Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

At daybreak, there was a fireman, and Ye Heng arranged for four people to cook. Twenty people built the house, some carried water and made mud, and Guoguo took a few away. Then they went up the mountain to quarry stones. Guoguo asked people to build a fire platform and set up a big pot, and some ground the stones into powder. Put water in the pot and light the fire. Several people gathered around the pot and stirred it. Slowly, white appeared on the edge of the pot, and it became thicker and thicker. When the water in the pot dried up, the fire was extinguished. After taking the pot down and cooling it, the white inside the pot was scraped off with a knife. Guoguo licked it with his fingers and said, "Salty, very salty! Everyone try it." Several people imitated Guoguo's method and said, "It's salty. Is this salt?" "Don't want the bottom of the pot, that's dregs. Only the burnt edge of the pot is needed."

"Salt's out!" "Salt's out!" everyone cheered! "Salt's valuable!" We're going to make a fortune! People jumped for joy. Salt was once hard to come by, but now it's available. Guoguo said, "Those working here get salt for free. Those with families will receive three pounds of salt per month as a reward." "Great." "Great." Ye Heng heard it from afar. "Have you made salt?" Guoguo said with a smile. "Yes." Someone scraped the salt from the pot. "This pot yields quite a bit." It just costs a lot of firewood. "I'll go chop firewood." "I'll go too." Ye Heng said, "Okay, let's divide the work. The stone needs to be ground into flour, and that requires strong people." The old soldier volunteered, "I'm strong, so I'll grind the stone into flour." Ye Heng said, "You guys work first. Once things settle down, we'll decide who does what. You can choose yourselves. You'll get paid. One hundred coins per day, with a raise after six months." The old soldiers chorused, "Okay, no pay, but food is fine. Let's all do it." "Guoguo said: "I still need you to earn money to marry a wife! Don't work too hard, take it easy. This is not half a day's work, we do it all year round! Take a break when you are tired." "Okay, I will listen to you, Guoguo."

These days, starting with the salt production, they've added more pots, now five, processing. Guoguo brought out a ton of sacks. They filled up a tent. Yeheng had Chai Dong as accountant, keeping a daily attendance list for the cooks, the woodcutters, and the stone grinders. Guoguo kept a spreadsheet for a month. Name, date, military branch, and job description were all displayed on the spreadsheet, clearly and understandably. Chai Dong and Chai Xin quickly learned the ropes.

Ye Heng arranged, "Chai Xin, you are in charge of everything, that is, overall management. Chai Dong manages the staff's attendance, as well as all the items in the warehouse, and the storage and delivery." Guoguo added, "Grandpa Dong, worry about the work." Chai Dong said, "Don't worry, Guoguo, I will remember it. The wages are the same, and there will be subsidies for special work. For example, in the hot summer, there will be high temperature subsidies. Grandpa Dong, these are all your concerns. Grandpa Xin, you are responsible for the overall work. Safety is the first priority." Chai Xin said seriously, "I remember it." Ye Heng said, "Guoguo and I can't stay for long. We will take care of you for a few more days and then we have to leave. If there is anything you don't understand, just ask."

That day, the village sent a waterwheel, and Jiahe led the team, helping to install it. Veterans had already cleared a fair bit of land, so Guoguo brought out a few oxen, plowshares, hoes, and hoes, saying, "If there's not enough, have the villagers make some and bring them over. Grandpa Dong, this is all your responsibility. Keep a record of everything that comes in and out, including the income and expenditure in the ledger, with the dates clearly written down."

Guoguo printed out a table and helped record it. There were notes at the end.

A few days later, Guoguo left behind a notebook and sacks of flour, rice, millet, vegetables, and meat, filling three large tents. "Ask your family to bring any food you don't have in advance. Keep track of the amount; you'll have to pay for it." Chai Dong said, "I understand. Everything coming in and out needs to be accounted for." Ye Heng said, "Right. A monthly general ledger." Guoguo helped print out numerous forms: a payroll form for payroll, a goods form for goods entering and leaving the warehouse, and so on. Ye Heng and Guoguo stayed there for a month, and all the vats were filled with spiritual spring water.

Ye Heng drove the carriage away, and before leaving, Guo said, "Everyone will have one day off after working for a few days. Everyone will be paid, and no deductions are allowed. Four days off per month."

Chai Xin said: "I remember it."

Later, Ye Heng and Guo Guo came back and gave everyone a raise, four taels of silver per person per month. Chai Xin and Chai Dong were the chief stewards, and Ye Heng gave them one hundred taels of silver per month.

Guoguo considered the market, and Ye Heng said, "Don't worry if we have the goods. We'll bring them back to the village first, then send them to the county and the provincial capital. Salt merchants have huge profits, so we need to keep this in our own hands." Ye Heng continued, "We'll talk about it in the capital. I'll have Butler Ye arrange it." "Then I won't worry about it. You worry about it." They returned with a bag of salt, ready to take it to the capital to show the emperor.

They stayed at the Chai family for two days. When they returned this time, Zhang Qing was going to the capital, and so were Qin Han and Qin Binbin. Guo Guo said, "Go ahead." Ye Heng looked at Guo Guo and said nothing. Guo Guo said, "It's okay."