Returning home, she observed daily life herself. Three consecutive days of outings had passed without any major incidents, nor were there any significant developments in the court, suggesting no impending major events.
Finally, Fan Zehao provided a summary for his wife: "That monk's meaning was likely that our country has been engaged in intermittent warfare for several years, resulting in the deaths of many soldiers. He urged us not to wage war again, to act in accordance with the people's wishes, and that achieving peace and gaining the realm have already been accomplished. Therefore, the matters you are worrying about will not come to pass."
"One can only hope. Who knows what that charlatan meant. We should simply act according to our own hearts!"
This time, Zhao Jiaqi thoroughly put the monk's words out of her mind. Since she had come to this world, she intended to live well and not dwell on things that would only cause her unnecessary worry.
At worst, in eighteen years, she'd be a brand new person!
The next day, Ran Zhe arrived with several drafted blueprints.
After reviewing them, Zhao Jiaqi praised them repeatedly, noting the thoroughness of the designs, even incorporating animal waste for utilization. It was clear great thought had been put into it.
"Head Ran, according to your design, approximately when will it be completed?"
Ran Zhe held up two fingers: "If the funds are in place, it will be completed in two months. If the funds are a bit short, it will likely take until early May of next year. Between February and March, the ground will freeze, and snow will cover the mountains, making work impossible. Madam, you..."
Zhao Jiaqi raised her hand to interrupt him: "All-inclusive, materials and labor. I'll handle nothing. Just tell me, how much silver will it cost to complete!"
Things that could be solved with silver were not problems at all!
Why delay work that could be finished before the year's end until after the new year?
Ran Zhe: "Ten thousand taels!"
Ten thousand taels was indeed a considerable sum.
Seeing her brow slightly furrowed, Ran Zhe quickly explained: "If it were just the workshops and houses, it wouldn't cost this much. However, excavating two mountain roads from such a height is time-consuming, labor-intensive, requires non-human effort, and consumes materials, hence the high price!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded: "We'll start tomorrow."
She took out two five-thousand-tael banknotes from her purse and handed them to him. After receiving them, Ran Zhe wrote a receipt for Zhao Jiaqi before leaving, repeatedly assuring her of timely completion and asking her to keep a close eye on things.
Standing in the courtyard, she gazed at the vibrant and varied chrysanthemums blooming in the garden, feeling her mood lift slightly.
It was October by the solar calendar. Once the workshops were built, it would be December, and in just over a month, it would be New Year. Given this, they would celebrate the New Year in Lingnan City this year.
With that decided, the remaining task was to instruct the servants to prepare winter clothing and purchase other daily necessities for the season.
Unable to sit still at home, Fan Zehao, accompanied by Shi He and Feng Xiao, went hunting in the mountains, incidentally inspecting Ran Zhe's progress.
Fan Zehao, who desired dried meat, prioritized large game for his hunts, such as wild oxen, wild sheep, and wild deer. Only when these were unavailable would they target rabbits and pheasants. Regardless, they always brought something back from each trip to the mountains; they never returned empty-handed.
The drying racks in the courtyard were hung with wind-dried pheasants and rabbits, and even about a dozen ducks.
In the kitchen, Chunfen was close to tears, having to slice, cook, and dry meat day in and day out.
Forget eating meat; just the thought of it made her nauseous. She simply couldn't take it anymore and finally hired an old woman to help.
Entering November, Zhao Jiaqi received a letter from her eldest married daughter in Zong Sheng Kingdom. The couple eagerly opened the letter and scanned it rapidly. They were delighted to learn that Junjun was well and had even met her Imperial Uncle.
The few sheets of paper took them nearly half an hour to read. Finally, Zhao Jiaqi reluctantly folded the letter. She said softly, "I miss our daughter and son. Let's go to the inner city after the New Year!"
Fan Zehao put his arm around her shoulder, patted it gently, and agreed, "Alright!"
After discussing it, their anticipation for the New Year grew, and they began counting down the days. Finally, the day came when the workshops were completed.
Zhao Jiaqi had not witnessed the entire construction process of the workshops. However, Fan Zehao, who frequently went hunting in the mountains, would often stop by. He saw them every few days, so the completed workshops did not hold much novelty for him.
But it was different for his wife. Standing at the foot of the mountain, she looked at the two newly constructed roads. One was a well-designed staircase.
The other was specifically for carts, built wide and level, and not a direct ascent but a winding path. This would make transporting goods up and down the mountain convenient for horse-drawn and ox-drawn carts, while also preventing accidents.
Standing before the workshops, Song Fei and Fang Mingjiang marveled that these workshops were even larger than the "Miracle Workshops."
"Master, Madam, what shall we name these workshops?" Fang Mingjiang asked.
Once the name was decided, he would descend the mountain to craft a plaque to hang. When her elder brother had acquired enough people, these workshops would be ready for their grand opening.
At this moment, if not overwhelmed with emotion, he was certainly quite excited. A flush of excitement tinged his fair complexion.
Fan Zehao, hands behind his back, scanned the mountain. The name was already self-evident; was there a need for another?
His thin lips parted, and he said, "Phoenix Mountain... Workshops!"
Fang Mingjiang lowered his head and glanced at Master Fan. Was the naming of these workshops too casual? Workshops named Phoenix Mountain on Phoenix Mountain?
Before he could finish his silent musings, his wife clapped her hands in delight: "This name is wonderful! From now on, all the products we release will bear the name 'Phoenix Mountain' in them. Henceforth, Phoenix Mountain will be our family's brand!"
Fang Mingjiang looked a little stunned, picking up on his wife's words: "Then, does that mean our sausages will be called... Phoenix Mountain Sausages?"
"Phoenix Mountain Cured Meat?" Song Fei immediately chimed in!
Zhao Jiaqi nodded happily, her eyes shining: "Yes, Phoenix Mountain brand sausages, Phoenix Mountain brand cured meat, Phoenix Mountain brand roasted goose..."
Phoenix Mountain brand fermented bean curd?
Phoenix Mountain brand pickled vegetables?
Fan Zehao rubbed his forehead. He had originally thought naming them would be troublesome, and since Phoenix Mountain itself was a good name, why create another? But he hadn't expected his wife to get whimsically inspired and insist on adding the 'Phoenix Mountain' mark to everything.
It sounded a bit awkward, but from now on, when anyone mentioned Phoenix Mountain brand products, they would undoubtedly be their family's output. This name would surely become popular even in neighboring vassal states.
Going down the mountain, Song Fei and Fang Mingjiang went about their respective tasks. Fan Zehao watched the two of them scamper off energetically, his lips twitching a few times: "These two are blinded by greed. Once they heard they each had a half-share in the workshops, look how busy they are, scurrying about!"
His wife's tongue was quite sharp, speaking ill of her capable subordinates in front of her. This wouldn't do.
"What, do you think silver is burning a hole in your pocket? Go home and give me the banknotes from your purse. If you want to spend money, I'll pay for it!"
Zhao Jiaqi shot her husband a sideways glance, speaking with displeasure.
She refused to believe that people in the world didn't love the vulgarity of silver!
Unless one were a newborn, naked, and sustained by simply drinking air and water, even temples accepted incense money and donations. Otherwise, where would the money for vegetable seeds, grain seeds, and clothes come from?
Fan Zehao was made awkward by his wife's words and gave a sheepish smile. "Look, I was just saying, why are you taking it so seriously!"
This protective nature of hers was becoming more apparent by the day. Her people were not to be spoken of lightly by just anyone. However, it seemed these two were still ministers under his command at the moment.
Just as he was about to retort, he looked up and saw that his wife had already left, leaving him alone to pull at his hair in a daze.