Wanjin Lady

Chapter 107 Using Her Articles as a Table Leg
"Is this the policy paper you wrote?!" Old Master Yao almost threw the paper back at Wen Wan's face. "What about establishing a long-term mechanism, learning from past experiences, responding quickly, strengthening organizational leadership, and regularly reviewing special operations—"

Wen Wan's old face turned slightly red in the face of Mr. Yao's fierce criticism.

What's going on?

When she was preparing for the civil service exam in college, wasn't that how she wrote her essay?
Madam Yao, on the other hand, took Wen Wan's article, read it carefully, and said with a smile, "Although it lacks ancient references to current events and contains few allusions or literary flavor, the writing is unpretentious and pointedly criticizes the current situation of the famine in Bingzhou. The several measures proposed are also refreshing. It can be considered a good article that is practical and useful."

"Measures? Aren't they just about exempting taxes, opening warehouses to release grain, and stabilizing grain prices? How is that different from what Xiu Wen mentioned?" Old Man Yao snorted, but his expression softened slightly. "But the ideas of work-for-relief, migrants seeking food, and paid relief loans... are quite noteworthy and unconventional."

Cheng Yunzhang frowned slightly and looked at Wen Wan, "Manager Wen, what does it mean to use work instead of relief?"

Wen Wan saw everyone in the room looking at her and coughed softly. "Whether it's distributing money, food, or medicine, it requires the court to bear huge costs. This practice of robbing Peter to pay Paul may solve a certain area's urgent needs, but it is difficult to maintain in the long run."

"However, the famine will not stop. As the saying goes, it's better to teach someone how to fish than to give him fish. If, during the famine, local officials embark on large-scale construction projects, hiring craftsmen to build mansions, temples, and other structures, the wealthy families who still have surplus food can consume them, and the homeless refugees can find work, then the economy can be temporarily revived."

This strategy was devised by Fan Zhongyan, the governor of Hangzhou, in the second year of the Huangyou reign (1495), when a great famine struck Wuzhong and Liangzhe Road, with Hangzhou being particularly hard hit. He devised a clever work-for-relief program.

When the disaster was severe, Lord Fan went boating on the lake every day. He also encouraged the people to hold rowing competitions and renovate various buildings and houses. As many as 10,000 workers were employed in the city, which effectively alleviated the famine disaster.

Seeing that Wenwan was neither humble nor arrogant, it was clear that she had put a lot of thought into this policy paper. After all, she was a merchant's daughter, so we couldn't ask too much of her. It was extremely difficult for her to write such a meaningful article.

"The rich spend it, the poor do it—" Old Master Yao's expression brightened, and he forced a few compliments, "Although this tactic is unconventional, it is indeed effective. If I were an examiner, I would not be disappointed with this essay."

Even Cheng Yunzhang was stunned for a long time. He restrained his previous indifferent look, took the article from his master's wife and read it carefully.

It’s the name of Manager Wen... I can’t bear to look at it closely, it’s a torture to look at it closely.

This article can be said to be as dry and withered as an eighty-year-old man. It presents its views and arguments so directly that it is like a blow to the face. Although I was confused at the time, I could appreciate the beauty of it after a closer look.

Wen Wan scratched her head.

It's still pleasing to the eye, but it doesn't compare to Cheng Yunzhang, right?
Wen Wan was unwilling to give up. She stood up, took back her article, and smiled to save face. "If it doesn't work this time, I'll go back and revise it next time. I can always write a better article than Mr. Cheng next time."

"There's going to be a next time?!" Old Master Yao was a shrewd man who had practiced for thousands of years. He immediately understood what Wen Wan was planning when he heard this. He glared at Wen Wan with his eyes as bright as copper bells. Seeing that the child was not afraid at all and instead smiled at him obediently, his heart softened. "Put down the policy paper. I'll use it as a table leg support."

Wen Wan: ...

This is an insult!

This is a personal attack!

Tolerable or unbearable!
Wen Wan angrily folded the policy paper in half, then in half again, and in half again.

Then he half-knelt and bent over, lifted a corner of the table with one hand, and tucked the essay under the foot of the table with the other hand. He raised his head and smiled more flatteringly, "It is an honor for this essay to serve as a footstool for the teacher, and it is also an honor for me."

As the saying goes, don’t hit the smiling person.

Mr. Yao really couldn't help laughing.

He casually took the wolf-hair brush from the pen holder and tapped her forehead with the other end. "You girl... are really a scoundrel! Okay, stop trying to please an old man like me. Go back and write another one. This time, write..."

Madam Yao covered her lips with her hands and smiled. She glanced at the young lady out of the corner of her eye and then said, "Let's write about the way of doing business. How do you think?"

Who couldn't hear that Madam Yao was giving Wen Wan a back door?
Wen Wan was a businesswoman, so this essay topic was practically tailor-made for her. Wen Wan immediately nodded vigorously, then gave Madam Yao a grateful glance, "That's great! I'll write it as soon as I get back!"

now.

The three of them looked like a harmonious family of three, but Cheng Yunzhang was left in the corner with no one paying attention to him.

Cheng Yunzhang couldn't help but look at Wen Wan.

This young lady... can actually make the usually strict teacher laugh, and also make the teacher's wife take good care of her.

Is it true that only children who act like spoiled children get candy?
Acting like a spoiled brat?
Or should he also learn from Miss Wen?

Old Master Yao knew his wife's plan, but he wasn't willing to grant the girl's wish immediately, so he sulked again, "Since you send me chickens, ducks, fish and meat every few days, I'll give you one last chance. Write about 'The Art of Business' as your title, and write well!"

"Okay!" Wen Wan agreed readily and immediately stood up to go out, "I'll go back and write now!"

Madam Yao greeted her, "There's no need to be so anxious. It's raining outside. Wait until the rain stops before leaving."

"My husband is waiting for me outside, and there's a lot of work to do at the winery, so I can't stop!"

Old Master Yao glanced at the autumn rain outside. It was pouring down, and the roads must be difficult to walk on. He couldn't help but worry about the girl. "Tell your husband to come in and wait! We don't need your two bowls of rice at home!"

The young lady ran very fast, laughing loudly as she ran, "Next time, next time I will hold a banquet for you to become my apprentice!"

The tone is firm and charming.

Old Master Yao laughed helplessly, "Look, look, this monkey...can't he just give her a little bit of a good face!"

"Oh, this child... I'm afraid he didn't bring an umbrella." Madam Yao was very careful and immediately found an umbrella from the corner of the study. However, Cheng Yunzhang had already stood up and took it. "Master's wife, I'll go."

After the two men left, Mrs. Yao turned around and saw Yao Shizhen sticking his butt out and touching Wen Wan's policy paper that was touching the table leg.

Old Madam Yao was both angry and amused. She walked over to support him and took out the neatly folded policy paper.

Old Master Yao unfolded it and began to study it carefully, muttering to himself, "I didn't expect this girl to be so capable. Look at the points she made, wow... her opinions are sharp... her words are meaningful..."

Madam Yao poured him a cup of tea and smiled, shaking her head. "Then you criticized her as worthless earlier?"

"You don't know..." Old Master Yao shuddered and pushed Zhang Celun flatter. "Don't be fooled by this girl's outward appearance of being well-behaved. In reality, she's rebellious and arrogant. If I don't suppress her properly, she'll be so arrogant that she'll be all over the place."

"You, you are always right. It's just that Miss Wen is careless. If it were any other girl, she would have been scared to tears by your old face."

"If she was so easily frightened and cried, I would look down on her. People with weak personalities...cannot become my disciple, Yao Shizhen."

Old Madam Yao was speechless.

The old man sometimes disliked Wen Wan because she was a merchant's daughter, and sometimes he looked at her article carefully. He really was both a good guy and a bad guy.

(End of this chapter)