The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

He remembered Xu Shixun saying that there were not many people here because the county was very close to Chaizhou and many people had moved to Chaizhou. So, there shouldn't be so many talents here.

He asked the owner of the duck feet shop, "Have there always been so many people in this small county?"

"There weren't so many people before. It was Marquis Wan Xin who built a sugar factory and a sweet potato flour factory for us after he came to Fengying. After hearing about it, some of those who had moved away moved back."

"Oh, there's this."

"Yes, you are from outside, right? Actually, it's better for you to come back. In the past, there were hardly any people on the street, it was very desolate, but now it looks much more lively. In the past, I didn't dare to make too much braised food. No matter how much I made, I couldn't sell it. I almost went bankrupt because of the braised food. Now it's good. I dare to braise two pots of food every day, and I can sell them all every day. Those who moved away are stupid. As the old saying goes, nothing is better than home. They are still poor after moving to Chaizhou, without houses or land. Many people are so poor that they sell their children after this trip. They are not as good as those of us who didn't leave."

Wan Lianxing was surprised, "There is such a thing?"

"Yes, they are just stupid. They will have to come back in the future. Look at us here. Men can go to the mountains to farm during the busy farming season and work in factories during their free time. Women can spin yarn at home. They are all legitimate ways to make money."

“When was the sugar factory built?”

The stall owner said, "More than half a month."

Wan Lianxing nodded with satisfaction, "It seems that Xu Shixun is quite capable."

"You are talking about our county magistrate, Lord Xu, right?"

"it's him."

"He made a bet with the Marquis that we must have more people here. If we don't have enough people, he will be dismissed."

Wan Lianxing smiled and said, "You know all about this?"

The owner of the stall said mysteriously, "It is said that the Marquis wants to focus on renovating our place. We will have endless work to do and endless money to make."

Wan Lianxing said: "Really? Is the news reliable?"

"It's reliable. There's a Hu village over there. There's an old Hu family there. Their eldest son works for the Marquis's nephew and grandson. He's very successful. The news all comes from the Hu village. It's very reliable."

After hearing this, Qiao Rong was stunned.

Wan Lianxing wiped his hands with a handkerchief and said, "How could I forget about this? Let's go to the Hu village and take a look."

Qiao Rong was secretly happy. He missed home. He hadn't seen his parents since the last time. He whispered, "Are you going to my house, Lord?"

Wan Lianxing said, "I have nothing to do anyway, so it doesn't hurt to go and take a look."

Soon they arrived at Hu Village. The people in the village recognized Wan Lianxing's carriage at a glance and surrounded him enthusiastically, "Is the Marquis here?"

Wan Lianxing had no choice but to get off the carriage, "Where are the people in the village?" I remember that the last time I came here, I could still see some people in front of and behind the houses. Why are there only these few people today?

A villager said: "They all went to the mountain to watch the fun."

"What's going on in the mountains?"

A villager said, "The Marquis's men are working on quartz in the mountains, and everyone is here to watch the fun."

"Oh?"

"What is the use of the quartz, sir? Is it for paving the road?"

Wan Lianxing smiled and said, "It has some use, but it's not for paving roads."

"My Lord, are you going to build a factory? I see your nephew's wife looking at a stack of blueprints all day long. Everyone is talking about building a factory. Is that true? What kind of factory can they build?"

Wan Lianxing smiled and said, "We should build a quartz factory at the foot of the mountain."

"Is it big?"

"Not too small."

"Do you need someone?"

Wan Lianxing said: "We should ask for someone."

Everyone escorted Wan Lianxing all the way to Hu Er's home.

"Dad, Mom, there are distinguished guests at home." Qiao Rong called out his mother in one shout.

"Oh, the Marquis is here." Hu Er's wife was spinning in the house. When she heard Qiao Rong's voice, she hurried out.

"Sit in the Marquis' room."

Wan Lianxing said, "You're welcome. I'll just sit in the yard for a while."

Hu Er's wife said, "Qiao Rong, go to the mountain and call your father back. Ask him to bring some people up the mountain to pick two baskets of fruits and vegetables, and then go into the city to sell some vegetables."

Qiao Rong was in a dilemma: "If I go up the mountain, what will the young master do?"

It was then that Hu Er's wife saw Cheng Youning. Cheng Youning stood upright with a serious look on his face.

"Oh, this is the young master of the Wan family, right?"

"Exactly."

Hu Er's wife didn't know what to do. She raised her hand and bowed to Cheng Youning. Then she hurriedly wiped the broken chairs in the yard with her sleeves, "My Lord, please sit down. Young Master, please sit down."

After everyone who was supposed to sit was seated, Hu Er's wife said, "I'll go get someone to call Hu Er back."

Wan Lianxing said, "I'll stay for a while and then leave. There's no need to disturb Hu Er."

Hu Er's wife said, "That won't work. You have to eat at my house before you leave."

Hu Er's wife shouted towards the neighbor's house: "Old Second?"

Qiao Rong's brother quickly ran back from the neighbor's house, "Mom is calling me."

A child with big eyes and a dry face came back. When he saw Qiao Rong, he didn't recognize him. Hu Er's wife pushed his head and said, "You don't recognize your brother?"

Instantly the child's nose and tears started to flow, and he started to cry loudly. Qiao Rong picked up his brother and said, "Brother, why are you crying?"

"Brother, I miss you."

Qiao Rong said, "Brother misses you too, don't cry, or people will laugh at you."

Wan Lianxing looked at the two brothers who had such a strong friendship and said, "Your second son looks much stronger than before. Last time, it seemed like he couldn't even walk properly."

Hu Er's wife said, "We have to thank the Marquis for this. Thanks to the Marquis, we have money in our pockets. The child can eat food and grow up fast. Please wait, I will send someone to the mountain to call Hu Er."

Wan Lianxing saw that he couldn't persuade the woman, so he just let her go.

Qiao Rong started to make a fire in the yard. Cheng Youning asked, "What are you going to do?"

Qiao Rong said, "Boil some water and make mint water for everyone."

"Mint water?"

Qiao Rong said, "If you don't want to drink mint water, I don't have anything else at home."

Cheng Youning said, "Then hurry up and cook it. I just ate a few duck feet in the city and I'm a little thirsty."

Qiao Rong heard this and said, "Then don't be thirsty, I'll get you a bucket of cold water."

Qiao Rong quickly drew half a bucket of water from the well and scooped half a bucket of water for Cheng Youning with a ladle. "It's cold, drink some first."

Cheng Youning looked at the water in the gourd, then looked at the gourd itself. It looked so clean. He shook his head and said, "I don't want to drink it."

Qiao Rong's younger brother said, "If you don't drink, I will." Then the child reached out and snatched the water ladle from Qiao Rong's hand, and drank it up in one gulp. The rest of the water, including the ladle, was thrown into the bucket.