Chapter 86 Jinjiang first release Chapter 86 Cao Min's teacher is Cao Min's...
County Magistrate Ma's name is Ma Qianqiu, and he has been the magistrate of Huaitong County for almost five years.
The man was in his forties and very short, only about 1.6 meters tall. He had a goatee, a stern face, his hands behind his back, and a square gait. He would stroke his beard before speaking.
Yu Qinglong and Fang Shu were invited to Magistrate Ma's private residence, along with Guo Hengan. Along the way, Guo Hengan occasionally took the opportunity to reveal some of Magistrate Ma's preferences to Fang Shu and Yu Qinglong.
Guo Hengan had met County Magistrate Ma, although not many times.
According to Guo Hengan, never mention anything about height in front of Magistrate Ma, because being short is a lifelong pain for Magistrate Ma.
The young couple, both very tall: "..."
No wonder he likes to have a stern face, put his hands behind his back, walk in a square step and stroke his beard when speaking. It turns out that it is all to increase his momentum.
The couple then entered the main hall and bowed, "Greetings to Master Ma and Master Cao."
Magistrate Ma and Cao Kuozheng sat in the main seat, one at the left, and the other at the first seat.
Magistrate Ma looked them over the moment they stepped inside. After about two breaths, he said, "Sit down and talk."
"Thank you, sir."
Fang Shu and Yu Qinglong sat down on the right. There were only two chairs on the right, so Guo Hengan sat next to Cao Kuo.
Magistrate Ma said, "It's hard for you to come here so late at night. Have you had dinner yet?"
Fang Shu said, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Ma. I've used it."
Magistrate Ma said, "That's good. You've all been meritorious service members of this county. If I weren't so busy during the day, I wouldn't have summoned you so late. I've called you here to ask about the huge sales of these Fushan cakes. I've heard they often outstrip demand. Do you have any plans to address this? Also, the weather is getting colder, and there are many refugees arriving outside the city every day. I've arranged for people to distribute porridge daily, but that's not a long-term solution. Lord Cao mentioned that you have many ideas, and I'd like to hear yours."
Cao Kuo said: "If you have any ideas, just say it. There is no need to be restrained."
On the way here, Fang Shu and Yu Qinglong had already made a rough guess. Furthermore, these past few days, after finishing their work, they would discuss the day's achievements with Guo Heng'an, and also discuss areas that needed improvement. Upon hearing this, Fang Shu said, "Your Excellency, Mr. Guo has already sent people to rush to produce the baking trays and ovens for the Fushan cakes. However, we are currently running low on manpower, so we need more help. In my humble opinion, it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. Since we need manpower, why not select some available people from these disaster victims and pay them on time?"
"But even if they're paid, they still have to buy food. What's the difference between that and just giving them food? Besides, if they work, they'll expend more energy and need more food."
"Your Excellency is right. But money needs to flow in order to become more money."
"How can I explain this? One ounce of silver is still one ounce of silver when it circulates. It will never become two ounces."
"This... forgive my daring, I'll use the two gentlemen to illustrate this with an example." Fang Shu said, "Suppose I have one tael of silver in my hand. I bought a table of food from Boss Guo and spent one tael. Boss Guo made the money and would go to Boss Cao to buy steamed buns. Boss Cao made the steamed bun money and went to Boss Ma to buy tea. Boss Ma made the tea money and came back to me to buy Fushan cakes. The money is always the same, but it circulates in a circle, and I, the two gentlemen, and Boss Guo all make money. So money must flow like water. Once it flows, everyone can make money. Otherwise, if only one person has money but doesn't spend it, the rest will have no choice but to close their shops. After closing their shops, they naturally have no money to buy things from the remaining wealthy person, and in the end, everyone will only get poorer and poorer."
"That makes sense. But what's the difference between the government buying grain and them buying it themselves? Aren't they both buying from grain sellers?"
"When they have money, they won't necessarily just buy food. They might also buy other things, such as medicine, cloth, milk, etc. There are also children and elderly people among the victims. Therefore, what I have done above can firstly make money flow, and secondly, give these people something to do as much as possible. This can not only prevent them from rioting, but also allow them to learn some skills at this time. If they encounter similar situations in the future, they will have more ways to make a living. As the saying goes, many skills are always a burden. Why not take this opportunity to make the people of Huaitong County more capable people."
"But most people with skills have inherited their craft from their ancestors, or learned it from a master. They might not be willing to teach their skills to outsiders," Cao Kuo said. "How can we solve this problem? We can't just order them to teach others their skills. Besides, even if someone is willing to teach, they can't accommodate so many people. There are thousands of disaster victims outside the city."
"Although there are thousands of disaster victims outside the city, they are not all alone. They often have families with them. So, as long as we find the young and strong members of their families and ask them to do some work, we can control the rest. Those who work can get paid, and those waiting at home can have hope. As for their skills, we can't force them to do that. But perhaps we can assign them more work to do. For example, sweeping the streets, kneading dough, transporting goods, making porridge, distributing porridge, cleaning up debris, etc. Most of these things can be done with physical strength. They will work hard just to feed their families."
"Then where will these people live?" Cao Kuo asked, "We've got food, but what about shelter?"
"Not everyone has come out of the county because their houses collapsed. Many have houses but no food, so they're looking for a way out. We could ask people to register them. If those still have houses in their hometowns, the young and strong can stay to work, and their families can give them rice to encourage them to return. If those who don't have houses can ask their employers to provide them with housing, and the government will provide a certain amount of subsidies. For widows, widowers, and orphans who can't work, we should try our best to find places to accommodate them. The county town will take care of it, and the town will also take care of it. It won't take more than three or four months, and we'll be fine after we can get through it."
"What do you think, Lord Ma?" Cao Kuo asked.
"It's indeed feasible. The young are truly formidable," Magistrate Ma said. "I had no idea such a capable person existed under my jurisdiction. I wonder who Master Fang's mentor was?"
"My mentor is Mr. Ye Ting from Qixia Town. However, most of what I have said above was taught by my husband."
"What? Your husband?"
"Yes, sir. My husband is very intelligent and kind-hearted. He came up with many of the ideas this time."
"Mr. Fang is right," Guo Hengan said. "This young man, this Mr. Fang, does have a unique vision."
Yu Qinglong didn't feel honored after hearing this and just wanted to strangle the two men to death. He had clearly told them not to talk about his thoughts before.
Fang Shu, that bastard. Yu Qinglong pinched his ear in his heart, laughing with a hint of helplessness.
Magistrate Ma said, "In any case, it's good to have a feasible solution. However, these things still need someone to do it. How about this, Fang Shoucheng, you will draft a detailed plan and submit it to me. I will review it and confirm that it is correct before handing it over to someone to carry out. What do you think, Lord Cao?"
"I also think it's feasible."
"My Lords, can you please allow my husband and I to go home?" Fang Shu said, "When I left home, I never thought the journey would take so long. My husband is pregnant, and the elders at home will definitely be worried if they don't see us for a long time, so..."
"You should probably not go back yet. Just write a letter home. I'll have someone send it as fast as possible to the Fang family in Xiaxi Village," Cao Kuo said. "If there's anything you need to send back with you, just prepare it and give it to Niu Quan. We still need you here, and since Mrs. Fang is pregnant, it's not suitable for her to travel back and forth."
"That's fine, thank you, sir."
"Boss Guo, how many people can your restaurant accommodate?" Magistrate Ma asked. "Do you have accommodations?"
"Your Excellency, hiring twenty people is no problem. Everyone in the county knows about Fushan Pancakes, but we can't make more due to lack of manpower. The baking trays and ovens will be ready tomorrow, and I plan to hire more people and make at least two thousand a day. With the cold weather, these pancakes will keep well for four days. Just warm them over the stove and they'll taste almost as good as freshly made. So, selling them to surrounding towns and counties wouldn't be a problem."
"Okay, then I will wait for Master Fang's rules."
The few of them discussed the issue of residence requisition in detail and dispersed after about half an hour.
On their return, they rode the county government's carriage. At the Fuyue Restaurant, Guo Hengan arranged for the transfer of the deceased, Fang Shu wrote a letter, and Yu Qinglong drew the picture.
Fang Shu and Yu Qinglong sat next to each other, while Ma Qinsui and Yan Xikuan were also in their room.
The two men had gone out to deliver manuscripts during the day and brought back the silver to Yu Qinglong, who then gave him their share.
This time it’s ten taels per person.
They were both shocked. Yan Xikuan asked, "Brother Xiaoyu, why did you give so much?"
Ma Qinsui was more carefree than Yan Xikuan, and even he felt it was too much. According to the quantity they copied, two taels at a time was actually a lot. There was no such price anywhere else on the market.
"Last time, we were busy so we couldn't finish it. This time, please come with me, so take it." Yu Qinglong said, "Besides, I have something else to trouble you with. Shoucheng and I can't go back this time, so I have to trouble you to run a trip for me."
"It's too strange for us to talk about trouble. Brother Xiaoyu, if you have something to say, just tell me."
"I drew four pictures, take a look."
"What is this?" Fang Shu also poked his head out.
"This is a small griddle for heating Fushan cakes. The most common type is easy to make. The other two types with animal shapes are more difficult to make. There's another type called an egg burger pan. I can't explain exactly what it's used for right now, but just know that it's all related to food. Brother Xikuan and your companions, if it's convenient for you, please help me deliver these four pictures to Wu Changjie. It's written on them which one should be made first and which one should be made later, and how much each should be made. Changjie can't read, so you can just help him explain it clearly. As for the price, I've asked him how he charges for ironwork casting, so it should be fine. If it's less, you can add 20% to the price I set."
"Oh my god, what's wrong with your brain, Xiao Yu?" Yan Xikuan couldn't help but admire it after reading it, "You can actually think of this."
"It was when Boss Guo mentioned the hot Fushan pancakes tonight that I thought of this. Anyway, this thing can be given away or sold, and it can also bring business to Changjie. There are many benefits."
"Okay, then we'll set off early tomorrow morning. Is there anything else you want to bring home?"
"I have a few more drawings for school bags and pen holders. Give them to my mother-in-law; she'll know how to arrange them. Tomorrow is my nephew's full moon, so please give him a small lock. As for Wu Changjie's deposit, please also help deliver it. Thank you."
"It's as I should. It's nothing. You two have helped us so much, so running an errand is nothing." Yan Xikuan put away his things and said, "We'll go hire a carriage later."
"No, this time we're going with the team arranged by Lord Niu. There are so many refugees now, I'm afraid the road is not safe."
In late autumn you could still find some food outside, but today it is so cold that you can't even find a fresh leaf on the tree.
Yan Xikuan and Ma Qinsui agreed.
Yu Qinglong then asked, "Did the young master of Dexin Book House say anything?"
He didn't go this time, but the incident at Fu Yue Restaurant was so popular that Lu Dexin couldn't have been unaware of it.
Yan Xikuan said, "I asked, and he's indeed a little unhappy. But I told my personal attendants that this incident was instigated by Lord Ma and Lord Cao, so he doesn't dare to say anything. I think he's now worried that you won't cooperate with him in the future."
Yu Qinglong said, "He's a bit greedy, but I can't care less about that right now. Let's just write it down first. It's always a good thing if we can make more money."
"Yes, Brother Xiaoyu, you have helped me a lot. Not long after you came to the county last time, my sister's heartless husband kicked her out. She had nowhere to go, so she had no choice but to come to me. If she had stayed in her original residence, I would have had no place to accommodate her."
"Does she have any children?"
"No. I haven't been pregnant yet, so now..."
"So what should she do if she asks you to come this time?"
"That's fine. The ladies next door to the new house are very nice, and my sister was often alone at home before, so she's used to it."
"Okay. That'll be it for now. We'll figure out how to make more money later and buy a bigger house so things can go smoothly."
"Okay! Then we'll just listen to Brother Xiaoyu. From now on, you'll never do what I say."
"Just keep on chatting," Fang Shu said.
"truth."
The two of them smiled and took their things and left. Fang Shu said, "Brother Long, do you want me to go talk to Lord Niu?"
"Yes. But you have to get me some food. I'm hungry again."
"Okay, I'll go see if there's anything delicious in the kitchen and bring you some more."
"Husband, wait a minute, there's one more thing. There's a 99% chance Changjie can make the things I want him to make. But it requires a lot of iron, and I wonder if the higher-ups will investigate. Please tell Lord Niu so he can let us know in advance if it's really needed."
"Okay. But Long'er asked Changjie to make these things instead of doing them in this county. Wouldn't it be troublesome to transport them?"
"More people are needed because it's going to be troublesome. The more people we can use, the better it is right now," Yu Qinglong said. "Maybe if we can do more, we can even make it bigger."
"That makes sense. I'll be back soon."
The next day, Ma Qinsui and Yan Xikuan set out early. This time, they returned directly with Cao Kuo's team.
Over the next few days, Yu Qinglong and Fang Shu began to work separately. Fang Shu drafted a relief plan, which Magistrate Ma was very satisfied with. He immediately sent people to implement it. He also assigned ten people to Fang Shu's command at any time to take charge of relief work, starting with registering refugee information.
As for Yu Qinglong, after Fu Yue Lou was completely back on track, he went to Wangjiang Cloth Shop again.
The owner of Wangjiang Cloth Shop remembered Guo Hengan's friendly reminder the moment he saw him, so he took the initiative to greet him and said, "Brother Xiaoyu, you are an honored guest. How come you have time to come here today?"
Yu Qinglong sat down and said, "I have something I'd like to ask Manager Jiang for help with. I wonder if that's okay."
"Just tell me what you're doing. Is it cloth or something else?"
"It's to help me make a color chart," Yu Qinglong said. "I have a lot of colors that I don't know the names of, but they're useful. I wonder if Shopkeeper Jiang could help me by sewing the various small pieces of cloth onto a large piece of white cloth, marking the numbers next to them, and then labeling the colors accordingly."
Although the variety of fabric colors in ancient times wasn't as wide as it is today, there were still quite a few. He had quite a few he couldn't name, but thought they were both useful and beautiful. He wasn't an expert in tailoring, but he was incredibly experienced in color matching.
In his previous life, he had studied color matching in order to achieve better color effects in his handicrafts and paintings. So he knew exactly which colors would look good together.
If that’s the case, why can’t it be used in clothing design?
Shopkeeper Jiang asked, "What are your requirements for the material of the fabric?"
Yu Qinglong said, "No. But making this thing is quite complicated. Please tell me how much it costs. I bought it specially for this."
Shopkeeper Jiang said with a smile, "How can I charge you for this? It's just a few words written on some scraps of cloth. It's nothing compared to the hard work you, Xiao Yu, put in for the people. Don't worry, I'll have someone prepare it right away. But I have a lot of colors, so it might take a couple of days."
"That's not urgent, but right now, you have to help me as soon as possible."
Yu Qinglong said as he took out a picture of ready-made clothes.
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Author's words: Qinglong: My husband, I think I'm pregnant with a food-eating beast [covering my face with laughter and tears]
Fang Shu: I can eat and grow strong, I am not afraid [hug]
Qinglong: What should I do if I eat like a ball? [Poor]
Fang Shu: That’s also my most precious husband’s ball [laughing]
Qinglong: I feel like all the aunts have been forced into poverty by us two, so I won’t be hitting them today [laughing and crying]
ps: Yesterday’s update asked the good girl to come on the second day of the new year. That was a typo. It was the eighth day of the new year [let me check it out]
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