Chapter 110: A Suggestion, Though I Do Not Know If It Is Appropriate

Usually, when Wen Gu came to Zhao Fu, he kept his distance from the other female relatives here and tried his best to avoid being alone with them.

It was a rare "accidental" opportunity today; he could not let his cousin-in-law fail the interception!

After slowing his pace for not long, before leaving the manor, he finally encountered the target person.

Young Mistress Xiao was carrying a maid and holding something in her hands, looking as if she were passing by in a hurry for some business.

Seeing Wen Gu, Young Mistress Xiao revealed a look of surprise and delight. After exchanging pleasantries, she said, "Just in time, a few new craftsmen have arrived and produced a batch of stationery."

Young Mistress Xiao pointed to the wooden box held by the maid beside her.

"Why doesn't Cousin take a look at the styles and pick a few first? I will have someone set them aside for you, lest they all be picked out by others."

Wen Gu showed hesitation on his face, but he still bowed and said, "Then... I will trouble Cousin-in-law!"

Young Mistress Xiao smiled and said, "We are all one family, why must Cousin be so polite!"

After all, she had come prepared; right in a nearby Warm Pavilion, she took out the stationery prepared in advance in the wooden box for Wen Gu to choose from.

Nowadays, the world is in an abnormal state with chaos rising everywhere. The surviving commoners find it difficult even to eat and drink, but the wealthy and noble families with considerable savings still insist on style when writing poems and letters. Only these people can afford to consume stationery in troubled times.

The target customer's needs were clear; this newly made batch of stationery had to be either luxurious or elegant. It had to be high-class enough!

Wen Gu's selection speed was very fast.

Young Mistress Xiao weighed her words.

She knew that the Head of the Family and Zhao Shaozhu valued Wen Gu and certainly had considerations regarding Wen Gu's wife's family. Added to that was the presence of Lady Shen, so, to tell the truth, she was unwilling to meddle in Wen Gu's affairs.

However, since an old family friend had entrusted her with a favor, she still had to come and sound him out.

Young Mistress Xiao stopped mid-sentence, looking at Wen Gu opposite her.

However, the person opposite was also hesitating to speak.

Young Mistress Xiao felt deeply surprised. She set aside the words in her heart first and asked, "Does Cousin have any suggestions? You might as well speak plainly."

Wen Gu smiled apologetically: "I just suddenly thought of matters regarding the Yangji Fang. Recently, when discussing the women, children, the old, and the weak in the Fang with the Clerk of the Public Office, I had some thoughts. Today, I happened to run into Cousin-in-law, and I have a suggestion, though I do not know if it is appropriate..."

On the other side, at Zhao Shaozhu's office.

Not long after Wen Gu left, a subordinate reported that the Young Mistress had run into the Cousin-in-law and they were talking in the Warm Pavilion over there.

Zhao Shaozhu did not pay it any mind.

He had received some news in advance, and Young Mistress Xiao had also mentioned it; he knew why his wife had stopped Wen Gu.

One hour later.

Zhao Shaozhu, having finished handling several matters, asked again about the situation over there: "Is Wen Gu still in the manor?"

The subordinate lowered his head and replied, "They are still chatting in the Warm Pavilion."

Zhao Shaozhu was truly surprised.

What on earth were they talking about?!

It was not that he was worried about any illicit ethical matters, but rather he was curious: could it be that Wen Gu was actually interested in the family his wife was helping to play matchmaker for?

The curious Zhao Shaozhu got up and went over.

But when he arrived at that Warm Pavilion, Wen Gu had just left.

Inside the Warm Pavilion, Young Mistress Xiao seemed to be thinking about some important question, looking somewhat distracted.

Zhao Shaozhu saw two sheets of paper on the table, covered in writing. Just a hurried glance, and he saw words like "women and children" and "care and support" written on them.

He took a closer look.

"Yangji Fang?" Zhao Shaozhu picked up the two sheets of paper.

Young Mistress Xiao, having regained her senses, sighed softly: "Yes, I just heard a suggestion from Cousin and was deeply moved."

Seeing what was written on the paper, Zhao Shaozhu's expression became serious.

The number of words written on the two sheets was not large, but they had already constructed a clear framework.

"Did Cousin write all of this?" Zhao Shaozhu asked.

"He wrote it. But he said the content was added and modified based on what he saw and heard during his Study Tour, so it may not be comprehensive," Young Mistress Xiao said.

Zhao Shaozhu looked at the content on the paper, silent.

Although Xinzhou had previously added civilian relief measures, they were not considered scaled or standardized.

However, the clear framework constructed on these two sheets of paper seemed like something that could really be done!

Standardizing the welfare system in Xinzhou was also for the sake of strengthening management.

The more chaotic the times, the more one must strengthen management systems in all aspects!

Zhao Shaozhu read it seriously for a good while before putting down the two sheets of paper in his hand.

Thinking of the curiosity he had when he came, he asked: "Regarding the family I entrusted you to introduce, what are Wen Gu's thoughts?"

Young Mistress Xiao was stunned: "... Eh?"

She had completely forgotten!

——

Wen Gu left Zhao Fu, satisfied.

Coming to Zhao Fu today not only solved the matter of the picture album but also solved another problem.

Although his cousin-in-law did not agree immediately, he believed that given Young Mistress Xiao's current situation, the Xiao family would be very tempted.

Throwing the matter of charity to the Xiao family was also because, after analysis, he felt the Xiao family had the highest success rate for taking it on.

Previously, it seemed the Xiao family had no presence in several major investment projects in Xinzhou.

That is to say, the large amount of money and grain in the Xiao family's hands had not been spent and was still being hoarded.

Not only had a large amount of savings not been spent, but they had also started some businesses by taking advantage of their current status, with money constantly coming in.

A proper wealthy family!

There is money! There is grain!

But there is also crisis!

The new people added to Cousin Zhao's backyard and the families behind them are by no means ordinary characters. Those wealthy family groups might be thinking about when to find an opportunity to displace the Xiao family.

Right now, the Yangji Fang is a good starting point for the Xiao family.

It can build favor with the Zhao father and son, gain more prestige among the common people, and solidify the status of the Young Mistress Xiao herself.

It just requires spending some money and grain.

However, I believe the Xiao family should be very willing to spend this money.

For things that require spending a lot of money, this group of wealthy households must take over!

Returning to Jingxing Fang, Wen Gu came to the Public Office to take a look and had people clear out a study and organize a few new workstations, the kind convenient for writing and painting.

Cheng Zhi asked, "Is the Public Office adding new people?"

Their Jingqing Public Office is an officially recognized institution in Xinzhou, and they, as Clerks, are all staff members on the establishment—they have official positions!

Generally, adding new personnel requires going through a process and passing several reviews.

But looking at today's situation, could it be that someone is being parachuted in?

And more than one?

The others in the Public Office were also looking over here; who doesn't have a few relatives or friends eyeing the establishment quotas of the Public Office? They are all waiting for the next recruitment opportunity.

Knowing what those people were worried about, Cheng Zhi checked the distance between everyone and them, lowered his voice, and asked Wen Gu, "Not going through the process?"

Wen Gu replied, "Not going through it."

Cheng Zhi: "Are these also officially recognized, formal establishment positions this time?"

Wen Gu: "Officially recognized, but not counted as formal establishment positions."

Cheng Zhi:???

Hesitantly, he confirmed again: "They won't occupy the Public Office's establishment quotas?"

Wen Gu: "Mm, they won't occupy them."

Cheng Zhi was greatly shocked.

Is the Ward Chief saying—they are about to welcome a few officially recognized people with reliable backgrounds to come here to work, handle affairs, and do tasks, but they won't occupy establishment quotas?

And it's not just one person?

There is such a good thing?!