Old Chen was silent for a moment, then sighed deeply, "Old woman, things have come to this, don't take it too hard, just let nature take its course!"
"That's true, but what am I going to do when Zhan Cai and his wife come back? I'm afraid they'll blame me!"
"You're overthinking it. Think about it carefully. This can't be entirely our fault. If Ruolan hadn't been causing trouble, things wouldn't have come to this. It's just her fate."
"Yes, what you said is absolutely right."
These words awakened Old Mrs. Chen, and her worries completely vanished.
“Old man, remember this: when Zhancai and the others come back, put all the blame on that brat Chen Qingqing. Only in this way can we avoid being blamed.”
"Okay, I'll do as you say."
"Okay, let's go check on Ruolan."
Upon entering the room, Grandma Chen saw Chen Ruolan sleeping soundly wrapped in a blanket, and she was finally relieved.
Old Chen frowned, looking thoughtful, and couldn't help but say, "Old woman, I think Ruolan seems to be heartless."
Old Mrs. Chen was taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"
"Normally speaking, when a girl is wronged, she would cry, make a scene, and even threaten to hang herself. But Ruolan is different. She neither cries nor makes a scene, acting as if nothing happened. Isn't that a bit abnormal?"
"You're such a jerk. Isn't this a good thing? You know what kind of temper Ruolan has. If she really gets angry, she'll definitely torment us old folks to death."
"Yes, yes, you're right, old woman, but I'm just curious, how can Ruolan be so carefree? Even in that state, she can still sleep."
"What's the big deal?" Old Mrs. Chen shook her head and smiled. "To say something I shouldn't say as a grandmother, I think Ruolan is quite satisfied with this rich man Fan, otherwise she wouldn't be so tired."
Old Chen was somewhat incredulous. "No way, according to you, our Ruolan is too unreserved."
"Look at you, you're even pretending. This is your first time experiencing lovemaking. Who could resist being reserved in this situation?"
Back when we got married, we acted all proper in front of others, but turned into beasts in private.
That was truly an inexhaustible well of water, an inexhaustible source of strength, as if it could be used day and night without ceasing.
"Think about it, how could she not be exhausted after a whole night?"
“What you said is really insightful and makes a lot of sense. I was just worried that Zhan Cai and his wife wouldn’t be willing, but since Ruolan is willing to marry Fan Tong, things will be much easier.”
"That's right. A woman marries a man for food and clothing. It's a blessing for Ruolan to marry Fan Tong."
"Yes, yes, yes, the Fan family is the leading family in our Qingshui Town. It's a blessing that Zhan Cai has such a son-in-law. In the future, Fan Tong will be his son-in-law, and everyone will have to give him face."
The elderly couple chatted enthusiastically, one after the other.
******
Confucius Academy.
Chen Han had been here for over a month before anyone knew it.
He was exceptionally intelligent, diligent, and had a photographic memory.
He always had a faint smile on his face and was very popular in the academy, deeply loved by the teacher.
Compared to Chen Han, Chen Zhancai paled in comparison.
He was insanely jealous and never got close to Chen Han. Instead, he would always talk badly about Chen Han behind his back and try to smear him.
With next year's college entrance exams drawing ever closer, the classes these past few days have become increasingly intense.
Master Ye has set a question for us today.
"In today's world, commerce is flourishing, but the tradition of agriculture as the foundation of the nation remains unchanged. If you were the local official in charge of a region, how would you balance the development of agriculture and commerce to ensure the prosperity of the area and the well-being of its people?"
As soon as the words were spoken, all the students began to discuss whether to prioritize agriculture or downplay commerce.
Some say, "We must prioritize agriculture, because the nation is based on agriculture, and only when the people have enough to eat can the country be stable."
Some people say, "Business is the foundation of commerce. Only by promoting commerce can a region become prosperous and its people live in peace and contentment."
Chen Zhancai stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "As the saying goes, food is the most important thing for the people, and agriculture is the foundation of the country. Agriculture is the foundation for the prosperity of the people and the strength of the country."
If I were to be a local official, I would prioritize agriculture, for agriculture is the foundation of a nation, and grain is the necessity of all people.
If grain is cheap and farmers are impoverished, the foundation of the nation will be shaken.
Therefore, we should encourage farming, reclaim more land, build water conservancy projects, ensure the right time for farming, and make sure there is a bumper harvest.
Commercial activities should be appropriately regulated to prevent them from developing excessively and disrupting agriculture.
Establish market regulations and strictly monitor the conduct of merchants to prevent unscrupulous merchants from hoarding goods and driving up prices. In this way, agriculture will prosper, commerce will be stable, and the region will be secure.
After hearing this, Chen Han recalled what Chen Qingqing had told him, pondered for a moment, then stood up, cupped his hands, and said...
"Master, I have a different opinion."
The students believed that as local officials, they should give equal importance to agriculture and commerce, and neither should be neglected.
As the saying goes, farmers rely on food as their heaven, and merchants prioritize profit; agriculture is the foundation, and commerce is the wings.
Agriculture is fundamental, concerning the basic needs of the people, and should not be neglected.
Prioritizing agriculture requires promoting new farming methods, introducing improved varieties, and increasing both the quantity and quality of agricultural production.
Promoting commerce is also a top priority. Roads should be built to facilitate the flow of goods, commercial taxes should be reduced to encourage business growth, chambers of commerce should be established to regulate businesses and ensure fair trade. Only by supporting agriculture and commerce can we achieve abundant wealth.
Encourage agricultural-commercial cooperation, allowing agricultural products to be sold far and wide through trade routes. When merchants become wealthy, their tax revenue increases, which is then used for agricultural development.
Furthermore, establishing agricultural and commercial schools will cultivate specialized talent. In this way, agriculture will flourish, commerce will prosper, the region will prosper, the people will be wealthy, and a peaceful and prosperous life will be achieved.
Master Ye nodded repeatedly after listening, his face showing admiration. "Chen Han, I didn't expect you to have such insights at such a young age. You are truly remarkable and your future is immeasurable."
Chen Han cupped his hands and said respectfully, "Thank you for your praise, Master."
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