There are two wealthy families in Shili Town.
One family was surnamed Niu, and the other was surnamed Ma. Both were wealthy and each owned at least a hundred acres of fertile land, employing no fewer than a hundred people of all ages from the town of Shili.
Originally, they would buy land from the people, hire them to work, and let a little money slip through their fingers, which would make the people grateful to tears.
Now, Zheng Ruqian has suddenly appeared out of nowhere, not only buying the people's land but also hiring them at high prices to work. Isn't this stealing other people's jobs?
After the two families got together to discuss it, they spread the word.
The cattle and horses families will never again employ anyone who works for Zheng Ruqian in the land sales.
That's a brilliant move to cut off the enemy's supply lines.
Although the wages offered by Zheng Ruqian were tempting, he was, after all, a newcomer and a greenhorn. Who could guarantee how long he would stay? If he didn't make any money and just ran away, it wouldn't matter if the people lost their wages, but offending the Niu and Ma families, who had been entrenched in Shili Town for so long, would truly be the end of their lives.
As the wind blew through Shili Town, the people who had been itching to make a move all ducked back into their shells.
Zheng Ruqian adopted the posture of a shrewd businessman, ready to carefully select fields and workers, but after sitting in the courtyard for three days, not a single person came to inquire.
Pang Dashan delivered the latest news after harvesting the vegetables.
"Nobody wants to sell land to you, nor do they want to work for you."
Zheng Ruqian looked completely bewildered. "Why?"
"Because Master Niu and Master Ma don't allow it." Pang Dashan put the recent vegetable purchase accounts and the 70% profit he received from the dried goods store selling pickled mustard greens on the table.
It's true that work forces people to improve. Old Pang was seventeen or eighteen years old and couldn't even write his own name, but in order to deliver vegetables between Yunshui County and Fucheng and to be able to record all the accounts completely, he managed to learn nearly a hundred characters.
While they can't compare to Xu Mo, a literary genius descended to earth, they still surpass 90% of the people in Xieyang County.
Fortunately, Zheng Ruqian did not treat him unfairly, raising his salary from two taels to three taels. His younger brothers also received two taels each, and the five brothers earned thirteen taels a year. They hardly spent any money and are now considered to have some savings.
“Master,” Pang Dashan kindly advised, “we can’t compete with the Niu and Ma families. They’re wealthy, so we should just do some small business to make money. Don’t fight a losing battle. If all else fails, we can buy from other towns.”
Zheng Ruqian hadn't spoken yet.
Jiang Sheng, who had just jumped out of the house, clenched her fists and said in a crisp voice, "Aren't there any wealthy people elsewhere?"
Pang Dashan fell silent.
There are local bullies everywhere, and there are people who have already established themselves in the local market.
Anyone who wants to grow and make money has to fight against the old forces.
If you can win the battle, you'll successfully secure a place in the world.
If you can't win, pack your bags and leave.
In the past, Zheng Ruqian had no competitors when buying and selling vegetables, and his business was very successful.
Now, those who want to buy land to grow vegetables are facing a run on their investments.
But so what?
Having experienced various difficulties and the failure of his workshop, Zheng Ruqian was no longer the timid young master he once was.
"Don't worry." He leaned back in the wicker chair, picked up a cup of tea with one hand, took a slow sip, and said in a calm and gentle tone, "There's always a solution."
Pang Dashan was taken aback and looked Zheng Ruqian up and down, suddenly realizing that his boss's growth over the past two years had been astonishing.
From a homeless, naive child to a composed and calm young man, he has grown not only physically, but also mentally.
After Zheng Ruqian finished checking the accounts, Pang Dashan left in awe.
Jiang Sheng jogged over and closed the door. As soon as she turned around, her usually composed and calm second brother turned into a monkey, scratching his ears and cheeks, swaying left and right. "What should I do? What should I do? I planned to buy thirty acres of land. I only have six acres so far. I still need twenty-four acres. What should I do?"
Jiang Sheng's lips twitched. "How about we wait for our brothers to get home and discuss it?"
Good idea.
Zheng Ruqian instantly regained his composure and sat back in the rattan chair, picked up his tea, and took a light sip.
night.
The whole family gathered in the courtyard.
Xu Mo flipped through the county's recent case files, his brows furrowing slightly, as if he had encountered some thorny issue.
Fang Heng's face was serious as he stared into the void, as if he were troubled by something.
Wen Zhiyun was selecting medicinal herbs to prepare a tonic prescription for Wang Fufeng, muttering to himself that something was missing.
Chang Yan lay slumped on the table, his expression blank, utterly despondent.
Jiang Sheng was muttering about the cured meat from the workshop, probably realizing that doing business wasn't easy.
It seems like everyone's been feeling a bit down lately.
Zheng Ruqian felt much better. He cleared his throat, just about to tell everyone about the recent targeting by the Niu and Ma families.
Xu Mo suddenly slammed the case file on the table, frowning and muttering, "The drawbacks, the drawbacks have appeared."
Everyone else was listless and couldn't join the conversation.
Only Jiang Sheng mustered the strength to ask, "What's wrong with Big Brother?"
"I previously wrote to the prefect to register all the homeless children in the county, exempting them from taxes in the first year and collecting them in the second year. But most of them are used to being homeless and neither know how to farm nor are they willing to work. How can they afford to pay taxes in the second year?" Xu Mo said in a deep voice. "If they can't pay taxes, they will be arrested and imprisoned, but where does the county government have so many prisons to hold homeless children?"
The initial plan to exempt beggars from taxes was a good thing for the country and its people, but it turned into a terrible thing because some homeless children were not diligent and hardworking enough.
Now, the local authorities also have to clean up the mess left by this incident.
If the aftermath is not handled properly, Xieyang County and Yunshui County will become a laughing stock in other parts of the dynasty, and this policy will not be able to be promoted nationwide in the future. It would be really unfair to other homeless children who want to live a good life.
"This matter must be resolved." Xu Mo placed one hand on the table. "But how?"
A group of homeless children have household registration and land, but they don't know how to farm or want to work.
Jiang Sheng's eyes lit up, and she looked intently at Zheng Ruqian.
“Little Jiang Sheng, why are you looking at me like that? Do you want me to buy the land of homeless children?” Zheng Ruqian asked in surprise. “But they don’t want to work, and if we sell it, they’ll just sit around and eat their money.”
Jiang Sheng tilted her head and said, "When I was homeless, I didn't want to work for money, but if someone gave me a bite to eat, I would do any kind of work."
This is the nature of homeless children; money is just a number to them, and being fed and clothed is the key.
Zheng Ruqian suddenly understood.
Xu Mo also raised his eyebrows.
The two brothers exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly for the first time.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
