Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 290 - 288

Chapter 290: Chapter 288

"Can it really be built?" Di Shaowei could feel his blood boiling with excitement.

"It’s a possibility!" Xiao’er didn’t give him an affirmative answer.

"Alright, then. One of them will be funded by me, Di Shaowei!" With a grand wave of his hand, Di Shaowei demonstrated his generosity. After all, he had become the richest man in his family over the last two years, and he certainly had the means to put his wealth to good use.

"We’ll fund one as well." Shen Chengyao thought it was worthwhile to spend silver on such a great cause.

After all, once the bridge was built, it would provide unimaginable convenience to countless people.

"Hmm, the preliminary estimate for each bridge is 100,000 taels of silver!" Xiao’er glanced at her extravagantly generous father.

He probably assumed a few tens of thousands of taels would suffice!

"What?! That expensive?! Xiao’er, do we have that much silver at home?" Shen Chengyao subconsciously turned to Xiao’er. He had not expected it would require such a large sum of silver. He had not checked the family accounts in a while, as they were managed by Mrs. Liu. He had no idea how much wealth they possessed.

The accounts of the shop were mostly managed by Mrs. Liu and Xiao’er.

All he knew was that his monthly salary was not even enough to cover the daily expenses of his household.

Every day, Mrs. Liu handed him silver banknotes equivalent to a hundred taels and ten taels of loose change when he went out, and he would return them intact when he got home.

"Marquis Shengping, you don’t even know how much silver you have at home? Don’t worry! Your family has a ’money magnet,’ you’re not short of silver!" Di Shaowei was a little surprised upon hearing Shen Chengyao’s words. However, after thinking about it, he accepted it as the norm.

Every household was managed by the lady of the house. His father probably didn’t know how much wealth they had either.

"Father, rest assured! We can afford to finance the construction of one bridge." Xiao’er also assured Shen Chengyao.

One hundred thousand taels. She had obtained more than this sum on the pirate ship.

The four of them returned to the Post Station, where Shangguan Xuanyi pulled out a map to discuss the placement of the Huai River Bridge with the rest.

After an overnight discussion and considering various factors, they decided to build four Huai River Bridges. They figured that building four would be the most beneficial for the general public.

Shangguan Xuanyi planned to fund one bridge with his own savings, as the national treasury wouldn’t possibly invest in building two bridges across the Huai River given its many expenses.

Looking at the map, Xiao’er spotted a large plain in Pingzhou County. If it was farmland, it would indeed be an immense fertile territory!

The Nanhuai River was more than two thousand meters away from this plain.

"This plain must be susceptible to flooding, right?" Xiao’er was almost certain.

"Yes, during the rainy season, the Nanhuai River easily breaches its banks. In severe cases, there are bouts of complete crop failure," Shangguan Xuanyi said, glancing at the area Xiao’er was pointing at.

The Imperial Court harbored feelings of love and hate for this land. It should be a vast and fertile territory, yet it was susceptible to annual flooding.

Xiao’er nodded, secretly deciding to find time to inspect the actual circumstances.

Take a look if any farmlands are being sold. This flat land close to a water source is an optimal fertile land. It would be worthwhile to buy as much as possible.

As for the problem of flooding, it wasn’t a big issue.

She would also take the opportunity to see if they could build some irrigation facilities based on local conditions, which would help prevent annual flooding.

The next day, after Xiao Fuzi brought over the staff from the Ministry of Works, they went together to the banks of the Huai River in Yangchun County for an on-site inspection.

Gazing at the broad river, Officer Li from the Ministry of Works and his subordinates exchanged silent glances, wanting to speak up but hesitating.

"If you gentlemen have anything to say, just say it." Shangguan Xuanyi was looking down at Xiao’er, who was diligently recording some data. It was as if he had eyes on the back of his head, minutely observing the actions of the officials from the Ministry of Works.

"Sixth Prince, can such a long bridge really be built?" Moreover, four at once? What if they start the construction and then find out it’s impossible to continue? Wouldn’t it end up being a waste of money and labor?

"I don’t know, let’s try and see." Shangguan Xuanyi responded as if they were talking about sending back an unsatisfactory dish at a meal.

You don’t know?! Let’s try and see?! The people from the Ministry of Works were internally lamenting after hearing these words.

When did the Sixth Prince start being so unreliable?

Four large bridges, to be built simultaneously. How much silver would the National Treasury need to allocate for this?

If they started building and then found out it wasn’t possible to continue, what then?

It’s not like the treasury’s silver was acquired easily!

If they ended up wasting so much of the treasury’s silver, wouldn’t they be harshly criticized by the Imperial Court and the Ministry of Revenue?

After that, whenever they wanted to do something that required silver, it would be absolutely impossible.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Revenue would surely refuse to allocate so much silver.

"Sixth Prince, I take the liberty to say, these bridges cannot be built!"

"Yes, Sixth Prince, no one in history has ever built such a long bridge. If it were a suspension bridge, we might consider it, but a bridge capable of supporting carriages, that’s impossible! Moreover, the expectation that the bridge will not hinder the passage of large ships underneath and impede shipping is unprecedented!"

"Sixth Prince, bridges that can withstand the passage of carriages are usually stone or wooden bridges, and they are only built over small rivers. The Huai River is so long, and we, being incompetent, really have no solution!"

Seeing the genuine concern in the eyes of the officials from the Ministry of Works, Shangguan Xuanyi said, "Young Master Di, Marquis Shengping, and I will each fund one bridge. The national treasury only needs to provide the funding for one bridge."

Hearing this, the officials from the Ministry of Works no longer had any reason for concern. Once the Huai River bridges were built, it would not only stimulate economic development between the north and the south but would also benefit millions of people on both sides of the river. This political achievement was so favorable that even if they had to work day and night, they would find a way to build these bridges!

"I will do my utmost to ensure the successful construction of these bridges!"

"Yes, we must complete them before the water levels in the river rise!"

...

Reacting to their words, Shangguan Xuanyi nodded nonchalantly. "Let’s go and inspect the next site!"

During the day the group conducted onsite inspections while at night, Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi, along with the others, discussed the design of the bridge in the study room.

Of course, Xiao’er was the primary designer while the others provided her with the necessary data.

After continuously working for more than ten days, all the bridge designs were complete. By this time, the construction materials and workforce for the first bridge, at the juncture between Yangdan and Huaichun counties, the Yangchun-Huai River Bridge, had arrived, and construction officially began.

Xiao’er also organized a ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking ceremony, which Shangguan Xuanyi attended.

The common people were overjoyed upon hearing that a bridge was being built – and such a long one at that. Even without being conscripted, many voluntarily came up to help, even if it was just to transport sandstone or carry cement!

Xiao’er had already sent a letter to foreman Liang to come to the Imperial Capital to help with the bridge construction.

Once these bridges were built, even a laborer responsible for carrying sand could brag about having participated in the construction of the Yangchun-Huai River Bridge, and people would scramble to hire him.

Such a good opportunity should not go to waste.

Besides, foreman Liang exhibited both talent and enthusiasm for construction. This was an excellent learning and practical experience.

Xiao’er hoped that through this bridge construction project, they could breed a few talents. The country was in dire need of specialists in every sector.