelings towards County Magistrate Hu. He should at least bear the main responsibility for the chaos among his subordinates.

But what he just said at least shows that he is not a bad person by nature.

"Yeah, I've discussed with the boss and decided not to sell the Jiangdong plow at a high price. It should be almost the same price as the straight-beam plow, which will facilitate its rapid promotion." Su Ying explained their idea.

"Very good! But in this case, Mr. Hu can still make a profit?" Su Bucheng felt deeply relieved.

“Of course I made some profit, although it wasn’t much, but what the girl said makes sense.

This will facilitate extensive promotion, and with low prices, there won’t be too many competing businesses, so we can keep most of the market in our hands and make a lot of money.”

Hu Erlang praised.

At first I thought Su Ying didn’t understand business and couldn’t negotiate.

But when it came to Jiangdong Plow's promotion strategy, Hu Erlang realized that it was not that the other party didn't understand, but that they had no intention of taking advantage of him. They just wanted what he wanted.

"Well, the boss is thoughtful!" Su Bucheng had a good impression of Hu Erlang. "According to this method, how many people can afford it?"

Normally, businessmen should focus on business, but Hu Erlang believed in putting the people first and was very clear-headed, not just obsessed with money.

"Well, based on the volume of iron plows sold in the past, there are only about a hundred a year!" Hu Erlang replied.

"Too slow!" Su Bucheng shook his head. "At this rate, Wu County won't be able to develop in ten years."

"What's your opinion, Mr. Su?" County Magistrate Hu was delighted. Su Bucheng's opinion was indeed insightful.

Erlang gave up the bulk of the profit. If the Jiangdong plow still produced the same amount in a year, it would not be cost-effective.

If they can’t make any profit and Jiangdongli can’t be promoted quickly, what’s the point of doing this?

"We should find a way to let the people use Jiangdong plows as soon as possible!" Su Bucheng said firmly.

"Mr. Su, what good ideas do you have?" County Magistrate Hu asked hurriedly.

"Uh..." Su Bucheng looked at County Magistrate Hu, who was eager to learn, and didn't know how to answer.

This place is completely different from Chang'an, which has sufficient financial and human resources to promote it quickly.

The people here are already poor, and the yamen runners are messing around. If we really let the yamen runners do it, I'm afraid nine out of ten houses will be empty and the yamen runners will throw people into jail.

Good things turn into bad things!

"Mr. Su, what's the problem? Just tell me!" County Magistrate Hu said anxiously.

"Alas, there is nothing here. Without reliable manpower, forcing the promotion will only backfire." Su Bucheng said bluntly.

"Mr. Su, is there really no other way?" County Magistrate Hu was unwilling to give in.

It is said that foreign monks can chant sutras, but it is clear that County Magistrate Su does not want to help.

"Yeah! I have a way!" Su Ying said.

"Oh, what can I do, girl?" County Magistrate Hu was desperate and wanted to try any possible means to change this place.

"I wonder if the boss has ever thought about selling goods on credit?" Su Ying looked at Hu Erlang.

"Buy on credit?" Hu Erlang paused, he really hadn't thought about it.

Small businesses are already struggling, and if you continue to sell on credit, you might end up closing down.

"Pay a part first, and pay the rest within three months or six months." Su Ying suggested.

Hu Erlang didn't say anything, but was calculating the costs and risks.

"Or, you can take over the processing and charge the processing fee." Seeing that Hu Erlang didn't say anything, Su Ying guessed that it was because of insufficient funds and strength.

"Processing on behalf of others?" Hu Erlang seemed to have thought of something, but couldn't grasp it.

"Yes! We have set up processing shops in each township in Wu County. Farmers can bring in wood and you can process it, which will reduce costs and farmers can also reduce their purchasing costs.

You will mainly produce ironware, manufacture and process it, and speed up its promotion."

"Great! This is a great idea! The entire plow and the processed and manufactured parts are all available!" Hu Erlang suddenly understood.