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The County Princess turned out to be quite accommodating.
“Alright, everyone, go back and inform the people in the surrounding areas. We will start purchasing cotton in seven days. When it’s weighed, we will pay immediately to reassure everyone. Also, during the cotton collection period, have the officers patrol the streets more frequently to prevent the people who sell cotton from being targeted,” Wang Jinhe considered and said.
Her words were all in consideration for the people.
“Understood.”
After seeing off the county magistrates, Wang Jinhe called Chen Jinnian, Lin Zixun, and a few others.
“Do you have anyone under your command who is particularly resourceful? Have them come and see me. They will be in charge of the cotton collection,” Wang Jinhe said.
“We have a few individuals who are suitable, but the others need more experience,” Chen Jinnian replied after a moment of silence.
“I have some suitable candidates as well.”
“Alright, pair them up and then have a team of soldiers help transport the cotton to the workshop.”
In the past six months, the older girls at the academy had already mastered the use of spinning and weaving machines. They had left the school a month ago to work at the workshop, all according to their own wishes. Those who still wanted to learn more at the academy had not been sent over yet.
“We’ll go and give the orders now.”
“Do you know where cotton is grown the most?”
“Yes, the surrounding towns near Linjiang Town grow the most cotton.”
“Alright, we’ll go there to take a look.”
“Madam, are you not going to inform the young master about this?” Chen Jinnian couldn’t help but ask.
She was planning to go to Linjiang to inspect the cotton harvest. Would the young master really agree to this?
“I will talk to him about it when I return. After that, I plan to take the students from the academy on a study tour,” Wang Jinhe considered and asked.
“A study tour?”
“Yes, they spend a lot of time studying here, and although they participate in activities like planting and harvesting, they are our own activities. They cannot truly understand the feelings of the common people,” Wang Jinhe considered and said.
Chen Jinnian and the others exchanged glances and immediately understood Wang Jinhe’s intention.
“Although our academy was only established this year, it has many promising future officials. Some are from commoner backgrounds, so they naturally understand, but there are also those from wealthy families. Even though they have labor classes, it’s no different from playing for them. So, what we need to do is to help this group truly understand how hard it is for the common people to earn money and the joy and satisfaction that comes with it,” she explained.
Understanding more through more exposure will help them know what to do in the future.
Are they becoming officials just for the glory, or do they truly want to work for the people? Do they want to improve the lives of the common people?
These are the questions the children need to consider.
“Indeed, if all children are raised this way, how can Xuan Empire not become strong in the future?”
“Exactly, that’s why some officials need to be nurtured from a young age.”
“You’re right, Madam.”
“Get the people ready. This time, Lin Zixun, you will come with me. Chen Jinnian, Qi Feng, the two of you will take care of things at home. Go and gather the people you think are suitable. For those nearby, let them visit their families, but once they arrive, they cannot return until the cotton is harvested,” Wang Jinhe instructed.
“Understood.”
After the three of them left, Wang Jinhe went to find Su Yu and shared her thoughts with him.
Su Yu nodded in agreement after hearing her thoughts. “That sounds like a good plan.”
“Tomorrow, after I take Xiao Bao and the others to the academy, I will discuss it with the headmaster and other teachers. But I think Xiao Bao and the others might be excited,” he added. Apart from the capital and the county town, these children have not been to other places.
“You’re right.”
The next day, Su Yu personally took Xiao Bao and the others to the academy. Xiao Bao and Xiao Zhi looked at him strangely and asked, “Daddy, are you not busy? Why are you personally taking us to the academy today?”
Su Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled at his son, asking, “Is it not good for me to personally take you?”
“Well, it’s just that you and Mommy are busy now, so you wouldn’t normally take us to the academy,” Xiao Bao said confidently.
“Dad must have something to discuss with the headmaster and the teachers,” Xiao Zhi added.
Su Yu shook his head with a smile. “You two little rascals are quite perceptive. I do have something to attend to today.”
“Really? Daddy, can you tell us about it first?” Xiao Bao asked eagerly.
Even Xiao Zhi and Chang Le looked at Su Yu with curiosity, waiting for his response.
However, Su Yu had no intention of telling them at that moment. “You’ll know later. I won’t tell you now for sure.”
After Xiao Bao and Xiao Zhi asked a few more times and realized that Su Yu wouldn’t tell them, they gave up. However, the children continued to discuss the matter among themselves.
After dropping off Xiao Bao and the others at the academy, Su Yu met with the headmaster.
“Why did you come today, Your Highness?” the headmaster inquired.
“I came to discuss something with you,” Su Yu explained Wang Jinhe’s idea to the headmaster.
After careful consideration, the headmaster nodded in agreement. “This method is quite good, and having more people will increase the safety factor.”
“It’s alright. We’ll have the soldiers accompany us. Besides, when we go, Nan Qiao and the others won’t stay here, so the children’s safety won’t be an issue,” Su Yu reassured.
The headmaster naturally agreed after hearing Su Yu’s explanation. “Since Your Highness has said so, I have no reason to refuse. We will proceed according to Your Highness’s plan.”
“Good. Today, please inform the children about the plan and have them inform their families. We will depart directly from the academy, and it will probably take about ten days,” Su Yu said. The cotton collection period would definitely be longer than ten days, but for the children, ten days would be sufficient.
“I will make the necessary arrangements for this matter.”
“In that case, I will go back to make preparations.”
After Su Yu left the academy, the headmaster, wore a serene smile. The Princess’s idea was indeed unique, but it would undoubtedly produce exceptional children. It was quite good.
At noon that day, the headmaster instructed all the teachers to inform the children about the plan. Xiao Bao and the others were excited upon hearing the news.
Their classmates, surprised by their excitement, asked, “Do you guys know what cotton is? We’ve never seen it before.”
“We know. My mother grows it. It’s white and used to make clothes and comfortable quilts.”
“We even picked it ourselves. But this time, we probably won’t see the scene of picking cotton. If you want to see it, I can ask my mother to take us next year to see it and even let us pick it ourselves.”
Xiao Zhi added from the side, “We picked it ourselves last year. It was tiring but very fulfilling.”
“In that case, we must try it next year. Su Zhiqin, we’ll be counting on you,” their classmates said.
“Alright.”
That afternoon, after Xiao Bao and the others returned, they each told Wang Jinhe about the plan. She looked at them in surprise after hearing the news.