Chapter 155
The cold wind was biting. A few yellow leaves were hanging on the branches of the willow trees in the yard, and they were about to fall off in the raging cold wind. Another gust of wind blew, and the few remaining dead leaves fell to the ground slowly like dancing butterflies.
"The weather is getting colder, sir. There are actually a lot of vegetables in the market today, including leeks and garlic sprouts, but the prices are a bit expensive." Lu Yuechuan said while holding a hand warmer.
"I asked Chen Kuan and the others to try to build a greenhouse and grow some easy-to-grow vegetables so that we can have more vegetables in the winter." Lin Shuge was flipping through a book. There was a stove in Lin Shuge's office, which made it very warm in the winter. That's why Lu Yuechuan insisted on staying here and working with him.
"As expected, the captain of the guards is considerate. When the master said he was cold, he prepared a stove and a hand warmer for him."
Lin Shuge looked up at Lu Yuechuan who was wrapped in a cotton robe, "Ah Chuan, if you don't speak, no one will think you are dumb."
Lu Yuechuan made a gesture of surrender. "But sir, cotton is indeed a good thing. Although it is a bit bulky to wear, keeping warm is the most important thing for ordinary people. Who cares if it looks good or not? I think after this winter, more people will plant cotton next year."
During this period, people wearing cotton clothes began to appear on the streets one after another. At first, some people laughed at them for being dressed like bears, but later, when they saw that they were working outside in the cold wind without shivering, they stopped laughing. Upon inquiring, it turned out that this was the cotton that the county magistrate had ordered to be planted. Ordinary people did not know how to weave it, so they simply removed the cotton seeds, took care of it, and sewed it together with linen to make cotton-padded clothes.
The roadside clothing stores also launched a variety of cotton fabrics, including cotton coats and outer robes made of cotton cloth, as well as daily clothing such as cotton boots, cotton hats, and hand guards. They were quickly sold out because they were warm and easy to use.
No matter what their reasons were, the people in the county who bought seeds from Lin Shuge were all overjoyed. Those who were rich made clothes for their families with the cotton they harvested, and those who were poor sold the cotton and made a lot of money. The families gritted their teeth and persevered. After all, they had gotten through previous winters like this. Anyway, they still had seeds left at home and could continue planting next year and buy cotton clothes for their families then.
This matter spread from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, and even ordinary people were proud to wear cotton-padded clothes when traveling. Children at home would wear cotton-padded clothes to show off to their friends. The friends would go home and make a fuss, wanting to wear warm cotton-padded clothes too. The adults at home were helpless, but they could only be anxious and secretly decided to buy some seeds and plant a few acres next year. Not to mention selling them for money, at least the family would have something to wear.
Lu Yuechuan told Lin Shuge about the recent events in the county in detail, and said with a smile: "The villages are being annoyed by the people. They are clamoring to register their households first so that they can get seeds earlier next year. The grassroots clerks who were sent out these days are also talking about these things when they come back to report on their work."
Lin Shuge went to the county governor's office these days. The end of the year is approaching, and the county governor's office has the final say on the government's performance in the year. Taxation, population, and education all need to be checked, but you don't know until you count. Once you do the calculation, you will be shocked.
The tax-paying population of Qingquan County had always been at the bottom among the counties in Dingyuan County. Therefore, when people heard that Lin Shuge was going to be transferred here, they felt sorry for him. Why was he transferred to this remote place? In addition, bandits were rampant, and the financial and educational level of the entire county was not as good as those of other counties.
Since Lin Shuge came here, he has eliminated bandits and established some factories such as cashmere factories, brick kiln factories, and cement factories, allowing people to work and earn money during the slack season. He has also grown new grains and cotton. Although the output this year is not much, any discerning person can see that this is another political achievement.
Not to mention that a school was established. This time, the number of places for Dingyuan County to select filial and honest officials was limited, and Qingquan County actually took up one. You should know that for so many years, Yandu had decided to let each county select filial and honest officials, and Dingyuan County had hardly seen any students from Qingquan County. This time, one suddenly appeared, and many people were surprised.
Lin Shuge's various political achievements enabled him to get a top grade in this assessment. In terms of population and tax revenue, Qingquan County also surpassed several counties and was second only to Ganzhou County.
After the two finished talking about cotton, Lu Yuechuan indeed told Lin Shuge about this trip to the county magistrate's mansion. Because Lu Yuechuan still needed to preside over all the affairs of the county, Lin Shuge brought Yan Zhubu, Chu Xu and Su Cheng with him this time.
"Sir, it will be difficult for the student in our county to avoid attracting attention this time." Lu Yuechuan thought about the expressions of other county officials and smiled with some gloating.
"Wu Songwen is the most knowledgeable among all the teachers in the school. Didn't you almost lose the debate with him? It's hateful that the group of people in Qingquan County who were just sitting there doing nothing could bury such a talent." Lin Shuge thought about the corrupt officials who are no longer in the world, and also about Wu Songwen who was fluent in answering questions, filial piety, and loyalty in the county magistrate's office. He was immediately furious.
"Those crooked officials have messed up the entire county's government affairs, not to mention recommending filial and honest officials. They are only thinking about making money." Lu Yuechuan also cursed.
When Lin Shuge was reorganizing the county government officials, Lu Yuechuan was involved in most of the government affairs. Naturally, he knew how those people made the entire county government such a mess. Those who flattered and sycophantic would be promoted first, while those who really did things would either be eliminated early or squeezed to the margins.
"Not to mention them, I did meet Ding Wenhong this time. He really lives up to his reputation and is worthy of being a member of the Ding family." Lin Shuge said.
"Oh? How do you mean?"
"I only knew that the sons of the Ding family were domineering before, but I didn't expect that they were so arrogant that they even looked down on the Wei envoy. They are so arrogant because they rely on the power of the Ding family. News came from Yandu that His Majesty has appointed the head of the Ding family as the Grand Tutor. If all the sons of the Ding family are like this, wouldn't they know the principle of cooking oil in a raging fire and blooming brocade?"
Few powerful officials in all dynasties enjoyed a peaceful old age and died of old age. They either persisted in their own ways and rebelled after being branded as regicides, or died in court struggles, and their entire family was wiped out.
"The civilization and education of Ganzhou County and the taxation of population are all due to your contribution. If you hadn't come to Qingquan County, Ding Wenhong wouldn't have gotten the chance." Lu Yuechuan sighed and said, "It's a pity that Ganzhou County still has the foundation left by you. But according to Ding Wenhong's governance, I'm really worried about the people of Ganzhou."
Zhou Du and Xu Yu were worried when they left. They always thought that Ding Wenhong had nothing good to hide. He had been training a lot of people in the county and brought some small merchants under his command. That group of merchants raised prices arbitrarily and oppressed the people in the county. They were dealt with by Lin Shuge in the past. Some of them suppressed their desires because of Lin Shuge's reminders to the merchants, but now, under the instigation of Ding Wenhong, they have already been ready to make a move. The rest of the merchants have been suppressed, and some were even almost framed and their property was confiscated.
"I'm not worried about the Zhou family. The cashmere business also involves trade with Xiye Country. But Xu Yu..."
Zhou Du and Xu Yu did not explain these things when they came to Qingquan, but they seemed to be hesitant to speak from time to time. How could Lin Shuge not guess that, after several inquiries, they told him some things. If it were not for the pressure from Envoy Wei, the whole Ganzhou County would have been disturbed by him.
"Boss Xu has a strong foundation in Ganzhou, so you don't have to worry about him so much. If he really can't bear it, let him give up some of his property and come here. He has been standing firm among the merchants in Ganzhou for so many years, he is no pushover." Lu Yuechuan disagreed.
"As for Ding Wenhong, it depends on whether the Ding family can still gain power. However, what the adults said about the Ding family is very good. The moon is full and then it wanes. I am waiting to see what happens to the Ding family."
The two of them remained silent until Xie Chen walked in from outside, "Brother."
He wore a red outer robe today, which was somewhat similar to a straight-hem robe, with a cloak on the outside, and his long hair stood up high, giving him a rather romantic feeling. Lin Shuge sighed in his heart that it was a pity that Xie Chen had too much idol baggage and would never wear the cotton-padded jacket he had made for him, saying that it would affect his appearance, and if he was ugly, he would definitely dislike him.
Lin Shuge could only ask someone to make a cashmere and cotton robe to prevent this romantic young man from freezing to death.
"Axuan and Ayuan prepared a hot pot and asked me to come over and ask my brother to eat with us. If County Magistrate Lu is free, he can come with us."
Lu Yuechuan looked at Xie Chen's robe with envy and said, "I have something else to do, so I won't go." He looked at Lin Shuge, "Sir, which clothing store made Sir Wei's robe?"
Lin Shuge glanced at the young man from the Weijun family and said, "Liuji Clothing Store in the east of the city."
After making clothes for Xie Chen, the shop owner asked Lin Shuge if he could sell him the ready-made clothing designs. Lin Shuge let him use them directly. The shop owner was naturally grateful, and after making a batch, it was very popular. After all, everyone has a love for beauty, and there are many people who think like Xie Chen.
Another beauty-loving person in front of him also smiled and said, "Thank you, sir. I will go and take a look now."
Lin Shuge watched him walk out quickly and asked Xie Chen, "Do you have enough cotton-padded clothes in the army?"
The Pingxiang military camp grew a lot of cotton, but none of it was sold, so a large batch was harvested. Some of the Pingxiang people were smart and contacted Chen Yuanrong, asking her to discuss with the senior officers in the army whether the people of Pingxiang could help make clothes for the army so they could earn some money in the winter.
Chen Yuanrong contacted the two sides, and when Xie Chen found out, he asked He Xin to send someone to check it out. Unexpectedly, a woman in Pingxiang had actually gathered all the women in the village who were good at needlework to work together. Taking advantage of the favorable conditions for cotton planting, they had already taken on a lot of business, including weaving cotton into cotton cloth, and making cotton clothes and boots. They had actually spontaneously formed a small workshop.
Xie Chen told Lin Shuge about this, and Lin Shuge went to meet the lady in person and passed on to them the loom that had already been matured in Ganzhou.
"It will be enough if you add the sheepskin."
In this era, the government would distribute one or two pieces of clothing to soldiers in winter and summer. Some soldiers from wealthy families would also have their families send them clothes. In the northwest, people mostly wore sheepskin coats and robes in winter. This year, there is more cotton, so there will be more clothes.
"Let's go home and have dinner. I'm not worried about Axuan. I haven't taken care of Ayuan during this period. I don't know how this kid is doing with his studies. I think the two of them are getting older. I have to ask them what they think. Whether they continue to study or enter the government, they have to prepare early."
"Don't worry, brother. Ayuan has a pure heart and just likes to play around. It's not a big deal." Xie Chen smiled when he saw him frowning.
Lin Shuge walked away and said, "Okay, I'll test him after dinner tonight. If he doesn't improve, I'll have to discipline him."
Xie Chen chuckled, "Okay."
Lin Qingyuan, who was happily waiting for his brother to come back for dinner, suddenly felt a chill on his back and sneezed loudly.
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