newbobooks Chapter 84 Initial Cooperation with the Disaster Area
Chapter 84 Initial Cooperation with the Disaster Area
The guards led Yan Wanwan to the local government office. Before they even stepped inside, they heard a commotion.
Outside the government office, a large crowd of common people gathered. There were old women hunched over and wailing, and strong men wiping tears with sorrowful faces. They all said that their houses were destroyed and now their whole family, young and old, had no food to eat and was struggling to make ends meet.
When everyone saw Yan Wanwan suddenly appear, they were stunned at first, and then vigilance and suspicion appeared in their eyes. Their gazes were like substance, piercing straight at her, as if they wanted to look her up inside and out, to find out what she was bringing here for.
As soon as Yan Wanwan arrived, a yamen runner stepped forward to stop her and shouted, "Who are you?"
Yan Wanwan calmly replied, "I have come to seek an audience with the prefect."
The yamen runner frowned and said impatiently, "The prefect is busy with official duties. If you don't have a visiting card, don't stay here and leave immediately!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Wanwan hurriedly explained, "Wait a minute, yamen runner. I'm here to discuss the purchase of land with the prefect. Please be accommodating."
"Buy land?" The yamen runner looked at her in surprise and disbelief. "You want to buy our land?"
"That's right!"
Yan Wanwan smiled brightly and said, "I see that this place has many talented people and beautiful scenery, so I want to buy some land."
Then she added, "I can exchange it for food."
Upon hearing this, the people around began to stir.
"Did I hear correctly? She said she would exchange it for food."
"Yes, we will have food soon!"
The word "food" was extremely attractive to the people in the disaster area, and it seemed as if everyone heard the news in an instant.
"Sell it, sir! We have plenty of land to sell."
Everyone shouted in unison, and in an instant, the shouts shook the earth and resounded through the sky.
When people in the distance heard the sound, they looked at him as if he were a fool.
Yan Wanwan didn't care at all and still waved to the people in a graceful manner.
Seeing this, the yamen runner had a complicated expression, with a face full of indescribable meaning. In the end, he just shut up silently, turned around and ran back to the yamen.
Not long after, the bailiff hurried back, followed by a middle-aged man in official uniform with a serious face. I guess he was the local prefect.
However, the prefect's face was gloomy. He hurried over, looked Yan Wanwan over, and snorted coldly, "You, a troublemaker, are actually talking nonsense in front of the government office. Come! Bring her to the government office."
The guards around Yan Wanwan's face suddenly changed. They rushed forward, blocking her way and shouting a warning: "I'll see who dares to touch my wife."
Yan Wanwan waved her hand, then calmly walked forward and entered the government office under the guidance of the yamen runners.
The people outside the government office looked at each other, all confused and full of doubts, not knowing what was going on.
As he stepped into the government office, the prefect's expression immediately became sad, like an eggplant hit by frost.
He turned to Yan Wanwan and spoke earnestly, "What on earth are you thinking, little girl? This is the government office, and outside are refugees from the disaster. How can you be allowed to speak nonsense? Aren't you afraid of getting yourself into trouble and getting yourself killed by speaking so recklessly?"
When the guard heard these words, he was startled at first, but after thinking about it carefully, he finally understood the good intentions of the prefect.
Those seemingly harsh words were actually bluffing, intended to eliminate the suspicion of the people in order to protect Yan Wanwan.
Yan Wanwan had long felt the goodwill of the prefect, which was why she followed them into the government office without saying a word. She became even more determined to build a factory and develop here.
She knew that selecting a location for business was no easy task, requiring comprehensive consideration of numerous factors. The local scenery and the honesty and diligence of the people were certainly important criteria, but the character and integrity of the officials were paramount.
Even the most prosperous and beautiful places can become a nightmare for businesses if they encounter corrupt officials. The layers of official exploitation can be like a thorn in the flesh, eroding any hope of profit. Only honest and proactive officials can work hand in hand with businesses to build prosperity.
She smiled deeply and said, "Your Excellency, I'm not talking nonsense. I really want to buy the land here. Not only the land, but also the mountains. If you allow me, I want to build a few workshops in the disaster-stricken areas."
As Yan Wanwan spoke, she took out a simple map and drew several locations on it. These were the addresses she had just chosen after a round of wandering around.
The prefect was dumbfounded and said in disbelief, "You want to buy land and barren hills here to build a workshop? Aren't you afraid of earthworms turning upside down and mudslides?"
Yan Wanwan shook her head slightly, her eyes revealing a firmness. "Sir, I am aware of the risks involved. However, it is precisely because of the hardships faced by the people after the earthquake and the devastating mudslides, and the difficulty in rebuilding their homes, that they need new opportunities and solutions. Once these workshops are built, they can absorb the affected people into work, providing them with a stable income and freeing them from having to leave their homes to seek a living."
The prefect frowned and fell into deep thought.
How could he not be moved? In fact, it was precisely because of that strong feeling that he became even more hesitant.
The relief grain allocated by the imperial court had long since disappeared. He had personally visited local merchants countless times, earnestly urging them to join the relief effort, but with little success. Now, over a million people across the prefecture were displaced, with hundreds of thousands of refugees gathered in the city alone. He was filled with anxiety and racked his brain, but he still had no idea how to ensure these refugees had enough food and clothing.
Seeing the prefect's silence, Yan Wanwan continued, "Sir, if this workshop can be successfully completed, it will not only alleviate the people's current difficulties, but also boost the local economy in the long run. We can start with some simple and practical workshops. I have a special sales channel. Whether it's for local use or for export, it will be very profitable."
"That earth dragon..."
This situation is exactly what the prefect is most worried about. If natural disasters strike again, all their previous efforts will be wasted.
The prefect slowly raised his head, a glint in his eyes. "While there's some truth to what you say, building a workshop is no easy task. Where will the funds, manpower, and materials be sourced? Are we going to have to draw from our already empty treasury?"
Yan Wanwan smiled faintly and responded calmly, "Sir, don't worry about the funds. I will provide them all. As for the labor, we can recruit a large number of people affected by the disaster and give them a small salary so that they can make a living while rebuilding their homes. As for materials, there are many local resources available. We only need to integrate and allocate them."
The prefect nodded slightly, the balance in his heart gradually tilting: "Even so, how should we manage and operate this workshop? I am too busy with official duties to be distracted."
Yan Wanwan bowed and said, "Don't worry, sir. I am willing to take on the responsibility of management and operation. I will formulate detailed rules and plans to ensure the orderly operation of the workshop. I will also report to you regularly on the progress and status of the workshop, and I will never let you have any worries."
The prefect stood up and paced around the hall for a moment before finally making up his mind: "Forget it, forget it. This is the only way we can try now. Miss Yan, I will entrust this important task to you. I hope you will not disappoint the expectations of this prefecture and its people."
Yan Wanwan's face was filled with joy as she thanked him and said, "Don't worry, sir. I will do my best to fulfill my mission."
Afterwards, Yan Wanwan successfully obtained the deeds for the several plots of land she had selected, of course using grain as the payment.
Before leaving, the prefect couldn't help but rub his hands and asked, "Miss Yan, when will the food be delivered?"
"It's just outside the city. My Lord, just find someone to take it in."
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