Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 400 The so-called improvement method*
After hearing Bafang's words, everyone at the table looked at the food in the bowl in front of them and their appetite suddenly decreased. "Bafang," Wen was just about to tell him that some things don't need to be said at the dinner table, when they heard Bafang cry out in pain.

Xi Beibi, who was sitting next to Ba Fang, reacted faster than Wen Shi and slapped Ba Fang on the forehead. "Why are you talking about shit while you're eating?"

Bafang rubbed his head and said aggrievedly: "No, I won't say it anymore."

When dinner was almost over, Xiao Dai led people to clean up the table and set out the after-meal snacks.

Seeing that her mother did not rush back to her room to prepare for the next day's teaching as usual, Meng Changqing asked, "Mom, how are the students doing recently? Are they getting the hang of it?"

Liang Jiujiu replied: "A few people have found a way."

Bafang asked again: "Auntie has been teaching them for so long, and they have only just figured out the tricks. Isn't it a waste of Auntie's hard work?"

Laicai also said: "I see there are many people learning embroidery, but are there only a few?"

Liang Jiujiu said, "It's already amazing that a few people can find the way in about a year. The most important thing for embroidery is talent." At this point, Liang Jiujiu smiled, looked at Meng Changqing and Wen and continued, "In fact, no matter what industry you are in, talent is the most important thing. If you have talent, you will definitely realize the truth earlier than others and go further.

But in every walk of life, there are very few people with corresponding talents. Most people still make up for their lack of talent with hard work, and I am the same."

"You say my aunt has no talent in this field. I don't know how many people in the world can embroider better than you," said Laicai.

"I have practiced hard for more than ten years and have never put down my needle and thread to achieve this skill." Liang Jiujiu is very humble, but what she said at this moment is indeed the truth.

Talented people may not work as hard as she does, and other people may not be willing to use their brains as much as she does.

Meng Changqing's perspective was always a little peculiar. She asked, "Mom, you have been taking embroidery classes until today. No matter how good or bad, you have always produced finished products. Have you ever sold them?"

"We sold quite a few items," Liang Jiujiu said. "We only kept a few items worth mentioning. We gave the rest to Lord Qi and asked him to sell them."

Meng Changqing pondered over it and wondered why, since the embroidery pieces were sold, she didn't see any return money?
Mrs. Wen knew what she was thinking and said, "The craftsmanship in the academy can only be sold for a few dollars, which is not enough to cover the cost of the raw materials. Don't think about it in the next two years."

After hearing what Wen said, Liang Jiujiu realized what Meng Changqing meant by that sentence, "Even if you make some money, don't rush to ask Master Qi for it. The money for buying silk threads and silk cloths in the beginning was all paid out of Master Qi's own pocket.

After the embroidery is made, he is the one who takes it out to find a good partner. He doesn't know how to do business, but he is not as slick as you. He has suffered a lot of trouble, but he just doesn't tell us.

Master Qi is kind-hearted. As a superior, you shouldn't bully him. You should make him take back what he has done."

"Look at what you two said, how could I not understand this logic?" Meng Changqing said.

"You understand the truth." Liang Jiujiu whispered to her, "But the premise is that you can't touch the money."

Lai Cai changed the subject, "I think Lord Qi's anger was not in vain. He is now much more confident in negotiating business with outsiders, just like this time selling cocoons, which was done quickly and well."

After listening to this, Bafang suddenly laughed.

"Am I wrong?" Laicai turned around and glared at him.

"Right." Bafang wiped his mouth and said, "You are absolutely right. Lord Qi is different from before. He is very bold now. He dares to sell anything. If you tell him how much the young master costs per pound, he will even sell the young master. Do you believe it?"

"I don't believe it." Meng Changqing picked up the teacup in front of her. "He is well-versed in the books of sages and would not engage in human trafficking." Meng Changqing said that Qi Renli had an idea in the evening. The next day, Qi Renli found her and said that he was going out to sell pork.

Meng Changqing was puzzled, "What kind of pork are they selling?"

"Everyone said that the meat patties made in the back office last night were very delicious. They also said that you changed the feeding method of pig farmers, which made the pork less smelly." Qi Renli was very excited.

Meng Changqing calmed him down, "Brother Qi, have you ever eaten pork since you came to Beishan County?"

Qi Renli thought for a moment and said, "Although I don't eat it often, I have eaten it before."

Meng Changqing asked again: "How is it different from the pork you ate before?"

Qi Renli thought about it more carefully, and then answered tentatively, "There is less odor." He himself was not sure what he said.

"Think about it carefully." Seeing that he couldn't say it, Meng Changqing said, "The taste should be about the same, right?"

Qi Renli: "It seems so."

"Of course it's almost the same. When Bafang told you about it, did he tell you what kind of feeding method I changed?"

"You didn't say that. I thought it was your secret recipe, so I didn't ask any further questions."

Meng Changqing laughed, "There is no secret recipe, it's just that they are not allowed to feed the pigs with human feces."

Qi Renli was obviously disgusted, "Feeding human feces to pigs?"

"Brother Qi's family is wealthy, and they mostly provide wild boars or domestic pigs raised with grain. Places with abundant grain have long changed this habit." Meng Changqing said, "But Liangzhou is poor, and the people are often hungry. Even if the people in Beishan County have some grain reserves now, it is difficult to change their mindset. They are more willing to believe in this old method of raising pigs."

"When did you find out, sir?" Qi Renli was worried that he had eaten pork like that.

"We discovered this when the first pig farmer started raising pigs, and we've already banned it. Don't worry, Brother Qi." Meng Changqing added, "So our Beishan County pork doesn't have any special features. On the contrary, the cost of raising pork is higher than other counties, so there may not be a market for it if we sell it.

Officials or wealthy people who own farms have their own special meat for their servants and look down on the things sold in the market. Poor families can only eat a few bites of pork throughout the year, so they naturally prefer to buy cheaper meat. "

After hearing these words, Qi Renli's excitement just now dissipated a lot, "What a pity, I will think of a way."

Meng Changqing reminded him, "Although the price of meat is higher than that of grain, if you want this meat, you will inevitably take greater risks. When we grow grain, we only rely on rain, sunshine, fertilizer, and insect pests.

To raise livestock, we have to feed them with grain by-products. In addition to worrying about the livestock getting sick, we also have to bear the risks of growing grain.

Of course, Brother Qi knows these things better than me." Meng Changqing said with a smile.

"I'm always too anxious." Qi Renli talked about his recent worries, "Since the cocoons were sold, many families in the county came to me and said they wanted to raise silkworms next season.

I considered the number of oak trees on the mountain and rejected a lot of people, but many families were still registered in the accounts.

I am worried that some of these people may not be careful enough in raising silkworms, which will cause the county's cocoons to be sold at a low price. I am also worried that if the number of cocoons increases, the price will drop."