The old man only wanted to get things done as soon as possible, so he didn't plan to continue strolling around. He turned around and walked back with the four children and two protection teams. At this time, they were not in the imperial court, so there was no need to pretend to be steady.
He told Xiao Bao and Cuckoo to go home early so that they could start work early. Spring was busier, so there were people who didn't plough in spring. Therefore, on the way back, the old man said to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, "When you go back, ask your family to find those people who don't plough in spring. It's just a matter of spending more money. Although you can save money by using farmers, it takes too long. Xiao Bao, I'll help your father."
"Okay, find people who don't have land in Sanshui County. In fact, it won't save money. My family's farmers in Zhuangzi and Cuckoo's families really work. They don't pay, but the food they eat is more than the salary."
Zhang Xiaobao agreed. Only then did the old man remember that when Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family's farmers worked, the main family provided food, and it was all good food. It was better than what ordinary people ate in the small restaurant.
It took them less than an hour to come, so it was even faster to go back. The old man's walking posture showed that he was in good health, so Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan could only trot after him.
Once back in Zhuangzi, the old man went to Between the Clouds and the Water. He had to do what he promised. After writing a letter, he had someone send it out. He also had to write a letter to the emperor. He must be in the top three. The Zhang family spent so much money to negotiate, so he couldn't be ranked low. The prefecture was the first village to pay tribute to the emperor.
When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan got home, they didn't have time to help Little Swallow catch insects and put them in her nest. She had caught a lot of insects yesterday. When they got up in the morning, they saw that she actually ate them. They thought that she wouldn't eat them.
The two of them first came up with a plan, then began to issue orders. All the people in the inner courtyard were mobilized. Zhang Xiaobao was in charge of the materials, including stones, sand, tools, and so on. Wang Juan was in charge of the people. She found someone to inform the yamen runners, let the yamen put up a notice, and waited for people to come. She could then adjust the construction length and number of people in each section.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also treated this as a big matter. It was related to Zhang Xiaobao's father's ranking in the Imperial Examination.
The more than a hundred bailiffs that had been idling around could finally be put to good use. That was what Zhang Xiaobao had originally planned. Otherwise, he would not have asked the yamen to recruit so many people. The bailiffs' task was to patrol the river. They would use small boats to patrol the river. They would have to wait until the weather was slightly warmer before they practiced swimming. If they encountered anyone who fell into the water, they would have to be rescued. Zhang Xiaobao had also prepared some underwater entertainment.
The bailiffs guarding this side received orders from the head of the Zhang family and rushed to the yamen at the speed of six hundred miles per hour.
Zhang Xiaobao asked someone to bring the account book and put the changed abacus in front of him. He flipped the account book with one hand, and the fingers of the other hand made shadows on the abacus. He had to know how much money he had. Just as Wang Juan said, he was going to make a fleet.
He did not want a big ship, but a small ship. He did not want to go too far. He only received and delivered goods on this section of the waterway in Sanshui County. This way, he would not offend people, and outsiders would not be able to interfere. There was no such thing as road maintenance fees here. Passing ships could not be charged, so he could only share some of the money with them.
One was in charge of financial operations, while the other was in charge of military command. When the two of them worked together with full strength, their efficiency was displayed in front of people the next day.
Zhang Xiaobao collected 23,000 strings of money and silk from various places and had already distributed it to each section of the waterway. They would be paid for every day of work they did. They would first expand the river and clear the silt. Those who bought stones and sand had already been sent out, and those who were nearby were in the process of transporting them.
Wang Juan brought more than 2,000 people. Not only did people from Sanshui County come, but people from several neighboring counties also came. Before dawn, these people who were woken up last night and heard the news had already set off. Those who were nearby had already arrived and were eating the food prepared by Zhuangzi.
The yamen of Sanshui County sent out 400 bailiffs to change their clothes and take up tools to help with the work. After all, the matter of repairing the river was not related to the Zhang Family and Wang Family. In order to make these people work harder, the yamen considered those who came to do the work as servants of the imperial court. They would work for 20 days, and during this time, Zhangjia Zhuangzi would be in charge of their meals.
After 20 days of work, they would not have to work for the rest of the year, let alone pay their wages. If they continued to work, they could ask the Zhang family for wages. If they worked for 25 days more, they would be exempted from transfer. If they worked for 30 days more, they would be exempted from rent and transfer.
At this time, Zhang Xiaobao was up to no good again. He found some farmers who could not work in the fields. They were specifically responsible for cooking and boiling water. If they worked for a few more days, they would be exempted from rent and transfer. In addition, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family would be given food. No matter how much they collected this year, they would not have to hand in anything.
Wang Juan did this for the benefit of her family. She did not say that Zhang Xiaobao was taking advantage of the loopholes of the government. In her words, cooking and boiling water were logistics, and it was more important.
The child also wanted to go, but he was stopped by Zhang Xiaobao. The child did not have land, so why would he want to go? He should obediently stay at home and study. In a few days, like the imperial examinations, there would be exams. If he did not pass, he would have to wait for less toys, less snacks, and less time to play.
Those who arrived first would work first. There was no chance to be lazy. Everyone would be assigned to work for a period of time. There would be more people watching. When the time came, the wages would be calculated according to this. If you were lazy, it would not be counted. You had contributed 20 days of work to the imperial court every year, let alone expect to be exempted from this and that.
In terms of the food provided by the Zhang family, it was impossible for them to be like the farmers. They ate meat for every meal. If there was a little meat, they would eat sorghum rice mixed with water rice and salted beans. After eating, they would have energy and would be able to eat rice. Those who really worked could eat three bowls of rice.
Old Minister Shangshu also wrote a letter to his nephew, asking him to send people to work. They were preparing to dig through the river before the summer rain became heavy. The pier also had to be built.
This spring was destined to be busy. Those who were not plowing in the spring were all working around Sanshui County. There was still a section of the river in Xiaoluoshui that needed to be dug out.
Every day, Zhang Xiaobao would find some time to settle the accounts. Every loan and loan, the accounts were clear, and the income and expenses could be easily calculated. Now, there was no need to send money to the capital. As long as the money earned there was recorded in the accounts, he could directly use it to build connections with his father and organize some poetry gatherings. The two famous restaurants in the Eastern and Western Markets were owned by his family, so he could save money by arranging them a few times.
On the fifth day of work, two guests came to Zhangjia Zhuangzi. People from the Han family and the Yuan family had arrived. They wanted to sell Zhuangzi to the Zhang family.
Jang Wong Clan personally went to receive them. After a discussion, the two Zhuangzi were not sold at a high price. They were in urgent need of money. If they sold Zhuangzi to someone else, the other party would not want it. They were afraid of getting involved. The head of the family was still in the capital waiting to be sentenced. Who would dare to buy their Zhuangzi at this time? Could it be an accomplice?
Only Zhangjia Zhuangzi would not be suspected. Therefore, when the two families had no one to turn to for help, they went to Zhangjia Zhuangzi. They hoped that Zhangjia Zhuangzi would buy the Zhuangzi. It would be even better if he could help to intercede. This was just a thought. Not to mention that this matter was done by the Little Prince, and the Zhang family could not interfere. Even if they could, they would not interfere.
If you want to take my family back, I will help you to intercede. Isn't that despicable? It is not in line with Zhang Xiaobao's character of repaying kindness with kindness and taking revenge with revenge.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan hid behind the screen and listened to Jang Wong Clan's conversation.
Perhaps they knew that the head of the Zhang family was now Jang Wong Clan's. The two people who came were also women. They were Doctor Han and Yuan Yilang's First Madam. They could not say anything about concubines.
"Sister Zhang, this time you must help us. Without the head of the family, how can we live? It's all that Jia Shan's fault. He lied to my husband to deal with you. In fact, my husband didn't want to go at all. But later, Jia Shan found County Magistrate Wen. Our family is in Huayuan County. How can we not come?"
Madam Han cried and said. She was much older than Jang Wong Clan, but she also called her sister. Madam Yuan, who was beside her, also said:
"Sister Zhang family, we know that we are wrong this time, but our husband's crime does not deserve to die. We beg you to help us and say something to that Marquis. We will never forget your great kindness. In our next life, we will repay your kindness even if we have to work like a cow or a horse."
Zhang Xiaobao, who was behind the screen, curled his lips and moved his lips. "If we have to work like a cow or a horse in our next life, where can we find you in our next life? Why don't you say it in this life? Just give the two Zhuangzi to my family for free, and I will intercede for him. "
Wang Juan nodded. "You're not sincere."
Jang Wong Clan also showed a sad expression. Her eyes were red, and she picked up a handkerchief to wipe her tears. She said: "I, as your elder sister, know about your suffering. At that time, I only wanted to drive them back, but the Marquis was also there. Without saying anything, he ordered us to kill them. I have nightmares every day. A few days ago, when the Marquis was still there, I told him to let them go.
Who knew that although the Marquis is young, he would not listen to other people's advice. I also didn't dare to say too much. In case the Marquis was angered, the Zhang family would be finished. Sisters, why don't you think of other ways? "
The two people who came knew that this would happen, but this was not their purpose. Madam Han immediately said: "Actually, it's not that there are no other ways, but we don't have enough money. We gave the Jia County Magistrates 10,000 strings of coins, and the family gave us 20,000 strings of coins. We don't have any more money.
Therefore, we want to sell the six thousand mu of Zhuangzi, but no one wants to buy it. Sister, why don't you buy it? With the money, we can continue to work in the capital. "
"My family has more than six thousand and five hundred mu. We won't count the extra. We will only sell it to you for six thousand and five hundred mu. Sister, what do you think?" Madam Yuan also listed her family's land. The two families had a lot of land, and together, they had more land than the Zhang Family and Wang Family.
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