Chapter 74 The mine must be moved!
Several elderly people, leaning on their canes, gently touched the mortar firmly embedded in the cracks between the stone slabs, their eyes filled with surprise: "I never expected it to be repaired so neatly, you can't even see the cracks!"
Where there used to be potholes and puddles, now the roads are smooth and clean.
Shallow ditches were dug along the roadside to drain rainwater, and the scene of sewage flowing everywhere is no longer visible.
Some people brought out benches and sat by the roadside, unwilling to leave.
With the fresh scent of new earth, the smiles on the faces of the people never ceased.
Everyone expressed their gratitude to Su Jingge:
“You are our benefactor. Now that the roads are easier to travel, it is much more convenient for us.”
The people were thrilled and began sending gifts to Su Jingge.
Vegetables, fruits, meat, peanuts, melon seeds, rice wine, etc., Su Jingge doesn't want any of them.
The people are still not willing.
"This is our heartfelt offer. If you don't accept it, we won't be able to walk this path in peace."
Unable to refuse such kindness, Su Jingge replied, "Alright then, I'll accept it, but I won't keep it for myself. I'll give it to the craftsmen to eat. They'll benefit from the road repairs."
"Consider it an extra meal for the craftsmen."
Xu Yuan replied, "Thank you, Assistant Manager Su."
Su Jingge watched as the land was repaired, and more and more merchants came.
This brings ordinary people one step closer to starting their own businesses.
Everything is moving in a positive direction.
After giving his instructions and transporting the gifts from the people to the restaurant, Xu Yuan said to Su Jingge, "Assistant Su, would you like to speak with me privately?"
Su Jingge, holding the villager's child, put the child down, saying, "Sister will play with you again later."
The child returned to his mother's arms.
Su Jingge looked at Xu Yuan: "Is it about the tools?"
Xu Yuan nodded: "As expected, nothing can be hidden from Assistant Manager Su. The next three directions, west, south and north, are all more difficult to handle, and we will need more and more tools."
"Okay, I'll go find Lu Huai."
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Zhao Liu walked over from the East Gate, utterly shocked. She had only gone out for a few days to enjoy the spring scenery, and now she was back, and she had actually finished repairing the ground?
His face was filled with disbelief.
At this very moment, the servants cheered and jumped for joy.
"The ground is repaired so well, haha, my new shoes are so clean."
As if celebrating, he had to bring up the very thing he didn't want to talk about: "I remember Liu Lang and Su Jingge made a bet that if the land was repaired, Liu Lang would have to kneel down, or rather, give half of his family fortune to Su Jingge."
Zhao Liu was so angry that he went up and beat the person up.
"Are you doing this on purpose? This is just the small east gate. She said she would repair all four sides! This is just a cover-up. You don't know anything. She just wants to make money."
The servants dared not speak further.
Su Jingge found Lu Huai, who was busy. Upon seeing her, he immediately put down what he was doing, bowed, and greeted her: "Greetings, Assistant Manager Su."
"Brother Lu Huai, there's no need to be so polite. I've come today to ask how your tool preparations are going?"
Lu Huai smiled and said, "I was just about to ask someone to report to you."
"These tools have been made and are just waiting for you to take them."
"Please come with me, Assistant Manager Su."
Su Jingge followed Lu Huai to the tool shed.
She looked at the rows of tools that had been made and stood on the wall, and there were also many slightly larger tools that were neatly arranged on the ground.
Su Jingge's eyes crinkled with a smile as she clasped her hands in a gesture of respect: "Thank you, Brother Lu Huai!"
Lu Huai hurriedly shook his head: "President Su, you mustn't do such a grand gesture. You have helped me so much before, you are a benefactor of the Lu family. Otherwise, I might be homeless today."
Su Jingge smiled and said, "If I can help, I will do my best."
The two talked for a while.
Lu Huai said about the tools: "But once this batch of tools is finished, there probably won't be enough for the next batch, and we won't be able to continue because there really aren't many raw materials."
"That's all we can make, especially for large tools; we can't replicate a second one."
"I saw the amount of work that Assistant Manager Su is working on at Xiaodongmen. Based on the three roads below, how much more is left?"
Su Jingge did the math: "We're still short of half of the South Gate and the entire West Gate Road." Her brows furrowed slightly. "You're right, that's what I'm worried about too. Road construction is very resource-intensive, but that's secondary. The most important thing is that without heavy-duty tools, I'm afraid we can't continue..."
Lu Huai nodded. After thinking for a moment, he decided to speak up: "Assistant Manager Su, in my humble opinion, you're probably going to start a mine."
"Because ore is the raw material for black iron, without mining, it would be difficult to obtain so many tools."
"Now I've lost all my horseshoes, haha, I guess I'll have to close down the shop too."
Su Jingge was heartbroken. She felt that Lu Huai had melted down his iron palm to make tools for her, but now he had no raw materials.
Therefore, she knew that this mine had to be opened!
"To be honest, that's what I think too."
Lu Huai's eyes brightened slightly: "Does Assistant Manager Su really want to start mining?"
“That’s right. Without this mine, the project can’t continue. Besides, we need large tools for clearing land and planting crops. Furthermore, we can’t let you lose your livelihood.”
Lu Huai smiled, his eyes stinging with bitterness: "I don't care about myself. I can always switch to making saddles. It's just that Assistant Manager Su... it's not easy for him to have persevered this long. So, it's good that this mine has opened!"
His eyes were filled with anticipation.
He paused for a moment, then added, "However, the ore belongs to the government, and ordinary people are not allowed to mine it without proper documentation..."
"If Xie Li wants to take control of that mine, it will be difficult..."
Su Jingge sipped her tea, her eyes darkening slightly: "I have my own way."
Lu Huai then said that these tools would be sent to Xu Yuan later.
Then I asked how my younger brother was doing.
Has anyone been gambling again?
Su Jinhe shook his head: "Lu Er is doing very well, he hasn't gambled anymore, otherwise, I wouldn't agree to this whip in my hand, haha."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Before leaving, Lu Huai stood at the door, not wanting to be too conspicuous, so he didn't see him off too far.
He bowed and crossed his hands in a gesture of respect.
He gazed at that figure, and a sense of worry welled up in his heart.
Wishing you all the best!
Su Jingge sent a letter to Xu Yuan.
Tell him the tools will arrive later, and tell him to continue the remaining half of the journey from the South Gate.
Three days later.
The remaining construction work on Nanmen Road has been completed.
Su Jingge specially invited Zhao Liu to see the repaired road surface.
In full view of everyone, she openly humiliated Zhao Liu: "How about it? Brother Zhao, didn't you say that this place couldn't be repaired and couldn't continue?"
Moreover, Su Jingge invited the entire county to witness the road construction.
Zhao Liu's face was ashen, and he stammered, "Well, it's alright, I guess!"
"Oh?" Su Jingge raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Now that only the ground of Ximen Road is repaired, I wonder if Brother Zhao has forgotten about the bet?"
Zhao Liu's face darkened: "I remember everything without you reminding me."
"Really? That's great." Su Jingge asked again, "Then what if it's like the first bet, where you said you'd lose and pay out of your own pocket to build the land for the merchants, but the construction work was so bad even a dog couldn't stand it!"
Zhao Liu listened to the whispers and pointing fingers:
"It's just a charlatan."
"I think this Tianbao Pavilion is not as well-known as Assistant Manager Su's place."
He couldn't save face: "This time it's definitely on my word!"
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