The bitter winter arrived with the howling cold wind. Not long ago, a heavy snow fell inside and outside the capital.
Now that the snow has melted, Feng Ming takes Zhuang Li and Feng Yi to inspect the people's homes to see if they have the ability to cope with this particularly cold winter.
Zhuang Xiaohui was also brought by Zhuang Li. She was hiding in the carriage at this moment, secretly observing the emperor's back through the curtain.
In her previous life, she was brought into the palace by Yu Yuxian to attend a banquet.
An assassin disguised as a dancer suddenly pulled out a dagger and stabbed the emperor.
At that moment, everyone in the arena was screaming, but the emperor remained seated, unmoved, even sporting a contented smile. Suddenly, a large group of Dragon Guards appeared around him, chopping the assassin into pulp in the blink of an eye.
The palace was filled with blood and body parts, but the emperor just looked at it indifferently and left with a dull look.
His royal demeanor left a deep impression on Zhuang Xiaohui, and his extremely cruel methods also gave her nightmares for a long time.
As early as in her previous life, she knew that the emperor's reputation as a tyrant was not groundless.
Therefore, she has always been very afraid of the emperor. If it were not for her brother's persuasion, she would not dare to go out with the emperor today.
"I thought you were fearless." Wan Jun, who was with her, laughed softly.
"Aren't you afraid?" Zhuang Xiaohui rolled her eyes.
"Of course I'm afraid too." Wan Jun immediately restrained his smile and showed a respectful look.
Zhuang Xiaohui raised her chin proudly, "My brother is not afraid. Look, he is the only one who dares to walk beside the emperor. Even my cousin has to hide behind him."
Wan Jun shook his head and smiled without saying anything. Could the relationship between Lord Zhuang and the Emperor be compared to Feng Yi's?
As they were talking, they had arrived at the poorest village outside the city. The villagers had already cleared the snow from the ground and were standing in the cold wind to greet them.
Seeing them about to kneel, Feng Ming immediately waved his hand: "Don't kneel, go back. Do what you need to do, don't worry about me. I'm just walking around and taking a look, no need to entertain you."
Who dared to disobey the emperor's words? Although everyone was very embarrassed, they still went back trembling with fear.
Zhuang Xiaohui finally climbed out of the carriage and quietly walked behind her brother. Feng Yi quickly took off his cloak and wrapped it around her, then stuffed a delicate and small heater into her hands.
Even after becoming the crown prince, his attitude towards those around him remained unchanged. As a result, he enjoyed a very good reputation in the court, and many people enjoyed dealing with him.
Zhuang Li looked back and was relieved to see that his sister was well taken care of.
While he was distracted, he suddenly slipped.
Feng Ming quickly grabbed his waist and pulled him into his arms. His free hand naturally rubbed his thin back, then rubbed his head, and asked in a low voice, "Did you fall?"
"It's okay." Zhuang Li shook his head, but his eyes were wide open because he was still in shock.
Feng Mingji naturally stroked the corner of his eyes, his tone gentle and helpless: "Walk carefully, watch your step."
Zhuang Li nodded and continued walking forward, but Feng Ming was still holding his wrist.
Seeing the intimate figures of the two from behind, Zhuang Xiaohui was stunned.
"Is my brother so favored?" she said in a low voice.
"More than that." Feng Yi shook his head, keeping it secret.
It seemed that the emperor was not cruel at all. Compared with the emperor in his previous life, the two had almost no similarities except for the same face. Even their auras were different. One was cold and sharp like iron, the other was gentle and warm like a spring breeze.
Zhuang Xiaohui seriously suspected that she had returned not to her previous life, but to some world related to her previous life.
While she was confused, Feng Ming and Zhuang Li had already walked into a farmyard to check the situation.
A young girl was sitting in the house spinning, her eight spindles turning rapidly, producing a steady stream of cotton thread. Her mother sat beside her, watching her with a satisfied smile on her face.
"Sorry to bother you." Zhuang Li spoke first.
The mother and daughter stood up and saluted in fear and trepidation.
"That's not necessary. Just sit down. Let's chat casually. Can your house survive this winter? Is there anything that needs repairing?" Feng Ming asked the question right from the start, quickly dispelling the fear of the mother and daughter.
"Oh, it's Manager Zhuang! Please come in, please come in!" The male host who came back from outside the house only knew Zhuang Xiaohui, so he greeted her warmly.
Zhuang Xiaohui was extremely embarrassed. She pointed at the emperor and was about to introduce him, but Feng Ming smiled and asked, "Do you know Xiaohui?"
Zhuang Xiaohui was confused.
Damn, was she still dreaming? Why did the emperor call her Xiaohui? His tone sounded so familiar.
The man of the house had just returned from hunting in the mountains, carrying two rabbits in his hands, and had not yet learned that the emperor was coming to inspect.
He thought this man, like Shopkeeper Zhuang, was a wealthy businessman, so he said with a smile, "Everyone in this area knows Shopkeeper Zhuang. If she hadn't let us borrow the spinning and looms, we wouldn't have made so much money this winter."
"Look," he said, pointing to the roof. "Before winter, every household here bought new tiles and added a few wooden pillars under the beams. Without extra money, no one could afford this. If we hadn't been prepared, many houses in the village would have collapsed."
He held up the rabbit in his hand and said, "Manager Zhuang, you must stay for dinner. I'll cook the rabbit for you right away. If it weren't for you leading everyone to make money, who knows how many people would have died this winter!"
"No, no, no, I am the one who has received such a great favor from you. Without you, I wouldn't be able to run this stall." Zhuang Xiaohui waved her hands repeatedly, her cheeks flushed red.
In front of so many first-rank officials, she didn't dare to accept the praise.
"Why are you being so modest? I've seen everything you've done." Feng Ming smiled and waved his hands, his face showing no sign of displeasure at being overshadowed.
Zhuang Xiaohui looked at her brother with sweat on her forehead. Seeing that he just curled the corners of his lips lightly without shaking his head or winking, her panicked heart gradually calmed down.
How could the Emperor be a tyrant? He is clearly very approachable!
Feng Ming looked at the mother and daughter in the room and continued to ask, "Is spinning difficult?"
"It's not difficult, you can learn it in no time. Look." The girl demonstrated quickly.
"How much money did you make this winter?"
"I earned three taels of silver. I can buy a lot of things for my younger brothers and sisters, my parents, and my younger brothers and sisters during the New Year." The girl's eyes sparkled and she looked very happy.
Zhuang Li interrupted and asked, "How old are you?"
"I'm sixteen."
"At sixteen, it's time to discuss marriage, right?"
"No." The girl blushed and shook her head, saying with great relief, "In early autumn, my parents originally wanted to help me find a good husband and collect some betrothal money. Our family is poor, and if I got married early, they would have less burden. But now there is no need for that. We have a spinning machine at home, and my mother and I take turns working day and night. The money we earn is enough to support my younger brothers and sisters. I have to wait until I am eighteen to discuss marriage. After all, I am considered the strong labor force in the family, and they can't do without me."
At the end of her words, the girl smiled proudly.
Although she was regarded as a burden by her parents in the early years, and even a commodity to be exchanged for betrothal money, she did not feel resentful. Instead, she was happy that she could create such high value for the family.
Now she has become an indispensable member of the family, so she has become bolder in what she says and does.
As the conversation progressed, the young woman pointed out the window and said, "The second girl next door was originally engaged to be married in the spring, but her parents called it off, saying they wanted to keep her until she turned eighteen. I'll spin the yarn, and she'll weave the cloth. We'll sell it to the shopkeeper together and split the profits fifty-fifty. The shopkeeper never lets us suffer a loss."
Being able to earn money at home is undoubtedly a great thing for girls in the countryside. Being a daughter-in-law means having to serve her husband, parents-in-law, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law. How can it be better than being a girl at home?
Furthermore, if they worked for two more years, they could save more money and buy a spinning machine or a loom as a dowry, which would surely make them more respected when they went to their husband's house.
The feeling of being able to control their own destiny made these girls stand up straight.
In the past, when they walked on the country roads, they always hurried by with their heads down and their chests hunched. Now they walked in groups, chatting and laughing.
The villagers would not find it strange or even scold them for being indecent. Because these girls became the main labor force to support the whole family, they gained respect.
Seeing this scene, Zhuang Xiaohui's nose was sore. It turned out that what her brother said was true.
As long as she is willing, she can really change the world slowly. Although it only affects a small group of people now, who knows what the future will be like?
Zhuang Xiaohui, forgetting her fear of the emperor, walked up to the girl and asked with a smile, "After the spring, I'm going to open a large factory, also spinning yarn. I'll pay three taels of silver a month. Will you come?"
"Come on, come on!" Before the girl could answer, her mother spoke impatiently.
The mother and daughter took turns working day and night, and only earned three taels of silver in several months. The treatment was naturally not comparable to that of a large factory.
"Manager Zhuang, can I go in this position?" The girl's mother pointed at herself cautiously.
"Of course you can, but the requirements are quite high. People who go there must be able to write and do math. Do you know how to do that?" Zhuang Xiaohui asked.
The mother and daughter shook their heads, and the light in their eyes dimmed.
The man who was eavesdropping outside the door felt a pang of regret. All the shops in the city wanted to hire clerks who could read and do math, so he didn't think Manager Zhuang's request was excessive.
But these days, how could a girl from a poor family know how to read and do math?
What a pity! If I had known earlier, I would have sent my daughter to a private school like her brother. Three taels of silver a month, that's thirty-six taels a year, enough for his family to build a big brick and tile house!
The more the man thought about it, the more regretful he felt. He couldn't even peel the rabbit skin in his hand.
Zhuang Xiaohui smiled and asked, "In the spring, I'm going to open a private school specifically for girls. There's no age limit, anyone can join if they want. After the course is completed, I'll hold an exam, and those with excellent scores can work in my factory, and you won't have to pay for the tuition. Would you like to give it a try?"
The girl and her mother opened their eyes wide with expressions of surprise.
Without waiting for their answer, the man of the house poked his head in from outside the door and shouted, "Go, go, both of them!"
As long as they can have enough food and clothing and live a better life, they are willing to do anything.
Zhuang Xiaohui smiled happily. She could already imagine how much change these educated women with independent personalities and ideas would bring to their families and society as a whole.
The blueprint her brother designed for her is becoming a reality bit by bit.
After being happy, Zhuang Xiaohui looked at the emperor anxiously, fearing that "the tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind."
Unexpectedly, the emperor gave him a thumbs-up and praised him, "That's a good idea. I'll help you run this school."
Eh? Is the Emperor so open-minded?
Zhuang Xiaohui was stunned.
Feng Ming continued, "If you can boost Dayan's weaving industry, I will give you an official position."
Zhuang Xiaohui: “!!!”
Who the hell said the emperor was a tyrant? The emperor was clearly the most wise and powerful monarch she had ever seen!
"I'm definitely going to be this official!" Zhuang Xiaohui patted her chest.
Yu Yuxian had to pretend to be a man to become an official, but she insisted on entering the court as a woman! She is Zhuang Xiaohui, a woman, so what? She can still accomplish great things!
Seeing Zhuang Xiaohui's excited look, Feng Yi silently held his forehead, Wan Jun tried his best to suppress his laughter, but Feng Ming turned around and took credit for himself with his eyes: Are you satisfied that I take such good care of your sister?
Zhuang Li poked his back lightly with his finger and drew a heart shape.
This is an exclusive symbol used by two people to express their love.
So Feng Ming also smiled happily.
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