During normal times when there aren’t any floods, it can also be used as a reservoir to ensure the irrigation of the surrounding farmland.
By the way, you can even raise some fish and shrimp in this reservoir, which could bring in some money. There are many ways to make money as long as one is willing to invest initially. In the long run, you’re guaranteed to earn it all back.
However, the lords of Mianshui, no matter whether the floods raged or drought and poverty struck, were unwilling to spend a dime on basic infrastructure.
Such shortsightedness.
Moreover, if these convenient measures are taken, and the common people benefit from them, how could they not support you and stabilize your position?
But Chen Jie quickly understood the thinking of these people.
After all, they were Jianghu people. They never thought about being independent, so even after becoming the overlords of Mianshui, their first thought was to consolidate their position and make money.
Then they would start enjoying themselves, because they didn’t even know how long they could enjoy their time in Mianshui.
Therefore, they were insane to let the money they had so painstakingly collected go, to invest in welfare and such basic infrastructure.
Understanding all this, Chen Jie said, "If you won’t do it, I will!"
Chen Jie planned to conquer the world, and the world was vast. To take over the world required significant hardship. For now, Chen Jie only had the Fishing Guild and two or three thousand people, but he already harbored the ambition to swallow the whole world.
Mianshui was his base, so he wanted to manage it well.
Only by establishing a solid base among the people could he, one day, call out from a high place and have his call answered by a hundred responses, creating a force that could sweep across the world.
This was also why Chen Jie was willing to abandon Xiantao Village to save the three villages under Guild Cao. Because he had already regarded that place as his own territory; those were his people, so how could he not manage it properly?
Having realized this, Chen Jie wondered how his wife was managing in this heavy rain.
"Thank you, Mrs. Su."
"Mrs. Su, you are such a kind person, thank you, Mrs. Su."
"Mrs. Su, you really are a great benefactor!"
At this moment in West City, near the venue, inside a spacious house, Yue Ni stood in the room with a crowd of queued-up people outside. The drizzling rain did not dampen their enthusiasm for queueing.
Giving out stuff—what’s a little rain?
The common folk of Mianshui County lived a hard life, barely eating meat all year round, and even fine grains were hard to come by.
Yet this year, the Fishing Guild was distributing items from banquets that weren’t finished: large white steamed buns, roast chicken, sweet and sour carp, and pork knuckles—luxuries that common folk wouldn’t even indulge in for the New Year.
So, when word got out that Mrs. Su of the Fishing Guild planned to give away these items to the people, all the poor in West City were stirred up—not just from West City, but folks from other districts queued up as well.
Fortunately, Chen Jie had prepared a surplus for the feast. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough to distribute.
Su Yunjin herself was personally involved in the food distribution frontline. Seeing this elegantly dressed lady taking part in distributing goods, some of the dirtily dressed common folk dared not approach because Xiao Hu was guarding nearby with a knife.
But Su Yunjin did not disdain them. She pulled over an old granny leading a child about Ruirui’s size and offered her half a roast chicken and two buns.
The granny was instantly effusive with gratitude. Su Yunjin packed the gifts nicely, then took a bag filled with five pounds of millet from a disciple of the Fishing Guild and handed it over to the granny.
The granny, having received the gifts, wanted the little girl beside her to kowtow in thanks, but Su Yunjin said, "Granny, there’s no need for that. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come find me at the Fishing Guild."
The granny immediately said, "Thank you."
Su Yunjin smiled, sent the granny on her way, and even patted the head of the little girl dressed in ragged clothes, showing no aversion at all.
It was a genuine acceptance without any affectation, so the common folk who received her charity felt respected. The food also tasted extraordinarily sweet as a result.
Although this was a form of relief, some individuals’ relief efforts were from a condescending position. Accepting charity could make people feel grateful but also humiliated.
However, the kindness offered by Su Yunjin felt like the warmth of a girl-next-door.
Therefore, the common folk receiving the aid all wore bright smiles, sincerely happy, whether they had received aid or not, they all collectively praised Su Yunjin at this time.
"Mrs. Su is such a good person!"
"Yes, a really good person. Accepting her help makes you feel respected."
The crowd discussed animatedly. Not far away, a monk watched the scene, never taking his eyes off Su Yunjin.
Murmuring to himself in amazement, "A high nose bridge, a defined chin, poised and elegant demeanor, she has an air of wealth about her—a born phoenix!"
The monk mumbled, "Rare, indeed rare. In all my travels, only in Haozhou did I see a Miss Ma with such a presence, too noble for words!"
Thinking so, the monk approached the crowd and greeted a raggedly dressed old man, "Amitabha Buddha, venerable sir, what are you queuing for here?"
The old man, startled by the interruption while queueing, turned around to find a towering monk.
The monk seemed to be faring poorly, dressed like a beggar with patches all over, a worn cloth bag hanging at his waist, and a water gourd on the other side.
At first glance, one could tell he was a traveling monk.
The old man eyed the monk and asked, "Where do you come from?"
With a smiling face, the monk responded, "Ha ha, this poor monk is a traveling monk from Cihua Temple in Yuanzhou, Jiangxi."
"Jiangxi, you’ve traveled quite a distance to get here, Monk!"