Chapter 165 Spendthrift Women
Qingqing?
The eyes of the aunties turned into the shape of melons.
Xu Rui seemed to sense something was amiss, and greeted them in a gentle voice, "Hello, ladies."
"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it."
The magistrate's son calls them "auntie"?
Oh my!
My body feels so light, like I'm about to float.
"I dare to accept it," Xu Rui said.
"Qingqing proposed the intercropping method, which made Liuyun Village a model for Ming'an County. My father greatly appreciated it."
Let me come and observe the people's conditions more often, and also discuss some other methods that would benefit the people.
Agriculture is the foundation of people's livelihood, and I would like to learn more from you on this matter.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please feel free to share them with me.
After those words, the aunties became even more arrogant.
At the same time, with less fear, they practically treated Xu Rui as one of their own.
Aunt Dong immediately complained that she couldn't find work and had no money to get her son married. In the past two years, the bride price had increased by two taels of silver.
Lu Qingqing and Lu Yun almost couldn't help but laugh.
Xu Rui is speaking in official jargon, and the aunties are taking it all seriously!
Let's see how he responds. Should he offer wives to the villagers?
To everyone's surprise, Xu Rui responded seriously:
"Aunties, look, these cattle and sheep are a reward for your village; they belong to the common property of the villagers."
I asked the village head to select people who specialize in herding sheep and cattle. If you think you are capable, you can ask the village head for the job yourselves.
A sheep can produce 2 to 4 offspring a year, but here there are 20, which means the number can increase 2 to 4 times in a year.
If taken good care of, the owner can earn a considerable salary each year.
Having more sheep can also solve the livelihood problem for a few more people.
And cows...
In addition, I have some other ideas, which I need to discuss with Qingqing..."
The aunties were extremely excited!
"Quickly discuss it! You all go ahead, we don't know anything about this, don't waste your time here!"
They need to hurry and grab some work from the village head!
Fu Leng and two or three yamen runners drove the cattle and sheep to find the village head.
Xu Rui could now rightfully go home with Lu Qingqing.
As Lu Yun watched the two figures walk away, he felt that something was off.
When we arrived home, my sister-in-law served us tea and greeted us warmly, showing her great hospitality.
Lu Yun quietly observed from the side.
It's all because Xu Rui was wearing a hat; he couldn't tell whether Xu Rui's eyes were actually looking at the little sister!
Lu Qingqing inquired about Bai Erhu and learned that all the people behind him had been dealt with.
Now she had even more confidence in Xu Rui's abilities.
The two then discussed going out to collect medicinal herbs.
This is also what Xu Rui wanted to tell her.
“Going out to buy medicinal herbs all the time is not a long-term solution; we still need to have our own medicinal herb fields.”
"The reason why the Holy Physician Sect can monopolize half of the pharmaceutical industry in Daqian is because they have thousands of acres of medicinal fields behind them."
"What do you think about buying back and consolidating all the forests in Ming'an County, and then clearing the surrounding land to grow medicinal herbs?"
Sometimes Lu Qingqing felt that she and Xu Rui were truly the most compatible allies.
The biggest threat to her medical career is the Holy Physician Sect, and Xu Rui has a grudge against the Holy Physician Sect.
She wanted to cultivate medicinal herbs, but fertile land was limited, and grain was the foundation of the people's livelihood, so she dared not shake the foundation.
Xu Rui then proposed the method of clearing land and planting medicinal herbs.
Only someone with his power could bring the mountains and forests back under control.
Lu Qingqing was in high spirits.
"Of course! If we start implementing this now, we can be completely self-sufficient in three years!"
"That's exactly why the people of Ming'an County have been able to find work and live a stable and prosperous life."
It turns out what he told those older women was true!
Lu Qingqing apologized for her earlier thoughts.
Although Xu Rui did not hold an official position, he was truly doing practical things for the people!
First they promoted intercropping in the fields, then they dealt with the bandits who harmed the people, and now they want to reclaim wasteland in the mountains!
The two continued their discussion, finding themselves increasingly compatible as they talked.
Lu Yun realized at this moment that he had overthought things.
That's true, he's the son of a county magistrate, how could he possibly marry into a peasant family?
I just had an itch to lift Xu Rui's hat off.
I want to know where his eyes are looking.
Lu Qingqing and Xu Rui continued discussing the follow-up, while Lu Yun stopped paying attention.
So they didn't see that Xu Rui took out another large, round pearl.
It is as big as a longan, shimmering with a lustrous iridescent light, noble yet understated, leaving people in awe.
Even if Lu Qingqing didn't know anything about jewelry, she knew this was a top-quality item.
"These were seized from a bandit's den. I've heard pearls can be used in medicine, so you can keep them!"
Lu Qingqing's mouth dropped open.
Pearl powder can treat cuts and burns, and can also moisturize the skin and remove blemishes, but who would use it as medicine!
Who would dare to be so extravagant!
She'll kill him!
"Any real pearl can be used in medicine, but this kind is for making jewelry! You don't know anything about pearls!"
"Hmm...yes, I don't really understand. You can keep it and play with it. We've seized quite a few of these things. I'm planning to transport them out and sell them for silver."
Oh, he's rich again!
Then this is insignificant. Lu Qingqing played with it for a couple of moments.
But these beads are too expensive; they don't suit her at all when made into jewelry.
I wonder if my sister-in-law likes it?
Not long after, Old Man Lu returned and fell into deep thought as he looked at the two extra sheep in the house.
Well, it's agreed that he'll learn medicine from his daughter.
Now we're not only herding horses, but also sheep!
However, he was still very enthusiastic towards Xu Rui.
We still have to rely on other people for our wives!
Xu Rui successfully stayed at the Lu family's house for a meal.
They had a very pleasant conversation during the time.
Then Fu Leng arrived.
The report said that the village head had already distributed the sheep to several families, and the cattle had also been distributed.
But Xiao Zhang also took five sheep home.
Originally, the sheep were meant to be raised by older people who were no longer able to do heavy work, but Xiao Zhang said he knew nothing but hunting and insisted on raising sheep. The village head knew he was Xu Rui's brother, so he gave it to him.
Xu Rui had a headache.
With all his skills, he went to herd sheep?
If Master Zhang found out, would he be so angry that he crawled out from underground?
“I’ll go talk to him and find him a job.”
Although his tone was helpless, that helplessness was like that of someone who was truly doting on their immature younger brother.
Fu Leng was greatly surprised.
Luckily, I had learned from my previous experience, so I didn't lose my temper with that kid.
But why is the young master so kind to that boy?
Fu Leng sincerely wanted Mo Lang to come back soon.
Perhaps, Mo Lang really is smarter than him.
Xu Rui had barely left when the sound of weeping came from the Lu family's door.
I wondered who it was, but it turned out to be Tian Leshan, whom I haven't seen in a long time.
But why has Tian Leshan become so thin?
It's like I've aged several years all of a sudden.
He dragged the woman, whose face was covered in tears, in and threw her to the ground.
"Kneel down! Apologize to Miss Lu!"
"No, no, no, I can't accept that." Lu Qingqing moved away.
Madam Tian looked haggard, and the dazzling gold hairpin was gone from her head, replaced by a thin silver hairpin. She no longer had the haughty demeanor she once had.
"Miss Lu, I'm sorry." She lowered her head and only said this one sentence.
It's obvious they're not sincere.
Lu Qingqing ignored him and asked, "Boss Tian, why did it take you so long to come back?"
"Don't even mention it! It's not that I don't want to go back, it's just that I'm at my doorstep and can't go back!" Tian Leshan said wearily.
He then recounted his ordeal.
Lu Qingqing then understood the whole story.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're alive."
"Yes, I was quite content to have escaped with my life, but who knew that once I got home... sigh! Miss Lu, you don't know, this woman is such a spendthrift."
She squandered all the savings I accumulated over ten years!
At this point, Tian Leshan, a grown man, almost cried from the pain.
Lu Qingqing asked doubtfully, "It can't be that bad, can it? I know that many people in the city won't buy your family's medicinal herbs anymore."
But surely there will be people who are on good terms with your family who will accept it?
Besides, even if no one collects the money, at worst there's no income; it won't necessarily reduce our assets.
"Oh—" Tian Leshan felt as if his heart had been stabbed.
His face looked as awkward as a bitter chrysanthemum.
"That woman is stupid and doesn't learn her lesson. She bought another batch of fake medicinal herbs and sold them to a merchant whose background she didn't know. As a result, she was sued and had to pay five times the amount of money!"
That was clearly a trap set for her!
"I've been utterly ruined by this spendthrift woman!"
Tian Leshan looked at Lu Qingqing with hopeful eyes:
"Miss Lu, you have to help me! My chances of turning my life around depend entirely on you!"
----------------------------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com