No matter how troubled Mr. Lin and Wang were about General Chang's request, Lin Zhu didn't take it to heart. She had more urgent things to worry about now.
Since the beginning of summer, the weather has been extremely hot, and it has not rained for nearly a month. Lin Zhu was very anxious because of the weather.
If it doesn't rain, the crops in this field will suffer. They will all dry up in the ground, and the harvest will soon be extinct.
Not only Lin Zhu was anxious, but all the farmers in the countryside were also anxious. Every household was trying to get some water to irrigate the fields. However, neither the water from the river nor the water from the well could solve the fundamental problem, and the water in the well could not solve the fundamental problem.
The water cannot be poured all over the ground, and people have to drink it.
"Uncle Ten, you and Uncle Bo have been working hard these days. Let's stop brewing the wine and try not to touch the stored grain. I'm afraid this year's situation won't be good. Let's make some preparations." Lin Zhu was in a somewhat moody mood.
It was heavy, as she expected, there was a severe drought this year and there was no grain harvest.
Although this is a natural disaster, the people who suffer the most are the common people. Lin Zhu feels that if the time comes, he should do his best.
Lin Zhu also mentioned his thoughts to General Chang. He thought about it and said, "Well, the court is also worried about this matter. You are right to do this." Lin Zhu couldn't tell Lin Zhu much about the affairs of the court.
Said, but General Chang also agreed with Lin Zhu's approach.
If a drought really occurs, the number of people begging for a living will definitely increase. Even setting up a porridge factory will be a good deed.
Maybe Lin Zhu's worries came true. Although it rained a few times throughout the summer, the thunder was loud and the raindrops were light. In other words, the rain made the ground wet and had no fundamental effect at all. Barely.
There are still some harvests only in those fields close to water sources.
But these cannot keep the hard-working farmers alive, so there are more and more people begging for food and begging in and outside the city. There are so many people even before winter, it seems that this year is indeed a disaster year.
"Girl, it would be great if you were prepared early. Now the prices of those rice shops have been rising." Aunt Chang and Lin Zhu were sitting in the room talking about the current situation outside, with a look of sadness on their faces.
"I'm not the only one who made preparations early. Otherwise, the price of rice grains wouldn't have risen so fast." How could Lin Zhu not know that those grain shops are now making money wantonly.
Some wealthy households in the city have already prepared to give out porridge, firstly to gain a good reputation, and secondly to accumulate virtue and do good deeds.
"Girl, I heard that there are already many families outside giving porridge. Then when can we set up a stall?" Aunt Chang also knew the inside story and had long heard that Lin Zhu had such a plan.
"Aunt Chang, I don't plan to put the porridge out." Lin Zhu shook his head.
Her words stunned Aunt Chang. Don't you plan to give out porridge? She didn't believe that Lin Zhu would sell a large amount of grain in her hands for money, but why would she not give out porridge?
"Giving porridge only provides temporary relief. Those who eat it today may not have it tomorrow, and we can't care about them for the rest of their lives." Seeing the confusion on Aunt Chang's face, Lin Zhu explained, "And if you have food, you will only be able to eat it.
Let these people not think about making progress and wait for someone to give them free food every day."
"We have so much food in our hands, so we just want to hire some people to work in exchange for food. It is much better than raising them for nothing. I believe more people will want this." Lin Zhu told Aunt Chang his plan.
.
"The girl's method is better." Aunt Chang thought for a while and admired Lin Zhu's approach.
In fact, the so-called beggars are just transformed from poor people. But if you have the ability to earn some food, no one wants to beg with contempt. Therefore, Lin Zhu's method is more appropriate than directly giving porridge.
.
Of course, Lin Zhu also knew that she could not complete this matter on her own. No matter what, the General's Office had to step in. Otherwise, the refugees from outside knew that she had a lot of food in Xiaowangzhuang, and they would not start a riot.
alright.
Those refugees were not all honest people, and Lin Zhu knew this.
After hearing Lin Zhu's thoughts, General Chang did not nod or shake his head. It was not that he thought there was anything wrong with Lin Zhu's actions, but he was thinking about the benefits or disadvantages that her actions would bring to her.
"Girl Zhu, no one has ever done this before. If you insist on doing this, someone will probably use this to slander you. Did you know?" Lin Zhu's identity in the capital is already very eye-catching.
Following Mu Qiyue's succession to Princess Changmin, there were also rumors that Princess Changmin was interested in Lin Zhu.
This kind of thing has also been noticed by the royal family members, so Lin Zhu's identity has become a flaw, and the Lin and Wang families have not given any prepared information, so General Chang has been preparing for Lin Zhu and Mu Qi.
Worry about things happening in between.
Unfortunately, Mu Qiyue was sent to another place by the emperor. For a while, Lin Zhu could not find anyone to discuss with Mu Qiyue. Therefore, their affairs were delayed.
"Grandpa, actually if this thing is done, it will be beneficial to the emperor." A new thing has to go through a process from its emergence to its acceptance by others, so Lin Zhu is mentally prepared for the incomprehension of outsiders.
But she was confident that the emperor would be on her side, so she was so confident.
"Oh? What do you say?" General Chang's eyes lit up when he heard this, waiting for Lin Zhu's next words.
"You also know that when the weather gets colder, more refugees will probably come. Although this is the capital, except for the imperial city, we are surrounded by these people." Lin Zhu paused, "
Regardless of whether it is the court or the rich, everyone rushing to give out porridge will not solve the fundamental problem, but will allow some people to take advantage of the loopholes. We have raised some good hands and feet for nothing, but we will also raise their lazy temperament.
.”
Listening to Lin Zhu's words, General Chang nodded thoughtfully. He also knew that there must be people like what Lin Zhu said, and there would be no shortage of them, and these people would also cause some security problems.
As time goes by, such people may bully others and start fights and troubles, which will be really difficult to deal with.
"However, if the imperial court comes forward, or if we exchange food for work and let some people do the work, there will definitely be a lot fewer people. Grandpa, what do you think?" Lin Zhu saw that General Chang seemed to agree with her.
"Well, what you said makes sense, but I have to report this matter to the Emperor. Even if the Emperor favors you, there are some things that are better left to the Emperor's nod." Moreover, as long as the Emperor nods, in the future,
Then no one will use this matter to make irresponsible remarks against Lin Zhu. It will also double the emperor’s favor for Lin Zhu. Why not? (To be continued...)