Chương 60: A Thriving City

Qin Hao chose the location for the textile workshop on the edge of the western district. On one hand, it was far from the busy market area, with fewer people around, so the workers could focus on their tasks. On the other hand, it was close to the City God Temple, so the workers could stop by to burn incense after their shifts. With the location set, the craftsmen began construction, working overtime. In just a few days, a simple factory was built. During this time, Qin Hao organized the factory's staffing.

He kept the same supervisors from Xiangshi City since they were familiar with the work. Lin Gang was put in charge as the head supervisor. Qin Hao found this man to be diligent and responsible toward the workers. For the accountant position, Qin Hao had originally planned to borrow a clerk from Heavenly Blessing Teahouse. But the owner, He Chunhua, volunteered herself. She said she could take the job as long as she was paid a normal wage. Fang Cheng was surprised.

He had always felt that He Chunhua had ulterior motives. But when he used his Heavenly Eye to probe her heart, he found it pure and clean. Could that slap really have woken her up? He Chunhua explained, "The tea business is not doing well right now. Bandits and demonic cultivators are constantly robbing tea merchants on the road. I have not been able to get fresh tea leaves for a long time. I do not have many customers in the shop, so I am free anyway. I might as well help out at the workshop."

Seeing her sincerity, Fang Cheng agreed. But he felt it would be a waste to have her as just an accountant. He decided to make her the factory director. To be fair, He Chunhua was good at managing people. The staff at Heavenly Blessing Teahouse all listened to her. However, even as director, she still had to follow Qin Hao's instructions. Qin Hao was the economic chief Fang Cheng had appointed to manage White Flower City's economy.

All shops, factories, and even the wasteland outside the city were under his jurisdiction. When He Chunhua heard she would be factory director, she was overjoyed and quickly agreed. In truth, ever since the demon invasion that night, she had been haunted by shadows. Every night she had nightmares. In her dreams, she would see her own face, cold and cruel, as if it belonged to someone else. After Fang Cheng returned to White Flower City, this condition began to ease.

She saw him as her savior, and she was happy to be able to help the City God. He Chunhua was not the only one. All the people of White Flower City who had been caught in the demonic formation experienced the same thing. The formation had awakened the evil thoughts in their hearts, and after it dissipated, those thoughts remained. So every night, they dreamed of their evil selves. One more thing: Fang Cheng's presence did not drive away the evil in their hearts. It made the evil afraid, afraid to show itself.

When Li Sanshui learned that He Chunhua had become the factory director, he shamelessly came to Fang Cheng and asked for a deputy director position. Fang Cheng kicked him out. He did not even need the Heavenly Eye to see that this greedy magistrate wanted to skim off the profits. That bastard. If the workshop made money, it had to come from the people and be used for the people. That was what a good City God should do. He was a good person. He had to think about the people. Love what you're reading?

Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Fang Cheng called Qin Hao and told him his plan. Qin Hao thought for a moment and said, "From the people, for the people. That is right. It follows the principle of sustainable development. But I suggest we use the money for healthcare, education, and public facilities. If we can make White Flower City as prosperous as the capital, people from all over will flock here. That will help White Flower City grow even stronger.

Of course, the textile workers should still be paid the market rate. When they have money, it will stimulate consumption and boost the businesses in the eastern market. If we have extra funds later, we can increase the workers' benefits." Fang Cheng patted Qin Hao's shoulder approvingly.

"Good. Do as you say." Qin Hao continued, "The workshop has looms and printing machines. We only need to hire a few low-level cultivators to operate them. The men who used to work in the dyeing workshop should go to the fields outside the city to clear land. The city cannot rely solely on textiles. Agriculture is the foundation. We need to develop that too. But there is a problem. The textile workers earn more than the men clearing the land.

Over time, this could create resentment among the men and discourage them from farming. So I suggest we provide subsidies to the land clearers. Additionally, if a family has both a female textile worker and a male land clearer, they will receive double subsidies. This will encourage them to form families and create new population growth for White Flower City." Fang Cheng nodded and patted Qin Hao's shoulder again.

"Ah Hao, this is a great plan. You really are a land god who used to sell sweet potatoes. Do as you say. But make sure the subsidies are distributed properly. Do not let Li Sanshui and his runners skim anything off."

"Don't worry, Brother Fang. I will keep an eye on Li Sanshui. The subsidies will reach every household." Qin Hao pounded his chest in assurance. After their talk, Qin Hao left. Fang Cheng stayed in the City God Temple. After reaching the Fifth Level, he had fully digested the crayfish and no longer made hissing sounds. Whenever someone came to the temple to burn incense, he would chat with them and ask where they were from.

If they were from White Flower City, he would tell them not to burn incense but to focus on their work. The city was recovering and needed every pair of hands. If they were from a village outside the city, he would invite them to join White Flower City. Once they joined, they did not need to burn incense. With Lord Fang Cheng's protection, they would live well. Life went on like this. Thanks to Qin Hao's land-clearing subsidies, more families were formed in White Flower City.

When villagers from outside heard about it, they also joined. Even some people from Greenwood City came over. The magistrate of Greenwood City came to complain to Fang Cheng. Fang Cheng first apologized sincerely, then spread his arms and said, "Come on, Magistrate. Join us. Join the big family of White Flower City. Your life will be much better than being a magistrate." The Greenwood magistrate was speechless. He clasped his hands and took his leave. Then he went to Li Sanshui and poured out his grievances.

Li Sanshui was alarmed. If the Greenwood magistrate came, his own position might be in danger. So he comforted the man, telling him not to listen to Fang Cheng's nonsense. After a friendly chat, he saw him off, then went to Fang Cheng to pledge his loyalty.

"City God, I am your most loyal servant. Whatever you command, I will carry out with all my heart. Just say the word, and I will go through fire and water for you."

"Get lost!"

"Right away. Just call if you need anything." A month later, White Flower City's reconstruction was taking shape, a thriving scene. The population had grown from fifty thousand to eighty thousand, mostly young and able-bodied. If this trend continued, the population would reach a hundred thousand within another month, meeting Pei Tang's small goal. But White Flower City's rapid development brought its own problems.

People from neighboring cities were flocking to White Flower City, causing resentment among the officials of those cities. Greenwood City had trade relations with White Flower City, so the issue was less pronounced. But the northeast city of Shuili City had a tense relationship with White Flower City. They were also in the silk textile business, making them direct competitors. Now that White Flower City offered better treatment, its people were leaving, making Shuili City's business harder and harder.

At this point, some people in Shuili City began to scheme, looking for ways to cause trouble for White Flower City behind the scenes.