Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

However, on that day, the news that "Lord Shen drank the cement water himself to prove that the cement was non-toxic" spread throughout Shangjing.

The people were reassured, and the direction of public opinion gradually changed. People in the streets and alleys of Beijing and the suburbs were no longer talking about "cement is poisonous", but "Shen Zheng, the fatherly official, loves the people like his own children."

At the same time, the "Xianhuan Society", a charitable chamber of commerce led by the Fifth House and cooperating with the court, was formally established and announced to the public through a notice in Beijing.

The teahouses in the capital were bustling with people, as tea drinkers came in groups of three or four, drinking tea and discussing the "Ring Society".

The scholar waving a folding fan commented: "It is like tying a grass and holding a ring. Whether it is a merchant or the imperial court, they all rely on the people to survive. It means that when receiving a favor, one should not forget to repay it, and when giving a favor, one should not ask for a reward. It is wonderful, wonderful."

After listening to the scholar's words and savoring the tea carefully, the tea drinkers all echoed him.

Someone else said, "I heard that the Xianhuan Society is headed by Lord Shen in the court, and all decisions related to saving the world require Lord Shen's approval!"

"Lord Shen loves his people like his own children, and we still suspect that cement is poisonous... This is really wrong."

"Let's not talk about cement for now. Does anyone know what this ring will be used for? Will it provide porridge for disaster relief or give us some money?"

"Give us silver?" The tea drinker laughed, "You can even afford a cup of good tea for thirty cents, why should they give you silver? You have too much money and you've lost it? It's true that people are greedy."

"Hey, I was just kidding."

"Snapped--"

The gavel suddenly sounded, and the tea drinkers all turned their heads to look at the storyteller.

The storyteller smiled, and the guests asked in unison, "Mr. Wen, you are well-informed. Do you know something that we don't know?"

Mr. Wen stroked his beard and rubbed his neck: "My throat is a little dry."

"Hey, you old rascal!" A tea drinker took out a few copper coins and slapped them on the table, "I'll buy you a cup of tea. Hurry up and tell us something!"

Mr. Wen touched the gavel and said, "Coarse tea irritates my throat."

"..."

The tea drinkers had no choice but to chip in some copper coins and ask the waiter to serve him a Mingqian roll-core tea for thirty cents.

Mr. Wen smacked his lips and said contentedly, "Speaking of the Xianhuan Society, you have asked the right person. What a friend just said is correct. The Xianhuan Society is indeed headed by Lord Shen in the court, and the reason why the Xianhuan Society was established... I wonder if you still remember the emperor's confession of guilt some time ago?"

Everyone suddenly realized: "Because of the abandoned baby!"

The emperor's edict of repentance caused quite a stir in Shangjing.

The current emperor openly admitted his mistakes, but the people dared not discuss them openly and could only discuss them quietly behind closed doors.

"Even a tiger doesn't eat its own cubs! A man who loses his own child is simply a piece of shit and deserves to have his head chopped off!" said the tea drinkers.

Mr. Wen stroked his beard and nodded, "Lord Shen cared about the people and asked the emperor to improve the method of abandoning babies. The emperor agreed and issued an edict of repentance. He also fined himself 10,000 taels of silver. Then all the officials in the court also fined themselves 10,000 taels of silver. This tael of silver... is the prototype of the Ring Society."

He spoke so convincingly, as if he had witnessed the morning court with his own eyes, that the tea drinkers believed him to a considerable extent.

“And then?” they asked.

"Then the emperor gave the fine to Lord Shen to arrange. Lord Shen took care of the Ministry of Works and Huiheba while screening merchants in Beijing. He finally selected the fifth one to cooperate with the court."

In recent years, the Fifth Family’s shop has enjoyed a very good reputation among the people.

The tea drinkers understood what he said: "Then again, what does the Ring Association mainly do?"

Mr. Wen took another sip of tea, glanced at the southeast corner of the teahouse, and then said, "Disaster relief, famine relief, helping the poor and the weak, cooperating with the court to open charity schools and Tong'an charity clinics, and so on and so forth."

The tea drinkers scratched their heads and asked, "Mr. Wen, after listening to what you said, why do we feel like we didn't hear anything?"

Mr. Wen blew his beard and glared: "Let's just say that those beggars in the suburbs of Beijing will be under the jurisdiction of the Xianhuan Society from now on!"

Beggar in the suburbs of Beijing?

The tea drinkers lowered their eyes and thought about it.

Today's dynasty loves the people. Compared with the previous dynasty, the number of beggars in the suburbs of Beijing has decreased by 80% to 90%. Although there are not tens of thousands, there are still thousands or eight hundred.

Every day when I open my eyes, there are thousands of mouths waiting to be fed. How can the Ring Society feed them all?

Besides...most people look down on beggars.

Without experiencing the same suffering, it is difficult for ordinary people to empathize with beggars. They will only prejudge that this person is healthy, how can he not be able to afford a meal? Even if he is carrying a large bag at the dock, he will not be reduced to begging for food.

"Most of them are just lazy and like to eat..." The tea drinkers said disdainfully, "As long as the Xianhuan Society dares to support them, those beggars will be able to rely on the Xianhuan Society for their entire lives! In my opinion, it would be better to set up a free school and let the children learn to read. Supporting beggars? It's a thankless job."

Mr. Wen took out the speech he had prepared long ago: "Do you think the court and the merchants are stupid? The Ring-Hanging Society does not support disabled people! Unless they are paralyzed in bed and can't move, beggars who join the Ring-Hanging Society have to work. We can't let them eat for free!"

The tea drinkers felt relieved after hearing this.

It's right to exchange your strength for food.

Someone thought for a moment and asked, "Mr. Wen, I have a neighbor who has a small house, but her husband and children died of illness. Her husband's family doesn't care about her, and her parents' family is far away in Jingzhou. What do you think... in her case, can she join the Xianhuan Society and let the society help take care of her?"

Mr. Wen rolled his eyes and suddenly covered his stomach and said, "Ouch, my stomach hurts... Wait a minute!"

He ran to the teahouse toilet, followed closely by a man.

Releasing his hand that was covering his stomach, he frowned and asked, "Master, how do you answer this? Will Xianhuan take care of this?"

The man opposite had delicate features and was well-dressed. He was the son of the fifth family's steward, Steward Huo.

Manager Huo pondered and said, "Single elderly people are included in the list of people to be helped, but they need to be investigated by the court. For those who meet the requirements, the Xianhuan Society will guarantee their food, clothing, funeral and other issues."

"That's great..." Mr. Wen pondered for a moment and said subconsciously: "But the old woman has a house. Even if it's not in the city, a house can also manage some money... Well, how about this, the Xianhuan Society will be responsible for taking care of the old man in his old age, but the old man's inheritance will also belong to the Xianhuan Society. In this way, both parties will not suffer..."

Upon hearing this, Manager Huo looked at Mr. Wen with a slightly strange look.

Mr. Wen shrank his neck: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Manager Huo shook his head: "I don't ask for anything in return. If the prerequisite for helping the old man is to accept his inheritance, wouldn't that be an excuse for taking advantage of someone's misfortune? Although this move will be beneficial to Xianhuan, it needs to be carefully considered, and you must not use it as an excuse to repay a favor."

Mr. Wen touched his nose and muttered, "Doing good things will also get you scolded. This world is so bad..."