Then tell me, how can you guarantee that Yunmen Township will not have disaster victims causing trouble?
The county magistrate asked weakly.
My lord just said that Yunmen Township has over thirteen hundred households and more than six thousand people. By your estimation, how many people will go hungry due to this drought? Fang Er asked.
Only one or two out of ten households have grain to spare. The rest, eight or nine out of ten, have almost no stored grain at home. Once disaster strikes and grain prices soar, these people will not have enough to eat.
The county magistrate said with some pain.
Fang Er was stunned upon hearing the county magistrate's words!
He hadn't expected things to be so serious!
At least five to six thousand people would go hungry, and this was just for one township!
With the national treasury empty and no money to spare, were they just going to watch these people starve to death?
Fang Er's original thought was that once the grain arrived, winemaking would require quite a few people, and he also needed people to cultivate the more than a thousand mu of land he had acquired. This would at least provide stable income for dozens or hundreds of families. However, compared to over a thousand households, this seemed insignificant.
Thinking of this, Fang Er gritted his teeth, made up his mind, and then said, "My lord, to be honest with you, I sent people to Jiangnan to purchase grain a few days ago. It will return within a month at the latest. At that time, I am willing to contribute a portion to disaster relief. I request that you preside over the distribution of grain. This way, at least no one will starve to death. However, I cannot bear the title of disaster relief!"
Are you serious, Young Master Fang?
The county magistrate, upon hearing his words, excitedly grabbed Fang Er's arm and asked.
How could I possibly lie about such a matter!
Fang Er gritted his teeth and said.
Very well! On behalf of the six thousand people of Yunmen Township, this county thanks you, Young Master Fang, for your great kindness!
The county magistrate stood up, took a step back from Fang Er, bowed deeply, and saluted him.
Fang Er, startled, quickly jumped aside and waved his hands repeatedly, "This must not happen, this absolutely must not happen! Just consider it as me exchanging the grain for those houses and farmlands."
He dared not accept such a debt of life for six thousand people.
If this reached Li Er, it might be good or bad.
In this era, whose was the popular support? It could only be the Emperor's!
You, a mere commoner, are taking out so much grain to buy people's hearts. Are you trying to rebel!
The county magistrate was not foolish. Hearing Fang Er's words, he knew what Fang Er was worried about. He then stood up straight, smiled, and said, "Hahaha, Young Master Fang is right. It's just an exchange of grain for houses and land. A fair transaction!" After speaking, he made a few arrangements to the yamen runners outside the door.
Not long after, a yamen runner walked in with a thick stack of papers.
The county magistrate took it from the yamen runner and handed it to Fang Er, "Young Master Fang, these are the documents for those farmlands and houses. They are all here. From now on, they belong to the surname Fang!"
Fang Er took them, glanced at them, and handed them to Xiao Qing who was by his side. Then he bowed to the county magistrate and said, "Thank you, my lord, for fulfilling this."
Hahaha, no need. This is what you deserve. But let's get the unpleasant words out first: if anyone causes trouble in Yunmen, I will have to take these back!
The county magistrate smiled and then looked at Fang Er seriously.
My lord, rest assured, there will be no such thing. I will take my leave and go back to prepare. When the grain returns, I will send someone to inform you. Fang Er patted his chest and promised.
Good, then I shall not detain you, Young Master Fang. I will be going into the palace shortly to deliver that garment. Come, escort Young Master Fang out! The county magistrate cupped his hands at Fang Er.
Please trouble the county magistrate to keep this a secret for me. Please do not mention that this garment came from me. I bid you farewell!
After saying that, Fang Er and Xiao Qing followed a yamen runner and walked outside.
Upon exiting the county office, Xiao Qing patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. She had been terrified inside just now.
Young Master, are we really going to give the grain to the disaster victims? Wasn't that for your winemaking?
Xiao Qing asked softly in Fang Er's ear.
Winemaking is only for making money. How can it compare to the lives of these thousands of people? Moreover, I estimate that Steward Zhang will bring back quite a bit of grain this time, which should be enough. Alright, that troublesome garment is finally out of my hands. Let's go home!
Zhu Zi had been waiting outside, not entering the county office. Seeing Fang Er and Xiao Qing come out, he quickly led the horse to greet them, "Young Master, how did things go?"
Don't worry, with me, Young Master Fang, around, what can't be handled! Let's go! Home!
Fang Residence, Inner Courtyard.
Fang Er was calculating on paper how much grain Steward Zhang could bring back.
After calculating back and forth, Fang Er threw away the charcoal stick. Damn it, he couldn't figure it out!
He didn't even know how much money those mirrors could sell for.
The first mirror was pawned for ten thousand taels, but that was under the premise that the pawnshop owner had no good intentions and had no intention of letting Fang Er safely bring the money home!
Unable to figure anything out, he simply stopped thinking about it and collapsed onto the chair, falling asleep unknowingly.
Xiao Qing fanned Fang Er with a fan by his side. Looking at her young master sleeping soundly, she couldn't help but gaze at him in a daze.
In the imperial palace, Li Er was in the East Palace, chatting with Empress Changsun. A eunuch announced that the magistrate of Wannian wished to see them, saying he had something to present to the Empress.
Li Er was greatly surprised. What could this pauper possibly have to offer?
So, he instructed the eunuch to bring in the magistrate of Wannian.
The magistrate of Wannian, Liu Dacheng, knelt down as soon as he saw Li Er, "Wannian magistrate, Liu Dacheng, pays his respects to Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress."
Please rise, Minister Liu.
Li Er gestured for him to rise.
Liu Dacheng stood up, took out a box he had been carrying behind his back, and held it up with both hands, "Your Majesty, your humble servant has chanced upon a treasure today. This item is only worthy of Her Majesty, hence I have come to present it. I beg Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress to examine it."
Li Er sat on a stool, stroking his chin, and looked at the box curiously. He gave a signal to the eunuch by his side.
The eunuch quickly took the box, opened it, took out the garment inside, and handed it to Li Er.
Li Er took the garment and unfolded it. Instantly, his gaze was captivated, and Empress Changsun had the same expression as him.
In front of outsiders, she couldn't openly demand it, so she could only suppress the urge to snatch it and sat there watching.
Li Er ran his hand over the garment, feeling a texture he had never experienced before. Looking at the phoenix spreading its wings and soaring high, he was incredibly shocked.
It's not that the palace lacked good embroiderers, but he had never seen such lifelike embroidery.
He inadvertently saw Empress Changsun's eager gaze and quickly handed the garment over, "Guanyin girl, hurry and try it on. This garment is truly worthy only of you."
Empress Changsun took the garment, happily took two palace maids, and went to the side hall.
Soon, with the service of the palace maids, she changed into the qipao.