119: Chapter 119 I’ll Get You Silver (Extra Update 15) 119: Chapter 119 I’ll Get You Silver (Extra Update 15) Watching Lin Yi smash a table with a single palm strike, the Minister of Public Works, Lu Feng, immediately delivered a flattering compliment.
“Truly, esteemed Lin has such skill to break a table with one palm.
I am blind not to have recognized Mount Tai before me, my vision is truly poor.”
This ironically amused Lin Yi who hadn’t expected this man to be so adept at sucking up.
He pointed at Lu Feng’s nose and continued speaking:
“Enough with this nonsense.
I’m asking you, whose idea was it not to charge for this construction?”
This question caught Lu Feng off guard.
Since taking his post at the Ministry of Industry, he had never charged anyone, when building residences for princes and nobles wasn’t everyone at their beck and call?
Lin Yi nodded, uttering three ‘good’s in a row, leaving Lu Feng somewhat bewildered, not knowing what Lin Yi was really getting at:
“Good, good, good, truly wonderful.
The public works have fallen to such a state, yet still offer free construction services.
I don’t know where your hearts are.
How can you be so carefree?
No wonder this place is in ruins.”
Lu Feng immediately felt Lin Yi’s wrath and quickly bowed, repeatedly apologizing:
“Esteemed Lin, please forgive me, please calm your anger.”
Eventually, Lin Yi sighed helplessly and softened his tone:
“This isn’t directed at you personally.
Don’t take it to heart.
Now, go call back those 700-plus workers for me.”
As these words were spoken, Lu Feng was clearly stunned, then looked up at Lin Yi in disbelief:
Esteemed one, did you just say to call back the 700-plus workers?
But they are currently building someone’s residence; we can’t just leave it half-built, can we?”
Who would have thought Lin Yi would glare fiercely and say:
“Can’t you hear what I’m saying?
Or am I not speaking the language of You Country?
Go, immediately call back the 700-plus workers for me.”
After that, he nonchalantly sat in the most prestigious seat, shaking the chair first to ensure that it wouldn’t fall apart before sitting down.
He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, it’s like holding a golden rice bowl but still begging for food.
The Ministry assembled the most outstanding craftsmen in the land, yet ended with not a single decent table, truly pitiful.
Of course, it couldn’t be helped, but he believed that things would quickly be set straight with his arrival.
After nearly three hours, Lu Feng finally returned in a rush.
Seeing Lin Yi, he was exhausted and panting, but at least he did not disappoint:
“Sir, your trust in me has been fulfilled.
I have notified all 700-plus workers, and they will not go tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Lin Yi sighed again.
This man was indeed too petty in handling matters.
Now that he asked for the workers to return, they should drop what they’re doing immediately, not wait until tomorrow.
Nevertheless, it was already a difficult task for Lu Feng, so Lin Yi did not make it harder for him.
In the following time, Lin Yi directly had Lu Feng begin preparations for the reconstruction of the Ministry.
Upon hearing this, the Minister of Public Works was stunned and hurriedly waved his hands at Lin Yi, saying:
Sir Lin, if we reconstruct the Ministry of Industry, then we won’t be able to issue the salaries.
Even now, we are two months behind on paying the salaries.”
Lin Yi became even more infuriated upon hearing this.
How could his own house not afford meals or pay salaries, yet still freely work for others?
Wasn’t that self-degrading?
So he waved his hand dismissively at Lu Feng:
“Enough, just prepare as I told you.
As for the salary issue, that’s not your concern.
Don’t worry about delayed salaries; your salaries will be increased.”
These words clearly made Lu Feng somewhat incredulous.
After all, the Ministry of Industry had always been unpopular, and salary disbursements depended on the mood of the Ministry of Revenue.
In the past, since both the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Industry were under the Fourth Prince’s control, the salaries were begrudgingly distributed.
But now, the Ministry of Industry was under the Emperor’s command, and the Ministry of Revenue was still under the Fourth Prince.
Their forces were naturally incompatible, a common knowledge.
So whether salaries could continue to be paid, let alone increased, was questionable.
But Lin Yi understood Lu Feng’s skeptical look and did not bother to engage further.
He waved him off and left with his entourage.
Once Lin Yi departed, the various officials immediately flocked to Lu Feng, speaking with bitter expressions:
“Assistant Minister Sir, what shall we do in the future?
Now completely separate from the Fourth Prince, it’s uncertain if we’ll even receive salaries.
Without the salary, how can I support my family?”
“Indeed, Assistant Minister Sir, if the salaries are delayed further, my household will soon run out of provisions.
We might have to join the refugees outside the city to get porridge.”
Each person’s situation seemed more grievous than the last, causing Lu Feng to wave them off in irritation:
“Enough, go back to your duties.
Since Sir Lin wants us to prepare for repairs, let’s just prepare.
He said he would secure our salaries, so we will just wait.”
Although people wanted to say more, seeing Lu Feng’s troubled demeanor, they helplessly shook their heads and dispersed.
Once everyone left, the troubled look on Lu Feng’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by a smirk at the corner of his mouth.
He took out a bamboo scroll and brush, and began writing intently at the table.