That night after meeting Jin Feng, Zhu Chen was so excited that she could not sleep at all.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of how to run the teahouse even better and prove her abilities in front of Jin Feng.
Zhu Linglong had already gained Jin Feng’s heavy trust. If she could also win his favour, they would have a chance to reclaim the Zhu family’s old residence.
Unfortunately, the teahouse had not even had time to open before Jin Feng left.
Zhu Chen felt deeply sad about this. For a while, she even thought Jin Feng’s suggestion to build a teahouse was just empty talk.
But now, Jin Feng’s attitude had rekindled her hope.
“Since sir trusts this old woman, then this old woman will speak plainly.”
Zhu Chen said, “This old woman still feels that building bridges, repairing roads, and carrying out water conservancy projects are not feasible. The investment is huge, the risks are great, and the returns are so small. It really is not worth it.”
“I also think it is not worth it.” Ruan Tongjie chimed in agreement.
“I have considered this point together with the Ninth Princess. We even made an agreement at West River Bay.”
Jin Feng said, “The wages for water conservancy projects will be paid by Her Highness from the grain seized from the nobles. I will be responsible for the wages for opening factories, building bridges, and repairing roads.
The bridges and roads built by our Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce can collect tolls for fifty years. This will be used to recover the investment and cover daily road maintenance.
By the way, there is one more thing I need to discuss with Auntie. I plan to build a courier station every ten li or so along both sides of the highways we construct. These will serve as resting places for travelling merchants and travellers. They will also station bodyguards to ensure safety within a ten-li radius.
Auntie has experience managing inns. This matter will probably require you to take charge as well.”
“Build courier stations and collect tolls to recover costs? … Sir, please let this old woman sort this out.”
Jin Feng’s words carried so much information that Zhu Chen found it hard to take in all at once.
In Great Kang before this, only bandits had ever collected tolls on roads.
Now Jin Feng not only wanted to repair roads and build bridges, but also collect tolls and build courier stations to generate profit and recover investment.
This had never happened in Great Kang before.
Jin Feng did not rush her. He personally poured a cup of tea for Zhu Chen and let her think slowly.
Beside them, Ruan Tongjie and Zhu Linglong also furrowed their brows slightly.
Ruan Tongjie was considering whether the plan was feasible, while Zhu Linglong directly picked up paper and brush and began calculating.
After a long while, Zhu Chen finally raised her head again to look at Jin Feng.
“Sir, what you propose has no precedent in history. This old woman really cannot be certain.”
Zhu Chen asked, “Sir, please tell this old woman honestly. How confident are you?”
“Probably about… fifty percent.” Jin Feng said. “If you want to get rich, build roads first. Repairing roads does not only allow us to collect tolls. It can also stimulate commercial development in Chuanshu, which will benefit our Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce as well.”
“Stimulate commercial development?”
Zhu Chen heard yet another completely unfamiliar term.
But she did not pretend to understand. Instead, she asked humbly, “What does that mean? Please enlighten me, sir.”
“Let me put it this way. If the common people earn wages from road construction and those wages are enough to cover their basic needs, will they then buy other daily necessities, such as kitchen knives, sickles, hoes, and so on?” Jin Feng asked.
“Iron tools are heirloom items that people use frequently. If the common people have spare money, they will indeed buy iron tools first.”
Zhu Chen nodded. She understood what Jin Feng meant and continued, “Our Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce’s iron tools are both good quality and cheap. The common people are very likely to choose our products.”
“Not just iron tools. After the disaster relief is handled, I will go back to develop more tools and other goods. I plan to turn every courier station into a hardware and sundries shop. That way, the common people can buy salt, grain, and all the daily necessities they need without having to go to the county seat.”
Jin Feng said, “When our chamber earns money, can we not hire more common people to repair roads? Can we not build more factories and employ more workers?
When the common people have money, they will not only buy iron tools. They will buy other things too. If they buy meat, does the butcher not make money? When the butcher earns money, will he not buy jewellery for his wife? When the jewellery seller earns money, will he not buy a few yards of cloth to make clothes for his children?
When the common people have money in their hands, the market comes alive. Then we can earn even more money.
So repairing roads benefits not only our Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce. Other merchants will also benefit. Chuanshu will become a flowing, vibrant place. That is what I mean by stimulating commercial development.”
“So that is how it is!”
Zhu Chen showed a look of sudden realisation. Then she said with admiration, “No wonder Her Highness values sir so highly. Sir truly has the talent to govern a country. To be in Xichuan is really a waste of your abilities.”
“Auntie flatters me.” Jin Feng waved his hand modestly.
The principles he spoke of were things any high school student in his previous life would understand.
He had simply been fortunate to meet the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao, which gave him the opportunity to put them into practice.
“Sir is being too modest.”
Seeing this, Zhu Chen admired him even more. “This old woman now truly understands the gap between us. What this old woman sees and thinks about is only my own small patch of land. Sir is considering the entire realm. No wonder sir’s business can grow so large!”
“Auntie, if you praise me a few more times, I will start floating.”
Jin Feng’s face actually turned a little red from the compliments.
“It is not flattery. This old woman genuinely admires you.”
Zhu Chen said, “Before, this old woman had not fully understood. But after sir’s explanation just now, everything suddenly became clear.
Right now bandits are rampant everywhere, and mountain roads are extremely difficult to travel. If sir repairs the roads and builds courier stations every ten li or so, with bodyguards maintaining safety, those trade routes will definitely come alive. The courier stations’ business will also thrive.
By the way, sir, for these trade routes, can only we build courier stations, or can anyone build them?”
“Of course only we can build them on the roads we construct.” Jin Feng said. “If others want to build, they have to pay us!”
In fact, what Jin Feng described was simply borrowing from the highways and service areas of his previous life.
Could anyone just build a service area on a highway?
Jin Feng had always pushed hard for disaster relief not only because he could not bear to see the common people suffer, but also because of his own considerations.
In normal times, repairing trade routes, building courier stations, or even setting up factories in various places would face pressure from all sides.
Even if he asked the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao to smooth things over, he would end up owing favours.
But doing it now for disaster relief meant the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao would take the initiative to handle all troubles for him. They would even end up owing him favours.
As for the water conservancy projects, which cost the most money, took the longest time, and offered little profit margin, Jin Feng had not taken on a single one. He had pushed them all onto the Ninth Princess and Qing Xinyao.
With the Ninth Princess’s intelligence, she naturally understood Jin Feng’s intentions.
But water conservancy was a livelihood project and properly the responsibility of the government, so the Ninth Princess accepted it.
Jin Feng was already doing his utmost by launching people-benefiting loans, opening factories, and building bridges and roads.
“Only we can open courier stations along the trade routes. That is a monopoly business. Even if the prices are a bit higher than other shops, business will definitely be good! And we can collect tolls for fifty years…”
The more Zhu Chen spoke, the more excited she became. “Sir, now I truly understand. This move of yours is brilliant!”
