After all, they were in the village chief's house, so the two only chatted briefly before ending the call.
The Elder Princess went outside and waited for a short while.
Soon she saw the village chief and the guard return.
"Elder Princess, the father and son are willing to follow us to the plague city," the guard reported.
"Elder Princess, the villagers are willing to sell you the potatoes, and we've also collected several hundred catties of vines," the village chief added.
Before long, villagers could be seen carrying potatoes to the village chief's house one after another.
The Elder Princess immediately had the guard count them and pay for them.
After staying at the village chief's house for three days, the Elder Princess gave an extra sum of money to the villagers, explaining it was hush money to keep the potatoes secret. The villagers excitedly agreed repeatedly.
After finishing this business, the Elder Princess and her party left with carts full of potatoes, taking Dashu and his father with them.
A few days later.
When the Elder Princess returned to the plague city from Fujian with the potatoes, Counselor Fang told her that two young ladies from Jiangnan had been waiting for her for several days.
Upon hearing that these two young ladies had received care from Miss Gu Sang, which was why they specially came from Jiangnan to bring some things within their means.
The Elder Princess, without taking time to rest, went to the inn to meet these two young ladies.
The two young ladies immediately stood up, looking at the approaching Elder Princess with emotional faces: "Elder Princess, thank you so much for your behind-the-scenes help during this time, which has made our business so successful."
"This is the money we earned from selling lipstick and perfume."
"We know you urgently need money now, so we've gathered some to bring to you."
"Although this small amount of money is a drop in the bucket for the army, rest assured, our shops are growing bigger and bigger. We believe it won't be long before we can become a strong backing for you and Miss Gu."
The Elder Princess knew these former palace maids.
They used to be by Consort Zhao's side. Before the incident, Consort Zhao had arranged everything to send them out of the palace.
She hadn't expected that Gu Sang's past kindness would come in so handy now.
The Elder Princess didn't stand on ceremony and straightforwardly accepted: "I am indeed in great need of money now, and your money has come at just the right time."
"Both I and Miss Gu will remember this favor!"
Seeing the Elder Princess accept the money, the two women's faces showed happy expressions.
Xue'er excitedly said, "Elder Princess, you don't need to be polite. If it weren't for Miss Gu's guidance back then, we sisters would have had trouble even surviving."
"Now that we can eat and dress well, we're very satisfied!"
"Moreover, I once vowed that if there came a day when I could help Miss Gu, I would spare no effort."
The other girl said joyfully, "Elder Princess, we all look forward to your success. Then we women will be able to take you as a role model and accomplish great things."
"We won't be like now, where when a few women open a shop, they get ostracized and slandered..."
The girl's voice became softer and softer under Xue's warning gaze.
She looked cautiously at the Elder Princess, worried that the Elder Princess would find her talkative.
After hearing her words, not only did the Elder Princess not show any impatient expression, but she solemnly promised them:
"Believe me, I and Miss Gu will definitely let women walk freely outside from now on, without needing to cover their faces. They can do business freely and do anything, just like in future generations."
"Women can go to school, women can do business, women can enter politics, and women can also choose to never marry."
"I want women in this world to be able to choose freely!"
Free choice!
This is the dream of millions and millions of women!
No, it's something they don't even dare to dream of.
But the Elder Princess said it would all be realized in the future, even if it takes ten years, twenty years, or thirty years. They are all willing to wait for this day.
The two young ladies listened with tears welling up in their eyes. As women, they had cried many, many times.
Only this time, they cried out of excitement, out of joy and anticipation.
The next day, the two young ladies quietly left the plague city.
Although the Elder Princess cordially invited them to stay in the plague city for a few more days, the two still thought of their sisters and perfume business in Jiangnan.
If they didn't return soon, their sisters in Jiangnan would worry.
After they left, the busy Elder Princess was discussing the matter of military pay with Counselor Fang and others.
With the funds sent by Xue'er and her companion, the school and family housing mentioned by Gu Sang before could now be built.
Moreover, the sweet potatoes were ripe and could be distributed to the people as food.
When hearing that the Elder Princess planned to distribute the first batch of food to the people for free, Advisor Xu raised a different opinion.
"Elder Princess, forgive this humble official for speaking frankly, but this is not appropriate."
"First, we still have too little money. Although we have enough sweet potatoes and potatoes to distribute to the people, after distribution, the military pay will be a bit tight."
"After all, with the addition of the disaster victims from Liujiang City, the population of the plague city has reached several hundred thousand. This is not a small expenditure."
"Moreover, the houses for those disaster victims have not been fully built yet. I think we should do it this way: we distribute food and let the people help us with the work."
"The construction of houses for disaster victims, schools, family housing, and so on all need workers."
"This way, we can also let the people know that all food is not to be enjoyed without effort, but needs to be exchanged for labor."
"People can receive two portions of food for one person's work, and we can also save a lot of manpower. It's a win-win situation."
The Elder Princess thought Advisor Xu's suggestion was excellent!
The wage for one person's work was ten copper coins, and the Elder Princess not only gave ten copper coins but also gave additional food.
Although this food was originally intended to be given to the people.
But after Advisor Xu's calculation, not only could all the people receive food, but she could also save a lot of trouble.
Although she was generous, she was not a merciful person. Just as Gu Sang said, 'A peck of kindness is repaid with a bushel of resentment.' People are never satisfied!
The more benefits they get for free, the more likely they are to breed ungrateful ingrates.
"Good! Just announce the rules as Mr. Xu has said," the Elder Princess said with appreciation in her eyes, immediately agreeing to Advisor Xu's approach.
That day, the Elder Princess issued an announcement.
And she had soldiers notify every household in the city.
"As long as you help build schools, family housing, and repair houses, you can not only receive a day's wages but also two portions of food per person..."
"Families with a member serving in the military can receive a bag of rice, fifty jin of sweet potatoes, and meat every month......"
When the soldier came to inform the disaster victims of this, all the disaster victims in Liujiang City were shocked.
After arriving in the plague-stricken city, the most common thing they heard was how kind the Elder Princess was to the common people, and how incredibly tolerant she was towards them.
But they never imagined that the Elder Princess would be this good to the people!
