Da Zaojun

Chapter 175 Population Risks
It can only be said that the decree on rest and leave was indeed well received by the people.

It had only been in effect for a short time when it sparked city-wide discussion.

At least every ten days, there will be a large market where people will come out to shop and spend money.

However, although there is such a large copper mine in the Tiger Fang Kingdom's secret realm, it is easier to forge weapons than to mint coins, and even more difficult to issue currency. If one is not careful, the economic system can easily collapse.

However, as the ruler of the realm, he cannot ignore the commercial sector. The City God possessed a treasure trove of gold coins, and he obtained a treasure basin in the secret realm of the monks' alms bowl.

Although both of these are malevolent and can amplify human greed and desire, turning them into tests, those who pass the tests can still receive the rituals of the God of Wealth.

The temple to the God of Wealth still needs to be built, but Song Wuji hasn't decided which God of Wealth to worship yet. He just sighs that if he had obtained the incomplete God of Wealth's status, he wouldn't have to worry so much.

But there is no God of Wealth. The Beggars' Sect in the city still has a "God of Poverty". The God of Poverty was originally the God of Poverty Wealth, but he lost his treasure and became the God of Poverty.

Song Wuji didn't really believe this. But if he said that being the God of Poverty was too difficult, and that all his followers were beggars who wanted to switch careers and become the God of Wealth, then Song Wuji would believe it.

However, none of this mattered anymore, because Song Wuji was going to hold a "matchmaking event" and take the opportunity to dispel the terror in the hearts of the people caused by the previous demonic calamity.

Secondly, the people have needs. Now that things have stabilized somewhat, normal social order should be restored. At the very least, the birth rate should be increased to quickly recover the population lost due to the demonic upheaval.

Thirdly... is the nectar and dew brought out from the secret realm of Qionghua Garden. This stuff has the inherent characteristic of "being in love".

The Flower Prince doesn't simply rush in to collect the honey from the flower fairies; instead, he enters their dreams, unites with them, and gathers the maidens' spring dreams—what later generations would call "sweet romance"—and thus, it is processed into honey.

If Song Wuji wants to master the "sweetness of the five flavors," he must work on this aspect.

Although the third day of the third lunar month has passed, we can still hold a matchmaking event. If we can also worship the God of Marriage or some other god of love, and even create a profession for matchmakers in the city, that would be the best outcome.

Therefore, Song Wuji planned to give eligible men and women a day off, and also take the opportunity to make sweet food from the honey.

Song Wuji specifically asked Chef Bao, "Is there anything suitable to eat at this time of year?"

"The Flower Festival has passed, but the Cold Food Festival is still here. Young men and women go on spring outings together... We should prepare some pastries."

Master Bao said, "The really dry kind, preferably sticky to your teeth, to make your mouth and throat dry."

Song Wuji fell silent. Is this how the idiom "mouth dry and throat parched" is used?
But for the time being, they could only accept the suggestion: "Then let's make pastries."

To make pastries, you need cake flour, various dried fruits, and sugar.

Of course, Song Wuji also planned to prepare some pastries when entertaining the ghosts and gods, just one or two plates would suffice.

Rice flour is mainly derived from staple foods, such as rice flour, wheat flour, and bean flour...

Song Wuji has blood rice, as well as incense millet produced by temples and dragon tooth rice from Luohu Water Mansion.

Dragon Tooth Rice is scarce, and Song Wuji wanted to use it as a staple food when entertaining ghosts and gods.

Although the blood rice yield is plentiful, most of it is now used for seed production and breeding, and a portion is used to refine essence pills. Only a small portion can be used to make pastries.

Only the incense millet is produced by temples and irrigated with incense offerings from the people. Long-term consumption can enhance the spiritual power of the Three Jewels. It is also suitable for making pastries that ghosts and gods like, after all, it carries the words "incense offerings".

I wonder if we can get the City God to cooperate in planting this, otherwise the production of this incense millet will be scarce after the temple is raided and the monks are dismissed.

Millet, also known as foxtail millet, nourishes the spleen and warms the middle jiao (digestive system). It is usually cooked and eaten, but it is actually cold in nature and needs to be cooked for a long time to absorb the heat in order to truly nourish the stomach.

Upon seeing these ingredients, Master Bao frowned slightly: "It's probably too difficult to make them dry and absorbent. I'll have to settle for second best and make steamed rice cakes, glutinous rice cakes, and green rice dumplings instead."

"Then let's do this," Song Wuji said. "Do whatever you can!"

Song Wuji's rituals were mostly red-themed, with white-themed items only used for plating and carving, which were for creating decorative effects.

However, as a descendant of the Kitchen God, learning is not difficult if one is willing to do so.

Aunt Liu and several other women came to help. She said, "Making some fried dough sticks would be good. These things should be done by us women. When I was a daughter, I followed my mother to do them, and when I became a daughter-in-law, I followed my mother-in-law to do them. This time, I want to find a girl for my son and teach her how to make them."

Aunt Liu's Kitchen God's blessing was in "steaming rice." The steamed rice was not only fragrant but also perfectly separated, making one feel fuller and more satisfied, and replenishing energy. She was truly a rice fairy. Now, she's not far from reaching the ninth rank.

"Your son is only nine years old!" Aunt Zou exclaimed in surprise. "He just went back to school a few days ago and started learning martial arts. How come you're already looking for a girl for him!"

“Looking for someone is one thing, but it doesn’t guarantee a good match. It takes two or three years to observe their character and find a good one! Besides, she’s nine this year and ten next year. Didn’t I marry her father when I was fifteen or sixteen?”

Aunt Zou thought it made sense: "Indeed, my son is older than yours, and I'm not in a hurry to say goodbye..."

"Don't rush! Look at how many girls have died in this great demonic upheaval! I'm afraid many men won't be able to find wives." Aunt Liu whispered, "I've looked around, and here, about 80% are men! Of the remaining 20% ​​of women, many are old women like you and me, or are already married."

Upon hearing this, Song Wuji was stunned for a moment. He hadn't paid attention to population structure, but in the face of the great demon catastrophe, especially when it came to survival, those who ran ahead of the demons might not necessarily escape alive, while those who fell behind were certain to die.

"No wonder Magistrate Tian told me to make Lin Pandi a ninth-rank official as soon as possible and open the brothel... So that's why..."

Song Wuji thought to himself, "It seems the only option is to relocate people from the secret realm. Relocating women should be less risky than relocating men. I just don't know if people in the secret realm can integrate with the outside population. And after people in the secret realm kill someone, will they rapidly increase their strength and steal their wisdom and memories, just like demons do after killing someone?"

We can only try it out when we have the chance.

Song Wuji was just one person short of dying, but he blindly walked right into it.

The city has too many people, and while there are few criminal cases, there are many disputes. Especially now that everyone has gained power to varying degrees, it is even easier for them to break the law with force.

Currently, most able-bodied men have been conscripted to build cities, train soldiers, farm, and hunt demons.

The city was left with only the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled.

However, during holidays and rest days, some of these able-bodied men, if they don't have wives, are bound to become somewhat irrational and prone to causing trouble.

(End of this chapter)