Chapter 348 The icing on the cake
"It has no impact! You see, your brocade business is free at the end of the year, so it's just right for you to help me manage the county government!" Magistrate Hu rubbed his hands and said humbly.
"Sir, I still have children to teach, and I really don't have the energy to take on other things. Besides, there are only women and children left at home, so it is really inconvenient for me to stay in the county." Su Ying tried her best to refuse.
"Aying, help me!" County Magistrate Hu was anxious.
"We'll set up an official school in the county government office, and take your family to Fulu Lane. There's an empty house next to my house, so it'll be convenient for you to take care of your family!"
Looking across the entire Wuzhou, there is really no one more suitable than Su Ying.
"Sir, the content I teach is different from that of regular schools. In addition to literacy and mathematics, it focuses on agronomy." Su Ying was too busy to take on the task.
"Sir, there is someone who may be able to give it a try!" Su Boyan thought of someone.
"Who? Boyan, tell me quickly!" County Magistrate Hu was like a drowning man who grabbed a straw.
"Don't we have two managers in Jinzuo? They are ninth-rank officials. Anyone who can get promoted to a manager in the Ministry of Finance must be quite capable, literate, and well-versed in the ways of the world.
"Your Excellency may consider asking them for help. They really don't have much to do in winter," said Su Boyan.
"He is from the Imperial Household Department. Are you willing?" County Magistrate Hu hesitated.
"I am also the Supervisor of the Imperial Household, and a ninth-rank official. You have already spoken up, so why don't you dare to speak up for them? Do you treat them differently, my Lord?" Su Ying smiled.
"Who are we to each other? You've helped Wuxian so much, so I don't mind helping them one more time. I'm not familiar with them, so it's hard to ask, hehe..."
County Magistrate Hu sneered, thinking that he was just trying to pull a sheep apart.
“I’ll go back and ask Fuxi. By the time my brother leaves, the third batch of brocade will be finished, and Fulu should be returning.
If the two of them are willing to help, that would be great. If they are not willing, I can't do anything about it. After all, their job is to manage the Jinzuo."
Su Ying finally extricated herself. There was no labor force at home, and her second aunt was due to give birth at the end of the year, so she didn't dare to leave for too long.
"Thank you, Aying. Please take care of me!" County Magistrate Hu got two helpers at once, and his worries were gone.
Having dealt with Fulu and Fuxi, the eunuchs who could be sent abroad were all outstanding and capable people.
"Oh, by the way, Aying, didn't you say that I had something important to do? What is it?" County Magistrate Hu had been keeping it in mind and now he was free.
"The second crop of rice has been harvested, sugarcane is on the market, and sugar production has begun. A large number of merchants will flock to Wu County. Are you ready?" Su Ying asked.
"Ah! Look, there's a need for manpower everywhere! The official roads have been paved with cement, and they work day and night, in two shifts.
We need to finish the paving before the sugarcane comes on the market, but the second-season rice harvest, sugarcane market, and winter wheat planting all come at the same time, so we have to stop for a month."
Speaking of this, County Magistrate Hu felt that he was really overwhelmed and seriously short of manpower.
“When I entered the city, it was still dark, but at 12:00, the city was closed, the streets were empty, and there was no trace of life.
It would be better to open night markets, close the city but not the houses, allow street vendors to set up stalls, and let vendors earn more money, so that the people and foreign merchants can also enrich their lives. "
Su Ying suggested that in the late afternoon, the streets of the county town were empty, like a ghost town.
"Aying, I'm afraid this won't work!"
County Magistrate Hu was already accustomed to Su Ying's strange ideas. Closing the city was the law of the Tang Dynasty, and as a seventh-rank county magistrate, he did not have the ability to change it at will.
"Why not? This place is remote, and it's not a military fortress. If we relax a little, it's not impossible!"
"How to loosen it?" County Magistrate Hu scratched his head.
"Isn't sugarcane on the market? I'm reporting to the provincial government that Wu County has good public security and people don't pick up things on the streets. I'm requesting a pilot program to open a night market to promote trade and enrich people's lives."
"Is this even possible?" County Magistrate Hu thought it was too ridiculous. How could Governor Lu allow it?
"Just give it a try. It's just an official document, and it only takes a few drops of ink to waste! What's the loss?" Su Ying encouraged.
There was also a curfew, and the streets of Chang'an were deserted, but people could walk around freely within the blocks. A block was comparable to a large modern residential area, and the inns and shops inside were open as usual.
Unlike the county town, once the city is closed, the streets are clean and everything is closed.
"No, what does this have to do with the sugarcane market?" County Magistrate Hu felt confused.
Does it mean that when merchants come here, they don’t have to abide by the laws of the Tang Dynasty?
“What I mean is that we should strive to open the night market to attract more merchants.
The night market is not only prosperous for street vendors, but also for inns, restaurants, teahouses, hotels, and government officials. The county government's profits and taxes will also increase significantly."
"Why can the profits and taxes of the county government also be increased?" County Magistrate Hu didn't understand because the shops paid fixed taxes.
"Sir, the night market closes at the end of the evening hour, so the business hours have doubled. Should the profits and taxes collected be increased? Not doubling it, but a 20% or 30% increase would be fine, right?
There are also vendors who can have sex for a month at a time, or they can pay according to the number of times and charge a certain stall fee.
Not to mention the yamen runners, patrolling the streets, paying overtime, isn't the rest the county yamen's fiscal revenue?" Su Ying calculated the accounts one by one.
Yes, the night market is open, and the opening time is extended from 2:15 PM to the end of the 11:00 PM, which is over three hours longer! Shouldn't the tax be increased?
"Well, Ah Ying, if we increase taxes, will the merchants agree?" County Magistrate Hu lacked confidence, fearing that he would be impeached by the provincial government.
"Sir, please ask the merchants in the Chamber of Commerce if they are willing to open the night market but increase taxes by 20 to 30 percent.
Merchants coming from afar are not afraid of spending money, but are afraid of having money but having no place to spend it!
Once the night market opens, merchants are eager to party every night. Which merchant would have bad business?
If you think it's troublesome, you don't have to do it."
"Let's do it, let's do it!" Although County Magistrate Hu felt that the possibility was not great, he still wanted to give it a try.
This year's sugarcane production has increased significantly, and sugar production can continue at least until the beginning of spring. Correspondingly, the largest number of merchants from other places have come, and every inn is full.
The merchants in Wu County are counting on this to make a fortune. If a night market is opened, it will maximize the profits of this commercial feast.
The county government's granaries are well-stocked, and generous commercial taxes are the icing on the cake. This seventh-rank county magistrate is doing a great job! He has money and food!
It would be a shame if such a person didn't serve as his own staff! He's good enough to be a county magistrate!
It's a pity that Ah Ying didn't agree! County Magistrate Hu was very sorry.
Strike while the iron is hot, the three of them discussed the relevant matters of opening the night market, from submission to implementation arrangements, including tax collection, and every detail was clearly sorted out.
"Oh, Ah Ying, after you sorted it out, I feel that it is very clear and organized. Many confusing things have become clear now." County Magistrate Hu breathed a sigh of relief.
Afterwards, you just need to follow the instructions one by one and implement them in each department.
"Gurgle..." Suddenly, the three people's stomachs growled at the same time, and they realized that it was already late at night and they had not had dinner yet.
"Come here, serve the meal quickly!" Magistrate Hu called out hastily, "Why didn't anyone remind us?"
"Sir, we have called out several times, but none of you can hear us!" The jailer felt aggrieved. The county magistrate was not having his meal yet, and he himself was not able to leave the yamen.
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