Chapter 571: Chapter 571: Village Assistants

Watching Liu Ji bouncing off as if he had springs on his heels, he proclaimed throughout the courtyard that he now had pocket money.

Qin Yao pursed her lips, thinking it was embarrassing.

She lowered her head and continued with the accounting.

Having just completed the Divine Power Book Box order from Fulong Trading Company, Song Yu went to the Prefecture to settle the subsequent payments, and after deducting various costs and taxes, Qin Yao personally received 650 taels of silver.

This time, Song Yu couldn’t bring back more orders; the demand from Fulong Trading Company greatly decreased, ordering only two thousand units, to be delivered within half a year. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

On average, in the first half of next year, the stationery factory would only have an order volume of about sixty taels per month.

If it weren’t for the new product, the Lady’s Box, Qin Yao would have gasped in despair.

She immediately instructed Song Yu, Yun Niang, and others to continue developing new products without slackening.

However, with the 650 taels received, the expenditure of 170 taels for New Year gifts seems less painful.

With gains and losses, adding to the initial amount, Qin Yao now has 2736 taels of silver in hand, along with a warehouse full of grain.

Additionally, a hundred inlaid Lady’s Boxes are due for delivery at the month’s end; if everything goes smoothly, another substantial payment can be expected before New Year’s Eve.

Reckoning this accounting, Qin Yao’s mood returned to comfort.

The silver and grain in hand gave her immense security; if she could collaborate with the new county magistrate, her days as a landlady would be immensely enjoyable.

Song Zhang’s family is leaving after the New Year; calculating like this, the new county magistrate will arrive within two months after the new year. At that point, with a small gift, let Liu Ji try to gauge the new magistrate’s thoughts.

But such matters require mutual willingness. Nowadays, Kaiyang County’s folk customs have improved immensely, leaving only Wang Mawu as a coward unable to stir waves.

In contrast, Qin Yao, the ’Evil Ghost Lady’, has earned an even fiercer reputation on the streets. Hopefully, the new officer’s first three fires won’t burn her.

Thinking of this, Qin Yao felt she shouldn’t be overly optimistic, even if the new county magistrate and Song Zhang were contemporaries as Advanced Scholars, seemingly gentle; people change.

Forget it, it’s best to deal with issues when they arise; thinking too much now is no help.

Closing the ledger, Qin Yao stood up, stretched lazily, picked up a small brazier she could hug, and went out to patrol the village.

With snow approaching, she had to notify each household to prepare, checking on widows and the elderly, mindful of temperature changes, ensuring adequate warmth provisions.

This year, the villagers have prospered somewhat; ninety percent have sufficient resources for winter, leaving no concerns for Qin Yao.

The remaining ten percent are older individuals without labor capacity, totaling three people.

Originally, there were five, but two froze to death in previous years, leaving only three now.

Without labor capability, two have chronic illnesses, previously left to wait for death.

But since Qin Yao became village head, funds were allocated from clan reserves, providing these three elders monthly free food and vegetables, ensuring their basic living standards.

Consequently, three elders expected not to survive spring have been well kept alive until winter.

Thick clothing for winter still comes from public funds, their houses have been repaired by villagers, no longer drafty. With adequate charcoal, another spring will arrive.

Regarding Qin Yao’s efforts, some villagers have opinions, but after she stated: "All Liu Family Village residents, when aged and weak, will receive the same treatment,"

The villagers had no complaints, instead feeling assured that aging brings reliance.

Qin Yao plans to extract a portion from community dividends as villagers’ pensions while encouraging others not involved to contribute annually to the clan, establishing retirement security.

When this unified fund reaches a certain amount, she intends to entrust it to young villagers skilled in management for further investment.

The old village chief and the clan leader supported her plan and were persuading villagers positively; with luck, execution starts next spring.

These days, Qin Yao hasn’t been idle, leaving Liu Ji to greet Song Zhang’s family, sparing personal dealings, taking the opportunity to assemble the Liu Family Village aides leadership team.

Keeping the original village chief-clan leader structure despite increasing personnel flow and escalating disputes in Liu Family Village with inadequate management staff,

Specially establishing the informal position of village aide, assisting village leaders with all affairs large and small.

This proposal immediately received full support from Liu Family Village residents.

After all, it’s a legitimate position unlike past casual appointments by village and clan leaders.

Through village-wide voting, Liu Dafu, Liu Yang, Liu Qi, and Liu Zhong were elected as aides.

Qin Yao toured the village, summoned those available among the four, instructing them to find people to trim encroaching road branches lest colder weather causes ice formation injuries.

"And the three elders; during snowfall, arrange them into one house for mutual care, saving village charcoal, easier village care,"

Only Liu Dafu and Liu Yang came, attentively noting village head’s instructions.

"Oh yes!" Qin Yao remembered something significant to Liu Yang: "Downhill over there, assign two idle villagers to patrol routinely, preventing beasts descending harming people and livestock."

Liu Yang: "Alright."

After the two dispersed, Qin Yao visited the school.

Classes commenced days ago; Zhen Yubai mostly avoided Lotus Courtyard by day during these times, Qin Yao observing secretly at night saw him once.

No surprise, yet again driven away with an unkind ’leave’ shout from Gongliang Liao.

Qin Yao suspected someone from the Capital might want Gongliang Liao back.

Nonetheless, the old man clearly wished to avoid palace disputes, unwilling to hear anything about Zhen Yubai’s connections.

Reflecting upon self’s disturbance, probably would’ve resorted to violence against the person.

Yet, despite Zhen Yubai’s mystery, his teaching quality is exceptional, and he’s incredibly patient with students.

Since children at home keep praising their teacher’s virtues, villagers warmly welcome him, with every family enrolling eligible children.

Zhen Yubai can’t cook; after recovering, he employed a village woman for daily meals, cleaning, laundry, and such.

Qin Yao subtly questioned the woman, discovering Zhen Yubai only visits Lotus Courtyard at night without other peculiarities, genuinely a kid-loving teacher.

"Village head?"

Zhen Yubai emerged from behind the school building, bamboo basket on one arm and a small hoe in the other, seemingly foraging wild vegetables.

Surprised seeing Qin Yao standing idly outside the classroom.