sbdcsierra Chapter 74 How about you take care of the city's sanitation?
Chapter 74 How about you take care of the city's sanitation?
The following day, there were even more people at the city gate than before.
After all, you can get two small fried fish for just one penny. Not only is there no muddy or fishy taste, but the flavor is so irresistible that it can steal your soul. Most importantly, it's meat!
It's not that we can't afford fancy food, but rather that two small fried fish for one coin is more cost-effective!
Outside the city, it was bustling with activity, but inside the city, it was deserted.
After all, those who had "money, leisure, and some land" had all gone to the outskirts of the city. As for the wealthy families who had "money but no leisure and shops," they didn't usually have time to stroll around the streets and buy things.
Everything that needed to be bought was instructed to the servants, and the goods would be picked up from designated people. This meant that only those who were a good match could drink the "porridge."
The other people who were "tied" by Dou Weiyi to do business originally intended to diversify the commerce of Pingyao County and boost the county's economic development.
If merchants make money, there will be more commercial taxes, and Dou Weiyi can make money from that!
The city gate was like a giant magnet, drawing people in, while the city itself seemed to have been drained of its life force, cold and deserted, like an empty city.
Gao Mengli's small fried fish stall is the source of the excitement; as long as the stall is still there, that lively atmosphere will never dissipate.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi had just fried the small fried fish again today, and the aroma spread rapidly through the air as if it had grown wings.
Sure enough, a long queue had formed in front of the stall, the queue stretching like a winding dragon, with everyone staring eagerly at the fried fish in the pot.
When Dou Weiyi brought Ruan Dan over, there were even more people in front of the stall than before; it was practically a sea of people.
"I got it! I got it!"
A child, his face flushed with excitement, held up a small fried fish wrapped in a banana leaf and jumped and bounced around in the crowd.
Those around them who hadn't bought any looked on with envy, clutching their money even tighter and leaning forward, hoping it would be their turn soon.
Dou Weiyi immediately became interested in the fried fish, after all, he could smell the aroma of fried fish from afar.
The aroma of fried fish, like an invisible hand, firmly grasped Dou Weiyi's sense of smell, rendering him immobile and holding him hostage on the spot.
It gently drifted into his nostrils, carrying the unique aroma of fried food and the freshness of fish, like the most alluring mermaid in the deep sea.
The two flavors intertwine, creating a magical effect that instantly whets the appetite, like a river rushing to the sea.
Every aroma holds the secret to the crispy skin of the fried fish, telling him about the heat and flavor it absorbed while tumbling in the boiling oil.
If you take a closer sniff, you can detect a faint aroma of spices. These spices are not strong or pungent, but rather they blend subtly with the flavor of the fish itself.
He turned to tell Ruandan to hurry up and squeeze in to buy it, but saw that Ruandan was practically drooling as he stared at a certain spot.
Dou Weiyi followed his gaze and saw the chubby girl sitting next to the stall, washing her hands, wiping the sweat from her forehead, and happily taking a banana leaf from Lin Xi's hand.
There were also seven or eight small fried fish on top.
He walked over with the soft pills as if possessed, and under the chubby girl's incredulous and aggrieved gaze, he picked one from a banana leaf and put it in his mouth.
As soon as it was placed there, it was like opening up a delicious new world. His eyes lit up instantly, and he couldn't help but mutter, "Wow, this is so delicious! No wonder so many people are lining up!"
The chubby girl stomped her feet in anger and yelled, "Dou Weiyi, this is mine!"
Fatty's shout made Gao Mengli and Lin Xi turn their heads at the same time, and they saw Dou Weiyi "shamelessly" snatching Fatty's fried fish.
Fatty was quite strong, but she was constantly suppressed by Dou Weiyi in their fight. As the number of fried fish dwindled, Fatty's heart ached and she twitched.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
Gao Mengli quickly handed the stall over to Jiang Shi to manage, wiped her hands, walked up to Dou Weiyi, and bowed expressionlessly, "My lord, what brings you here?"
Dou Weiyi was entangled with the chubby girl when he heard Gao Mengli's voice, and his hand paused.
He looked at Gao Mengli with a hint of embarrassment, but quickly regained his composure. He quickly used his hand to push the fat girl's head away, "Ahem, I just came to take a look and wanted you to open your stall in the east of the city."
Lin Xi glared at Dou Weiyi, then waved to the chubby girl, "Chubby girl, come sit here and eat."
After hearing Lin Xi's words, the chubby girl glared at Dou Weiyi and stormed off towards Lin Xi.
She had been chopping meat for an hour, and just when she finally got a break, this person took advantage of her. He was so shameless.
She happily took the small fried fish back from Lin Xi and sat on the other side, enjoying it immensely.
Gao Mengli frowned slightly, pondering Dou Weiyi's words.
Since the county magistrate had come and brought up the matter again, it at least proved that he valued commerce. As for his purpose, she didn't know yet.
She looked up and glanced at the crowd at the city gate. Some diners were covering their buttocks and running into the mountains and forests, while other people of all kinds followed closely behind.
This place is bustling and lively for a short time, which is indeed good, but over time, the problems will snowball and grow bigger and bigger.
There were no proper sewage treatment facilities here, and garbage was dumped everywhere. If this continued, it would definitely become like some dirty and messy corners in the city, filled with a nauseating stench.
Gao Mengli composed herself, crossed her arms, and rubbed her chin. "Lord Dou, it's not impossible for us to move to that street in the east of the city, but as you can see, my family is in the food business."
The city environment is terrible. There's nowhere to dispose of the garbage, and customers have nowhere to relieve themselves. Filth is piled up everywhere. Honestly, in this environment, if I went to sell food, would you eat it?
Before Dou Weiyi could even feel happy for a second, Gao Mengli's question left him speechless, and his expression became somewhat unnatural.
Although he knew Gao Mengli was telling the truth, he couldn't help but retort, dismissing it as a joke, "But hasn't this always been the case? As for a place to relieve yourself, wouldn't it be enough to just put a few chamber pots in your rented shop?"
Upon hearing this, Gao Mengli's face darkened. So, after a long day's work, she had to empty and wash the chamber pots after closing time in the afternoon… The thought was unbearable; it was disgusting and chilling.
She looked bewildered, took a deep breath, and tried to suppress the nausea in her heart. "Sir, why don't you build two public toilets in the east of the city, one for men and one for women?"
This was her sincere suggestion; a county town with so many people can't function without public toilets.
"Public toilet? What public toilet?" Dou Weiyi looked puzzled. He couldn't understand what he was talking about.
Gao Mengli looked at Dou Weiyi's reaction, and it was exactly what she expected.
"Sir, a public toilet is a public toilet. Think about it, there are many people coming and going in the east of the city, doing business and shopping, and everyone has times when they need to relieve themselves."
If there isn't a designated place to relieve oneself, then people will just have to do it anywhere. This will make the streets filthy, a breeding ground for germs, not only affecting the environment but also easily causing epidemics. It will also severely pollute groundwater, making even drinking water a problem in the future.