Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather
Chapter 169 - 165, time to lay the cards on the table: I found you a stepmom, do you have any objections?

Chapter 169: Chapter 165, time to lay the cards on the table: I found you a stepmom, do you have any objections?

Luo Shang also understood what Yang Zhenshan meant. After thinking it over, he said, "I can give it a try, but I can’t say for certain how much I’ll be able to achieve."

Yang Zhenshan took another sip of tea and said, "Before you go to Jing’an Prefecture, make a trip to Anning County. Take my letter and pay a visit to the Lu family and Luo Jin!"

Jing’an Prefecture is not Yang Zhenshan’s main stage, but it is his hometown.

Although the Lu family is in Anning County, it is considered a prestigious family in Jing’an Prefecture.

And although Luo Jin is just a County Magistrate, he has some connections in the prefectural city.

With support from these two parties, Luo Shang didn’t dare to predict how much he could achieve, but he wouldn’t come back empty-handed, right?

Yang Zhenshan was sending him to Jing’an Prefecture, of course, he would have some strategies planned to assist him.

"I understand. I will visit the Lu family and County Magistrate Luo first!" Luo Shang visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

If he relied solely on himself, an outsider trying to extend his reach into Jing’an Prefecture was almost an impossibility.

Purchasing a shop and conducting minor business might be feasible, but achieving anything noteworthy was utterly out of reach.

"As for the third matter, actually, I would like you to find some livelihoods for the military households of An Yuan City. The military households live in such poverty, I hope you can provide them with some stable jobs to improve their lives a bit!"

This was Yang Zhenshan’s main objective.

To alleviate poverty, one cannot do without agriculture and commerce.

In terms of agriculture, Yang Zhenshan didn’t have much room to maneuver; it was through commerce where Yang Zhenshan could make use of Luo Shang’s business.

When he was in Yinghe Castle, the prosperity of Yinghe Castle also developed with the help of Luo Shang.

And now, Yang Zhenshan needed Luo Shang similarly.

This was also why Yang Zhenshan was willing to support Luo Shang.

It wasn’t really about how much silver Luo Shang could bring him; Yang Zhenshan didn’t care about that. He needed silver, but he could earn it himself. Once the horse farm was established, he definitely wouldn’t lack silver.

By comparison, the commercial activities brought by Luo Shang could allow the military households within his jurisdiction to live better lives, which is what’s most important.

It’s just like poverty alleviation in the past, where large enterprises were encouraged to assist, because they could invest, provide a large number of job positions, and help a location develop.

"But I only need shopkeepers and assistants, can they do it?" Luo Shang asked.

"Shopkeepers might not, but assistants just need a bit of training!"

"In addition to assistants, you also need embroidery girls!"

"What do you think about setting up a school for embroidery girls?" said Yang Zhenshan.

Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish.

In a typical civilian family, an embroidery girl is considered a high-paying profession; a skilled embroidery girl can earn several dozen or even a hundred pieces of silver a year, which is quite normal.

If a military household had an embroidery girl, it meant one less impoverished household.

Back when he was in Linguan Castle, Yang Zhenshan established a needlework workshop, and now there are quite a few qualified embroidery girls there. Although these women were not spectacular embroidery artists, they could still make ends meet.

"An embroidery school?" Luo Shang was a bit stunned.

Can embroidery girls attend school too?

He found it hard to wrap his head around the concept.

Seeing Luo Shang’s perplexed look, Yang Zhenshan could only explain in detail.

In fact, this embroidery school is akin to a vocational school; it doesn’t need to be large, just a few dozen students at a time would suffice, and the training won’t take too long—half a year would be enough.

Once they had mastered the basics, they could enter Luo Shang’s Jinxiu Workshop and continue to intern while furthering their education.

However, there are some issues involved. Firstly, these people would need concentrated training, which would require them to be sent to the city of An Yuan State; with the backing of the garrison office, there shouldn’t be any major problems.

Secondly, these people should not be too old, ideally below sixteen years of age. Girls of this age range are not yet married, are not burdened by household chores, and at a younger age, they can learn more quickly.

Lastly, there would be no wages in the early stages, and the military households might be reluctant to send their people; obviously, charging tuition would be out of the question.

Through Yang Zhenshan’s explanation, Luo Shang finally understood his ideas.

"This isn’t too difficult. There are many embroidery workshops in Jiangnan, where embroidery girls are trained from a young age, but signing long-term contracts is necessary," Luo Shang said.

A long-term contract is not a servitude contract. After signing it, they became long-term workers; they still held household registration, not servants.

Like Ma San, for example, he signed a ten-year long-term contract with the Yang family.

"A long-term contract it is then, you make the arrangements as you see fit. I just want to find some ways for them to earn money!" Yang Zhenshan said.

He had no other choice, as military households differ from farming households; the men of military households must serve in the military and also tend to garrison farmland, and these tasks don’t bring in much income.

How many men can a military household have?

And apart from one primary and one spare male, how many men can a military household have left?

That’s why Yang Zhenshan always focused poverty alleviation efforts on women.

From needlework workshops to raising pigs and chickens, and now to training embroidery girls, Yang Zhenshan aimed to free up women’s labor.

"Not just embroidery girls, but carpenters, blacksmiths, and so on, I hope you can do the same!" Yang Zhenshan continued.

Although there weren’t many spare men in military households, there were still some.

Regardless, learning a trade would be beneficial for them.

Yang Zhenshan had already planned that, after the spring plowing, he would commence renovations on all the garrisons under the jurisdiction of the defense officer.

Following the model of Yinghe Castle, he intended to build pigsties, sheep pens, chicken coops, etc., for each garrison, establish schools, and construct commercial streets in several of the larger garrisons.

This was not something that could be completed in a few months; it required long-term planning and investment.

Yang Zhenshan estimated he would stay in An Yuan City for several years, and he hoped that by the time he left, all garrisons would be transformed and all military households would solve their basic subsistence issues.

To benefit one place during one’s term in office.

Although the well-being of the populace was not his main responsibility, Yang Zhenshan still wished to improve the lives of those military households.

Having Luo Shang train carpenters and blacksmiths was a burdensome and thankless task, but Luo Shang agreed to it without any hesitation.

He had already understood Yang Zhenshan’s intentions and knew that he wouldn’t be able to make money from this.

In fact, doing this would be relatively easy; just open a woodworking shop and a blacksmith shop, which wouldn’t require much cost.

After discussing these matters, Yang Zhenshan turned the conversation to household affairs with Luo Shang.

Luo Shang told him a lot about the goings-on at Chongshan Pass, mostly about the recent changes that had taken place there.

It had to be said that both Lu Chongde and Liang Chu were capable men, under whose management Chongshan Pass had grown increasingly prosperous.

Additionally, Yang Zhenshan also inquired about Luo Shang’s family situation.

Luo Shang’s eldest son, Luo Zhen - who was the reckless youth who had been locked up in jail for offending the fourth young master of the Zhang family - had now started doing business. When Luo Shang left the pass city, he would help oversee the businesses at various shops.

Although the lad was somewhat brash, he was fairly business-minded.

...

After staying in An Yuan City for three days, Luo Shang left. His business was significant, so he couldn’t always stay in An Yuan City.

Moreover, the matters in An Yuan City were far from over; it would probably take several months before he could take over the Liang family’s business.

However, there were some preparations he could start on in advance. He had already agreed with Yang Zhenshan that, upon returning, he would first arrange for two shopkeepers to come to An Yuan City to take over a shop, get the Jinxiu Workshop sign hung up, and also establish the Embroideresses’ School.

To this, Yang Zhenshan naturally had no objections. Luo Shang was very systematic in his approach, and Yang Zhenshan felt very reassured about him.

The day after Luo Shang departed, Ma San came to An Yuan City with his entire family.

Yang Zhenshan met with him once and then had Yang Mingcheng arrange lodging for the Ma family.

The horse farm had not yet been built, so there was no place for them to stay. Therefore, Yang Mingcheng rented a small courtyard in the city for them to live in temporarily.

After the horse farm was built, their whole family would move there.

In the following days, An Yuan City remained bustling with activity, with people from the Secret Martial Guards, the Governor’s Office, and the General Mansion coming and going. Those who had been detained and, after being examined, were found to have no issues, were released.

As for those with issues, they were taken to Chongshan Pass.

This smuggling case involved not just An Yuan City but also Jia City and Black Cliff Village, so the final trials were held at Chongshan Pass.

It was said that officials from the Central Army Commander’s Mansion, the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and the Ministry of Justice had all come to Chongshan Town. As for the specifics, Yang Zhenshan didn’t know and didn’t pay attention to it.

After all, the remaining matters had nothing to do with him, and he couldn’t be bothered to get involved.

Besides, he was just a minor garrison officer; he couldn’t get involved in such matters even if he wanted to.

Instead of wasting his energy on these matters, he would rather think about how to marry Yu Qingyi.

After dinner that day, Yang Zhenshan did not let everyone leave.

Sitting in the main seat in the hall, Yang Zhenshan’s gaze swept over each person.

Apart from Yang Mingzhi, all other members of the Yang family were present. Well, there were also a few children who did not come.

A large family sat quietly, waiting for Yang Zhenshan to speak.

"Ahem!" Yang Zhenshan cleared his throat lightly, breaking the quiet atmosphere, and said, "I plan to marry Qingyi into the family. Do you have any objections?"

Laying his cards on the table, he effectively said: I’m getting you a stepmother; do you have anything to say about it?

As his voice fell, the hall fell into even longer silence.

"..."

Yang Zhenshan looked at them, somewhat speechless.

Can you at least say something?

Object or agree?

Don’t tell me later that I didn’t give you a chance to express your opinions.

Seeing that none of them showed any intention of speaking up, Yang Zhenshan had no choice but to call out by name: "Ming Cheng, what are your thoughts?"

Yang Mingcheng scratched his head and said, "Dad, I don’t have any thoughts."

"What do you mean ’no thoughts’?" Yang Zhenshan glanced at him discontentedly.

"Hehe, as long as Dad is willing, it’s fine!" Yang Mingcheng laughed heartily.

Yang Zhenshan was once again at a loss for words, his simple-minded son being unable to articulate his ideas.

"Ming Hao, what about you? Any objections?" Yang Zhenshan could only turn to Yang Minghao.

Yang Minghao looked at him, blinked, and said, "Dad, would my opinion matter?"

"It wouldn’t!" Yang Zhenshan said bluntly.

"Then I have no objections!" Yang Minghao replied somewhat dejectedly, lowering his head.

My opinion doesn’t matter anyway, so what am I supposed to say?

Yang Zhenshan then looked at Yang Yunyan, who kept her head down, not making eye contact with Yang Zhenshan.

Sigh, a daughter married off is like water poured away; he couldn’t count on his eldest daughter anymore.

In fact, this wasn’t the time for Yang Yunyan to speak up.

As for Yang Yunxue.

"Dad, I have no objections!" Yang Yunxue took the initiative to speak, but what she said was as good as saying nothing.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard and nodded.

"Since none of you have objections, this matter is settled!"

"Ms. Wang, find a matchmaker in the next few days, prepare the betrothal gifts; Liang Family, you help your big sister out!"

"Alright, that’s it. You all can go back now!"

Hmph, you didn’t speak up, so don’t blame me for being authoritarian.

I asked for your opinions, and none of you had objections.

Having said this, Yang Zhenshan stood up and walked into the west room.