Water wheels rising from the ground have become a beautiful scenery along the Wei River.
People would come here to take a look when they had nothing to do, and they would be filled with joy just watching the turning waterwheel.
Mu Wanqing's name also spread throughout Xiliang and she became the object of love of countless people. She was the developer of the Mu waterwheel and a kind-hearted girl.
This also boosted sales of the snack street, and business is extremely prosperous. This can be considered as the celebrity effect.
Since the invention of water wheels, irrigating fields has become much more convenient. A wave of land reclamation has emerged in Liangcheng, which has made the government very happy.
There were many wastelands in the past because it took too much energy to reclaim them and there was a lack of water, so even if crops were planted, they might not yield a good harvest.
But now it’s different. With water, everything will be fine.
The Xiliang government issued an order that no taxes would be collected in the first three years of reclaiming wasteland.
Because the price was low, the Mu family also bought a lot of wasteland. Several families pooled together and bought them together for easier management.
Mr. Mu had followed Mu Wanqing's arrangements and bought 5,000 acres of wasteland to build a farm, right next to Shuimu Villa.
Mu Wanqing helped to make the specific plan and suggested planting wheat and rapeseed in the future, both of which could be supplied to the snack street and save trouble.
Her Shuimu Farm will try something new next year and will no longer grow these two crops.
As for vegetables, fruits, livestock and other things, forget it. They are all available at the Federal Farm next door.
Build canals, introduce water, and plan each area well, and then the area will be revitalized.
However, we have missed this year’s spring plowing season, so let’s hurry up and plant some winter wheat.
Mr. Mu Erye has experience in planning and building farms, so we might as well transfer him to manage this area. He and Mu Zhong will be responsible for these two farms together in the future.
The snack street is managed by the Mu Zicheng brothers, who are doing a very successful job and are well-rounded.
Mrs. Mu II manages the family business. She is tired but happy. She counts money every day until her hands cramp, but she is more energetic than before.
All I can say is that career is the second spring of human beings, regardless of gender.
The relocation of Mr. Fang and his family was not smooth, as the other party refused to let them leave.
Later, it was Sun Tongzhi who stepped in to mediate and finally brought the person over with great difficulty.
When Mr. Fang and his family arrived at the snack street, they were stunned when they saw the bustling scene with heavy traffic from afar.
While they were busy, the Mu family had already created a career? The gap was getting bigger and bigger.
Young Master Fang's eyes turned red with envy, "The Mu family is so lucky to have a beauty like Mu Wanqing."
A clear voice sounded, "Demon?"
It was Mu Wanqing. She was wearing a light blue Hu costume and her hair was tied up with a ribbon, which made her very visible.
Young Master Fang was startled and waved his hands, "No, no, Miss Mu, I didn't mean anything else. I was just praising your incredible ability."
"That's what I like to hear." Mu Wanqing smiled slightly, "Is everything going well?"
Fang Jinghan thought of the ups and downs of the past few days, with mixed feelings, and was in a state of distress, "Finally you are willing to let us go, Miss Mu, our whole family thanks you for saving our lives."
He knew that if he continued to be tortured, he would only die in Xiliang.
He couldn't even protect his family.
His legs went weak, and he was about to kneel down, but Mu Wanqing stopped him, "It's not a life-saving favor, don't kneel, I don't want to shorten my life."
Mu Wanqing only specifically asked for the lineage of the head of the Fang family. There were only seventeen people in the Fang family, including the father and his four sons and their families. She couldn't care less about the others.
She looked at everyone. They all looked haggard, as if they had suffered a serious illness and were in a lot of trouble.
Two thin figures stepped forward and bowed, "Miss Mu, from now on our sisters' lives belong to you. We are willing to serve you like slaves. Please accept us."
They were Fang Jinghan’s two nieces, Fang Yulian and Fang Yurong. They were not originally considered to be in this room, but Mu Wanqing specifically requested them.
Mu Wanqing had met them during her exile and had a very good impression of them. Fang Yulian was down-to-earth and hard-working, while Fang Yurong was a woman of introverted beauty.
As for Fang Jinghan’s biological daughter Fang Yuying, she was quite feudal at first, but later she did a good job in organizational work.
Looking at Fang Yulian with a scar on her left cheek, Mu Wanqing sighed silently.
This girl would rather die than live in disgrace. Her spirit is admirable. She really can't bear to sit back and watch.
If you can save as many as you can, save one.
"Master Fang, I will take them in, is that okay with you?"
Fang Jinghan was overjoyed. It was the best thing to be with Mu Wanqing. She was a good person with ability and could protect the two sisters.
"Okay, of course, Yu Lian and Yu Rong, you should serve Miss Mu well. From now on, you will only have Miss Mu in your eyes and put her interests first in everything. Don't worry about the family."
Don't say that being a maid is a humiliation for them. Exiled criminals have no human rights. They work in the fields every day, working themselves to death, not having enough to eat or wear, and having to endure many unbearable things.
"Yes." The two sisters responded obediently. They were no longer naive and spoiled girls. They had suffered humiliation these days and had matured mentally.
Serving Mu Wanqing is a hundred times better than being coveted by those disgusting men and having to be on guard against being dragged away and raped at any time.
Mu Wanqing arranged for them to live in the academy, which covered a large area. In addition to classrooms, there was also an experimental building and rooms for adults to live in.
"There are only a limited number of houses here, so we'll just have to make do with each other for now."
It is a brick house with a cement floor and walls painted snow-white, spotlessly clean.
The Fang family was filled with joy. This was where normal people should live.
Fang Jinghan was very satisfied. "You are so polite. This is great. I heard that there is no one idle in your clan. Please help arrange for us."
Mu Wanqing glanced at everyone and said, "Master Fang and the eldest young master will go to the academy to teach, and the second young master will go to the kindergarten to teach the children. They will receive two taels of silver per month, four sets of clothes per season, and food and accommodation."
The Fang family's eyes lit up. This was much better than they had imagined.
“Can our children study together?”
"Okay." Mu Wanqing looked at the others. The Third Young Master was staring at her eagerly. She looked away. This guy was just a useless guy. He had no special abilities but was good at causing trouble.
"The snack street needs a lot of people. If you are willing, you can go and apply for the job."
No one had any objections. Their demands for the future were extremely low; as long as they could survive, that was enough.
The third young master was very disappointed and shouted, "Teacher, I still want to learn from you."
Mu Wanqing's mouth twitched. Wasn't it very reluctant in the past? "I don't take students."
"Master Fang..."
Fang Jinghan cupped his hands and said respectfully, "Just call me by my name from now on."
"Then I'll call you Uncle Fang." Mu Wanqing smiled and made a gesture of invitation, "Let's go to the classroom."
Mu Wanqing briefly introduced the situation of the academy. The Mu Family Academy only has classes half a day, from the hour of Mao to the hour of Si, which is from five to eleven.
In the afternoon, they would go to the store to help with work. In the evening, they would study on their own, practice calligraphy and review their lessons. If Mu Wanqing was free, she would teach them.
The kindergarten is open from morning to night, and students have lunch and a nap in the kindergarten at noon.
Mu Wanqing solemnly introduced Patriarch Fang and several others to the students. The students all knew Patriarch Fang and greeted him warmly.
Mu Wanqing encouraged, "Study hard, I hope some of you will become Jinshi."
For a family to prosper, it cannot rely on just one person; it requires the joint efforts of all the children.
No matter how much money you make in business, it won't last long without a backer.
Therefore, the officialdom must also be arranged so that even if only one person becomes an official, he can protect the family.
The students were stunned, "Chief, can we still take the imperial examination?"
Mu Wanqing asked curiously, "Why not? Only Mu Zhongde's branch cannot take the imperial examination and become an official."
Mu Zicheng was shocked and sat up straight. A seed took root in his heart.
It’s good to be an official, as you can protect your family.
Fang Jinghan's mouth twitched. If you ask who is more unlucky than him, it is only Mu Zhongde.
All the members of the clan were pardoned, except his family. They will never be able to turn things around for three generations. Tsk tsk tsk tsk.
Mu Wanqing returned home. The yard was quiet and everyone was busy with their own things.
She personally boiled water and made tea. The Fang sisters wanted to help but she declined. "Sit down, let's have a good chat."
Mu Wanqing also took out some snacks to treat them. The two sisters were a little overwhelmed and flattered.
She pointed to the next door rooms and said, "These closed shops are mine. I've been too busy and have never found the time to open a shop. I want you two to help me."
She didn't plan to make them maids, as it would be a waste of their talents. It would be better to train them to become shopkeepers.
The two Fang sisters were stunned, "Help you open a store? We can't do that." And they have different surnames, so they don't have any taboos?
Mu Wanqing pointed at the snacks on the table and said, "The owner of the cake shop is Yu Wanrou. You all know her. She is very capable now and can earn several hundred taels of silver a month. Her life is so comfortable."
Yu Wanrou? Is she the fourth daughter of the Yu family who always mentions the rules? Doesn't she hate to be in the spotlight? This change is too big.
Mu Wanqing motioned for them to have some snacks. Fang Yurong couldn't help but pick up a bowl of cake and eat it. Wow, it was delicious! "Sister, please eat it quickly. It's really delicious. It's even better than the snacks in Beijing."
Fang Yulian picked up the pastry and put it into her mouth. As she ate, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
Seeing her holding back her tears, Mu Wanqing felt sorry for her. "Cry it out. It's okay now. It's all over."
She didn't ask anything, but she could guess a little just by thinking about it. Even Fang Jinghan couldn't protect himself, let alone these weak girls.
Hearing the gentle voice, Fang Yulian couldn't help but burst into tears, crying heart-wrenchingly, as if she wanted to cry out all her pain.
Fang Yurong hugged her tightly, and the two sisters cried bitterly.
After an unknown amount of time, the crying finally stopped. Fang Yulian looked much better and said shyly, "I'm sorry, I lost my composure."
"Follow me from now on, and every day will be a good day." Mu Wanqing pushed the cakes in front of them, "When my hot pot restaurant opens, you will be the shopkeepers and I will give you 10% of the profits, how about it?"
"You don't have to pay. It's our duty to help you."
"It's settled. You should study hard and try to take over my business as soon as possible."
In the palace, it was late at night, and the emperor was still reviewing memorials. This year, there were disasters everywhere, either drought, floods, or locust plagues in some places.
He was exhausted, working day and night and not daring to slack off for a moment.
The prince sitting opposite rubbed his swollen brows. He was restless every day. "Father, it's getting late. You should rest."
The emperor didn't even raise his head, "You go to sleep first, I will watch for a while."
The prince wanted to persuade him again, but at this moment, the eunuch hurried in and said, "Your Majesty, a letter from the young general."
The emperor glanced at it, shook his head helplessly and sighed, "That kid is really nagging. He writes several letters every month. It's not a big deal."
If there is any regret, in fact, it is happy, the hand reaches out very quickly, "Give it to me."
The prince had seen through his father's thoughts long ago, but he didn't say it out loud. "My cousin likes to write to you, which shows that he trusts you and loves you. He wouldn't even look at someone he doesn't like."
"That child, eh?" The emperor's expression turned serious.
The prince was a little worried, "What's wrong? Did you get into trouble?"
The emperor read the letter over and over again, and after a while he said, "He wants me to reward someone."
"who?"
"Mu Wanqing."
The prince actually didn't find it strange. "What remarkable contribution has she made?"
The emperor took out the blueprint below, his expression extremely solemn, "She developed the Mu family waterwheel, and the Xiliang region will no longer be troubled by drought."
The girl made cement last time, and now she has made a waterwheel. It's a bit unbelievable.
The prince gasped, unable to believe it. "If it's true, then it should be rewarded, but the Mu family has no officials, so we can't extend the favor to our father and brother. So, can you give me some more silver to keep me company?"
The emperor frowned and dropped a bomb, "He wants Mu Wanqing to be a court lady."
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