In order to prevent greater disasters, all large and small mulberry households in Hangzhou Prefecture, including the counties under it, voluntarily built protective grass sheds, and the money required was half of the prefect's yamen and the other half of the mulberry households.

When this decree was promulgated, the response of the mulberry households was mixed, and when they heard that it was voluntary, about half of the families said that they were willing to pay half of the silver and manpower for protection; The other half felt unnecessary.

Yuan Zhiheng counted that most of the people who were unwilling to do protection were those rich people and squires who owned large mulberry fields. The reason why they are reluctant to spend this amount of money is that they do not believe that there will be any catastrophic weather after the two strong winds, and secondly, the silk production so far this year is very gratifying, which makes their hearts inevitably swell.

"Let the officials of the counties and counties mobilize again and strive for more Sanghu to participate." Yuan Zhiheng threw the statistical booklet on the table and instructed Yuan Lu: "Go and tell Madame, I will entertain several big silkworm families in the city in the courtyard tonight, and I want Madame to prepare a little." ”

Diancui got the news and immediately got busy. Adults have guests at night, and it is noon before they say that this fresh vegetable and fish meat is not available for sale. The adult said that he only needed to prepare a little, and Diancui thought slightly, so he went to a nearby restaurant and ordered a few suitable meals.

She and the people in the kitchen prepared some elaborate and delicious after-dinner refreshments.

Several large silkworm farmers did not expect to receive a post from the prefect one day, or a family banquet, which is really flattering and a little uneasy.

Everyone knew in their hearts what the adults were talking about, but it was not easy to say, since the order was voluntary, it naturally showed that the prefect would not force them. But when he suddenly said that he would invite them to a banquet, he was still a little apprehensive.

Yuan Zhiheng was at the banquet, only talking about idle things, and never mentioning the protective shed. On the contrary, everyone became more and more confused and nervous, but fortunately, after a few pots of Jinhua wine, this courage also increased.

This Lord Yuan is not as domineering as rumored, it seems that he is just a young and handsome son. The words were very funny and insightful, and the other big ones slowly relaxed.

After three rounds of wine, Dian Cui brought hot tea and ten desserts with his subordinates. These desserts are delicate and exude this sweet heat.

Diancui came in, and everyone naturally got up and worshipped. Dian Cui Luoluo generously returned the salute and left.

People in Jiangnan are sweet lovers, although they are full of wine and food, but in the face of the sweet snacks that have just come out of the pot, everyone can't help but taste one or two.

"The dim sum made by the chef in the adult's house is novel and delicious, and it is really a good craft." Everyone applauded.

The moment Yuan Zhiheng saw Diancui, his whole body became more and more relaxed, and his smile became more and more amiable: "This is not made by the chef, Neizi's skill in making dim sum has always been good, and it is very suitable for use as tea, you may wish to eat a few more pieces." ”

"Ah, it turned out that Madame made it herself!"

"I am ashamed and appreciate the kindness of my lord and lady."

The adults personally set up a family banquet, and the lady also made snacks by herself, which made these big families excited and ashamed.

Yuan Zhiheng smiled slightly, and said: "Madame is not only a good cook, but also has a compassionate heart that cares about the people's livelihood. ”

After a pause, Yuan Zhiheng said earnestly: "This protective shed was proposed by Madame, just to let Sanghu take precautions. It is no accident that two strong winds raged in quick succession on the 10th, and it is still unknown what bad weather will follow. In this matter, the government contributed half of the silver money, and the mulberry households paid the other half, and the silver taels needed for each household were not much. After it is done, it can be done once and for all, even if there is no longer a strong wind and rain this year, who can guarantee that the wind and rain will be smooth in the future? When the time comes, you can take it out as a barrier, so why not. Of course, I will only discuss this matter with you, and if I really feel that it is not necessary, I will not force it. ”

After Yuan Zhiheng finished speaking, he picked up the teacup and ate the tea, and ate a piece of pastry slowly.

During the banquet, the other people fell into deep thought, in the past, the government only did things according to their own likes and dislikes, and they were always the same, where was the time to discuss with the people?

After a long time, a mulberry household got up, looked at Yuan Zhiheng deeply, and said in a deep voice: "The adults and the lady have worked hard for us, we are very grateful, how can we refuse the kindness of the adults so ignorantly, Xiaomin will go back and tie up the protective shed." ”

Seeing this, all of you also stood up one after another, expressing your willingness to actively cooperate with the government's decree.

Yuan Zhiheng smiled slightly, said well, the matter is settled, and I ask you to go back and help persuade those small farmers not to miss long-term interests for the sake of saving trouble for a while.

Everyone agreed, and when the matter was over, Yuan Zhiheng sent them out.

"I think this Lord Yuan is a good official, and if he can take half of the silver out, it shows that he is really thinking about the people." On the way, the mulberry households whispered.

"Hey, I know, Lord Yuan invited me to a banquet today, and Mrs. Prefect made snacks with her own hands. said that I was asked to wait voluntarily, but this is clearly a Hongmen banquet, if I do it, then let the guests and hosts enjoy themselves. If he doesn't do it, it's big, big and refuting his face. I am familiar with Master Cui of Jiangnan Weaving, and he can persuade me not to repair the protective shed of Nalaoshzi. ”

"Master Xu, you can't help but think too much, what kind of Hongmen banquet, Hongmen banquet can let you come out unscathed?"

"That is, who is that Master Cui, others don't know, we mulberry silk households don't know yet, he has ...... all these years"

"Silence, there are some things that can't be said, we are all small people, the people don't fight with the officials, and they can do whatever they want. No matter how powerful Master Cui is, Lord Yuan is still our parent official, just listen to Lord Yuan. ”

"That's exactly what you said."

When the silkworm households went back, they set up the shed in full swing, and those who didn't want to build it next to them saw them like this, and they followed suit.

For a time, the entire Hangzhou Fucheng and the mulberry households in the following counties and counties set up protective sheds. There are also a few prefects who love the people in the nearby prefectures, but they are not as decisive as Yuan Zhiheng, and the effect is not great. Other prefectures and cities even laughed at the prefect of Hangzhou Prefecture who was frightened by the strong wind, and laughed off the big teeth of others for doing these useless things.

Yuan Zhiheng seemed to be familiar with those voices of praise or ridicule, but he was a little worried in his heart. The government opened the treasury and released half of the silver, and he had already reported the matter to the household department. Although he was not reprimanded, but now there is no catastrophe, Yuan Zhiheng did this, and he did not plan to allocate any more treasury silver to fill the void.

Thinking about comparing his worries, Diancui is completely determined. She also deliberately disguised herself and rode a horse to the outskirts of the city to take a look, looking at the protective sheds erected one after another on the edge of those mulberry fields, Diancui was very happy in her heart.

After coming back, Diancui went directly to Miaozhu and the shopkeeper Liu, and discussed adding more raw silk.

Who knew that there was still a person with the shopkeeper of Miaozhuliu, who said that he was from Taihu Lake and said that he wanted to see her.

This person found Angelica Pavilion, but he didn't buy head jewelry, only said that he wanted to find the master. Sister Dongxue thought that he was going to make trouble, but he suddenly said that the raw silk we made was deceived by someone, and asked him what was going on, but he didn't say it, and he had to meet the master in person. Because the master and Miss Xin'er went out, Sister Dongxue sent him to me. Miaozhu whispered to the cui. The shopkeeper on the side of Liu was even more anxious and embarrassed, before Dian Cui came, he had already thought about all aspects of the harvest silk along the way, except for the time when he fell asleep after being drugged, he really didn't find anything wrong.

But the events of that day were a lingering doubt in his heart, and now that he was being told, how could he not be afraid.

"Let him come and see him." Diancui Road.

Suddenly, a young man with a small height and a slightly chubby skin came in.

"Meet Madame," the man was a little excited when he saw Dian Cui.

Diancui looked at his face, and he was indeed a little familiar.

"This person is a little familiar," Xin'er whispered behind Diancui......

It's familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen it.

"Madam, although I may not remember it," the man knelt down and saluted: "But Madame's great kindness is something that I dare not forget in my life, and I ...... three years ago."

"It's you!" Dian Cui suddenly remembered that she and her cousin Wu came to Hangzhou three years ago to deal with the store, and the young man surnamed Li she met on the way.

At that time, the little one was down, and he got fifty taels of silver from his wife, successfully collected raw silk, and went to Huzhou to weave and dye cloth. In the past three years, the little one has always kept in mind the teachings of his wife, and he did not dare to slack off, so that he could see the moon and the moon, and now he has a small silk shop, which is in his hometown Taihu Lake. Li Sheng said excitedly, and took out the deed of the shop, and put his hands in front of Diancui.

Diancui took the deed and looked at it, and gave it back to him, saying Although my fifty taels saved you from the emergency at that time, it is also your own ability to open a shop in just three years. I don't want this shop to be yours, I heard the maid say that you have something important to tell me, what is the so-called thing?

He said that the raw silk business had been deceived, and Diancui was surprised in his heart, so he asked him.

Li Sheng hurriedly said: "I also heard a few days ago that there were outsiders who collected raw silk in the Taihu Lake realm, and someone exchanged the old silk for new silk on the road. I didn't think much about it, but then I heard that the outsider was related to Madame, so I hurried to tell Madame. ”

"Old silk?" Diancui was surprised, her profession is to make head jewelry, and she can see at a glance the quality of the material and workmanship of the head, but she is really a layman to raw silk. She is like this, and even more so is Shopkeeper Liu and Miaozhu.

Diancui's complexion changed, and he commanded quickly! Let's go to the barn on the outskirts of the city!

When he arrived at the warehouse on the outskirts of the city, Diancui opened the warehouse door loudly!

A few guys who were guarding there hurriedly opened the door of the warehouse, and the raw silk full of five large warehouses was neatly stacked there. In order to prevent moisture, Diancui also had tarpaulins spread on the ground and charcoal bags made of bamboo burned in the four corners of the house.

Li Sheng looked at one room after another, and finally pointed to two of them, and said, "Madam, the raw silk in these two rooms is old silk, and it is about two or three years old." ”

"Two or three years? How can it be! Shopkeeper Liu blushed, and couldn't help but say: "Although we are not from Jiangnan, we also know that this raw silk will be woven into a ruler for a year at most, so that it can be sold at a good price." Besides, silk cloth is a necessity, even if it is sold at a loss and at a reduced price, it is impossible to pile it up in your hands, and it has been pressed for so long for two or three years, how is it possible? ”

Dian Cui also nodded slightly, besides, the output of Jiangnan silk was not very good the year before last, if anyone has raw silk in their hands, it will inevitably be sold at a good price, how can they hoard.

Li Sheng went back to take a closer look, pulled out a few more raw silk and pondered carefully, and then said to Diancui firmly: "Madam, the little one raised silkworms from a small family, and this silk is Chen is new but not a small one, although I don't understand why there is a backlog of raw silk for so long, but I am sure that this is indeed new silk." This old silk does not look much different from the new silk when it is preserved, but if it is woven into cloth, this shine is indeed a stack worse than the new silk, and it is not as strong as the cloth woven from the new silk. ”

At this time, Dian Cui's face had changed slightly, and he said for a while: "You came to sue me about this, I want to thank you, since you said that you heard that the shopkeeper Liu from other places was replaced with Chen Silk for new silk, I guess I still know who did it?" ”

"This ......" Li Sheng choked, and in the face of a little cui's scorching gaze, he had to bite the bullet and say, "I probably know." ”