Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The workshop foreman pushed and shoved, and Fang Zheng was anxious, saying, "Hey, hey, old brother, business is business, how can you drive away customers like this?"

The foreman sneered: "I don't have time to waste with you, I can't take your order. I have to go out and talk business, so hurry up and leave."

"Zhang Biao, quickly help me persuade the foreman."

At Fang Zheng's command, Zhang Biao stepped forward.

Looking at Brother Biao's tall and broad figure, the foreman's breath hitched: "What do you want? Let's talk nicely."

Fang Zheng took a step forward and, without explanation, slapped four taels of silver into his palm: "What else can we do but talk business? Please think of a way. I just want those few wooden boxes, and I think four taels is quite fair."

The foreman looked at the silver, then at Zhang Biao, and said with difficulty: "Indeed, but as I said, you need them so urgently, and I don't have enough manpower. Unless you provide the materials and do it yourself."

"Then can I ask your workers to lend a hand?"

Upon hearing this, the foreman actually laughed: "Heh heh, feel free to ask. If someone is willing to help you, I won't say a word! Alright, I won't talk to you anymore. If you're willing, you can work here yourself, otherwise, I'm leaving."

"Okay, I'm willing. But aren't you afraid I'll steal something?" Seeing that the foreman was really about to leave, Fang Zheng couldn't help but ask.

"With dozens of workers here, are you kidding me? See you!"

The foreman left, and Wang Erzhu stammered: "Young Master Lu, it's just selling apples, it shouldn't be like this, right? Are we really going to do it ourselves?"

Fang Zheng grinned: "With so many people in this yard, are we really going to do the work ourselves? Let's go in."

.....

Inside the yard, activity was in full swing.

A strong man was working tirelessly on his woodworking, stripped to the waist.

Emperor Jing had been watching intently.

Initially, he just wanted to see the state of the working people, but seeing him work inexplicably gave him a sense of relaxation, and he became somewhat engrossed.

Men are mostly like this, and even an emperor cannot escape instinct.

After being stared at for a long time, the man looked up a little embarrassed and said: "Old brother, you've been watching for a long time, what are you looking at?"

Emperor Jing came back to his senses and said: "Oh, I'm sorry, may I ask your name? I'm new here and want to learn about the situation in Pingwan County."

The man continued working without stopping, and said: "You're welcome, my name is Liu Tieniu. Pingwan County is pretty good, much better than my hometown, but the prices are a bit higher than other places."

"Indeed, I also noticed when I came here that the prices here are not lower than the capital. How are the people's food, clothing, housing, and transportation?"

Liu Tieniu thought for a while and said: "That's right, but the poor have their way of living, and the rich have their way of living. If you want to eat cheap, there are noodles for two or three coins a bowl, so you won't go hungry."

"Like me doing this job, it also includes food and lodging. Overall, life is much better now than before!"

Emperor Jing's face lit up.

Just then, Fang Zheng led Wang Erzhu forward.

Seeing Emperor Jing was inquiring about information, they leaned over.

They only heard Emperor Jing ask: "Then how is the income from finding a workshop job in this city?"

"I get three taels a month, but others don't get as much as me, I can read and write!"

"I used to want to take the imperial examination, but later I didn't think about it and didn't pass."

Fang Zheng felt a mess all over!

Good heavens, are you getting the same treatment as a reporter?

Has the market salary risen to this level? Should I go back and give the reporters a raise? But I just raised it not long ago....

Wang Erzhu's eyes were straight: "Three taels! My heavens... This money is too easy to earn! Then, brother, aren't you living the dream?"

Liu Tieniu glanced at this newly emerged bumpkin and said unhappily: "Easy to earn? Sometimes I work seven or eight hours a day, and it's exhausting."

"Don't think I earn a lot, I'm only happy for two or three months. After that excitement, you'll get annoyed."

"Sometimes I don't even know why I'm alive. Maybe the meaning of living is just to make wheels...."

Seeing his emotion, Fang Zheng vaguely saw a philosopher hidden among the people.

No wonder the salary is high, he really has something special.

Emperor Jing comforted him: "You have also read books. The sages all say that one must suffer their muscles and bones and labor their body. It will be better in the future."

"Sages? Sages love to talk nonsense the most. Let him work here for a month and see! ?"

Showing off! Making wheels is more tiring than farming?

Wang Erzhu secretly curled his lips: "If it's so bad, then why don't you leave? No one cares if you go home to farm."

Liu Tieniu fiddled with the wheel: "I just won't leave."

"Hey, isn't that contradictory?"

"What's contradictory? To put it bluntly, isn't living here about having hope? My hometown is dirt poor, and Pingwan County has more opportunities to make money."

Fang Zheng interjected: "In the end, aren't we able to live such a good life today because the Emperor is wise and brilliant?!"

He suddenly said this, and Liu Tieniu was not surprised at all. He smacked his lips and echoed: "Of course!"

"Without the Emperor, where would we be today? It's getting better day by day. We were born in a good time!"

"Before, I just guarded that one-third of an acre of land at home, and I was so poor that I took turns wearing pants with my dad. How is it like now..."

"Also, Fang Zheng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you know, he is also a very good official. Pingwan County can be like this now, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is..."

Emperor Jing was already overjoyed, pinching his thigh desperately, maintaining his composure with difficulty.

However, listening to him tell how the days are getting better day by day, Wang Erzhu felt both sad and envious.

Everyone is human, how can he live so well, why am I getting worse and worse?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but mutter: "Wise and brilliant, just so-so."

Unexpectedly, Liu Tieniu heard this, and he stood up abruptly, pointing at Wang Erzhu's nose and angrily said: "How can you say that? Dare to say that His Majesty is not wise!"

As soon as he shouted this, everyone in the yard heard it and stopped the work in their hands.

They looked at Wang Erzhu with fierce eyes.

Wang Erzhu's hair stood on end, and he scurried behind Emperor Jing, timidly saying: "I didn't say His Majesty is not wise, don't talk nonsense!"

Emperor Jing didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Liu Tieniu slowly sat down and continued to work, grunting angrily: "I bet you wouldn't dare! Who in this city doesn't remember His Majesty's goodness? Although everyone hasn't read much, they still know how to be grateful."

"The brothers here are all from poor backgrounds. They couldn't eat meat more than twice a year, and they were all as skinny as ribs. Some families didn't even dare to raise more children."

"But what about now? Although working is tiring, they earn more, and the whole family can eat and dress warmly. They don't have to be like before, eating one meal and not knowing where the next one is coming from. I don't think you are a rich man, don't you know how difficult the world is?"

"The officials in Pingwan County Yamen, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, all say that His Majesty wants to work hard to govern and start changing from Pingwan County. Who can we rely on to have such a day? Isn't it relying on His Majesty?! Who dares to say that His Majesty is not!"

As Liu Tieniu spoke, many workers' eyes turned red, and they lowered their heads deeply to continue working.

This scene shocked Emperor Jing, and he felt a little sour in his heart.

This is the true heart of the people, without a trace of impurities. He was not wearing a dragon robe, and there were no courtiers accompanying him.

How many emperors in ancient and modern times can receive this evaluation from the people?

But in an instant, thinking of Wang Erzhu behind him.

He added another feeling in his heart, knowing there are still many such people in the world.

Seeing Liu Tieniu finish speaking, Wang Erzhu, although ashamed, still boldly asked: "Brother, are you still hiring?"

Three taels a month, he also wanted to do it.

He wouldn't go home, he would just make wheels here!

Liu Tieniu glanced at him and shook his head: "No, you can't do it, you're too old. We don't want anyone over thirty-five."

......