Li Baozhu stared intently at Xie Yuan. She could clearly sense that this Princess Yue was genuinely willing to help their Li tribe.
What's more, she had a vague feeling that the noble-born Princess of Yue seemed to regard them, the Li people, as her own family.
That's incredible.
Li Baozhu had studied in a private school in He County, and she was well aware of the attitudes of the Hakka people towards them, the Li people.
Those who came from the inland or the capital city, in particular, considered themselves citizens of the Celestial Empire and looked down on the barbarians of Lingnan.
In their eyes, not to mention the Li and Liao people, even the powerful clans of Lingnan were uncivilized savages.
They showed disdain and contempt, sometimes without even resorting to vulgar verbal attacks, but their condescending gaze was enough to pierce the hearts of Li Baozhu and other indigenous people.
Compared to those people, Princess Xie's status should be even more noble.
Li Baozhu was educated, so she naturally knew that the Hakka people valued lineage and family status.
The Xie family of Chenjun is a top-tier aristocratic family with a thousand-year history, a family that can "arrogantly defy kings and nobles".
Yet this noble Princess Xie did not treat the Li people like monkeys from the mountains.
"Also, do you need any salt?"
Li Baozhu was still in a daze when Xie Yuan spoke again.
Hexian County is indeed adjacent to the sea, but not everyone knows how to boil salt, nor is everyone qualified to boil salt.
Xie Yuan had learned that most of the Li and Liao people lived deep in the mountains.
They had difficulty even getting in and out of the mountains, let alone going to the seaside to boil salt.
Furthermore, although boiling salt is not as advanced as sun-drying salt, it is still a skill.
There are entry requirements.
If you don't understand the key points and just blindly boil some seawater yourself, you'll only get coarse sea salt full of impurities.
If not handled properly, there is a possibility of poisoning.
Therefore, indigenous tribes like the Li tribe, who live deep in the mountains, mostly rely on trading with people down in the mountains to obtain salt.
This puts us in a passive position and makes us vulnerable to price gouging.
"need!"
Upon hearing the word "salt," Li Baozhu quickly snapped back to reality and nodded eagerly, "Sister, we desperately need salt!"
Especially affordable salt, which is in even greater need!
However, Li Baozhu did not say the last sentence.
People should know how to be content.
Princess Xie was already very kind to sell salt to the Li tribe; how could she ask for more?
As long as Princess Xie can conduct fair transactions instead of deliberately making things difficult for others by taking advantage of her possession of salt, Li Baozhu is willing to spend more money!
Xie Yuan smiled; she knew this young girl was very perceptive.
“Alright, then I’ll make the decision. I will provide your Li tribe with one hundred shi of high-quality salt at an affordable price every month.”
"parity?"
Li Baozhu was overjoyed.
But she quickly realized what she meant and hurriedly said, "Sister, you don't need to do that. I can't let you suffer!"
We shouldn't bully someone just because they are a good person.
Lai Po-chu always remembered her limits!
"Don't worry, I won't suffer any losses."
Xie Yuan's smile grew even brighter. She looked into Li Baozhu's eyes and said slowly, "Furthermore, I treat all the people of Yuezhou the same way."
“Your Li tribe has agreed to the prince’s request to register your villagers and obey the prince’s arrangements. Therefore, you are now citizens of the Yue Prince’s Mansion.”
"Your Highness and I will be treated equally!"
The last sentence left Li Baozhu stunned.
"Treat everyone equally? We, the Li tribe, are also citizens of the Yue King's Palace?"
Li Baozhu murmured.
Are they not some uncivilized people?
Not some savage monkey?
But a truly upright person?!
"certainly!"
Xie Yuan said firmly, "It's not just salt. In the future, whenever you are invaded by foreign tribes, you can come to the Prince's Palace for help."
"Oh, right, there are also private schools. The Prince's Mansion will run some academies, and all the children of the Li tribe can come. It's free, and room and board are included!"
Education and moral education, teaching culture is the most important thing.
Xie Yuan wanted to gradually lead the indigenous people out of the deep mountains and down to the foot of the mountains, where they could farm, fish, or work as laborers. It would be better than struggling to survive in the mountains with poisonous snakes and wild beasts.
"That's wonderful! Sister, you really are a great person!"
Li Baozhu received an education and also lived in the county town at the foot of the mountain.
Of course she knew the hardships of living in the mountains.
In fact, if the people down the mountain didn't discriminate or deliberately bully them, why would they want to live in the mountains?
Who wouldn't want a peaceful and comfortable life?
Xie Yuan's kindness gave Li Baozhu hope.
Li Baozhu was as happy as a child, jumping and laughing around Xie Yuan.
After laughing and joking for a while, Li Baozhu remembered her other purpose for the trip. "Sister, I've brought the snake medicine you asked for!"
"However, the quantity this time is not large, because the village has just recovered and the shaman has not yet started to prepare new medicines. These are the accumulations from last year."
"Sister, you don't mind, do you?"
Xie Yuan quickly shook his head, "I don't mind. As long as the medicine's effects don't wear off, it's fine."
"It won't dissipate! The medicine is very effective! Our snake medicine can be stored for three years without any problems!"
"That's good! I'll buy it at market price!"
Xie Yuan would not take advantage of others, much less use his power to intimidate them.
"Hehe, I knew my older sister was the fairest!"
Li Baozhu was still smiling, but a shrewd glint was flashing in her eyes.
She didn't generously offer to take the money.
Because this is a business transaction, while personal relationships are personal relationships, and the two should not be confused.
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