Chapter 238 - 238 Disaster Relief
238 Disaster Relief
“General, deal with these bastards who broke into the general’s residence!”
Although she already knew that the hope was slim, she still didn’t give up on making a final struggle! Actually, to her, giving away 10,000 taels today was a small matter. What was important was her reputation. The dignity and arrogance she had tried her best to maintain for so many years would disappear with this submission.
“I’ll pay 20,000 taels!”
Gao Xuwei ignored Pei Zhaoyue’s roar and only gave, Lin Suisui, who was sitting at the side, a pleading look. How could Pei Zhaoyue know the pain and suffering he had when the poison acted up?!
Ten thousand taels was nothing in comparison. If this matter really made Lin Suisui unhappy, then what he would have to suffer next…
Just thinking about it made his hair stand on end.
“Gao Xuwei, you cowardly good-for-nothing!” Pei Zhaoyue was furious. She grabbed the snacks and plates on the table, and threw them at Gao Xuwei. “Why did I fall for a good-for-nothing like you back then?!”
Lin Suisui couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to the couple’s argument. Anyway, as long as she could get the money, it didn’t matter who paid.
After Lin Suisui took two steps, she stopped, as if she had thought of something. She turned her head slightly to look at Gao Xuwei, who was still limp on the ground. “By the way, General Gao, I suddenly remembered. Has your indescribable illness improved?! If not, I have a prescription that might be able to treat the problem. Do you want to try it?!”
“No, there’s no need!” Gao Xuwei shook his head vigorously. What a joke. He was already in so much pain that he wanted to die. Finding someone else to treat him would only cost money, but if Lin Suisui treated him…
Whether he was cured or not, he would suffer for sure!
“Oh, then you can tell my husband whenever you need it.” Lin Suisui didn’t force him. After saying this, she turned around and left with Lu Ze without looking back.
After leaving the general’s residence, Lin Suisui saw that it was still early, so she pulled Lu Ze to the slums at the edge of the city to take a look.
The snow on the road had long been swept away under the arrangement of the officials. However, even though it had been tidied up, when they walked towards the slums, they could still see the mess by the roadside.
Lin Suisui lifted the curtain and leaned against the window to look out for a while before turning around and saying to Lu Ze, who was sitting at the side and staring at her silently, “Actually, if the silver from the previous relief had not been embezzled, it would have been enough to build a few more houses here!”
Actually, the snow disaster brought harm to the people in the slums because the houses had been in disrepair for a long time and couldn’t withstand the pressure of the snow on the roof.
After receiving so many donations over the years, if they had gotten rid of this hidden danger earlier, how could there be such a huge danger now?
“What do you plan to do next?!” Lu Ze pulled Lin Suisui over and wrapped her in his cloak. At the same time, he stuffed her cold hand, which had just been lying by the window, into his chest pocket. He didn’t say his opinion directly. Instead, he asked Lin Suisui about her plan.
“I’ve thought about it. Repairing the houses is definitely urgent!
However, we can’t do everything for them so easily. Many of these people who have suffered disasters can still move! I think the government can arrange for them to participate in the reconstruction.
Those who are willing to come out and help can be provided with three full meals a day and given a certain amount of salary to subsidize the family.”
Lin Suisui whispered some of her thoughts to Lu Ze. These were also some of the arrangements she had learned from her mentor during the disaster relief.
Teaching them how to fish themselves was definitely much better than simply giving them fish!
“Yes, this idea is feasible! When the county governor’s wife comes over tomorrow, tell her this idea and ask her to go back and inform her husband to get the county governor to order the officials to make arrangements!
However, the accounts have to be clear! We can’t let other people take the opportunity to embezzle.”
Lu Ze nodded. While he agreed with Lin Suisui’s suggestion, he didn’t forget to help her come up with a new plan. “Also, there should be a stall for distributing medicine and porridge!
After all, many of the people who were affected this time are women, children, and the elderly, so they need food!
“But as for those who are strong, forget about it!”
“Those women and children must eat the porridge immediately after receiving it. They can’t leave with it. As for the strong men you mentioned, they can get a construction job. Not only can they eat their fill, but they can also get paid!”
Lin Suisui smiled and continued, “I heard from Yuan Niang that the weather in the north will be even colder in the future. We have to hurry up with the reconstruction!”
Before Lin Suisui could sit down after she returned home, Yin Qiao walked in and relayed the news. Not only had the 20,000 taels of silver promised by the general’s residence been sent over, but even Ma Deng, who had refused to relent, had changed her mind and handed over the private property account book she was hiding.
Lu Ze had already investigated everything Ma Deng handed over, but since she had taken the initiative to hand the information over, they could just arrange for someone to go over and settle the accounts.
As for the banknotes from the general’s residence, they could be used immediately!
When the county governor’s wife visited again, it was already the next morning. When she came this time, she wasn’t empty-handed. She was holding a detailed booklet of disaster relief money and supplies donated by various shops.
Lin Suisui took it and flipped through it briefly before handing it to Yuan Niang standing beside her to take a closer look.
“I heard that when the wife of the general who stabilizes the north was in power previously, these rich people in Cloud Mountain City donated at least a thousand taels! How come they only donated 500 taels today?”
Lin Suisui smiled and looked up at the county governor’s wife.
Embarrassment flashed across the county governor’s wife’s face. She shifted awkwardly in her seat and held it in for a long time before explaining in embarrassment, “They might not have enough money!”
What could she say? She couldn’t just say in front of everyone that it was because the general’s residence hadn’t expressed their stance this time and no one dared to give too much because they were afraid of offending people in the future, right?!
“Bai Guo, arrange for someone to go to the city. Then, announce to the entire Cloud Mountain City that the general’s residence will contribute 20,000 taels of silver to the refugees this time. Madam Ma has donated her entire dowry, which is at least 50,000 taels of silver!” Lin Suisui placed the teacup in her hand on the table at the side gently. Then, she glanced at the shocked woman with a smile. “I’ve always liked to do things decisively! If you prefer to take the middle road, you don’t have to visit next time!”