"But even if you set up a porridge shop, how long can it last? Once they benefit, they will naturally think about getting something for nothing. In the long run, no one will be willing to earn money anymore."
Xu Nian admitted that what Lord Ding said was true, but the devil may be one foot tall, but the righteous path is ten feet tall.
How could she not have thought about this question?
Besides, even if she didn't know, the comments would tell her the answer.
After all, her live stream audience consists of enthusiastic viewers.
"The porridge shop always said they didn't want money, but they never said they didn't want anything else."
For the first time, Lord Ding felt inferior to the young-looking girl in front of him.
Having been the city lord for so long, to say he has no feelings for the people would be too heartless. If he truly had the ability, who would be willing to keep a group of refugees locked up every day, forcing them to live a life worse than pigs and dogs?
If... Xu Nianzhen can really solve it, how can it not be considered a good deed?
A sense of guilt inexplicably arose in Lord Ding's heart. The problem that he had been unable to solve for so long was now being solved by an outsider.
"Whatever brilliant plan the fairy has, I will do my best to cooperate."
Xu Nian found his change in attitude a little strange, but didn't think too much about it. She simply said, "The land for growing grain is of utmost importance. It's understandable that you don't want the people to get involved. I've looked at the land around the city these past few days, and it's suitable for growing some easy-to-grow fruits and vegetables."
Fruits and melons don't fill an empty stomach. If this were an ordinary village, the city lord would have already ridiculed Xu Nian for his unrealistic ideas.
But the situation is different here.
The city borders the capital almost to the north, and officials and dignitaries often stay there. Fruits and melons can be sold on the streets and also sold to inns and restaurants, allowing them to update their menus.
It's not like it's useless no matter what.
Even if the harvest is not ideal, it is more than enough to sustain people.
"All you need to do is find them some seeds and teach them how to plant them."
Xu Nian explained the pros and cons to Lord Ding, but after a long while there was no sound from the city lord, she turned around and realized that the city lord was staring at the porridge shop below, completely lost in thought.
She understood that the city lord would do as she said, so she left the city tower quietly, leaving the city lord alone there.
A few days later.
Lord Ding indeed bought many seeds and saplings of melons and fruits, and temporarily built many thatched huts around the city to provide shelter for the refugees while they grew melons and fruits.
The porridge shop's business is getting better and better every day.
Although Xu Nian gave Wang Jinmei all the silver that Lord Ding had given her without touching it, after a few days, she still abandoned the business and refused to go back.
He even confidently declared, "If you want to do it, do it yourself. I can't even lift my arms, and you expect me to distribute porridge to those troublemakers? Dream on!"
Xu Nian didn't make things difficult for them. They would be leaving soon, and the soup kitchen would have to stay open until the first batch of fruits and vegetables arrived before it could be taken down. Otherwise, the refugees wouldn't have enough to eat and naturally wouldn't want to work any longer.
The best solution would be to let the displaced people run the porridge shops themselves.
It sounds easy, but it took Xu Nian and the city lord several days of effort to stabilize the situation.
"Master Xu!"
Perhaps it was because Lord Ding's attitude towards Xu Nian was too obsequious, and also because the townspeople hadn't been bothered by Ding Yaozu for a long time.
After discussing it, they figured out how much of the credit went to Xu Nian.
So when they saw Xu Nian, they couldn't help but stuff all sorts of little trinkets into her arms. Some even wanted to arrange a marriage between their sons and this promising young girl.
Xu Nian said that as a Taoist practitioner, she purified herself and cultivated her character, which is why she rejected many unwanted romantic advances.
Today, the person who suddenly called out to her was none other than the shopkeeper from whom she had sent the carrier pigeon earlier.
Could it be that there's news?
Xu Nian, who had been thinking about Da Bao and Er Bao the whole time, quickly replied, "Has a letter been sent?"
The shopkeeper handed a robust pigeon to Xu Nian, saying, "This pigeon came with my carrier pigeon. I said it was a gift for the person who sent the letter, so I didn't open the letter to read it."
These were actually pigeons that Gu Zhan raised himself?
Xu Nian looked at the rather smug bird in her hand with a puzzled expression, and for a moment she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Why did she feel that this pigeon looked somewhat similar to Gu Zhan?
She wasn't the only one who felt this way.
[Just entered the live stream, is the streamer a noob?]
[Even without a recap, it's clear these are the general's pigeons; truly, like master, like pet.]
Stop focusing on the pigeons! Have you all forgotten what might be in the letter?
Please check if there's any news about the two kids; I'm so worried.
This must be how Yun's parents feel.
Xu Nian was even more anxious than them. She hurriedly tore the letter apart, and in the process, she couldn't control her strength and hurt the pigeon several times, but it stayed by Xu Nian's side with a look of unwavering loyalty.
"Greetings, Your letter."
The matter entrusted to me has been completed. The two of them happened to encounter people from the Minister's residence, were taken back, and everything is safe.
"When we meet in the capital, I will take you there to find it."
These few lines of text put Xu Nian's long-held anxiety at ease.
This also made her want to set off.
She stayed here these days partly for the sake of the city's residents, and partly out of fear of missing Gu Zhan's reply and losing news of her two children.
Now that everything has been resolved, it's time for them to leave.
Xu Nian went back to explain the departure to everyone and then went to say goodbye to the city lord.
The city lord had once longed to send Xu Nian away as soon as possible, and now he wished that Xu Nian could stay a little longer.
"If life in the capital is too hard, returning here is not a bad idea."
Seeing that Xu Nian did not answer, the city lord assumed that she looked down on his small place and quickly added, "I have no ill intentions. I will just use this place as a way out. However, before I leave, could you please ask the fairy to calculate whether this city can remain peaceful?"
Did you come here to have your fortune told while you were cultivating Taoism?
Xu Nian inwardly complained, but still nodded for a long time, looking like he was seriously calculating, and said in the same old official language, "As long as we don't do anything against our conscience, the prosperity here can last."
"Thank you for your guidance, Fairy!"
Xu Nian nodded, bid farewell to the city lord, and the next morning led the villagers, who had already recovered, away from the increasingly prosperous city.
They were now very close to the capital. Everyone was holding their breath and traveled day and night. In just one day and one night, they arrived at the gates of the capital.
Looking at the impressive plaque in front of them, everyone couldn't help but swallow hard.
Wang Jinmei had never seen anything like this before. She stared in disbelief and exclaimed, "Good heavens, this plaque alone could probably buy... buy ten courtyards in the whole village, right?"
"Ten rooms? That's probably enough to rent out the entire village!"
Is this the capital city?
The villagers chattered amongst themselves as they walked, but just as they reached the entrance, two long spears blocked their way.
"Where did this country bumpkin come from, daring to trespass into the capital?!"
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