Eat My Childless Life: The Little Fisher Girl is Poor and Fierce

Chapter 494 Really?

Upon seeing his mother's expression, Wu Qingfeng immediately knew that she must have misunderstood him. He calmly explained, "Mother, please be patient and let me explain slowly."

"Speak!" Madam Wu gripped the armrest of the round-backed chair, her fingers visibly tightening.

Wu Qingfeng shook his head inwardly and slowly said, "Mother just said that if all the coastal areas can unite against a common enemy and work together as one, they will surely become a force to be reckoned with."

"The capital will certainly not allow this force to grow stronger. If my son gets involved, it will be even more likely to arouse the capital's vigilance."

That person would never allow a civil official to suddenly have his own troops, but sending someone else to take over might not be convincing to the public.

What can we do? We can only nip this problem in the bud.

Although Madam Wu lived a secluded life in the inner quarters, she was not an ignorant or dull person.

Hearing his son say this, he naturally wondered what actions the authorities in Beijing might take.

He couldn't help but exclaim indignantly, "So they just sit there in the halls of power, letting the coastal people suffer, and forbidding any people with aspirations from turning the tide?"

She said it like that, but she knew in her heart that the answer was yes.

However, "But what does this have to do with your marriage?"

Aren't they discussing marriage?

Wu Qingfeng smiled and continued, "Mother, the Coastal Defense Team Plan was proposed and initiated by Chang'er. However, the plan has now been improved and is now called the Coastal Joint Defense Plan."

"Simply put, it means that each coastal region will now establish its own coastal defense force, and these forces will help each other. If a major war breaks out in the future, they will unite as one to fight the enemy together."

"The Linhai Village that my mother sees today is a place where the villagers live and work in peace and contentment, the elderly have support, the young have jobs and receive wages, and the children have access to education. But just six months ago, it was not like this."

Wu Qingfeng paused for a moment and then told Madam Wu about his first visit to this place.

Madam Wu's eyes widened immediately. "Really?"

Wu Qingfeng nodded. “Mother, Aunt used her dowry to supplement military supplies, and you also try to send supplies to the north every year. I think you understand better than most people that in order to reassure the soldiers and allow them to fight with peace of mind, their pay must be stable.”

“But the coastal defense team is all self-organized, and they are there to protect their homeland. No government pays them.”

“But since we have to fight, we must train. But once we start training, they will have no time to make a living. That’s why Chang’er thought of using wages to maintain stability. Most farmers are honest and simple, and Chang’er is also a shrewd businesswoman.”

“She knew how to make money and was willing to contribute. She built a school and a canteen so that their children could go to school and the elderly in the family could have food to eat.”

"But she can support a village by herself. If it's the entire coastline, even mountains of gold and silver would be exhausted, right?"

Madam Wu nodded, deeply moved, and felt even greater respect for Lin Chang'er.

He even momentarily forgot the main point, only worrying, "What should we do then?"

Wu Qingfeng said, "Therefore, Shao'an has been traveling along the coast for the past few months, summarizing information from each region, and then Chang'er will formulate development directions to ensure that the people in the coastal areas can have enough to eat and afford to go to school."

Madam Wu hummed in agreement. "She is a thoughtful person. If there is a suitable opportunity, I am willing to do my part."

Wu Qingfeng smiled and agreed, "If there is anything I can do for you, Mother, I will certainly not be polite."

Mrs. Wu nodded, then suddenly remembered the important point, "Is it because we're too busy that we're not discussing the wedding date for now?"

“That’s not the case,” Wu Qingfeng shook his head with a smile. “It was Chang’er who said that instead of acting like the county magistrate’s wife, it would be better to announce to the world that it was my idea. This would also attract attention from all sides. So, before the coastal defense against the pirates is initially established, we will postpone our marriage.”