Now, not only those close to the Qin family came, but also those who were not close came, surrounding Qin Xie and complimenting her.
There was a buffet at the gate in the inner and outer houses, and the cooks and maids in the Qin family's big and small kitchens had to work so hard with their shovels that they were smoking before they could barely serve the food on the ground.
Early the next morning.
Qin Zhan brought the newly appointed Crown Prince Qin Sheng and Crown Prince's wife Qin Xie to the palace to express his gratitude.
Qin Wan, along with her elder sister-in-law Wu Meijun and second sister-in-law Xiang Rong, planned to set up a porridge stall to distribute porridge.
Wu Meijun collected the silver sent by each family and allocated a portion of the silver from the public account.
Xiang Rong calculated how long the porridge could be distributed. "Should the porridge be distributed at our doorstep or at the city gate?"
Qin Wan thought for a moment and said, "Now that it's not a year of famine, if we give out porridge, more poor people will come to eat it. So we should set up porridge at the four city gates so that people outside the city can also come and have a bowl of porridge."
Xiang Rong nodded: "This money can be exchanged for rice and grain to provide porridge for nearly three months."
The Qin family distributes porridge almost every year, and in years of famine, the period of distribution is longer. They have a rough estimate of how long the money can last.
Wu Meiyun thought for a moment and said, "Three months is too long. Nowadays, we live in a peaceful and prosperous era, and many families have enough to eat and drink. Why don't we make some meat porridge? Add some steamed buns, and give out porridge for a month."
Qin Wan tapped her fingertips on the table and said, "Don't do it in the name of our mansion, do it in the name of His Majesty."
Seeing both sisters-in-law looking at her, Qin Wan explained, "Our Qin family has always kept a low profile. Now that we've been suddenly thrust into the spotlight, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to act high-profile again. Furthermore..."
Qin Wan frowned. There were some things she hadn't thought through thoroughly. In her previous life, she had only been preoccupied with the inner court battles with Bai Wanyi, and had only heard a general idea of what was happening outside. As for the Emperor...
Qin Wan pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.
But Wu Meiyun and Xiang Rong had been in charge of the household for many years and were not stupid. They understood Qin Wan's intention as soon as she started. They looked at each other and nodded, "Yes, the emperor's grace is great, and the porridge should indeed be distributed in His Majesty's name."
"Your Majesty has given a lot of gold and silver. In addition to rice porridge, maybe we can also make dumplings for the people to eat." Xiang Rong was smart and immediately knew how to arrange it to achieve the greatest effect.
Wu Meiyun followed the plan and thought about what to feed the poor people: "It's greasy to drink porridge all the time. We can also make noodle soup, white noodle soup, steamed buns, and cook a few big pot dishes with more meat. I think the effect will be good."
After the three of them had agreed, Wu Meijun and Xiang Rong went about their business.
Qin Wan also returned to the courtyard where she came as a dowry - Lingjiangju.
Ling Jiang is her courtesy name, and Qin Wan is her maiden name. She liked this courtyard that she got as a dowry so much that she used her own courtesy name as the name of the house.
Qin Wan first inquired about the affairs of Xiaoxue Village in Qiuxing County: "Have you picked the grain seeds? Have you planted them yet?"
The steward replied, "It's a little late to plant crops now, but Xiao Xue Village is in the mountains, so the temperature is a little lower, which is suitable. Everything is going well now."
Qin Wan nodded, rubbing and caressing several land deeds, selecting two and saying, "Go find someone. Zhaojiazhuang in Xizhao Town is a good place, nestled in the mountains and beside the water. You can open a papermaking workshop here."
The manager was puzzled: "Master Jiu already owns a bookstore and a papermaking workshop. Why doesn't he just cooperate with Master Jiu directly?"
Qin Wan smiled and said, "What I want to do doesn't conflict with Uncle Jiu, so it's fine. Just do it."
Jiu Ye is the uncle of the family and the ninth child in the Qin family.
Qin Wan gave a few more instructions, and finally, looking at the glass cup on the table, she said, "Go find a few more glass craftsmen. This time, find a secluded place and we'll make new glass."
The steward knew all the manors that Qin Wan had brought as a dowry, and upon hearing this, he said, "A good place to hide is Xiaoxuezhuang in Xuezhuang Village."
Xiaoxuezhuang is right next to Xuezhuang Village. Although the dozens of acres of land may not be a lot, it includes most of the fertile land in Xuezhuang Village.
The manager simply drew a map of Xuezhuang Village and said, "Our village is here. There's a piece of wasteland on the other side. You can ask the village to buy it."
Qin Wan looked at the map and recalled the geographical location of Xuezhuang Village. She had to admit that this was really the best place. "Okay, you have to choose the candidate carefully. There can be no mistakes. I'll give you the recipe later."
"yes."
Qin Wan stayed in Ling Jiangju for most of the day. It was not until she returned to Qin's house in the afternoon that she met Qin Xie who had just returned from the palace.
Qin Xie's neck was stiff. Seeing Qin Wan, she quickly waved, "Come and support me."
Qin Wan helped her mother into the house, helped her take off the heavy crown and the heavy court robes, waved away the maid, and picked up a comb to help her comb her hair.
Qin Xie suffered a lot in the palace, and this emperor showed her kindness but also wanted to suppress her.
She rubbed her aching neck and complained softly, "Your Majesty, you're using both kindness and force..."
"Mother." Qin Wan gently reminded, "Walls have ears."
Qin Xie sighed, "I know some things are better understood, but I can't help but speak them out."
Who could not understand this? Words spread easily, and who knew if this suspicious emperor would plant spies in the homes of his ministers? If even a single word got out, it would be a disaster for the Qin family.
But there are some things that are too uncomfortable to keep unsaid.
Qin Xie's voice lowered a few notches, trembling slightly, and it was like a murmur. If you didn't listen carefully, you couldn't hear what she said clearly: "When your grandfather went to the battlefield, he asked to be named the Crown Prince, but His Majesty did not agree."
"Later, your grandfather was seriously injured and requested the title of Crown Prince again, but the Emperor kept it secret. During those years, there were frequent wars at the border, and your grandfather had to ask for permission every time he went to the battlefield."
"For so many years, my Qin family has always been loyal to the emperor and patriotic, yet... we are feared so much. We fight on the front lines but receive no glory, only suspicion. If it weren't for..."
There is nothing left to say that can ever be uttered again.
Qin Wan sighed. This is what an emperor does. Thunder, rain, and dew are all graces from the emperor. If he gives what is due, people will be grateful and shed tears of gratitude. Even if he doesn't give anything, people will still be grateful and loyal.
If the emperor was a tyrant, it would be a pleasure for them to rise up and fight for the world, but this was a wise ruler.
Even though he is very suspicious, under his governance, the politics is clear and the country is peaceful. This is also a comfort to the Qin family. Isn't it for the people to live and work in peace and contentment when they work hard for the country?
As long as the current emperor treats the people well and works hard to govern the country, they will accept being suspected.
"Sister-in-law discussed with us about starting to distribute porridge." Qin Wan changed the subject: "In the name of His Majesty."
Qin Xie curled her lips, then laughed again: "Never mind, His Majesty has given a lot of gold and silver, so let's just give out the porridge. By the way, where did you go today? Did you go to the Pingyang Marquis' Mansion?"
Thinking of what she had heard today, she looked worried. "I heard that the Marquis of Pingyang is looking for craftsmen to make fireworks, saying he wants to use them for proposing marriage. Are you okay?"
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