It is said that Qi Jiao sold the food recipes to the government, and Magistrate Hui regarded them as treasures.
He didn't dare to delay for a moment. He immediately assigned people to start building factories and purchasing raw materials on a grand scale.
The production base in Lingle County was located on a large stretch of wasteland on the outskirts of the city.
With the meticulous care of Qi Jiao and the wet - nurse, Fang Yunxin had successfully stabilized her pregnancy.
She was an idle person by nature. Moreover, she was bent on sharing Magistrate Hui Zhenyu's worries. So she took a sedan chair out of the house to discuss the recruitment of workers with Sister Jiao.
Qi Jiao had experience in recruitment. She said, "These tasks only need two rounds of training. There's no technical difficulty. All we need are those who are diligent and willing to work. Most importantly, since we're in the food business, cleanliness comes first."
Fang Yunxin nodded in agreement. "Then we'll post a notice to recruit workers. We'll take those aged between fifteen and fifty, regardless of gender. Those who are quick - witted and love cleanliness will be given priority."
After the notice was posted, everyone spread the news. It caused quite a stir in the county.
There had never been any major industries in Lingle County. Many young and strong men with little or no land couldn't find jobs, so they had to go to the prefectural city or other places to make a living.
Now that there were job openings, it would surely promote employment.
The young wouldn't have to leave their hometowns, and women could also go out to earn money. There were so many benefits.
The common people all praised Magistrate Hui for doing a great deed.
Magistrate Hui smiled. This was just the beginning. There would be many more benefits to come.
Amidst all the hustle and bustle, the Great Heat arrived in a blink of an eye.
The tea business at Sister Jiao's Restaurant was extremely booming.
These days, inspired by Qi Jiao, Ge Fan had created new drinks such as fresh nectarine extract, lychee punch, colorful fruit tea, and rose jelly... Whether they were scholars or commoners, most people passing by the shop would buy a cup to relieve the heat and quench their thirst.
As for the most basic milk tea, its sales soared all the way.
Previously, due to the lack of fresh raw milk in the county, Qi Jiao had been worried about this for quite a while. She even thought that if there was no other way, she would have to limit the supply of milk tea, selling only as much as she had each day.
Unexpectedly, she casually mentioned it to Fang Yunxin, and Fang Yunxin immediately arranged for Qi Jiao to meet an official's wife in the prefectural city.
The official's wife's maiden surname was Fei. Her family had a large pasture where they raised horses and over a hundred dairy cows.
Coincidentally, a part of the Fei family's pasture bordered Lingle County.
This solved the problems of transportation and preservation.
Qi Jiao was overjoyed. She immediately reached a cooperation agreement with Mrs. Fei.
Mrs. Fei was also very happy. The milk produced by her family was originally for the upper - class circle in the prefectural city.
But due to limited demand, a lot was wasted every year.
Now that there was a big customer, she didn't have to waste things anymore, and there was an additional source of income. Mrs. Fei couldn't be more refreshed.
Mrs. Fei gently patted Qi Jiao's hand and invited her and Sister Fang to visit the pasture in their spare time.
Qi Jiao agreed with a smile and returned satisfied.
From then on, the supply of milk tea was sufficient.
But poor Ge Fan.
After a busy day, his arms were almost broken.
Qi Jiao was a kind - hearted boss and would never exploit her employees.
She not only gave Ge Fan a subsidy but also transferred Yindie to help with the tea business.
They were paid the same wage.
At first, Ge Fan wasn't used to it, but he was soon impressed by Yindie's intelligence and meticulousness.
The two worked together in perfect harmony.
Everyone in the shop did their jobs well, and everything was in order.
With no more worries, after finishing her work in the shop, Qi Jiao would go to the factory on the outskirts for inspection.
For the time being, Sister Fang had recruited fifty workers, including men and women, old and young. The only thing they had in common was that they had all passed the strict screening.
Magistrate Hui offered good treatment, and working for the county government was a decent job.
Since they had worked so hard to get this job, they all tried their best to do it well.
Qi Jiao still followed the old rules.
She first conducted a small experiment and selected ten people with the fastest learning abilities from the fifty.
She taught these ten people hand - in - hand, and then let them teach the others.
The factory was temporarily divided into three production lines.
One was for marine food products, one for local food products, and the third was undetermined.
Many hands make light work.
Magistrate Hui specially assigned three capable clerks from the county government to manage the factory, and it soon went into production.
At the same time, Qi Jiao finally got the day off she had been looking forward to.
Pei Xia drove the cart to pick up Sister Jiao. The two of them slowly returned to Yinwan as the sun was setting.
When they got home, there was no one in the house.
Presumably, Tang Guiniang, Pei Jin, and Pei Li had gone to the neighboring workshop or the duck farm to work.
The three small dogs were also nowhere to be seen.
Only Huahua was lying lazily on the windowsill, sleeping.
When it heard Qi Jiao and the others come back, it jumped down with a whoosh and nimbly came to her side.
Qi Jiao squatted down and picked up Huahua. "I haven't seen you for so long. Huahua has gotten a lot fatter. It's quite heavy in my arms."
Huahua seemed to understand what Qi Jiao said. The cat was a bit annoyed. It affectionately but gently bit her.
Qi Jiao laughed out loud. She reached out to scratch its chin. There wasn't even a mark on her hand.
Pei Xia came over and rubbed Huahua. He said with a smile, "With such a great cook at home, there's plenty of good food. How could Huahua not get fat?"
Qi Jiao put Huahua down and teased it to run around for a few laps before going into the house to rest.
Pei Xia went to take a look and came back. "Mother and Aunt still have some work to do. They've already had dinner. There's food and hot water left on the stove. Let's just eat. After dinner, you can take a nice bath to relieve your fatigue."
Qi Jiao said okay and went into the house to find her change of clothes.
After dinner, Qi Jiao took a wonderful bath and then went to bed.
She slept soundly and deeply. Pei Xia looked at her beautiful sleeping face and couldn't bear to wake her up.
Qi Jiao slept until noon the next day.
When she woke up, Pei Xia was no longer by her side.
Qi Jiao wiped the fine sweat from her forehead. She was a bit annoyed. She had overslept!
At this time, Pei Jin happily pushed open the door. "Sister Jiao, did you rest well?"
Qi Jiao blushed slightly. "I really didn't expect to sleep until it was so late."
Pei Jin cared about her. "You've been so busy and tired on weekdays. It's only natural that you come home to catch up on sleep. Mother told us not to bother you this morning and let you sleep well."
Qi Jiao felt a warm feeling in her heart. "Where's your elder brother?"
Pei Jin said, "You know him. He went out to sea early in the morning."
Qi Jiao couldn't help laughing. As soon as Pei Xia returned to Baiyun Village, he would surely go out to sea on a boat.
She was still a bit dazed from sleep.
Qi Jiao got along well with Pei Jin and there were no taboos between them.
The underwear she had put on last night was already sweaty. Qi Jiao asked Pei Jin to help her get a clean one from the trunk.
Pei Jin smiled and picked out a thin one for her.
Qi Jiao changed into it. She got out of bed, combed her hair, and rinsed her mouth.
While tidying herself up, she asked Pei Jin what books she had been reading these days, how her food and clothing were, and if there were any difficulties in the workshop...
Pei Jin answered all her questions one by one.
Qi Jiao took out two sets of thin silk clothes from her bag and a newly - made box of floral lotion. She handed them to Pei Jin. "These are for you. Take the other two bags to Mother and A Li."
Pei Jin carefully put the things down. She affectionately wrapped her arm around Qi Jiao's. "Sister is so good to me! But you've already been so tired on weekdays."
Qi Jiao smiled. "It's nothing. Who told me to like you, such a cute and smart younger sister!"
Pei Jin's eyes curved into a smile. She happily hugged Qi Jiao and then took the things to find her mother and A Li.