Luo Wen was in a good mood with twenty coins in his pocket.
For the past two years, Luo Wen has been working as a guide for merchants. The job is easy and pays well, but he often doesn't get any business for several days. When he heard that the new county magistrate was coming, Luo Wen started looking for opportunities.
"Luo Wen, you've met the new magistrate!" a man with one blind eye asked with a smile.
The man had a horrifying scar above one eye, a wound sustained in a previous battle.
Luo Wen nodded and said, "When I saw him, I gave him directions. He seemed terrified by the appearance of the county government office."
The blind man smiled and said, "These county magistrates only know how to prey on the people. I really don't know why the higher-ups insisted on sending someone here."
Shaxian was already poor in resources and frequently invaded by enemy forces. Previously, there was a magistrate who, dissatisfied with his low rank and the poor conditions of the area, wanted to be transferred. He frantically plundered the people's wealth to bribe his superiors. The people, not to be trifled with, were angered and killed this corrupt official.
Rowan shook his head and said, "I don't know. It would be great if we had a general here."
"Uncle Tian, you're well-informed. Do you know anything about this new official's background? I think he brought his whole family with him!" Luo Wen asked.
The blind man smiled, making his already somewhat ferocious face appear even more terrifying.
"Our new magistrate is no ordinary man. I heard he didn't get his position through the imperial examinations; he bought it directly," the blind man chuckled.
Luo Wen frowned and said, "He bought his official position!"
The blind man nodded and said, "Indeed! As the saying goes, money makes the world go round. This official must be a big businessman. Once he has money, he starts thinking about pursuing status. This magistrate is probably going to be disappointed. There's no money to be made in our county. This man was probably just greedy and didn't do his research before buying the official position. He bought a cheap one."
Luo Wen rolled his eyes and said, "I think this newly arrived magistrate seems like a good official."
The blind man looked at Luo Wen with interest and said, "You can still tell the difference between good and bad officials!"
Luo Wen grinned and said, "This magistrate has a very good temper." Moreover, he's generous with money.
The blind man curled his lip and said, "He's new here. Once he's established himself, things could get complicated."
After Lu Lin bought the official position, he sold the shops and houses in the town, dismissed his subordinates, and had more than 1,700 taels of silver left.
This much silver should be enough for a while.
Lu Lin sent the Qin family father and his two sons to find someone to repair the house, and Qin Yi quickly brought the person over.
Although the people of Shaxian are known for their fierce and tough nature, everyone still needs to eat. Lu Lin's high wages naturally attracted more people.
When Qin Yi returned, he secretly told Lu Lin that the labor costs here were cheaper than in Lin Town. Originally, when he went to find people to work for the county magistrate, the villagers were not very willing. However, when he said that the wages would be paid daily at 25 copper coins a day, many people were willing to come.
It's almost late autumn, and Lu Lin is eager to finish building the house. Sha County is too poor; there's only one dilapidated inn. Lu Lin is anxious to move into the mansion.
"Uncle Qin, you're amazing! You got so many people here so quickly," Lu Lin said.
Qin Yi smiled and said, "It's all thanks to that kid Luo Yuan. That guy seems to be a promising talent!"
Qin Yi inquired about Luo Yuan's background and found that the boy was pitiful. His father died in the war, and his sickly mother and son often went hungry.
Children from poor families learn to be independent early. Luo Yuan, at a young age, often ran out to earn money, even though he was just a child and couldn't find much work to do.
When Qin Yi went to the countryside to find someone, he met Luo Yuan. When Luo Yuan said he needed to find someone to repair his house, Qin Yi volunteered to help him find someone, but he would have to pay.
The Qin family father and his two sons had been following Lu Lin for several years and had earned quite a bit of money. Qin Yi thought that since it wouldn't cost much, he agreed. Qin Yi had also found a few people before, but his status as a subordinate of the county magistrate hadn't brought him much prestige and had made things very difficult. After meeting Luo Yuan, things went much more smoothly.
Luo Yuan seems to be quite popular. With him acting as a mediator, Qin Yi found the person very easily.
Lu Lin purchased a large number of bricks and tiles to repair the house. Although the county magistrate's mansion was a bit dilapidated, it had three courtyards and was still quite spacious, enough for all of them.
When the family was repairing their house, Chen Xiaomai went to help.
Chen Xiaomai lifted a large box weighing several dozen kilograms in one go, startling the people who came to help.
Seeing Chen Xiaomai display her extraordinary abilities, Lu Lin guessed that Chen Xiaomai's monstrous strength, similar to that of Chen Xiaomi, was beginning to unleash its power.
Chen Xiaomi was disliked back then because of her strange strength. Seeing Chen Xiaomai's appearance, Lu Lin sent her away to play.
Seeing that she had worked hard but hadn't received any praise from Lu Lin, and was instead being disliked, Chen Xiaomai ran away in dissatisfaction.
Although they hired many helpers, Lu Lin and the others were not idle.
Chen Xiaocai and the others had all suffered in their early years. Although life has improved in the last two years, they are still hardworking and capable of doing any kind of work.
With more people working, the work got done faster. By evening, they finished work and the workers left the county government office.
"Brother Zhou, what do you think of the new county magistrate?" Wang Er asked.
Zhou Yuanhe narrowed his eyes and said, "I can't tell for now."
Wang Er scratched his head and said, "I think this official is quite nice; he even provides lunch."
Lu Lin firmly believes that mealtime is the best time to build relationships, so he has never been negligent when it comes to food. When Lu Lin first arrived in Shaxian, he didn't have very good conditions. At lunchtime, he cut up some cured meat and yam and cooked a big pot of porridge for the people who came to build houses.
The local produce in Shaxian is relatively scarce, and the group of people ate very happily.
Zhou Yuanhe glanced at Wang Er helplessly and said, "I've won you over with just one meal."
Wang Er scratched his head and said, "Isn't there meat here?" Although it was just some shredded meat, it was still meat!
"Judging from what the county magistrate said, it seems he wants to build a kang (heated brick bed)," Zhou Yuanhe said.
Wang Er said with some excitement, "I've heard of kang (heated brick bed), it seems to be quite something! Our new magistrate certainly knows how to enjoy life!"
"Judging from the manner of our county magistrate, he should be able to do it."
"If the county magistrate really knows how to build a kang (heated brick bed), we can learn from him. If we learn it, then winter might not be so uncomfortable."
Lu Lin was willing to spend money, and in just a few days, he had the house almost completely repaired.
Lu Lin built kang beds in the main hall, the left and right wing rooms, and other rooms.
When the first kang (heated brick bed) in the government office was repaired, the workers who came to help would secretly go over and try it out.
Lu Lin was well aware that the workers who came to help were secretly sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed). The weather wasn't very cold yet, but Lu Lin still heated the kang so that the workers could experience it.
After Lu Lin built the kang (heated brick bed) in Dashi Village, its fame spread very quickly in the surrounding villages and towns. Soon, many places built kangs. However, the dissemination of information in ancient times was not very efficient, so not many people in this area built kangs. Of course, it was also possible that the people in this area were too poor to afford to build them. They didn't even have houses, let alone kangs.
Lu Lin pondered that once his project was completed, the kang (heated brick bed) would gradually spread throughout the county.
As evening fell, the workers received their wages and left the county government office.
"Our county magistrate is a really good person. He settles all the money every day without any delays."
"The people in this county magistrate's family seem quite diligent; they don't seem to be living a life of luxury."
"Yes, I heard that our county magistrate's position was bought. I thought he would be a fat, unscrupulous merchant."
"This kang is really nice. I sat on it today and it was so warm. If we had this in winter, it would be much more comfortable."
"I heard from Young Master Cai that this kang (heated brick bed) is good for bone injuries. I wonder if it's true."
"This one should be real, right? This young master doesn't seem like the type to lie."
"Many people in Shaxian suffer from arthritis, and they suffer greatly when it rains in winter."
Chen Xiaocai was very approachable and quickly became friends with the workers who came to help. Everyone had a good impression of Chen Xiaocai.
Border Patrol Battalion
"General, the new county magistrate has arrived."
Ji Chengkang said calmly, "You've arrived? What's your background?"
"He's a businessman. I heard he bought this official position for three thousand taels of silver."
Ji Chengkang shook his head and said, "No merchant is honest, and most of the newcomers are not good people."
"The imperial court is short of money, otherwise they wouldn't have appointed these incompetent fools as county magistrates. However, once they understand the situation in Sha County, they'll naturally back down," Liu Yun said with a hint of schadenfreude.
Ji Chengkang squinted and said, "As long as he doesn't bully the people, let him stay here. If one leaves, another will come, which is also troublesome." If the county magistrates here leave one after another, the higher-ups will probably have something to say.
“The general is right. This new magistrate seems to be quite wealthy. He hired many people to repair his house as soon as he arrived, and he paid them on the spot. He does keep his word,” Liu Yun said.
Ji Chengkang nodded and said, "If he is honest, that would be even better."
"Yuanhe went to work for Lu Lin," Liu Yun said.
Ji Chengkang sighed and said, "This guy is just too stubborn."
Zhou Yuanhe was originally a soldier in the army. He lost his leg in the war and left the army. He built a house in Shaxian County and lived in poverty. Ji Chengkang visited him twice and offered his salary to help his former comrade, but Zhou Yuanhe refused. Zhou Yuanhe felt that he could support himself and did not need Ji Chengkang's help. Ji Chengkang's salary was enough to support himself. However, in order to help the soldiers who had retired from the army, he often found himself in dire straits.
“Yuanhe said that the new county magistrate knows how to repair kang beds,” Liuyun said.
Ji Chengkang frowned and said, "I've heard of kangs before. I've heard they can keep out the cold, but I don't know if that's true. Soldiers in the army live in the open and suffer from rheumatism, which is very difficult to endure in autumn and winter."
“Zhou He and the others have built several kang beds for the new county magistrate and have already learned the craft. General, do you think our patrol battalion should also build a few and give it a try?” Liu Yun suggested.
Ji Chengkang nodded and said, "Alright."
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