Everyone knew the importance of this matter. The county magistrate didn't release them until late at night. It was too late, so the constables made do with lodgings in the county.
He Zifeng has a house in the county, so he won't go back to the village. He has to get up early tomorrow.
But as soon as he returned to his house in the county town, he saw that the kerosene lamp in the room was on.
He Zifeng followed the light inside and found Qiu Yu setting out a meal. It was late at night and he was a little hungry, and he could smell the delicious aroma emanating from the food.
Qiu Yu was pleased to see him return and said, "You've come back at just the right time; I had just finished cooking."
He Zifeng had a soft heart, and looking at Qiu Yu, he asked, "Why didn't you go back to the village?" He reached out his hand, and Qiu Yu snuggled up to him, obediently letting him hug her.
He Zifeng pulled him into his arms.
Qiu Yu said, "I went back to the village, but seeing that it was getting late and you hadn't returned home yet, I knew there must be something going on at the yamen, so I rushed back by carriage." If He Zifeng hadn't returned, she would have packed his food in a food box and sent it to him. Their restaurant was well-informed; they'd heard that all the officials were repairing the city gates, so she knew he'd be busy soon.
He Zifeng said, "Nonsense, you shouldn't have driven a carriage here so late at night." It was pitch black, and the road was dangerous.
Qiu Yu knew he had acted impulsively, so she shrank back and was scolded. She then wrapped her arms around He Zifeng's neck and gave him a pleading kiss.
He Zifeng rarely received a sweet kiss from Qiu Yu, who held him tightly in her arms.
Qiu Yu felt a little embarrassed by the hug and struggled to get up, saying, "Here, eat quickly. It won't taste good if it gets cold." There wasn't enough time, so she only made rice, stir-fried sausage, and boiled cabbage.
He Zifeng said, "Let's eat together." He took Qiu Yu's hand, but frowned slightly; Qiu Yu's hand was a little cold.
It gets cold quickly in late autumn, and Qiu Yu was still wearing the same clothes he wore during the day. He Zifeng quickly took off his coat and draped it over Qiu Yu's shoulders.
Although there wasn't much good food, the two of them were really hungry and ate all the food and rice. It was already late at night.
A full stomach makes one sleepy, so He Zifeng went to light the kang (heated brick bed). The houses in the county were not usually inhabited and were somewhat cool.
Qiu Yu was afraid of the cold, so she clung to He Zifeng. She was probably really sleepy, because she fell asleep in no time.
Having his loved one sleeping beside him made He Zifeng feel very at ease.
The next morning, as they were both used to getting up early, Qiu Yu was about to go to the shop when He Zifeng said, "There's been some business at the yamen recently, so I might be coming back very late every day. You don't need to wait for me for dinner, and you're not allowed to take the carriage over late at night."
Qiu Yu nodded.
He Zifeng went to the yamen, where a full complement of people had come.
Excluding He Zifeng and Constable Zhu, there were still forty-four yamen runners on this side. Some vacancies hadn't been filled, and there was no time to recruit more. Constable Zhu divided the men into two teams, sending twenty-two strong and capable men into the team repairing the city wall.
He Zifeng led the remaining people to check how many people were currently in the county town. The situation was relatively better in the villages below, as the grain harvest had just been completed and they had rosters to keep track of the population.
He Zifeng divided the people into three groups of six. Each group was assigned a specific area, and He Zifeng led the rest of the group to check each household one by one.
They quickly got to work. The bailiffs had to knock on doors to register people.
He Zifeng, Xie Rui, and Bingzi formed one group, while the other two formed another group.
This is no easy task. Some people aren't home, and others are home but won't open the door. Occasionally, you'll encounter someone who opens the door, but they're trembling, as if they're afraid of getting into trouble. You have to be very careful when talking to them.
"Sir, what's wrong?"
He Zifeng said, "It's nothing, the county magistrate just wants to check how many people are in this county."
Everyone felt much more at ease after hearing this.
He Zifeng asked from the side, and Xie Rui wrote.
After an hour of searching, Xie Rui's hands were shaking from the exertion.
He Zifeng took it and wrote it down. He checked on many households that morning. Some familiar merchants even came over to ask what had happened when they saw them busy.
This has caused quite a stir.
Before long, the county magistrate sent someone to summon He Zifeng and Constable Zhu back, but of course, their work couldn't stop.
He Zifeng arrived rather late. By the time he reached the county government office, the merchant guild leader and people from the brokerage firm had already come.
These two are local bullies in the county government; even the county magistrate didn't host a special banquet for them when he took office.
When the clerk was in office, he caused the county magistrate a lot of trouble, but the county magistrate resolved them all one by one. Others dared not underestimate the county magistrate's power.
The county government had started building city walls and conducting investigations again recently, which made them somewhat uneasy. Just as they were about to come up and inquire, the county magistrate invited them over.
When the county magistrate saw that his two most capable subordinates had returned, he said, "You two are the most powerful people in the county. I have some things I'd like to ask for your help with."
The two men quickly straightened up. For the county magistrate to say "please," the matter must be quite important. They replied, "We dare not accept such an honor. Please feel free to ask us for anything, sir. We will do our best to help, however small it may be."
Since the clerk got into trouble, there has been no check and balance, and now the county magistrate has absolute power.
These local tyrants, however powerful, are no greater than the law. Besides, the mining area twenty miles away is also under the control of the imperial court. It would be easy for him to send someone to deliver a message and transfer more manpower. They no longer dare to be as arrogant as when the county magistrate first arrived.
The magistrate said, "I've treated you all like family today, and I guess you've all noticed the unusual situation in the county."
The fact that neither the chamber of commerce president nor the people from Yaxing spoke was considered an admission of consent.
The county magistrate said, "There may be a snow disaster in a few days."
As soon as he finished speaking, the chamber of commerce president's face twitched. It had snowed just yesterday, and it was melting as it fell, so no one took it seriously. To say there was a snow disaster based on such a small amount of snow was far-fetched.
I thought something serious had happened. Now it seems rather absurd.
The man from the caravan glanced at the president of the chamber of commerce, as if giving him a reminder. The two of them were somewhat in sync; no matter how much they suspected something, they couldn't show it in front of the county magistrate.
The shop owner said, "Sir, if there's anything you'd like me to do, please let me know."
The county magistrate knew they wouldn't believe him; he himself had been skeptical until now. But the letter had already been sent, and since it was a matter of prevention, he couldn't hesitate. The transition from autumn to winter in their area was extremely rapid; the temperature would drop in just a few days. If they didn't prepare in advance, their prophetic abilities would be wasted.
The magistrate said, "I want you to join forces and prevent the merchants from raising prices."
Upon hearing this, the president of the chamber of commerce said with a hint of bitterness, "Sir, these people may not listen to me."
The magistrate said, "This is a natural disaster. Everyone should work together. Making money at this time is just taking advantage of the disaster. If there are any merchants who are so reckless, I don't mind making an example of them."
Officer Zhu quickly added, "The magistrate knows how hard you work, but if you do a good job, he won't forget it. You make a lot of money every day, so this is to give the people a way to survive! If a snow disaster really comes, everyone will suffer." These two men often treated Officer Zhu to meals and were on friendly terms with him.
Seeing that he had spoken, the merchant guild leader said, "Okay, I will do my best."
Ya Xing said, "Your kindness is a blessing to our county. As long as you have this sentiment, I thank you on behalf of all the people in the county."
The merchant's association president was somewhat disgruntled. No wonder he was able to become the owner of the business; he had such a silver tongue that he could turn black into white.
The head of the merchants' association, fearing that the county magistrate would think he wasn't trying hard enough, made another statement.
The magistrate said, "Thank you both."
After finishing, the county magistrate, along with Constable Zhu and He Zifeng, and several keys to the storeroom, left together.
When He Zifeng first saw the granary, the grain was piled up like a small mountain, which was very impressive.
This year's harvest was bountiful, and the sight of these corn grains brought a great deal of peace of mind to everyone. This grain, once released, would be enough to feed the entire county for two months. Afterwards, the adults led the two boys to two other rooms, where they found thousands of kilograms of cotton and various kinds of homespun cloth. All of this had traditionally come from tax collection. Normally, it was locked in the warehouse, left unattended to grow mold and be infested with insects.
The county magistrate's men selected all the best pieces, washed them clean, dried them, and stacked them up. There were over a thousand bolts of cloth, plus a stockpile of salt. The county magistrate owned a spice shop, so salt and other such items were easier to obtain.
After seeing all this, Officer Zhu felt somewhat ashamed. The county magistrate had done so much right under his nose, and he hadn't known a thing.
Officer Zhu said, "Sir, you are indeed well-prepared."
Three villages failed to pay taxes this year. They have now been consolidated into one village.
The county magistrate said, "Go and take these things over there, and have them make some cotton-padded coats." When a snow disaster strikes, the most important thing is to keep warm, and cotton-padded coats can be lifesavers in critical moments.
In those villages where no taxes were paid, the men went out to build city walls, leaving behind elderly people, children, daughters, and sons. They didn't waste their labor; they paid off their debts with their work. As for making clothes, there was no need to worry, as almost every village had skilled tailors.
Making clothes is not difficult. You just need to cut them to a certain size, sew them together, and stuff them with cotton. If a few people work together, it can be done very quickly.
He Zifeng said, "Sir, leave this matter to me."
Officer Zhu was also vying for it.
Finally, the county magistrate said, "Alright, young man, go down there and get some experience." He sent He Zifeng off, then said to Constable Zhu, "The county can't be without a capable person. You'll have to stay by my side."
Upon hearing the magistrate's words, Officer Zhu's face immediately lit up with joy, and he said, "Sir, you can rest assured with me here."
When the group that had been investigating returned at noon, they wanted to report to He Zifeng, but they heard that He Zifeng had been called to the countryside to do some work again, and they had to find Constable Zhu.
Officer Zhu had just gone to the city gate again, worried that the other party might be slacking off while he was away. He hadn't even had a chance to rest when he was called back to investigate the population. He was busy all morning, completely dizzy, and by the time he remembered to eat, it was already evening.
The red-light district was alive with song and dance at night, with the guild leader leading a group of singers and dancers to entertain the crowd. Large merchants like the Xie and Gong families sent their heads. A dozen or so smaller merchants also attended. All the prominent figures in the county were present.
They heard that the county magistrate had summoned the association chairman and were all curious about what it was about, but the chairman remained silent. After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, some of the men started flirting with the women. At this rate, they were bound to expose their true colors in less than fifteen minutes.
The president told the women to step back.
A few people were enjoying themselves, though they were slightly dissatisfied. But the chairman was a member of the Qian family. Although the Qian family wasn't as high-profile as the Xie or Gong families, they shouldn't be underestimated, after all, the Qian family's business had expanded to the capital.
What remains in the county now is just a branch, and in business, connections are paramount. Even the Xie and Gong families in the county treat the chairman with great respect. Not to mention these smaller merchants.
Even if they felt dissatisfied, they didn't dare to say it.
The chairman said, "The county magistrate only asked me for one thing: he said there will be a snow disaster this year. No matter what business you are in, you must not sell at high prices."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room fell silent, speechless for a long time. They needed time to process such a big piece of news.
Prices cannot be raised due to the snow disaster.
We're all in business, so we all have a lot on our minds. He said, "Huh?"
"No wonder the county magistrate has to do so many things."
If that's true, it's definitely worth manipulating. Why should the county magistrate stop them from making money?
The chairman, who had dealt with these people for many years, knew exactly what kind of people they were. He said, "Since the county magistrate was able to tell you such important news, he must have been prepared. Anyone who's stubborn can try. We'd like to see just how sharp the county magistrate's guillotine is."
As soon as he finished speaking, even the craziest people were a little flustered.
Xie Jia said, "I know what to do." He was the first among the major merchants present to express his opinion.
Gong Xiyuan has retired, and his eldest son, who is known as Boss Gong, is now in charge.
He was somewhat resentful, but the clerk they had been supporting for so many years had fallen from power. Now, the county magistrate held absolute authority.
Back then, the Gong family clearly sided with the clerk, which meant they were on the opposite side of the county magistrate.
Hearing about such a big matter, he needed to discuss with his family whether to switch allegiance to the county magistrate or seize on the county magistrate's weakness to force him to submit.
Boss Gong didn't say anything, but the small business owners were getting anxious to stock up on goods. It's only late autumn now, and there are still three months until the Lunar New Year. They hadn't planned to stock up on New Year's goods so soon before. But after hearing this news, no matter how business is, they have to get their goods in first.
The chamber of commerce president was worried and ordered his staff to keep an eye on them to see if they were up to any tricks.
He said both kind words and threats several times last night, but everyone just let them go in one ear and out the other, not taking them to heart at all.
As soon as the chairman got up in the morning, his right eyelid started twitching incessantly. He didn't even eat breakfast. A while later, the servant he had sent out returned and said, "Master, something terrible has happened. Half of the grain shops in the county have closed down."
The president was immediately shocked and furious: "What?"
The servant said from the side, "Xile Grain Shop, Sihui Grain Shop, and several other grain shops are not open today." These are grain shops that the people of the county often go to buy grain from.
The chairman's face turned pale. All those words he had spoken yesterday were for nothing. The county magistrate had summoned them to gradually make his move, but who would have thought that they would defy the county magistrate and refuse to even sell now, since they were not allowed to raise prices.
This is the worst thing.
The guild master's servant saw him panting heavily and quickly came over to pat his back and help him catch his breath: "Master, please calm down."
The chairman said, "No wonder these officials dislike merchants. They openly defy the government for a little bit of profit."
The servant said, "These people are short-sighted. They'd even try to steal money from a pot of boiling oil. How could they not be tempted by such a huge profit?"
The chairman said, "Go check if the Xie and Gong families' rice shops are still open."
The servant rushed out, knowing the matter was urgent, and rode out on horseback. The round trip took about fifteen minutes. He returned and said, "Everything's open."
The chairman was relieved and said, "Go and call the owners of the other rice shops to me."
The servants hurried over to invite them, but all of them feigned illness and refused.
The chairman was at his wit's end, so he immediately wrote a letter asking the Xie family grain shop in the provincial capital to get more grain.
He also had a grain shop in the county town, but it was very small and had always been barely noticeable.
He had just finished writing the letter when he received a message from the county magistrate, summoning him to the yamen. The chairman, uneasy, gave the messenger some loose silver to try and find out what was going on. The man replied, "The county magistrate is furious; you'd better pray for yourself."
The president's heart skipped a beat.
There aren't that many secrets in the county. Yesterday, when the chairman hosted a dinner for those merchants at Flower Street, their conversation was already overheard by others.
It got out, and at first only a few people were talking about it; nobody believed it.
After all, it's only October, how can anyone predict a snowstorm? Besides, such talk sounds ominous, and anyone who dares to mention it will be scolded by their elders. But when they woke up in the morning and found the grain store closed, everyone panicked completely.
"Could what they're saying be true? Is there really going to be a snow disaster?"
"What should we do? We don't have enough food at home."
People in county towns generally don't hoard grain. After the new grain comes to market, the old grain is sold at a discount, and thrifty people usually wait for that time. Also, unlike villages, the county doesn't buy grain in bulk to last a year. They buy only what they need, and now they're caught off guard.
Everyone was in a rush to buy grain, and chaos ensued.
This sense of panic spread.
The county magistrate was furious. He had planned out almost every step, but the merchants messed things up, putting him in a passive position. He summoned the merchants' association leader and gave him a good scolding.
The chairman also felt wronged: "I've already told my family to send as much grain as possible here. If it were all my grain, I would definitely support you without hesitation, but you can't judge a book by its cover, and I didn't want this to happen."
The county magistrate was angry but had no choice but to post a notice.
The locals were worried and didn't know what was going on, so when they saw this, they immediately gathered around and asked, "Is there really a snow disaster?"
The constables were surrounded by people and said, "Our county magistrate said that there is plenty of grain in the county, so everyone can rest assured. As for the snow disaster, it may or may not happen. Everyone can prepare more firewood, so that even if you don't need it, it won't be wasted. The county magistrate personally inquired with the merchants and said that the grain is already on its way, and once it arrives, it will be available for everyone to buy." Everyone had grain at home. It was just that this rumor, coupled with the closure of the grain shops, made them anxious.
Hearing everyone's explanations, I finally felt a little relieved.
...
He Zifeng returned from the village and, passing through the crowd on the street, heard about the matter. Without stopping, he went directly to the county government office. The officials at the office were all on duty, except for Constable Zhu.
Officer Zhu saw him and asked, "Why are you back?"
He Zifeng said, "The amount of cotton that can make a certain number of garments is fixed. Several villages are working together, and everyone wants to do their best; no one dares to slack off. I don't have to stay there." So he came back.
The villagers were quite happy, thinking the authorities would finally punish them. Unexpectedly, the authorities gave them work and even provided a cook to prepare meals every day. They didn't have to worry about going hungry and worked very diligently.
Upon hearing this, Officer Zhu said, "You've worked hard too, go back and rest."
He left the county office and went straight back to the village to find Shuanzi. Shuanzi said that he had collected another 5,000 jin of grain, and had also placed an order for another 10,000 jin from other villages, which had cost him a considerable amount. The rest was collected for three copper coins.
He Zifeng was pleasantly surprised and took the five thousand catties back to the cellar in the county.
They found the county magistrate and said that he had some grain and could provide 5,000 catties if needed.
The county magistrate said, "You should keep these. If you really run out, then use these!" In any case, he was somewhat moved by He Zifeng's actions.
The county did not close all its grain stores. The Xie and Gong families raised their grain prices slightly. Fine grains usually only cost 4 to 5 wen, but now coarse grains are already 4 wen. However, there is no limit on quantity, so everyone is buying 50 jin at a time, afraid that they will not be able to buy any later.
It wasn't just food; coal mines were also in high demand.
These things are supposed to be prepared for winter. It's still a long way off for winter, but everyone is already buying them.
Merchants used to hope to sell more, but now they are reluctant to sell any amount they can get their hands on. They have a strange sense of panic and want to secretly raise prices, but they have received warnings from both the county magistrate and the merchant guild leader, so they dare not.
The panic buying of grain lasted for several days, and finally, the Qian family's grain arrived—a total of twenty carts, completely full, stretching as far as the eye could see. Seeing this, the common people were less anxious. As long as there was grain, that was enough; the Qian family had been releasing their grain for three copper coins each. With so much grain released, the Gong and Xie families' prices had also dropped to three copper coins. The common people couldn't resist going to buy some more.
The construction of the city wall was successfully completed, and everyone then threw themselves into the task of statistics, working tirelessly for several days without sleep. Everyone's eyes were bloodshot and their voices were hoarse, but they finally managed to count the number of people: their county town and the villages under its jurisdiction totaled 45,000.
It is evident that the underreporting in various counties was very serious; when the county magistrate took over the county, he said the population was 100,000.
He Zifeng went back to the shop and told everyone that from now on, the porridge would be thinner and without sugar. They would only make one type of porridge, with rice and broth clearly separated. They used to eat a lot of rice, about 200 jin (100 kg) a day. Now, food is scarce, and many people come here to save a little food! He hoped they could help the truly hungry poor, not just wealthy diners who come for the delicious food.
A fellow villager who worked at He Zifeng's shop asked, "Is what's being said in the county true?" He Zifeng nodded. Everyone was somewhat uneasy. The news spread back to the village and then to the outside world. Every village sprang into action, relying on the mountains for sustenance and the rivers for fishing, stockpiling as much grain and winter clothing as possible, but prices for everything were rising recently.
However, while some were happy, others were sad. The He family hadn't wanted to sell their grain to He Zifeng, fearing ridicule. The grain remained unsold, and now that prices had risen, well-informed people were coming to buy it, offering three and a half coins per pound. Don't underestimate that extra three and a half coins per pound; it adds up.
The He family sold 300 jin of grain. They will sell the rest slowly. Right now, only their family has grain, so they can take advantage of this time to make a small profit.
He Donglai is feeling quite pleased with himself right now; it's the first time he's felt so satisfied since selling the soy sauce shop.
Ever since the county learned of the snow disaster, there had been a somber atmosphere in the town. Soon, the private school closed for the holidays 10 days early. He Zifeng had something to do and couldn't make a special trip, so only Qiu Yu went to pick up Ranran.
Ranran kept looking around, asking, "Where's my dad?"
Qiu Yu'er said, "He's busy with something, so you have to be good."
Ranran was a little unhappy, but didn't say anything else. She pouted and looked around again, as if she could conjure up her father with a blink of her eye. But after thinking for a moment, she said, "When will Father come back to find me? I've learned several poems and I want to recite them to him!"
Qiu Yu said, "He will definitely come back during the New Year."
Ranran responded with an "oh".
...
He Zifeng didn't pick up his son because he was doing something more important.
The county magistrate ordered them to organize a group of people to go out and purchase some livestock and poultry. The round trip would take about 20 days, and they were to carry 300 taels of silver, along with pigs, chickens, ducks, and the like. They had to rush back along the way, which was tough on those who grew up in the county town. People like Xiong Gebingzi had a great advantage. Originally, He Zifeng was also supposed to go, but the county was busy with many affairs and needed someone in charge. Hearing that He Zifeng was going, the county magistrate couldn't bear to let him go and insisted on keeping him behind.
He Zifeng is constantly busy. He doesn't even have time to go home. Sometimes, when he finishes work and it's too late, he just spends the night in the county town.
It wasn't just him; the other yamen runners did the same.
Ten days later, it started snowing in the county. At first, it was just a light snowfall, but it cast a shadow over everyone's hearts. Everyone knew this snow was coming in strong, and sure enough, it snowed for ten days straight. Each snowfall brought a drop in temperature, and by mid-October it was already very cold; even wearing two pairs of pants, you were still shivering. The eaves and roadsides were covered in snow, and there were hardly any people walking on the streets in this weather because the snow was so thick.
He Zifeng went to the poor village and retrieved all the clothing that had been made day and night—over a thousand pieces in total—which were still being worked on. These people had food, which was better than staying at home. At least they had warm beds to sit on. These thousand pieces of clothing would be of considerable use in the county town; the county immediately organized a snow-shoveling team.
Wearing padded coats, the yamen runners went door to door, shouting at the top of their lungs, "The snow-clearing team is recruiting! Anyone who comes can get a padded coat!" Cotton and coarse cloth were now sold out. The wealthy were alright, but the poor only had a single layer of clothing to get through the winter. In previous years, it wasn't cold, and winter would pass quickly. But now the snow was falling incessantly, and without warm clothes, they might not survive the winter. Hearing that they could get a padded coat just by shoveling snow seemed like a good deal.
Many people braved the snow to inquire, their lips turning blue from the cold. Some quick-thinking individuals even ran straight into the government office.
Seeing this, everyone followed.
Upon arriving at the yamen, each person held a cup of ginger tea. Their bodies gradually regained sensation from their stiffness, which took some time.
After drinking a little, I gradually felt warm all over. I saw He Zifeng in the warm room.
"Sir, is it true that we can get cotton-padded clothes if we work?"
"Yes!" He Zifeng said to them, "You have to work a full month to get a set of clothes, and you can get another set in the second month!" Everyone was very happy to hear this. With so many people in their families, having an extra thick set of clothes would give them a better chance of survival.
They thought the cotton-padded coats they were given would be thin, but when they took out the neatly arranged clothes, everyone was surprised. The cotton-padded coats felt very thick and were clearly made of solid cotton.
They wouldn't even make such clothes for themselves normally, and they warmed up quickly after wearing them. They only came because they heard there were cotton-padded coats. But they didn't expect there would also be cotton-padded trousers and shoes.
This was such a pleasant surprise! My feet felt so comfortable and soft inside the cotton shoes. It was incredibly pleasant.
With this set of winter gear, I'm sure I can get through the winter.
On the first day, about thirty people signed up. The county government had just finished a census, and everyone knew where they lived. They were given their cotton-padded coats to take and could start working the next day. There was no fear of them refusing to pay for the coats. After returning home, many neighbors and relatives came over and were envious. Quite a few people came specifically for the thick coats. More than a hundred people came on the second day, and another hundred on the third day. No matter how many people came, they were all given coats.
After receiving the clothes, these people shoveled and cleared snow, painstakingly clearing a path through a foot-thick layer. This made traveling much easier.
He Zifeng had been busy for over ten days before it was his turn to rest. He went straight to the shop, only to find that the porridge they served had long since been replaced with plain thin porridge. However, they still gave away about 50 jin (25 kg) of rice every day, mostly to poor people who couldn't make ends meet. Those who were slightly wealthier rarely came anymore. The porridge was only good for filling their stomachs. People wouldn't brave the cold to eat such ordinary food.
He Zifeng asked the men, "The county is currently hiring. Would you like to go? Food and lodging will be provided!" The men who came here were thin and frail. Although they had food, they were just getting by day by day, having no means of survival. Hearing of this good opportunity, they were all eager to go. He Zifeng led them to a place, separating them by gender. Most of them had their heads shaved to prevent lice. There were also a few young beggars among them. He then had them wash themselves and change into new sets of coarse cloth clothes.
Although the fabric wasn't padded, they wouldn't need it since they were working indoors. They were given simple tasks, like cutting fabric scraps and sewing soles. They didn't get paid, but they got two meals a day. And the heated kang (traditional heated bed) here was a thousand times better than the dilapidated temple.
There was someone in charge of the cutting area. He Zifeng led the person to the person in charge and then went to another place, where things were also bustling with activity.
He Zifeng oversaw the county's acquisition of the tofu workshop. Every day, they produced fresh water tofu, dried tofu, and firm tofu. These products were inexpensive, tasted quite good, and were readily sold. A palm-sized piece of firm tofu cost two copper coins, affordable for everyone. Previously, the tofu workshop was run by an old man with his two grandsons. They could only make five slabs of tofu a day, but the government-run workshop had more people and could produce 200 slabs daily.
Even if they ate tofu every day, they wouldn't get tired of it. The tofu shop had high standards; not just anyone could get in. You had to be a neat and clean person. Once you were kept in the tofu shop, you were not only provided with food and lodging, but you also got paid. You received 100 coins a month, it was just a bit of hard work.
"The lord has arrived!"
"Thank you, sir!"
These people were all poor people who had nowhere else to turn, whom He Zifeng had found and recruited. They had food and clothing and even received money here, so they were all extremely grateful to him.
He Zifeng said, "I just came to check on things so as not to delay your work."
"It won't delay you, sir. We'll definitely do our best. You're the one who recruited us, so we certainly won't let you down!"
“Exactly,” the others, who were less articulate, chimed in.
He Zifeng said, "Alright, I understand!" Everyone was being too enthusiastic, and he was a little overwhelmed. He was a bit stunned for a moment before he quickly prepared to leave.
They grind soybeans to make soy milk, thankfully they're in a room. They sell what they can, and what they can't sell, they make into frozen tofu. The weather's cool now, so they can make as much as they want without worrying about it spoiling. Making a lot won't be a problem either.
After He Zifeng finished his work and returned to the county office, Zhu, the head constable, saw him and smiled: "I was just about to tell you! The people I sent to buy supplies are back, with 40 pigs and 200 chickens, ducks, and geese each!" There's not much to feed them in winter, so they can only cook the cheapest grains. These animals are very delicate and lose weight easily.
He Zifeng then looked at them; they were all exhausted. One said, "It gets colder the further we go!" Their bodies were at their limit; all they wanted to do was collapse and sleep.
They had endured a lot of hardship along the way. Buying these things required constant asking and haggling over prices, and they also had to protect them from theft. The livestock also had to eat, drink, and relieve themselves constantly. It was exhausting. Finally, they returned to the county town. Seeing He Zifeng and Officer Zhu felt like coming home.
The seven-foot-tall men all had tears in their eyes.
The closer they got to the county town, the more nervous they became. The entire route was covered in snow, and they had heard that refugees were already looting grain in other counties. They had been away for so long, and they were terrified that their own county would descend into chaos upon their return. Fortunately, when they came back, the county was still orderly.
He Zifeng and Constable Zhu knew they had worked hard and told them to go back and rest. Upon hearing this, the county magistrate said, "We bought them to eat meat; they can't afford to lose weight. Organize some men later and slaughter all these animals! We'll kill the pigs and eat pork!"
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