Who understands? He traveled through time with a high-spec spatial ability.

Qiao Jingjing had planned ahead: when dealing with officials, if you beat around the bush, they'll beat around the bush too. And the person she was going to meet happened to be her friend's father.

Therefore, she decided to take a direct approach as a junior.

If the other party is interested, continue the conversation; if not, just consider it a joke from someone young and naive.

Clearly, Lu Qinbei was taken aback by her direct approach. He was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

Lu Yuan grew anxious. "Dad, what are you laughing at? Let her finish."

Qiao Jingjing didn't say anything, but watched as Magistrate Lu finished laughing and glared at Lu Yuan, "You brat, go and ask your mother what she has prepared for lunch. It's not right to not treat your friends well when they come over."

Lu Yuan didn't move, but glanced at Qiao Jingjing. He wasn't stupid; he knew his father wanted to get rid of him.

Magistrate Lu kicked him, "Hurry up! Stop dawdling."

Qiao Jingjing gave Lu Yuan a reassuring look, and Lu Yuan got up and left.

“Uncle Lu, I misspoke just now. Let me ask you another question: Would you like to do something practical for the people in your jurisdiction?”

Lu Qinbei remained silent and sat back down at his desk.

"What difference does it make whether I want to or not to think about it?" The question was thrown back at them.

Qiao Jingjing smiled and said, "Of course there are advantages to thinking about it. As for not thinking about it, I am too ignorant to guess the outcome."

"Little girl, stop beating around the bush. How much do you really know about the ways of officialdom?"

Qiao Jingjing replied, "I have done some research on that."

"Oh?! Tell me about it."

Qiao Jingjing said solemnly, "As far as I know, the 'Great Liang Code' requires officials to be assessed every three years. The assessment includes the local population, outstanding political achievements, social security and stability, and tax revenue, among other things."

Even you, the county magistrate, are divided into three classes—upper, middle, and lower—based on different tax payment situations. Am I correct?

Lu Qinbei instinctively replied, "You're right. There is indeed a difference in rank among county magistrates. Please continue."

"The assessment content, no matter which one, cannot be separated from one word—money! This is truly a key factor! When the people have more money in their hands, their sense of happiness will naturally be stronger."

When a place has enough money, it will attract more people from other places and merchants to come and settle down.

Do you think so? "

Lu Qinbei's eyes were burning. "That's interesting. Go on."

"As a result, the amount of tax revenue collected will increase accordingly. If this virtuous cycle continues, not only will the population increase, but social order will also be effectively maintained and stabilized."

After all, when people are prosperous, social order will be more harmonious and orderly. Only through reasonable policies and measures to allow money to circulate can local prosperity and people's peaceful and happy lives be achieved. After saying this, he picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea; his mouth was dry from talking so much.

Lu Qinbei then asked, "How do we get the money circulating?"

Qiao Jingjing remained silent, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, walked to Lu Qinbei's desk, unfolded the handkerchief in her palm, and placed it in front of him.

What do you think of these rice seeds?

Magistrate Lu felt the topic had changed too quickly, but he still carefully examined the rice seeds. As a re-elected magistrate of Nanling County, he was very knowledgeable about people's livelihoods.

"hiss!"

"This rice seed is excellent. Each grain is whole, plump, and uniform, without any broken or fragmented pieces. It has high firmness, and the seed coat is bright and glossy. Where did you get it?"

Qiao Jingjing explained, "These are rice seeds that my family saved. Uncle Lu, can you guess the yield of this rice seed?"

Magistrate Lu became interested: "In a good year, the harvest is about 2 shi (a unit of dry measure), and 3 shi in a better year. As for this rice seed, I guess it's about 4 shi, or around 500 jin (another unit of dry measure). Am I right?"

Qiao Jingjing didn't keep you in suspense, "My juniors just tried it in October before the Lunar New Year, and the gross weight of the harvest was 965 jin. If we dry it and remove the losses, the net weight can be more than 10 jin."

"what!!!"

Lu Qinbei could no longer sit still. He stood up excitedly and said, "Girl, is what you said true? Is it really a harvest of over 9 jin?"

Qiao Jingjing nodded solemnly!

Immediately, Lu Qinbei realized something was wrong. "You just said October? I remember the rice harvest is in July."

Qiao Jingjing smiled and said, "This is the second thing I want to tell you today: double-cropping rice can be grown in Nanling and even the whole of Runan."

Magistrate Lu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "So, this means that if we plant this kind of rice for two seasons, one mu of land can yield about 1800 jin!?"

"You could think of it that way."

Magistrate Lu paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, countless thoughts flashing through his mind. He thought about his duties, the people's expectations, and his own future.

If this comes to fruition, a promotion is inevitable. However, if the capital finds out, I fear the trouble will outweigh the achievements.

Even at this point, he still hadn't made up his mind, and Qiao Jingjing could see his hesitation. She decided to give him another push.

"Uncle Lu, increasing production is one thing, but improving the efficiency of agricultural production would also be a great achievement."

I have the blueprints for the threshing machine and the nine-toothed furrow. When you have the power of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Agriculture, will you still be afraid of trouble coming to your door?

"I'm afraid those people are begging you to treat them to meat and soup."

I didn't give him time to think too much: "Your uncle should understand the principle that opportunities and risks go hand in hand, and that opportunities don't come twice."

Finally, Lu Qinbei made his decision. His voice was firm and powerful.

"Someone, notify Registrar He, Magistrate Li, and Clerk Ma to come to the county office immediately. If they are not at home, wait until they return and come to the county office as quickly as possible."

"Girl, you went to so much trouble to convince me, you didn't just do it to be a good person, did you?"

Qiao Jingjing smiled and said, "I can't hide it from you. I'm no saint. All of this is because I need something from Uncle Lu."

If the county government decides to promote the new rice variety, I would like to request the county magistrate to write to the imperial court that when purchasing rice seeds from Daba Village after the first rice harvest for promotion, the price should be 10 wen per jin higher than the market price.

Furthermore, I would like to ask the county magistrate to clearly define the distribution of merits, as I do not wish to remain unknown.

Lu Qinbei was moved by her honesty and began to think more highly of her. Having been in officialdom for many years, he had seen many people with twists and turns, but it was her straightforwardness and lack of embarrassment about her ambition that made him more admirable.

Qiao Jingjing actually had a lot more to say, but she understood that too much of a good thing can be bad.

Besides, we'd have to repeat ourselves once everyone from the county government arrives. It's better to wait a little longer.