"Then let's start construction tomorrow morning. Are 230 people enough to be responsible for bricklaying?" Although not all the villagers in Xinglin Village know how to bricklay, quite a few do. They were the ones who built the water tank. Those who don't know how are responsible for mixing the mud.
Uncle Yang nodded, "That's enough. With so many people, it will be finished quickly. By the way, these are the main beams we need, and the others. Get them ready, preferably dry ones, as damp ones are heavier. We'll be going now."
An Shuyi took it. "Okay, we'll prepare in advance. Mu Tou, take Uncle Yang there." After Mu Tou saw the man off, he returned and handed him the paper. "Have Changye take some men to the mountain to cut these beams."
"We don't need to make those windows and doors ourselves. We can buy them in Jinnan City. We'll buy what we can buy, and we'll make the rest ourselves."
Village Chief Lin nodded, "I understand, sister-in-law. I'll call a few people now and have them and Changye cut down the main beam first." Then they'll clean the bark and let it dry.
"Okay, go and make the arrangements. Also, send another person to Xinglin Village to inform the villagers that those who have time can come to work. It would be best if more than two hundred people could come."
"I understand, I'll go make the arrangements now." Village Chief Lin said and hurriedly left.
An Shuyi turned to look at Xia Hua, "Hua Hua, it's still early. Why don't we go to Jinnan City to find some suppliers for the dresses, and while we're at it, see if we can send the younger children from the village to the private school?"
Now that cholera is gone, it's a good time to send those children there. The younger girls should also be taught by a tutor. Even if they don't take the imperial examinations, they should at least be able to read and write.
Xia Hua nodded, "Okay, have someone prepare a carriage for you, and I'll go get some clothes." With that, she went to the workshop in the back.
Unfortunately, the two had only reached the village entrance when they encountered the prefect, so they had to cancel their plans and go another day. They returned to the village, led the prefect to the canteen, and had the other yamen runners stand guard outside.
After Xia Hua and the others sat down, she asked directly, "Prefect, what brings you here today?"
Prefect Xiao stood up and bowed deeply to the two women. "Thank you for your prescriptions, ladies. It was thanks to you that not too many people died in this cholera outbreak. I thank you on behalf of those people." If it weren't for the two ladies, he might have lost his official position, and even the lives of his entire family.
"The reason I came here this time is not only to deliver the money for medicine to the two ladies, but also because I have already written to the Emperor to inform him of their righteousness. The Emperor has now conferred upon the two ladies the title of Ninth Rank Imperial Consort."
An Shuyi and Xia Hua looked at him in surprise. Xia Hua said, "Didn't we already agree that you would handle the prescription yourself? If we need anything in the future, you can just help us out. Why did you have to write this down?"
Seeing their reaction, Prefect Xiao couldn't help but feel relieved. Luckily, he had submitted a memorial to the Emperor in advance. If he had discussed it with the two ladies beforehand, they would definitely have disagreed.
“My ladies, I don’t want to say this, but it is of great importance. In the entire He Chen Kingdom, there is not a single doctor. The imperial physicians have prescriptions to treat cholera, but my ladies can. If I do not report the truth, and if the Emperor finds out, my whole family will be killed.”
"Moreover, having this imperial decree is not a bad thing. As far as I know, the most profitable businesses of the two ladies are ice and Xuan paper. Although the other businesses are not the best, they are not bad either."
"Although I can protect the two ladies in Jinnan City, my reach is limited elsewhere. With a ninth-rank imperial edict, the two ladies don't need to worry, and those who want to steal the ladies' business won't dare to do so."
He wasn't stupid; he naturally knew what these two ladies wanted him to do—to intimidate anyone who tried to rob them in the future.
Xia Hua glared at him, thinking to herself, "Do you think they don't know all this?" It's just that it's too early now, and it's not appropriate to appear in front of the Emperor and the princes. It would be detrimental to their future allegiance. Otherwise, they could just take out some things, and they would be willing to accept anything, even something of the third rank, let alone the ninth rank.
An Shuyi looked at Xia Hua and, seeing that she didn't speak, said, "Then let's leave it at that. But when the official in charge of the investiture arrives, please inform us so we can be prepared. Also, you don't need to pay for the medicine; that's what we should do."
"Should be my ass! That old fox, all he cares about is taking money. The most important thing isn't the imperial edict. Right now, he's just worried that they'll blame him after the edict is issued."
Prefect Xiao nodded, "I will inform the two ladies in advance. As for the money, it still needs to be given. Here is two thousand taels of silver, which I have paid according to the price of the medicinal herbs."
An Shuyi pushed the silver over, saying, "I told you not to give it to me, take it to settle those people." Seeing that he didn't give her any more, she continued, "Sir, would you like to eat in our village, or go back now?"
They didn't have time to greet him; they'd better hurry up and leave.
Seeing their unpleasant expressions, Prefect Xiao said, "I heard that the two ladies are selling a kind of braised meat, so I'll shamelessly have a meal in your village before going back."
Hearing him say that, An Shuyi, though unwilling, stood up and said, "Then please stay here for a while, and I'll have them cook."
Since this cunning old fox is here, he should help her spread the word; otherwise, it would be a disservice to him for taking the initiative.
"Mrs. Wu, start cooking now. We'll eat a little earlier tonight. Make some braised pork and some stewed meat. Put everything that can be stewed in there. I'll set some aside to give away. Also, make scrambled eggs with tomatoes and braised chicken. You can decide on the vegetarian dishes yourself."
After making the arrangements, she went to the clothing workshop and picked up four different styles of dresses, all of which were extremely gorgeous. Finally, she picked up four sets of skincare products, all packaged in porcelain jars, including lotion, face cream, serum, and lip gloss.
Send these to the prefect's wife, and her business of making custom-made dresses and skincare products will boom. They make high-end goods, and it would be a loss to sell them cheaply to ordinary people. It would be best if wealthy families bought them.
Women love to compare themselves to others. If the prefect's wife uses it, then the wives of other officials, concubines, and wives of wealthy families will definitely ask about it and come to buy it. It's much better than them having to work hard to find a source of goods.
Everything else sells well and commands high prices, but this braised meat doesn't. It can only be sold in Jinnan City, not any further. Otherwise, how about vacuum packaging it? That way, it can be stored for a longer time and sold to other places, no matter how far away.
But packaging is a hassle. It's not as good as vacuum packaging as dried goods. I'll wait until tonight and discuss it with Huahua.
Fold and pack all the clothes and dresses into boxes. Put the skincare products in small boxes, then put them into the big box. The lids of the skincare products might fall off. The small boxes are only as tall as the porcelain jars so they can be held in place without being moved.
Everything is ready now. We can just pack some of the braised meat after we finish eating.
Xia Hua went to make arrangements while reading. She also went out and called Village Chief Lin to accompany the Prefect on a tour. Village Chief Lin looked at Sister-in-law Xia. He wanted to refuse, but he didn't dare.
"Your Excellency, let me show you around."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
