Poverty Alleviation in Qin: A Sky-High Review of "I Am the Female Prime Minister of All Time&qu

The New Year has passed, and time flies by.

The cold winter has completely receded, and all the ice and snow have melted away.

The willows along the riverbank sprout tender new buds, and on the withered yellow field ridges, specks of new green break through the soil, quietly spreading across the fields.

The people of Pei County shed their heavy winter coats, donned light cloth clothes, and carried hoes into the fields.

Now, Song has also figured out the geographical advantages of Pei County.

The area is crisscrossed by rivers and has a dense network of waterways, resulting in abundant wild fish and shrimp resources.

In previous years, people only knew how to occasionally cast nets to catch fish during their spare time from farming, just to make enough to feed themselves, and never thought that they could make a living and get rich through this.

"We can do all these kinds of jobs in Pei County, such as fishing net making, bamboo basket weaving, logging and charcoal making."

"Go back and tell the villagers that they should not waste their time during the off-season by sitting in the sun. They can earn money by working, and little by little, their families will gradually become better off."

When the government order reached the countryside, people reacted in different ways. Some were eager to try it out, some were hesitant and remained inactive, while others were decisive and immediately got to work.

Wang Bo was the first person in Pei County to respond.

He used to fish in the river when he was young, but now that he is older, he rarely goes into the water anymore.

Upon hearing Magistrate Song's words, he immediately pulled out the old, patched fishing net from his home, called his two sons, and, taking advantage of the cool spring water and the plumpness of the fish and shrimp, went to the river early to test the waters.

On the first day, the net was full, with fish and shrimp of all sizes jumping around, their silvery scales shimmering in the warm spring sun.

The father and his sons carried their catch to the market, and sold it all in less than half an hour.

Uncle Wang smiled broadly, his eyes wide with emotion: "Lord Song really has foresight! With the river teeming with fish and shrimp right before our eyes, in previous years we only knew how to satisfy our cravings and never thought of exchanging them for money to make a living. We really wasted such a good time."

With Wang Bo as a living example, the people completely dispelled their doubts and followed suit, starting their own side businesses.

In Peixian County, bamboo forests flourish in the mountains and along the rivers. Many women and craftspeople use local materials to split bamboo strips and weave bamboo utensils. With skillful hands, neat and sturdy bamboo baskets and crates are formed, which are lightweight, durable, and very popular.

Young and strong men would go into the mountains to cut down trees, select miscellaneous woods to make charcoal, and seal the kiln for several days.

When the kiln is opened, the charcoal pieces are black, firm, and burn without smoke, making them highly sought after by the city's residents and merchants.

In a short period of time, the market in Peixian County has become increasingly lively and prosperous.

Vendors selling fresh fish, bamboo ware, charcoal, and wild vegetables crowded together, their shouts and bargaining echoing along the street.

Song would often change into casual clothes and stroll through the market alone, stopping to browse and ask prices like an ordinary person, observing the various aspects of people's lives.

Many stall owners recognized her and wanted to give her some goods as a token of their appreciation, but she politely declined them all.

One day, the young fishmonger saw that she insisted on paying, and his face turned red with anxiety: "Sir! If it weren't for you helping us make a living, how could we have this business? Giving you two fish is nothing!"

Although fishing, basket weaving, and charcoal burning can increase income, Song is well aware that these are all livelihoods that consume existing resources and are not sustainable.

The total number of fish and shrimp in the river is limited. If overfishing continues year after year, the river will eventually run dry, and we will simply be living off our resources.

If you want things to go well in the long run, you need to strengthen your foundation and cultivate your vitality.

Thinking of this, she immediately summoned Xiao He.

"Xiao He, how much money is left in the county government's public accounts?"

Xiao He reviewed the accounts and carefully reported the amounts.

Although the silver reserves were not substantial, they were enough to support a small matter.

"Does the master intend to raise fish, breed fish, and ensure the continuation of life?"

"Of course, we must take from nature in a timely and proper way. We cannot simply take from nature; we must also know how to cultivate, nourish, and preserve our foundation."

"The same applies to life; we can't just focus on the present moment, but strive to make each year better than the last."

Xiao He bowed and accepted the order, then immediately began making arrangements.

Several days later, baskets of fresh fish fry arrived in Pei County and were all released into various rivers and streams.

The tiny fish fry scattered as soon as they entered the water, swimming downstream towards the deep-sea vegetation and disappearing in an instant.

Uncle Wang squatted by the river for a long time, then turned to Song Ye beside him, full of doubt: "Sir, can these tiny fish fry really grow into big fish?"

"sure."

Although Wang Bo remained somewhat skeptical, he said no more.

The people of Pei County today have long been accustomed to trusting Lord Song.

Once she sets her mind on something, it's guaranteed to be right.

A gentle spring breeze blows across the river, carrying the fresh scent of aquatic plants and the warm, moist aroma of the earth.

Song also looked up and gazed into the distance. The willows along the riverbank were all green, swallows flew back and skimmed the water, and the wheat seedlings in the fields were lush and green, full of vitality.

That's how life goes, flowing slowly and getting better step by step.

Day after day, year after year.

Song also got up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and turned to return home.

Behind us, the river flows gently eastward, and the warm sun shines on its surface, scattering golden light and shimmering in the water, reflecting the ever-prosperous land of Peixian, which is reborn year after year and flourishes step by step.

When summer arrives, the fields and villages of Peixian County come alive with activity.

Last autumn's harvest results are there for all to see; the increased production figures are real, and no one doubts whether manure is effective or not.

Wang Bo's land became a living advertisement, attracting visitors every few days. After seeing it, people would go back and start working on it.

By summer, almost everyone in the city had learned how to compost manure, deep-plow, and soak seeds, doing everything perfectly, even more meticulously than Song Ye had taught them.

"Lord Song said that manure must be fermented for a sufficient period of time; it cannot be rushed!"

"Yes, it also needs to be mixed evenly, not too much or too little."

In the fields, the sounds of people talking could be heard everywhere as they worked.

This wind not only swept through Pei County, but also reached outside the county.

People from neighboring counties heard that Pei County had a method to increase production, so they secretly came to inquire about it and went back to try it out.

The news spread like wildfire, and soon the entire Sishui Prefecture knew about it.

In Pei County, there was a magistrate named Song who was skilled in farming.

The newly appointed prefect of Sishui was named Li You, a capable man in his forties, personally selected by Meng Yi.

After taking office, he paid close attention to the situation in Pei County. At first, he thought that Song was capable, but later he found that Pei County's method of increasing production was simple, easy to implement, and extremely low in cost, and could be promoted to the entire Sishui Prefecture.

After much thought, I decided to make the trip myself.

"My lord, the prefect has arrived! He's already at the gate!"

Song put down the bamboo slips, straightened his clothes, and went out to greet them.

Li You was a down-to-earth man. He didn't have Zhao Kang's fancy airs. He only brought one attendant, dressed in plain clothes, and looked like an ordinary official on a rural inspection tour.

"I apologize for visiting, but I have come to ask you about something."

"Please speak, Prefect."

"Can the manure fertilization method used in Pei County really increase production?"

"Really?" Song nodded. "The prefect should have seen the documents from last year's autumn harvest."

Li You nodded, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "This method is excellent. I intend to promote it throughout the entire Sishui Prefecture, but I wonder where Magistrate Song learned it from? Is there any record of it in any classical texts?"

Song also fell silent for a moment.

She had thought about this question before, but each time she didn't know how to answer it.

You can't exactly say you learned it in a mountainous area in your past life.

"That's how people in my hometown used to do it; it's not some profound skill. If the prefect is interested, I can have Xiao He write down the specific method and give it to each village to follow."

Li You sensed the evasiveness in her words, but did not press the matter.

He's a smart man; he knows some things are better left unsaid, as long as the method works.

"Thank you very much then." Li You cupped his hands again, paused, and then said, "Such a good thing that benefits the country and its people should be reported to His Majesty for nationwide promotion. Does Magistrate Song have any objections?"

"Please go ahead, Prefect." Song Ye's face remained expressionless, but in his heart he was thinking: So be it, it's not like we haven't reported it before.

Seeing that she didn't object, Li You chatted for a few more minutes about farming before getting up to take his leave.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Song Ye.

"Magistrate Song, before I took office, Lord Meng specifically instructed me to keep an eye on a good official in Pei County."

Song was also taken aback.

Meng Yi?

"You flatter me, Prefect. I was just doing my duty."

Li You didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

As the carriage drove out of Peixian city gate, he lifted the curtain and looked back.

In the distance, people are working in the fields, the lush green crops stretching as far as the eye can see...