pdf-ebookys Chapter 1205: Road Repair Halfway
Chapter 1205: Road Repair Halfway
The guano workshops were in full swing, and so was the road construction.
Soon more than half a month passed and the corvée labor was almost over.
As a result, only half of the road was built, and there was still a long section that was not completed.
County Magistrate Wang hurried back and asked, "Sir, what should we do? Should we continue repairing?"
This road is much more difficult than I imagined. I thought I could just repair it casually and make it a road that can be pushed with a wheelbarrow.
The result was extremely difficult, and the road being built was several more roundabout than expected.
Laborers from the entire county came together to repair the road, but they were only able to complete half of it, and that half was built very sloppily.
In the sense of a "road", it is not yet a road.
County Magistrate Wang was extremely anxious. The road had not been repaired, which meant that the bird droppings could not be transported out. If they could not be transported out, there would be no money to be made.
Sun Shan had no idea that building a road would be so difficult.
Alas, for someone like him who has never done engineering work, he can only talk about it on paper, but the reality is another matter.
Sun Shan asked, "Where is Clerk Liu?"
County Magistrate Wang replied, "We're still at Aojiawan, still building the zipline."
Compared with County Magistrate Wang, Engineer Liu was even more busy and tired. He stayed in Aojiawan all day and did not dare to come back until the project was completed.
Sun Shan originally wanted to ask Liu Gongli about the progress of the road construction. After all, he was in the engineering field and was more familiar with the situation than County Magistrate Wang and himself.
Now I have no choice but to go to Da Niao Village in person to take a closer look at the progress of the project.
This road must be repaired, even if it costs money.
County Magistrate Wang said, "Sir, the road is already halfway built. We must continue repairing it before winter and snow. If we wait until next spring, it will be even more troublesome."
It snows in the winter, rains in the spring, and is extremely hot in the summer in Yuanlu, so autumn is the best time to work.
Farmers are least busy at this time and have more time to work.
Sun Shan thought for a moment and said, "The service period is almost over. We can only pay for the construction of the road."
This is also a helpless choice. We originally wanted to build the road for free, but in fact we have to spend money.
Oh, I spent a lot of money on this guano workshop.
County Magistrate Wang immediately retorted, "Sir, there's no need to spend money. Just extend the labor service period. We have the final say on how long the labor service should last."
A group of illiterate people have no idea how long their service will last. They can only do what the government says.
What's more, if this guano workshop is repaired and produces guano, it will also benefit the people of the entire Yuanlu.
What's wrong with letting them do more work?
County Magistrate Wang felt that there was no need to pay people to do the work, so he simply extended the service period with the original team.
Humph, I don’t believe these peasants dare to disobey the orders of the government.
Sun Shan: ...
County Magistrate Wang's behavior is indeed that of a half-official. How dare a small servant disobey the order from the government?
However, Sun Shan was not an ordinary official. He was a kind-hearted and upright official.
Sun Shan shook his head repeatedly, disagreeing, "County Magistrate Wang, this is unfair. We can't do this."
County Magistrate Wang felt that Sun Shan had just become an official and didn't understand the workings of the officialdom. His actions were perfectly normal and commonplace.
Asking the laborers to work a few more days does not mean they will be thrown into the oil pan.
There is no danger at all in building the road this time. At least it is much safer than dredging the lake. What opinions can the laborers have?
County Magistrate Wang continued, "Sir, it won't be a problem if the laborers work a few more days. They are building roads for the people of Yuanlu, and it's an honor. Sir, there's no need to pay them; just let them continue working."
After a pause, he added, "If they're tired, let their brothers take turns. It's just simple road construction, it's not hard at all."
Sun Shan looked at County Magistrate Wang.
He said it so casually and naturally, and the typical image of an official who "exploits the people" immediately emerged.
In fact, what County Magistrate Wang did was a very common and practical approach.
It's just a slight extension of the labor service period, not sending them to their death.
But Sun Shan is different. A thousand-mile long dam can be breached by an ant hole.
If we impose a little more pressure on the people here and a little more pressure there, eventually the straw that breaks the camel's back will appear.
Although such a situation will not occur at present, Sun Shan does not want to be one of the perpetrators.
He held his head high and chest puffed out, rejecting County Magistrate Wang's suggestion righteously: "County Magistrate Wang, one is one, two is two. The conscription period is as long as we agreed upon. We must not go back on our word. Our conscription notice clearly states that we must not go back on our word. County Magistrate Wang, please don't say anything more. Once the conscription period is up, the conscripts can leave."
Sun Shan's words made County Magistrate Wang extremely angry.
What a man of his word! He speaks so noblely, doesn't this require money?
County Magistrate Wang objected, saying, "Sir, this road construction will cost a lot of money. We've already spent a lot of the money we've raised, spending it here and there. This is just the beginning. Once the guano is produced, we'll have to hire people to transport it and sell it, which will cost even more money. I'm afraid we won't make a penny from it, and we'll even lose a lot of money."
If the Wang family was not one of the largest shareholders of the guano workshop, County Magistrate Wang would not have made such a suggestion.
If it was all Sun Shan's money, not to mention spending it sparingly, it would be quite polite of him not to spend it recklessly.
It’s a pity that this fundraising money belongs to everyone, and if we spend a penny it’s gone.
What if the guano workshop is not built yet and all the money has been spent?
Sun Shan might call them together again and ask them to continue raising funds.
Emma, it hurts to give away this money!
Sun Shan shook his head and said, "The guano workshop being out of money is one thing, using the laborers for free is another. The two cannot be compared. In short, when the laborers' service period is up, they can go home. If they don't go back and continue to build the road, they must be paid. This is a matter of principle and must not be changed."
Then, his tone calmed down, he said, "Wang County Magistrate, I know you want to help the workshop save money, but money can't be saved like this. We are not the kind of officials who take advantage of others, so we can't say this."
Seeing that Sun Shan was unmoved, County Magistrate Wang felt that it was pointless to continue talking.
He ran home angrily and complained to Old Master Wang and Mr. Wang.
Only after scolding Sun Shan harshly did he feel better.
Old Master Wang said helplessly, "This Lord Sun has always been stubborn. Son, you can't convince him. Forget it, the money is spent. The money from the guano workshop is not just for our Wang family."
Fortunately, it’s not just my own money, so I feel a little better when I spend money for everyone.
Mr. Wang, who was exhausted like a dog from the workshop project and finally returned to Aojiawan where only birds were shitting, took a sip of tea leisurely.
He consoled County Magistrate Wang: "Brother, if you were to become the county magistrate, I would praise you for your cleverness. This Lord Sun..."
After a few tsk-tsks, he continued, "Didn't the aunt's letter say that? Lord Sun loves fame, and you're asking the people to serve him for free. This is simply offending him. Lord Sun, who loves fame so much, would never do such a thing as exploiting the people.
My aunt said that Lord Sun is very ambitious and is aiming for promotion, so he is creating an image of a good official to be praised by the people."
Then he sighed and said, "Brother, forget it. Let's spend the money. My aunt told us not to confront Lord Sun head-on."