The daughter of the first wife grew up in the countryside and was extremely powerful

Meng Fanchu didn't pay too much attention to it. He looked at the man with clear eyes and said with a worried look:

"Cousin, as a woman, I don't understand the affairs of the court. However, I followed my second uncle all the way here and found that the poor families in the capital are not prepared for winter. I'm afraid this winter will be very cold."

Gu Xunzhou didn't expect Meng Fanchu to say this to him. Disapproval flashed in his eyes, but he still said patiently:

"Every winter is indeed difficult for ordinary people, but this year the weather is good and they should have made preparations in advance. There shouldn't be any major problems. As a girl, you don't need to worry about these problems."

"Cousin, I grew up in the mountains with my adoptive father, so I'm quite familiar with climate change. In another two weeks, I'm afraid the weather will get even colder. If we don't prepare in advance, it will be difficult for the average family to survive."

Meng Fanchu felt a little helpless. It was indeed a bit abrupt for him to say this.

Seeing that Gu Xunzhou was a little skeptical, she continued:

"Chu'er just had some immature ideas. We used to live in the mountains, and winter was very hard to endure. We didn't have money to buy charcoal, so my adoptive father found a way to build me a warm bed."

"A heated bed?" Gu Xunzhou asked in confusion.

"Well, the bed is made of stone bricks. It's hollow inside, leaving a hole outside the room. If you add firewood inside, you can warm up the bed and heat up the room as well."

Meng Fanchu gestured with his hands as he spoke.

"The smoke is exhausted, and all the family needs to do is prepare enough firewood. If every household can have a bed like this, wouldn't it solve the problem of cold winters in the future?"

Gu Xunzhou originally thought that Meng Fanchu was talking nonsense, but the more he listened, the more he felt that this method was feasible.

Civilians freeze to death every year, but everyone chooses to turn a blind eye. After all, no solution can be a long-term solution.

Although the success of the "bed" Meng Fanchu mentioned remains to be seen, if we follow this idea, it will still have a certain effect.

"But this will also be a considerable expense. There are so many ordinary people in Beijing. Although the cost may not be much, it may still be a problem for some poor families."

The seemingly prosperous capital city actually has many dark places.

The gap between the rich and the poor is still very large.

Some people can spend money freely, while others get hurt over a penny.

Life is so unfair.

"Cousin, you have a heart full of kindness, but unfortunately, our own abilities are insufficient. There must be a reason why these impoverished families in the capital are so poor. If so, the court can set up some poverty funds, have someone investigate, and then, based on the actual situation, provide monthly subsidies to those in need."

This is also the so-called "poor households" subsidy method proposed by Meng Hewan. It must be said that this method can indeed solve many problems.

"Of course, these are just some of Chu'er's thoughts. Cousin naturally has his own thoughts. I don't really understand what goes on in the court."

Meng Fanchu actually knew that it was easy to say but difficult to implement, so Gu Xunzhou had to figure out how to do it specifically.

Gu Xunzhou exchanged a few words with Meng Fanchu, then left the yard and walked towards his study.

He thought all the way, although his cousin's methods seemed complicated and ridiculous, they actually had some tricks.

If it can be implemented, it will naturally solve a big problem.

He needs to think about it carefully.

Meng Fanchu didn't know what Gu Xunzhou would do, but she had to make sure this matter was completed. If it didn't work the first time, she would try it a second time. If it didn't work the second time, she could ask other people to cooperate.

Thinking of this, she walked to the small table on the side, picked up a pen, and started writing quickly on a piece of paper.

After a while, he called Qiutang and Baili who were waiting outside and asked:

"Where is your family? Do you have any other relatives in the capital?"

In my previous life, I didn't make use of these two people, so I don't know much about their situation.

But now there are too few people around me who can be used, and I must cultivate more loyal people.

The two looked at each other, then replied respectfully, "My dear, my family is in Liujia Village outside the city. I have an older sister in the capital, but she's already married."

Qiutang replied.

Bai Li, who was standing beside her, waited for her to finish before continuing, "I have a younger brother in the capital, but he works as a waiter in a restaurant in the city."

Meng Fanchu thought for a moment, then took out a written letter and handed it to Bai Li, saying, "I have a letter here that I need to deliver to the Taifu Mansion and give it to Taifu Shi. You are my personal maids, so it might not be appropriate for you to go there yourself. How about you ask your brother to go there? After delivering the letter, have him come directly to me."

Bai Li understood that the young lady wanted to hire someone, and if her brother was reliable, he would definitely be kept.

"Yes, ma'am, I'll make sure he does his job well."

After receiving the order, Bai Li immediately retreated and went out through the back door to look for her brother.

Meng Fanchu then said to Qiu Tang, "You and Bai Li are staying with me. I will naturally not treat you unfairly, but I also need your absolute loyalty."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tang immediately knelt down to express her sincerity: "Miss, I dare not have any second thoughts."

"Don't worry." Meng Fanchu helped the little maid up. "I just arrived in the capital, and the people in the Marquis' Mansion don't like me as a daughter, so I probably won't go back in the future. The people in the General's Mansion treat me very well, so I must learn to repay their kindness. I have a lot of things to do in the future, and I like people around me who are capable and won't hold me back, do you understand?"

If you want your own power, you have to arrange it step by step.

"Miss, this servant will never delay you."

Seeing Qiutang's determined expression, Meng Fanchu nodded, took out the small box on the dressing table, took out the silver bills inside, took out two hundred taels of silver, and handed it to Qiutang.

"I need to make some things. Later, you will go to the pharmacy outside according to the list and buy all the things in several places. Then, go and find out the more prosperous shops in the capital and ask for prices."

Business is slow in winter, so the prices in the shop should be cheaper. After buying the medicines, the remaining eight hundred taels may not be enough, but don’t we still have Master Shi?

Qiu Tang took the two hundred taels of silver and, after a moment's thought, she understood her mistress's intentions. Quick-witted, she immediately replied, "Don't worry, Miss. I understand. But if there are too many drugs, wouldn't it be too conspicuous to bring them back home?"

Meng Fanchu looked at him with admiration, and he was indeed quite smart.

"Well, don't worry, it won't be too much the first time, so it won't arouse suspicion. Wait for your shop to greet you, and then take it directly over there. Oh, and it would be best if the shop has a small courtyard."