"I'm not sick, I'm really not sick. I'm just kidding. I'm planning to build a restaurant there. A two-story restaurant will do. It will be directly above the water, and it won't be just a simple one. The restaurant in the middle must be empty. You can sit and eat in the restaurant, and you can see the scenery outside as well as inside.
The lowest empty area will be surrounded by a net, and the fish can be raised in it. Those who want to see the scenery can go to the second floor, and those who want to fish can go to the first floor. You can fish in both the inner and outer circles.
There are fields and mountains here. Usually, when you wake up in the morning, there will be a feeling of clouds and mist. Coupled with the water vapor in the river, it will definitely be comfortable to eat and rest up there. I've even thought of a name. It will be called Between the Clouds and the Water. "
Zhang Xiaobao finally got down to business and told Wang Juan his plan.
"Why does this idea sound so familiar? I remember there was a scam like this before. They said that they wanted to put a city on the water. You're not lying, right? "Wang Juan thought of a case as she listened.
"That was to cheat the bank for a loan. Who would I cheat? We're the ones paying for it. Ge Yingxi is already so poor. Why would I cheat him? Liars also have morals. Of course, when the restaurant is built, there may not be people coming. It's a long journey. First, there are no gambling houses. Second, there are no brothels. Who would be willing to come? "
Zhang Xiaobao also pointed out the shortcomings of his plan.
Wang Juan blinked. "Since you know, why do you still want to build it?"
"We can have other things, such as food. After all, the food now can't be compared to the food of our time. There are also many lost dishes that we can't compare to. It doesn't matter. We can just find a chef who knows how to cook. As long as we write down the dishes that we have eaten and change the seasonings, we can make many dishes that people here haven't eaten before.
Song Jinggong's reputation has been made, so I asked him to find a group of literati and literati to come here to play. After these people eat and sing well, they will go back and help us spread the word. More people will come here. Plus, there is a market here. Those smart businessmen will see a business opportunity.
We can build more shops and rent them out. The government will send people over to collect taxes. Let County Magistrate Cheng talk to them and use the money to repair the roads. When the roads are repaired, the villagers will be raising chickens and pigs. Our two villages will work together and set the prices. We don't have to send the goods out to sell. Someone will send the goods to us when we buy. "
Zhang Xiaobao looked at the villager who had started to work again and described with a firm gaze.
"And then? Go on, I like to hear this kind of thing. "Wang Juan also had a look of yearning.
"Also, our business is still too small. Let's talk about it when the time comes. Rich people won't care about a small place like ours at all. At the same time, there will be many people who will copy what we do and compete with us for customers. Driven by profit, all kinds of troubles will come one after another."
Zhang Xiaobao's tone changed as he spoke. He sounded a little helpless and a little indifferent.
Wang Juan also understood that this was unavoidable. If you want to live a good life, you have to face all kinds of problems. Running away won't solve the problems.
"Let's go and practice with the slingshot. We can talk about the future later. Let's take it one step at a time."
The two of them picked up some small stones and began to bully the chickens again. Ge Yingxi also followed the housekeeper here. Originally, Housekeeper Wang only asked someone to find Housekeeper Ge, but Ge Yingxi insisted on coming after knowing. He just wanted to see what that secret thing looked like.
"Villager Ge is also here. Housekeeper Ge, this is the new plow on Zhuangzi. We call it the curved shaft plow. A few days ago, we wanted to see if this plow was good, so we didn't let Villager Ge know. If it wasn't good, wouldn't the Ge family's Zhuangzi be harmed?"
When Housekeeper Wang, who was waiting here, saw someone crossing the bridge, he immediately went to greet them. As he walked back, he asked someone to bring the plow for them to see. No normal person would believe what he said.
Ge Yingxi and the housekeeper squatted down and looked at the plow carefully. At the same time, Ge Yingxi said to Housekeeper Wang, "Housekeeper Wang is very thoughtful. So this plow can be used? Do you want to find Village Chief? This will be a great achievement. "
Ge Yingxi's tone was sour when he said this. He thought he found someone to make the Zhang Xiaobao and Wang family compromise in Zhuangzi.
"There's no need for that. In fact, the county magistrate was the one who asked us to make this plough. There should be many similar ploughs on sale in the county right now. I'll give this to Village Head Ge. It's not too late to take it back and make the same."
When Housekeeper Wang looked at Ge Yingxi, he felt that this person was a little pitiful. He spent so much effort, but the result didn't change, but the process was different. He thought that Ge Yingxi must be very upset.
"Ah? The County Magistrate already knew? This … this, good. So the County Magistrate wants to increase the income of the people, so he made this plow. It's really not ordinary. " Ge Yingxi was indeed uncomfortable. He didn't believe that the County Magistrate already knew, but when he heard that the county already had this kind of plow, he understood that the Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family thought about it before him.
He felt that he was using all his strength to catch a chicken on the ground, but in the end, he caught nothing. The Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family were really too deceitful.
Thinking this in his heart, he still had to say some good words. He asked the housekeeper to go back and find someone to take the plow back. He said to Housekeeper Wang,
"Thank you very much, Housekeeper Wang. First, you let your own villagers use it, which shows that your courage is unusual. After using it well, you let us use it to learn. This is not a small favor. With the new plow, we can plant the seedlings earlier this year. If we can make it in time for two rainy days, then we won't have to worry about autumn."
"Well said. Who asked our two families to be so close to Zhuangzi? As the saying goes, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative. If we can help each other, of course we should help each other. Who hasn't met with difficulties? If one day the Wang Family is in trouble in Zhuangzi, I think Village Manager Ge will also be in the same situation."
Housekeeper Wang put on a sincere expression and replied.
"Yes, yes, we should help each other. Zhuangzi still has some things to do. Housekeeper Wang, you can go do it." Since he got what he wanted, Ge Yingxi didn't want to say more. After saying a few words of courtesy, he turned around and left.
*****
With the new plow, it was much better than the previous one. It was sold in the county town. The news seemed to have wings. In just half a day, it spread throughout the county town. Some people had already started to buy it. This was a notice issued by the county magistrate, so he wouldn't lie to them.
County Magistrate Cheng was also busy. After resting for a while, he suddenly remembered that he forgot the most important thing. He got up and went to the study room. He wrote a petition and asked someone to send it out quickly. After the messenger left, he asked someone to bring two sets of curved plow and send it to the county town as fast as possible. This was the time to show off his merit, so he couldn't be late.
After finishing all these, he couldn't sleep anymore. He asked someone to wake up Qi Lizheng and Senior Feng. Then, he walked to Zhou Xihu with these two people who obviously didn't have enough sleep. He wanted to stay there in person so that more people who were still hesitating would make up their minds to buy the plow.
When the three of them arrived with a few yamen runners, there was already a sea of people. The villagers who received the news all came to ask how much the plow cost and how it was used.
As soon as County Magistrate Cheng arrived, the people immediately made way for him. Seeing the county magistrate walk over with a smile on his face, they all showed respect in their eyes. When they came, they had already heard that this kind of plow was much faster than before, and it was all the county magistrate's idea.
They also heard that the county magistrate's hair turned white and he lost weight because of thinking about these things. It took him a lot of energy to make the plow. In the middle of the night, he even went out to check if the plow was good.
He was a good official. During the New Year, he even gave gifts to the villagers. Thinking of this, some people began to shout "good". The others were also affected and shouted, making County Magistrate Cheng's prestige unparalleled.
At this time, the head of the department, Zhao Xiang, was also writing a petition in the study. He knew what was going on, but he couldn't write the truth. He could only write according to what everyone said. After writing two full pages, he finally understood the situation. Many of them talked about how County Magistrate Cheng was anxious about the spring plowing.
After drying the ink, he put the letter into an envelope, stamped it with a lacquer seal, and asked someone to send it away. He sat there in a daze, thinking about the Zhang family's farmstead. He wondered what kind of person was so capable that he could make so many things. Not only did he make a lot of money, but he also knew when to advance and retreat. He gave up all the benefits and made connections with the county magistrate.
"It seems that I was right to help him back then. Otherwise, this curved plow might not appear again. The food in that small shop in the county tasted pretty good and the price was cheap. I brought my daughter there several times and could eat a lot each time.
It seems that they still have some tricks up their sleeves. I heard that the land there is going to be taken back. Since they are willing to give such a big credit to the county magistrate, it means that they have other ways to help Zhuangzi increase his reputation. "
Zhao Xiang sat there, thinking and muttering to himself. Then, he closed his eyes and hummed a local tune.
Compared to the head of the department, Zhao Xiang, who was leisurely, County Magistrate Cheng was much more tired. With him around, more and more people came to buy the plow. All the people who came over had to greet him, and he also had to reply. After a while, he was thirsty from talking and drinking a bowl of tea didn't make him feel better.
"Xihu, this time, not only did you make money, when the higher-ups give you a reward, you will also get a share. If you didn't arrange for people to make so many plows, the people wouldn't be able to use the new plow. Don't slack off these two days. Make more. It would be best if all the villagers in the county can use the new plow."
County Magistrate Cheng looked at Zhou Xihu, who was standing there with a face full of smiles. He walked over and said earnestly.
"Uncle Cheng is right. Xihu will definitely ask people to make more of these plows so that all the villagers in the county can enjoy the benefits."
Zhou Xihu also expressed his attitude. In fact, he was thinking that with so many plows sold, the money won't be small.
Once the 200,000 words count is reached, I will come down immediately. I am prepared, but everyone must continue to vote. There is also a recommendation list. Thank you.
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