sjar Chapter 158 Sun Salt
Chapter 158 Sun Salt
"My siblings and I also heard about Chen Jixian on the way here. He is indeed a good official who works hard for the people. We all admire him deeply." Lu Linlang also responded.
"Miss Lu, to be honest, I came to see you this time because I heard about your deeds in Mudun County, so I wanted to show my face in front of you. If you encounter any problems, please come to me.
Secondly, I heard that Miss Lu, you are not the kind of person who likes to have fun everywhere, so I thought that you must have come to Chenji County for some benefits. I thought about it carefully, if there is anything in Chenji County that can attract girls, it is only those foreign businessmen, so when I heard that you went to the dock as soon as you arrived, I thought it was almost right.
When those foreign merchants first arrived, the people didn't take them seriously. But I heard the goods they brought were very valuable, so I brought people with me. No matter what, we have to build the dock. That way, merchants will come and Chenji County can be revitalized."
"Master Yi, you are indeed the one who can transform Chenji County. You are absolutely right. I came here for those foreign merchants. What I want is the goods they brought. However, my goal may be different from others, so I have to wait until those foreign merchants arrive to find out.
Don't worry, sir. Our original intention is not to deliberately get rid of anyone. We also see your contributions. If there is an opportunity, I will definitely speak well of you in front of the emperor for officials like you who consider the people."
Seeing that he spoke directly, Lu Linlang did not hide anything and explained the reason.
"That's good, that's good. I would like to thank you for your help, young lady. Don't worry, as long as you are in Chenji County, your safety will be guaranteed. If anyone dares to offend you, I will definitely deal with him.
You can just wait here for the foreign merchants; they will arrive in three days. I heard that the young lady also suggested adding something that is only found on the seashore to the salt. I wonder if you could help me take a look in the next few days to see if there is anything in Chenji County that you would like. If you can make the people of Chenji County live a better life, I would be extremely grateful.
"Since you said so, sir, I will spend the next few days in Chenji County. I also ask you to help find someone to lead the way so that we can go around on our own."
"Okay, okay, don't worry, young lady. I'll send someone to show you around tomorrow."
Lord Yi was relieved. With her words, even if there was nothing pleasing to the eye, at least he had made efforts for the people.
Lu Zhan and Yun Can also began to learn to drink, and Lu Linlang did not stop them. They had grown up and had to have their own ideas about many things. It was impossible to keep them around all the time and teach them to drink. At least in the future, they would not be plotted against because of their low alcohol tolerance when they went out.
By the time they returned to the inn, both of them were extremely drunk. One was chattering nonsense, while the other was more obedient than usual, following them back quietly.
The next day, when Lu Linlang woke up, the person sent by Lord Yi was already waiting in the lobby. When he saw her coming, he hurriedly introduced himself.
"Miss Lu, I'm Ma Xiong, a constable at the county yamen. My master has instructed me to accompany you all around during your stay in Chenji. Don't worry, I'll take you wherever you want to go."
"Thank you very much, Brother Ma Xiong. My two younger brothers are still washing up. We will leave after dinner. You can sit down and eat with us. Don't let yourself lead the way on an empty stomach later."
"No, no, how can I dare to eat with the girl? I will buy a pancake outside later and take you away." Ma Xiong didn't dare to agree. Miss Lu was the one who ate at the same table with them adults. Who did he think he was to dare to eat with Miss Lu?
"It's okay, don't be restrained. There aren't so many rules here. Besides, we are all eating at the same table together, so don't be polite."
Seeing that the others had indeed sat down, Ma Xiong finally felt at ease to have breakfast with them. Lu Zhan and Yun Can had slept well last night, and apart from feeling a little tired, there was no major problem.
Lu Linlang originally wanted to see the beach yesterday, but she didn't make it. It just so happened that today she wanted Ma Xiong to take her to the beach to take a closer look.
Chenji County is half close to the land and half close to the sea. People living close to the land at least have land to grow vegetables and crops, but people living close to the sea can only make a living by fishing. If there are windy and rough seas or it rains, they can only stay on their boats at home.
What they hate eating the most is the fish they have been eating since they were young. Those who have houses on land are better off, at least they can grow some vegetables in the yard. For those who don’t have a house, the boat is their home.
When Lu Linlang and her group arrived at the shore, they saw rows of boats. The little girls on the boats were all working, either cooking or washing clothes. Seeing such a group of strangers, they were so scared that they hid in the cabin or told the adults at home.
"Master, I don't know what we have done wrong and why you are here?" A man on one of the boats said tremblingly. When he saw Ma Xiong's clothes, he knew that he was an official from the yamen, and he was so scared that his calves were shaking.
"It's nothing. I just brought some people here for a walk. Don't worry, we will leave soon." Ma Xiong explained. People from several ships quietly hid in the cabins to watch them.
Lu Linlang saw some younger children standing naked on the boat, and some were wearing rags, and they looked like they were living a miserable life.
"Miss Lu, there is a mudflat over there. Children usually go there to play and pick up a lot of things. Although they are just small fish and shrimps, they can be taken home and cooked and chewed." Ma Xiong's family is also a fisherman. It was with the help of adults that he was chosen to work in the government office, so he is very familiar with the situation on the seaside.
"Then take us to see it." Lu Linlang was curious when she heard about the mudflats, so she went over to take a look.
It seems that this area is very flat, but when the tide is high, this area will be submerged by sea water, so people come here to go fishing.
The people brought by Lu Zhan and Yun Can had all lived inland since childhood and had never been to the sea. When they saw that there were many children here, they ran to ask those children and learned from them.
When the children saw so many strangers coming, they were scared and wanted to run away, but when they saw that they had no ill intentions, they mustered up the courage to talk to Lu Zhan and the others.
Lu Linlang did not follow them, but walked back and forth on the mudflat to observe the terrain. Ma Xiong did not know her intention, but continued to follow her.
"Ma Xiong, have you heard of salt drying?" Lu Linlang saw that he had been following her, which showed that he was a very responsible person.
"We have heard that the profit from drying salt is quite high, and there are salt merchants who come to collect the salt. However, our place is too remote and too poor, so there are no salt merchants who come here to dry salt. If we had them, at least our lives would be better."
Ma Xiong had naturally heard of it, but that was a good thing that only existed in those wealthy states and counties, and it was not their turn.