Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 127 - 125: Betrothal Gift

"The territories of our imperial court extend far beyond a hundred and eighty thousand kilometers. If all the official roads across the land were to be made of cement, I’m sure the national treasury won’t be able to support it." Shangguan Xuanyi furrows his eyebrows tightly as he thinks of the state of the treasury.

Xiao’er thought for a while and said, "It’s indeed a grand endeavor to convert all the country’s official roads into cement roads and it’s not something that can be accomplished quickly. The construction would surely require a great deal of silver. However, as the saying goes, roads pave the way for wealth, so it is absolutely necessary to repair them."

Developing the entire nation’s official roads into concrete paths is not a simple matter, as it incurs a huge cost in human, material, and financial resources.

Although in this era, there is one policy which doesn’t exist in modern times, that is, making use of labor in the idle times of agricultural year.

Road construction, bridge building, and waterway management are all obligatory tasks conducted here for free. Even if they pay wages, it’s pretty nominal, enough only for meals.

However, relying solely on this labor service to build roads isn’t very effective, after all, it’s only for one month a year.

"Although sturdy laborers can be called upon during each year’s agricultural downtime, the only one-month period is not enough to achieve anything significant. I think we can try the concept of self-sustaining roads." Xiao’er proposed the modern concept of tolls.

"A self-sustaining road? How does that work?" Shangguan Xuanyi looked at Xiao’er, signaling her to continue.

"Don’t road repairs require silver? But once the road is repaired, it is the common people who use it. The court can put forward the silver to build the roads initially. Once the roads are completed, toll booths can be placed at both ends of the road to charge a fee. Any cart or horse wishing to use the road would have to pay, whereas pedestrians can use it for free. The collected silver can then be returned to the treasury."

Upon hearing these ideas, the eyes of both, Di Zhaowei and Shangguan Xuanyi lit up.

"We can post notices before the road construction starts, informing the people that they will have to pay to use it once it’s finished. But, those who contribute labor towards its construction can use it for free for life. Moreover, anyone who donates twenty taels or more can also use it for free for life. I believe many people will volunteer to work, especially during the idle agricultural periods when most of the common people are idle at home. This will save a lot of wages! Moreover, if anyone donated twenty taels, that amount is enough to build quite a portion of the road."

"This method is excellent. With this, as soon as the road is completed, it could start generating revenue. Gradually, not only will road constructions cost nothing to the treasury, but it will also increase the treasury’s income." Di Zhaowei praised.

"According to this, only vehicular traffic will be charged, not pedestrians, reducing the burden on the people. There are also additional charges for goods and merchandise! those who can afford carriages, wouldn’t mind paying a small toll. It’s a good idea!" Shangguan Xuanyi agreed and then added: "Xiao’er girl, there is no need to give you dividends from the cement workshop."

"We don’t need any dividends from the cement." Both of them spoke at the same time.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi was even more satisfied with Xiao’er. However, he wouldn’t profit off her; after all, many things in this world are more useful than silver.

Xiao’er smiled and continued: "We shall contribute our part to the repaving of official roads! Father, what do you think?"

Since she only contributed the formula to make cement, different from other stuff, where she designs something every month for them. She feels it’s somewhat unfair to take dividends. And she believes that Shangguan Xuanyi will not take advantage of her!

"That’s working for the villagers, of course, there’s no problem!" Chengyao quickly expressed his stance. Building roads and bridges are acts of benevolence. He is always happy to help others. Now that he’s capable of doing something bigger, there’s no way he would refuse!

Regarding the cement business, Shangguan Xuanyi planned to keep the control in the hands of the imperial court until all the major official roads in various places were properly constructed.

That way, he has the means to make some wealthy households cough up silver to build roads!

"Father, let’s use our silver to pave all the paths in the village with cement, and then build two grain-drying grounds for the villagers!"

"The cement floor made of sand has a lot of small pits and dents, which can easily hide sand. It’s difficult to sweep clean, is it good for grain drying grounds?" Although Di Zhaowei has never had any experience, he thought of the inconvenience. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"This cement, once mixed with water, turns into a cement oil/sludge. Add it to a specially made shovel and apply it on the surface of the cement sandstone construction, or directly spray it on the surface of the newly paved cement sand. Then smooth it with a shovel, and the surface can become very smooth."

"So that’s possible? Indeed, it’s a useful thing!"

Cement, reinforced concrete, plays a huge role in the construction industry. Thanks to it, high-rise buildings emerge from the ground effortlessly and countless bridges quietly span over major rivers, providing immense convenience to people’s lives. If this isn’t a good thing, then what is!

Xiao’er recalled the ceramic floor tiles, decorative wall tiles, and mosaics from the modern world. She decided to pass on the features of those materials to Di Zhaowei to see if his craftsmen could recreate them.

If they could manufacture them, then the tower in the town will surely dazzle everyone’s eyes!

Thus, with road construction and house building, Xiao’er’s family was delightfully busy.

The foreman Liang had never been busier, so much so, that he barely had time to prepare for his own wedding.

However, Xu Wenhui has suffered a lot in the past. So, he wanted to give her more dignity and respect that she deserved, to prevent others from looking down on her!

Therefore, the betrothal gift that he gave Xu Wenhui was much more generous than what’s usually offered by ordinary rural households!

Typically, families would only give two to three taels as the betrothal gift. Even the richer rural households would not give more than five taels. However, he gave ten taels as the betrothal gift.

Usually, having a gold hairpin and a gold ring is deemed dignified. Most people would only give a silver ring and hairpin. Some even wouldn’t have a silver hairpin!

But Liang, the foreman, prepared two sets of gold hair decorations, two sets of silver ones, and two pairs each of gold and silver bracelets!

Other dowry items such as cakes, seafood, sacrificial meats, fish, coconut, wine, four Beijing fruits, raw fruits, four-colored sugars, tea leaves, sesame, a sticker box, two pecks of rice, incense cannons, bracelet gold, were also prepared thoroughly and in abundance!

Many families prepare these items just for the sake of having them, focusing on their symbolisms rather than their actual value!

However, some families do give full quantities of these items, to demonstrate the groom’s families’ high regard and satisfaction towards this marriage!

Times have been tough these past two years, and in the village, no bride’s family received such a substantial betrothal gift!

Thus, it’s not surprising that the engagement gift from Foreman Liang, seemed like a bolt from the blue that resounded through several villages!

It attracted envy, jealousy, and sour comments!

The villagers had a newfound recognition of Foreman Liang’s wealth!

Many villagers secretly regretted that during the construction of their homes, they didn’t marry off their daughters to him!

Everyone said that Xu Wenhui fell into a fortune! Even her second marriage is being conducted with such grandeur! Her luck certainly improved with each marriage!

Typically, the groom would be received two or three months after the engagement, but three months later, Foreman Liang would have to go to the prefecture city to build roads, so it had to be advanced!

Xu Wenhui’s family is small, and Mrs. Liu has already recognized her as a sister. Thus, she prepared a lot of dowry for her and returned the betrothal gifts. Therefore, all these betrothal gifts were kept at Xiao’er’s house.

Mrs. Liu certainly wouldn’t accept it, however, others might not see it the same way!