HLnovel Chapter 60 Construction Site Inspection
Chapter 60 Construction Site Inspection
Chapter 60 Construction Site Inspection
Wang Wenzhou leisurely held Sheng Lan in his arms, his large hands occasionally roaming over her body.
Sheng Lan acted as if Wang Wenzhou didn't exist, concentrating intently on calculating with her abacus.
"The accounts are settled, Wang Wenzhou, take a look." Sheng Lan handed the account book to Wang Wenzhou. She loved and admired her master immensely. Her master was truly amazing; in just one month, he had amassed over forty thousand taels of silver. If she hadn't checked it carefully three times, she wouldn't have believed it.
Wang Wenzhou picked up the account book and looked at it, thinking to himself, "A clean prefect for three years, ten thousand taels of silver." It seems that saying is truly true. No matter what profession you're in, even a professional swindler, you can't earn as much as an official!
This month, the charity auction raised a total of 15,000 taels. Over the past month, there has been a constant stream of people seeking an audience, and the gifts received during this period totaled 8,000 taels. These 24,000 taels of silver are Wang Wenzhou's private income, which he can use freely without having to consider anyone's opinion.
The yamen's public accounts show a total revenue of 23,000 taels this month. This includes 12,000 taels for city entry tax and 11,000 taels for the cost of good citizen certificates. After deducting this month's expenses, such as the salaries of yamen runners, there is 22,000 taels remaining. Outside the city, three projects—a gymnasium, a labor camp, and Hanshan School—are under construction simultaneously. Each project requires an investment of 5,000 taels, and the public accounts currently have 7,000 taels remaining.
"Lazy Blue, come with me to the construction site." After reviewing the accounts, Wang Wenzhou planned to visit the construction site outside the city.
Sheng Lan looked troubled and said, "Wang Wenzhou, you go first. I have some things to do. I'll go to the labor camp for class later."
"Hmm?" Wang Wenzhou was puzzled. What was wrong with his goddess today? Usually, she was always by his side. Sometimes, when he didn't want her with him, she would pout and get angry. Could it be that she was in a bad mood during her period?
"Okay, I'll head over now." Wang Wenzhou said goodbye to his goddess.
……
The construction site of the labor camp.
Wang Wenzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his large belly protruding, pausing every now and then to offer his opinions. Feng Yuantao followed behind him, accompanying him on the inspection and providing detailed explanations.
Wang Wenzhou kicked the wall several times with force, then carefully examined it. The wall didn't budge, and no marks were left on the surface. It seemed that the log base filled with rammed earth was of good quality.
"Xiao Feng, the progress is a bit slow," Wang Wenzhou said.
“Sir, we are short-handed. It’s hard to hire workers, and the wages are too high. My projects, those of Brother Li and Brother Fan, started at the same time, and now a regular laborer costs fifty coins a day. If we pay less, no one will work. The prisoners you sent only work half a day.”
Feng Yuantao became increasingly convinced that following Lord Wang would lead to a bright future. A few days ago, he acquired some land. Having been a businessman for many years, he had a keen business sense and set up a stall near the city gate for rent, earning more than twenty taels of silver a day.
If it weren't for the Li brothers, their father (one of the four great scholars), and others setting up tents for rent, thus diluting the profits, he could have earned at least 180 taels of silver a day just from tent rentals alone.
According to Wang Wenzhou, the labor camp project wasn't primarily about making a lot of money. Its main purpose was to train the workforce and build a team for future development. Thus, with a project cost of five thousand taels, they figured they could earn at least three thousand taels in profit. Because of this, Feng Yuantao was very dedicated to the project. Since construction began, he ate, drank, and relieved himself on the construction site. However, due to a shortage of manpower, the project's progress was indeed somewhat slow.
"Hmm..." Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and said, "You don't need to worry about the workers. By the way, tell Xiao Jin and Xiao Fan not to worry either. I'm going to launch a crackdown in a few days, and then you'll have enough workers."
"A crackdown?" Feng Yuantao wasn't sure what "crackdown" meant. But he knew that what Lord Wang said carried significant weight. Every word was a symbol of wealth.
"Xiao Feng, you don't need to come with me. I'm going to check on the prisoners' training," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
"Alright, sir, take care." Feng Yuantao watched Wang Wenzhou leave.
The county jail was overcrowded, so Wang Wenzhou ordered Feng Yuantao to set up a large tent at the labor camp construction site. The prisoners were all moved there and held there. They worked at the construction site every morning, had routine training in the afternoon, and had an hour each evening for literacy lessons.
The afternoon training was overseen by Wang Zhixin. Besides the drill exercises prescribed by Wang Wenzhou, Wang also incorporated the methods used in the Ming Dynasty army. Wang Wenzhou didn't object; in later armies, drills like drills and folding blankets were all designed to train obedience. Workers are similar to soldiers; the stronger their obedience, the better the worker. This is why, in later generations, the quality of Chinese manufacturing was generally poor, except for military industrial enterprises, which produced relatively high-quality goods.
As for the practices within the Ming Dynasty army, that was entirely Old Wang's preference. Wang Wenzhou had no choice but to allow him to do it that way; Old Wang wouldn't allow it.
A few days ago, after the lottery results were announced, Wang Wenzhou brought his mother and father, Mr. Wang, back to the county government from the jail. Faced with the facts, Ms. Yang and Mr. Wang understood the actions of their "prodigal son," Wang Wenzhou.
They initially vehemently disagreed, but now they have to admit that Wang Wenzhou is not a spoiled brat, but a genius! He is, in the eyes of the people, a righteous official dedicated to serving the people. Looking at Wang Wenzhou's actions, they always feel that he possesses the talent of his ancestor, Wang Yangming.
However, Madam Yang still had some reservations about her precious son. She couldn't possibly marry a courtesan from a brothel into the Xinjian Earl's household. Zhang Jiao was such a good girl, with a clean background—how could she be inferior to a courtesan? Besides, she was already engaged to Old Zhang, and the betrothal gifts had been exchanged. They were just waiting for Wang Wenzhou's wedding so they could also bring Zhang Jiao home as well.
Wang Wenzhou wanted to marry the goddess Sheng Lan as well, but he couldn't persuade his mother. So he could only sleep in the Drunken Flower Pavilion every day to find peace and quiet. His mother's nagging was as powerful as Tang Sanzang's, and its influence should not be underestimated.
Wang Wenzhou treated the labor camp as a vocational school. Old Wang volunteered to be the training instructor. After a few days, Old Wang gradually rediscovered the feeling he had when he was in the army.
The prisoners, numbering over a hundred, were divided into squads of ten, each led by a squad leader. A company of one hundred prisoners was also formed, led by a centurion. In the mornings, the prisoners, under the leadership of their respective squad leaders, participated in labor. Due to their tight organization, their work efficiency was much higher than that of ordinary hired workers.
In the evening, the prisoners participated in a study session. The main focus was on learning to read. Most of these prisoners were beggars, vagrants, ruffians, and scoundrels; very few were literate. Knowledge was essential for proper etiquette, but the prerequisite was literacy.
Wang Wenzhou made Sheng Lan the prisoner's teacher for two reasons. First, sometimes the goddess insisted on being by his side. There were certain things Wang Wenzhou really didn't want her to know, so he gave her a job. Second, Wang Wenzhou had a somewhat wicked sense of humor; he made the prisoners call him Principal. Hmm… he had a male principal, so how could he not have a beautiful female teacher?
Everyone knows what's going on between the principal and the female teacher.