Jiang Jin thought for a moment before calling Zhou Sui, Yao Ji, and the others over to discuss the matter of eradicating the local bandits.
She decided to wipe out all the bandits in the vicinity of Gefeng. Those who had not committed any atrocities would be allowed to rejoin the commoners, while the evildoers would be thrown straight into the quarries or sent to mine for minerals.
Her recent trip to Wuhu Mountain had brought a particular issue to her attention: most of the bandits were actually living in misery and had no real desire to be outlaws.
This was especially true for the villagers who had been forced up the mountain. If they had work to do and food to eat, they would be more than willing to come down, earn their rations, and live as honest, ordinary citizens.
She was currently short on manpower, so they would be put to good use.
Besides, the bandit camps around Gefeng were relatively small, meaning she wouldn't need to mobilize too many men to take them down.
Everyone agreed with the plan. Yao Ji and Xia Chanyi were put in charge of the eradication efforts, with the goal of clearing out the bandits within Gefeng's jurisdiction as quickly as possible.
Two days later, Jiang Jin stood inside the newly constructed medical clinic. Watching Suo Qian, Mu Zhuo, Liu Mi, and the others bustling about, a smile graced her face.
The clinic was built quite large. On the left was a spacious pharmacy, and on the right was the consultation area along with several treatment rooms.
The backyard could accommodate residents and store medicinal herbs. It featured two kitchens: one primarily for cooking food, and the other dedicated to processing herbs and brewing medicines.
Both kitchens were connected to the heated brick beds and the heated walls of the clinic. As long as a fire was lit, the entire clinic would warm up.
Or rather, even the shared wall with the grocery store next door would become warm.
Indeed, the grocery store was located right next to the clinic.
Since both were Jiang Jin's own properties, the grocery store hadn't been built with a kitchen to save space. It could only leech off the clinic's heating, and if needed, borrow the clinic's kitchen as well.
Therefore, the grocery store's counter was set up against this shared wall to ensure the manager and shop assistants wouldn't freeze during the winter.
The grocery store's backyard also had several rooms that could be used for living quarters or storing goods.
At this moment, two medicine boys in the clinic's kitchen were lighting a fire to test the heated walls and beds.
It wasn't long before a cozy warmth spread throughout the clinic.
Suo Qian sighed in admiration, My Lord, you are truly amazing. How on earth did you come up with this?
Mu Zhuo agreed, Exactly. From now on, we won't have to shrink our necks in the cold while seeing patients during winter. Our hands won't go numb making it hard to feel a pulse, and examinations will be much more convenient.
Many injuries, especially external ones, required removing clothing for examination and treatment. In the freezing winter, it could literally freeze someone to death, and no amount of burning stoves could fix that.
Liu Mi looked at Jiang Jin with a hint of reverence she hadn't even noticed herself. Yes, and in the summer when we don't need it, we can just use a baffle in the stove to block the heat. It's too convenient.
Jiang Jin waved her hand dismissively. It's nothing, really. By the way, when can we open for consultations?
Suo Qian replied, The day after tomorrow.
Jiang Jin looked at the row of medicine cabinets. Are these medicine cabinets made well enough?
She had to admit that there was strength in numbers. The Mei family had sent her quite a few carpenters on two separate occasions, and they had recruited many apprentices who were now able to help out.
Suo Qian nodded. They are indeed very well made.
He looked at the many still-empty medicine cabinets and added, My Lord, we still don't have enough medicinal herbs. The winter here lasts for several months, and we expect a lot of patients during that time.
Currently, the clinic's herbs mainly consisted of what Jiang Jin had provided earlier, as well as what everyone had gathered from the mountains recently.
The herbs Mu Zhuo brought back were stored in the small pharmacy at the county office; she hadn't touched that supply.
Jiang Jin nodded. Once the clinic is sorted out, just leave one person here while the other continues to gather herbs in the mountains. By the way, where is Luo Zhong?
Suo Qian stroked his beard. Him? He went up the mountain to gather herbs.
Jiang Jin was satisfied. I didn't open this clinic to make money, just to cover our costs. We can't have the common people unable to afford medical treatment.
Mu Zhuo sighed with emotion, You are truly benevolent, My Lord.
Jiang Jin instructed, Remember to make more hemostatic powder and wound medicine. A battle could break out here at any moment.
The group bowed respectfully. Understood.
Jiang Jin turned and went to the grocery store next door, where she saw Yun Ci sitting at the counter, leaning his shoulder against the wall.
Seeing her approach, Yun Ci said with a look of amazement, Hey, this heated wall is really something. I can feel the warmth already. If they keep the fire burning longer, this whole area will probably warm up.
The two young servants who were stocking shelves hurriedly bowed to Jiang Jin. She had assigned these two to take care of Yun Ci's daily needs.
When Yun Ci found out Jiang Jin was opening a grocery store, he strongly insisted on helping to watch the shop. The young servants could conveniently act as shop assistants.
Jiang Jin was helpless against his request. She figured that with military generals like Zhou Sui and Yao Ji in this small city, there really wasn't much need for him on that front.
Watching the shop wouldn't tire him out either, so she agreed, letting him satisfy his urge to collect money.
Jiang Jin smiled. Once the construction crew frees up, I plan to open an inn next door. When that wall heats up too, this entire room will be warm.
Yun Ci smiled in return. That sounds wonderful.
Jiang Jin lifted her chin toward the clinic. Their clinic opens for consultations the day after tomorrow. Let's open the grocery store then as well.
Yun Ci indicated there was no problem. Sure. I've compiled a price list. Do you want to take a look and see if it's appropriate?
Jiang Jin took the piece of paper he had written on and looked it over. The prices listed were fairly reasonable, so she didn't raise any objections.
After thinking for a moment, she said, I'm afraid they might frantically hoard food. We'll have to put purchase limits on grain, salt, and oil.
Yun Ci froze for a second but quickly understood. Jiang Jin was worried that a few wealthy individuals might hoard large amounts of grain, and Gefeng didn't have much grain to spare right now.
In turbulent times, anyone with the opportunity to hoard food naturally would, especially in a city like Gefeng where grain hadn't been sold for a long time.
Once people found out grain was for sale, they would inevitably swarm the place and hoard like crazy.
Even though the commoners of Gefeng were so poor they lacked adequate food and clothing, it didn't mean they were all penniless; it was just that in Gefeng, having money didn't mean you could buy anything.
Jiang Jin knew from the very first day, when no one showed up to help bury the bodies for money, that the people of Gefeng desired food far more than they desired coin.
However, Jiang Jin had no choice but to open this grocery store. Whether for a country or a city, a barter system was far too limiting.
She had to transition the citizens' wages from food rations to monetary pay. Only when everything was bought and sold with money would currency begin to circulate, and only then would the city's economy truly come alive.
And all of this simply required her to open a grocery store, allowing the city's residents to spend money, resume spending money, and get used to spending money again.
Yun Ci said, That's simple. Whatever limit you set, that's what I'll sell.
Wait, no, Yun Ci realized something. They might come back repeatedly to buy more, or lie about the number of people in their households.
Jiang Jin smiled. Exactly. But don't worry, I'll have Luo Qingci and the others create ration books.
The books will state their household registration details, how much grain they are allowed to buy, and so on. I'll also get you a stamp. When someone makes a purchase, you just stamp their ration book.
Yun Ci's eyes lit up. That's a great idea. You are brilliant, My Lord.
Jiang Jin smiled. I didn't invent the concept. But I reckon the purchase limits won't last too long anyway. Once the people in the city realize we will always have grain for sale, they'll stop obsessing over hoarding it.
