Dad, don't be greedy! My brother climbed into the emperor's bed, and I became famous overn

Within a single day, the magistrates of both counties personally went to recruit people.

They know it perfectly well.

Pujitang is using real money to help them retain their population.

Where there is a population, there is a tax base.

As long as the tax base exists, these two county magistrates can keep their official hats securely on their heads after the disaster.

Zhou Peiyuan stood at the end of the line to sign his work contract and muttered a sentence.

The magistrate of Liuqiao County, who was standing nearby, didn't hear clearly and leaned over to ask, "What did you say, Lord Zhou?"

Zhou Peiyuan swallowed hard.

"I said... the owner of Pujitang is a reincarnation of a living Bodhisattva."

The magistrate of Liuqiao County was taken aback for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

Two officials of the seventh rank almost burst into tears when they saw a work contract stamped with the official seal of "Pujitang".

……

Night falls.

Wen Yanzhi dragged himself back to the inn, covered in sweat and ink stains, and piled the roster that was almost up to his head on the table.

"Boss, it's signed. 3,271 people."

Gu Mingyue opened the system panel and took a look.

[Reconstruction of Peach Blossom Spring Commercial District: -40000 taels of silver]

[3271 new long-term employment contracts were signed.]

[Employee salary special fund released ahead of schedule: 2800 taels of silver.]

Current task balance: 23000 taels.

[Remaining time for the mission: 5 days]

Gu Mingyue picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

The herbal tea made me feel great.

"Manager Wen, you've worked hard. I've already arranged everything for tomorrow. You can rest now."

Wen Yanzhi responded and turned to leave.

Gu Mingyue put down her teacup and tapped her finger lightly on the table.

My mind is already calculating how to spend the remaining money effectively.

"Bang bang bang!" The door was pounded on.

Who is it?

Taozhi was somewhat displeased and frowned as she went to open the door.

As soon as the door was opened, a middle-aged man in official robes almost tumbled and crawled in.

Fang Yingwu, the magistrate of Baihe County.

He was covered in sweat, his official hat was askew, and he was clutching a thick stack of books tightly in his arms.

Two equally panting clerks followed behind, each carrying a stack of documents.

Gu Mingyue remained seated, without standing up from her chair.

She merely raised her eyelids and glanced at Fang Yingwu's disheveled appearance.

Then he lowered his head again and continued drinking his tea.

"Master Fang?"

"Boss!"

Fang Yingwu didn't bother wiping his sweat. He put the booklet in his arms on the table, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply.

This bow was almost ninety degrees.

A dignified seventh-rank county magistrate, bent over at this angle.

"I was blind and negligent in my duties the past few days!"

"I have brought the complete land register of Baihe County tonight!"

"No paperwork required! You set the land price!"

"I only ask that the Peach Blossom Spring project of Pujitang... reserve a space for Baihe County! Even just a small piece would be fine!"

Taozhi stood to the side, a slight smile involuntarily creeping onto her lips.

What did this Lord Fang say a few days ago?

"The county is very busy, and the approval process cannot be delayed. Please wait patiently, Miss Gu."

He acted like he owned the place, even more so than the marquises of the capital.

What about now?

He carried the land deeds for the entire county in his arms and chased after the inn in the dead of night to deliver them to the door.

Gu Mingyue put down her teacup.

The porcelain base touched the tabletop, producing a crisp, light sound.

The room was completely silent.

Fang Yingwu bent over, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead onto the floor, not daring to look up.

After a moment, Gu Mingyue finally spoke.

His tone was so flat, it was as if he were just saying the weather was nice today.

"Lord Fang, this is truly an unfortunate coincidence."

Fang Yingwu's body visibly stiffened.

"The money in Pujitang was all accounted for in advance."

"Projects in Qingshui and Liuqiao counties have already started, and the existing funds are fully booked for construction sites, workshops, labor, and building materials."

"The matter in Baihe County...cannot be scheduled for the time being."

Fang Yingwu suddenly looked up.

His face turned from flushed red to ashen in an instant.

"Master! The people of Baihe County are also suffering terribly!"

"Even if you only invest a little..."

"Doing business is not doing charity."

Gu Mingyue interrupted him.

The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like a bucket of cold water being poured over it.

"Money is limited; we can't just throw it away wherever we see someone in need."

"The adults told me to wait for approval, and I did."

"Now it's just a matter of asking the adults to wait a bit."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yingwu felt as if his spine had been ripped out.

His lips moved a few times, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The two clerks eavesdropping outside the door looked even uglier than him.

It was they who initially urged the county magistrate not to be too attentive to a commoner's daughter, lest he lose his official authority.

it's good now.

The officials' authority was preserved, but the people's interests were not.

Fang Yingwu remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

He bent down and carefully collected the land registers spread out on the table, one by one, and put them back into his arms.

The movements are very slow.

With each book collected, his shoulders slumped a little lower.

His hands were trembling as he picked up the last booklet.

"...Sorry to bother you."

He turned around and went out.

Taozhi closed the door, turned her head, and muttered something under her breath.

"Master, aren't we making the local magistrate lose face by treating him like this?"

Gu Mingyue glanced at the tea residue in the teacup.

"In the business world, there is no such thing as 'losing face'."

"There are only those who know how to seize opportunities and those who don't cherish them."

"Money always flows to where it is most needed."

Taozhi nodded, her gaze towards her young mistress filled with even more admiration.

Miss, you know so much!

What Fang Yingwu didn't know at that moment was that less than half an incense stick's time after he left the inn, Zhou Peiyuan and the magistrate of Liuqiao County happened to come together to deliver a new batch of household registration supplements.

The two county magistrates brushed past Fang Yingwu at the top of the stairs.

Zhou Peiyuan glanced at the land registry in Fang Yingwu's arms, then at his ashen face, and understood everything.

He didn't speak, but instead gave the magistrate of Liuqiao County a wink.

The two quickly entered Gu Mingyue's room, handing over the supplementary booklet one after the other, their attitude as respectful as students handing in their homework.

"Master Gu, this is the latest supplementary registration list of returning residents from the two counties. Please take a look."

"For the river embankment reinforcement projects in the other two counties, we have coordinated the local stone supply at a price 20% lower than the market price, and are fully cooperating with the Taohuayuan project."

Gu Mingyue nodded in satisfaction.

Those who are pragmatic can establish long-term partnerships.

……

Five days later.

The Taohuayuan construction site has undergone a complete transformation.

The tall grass along both banks of the river has been completely gone, and the exposed riverbed has been leveled and compacted.

A bluestone path winds its way along the river for dozens of meters.

The pillars of the riverside pavilion have all been erected, the crossbeams have been laid, and the outline of the upturned eaves is beginning to take shape.

The shops along the street lined up one after another with their awnings.

Tiles began to be hung on the wooden frame, and the air was filled with the aroma of freshly planed wood and the pungent smell of lime mortar.

More than 300 day laborers worked from before dawn until the sun began to set, their shouts echoing throughout the room.

Wen Yanzhi had already changed to the fourth booklet in his hand.