"Thank you very much, sir." Ruan Yuan also paid his respects again: "Sir, Ruan Yuan has something very important to do today, and I would like to ask you for your advice. At the moment, the accounts of the seawall have been quite unusual in my opinion these days.

The solution. I have visited this seawall many times and found that the work done and the stones prepared are far from the accounts of the seawall. Some projects can be completed with about one thousand taels of silver, but there is something written in the account.

Two thousand taels, when all these accounts are added together, the total is quite large, but I don’t know what’s the reason for it?”

"Does Zhong Cheng know about the Haitang Assistant?" Wang Huizu asked, and Ruan Yuan nodded.

"Most of the disadvantages of the seawall are the assistants." Wang Huizu said: "Zhongcheng may not be able to imagine that if you spend more money on daily affairs, you can get more things done. But this seawall is the opposite. The more you spend, the more things you can do.

On the contrary, less things will be done, and with less money, more things may be done. Just because this gang system allows many people to do things they are unfamiliar with, then they will be deceived, that is,

It makes sense. According to the law, for the seawall project, not only the coastal counties need to contribute money to purchase stone and firewood, but many counties not along the coast also have to contribute a sum of money to help repair the seawall. This is the so-called assistance. Fuyang,

The counties in Lin'an do not have seawalls, but they also have this fee. Zhongcheng can see if this is the case. In fact, most of these assisting counties do not know what materials are needed to build seawalls, and they do not know how to purchase these materials most conveniently. Some people go

When buying firewood, they often go to the places with the most expensive firewood. Some people don’t know the quality of the stone and firewood, so they only buy the corresponding quantity of stone and firewood and then leave the job. How much is consumed in these purchases out of thin air?

Not to mention the money, many of the stones and firewood we bought cannot be used. Wouldn't this be a waste of government money? So I supervised the construction of the seawall for Chang Lin Zhongcheng many years ago, and wanted to get rid of this disadvantage, but I had no choice.

At that time, Chang Lin Zhongcheng was living in Fuyuan, and I couldn't see him. Now I have a comprehensive solution. Why don't Zhongcheng inform the counties outside the coastal areas that need help? A small part of the help fee will be left every year.

It will be handed over to the coastal counties, and the rest will be abolished. As for the places to purchase stone and firewood, the government should also make detailed decisions, select places where the price of stone and firewood is not expensive, and the quality is acceptable, and inform the coastal pond construction of the price of stone and firewood.

Each county. In this way, each county can use the market price as a reference, so they can purchase according to the price, but they will not be deceived by businessmen, obstructed by traitors, and use public funds for private purposes."

"Sir, what you said makes sense." Ruan Yuan couldn't help but be overjoyed, and hurriedly paid homage to Wang Huizu again, saying: "If each county can cut some of the fees for the seawall assistant to make up for the shortfall, it will take less than three to five years."

, it can fill a large loophole. Moreover, the cost is reduced, but it does not affect the labor and materials used to build the seawall. It is simply the best of both worlds. Sir, it can also be regarded as benefiting the people along the coast."

"Why should Zhongcheng be so humble?" Wang Huizu said with a smile: "Zhongcheng came to Zhejiang to serve as governor. Although it only lasted for a year and a half, I watched Zhejiang's prisons, arrests and thieves and all kinds of common people, which was the beginning of Zhongxing.

Elephant. I was born in the year of Yongzheng. I know a lot about Zhejiang affairs. I dare to say that you are the first governor of Zhejiang in the past few decades since Mr. Li Minda! If Zhongcheng can eliminate the shortcomings of this gang,

, then naturally it is Zhongcheng’s credit.”

The Duke Li Minda mentioned by Wang Huizu was Li Wei, a famous minister of the Yongzheng Dynasty. When Ruan Yuan heard Wang Huizu's high praise, he was naturally happy for a moment. At this time, a clerk from the Fuyuan suddenly came up from outside, holding a letter of greeting in his hand, and greeted

Ruan Yuandao: "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhongcheng, Dinghai Li Zhenjun has arrived. He said that he heard that the cannon casting in Hangzhou has been completed and came to hand over to Mr. Zhongcheng."

"Okay, I'll go over right now." Ruan Yuan was overjoyed when he heard that Li Changgeng had come to Fuyuan, so he said goodbye to Wang Huizu for the time being and went to the front hall of Fuyuan.

"Hangzhou is particularly famous for its silk trade. It was not surprising that we encountered large shops and warehouses, which, in terms of size and the contents of their goods, were equal to the best shops in London. Although the streets here are narrow, they are

It is superior to the streets in the capital because it is paved with large stone slabs. The streets we passed also had butcher shops, pastry shops, fish sellers, rice and other grain sellers... Based on the size and situation of the city, I estimate that the population is not much larger than that of the city.

There are few in Beijing.”

This is what envoy Barrow said in his travel notes when the Macartney delegation went south eight years ago. Hangzhou has been a prosperous place in the southeast for hundreds of years. At this time, after more than a hundred years of peace in the Qing Dynasty,

, it was even more prosperous for a while, and it cannot be more prosperous. "Zhejiang Tongzhi" also said: When you climb Wushan Mountain and look out, you will see the vast waves of the river in the east, and the vast tracts of tranquility. And within the Luyan, there are shoulder-to-shoulder clashes, fireworks and thousands of families, a sign of peace in the prosperous age.

It is now collected in the lapel belt.

If you look east from Wushan Mountain, you will see a towering archway at the foot of the mountain. This is the Chenghuang Archway in front of the City God's Temple. Because of the convenience of the City God's Temple, this is also a new emerging market in Hangzhou. From the archway to Tongjiang Bridge, there are shops all the way.

There are many merchants coming and going, and sometimes you can see the carriages and horses of some dignitaries passing slowly on the street. Between Chenghuang Temple Street and Tongjiang Bridge, there is a street that runs across it, leading from Fengshan Gate to the north.

In the more prosperous Qinghefang Street, a tall building stands at the foot of Wugong Mountain, known as Zhenhai Tower. On weekdays, there are more than ten soldiers patrolling the building to maintain public order in the northern and southern commercial areas.

At this time, at the end of the Tongjiang Bridge, a soft sedan was slowly passing by. This soft sedan was different from ordinary sedans. The roof and curtains were painted black, but the eaves of the sedan were painted green. It was used in the homes of second-rank dignitaries.

There were four bearers carrying the sedan together. Behind the sedan, there were six personal attendants. Since the sedan was coming from the east to the west of Tongjiang Bridge, the people sitting among them were naturally the family members of the governor's department.

At this time, two soft female voices were slowly communicating in the sedan chair.

"Madam, you are really amazing. In just one banquet, you were able to convince the ladies of more than a dozen gentlemen's families to you, and immediately decided on the matter of the nursery. I...I really don't understand at all.

Dare to think." This was Xie Xue's voice.

"Yuezhuang, what's so difficult about this? I asked Lian'er and the others to investigate before. All the ladies who attended the banquet that day were from good family backgrounds and had trustworthy conduct. There were no bad people in their families. As long as they let them

When I go home and persuade my family to help the nursery, how can other gentlemen dare to sit still? Besides, we have prepared a lot for this banquet. Brother Kong Shun has used all his housekeeping skills this time.

Do you still remember? There are Shandong cuisine, Zhejiang cuisine, Huaiyang cuisine, and Beijing cuisine on the table. Even if those gentlemen and ladies have seen a lot of delicious food before, it is difficult for them to see so many famous dishes at the same time? We are so sincere, they

Naturally, I was moved." Kong Luhua said to Xie Xue in the sedan chair.

"But madam, your style and demeanor that day really... really made those gentlemen and ladies eclipse for a moment."

"Well, this is very simple, isn't it? Now that I know their family background, character, and family situation, then what's the point of communicating with them later? I'll just pick the ones I'm familiar with, and they will probably like them after hearing them.

So that they can listen and chat with me, and I can take the initiative at any time. In this way, will they still be convinced by this meal?" Kong Luhua is obviously very satisfied with her performance.

proud.

"What Madam said makes sense..." Xie Xue couldn't help but nod her head in approval as she listened to Kong Luhua's explanation. But at this time, she also had a vague idea in her heart...

"Madam said it was so simple, maybe this matter is easy in the first place..."

"But this is a pity." Kong Luhua didn't seem to see what Xie Xue was thinking, but sighed: "Originally, the three of us sisters thought about going to the City God's Temple together today, but the matter of the Nursery, this

The past few days have gone by too fast. I made an appointment again today, so I had to ask Sister Shu to help me go to the nursery. By the way, Yuezhuang, I... It seems like this is the first time that I go out alone with you.

." At this time, Kong Luhua also suddenly remembered that although the wife and concubine usually have a deep relationship, the degree of intimacy between them is not the same. She is more willing to talk to Liu Wenru, or the three of them travel together, even if she and Liu Wenru were together in the past few years.

Liu Wenru was also present when Xie Xue practiced painting. When she thought of going out alone with Xie Xue, she had no memory at all.

"This... it seems like this..." Xie Xue seemed to be unable to remember the situation of the two of them traveling together, but suddenly, Xie Xue felt her eyes blur and she was a little tired. She unconsciously said to Kong Luhua: "Mrs.

, I... don’t know why, I feel so tired today, why don’t we go home after worshiping at the Chenghuang Temple, I don’t want to go to the street anymore.”

"Yuezhuang, what's wrong with you? This is not like you. When I go out on weekdays and want to buy some silk toys, you can't stop looking at them. Why are you suddenly not interested today? Is this the first time you are alone with me?

When you go out, you...you don't like me?" Kong Luhua felt quite unusual after hearing Xie Xue's words, and felt puzzled in her heart.

"I didn't! But madam... I feel a little hungry again. I don't know why I haven't had enough to eat these days." Xie Xue didn't seem to know what was wrong with her.

"Isn't it normal to not be full, just like Master... But sister, we just finished breakfast an hour ago?"

"Madam, how about I go back first..."

"What are you going back for? We've already passed Zhenhai Tower, and we'll be at the City God's Temple in a short while. Okay, if you're really tired, we'll take you back after paying homage to the City God." Kong Luhua looked at it.

Looking at the scenery outside, he comforted Xie Xue.

The group of people gradually passed through Fengshanmen Street, and the last few followers also entered Chenghuang Street. In front of them, in the distance, there was already the City God Archway. However, just when the group of people was concentrating on the City God's Temple in front of them.

, a deep voice suddenly came from a corner in the west:
Chapter completed!