mtlumby2d Chapter 251: About the Development of the Fiefdom (9)
Chapter 251: About the Development of the Fiefdom (9)
The little girl looked only twelve or thirteen years old. Although young, her every move was quite imposing. The moves she had just used to catch the thief were simple but neat, and seemed quite methodical.
The eyes of Prince Dun beside the emperor suddenly turned red, and he couldn't help but say:
"This little girl is using the grappling technique passed down from our family's ancestors."
The surname of Prince Dun was Gu, although it was a royal surname, but their ancestors were not surnamed Gu, but Zhang. It was only because of their great military achievements that they could not be given any other title after being conferred the title of Prince, so they were simply given the surname of the country.
Therefore, what Prince Dun mentioned as ancestral inheritance actually refers to the ancestral inheritance of their Zhang family.
The prime minister beside him couldn't help but be curious after hearing this:
"How could this little girl have the grappling skills of the prince's ancestors?"
While he was talking, the emperor had already started talking to the little girl. He praised her:
"At such a young age, you are able to punish evildoers and catch thieves with extraordinary skills. Little girl, what is this women's patrol team you mentioned? And the moves you just used seem very powerful. Where did you learn them from?"
When the little girl heard someone praising her, she immediately raised her head with pride and replied crisply:
"The women's patrol team is composed of ten students selected by the princess from the girls' school who have the best kung fu skills. They are responsible for patrolling the streets during the food competition in Pingcheng to maintain public order."
"Our main duties are to catch thieves and robbers, to supervise merchants to operate with integrity, not to force purchases or sales, not to raise prices arbitrarily, and to mediate and mediate fights on the streets, etc."
"The moves we learned were all taught by the martial arts teacher in the girls' school. The martial arts teacher's surname is Gu. She is very powerful. Last month, she helped the government catch bandits. She could easily beat three people alone. We learned the grappling skills from her. Of course, she is very powerful!"
When Prince Dun heard that Master Wu's surname was Gu, he immediately knew that this was his daughter, Gu Qinglan.
The next second, his eyes were red.
This troublesome girl was so bold that she got married but she left a divorce letter and ran away to her fiefdom, refusing to go back no matter what. I thought she was living a miserable life, but now it seems she is living a good life.
Judging from the way this little girl admired her when she mentioned her, I guess she should be quite popular in her fiefdom.
"Very good, Huang Guangcai, there is a reward." Seeing the little girl's neither humble nor arrogant attitude, the emperor turned to Eunuch Huang and said.
Huang Guangcai handed a silver ingot to the little girl, but she refused it unexpectedly:
"Thank you for your kindness, sir. I cannot accept your reward. We women patrolling the area are also paid. If we patrol diligently every day, we can earn thirty cents! Not only can we support ourselves, but we can also help support the family."
"Master is rich and kind-hearted. If you wish, you can donate the money to the orphanage, which is in need of money."
"I still have to continue patrolling. Bye!"
After the little girl finished speaking, she and her companions escorted the thief towards the yamen.
The emperor asked Zhang Bing curiously:
"Where is the nursery?"
"In reply to your question, the orphanage is a welfare institution built by the Princess Zhenguo to take in orphans without parents. The princess sent people to gather all the homeless children running around the streets of her fiefdom and raise them in the orphanage." Zhang Bing replied, "Among them, there are also babies who were abandoned by their parents at birth."
The Minister of Rites, Chen Shuting's father, Chen Qingren, asked:
"Raising these children for free? Wouldn't it cost a lot of money? There are so many fatherless and motherless children on the streets, isn't this a bottomless pit?"
At this time, an old lady who was passing by with a basket of vegetables heard this and couldn't help but stop and retorted:
"That's not right. How can a nursery be a bottomless pit?"
"The princess spent money to raise those children, and when they were old enough, she sent them to school. If they had a talent for studying, she supported them in their studies. If they didn't, they learned skills and trades. After they learned, they were allowed to farm or work in factories."
"The princess said that everyone is useful and can create value. After they finish their studies and are able to make money, they will donate part of their earnings to the orphanage to repay the orphanage for raising them."
"The princess said that if we can persist for a long time, as time goes by, batches of children will grow up, enter society, and go to different jobs. More and more people will give back to the orphanage, and in the end, she won't even need to spend money. Everyone will be able to support the orphanage from generation to generation."
"So that's how it is. Madam, how do you know so much?" Chen Qingren asked.
"I cook for the children in the orphanage." The old lady patted her vegetable basket, smiled and walked away.
The emperor instructed Huang Guangcai:
"In that case, you can send this ingot of silver to the orphanage. It will be my contribution to the orphanage's business."
"Yes." Huang Guangcai agreed, "I will go after the master has settled down in the house."
Zhang Bing continued to lead them forward, introducing the customs and culture of Pingcheng Street as they walked.
The court officials had just experienced the touching moments of the women's patrol team and the orphanage. Now looking at the bustling streets and the smiling faces of the people, they had to admit that there was indeed something special about Shi Lidie's fiefdom.
After passing through the crowd, they finally arrived at the house that Zhang Bing mentioned, and the emperor settled down with the queen and the prince.
There happened to be several houses and inns nearby, so everyone moved in together. The two hundred people soon had a place to stay and were all settled.
After the meeting, Zhang Bing asked:
"My dear lords, do you still need me to accompany you for a stroll?"
"No need, we want to go shopping by ourselves in the afternoon." The emperor said, and at the same time signaled Huang Guangcai to give him money.
As expected, Zhang Bing also refused.
He was an official tour guide, registered with the government and receiving a salary from the government, but he did not dare to collect money from guests privately.
Because the princess said that if they collected money privately, it would give foreign guests the impression that "Pingcheng people are greedy and take advantage of others." Once this news gets out, few people will come here to travel, which is not conducive to the economic development of Pingcheng.
If they don't charge, the princess will naturally reward them, the official tour guides, when they return, so they won't lose anything.
What's more, if Pingcheng's good reputation spreads and more people come here, then their opportunities to earn income will increase whether they are doing business or doing other things.
After Zhang Bing left, the emperor couldn't help but smile as he looked at the ingot of silver that could not be given away.
Even the Queen joked:
"Xiaodie is a child with a lot of theories. They are different from the concepts we learned before, but they always make sense."
"I am becoming more and more curious about her fiefdom." The emperor nodded approvingly.