The issue with the mine was resolved, but Qin Sang still didn't plan to take back that ten percent share.
"Zhengyuan, since you manage this Songbai Town, you must know the County Magistrate here, right?"
Lin Qi nodded.
"I've dealt with him twice; he's a slippery old fox in the bureaucracy."
Qin Sang had already guessed as much; he was likely more than just slippery—he was probably a corrupt official. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to let Heizi and the others pay shares into his private coffers for personal gain.
"Then what do you think about giving this ten percent to the county yamen?"
Even a powerful dragon cannot crush a local snake, let alone the county yamen.
Officials have two mouths; if they truly got greedy, a few words could make you lose everything. Thus, Qin Sang felt that this ten percent still needed to be given away.
She asked Lin Qi because he was an important partner; Qin Sang's information was limited, and it was better to ask Lin Qi about matters of officialdom.
Lin Qi felt more and more that Qin Sang was a steady person; for a business that hadn't even started, she had already considered every aspect of the future.
"It's feasible. If the county yamen gets benefits, they will provide you with much convenience. Additionally, my main family isn't here, so I won't be able to help with the subsequent mining and operations. If Sister-in-law needs money to buy the hills, I can lend some to you, no need to return it."
Qin Sang shook her head.
"Mining and buying land are minor costs. Bringing you in as a shareholder is mainly for the reputation of the General of the North Commandery Residence. Besides, who says the future operations have nothing to do with you?"
"The Northwest is freezing in winter. If this Coal can be sold there, would we need to worry about sales?"
"So you must take this twenty percent share. Let me tell you, Coal has many uses."
Qin Sang pulled a drawing of a Coal Stove from her robe and placed it on the tea table.
"Look, if a stove like this is connected to a chimney, the fire can last all night. Even if it snows, the room can stay at a certain temperature. And if you put a kettle of water on at night, you'll have hot water ready when you wake up."
"With Coal, everyone won't have to spend their time chopping wood; they can farm more land or go out to work as laborers."
"Coal cinders can be used to pave roads or make bricks; they have excellent water absorption."
"High-quality Coal can even be used for smelting iron and steel. So I'm very worried that once the imperial court discovers the benefits of Coal, they'll want to take it all back. That's why I need to cling tightly to the 'thigh' of your General of the North Commandery Residence to feel at ease."
Smelting iron and steel?
Lin Qi's expression froze, then he gave a bitter smile.
"Does Sister-in-law think too highly of the General of the North Commandery Residence?"
Not to mention that because of the Crown Prince incident, the General of the North Commandery Residence was also under suspicion. He was supposed to be in the Northwest fighting Tartars, but he had been sent here to suppress rioters. The influence of the General of the North Commandery Residence was far from reaching this small southern county.
Qin Sang said nonchalantly:
"It doesn't matter. Just for the fact that you don't collude with those Southern Army soldiers who kill civilians to claim rewards, I, Qin Sang, trust the character of you, Zhengyuan, and the General of the North Commandery Residence behind you. Only by cooperating with upright people like you do I dare to do this business. Otherwise, with anyone else, I wouldn't mention a single word."
"Even if the General of the North Commandery Residence cannot protect this business in the future, then we'll just hand it over and think of other ways to make money."
The trust in Qin Sang's words deeply moved Lin Qi. It's easy to add flowers to a bouquet, but hard to send charcoal in the snow.
Currently, the General of the North Commandery Residence was in a precarious situation. Many former friends had gradually distanced themselves. Yet, this rural woman stood by him without hesitation, supporting him, believing in him, helping him—even when making a fortune, she thought of including him.
This sentiment made Lin Qi stand up and solemnly cup his fists.
"Then I thank Sister-in-law for her trust, and I also thank Sister-in-law for seeking an extra way for the people of the Northwest to survive the winter. If Sister-in-law has any needs, as long as there's a place where I, Lin Qi, can be of use, just say the word."
Qin Sang was not polite either.
"I assume there should be blacksmiths in your army. I'd like to ask a blacksmith to help forge some iron sheets."
There were naturally blacksmiths in the army. Usually, they forged arrowheads and arrows, and chipped blades or spears also had to be returned to the furnace to be reforged, though such opportunities were not frequent.
The blacksmith happened to have nothing to do. Hearing that the General had a task, he immediately lit the fire to melt the iron.
"Sister-in-law, can this Coal only be burned in this kind of Iron Sheet Stove? If so, I'm afraid ordinary people won't be able to afford even a single stove."
Qin Sang smiled.
"Of course there's more than one way to use it. Besides iron stoves, there are also Ceramic Stoves, and one can even build a brick stove themselves; they are all economical and practical."
"High costs naturally have their reasons. Iron stoves can be sold to those wealthy people; I believe they will be willing to pay the price."
Lin Qi smiled.
"It seems no problem can stump Sister-in-law. I wonder how you thought of these methods."
Qin Sang's heart skipped a beat. Thinking back on what she had said and done today, it did seem a bit beyond the knowledge of a village woman. So she explained:
"Actually, it's nothing. When I was buying brushes and ink for my youngest son before, I discovered that beautifully crafted brushes sell for three or four taels each, and some are even more expensive."
"I got into an argument with the shopkeeper, saying that if brushes are sold so dearly, why not just go and rob people? The shopkeeper said those exquisite brushes aren't meant for country folk like me at all; they are all sold to wealthy families and rich young masters."
"The shopkeeper also said that rich people don't seek the best, but the most expensive. That's when I realized there really are people with more money than sense."
Qin Sang spoke humorously and vividly. Lin Qi was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
"Thinking about it like that, it seems I used to belong to that category of 'more money than sense' as well."
Both of them laughed. While the iron sheets were being hammered, Qin Sang also discussed treatment methods for a potential Plague with the Military Doctor.
Originally, Lin Qi intended to invite Qin Sang to stay in the Town so there would be another doctor stationed there, but Qin Sang explained that there were still many refugees in the mountains who needed her, so Lin Qi dropped the idea.
Qin Sang taught everything she knew without holding anything back. After she finished teaching the Military Doctor, the required iron sheets were also forged. Qin Sang rolled up the two large iron sheets and tied them to the back of her horse. Lin Qi brought over a tray filled with silver and copper coins.
"Sister-in-law, this is the money for the Medicinal Herbs this time. A total of one hundred seventy-eight taels and six mace. Here is one hundred seventy taels of silver and eight hundred sixty copper coins. Please count them."
Qin Sang didn't have the patience for that. She nodded, took the tray, and poured everything into a cloth bag, smiling.
"No need to count. I trust you. Next time, I'll bring the Coal Stove and coal briquettess for you to see."
As she returned the tray, Qin Sang slapped her forehead.
"Look at me, I almost forgot about buying land. Zhengyuan, what's the price for these hills and residential land?"
Lin Qi said:
"Fertile land is ten taels of silver per mu, wasteland is five taels per mu, land for building a residence is eight taels per mu, and hills are thirty taels for fifty mu. If you buy a lot, the price can be appropriately reduced."
Qin Sang calculated. She planned to buy several hills around the Coal mine, which should be about three hundred mu, costing one hundred eighty taels. Plus some wasteland and residential land, preparing two hundred thirty taels should be enough.
"Alright, then I'll bring more Medicinal Herbs next time."
Naturally, she wouldn't go back empty-handed. Qin Sang detoured to Chen Family Village to continue digging Coal. Da Zhuang and the others had heard everything she just said. Once they were further away, Tian Dazhuang asked:
"Mother, you want to buy land in Chen Family Village? Isn't this too far from home?"