Of course it's impossible. If you cut down trees at will on private territory, the owner will go to jail if he reports it to the authorities!
Li Zhong could only mutter this in his heart. The fact that Qiao Xin attached so much importance to him meant that the matter had reached a point where it could not be delayed any longer.
In fact, he had heard the housekeeper complain that firewood was becoming increasingly difficult to chop and was expensive to buy.
I used to think that trees grow slowly in winter, so there are fewer trees to use. Wouldn't it be better to wait until spring when everything grows? Which town didn't survive this way?
Besides, there are still many people cutting wood in Laohu Town, but the price has risen from five cents per load to eight cents now.
Don't underestimate this increase of three cents; it speaks volumes!
"What should we do? We can't stop the villagers from cooking!"
“Planting trees, relying solely on natural growth cannot meet everyone’s needs, so people are needed to plant them.
I can let bygones be bygones, but from now on, I won't allow anyone to cut down trees on my mountain as they please. I'll come up with a set of rules and you can explain them to the people in the town.
Starting this year, every household will hand in 200 coins for the cultivation of saplings, and everyone must take three days out in mid-March every year to go up the mountain to plant trees.
If you don't want to participate or pay, you can do that, but from now on you are not allowed to go up the mountain to chop firewood anymore!"
“Receive… receive money?”
Qiao Xin didn't even raise her eyebrows, but her words were full of sarcasm: "This free stuff has been used too much, do you all think it belongs to you? My Qiao family has done our best to let you use it for free for so many years!"
Now that everyone's life is better and she no longer needs support, these welfare policies should be withdrawn.
Qiao Xin is not a sucker, and knows the truth that "a bushel of rice can support a benefactor, but a stone of rice can support an enemy." When doing charity, you must choose the right target. This group of people in Laohu Town are basically entering a life of being content with a small fortune, and they will not go hungry without any help!
"Any problem? If you're having trouble, I can ask Manager Cao to solve it!"
"No, no, I'll go inform everyone right away!"
Just kidding, even if there is, he has to say no, and I must do my best to solve it!
Li Zhong followed behind Steward Cao who had escorted him out, and after walking out of the door, he tentatively asked, "Steward Cao, what's wrong with the old lady? Why is she suddenly interfering with everyone's firewood-cutting business?"
"What else can we do? It's just that everyone has gone too far. It rained a few days ago, and yellow mud flowed down from the mountain, almost blocking the drainage ditch in the northern mountain area. The old lady went to a few hilltops for a walk, and when she came back she was so angry that she couldn't eat."
The land in the back mountain is like a leprosy patient's scalp, with bald patches here and there. It seems that everyone's property has been wasted. Some people even dare to cut down precious wood and sell it for money. If they hadn't been caught by our inspection team, wouldn't they be even more rampant in the future?
While the old lady is still willing to give everyone a chance to make amends, let's make it clear. If you really don't want to be ruthless..."
Li Zhong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly took over the conversation: "Don't, I promise to take care of this for you, and please persuade the old lady not to get angry!"
"Don't blame the old lady for being angry. If it rains heavily someday, without these trees, the earth, wood, and rocks on the mountain will form a flash flood, which will flood the town in the blink of an eye. Where will everyone escape? The Saltwater Town is a lesson for us. After so many years, it is still lying under the mud!"
Li Zhong wiped the cold sweat from his head and nodded repeatedly. Wasn't Xianshui Town buried underground after a mountain flood? Even the roofs of the houses have not been exposed yet!
Laohu Town must never repeat the same mistakes!
It seems that this is no longer a matter of one family, but a matter of the whole town!
No matter who owns the mountain, the Qiao family took the lead and everyone has benefited. Now they want to continue to develop these benefits. Isn't it normal to contribute money and effort? Why are you not convinced?
.........
The collective meeting in Laohu Town hasn’t been held for a long time.
It seems like it was just a few years ago when the mayor gathered together young and old with great fanfare!
At that time, the old lady led everyone to work hard, and everyone had such a pure heart, just working together to make their lives better.
But since Qiao Xin came back to the town, he punished a group of servants and farmhands who had made mistakes.
Some things have been changing quietly.
This person is really fickle. He was truly grateful to Qiao Xin at the beginning, and he is also truly blaming the Qiao family now. It’s just that their conditions are different now!
At the meeting today, everyone couldn't help but lean their heads towards the stage. When they saw that only Li Zhong and Manager Cao were sitting in the main seats, they felt a lot more relieved.
"I called you all here today to talk about our firewood business!"
The Gao family shouted, "Mayor, this is not a big deal. Is it necessary to hold a special meeting?"
Li Zhong immediately didn't like what he said. "Why is it not a big deal? Why is the price of firewood in our town rising every year? Don't pretend to be ignorant. It's because the trees nearby are almost destroyed by some people. The Qiao family allowed everyone to go up the mountain to chop firewood, but they didn't let you destroy it like this."
"From now on, anyone who goes up the mountain to cut firewood is only allowed to cut side branches, not the main trunk, let alone the valuable wood. And for those who go up the mountain to cut firewood to sell, for every one they cut, they must plant three. Every household must pay 200 coins per year to buy new saplings to fill in the gaps where trees have been cut down!"
Many people murmured: "Everything was fine, why did it suddenly change?"
Li Zhong was almost pissed off by these people. No wonder the old lady was unwilling to show up at the meeting and only let Manager Cao come. These people took advantage and even felt superior!
"How did it change? You all don't know. Is that your family's mountain? Have you made a penny from it in all these years? How dare you say it has changed with such a flattering face! Who among you is still in need of these little things? Don't pretend to be ignorant. The Qiao family has done its best to help you all over the years. Don't ask for more!"
Really, what is he trying to do all day long? He asks the Qiao family to help everyone, but when their help goes wrong, does that mean he made a mistake? In another town, which mayor would be as responsible and have a say as him?
It's all because of habit!
The Sun family could understand Qiao Xin's approach and was the first to stand up and express their support. Sun Weide, the eldest master of the Sun family, said, "The money and people should indeed be provided. When will the trees be planted? Just tell me, mayor, and I'll send a few more servants over. But it seems that it's hard to find saplings right now. How about I go and ask around?"
"Thank you, Grandpa Sun. The old lady has already made an order for the saplings, and they will be delivered tomorrow. Even if the villagers don't want to, the Qiao family will plant the trees.
But from now on, no one is allowed to go into the mountains to cut wood without permission. The old lady said that our family will not do things like draining the pond to fish, burning the bush to make farmland, and destroying our descendants."
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