A family with three widows, after severing ties with relatives, she became wealthy and married into

Chapter 238 Change of Attitude

After the people in Baishi County finished planting rice seedlings, Tian Tian had to rush to Xiushui County.

The magistrate of Wanxian County recalculated the figures and increased the area for rice planting to four thousand mu.

In this way, Tian Tian could cultivate just enough seedlings at Shen Zhian's estate.

The next time I saw Magistrate Wan was outside Shen Zhian's manor; his appearance was completely different from the last time.

She was so kind and loving. "Miss Tian, ​​you've arrived."

This time, Li Huaiyuan did not come; only Empress Li accompanied him.

"Madam Li." Magistrate Wan was also very polite to Empress Li.

Empress Li didn't give him a kind look, not even a glance.

“The people sent by each village have arrived. They are waiting outside so as not to disturb Manager Shen,” Magistrate Wan said, pointing in a direction.

Tian Tian looked in that direction and sure enough, she saw a group of people standing there, craning their necks to look in her direction.

"Let them come over," Tian Tian said.

The magistrate of Wan County quickly instructed his advisor...

As they entered the estate, Magistrate Wan accompanied Tian Tian, ​​saying, "Miss Tian, ​​I'm so sorry about last time."

"Later, I met with Manager Shen again and realized that I had been too narrow-minded."

"Manager Shen has no intention of withdrawing the tea shop from Xiushui County..."

Tian Tian understood; it turned out that Shen Zhian had already told Magistrate Wan the truth.

"Now, Manager Shen has moved the tea shop to another hilltop, and the tea farmers have all moved there as well..."

"The people have the wages of tea farmers and can also grow high-yield rice... Their lives will definitely get better and better in the future, all thanks to Miss Tian."

Tian Tian said calmly, "The tea farmers' wages depend on Manager Shen; I dare not take credit for it."

"Yes, yes," Magistrate Wan replied, bowing deeply.

"In short, I hope you won't take the previous girl to heart."

"In the future, I, Wan, will certainly cooperate with you as much as possible..."

The morning mist had not yet dissipated when farmers carried heavy loads of rice seedlings on their shoulders. The carrying poles swayed gently with each step, making creaking sounds.

The rice seedlings were lush and green, with glistening dewdrops clinging to their leaves, shimmering in the morning light.

The people's dark faces were full of smiles, and the wrinkles at the corners of their eyes were gathered into a flower shape.

"These rice seedlings are growing really well."

Their steps were light, and they even hummed little tunes.

Laughter echoed through the fields, prompting passing birds to chirp and chatter along.

Someone nearby was anxious, but others joked, "What's the rush? The rice seedlings aren't going to run away."

"Yes, we have them all, we have them all!!"

The men who were digging up seedlings in the fields neatly stacked the seedlings along the edge of the fields, while the villagers used both their hands and feet to load the seedlings into bamboo baskets.

Even the few seedlings that occasionally fell off were carefully picked up and put back, not wanting to waste them.

Slowly, the sun rose, and golden sunlight spilled onto the fields, making the rice paddies shimmer with silver light.

Although the farmers' faces were covered in sweat, their smiles were brighter than the sunshine.

They understood better than Magistrate Wan that these rice seedlings were their hope for survival, and that their food supply for the coming year depended on them.

The land is more important to them than anything else.

As the saying goes, people depend on the land for sustenance, and the land depends on people for cultivation. As long as the fields are not left barren, there is hope for the future.

The magistrate of Wan County felt ashamed when he saw the people in such a state.

The words of gratitude from the passersby only made him feel more embarrassed.

He almost ruined it...

Thankfully, thankfully this Miss Tian isn't a stingy person.

“Miss Tian.” Magistrate Wan came to Tian Tian’s side and led her to a less crowded side. “I heard from Manager Shen that you wanted to open a shop in Xiushui County.”

Tian Tian neither confirmed nor denied it; she wanted to open a shop in Xiushui County.

However, shops in Xiushui County were hard to find, and... because of Magistrate Wan, she was somewhat annoyed and gave up on the idea.

Tian Tian slightly raised her eyes and looked at Magistrate Wan, waiting for him to continue.

Magistrate Wan approached and said, "I was wrong before, and I made the young lady angry."

“If the young lady can forgive me and continue to run her shop in Xiushui County, I will definitely give her my full support.”

"We hope the young lady will reconsider."

Tian Tian glanced at the clerk behind Magistrate Wan, and saw him nodding secretly in agreement with Magistrate Wan's words. His manner... clearly indicated that he had given Magistrate Wan a heads-up beforehand.

The magistrate of Wan County waited awkwardly for Tian Tian's response.

After Miss Tian left Xiushui County, the clerk specially took two constables, dressed in ordinary clothes, to Baishi County to investigate.

After the advisor returned, he described the situation at Baishi Teahouse and Baishi Hot Pot Shop.

He sighed repeatedly...

Whether it was the food in the teahouse or the dishes in the hot pot restaurant, they were all things he had never seen before.

Moreover, the advisor also saw many familiar faces of merchants in Baishi County.

It turns out that in the past year, there have been fewer and fewer businessmen in Xiushui County because they have gone to Baishi County.

The advisor also overheard the merchants discussing how it would be great if other counties also had Baishi Teahouse and Baishi Hot Pot Shop, so they wouldn't have to travel around so much.

Knowing these circumstances, the advisor continued to analyze the benefits of Tian Tian opening a shop in Xiushui County.

After the shops opened in Xiushui County, at least people from Xiushui County won't have to make a special trip to Baishi County to eat tea and hot pot anymore.

In addition, Xiushui County can also attract customers from other places with Baishi Tea House and Baishi Hot Pot Shop.

The advisor really put in a lot of effort on this trip to Baishi County.

In addition to the on-site examination venues, Baishi Tea House and Baishi Hot Pot Shop, we also observed the overall operation of Baishi County.

Naturally, they also learned about Tian Tian's work in recruitment, farming, and other related matters.

The wages that Tian Er offered to hire workers were more than double those of tea farmers.

She needs workers for farming, running shops, and so on. Given the size of Baishi County, it is estimated that she can provide employment for three to five hundred people.

After listening to the advisor's analysis, Magistrate Wan finally understood why Magistrate Li of Baishi County had accompanied Miss Tian all the way to Xiushui County and had been so protective of her.

But he still didn't understand why Shen Zhian would defend Tian Tian so much.

"Young lady, please reconsider. Our master sincerely hopes that you can open a shop in our Xiushui County." The clerk bowed obsequiously, his smile very sincere.

Tian Tian thought this advisor was a really interesting person.

Despite having a clearer understanding than Magistrate Wan, he could only offer advice from behind Magistrate Wan's back.

She felt it was a waste of her talents.

"I'll think about it," Tian Tian agreed.

The clerk immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Miss Tian."

At this moment, Magistrate Wan, having witnessed something, nodded to Tian Tiantian and left.

Tian Tian looked at the clerk and asked, "What is your surname, clerk?"

"My surname is Zhu, and my given name is Zhu Qian."

"Master Zhu...would you be willing to work for me?" Tian Tian extended an olive branch directly to him.

Zhu Qian was taken aback by her directness. "Miss Tian? You..."

He glanced up at the magistrate of Wan County not far away...

Tian Tian raised an eyebrow indifferently, "I think Master Zhu is a useful person. If you want to bring him under your command, Master Zhu can think it over carefully."

Zhu Qian immediately started thinking, and it only took him three minutes.

“Miss Tian, ​​thank you for your high regard, but…”

He began hesitantly, "I studied with the hope of entering officialdom and serving the people, so..."

Tian Tian blinked. Entering officialdom as a commoner?

"And how do you know that working for me doesn't count as serving the people?"

Zhu Qian was slightly taken aback and subconsciously looked at the people nearby.

The people were overjoyed, their happiness evident in their expressions.

If this doesn't count as serving the people, then what does it mean to serve the people?

Seeing his expression, Tian Tian smiled gently and reminded him, "Perhaps, working with me could help more people?"

Zhu Qian thought of what he had learned in Baishi County.

Almost all the people in Baishi County have benefited from Tian Tian.

Now that Tian Tian's business has expanded to other counties, the people in those counties will also benefit.

Looking back at myself...

Having served under the magistrate of Wan County for seven years, the things I wanted to do were always subject to his control and were very limited.

"Let me think about it some more," Tian Tian said, unhurried.

“You’ll definitely have more room to grow and perform better working for me than for this useless magistrate.”

"Perhaps the future prospects are immeasurable."

Zhu Qian hesitated.

The magistrate of Wan County is about to have a chance for promotion.

He had promised that if he were promoted, he would recommend to his superiors that he take over as county magistrate.

Tian Tian seemed to see right through him, "His chances of being promoted are slim."

Empress Li was angry with him. It was already a good thing that he could stay in office; otherwise, he might have been completely dismissed.

Zhu Qian was taken aback again when he heard Tian Tian say this.

Tian Tian's words were too certain.

How did she know that Magistrate Wan's chances of being promoted were not high?

Zhu Qian didn't think much about this question.

But if the magistrate of Wan County cannot be promoted, then he…

When will his wish be fulfilled?

He has already passed the imperial examination and become a Juren. To become an official, he must continue to take the imperial examinations, or he will be recommended by someone and directly appointed by the imperial court.

He's already married and needs money to make ends meet, so the chances of him continuing his scientific expeditions are extremely slim.

If even the path of becoming the magistrate of Wan County is blocked...

Zhu Qian felt melancholy.

Tian Tian didn't disturb his thinking and went to another place.

Empress Li stood there, looking at the people with deep emotion in her eyes.

Tian Tian exclaimed that Empress Li truly deserved to be called the mother of the nation; seeing her people happy, the expression that naturally revealed her was so loving.

Empress Li noticed Tian Tian and raised her hand to wipe away the faint tears from the corner of her eyes.

She was so easily moved, especially when she thought that the people were so happy because of her, their future daughter-in-law. She felt particularly proud and honored, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She grabbed Tian Tian's hand and said, moved, "Tian Tian, ​​I'm so grateful to you."

Tian Tian smiled awkwardly, "Madam Li, I'm doing this so that the people can live a better life. It has nothing to do with you..."

Empress Li pouted, "I just want to thank you."

"You're such a good child."

"You kid..."

"Sweetie, don't call me Mrs. Li anymore, just call me Aunt Li instead."

Tian Tian nodded helplessly, "Aunt Li."

Empress Li let out an exaggerated "Ah!"

"I will definitely reward you properly!!" she said with determination.

Tian Tian didn't care.

The magistrate of Wanxian was in the fields, helping the people to transplant rice seedlings...

Empress Li looked over and scoffed disdainfully, "Now you know how to help."

Tian Tian also looked over. In her opinion, it was quite good that Magistrate Wan was able to personally help the people with their affairs.

Unfortunately, Magistrate Wan's ideas were too limited, and he was inferior to Zhu Qian.

The best option for Magistrate Wan is to remain in Xiushui County. If he is promoted to another place, without Zhu Qian's planning behind the scenes, he will only be a muddle-headed official.

And Xiushui County...

With tea shops and sweet rice stalls, the people's lives won't have any major problems, and the magistrate of Wan County, apart from not being able to get promoted, won't have a bad salary.

Tian Tian told Empress Li her thoughts.

Empress Li had no idea that Tian Tian was deliberately leading her astray.

"Then let him continue to serve as the magistrate of Xiushui County," Empress Li made another decision.

Tian Tian smiled slightly...

After the people of Xiushui County had all planted rice seedlings, Tian Tian left behind a stack of planting guidelines and prepared to leave.

Before she left, Zhu Qian approached her.

"Miss Tian!" Zhu Qian had changed his clothes. He was no longer dressed as a clerk, but as a neat and tidy scholar. He looked more energetic and less obsequious.

"I figured it out."

Once he made up his mind, he no longer hesitated, saying, "I am willing to work for you."

"As for the magistrate of Wan County, he has already resigned."

"Did he agree?" Tian Tian asked.

Zhu Qian nodded. "Agreed."

"The magistrate of Wan County is a good man, he just sometimes loses his senses."

Tian Tian didn't care who the magistrate of Wan County was...

"Then pack your things and come with me to Songxi County this afternoon."

Qian Fulai was unwilling to give up in Songxi County, so he went to look for a shop again a few days ago, but there has been no news since.

After arriving in Songxi County, Tian Tian went to find Qian Fulai first.

"Sigh..." Qian Fulai sighed when he saw Tian Tian.

Then, seeing Zhu Qian behind Tian Tian, ​​she asked, "Tian Tian, ​​who is he?"

"This is my newly recruited...head steward," Tian Tian introduced. "His name is Zhu Qian."

"Manager Zhu, this is my sworn brother, Qian Fulai, who is also the owner of Fulai Restaurant in Baishi County."

"Master Qian," Zhu Qian said, neither humble nor arrogant.

"How's it going with finding a shop?" Tian Tian asked Qian Fulai after the introduction.

Last time, that Miss Rong from the Rong family was so unreasonable that Qian Fulai was so scared that he went back to Baishi County and hid for half a month.

They've been here for a while now.

"Sigh..." Qian Fulai sighed again.

"It's not that simple..."

He hesitated for a while before finally explaining the reason for the matter.

turn out to be...

Miss Rong was not only a famous beauty in Songxi County, but the Rong family was also one of the wealthiest families in Songxi County.

Half of the shops in the entire Songxi County belong to the Rong family.

The Rong family... has only one daughter, Miss Rong.

She didn't know what she saw in Qian Fulai... anyway, she had already made it public that no one was allowed to sell their shop to Qian Fulai.

so...

“I’ve been here for the past few days... I’ve looked at three or five shops, but as soon as they hear that I’m the buyer, they immediately stop selling.”

Qian Fulai spread his hands, utterly helpless, "I don't know where my charm comes from..."

His words were inexplicably unappealing.

His smug expression only made you want to punch him.

“Miss, why don’t you leave this matter to me?” Zhu Qian suddenly spoke up, looking very confident.