The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan-Chapter 613 - 611 Beautiful Young People (First Update)

Li Xianyun said what she said and done what she needed to do.

She asked Yuchi Hong if there was a large factory space in Yanzhou City that could be used for work.

The garment workshop was already quite crowded with over two hundred female workers. If these farmers also went to work there, they simply could not cope.

Moreover, with the garment workshop already full of women, if these farmers went there, it would be a mishmash of characters. In case any men harbored indecent intentions, or developed other sorts of ideas, all of these would be troublesome matters.

It would be better to set aside another place specifically for these farmers to work.

In fact, Li Xianyun had thought about letting them work at home. Almost every household had a loom and a cotton-spinning machine, so there was no need to provide these machines, which would be much more convenient.

But upon careful consideration, it was simply unfeasible.

First, it was difficult to manage, and second, some people would take the opportunity to pilfer the silk threads or cotton. If each household pilfered a little, the loss from so many households would be too much to bear.

So, it was still necessary to find a fixed place for everyone to work together and be managed collectively.

Yuchi Hong was not familiar with Yanzhou City either, and when Li Xianyun asked him, he turned to the government officers under him for answers.

A few government officers looked at each other and shook their heads, indicating they knew of none.

Li Xianyun said, "It doesn’t have to be a factory space. For example, an abandoned barracks or a disused residence or temple would suffice."

As she said this, one of the government officers brightened up and said, "There is one, an abandoned Earth God Temple in the west of the city. Inside, there are many rooms. If we clean them up, they could serve as a factory space without a problem, and it’s not far from here."

"That’s very good, please take me to have a look."

The government officer looked at Yuchi Hong for his opinion.

After all, Yuchi Hong was his immediate superior officer.

Yuchi Hong nodded his head.

He wanted to go along, but he could not find a reason to do so, and besides, there were other matters to attend to at the County Government Office.

So, he had to give up the idea.

The government officer led Li Xianyun and her group to the west of the city.

From a distance, they could see the dilapidated Earth God Temple located amid the wilderness, with a large land area, high walls, and connected rooftops, suggesting many rooms indeed.

The doors under the gate tower were broken and desolate.

The moment the group entered, they saw a beggar lying on the thatched straw in the courtyard, basking in the sun.

The winter made the rooms damp, and the midday sun was pleasantly warm, just right for a bit of basking.

Seeing the government officers arrive, the beggar hurriedly scrambled up from the ground, a wary look upon his face.

They were used to being driven away by government officers, so the sight of them sparked fear.

The officer spoke indifferently, "Who allowed you to stay here? Scram at once, go wherever it’s cool!!"

Li Xianyun gave the government officer a dissatisfied look.

The government officer quickly reined in his demeanor and took a step back.

The beggar, with a pitiful face, pleaded, "I beg you, sirs, to show us some kindness and not drive us away. We finally found such a place to settle down, and if you drive us out into the biting cold, it won’t be two days before we freeze to death."

As he spoke, some other beggars who heard the noise came out, old and young alike, scratching their heads and peering curiously.

The government officer was about to speak but was stopped by Li Xianyun.

"How many people live here?" Li Xianyun asked.

Seeing even the government officer yield to this attractive young person, the beggar dared not slight her, "Roughly twenty or thirty people."

With an honesty that belied his station, he called everyone out from the rooms.

They each had unkempt, filthy hair, their faces pale and gaunt, with bits of yellow straw clinging to their bodies and heads.

Among them were elderly with gray hair who struggled to walk even with the support of a tree branch, and toddlers only two or three years old, nestling in their mothers’ arms.

Li Xianyun looked at this group of grime-covered and timid beggars and said, "You don’t have to worry, we’re not here to drive you away. In fact, we’re not only not sending you away, but we’ll also provide you with opportunities to earn a living."

The beggars looked at each other, with a few whispering in hushed tones.

They couldn’t believe that such good fortune existed in the world.

Li Xianyun continued, "Today, we’ve come indeed to use these rooms. I will have someone repair them a bit and set aside several rooms for you to live in. The rest will be turned into a weaving and cotton spinning factory. When the time comes, you can work alongside the farmers who will be hired, working regular shifts, and you will be paid on time."

Most of the beggars’ faces brightened with hope.

They lived like rats in the streets, despised by all, as insignificant as ants on the ground.

No one valued them; people detested their stench and their filth, never sparing them a glance, let alone providing them work.

Now, such an incredible opportunity had presented itself—truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Li Xianyun knew that among these beggars, many were accustomed to a life of laxness, often resorting to cunning and deception, so it was essential to instill in them a sense of fear.

"Except for the very old and the very young, who won’t have to work, everyone else will need to work, earning their meals with the wages they make," Li Xianyun said.

There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

If they did not work, they would not eat, which served as motivation for them.

What Li Xianyun said was reasonable, and most of the beggars had no objections, but there were a few troublemakers.

"What if someone is suffering from a persistent ailment and cannot participate in the labor?"

As soon as this question was raised, a few others chimed in support.

Li Xianyun said with a smile, "Luckily, I happen to be a physician, and I simply need to take their pulse to know if there are any irregularities in their body. If I find someone lying to shirk work, I will not only forbid them from working but also drive them out of the Earth God Temple."

The beggars could see that this beautiful young person, though looking fragile, spoke with an inner authority that commanded respect.

The troublemakers closed their mouths and dared not make another sound.

Li Xianyun glanced at Bater.

Bater gave her an assurance with a look.

Having been by Li Xianyun’s side for a long time, Bater had developed a rapport with her.

He had already taken note of those troublemakers; they would be under close watch in the future.

Li Xianyun dismissed the beggars, then began inspecting the rooms with her people, one by one.

This Earth God Temple had once housed a hundred or so devotees, with over thirty rooms.

For some unknown reason, the devotees had abandoned the temple, leaving behind an empty shell.

Just as the government officer had said, the Earth God Temple, though slightly run-down, had many usable rooms; even those in disrepair could be tidied up and made functional.

Li Xianyun had a habit of carrying pen and paper whenever she went out. As she inspected the rooms, she had Youlan bring her some stationery so she could sketch and write notes.

The government officer caught a glimpse of her work and no longer dared to underestimate Li Xianyun.

With just a few strokes, Li Xianyun had sketched a rough outline of the Earth God Temple.

She divided the temple into two areas, a larger and a smaller one: the smaller was clearly for the beggars to reside in, and the larger would serve as the factory.

A wall separated the two areas, with a door in the middle for access.

This arrangement made managing the beggars much easier.

The government officer had been concerned that if the beggars’ dwelling was too close to the factory, the sly and crafty ones might steal from the factory and sell the goods, causing a mess.

He had inwardly mocked the shortsightedness of the youth, but to his surprise, Li Xianyun had already taken that into consideration without him realizing it.