Once they entered the shop, the conversations between the shop assistants and customers became clear.
“I heard this cement can be used to build houses. Our master wants to build a three-room structure in the backyard. How many bags will we need?”
“How many bags would it take to pave a road half a li long and two chi wide in our courtyard?”
“Do you sell sand and gravel here as well? We’d rather not dig them up ourselves.”
“Can you give us a discount if we buy fifty bags…”
All ten tables inside the shop were occupied. The assistants, who had undergone three days of training beforehand, were able to answer most of the questions.
Before long, the first order—twenty bags—was completed. A servant from the Wang household at the north gate arrived with an ox cart to haul away the cement.
When the shop assistant saw a man in official robes enter, his gaze swept over Song Qiming’s face. One free assistant hurried to the counter and called out,
“Shopkeeper, someone from the government is here, along with the Eldest Young Master!”
The shopkeeper, who had been copying information from an order slip, abruptly raised his head. The moment he saw Song Qiming, he immediately set down the paper and brush.
He rushed out from behind the counter and knelt.
“Your humble subject, Xie Zhi, pays his respects to the Southwestern Provincial Administration Commissioner and Prefect Song.”
His loud voice instantly silenced the shop. Many people turned around.
They had heard that the Southwestern Provincial Administration Commissioner had arrived in Suining City a few days earlier to inspect official affairs. Since Prefect Song himself was accompanying him, this had to be the man.
In an instant, everyone dropped to their knees in a scattered chorus, and the sounds of people bowing and paying their respects rose one after another.
“Greetings, my lords…”
Gu Zhongxun’s hearty voice told them to rise.
Xie Zhi looked at Song Qiming questioningly. The other man gave him a discreet signal and shook his head slightly.
It was fine.
Seeing that Gu Zhongxun’s expression remained calm and showed no sign of displeasure, Xie Zhi finally relaxed.
With a smile on his face, he bent at the waist and respectfully said to Gu Zhongxun, “My lord, there is a place inside where you can rest.”
Gu Zhongxun shook his head without hesitation. “This official will stand for a while and then leave.”
Xie Zhi looked toward Song Qiming.
Song Qiming silently shook his head.
After who knew how long, Xie Zhi began to feel as though his legs had gone numb.
Then a red figure suddenly appeared at the entrance, as if a divine soldier had descended from heaven.
“Greetings to County Princess Linghui,” Xie Zhi was the first to speak. His eyes shone when he looked at Song Jinzhao.
Gu Zhongxun had lingered for so long that, even with Song Qiming present, Xie Zhi still could not fully relax.
Song Jinzhao smiled and nodded. “Lord Gu.”
Gu Zhongxun took a step back and clasped his hands in greeting. “Good health to County Princess Linghui.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Song Jinzhao took the initiative to bring up the matter.
“I heard from Qiming that Lord Gu intends to build cement roads within Songzhou City?”
Gu Zhongxun replied, “That is indeed my intention.”
“However, the streets of Songzhou City run in every direction, and the city has no distinction between an inner and outer district. It is more than five times the size of Suining City. The silver required to build the roads will surely be considerable.”
Song Jinzhao entered the sitting room and took a seat. Gu Zhongxun had no choice but to follow her inside.
“Songzhou City has not only government runners but also garrison troops, so there is no need to spend money on labor. The sand and gravel can be dug up ourselves as well. The only expense will be the silver needed to purchase cement.”
“Although the cement factory has been operating at a loss so far, and I have constantly been covering the shortfall myself, as long as it is for the good of the country and its people, I am willing to sell the cement to Lord Gu at cost.”
Gu Zhongxun did not look particularly pleased. He asked in an even tone, “And how much is the cost price?”
“Fifteen wen per bag.”
Li Zhidao, who was standing nearby, looked at Song Jinzhao as if she were a heartless merchant.
Gu Zhongxun struggled to contain his anger, and the temples on both sides of his head throbbed.
Fifteen wen per bag was absolutely not the cost price.
“The retail price is twenty wen per bag. Could the cost really be that high?” he challenged.
Song Jinzhao calmly explained, “This princess developed cement for the sake of benefiting the common people. Earning enough to cover my meals is sufficient. What matters most is that ordinary people can afford it.”
With a single sentence, she placed herself on the moral high ground, leaving Gu Zhongxun at a loss for how to refute her.
Just as the slightest trace of self-doubt began to arise in his heart, Song Jinzhao instructed Xie Zhi to bring over the account book for Gu Zhongxun to examine.
It clearly recorded how many bags of cement the factory could produce each day.
How many people worked there? How much was spent on food and other living costs? What were the operating expenses for the shop and its assistants?
Every single item was calculated down to a few wen, ultimately arriving at a cost of fifteen wen per bag.
Gu Zhongxun could find no problem with the account book. Every expense fell within a reasonable range for market prices.
After pondering for a moment, Gu Zhongxun calmly set the account book down.
“To be honest, this official is extremely curious about the cement factory. I have also grown somewhat tired from inspecting official matters these past two days. Could I visit the cement factory? It would be a good opportunity to relax and rest.”
He wanted to see whether there truly were so many workers there, but he was also genuinely curious about how cement was made.
Song Jinzhao had anticipated this. She smiled sweetly.
“Of course. However, the cement factory is extremely hot, and there is a great deal of dust…”
“This official does not mind.” Gu Zhongxun cut her off before she could finish, afraid that Song Jinzhao might use the conditions as an excuse to refuse him.
Song Jinzhao deliberately paused, pretending to be at a loss after her objection had been rejected.
“Then let us depart from the courier station tomorrow at the hour of the Snake. We can have the midday meal at the cement factory. Sharing a meal with the common people will be an interesting experience.”
Gu Zhongxun readily agreed. Li Zhidao, sitting beside him, was so furious that he felt as though his blood had boiled dry.
