"Uncle Wang, here you go. This is the road repair document that I asked Sister Liu Xu to write for me. Take a look, and if it's okay, let's repair some roads, shall we?"
Road construction is a project that offers some benefits but no return. Unlike repairing city walls, which are things that can be seen with the naked eye, road construction is mainly aimed at improving people's lives. And how many years will it take to recoup the money spent on road construction?
Wang Zheng hesitated for a moment, picked up the document from Huo Xiaolong's hand, looked at it for a while, and asked...
“Long’er, do you know how much it costs to repair roads? Let’s not talk about other places, just look at those mountain roads outside the county to Pingyang County. Even if we use cement to repair them, it will cost several thousand taels of silver.”
“How long will it take to break even? Uncle Wang isn’t someone who cares about political achievements or tax revenue, but this is really too long, it might even take several generations…”
The prefect knew that the little girl had a knack for making money through business and couldn't bear to see others suffer. Despite being so young, she always wanted to help others.
"Uncle Wang, I previously gave 80,000 taels of silver to refugees from the south. Do you know how much I've earned in the past few years?"
Wang Zheng shook his head, and the little dumpling continued.
"Anyway, I already broke even last year."
She still didn't tell Wang Zheng how much money she had made, afraid that her uncle would be discouraged. Money is like that; it's static when it's just sitting there, you have to make it circulate.
This is different from doing business. Huo Xiaolong had an attitude that she didn't care whether she made a profit or not. This money was not for herself, but for those who were struggling.
With the right timing, location, and people, these individuals ensured that her money didn't go down the drain.
"As long as it is convenient for them to travel, they can spend more time studying how to grow crops well. Tax revenue will naturally follow. It would be even better if some of them could come to the county to do some small business or set up a stall. When they go back, they will surely bring back a sesame seed cake for their children."
"Uncle Wang, trust me, you definitely won't lose out."
As for when they could break even, Huo Xiaolong couldn't guarantee it. She could only say that she would help pay some money, or rather, that Fengyuelou would help pay some.
There's nothing to do with the money in the building. The monthly business dividends are just sitting there. We don't expect the money to have babies. Since that's the case, we might as well use it to help Long'er repair the road.
At least it's good to accumulate good karma, right?
Cen's mother and He Yi thought that the most expensive thing for ordinary people is to get sick and treat illnesses. Now, Doctor Gu treats them for almost no money. The main reason is that the old lady doesn't have time to calculate. She gets a headache every day watching her little disciple and Huo Xiaolong acting crazy.
"This is... half of what my mom and I contributed, Uncle Wang..."
Huo Xiaolong stared longingly at the prefect, while Wang Zheng glanced at Hua Luan sitting behind the little girl. The woman gestured to her husband to look at the little dumpling's adorable appearance.
You wanted a daughter, didn't you? Come on, take a look, this is your daughter.
Unlike the little tyrant who usually runs rampant and dominates the streets of Pingyang County, this is how he asks for favors: "If you can handle it, you can have the baby; if you can't, don't look at me."
What are you looking at me for? I can't take it either.
Wang Zheng wanted to get his wife out of the predicament, but she remained unmoved.
"Uncle Wang, please reconsider, okay?"
The man felt his official hat was about to fall off, and he wanted to agree right now. Wang Zheng looked at Hua Luan pitifully with his puppy-dog eyes.
The woman cleared her throat.
"Ahem—Since Long'er wants to get it repaired, Aunt Hua will agree. We'll split the money in half, and Aunt Hua will give it to you. It won't go through the government. If it gets recognized, we'll put it on Long'er's behalf, okay?"
Huo Xiaolong shook his head vigorously.
"No, then let's put the blame on Anfengyue Tower and my mother. I'm family too. If they say the tower is good, I'll be happy."
"Okay, whatever you say."
Hua Luan knew the yamen's accounts well; there were only two thousand taels of silver in the accounts at most, so even if Wang Zheng wanted to give it, he couldn't.
However, she was different; she had the money left by the Crown Princess, and she had also invested in some businesses with Ah Cen.
"Aunt Hua is still the best."
Seeing the little thing that had been clinging to his official robes and shaking pitifully just moments before vanish in an instant, replaced by someone rushing into Hua Luan's arms calling out "Auntie, Auntie," the man felt a pang of jealousy.
Honestly, Huo Shuwen is really lucky.
Why didn't this daughter come into his family? She's so cute and clever, and she can even be so sweet and call people "Daddy" in a soft, sweet voice. Wang Zheng is thinking of going to the brothel tonight to steal the child.
"Long'er, slow down, don't run and fall."
The man was still in a daze as he watched Huo Xiaolong's figure disappear into the gate of the yamen.
Hua Luan pinched his arm, then said
"Don't even think about it. This is the amount of pocket money Long'er gets each month," the woman said, holding up five fingers to her husband.
"Your monthly income is barely enough to support her."
That day, Hua Luan and Cen Ang carefully calculated Huo Xiaolong's monthly expenses. Even if the child spent money on himself, he wouldn't spend more than fifty taels a month. But Huo Xiaolong likes to boss people around. Almost all the Mo family members who came to Lu Wangji's wedding last time stayed. You should ask them if you need to pay them for doing something for you.
Also, Huo Xiaolong would buy each of the little beggars who went to school during the day and worked at Fengyue Tower at night a grilled sausage whenever they came.
Even though it's something you make at home, you still need to keep good records.
The school has very little meat, so the children's nutrition is not quite up to par. Every day, the children bring their own water pouches, and the little dumpling can squeeze some cow's milk or goat's milk for each of them, along with a grilled sausage to supplement their nutrition.
Three years is enough time for those children to remember Huo Xiaolong's kindness.
Huo Panli played a key role here. Whenever someone became a little lax and had the idea of not wanting to study properly, the little girl would ask someone to bring a beggar from a neighboring county or village to lead them to their place of residence.
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