Peerless Physician: The Path of a Foolish Eldest Daughter's Rise to Power

In Gujiazhuangzi, there were only thatched houses, and many of them had collapsed.

Everyone has dug everything out of the room today, so sleeping tonight is a problem, especially with the children involved.

Gu Xinyue asked Liu Cheng, "Brother Liu, this house here is going to be rebuilt. What are your plans?"

"Master, how about we build a thatched house? It'll be faster and save money."

"And you?" Gu Xinyue asked Li the accountant.

"If it's a thatched hut, it will collapse in another earthquake, and the house will need frequent repairs. If it's a brick house, the cost will be much higher. Bricks are expensive to begin with, and they will be even more expensive in the event of a disaster."

"First, estimate how many rooms you'll need to build based on the brick house model, and how much silver it will cost. Oh, and by the way, what are you going to do tonight?"

"Let's repair the roofs of the collapsed houses with higher walls first, so we can squeeze in and sleep there; it will be warmer."

"That's not safe."

"Let's make do for today, and start building the house tomorrow."

“Brother Gu, how many people can we accommodate over there? We’ll make do for a few days during this special period. Send someone to invite Master Guo to the Gu residence. If you have any skilled kiln operators, bring them over.”

"Miss, I'll take care of it right away."

Gu Xinyue said to Liu Cheng and Accountant Li, "You two should also hurry up and make the budget. Send the results to the Gu residence as soon as they are ready."

Sister Liu came over and said, "Miss, the steamed buns for disaster relief can't all be made of white flour. There will be a lot of people tomorrow, so we need to add more dark flour so that everyone can have enough to eat."

She hadn't expected this. Growing up in a peaceful and prosperous modern country, eating white flour buns every day, she didn't realize that many people here couldn't afford white flour.

"Sister Liu, you're right, we'll make adjustments."

Back at the Gu residence, Master Li was already in the study with his eight children, giving lessons.

Granny Liu said happily that these children were eager to do the work she was doing. They were happy to have work to do and would definitely be good children who would repay kindness in the future.

Gu Xinyue smiled. People will encounter many things in their lives, and the future is uncertain. She hopes that no matter what difficulties the children encounter, they will maintain their current positive and optimistic attitude.

Guo Qingshan arrived, and his men brought a cart full of rice and flour, fearing that Gu Xinyue might not have enough.

Gu Xinyue knew that the children she had taken in, as well as the people on the estate, meant that the more people there were, the more resources they would consume. It would be troublesome if they couldn't buy anything even with money, so she happily accepted the gifts.

Guo Qingshan lowered his voice and said to Gu Xinyue, "Tomorrow, we need to add dark flour to the porridge and steamed buns. People have desires."

With reminders from Sister Liu and Guo Qingshan, she realized that those people couldn't even solve their basic needs for food and clothing. When she distributed porridge, most people were very happy and grateful to the giver for not only providing food but also white flour buns that they couldn't afford on a normal day. However, some people developed a resentment towards the rich.

In the hall, Gu Xinyue briefly explained the matter of building houses on the estate, and then asked Guo Qingshan, "Master Guo, what is the current price of bricks in Su County?"

“There are no brick factories in Suxian County, and only one in Mianzhou. Transporting bricks to Suxian County would incur costs. If there were a factory in Suxian County, the transportation costs would be lower, but none of us know how to make bricks.”

"These are my brick-making methods and some ideas on firing porcelain. Of course, I haven't put them into practice; they're all just theoretical." Gu Xinyue said, handing the completed paper to Guo Qingshan.

Guo Qingshan glanced at it, then handed it to the middle-aged of the three people next to him, and then said to Gu Xinyue, "Miss Gu, Zhang Xing's ancestors were ceramic makers. When they encountered trouble in his generation, they brought their families to the mountain villa."

Gu Xinyue's refusal to pry into their privacy suggests she was desperate and sought out Master Guo, which also indicates they were capable of brick making; the methods she described were found in 21st-century books.

A moment later, Zhang Xing said happily, "I didn't expect you to be so skilled in ceramics. It really does require mastering the temperature and the materials used in the kiln. I will try it based on my experience and your suggestions. I'm sure I can make good finished products. Making bricks is no problem. Thank you, young lady!"

He thanked Gu Xinyue and said to Master Guo, "Master, there is no vegetation on the mountains south of Su County. We can build brick workshops and ceramic workshops."

"Good, this way everyone can build houses and have another source of income. I'll go find the magistrate now."

Just as Master Guo and his group left, Li Liang arrived.

Gu Xinyue looked at Liang and said, "Accountant Li, what are you planning to do?"

"Master, we plan to rebuild the thatched houses on the original site tomorrow. We only need manpower. We will live here temporarily and use these thatched houses as storage rooms when we can build brick houses later."

"Very good, let's do it your way. How's Master Zhuangzi's reading going?"

"Li Liang will always remember the great kindness of his employer. The children learn faster than the adults, but they are very dedicated."

"That's good. Aren't you planning on a scientific expedition?"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to get into the examination hall. As long as I can get in, I'm sure I'll pass with flying colors."

"I look forward to your success in the imperial examination. If you encounter any difficulties, seek out Master Guo of Mingyue Manor."

"Thank you, sir. I am originally from the Li family of Dengzhou. After my mother fell in love with my father, she broke with her family and went to Dengzhou. After they got married, they lived in the suburbs of Dengzhou. My mother usually stayed at home to take care of her husband and children, while my father was often away from home. It wasn't until I was sixteen and could not participate in the prefectural examination that my mother learned that my father was from the prestigious Li family of Dengzhou and that he also had a wife and children. My father's wife and children could not tolerate my existence and canceled my examination. It was during the first argument between my mother and father that I learned that my mother had changed her name and moved to Dengzhou in order to live a better life with my father."

Li Liang looked at Gu Xinyue, sighed, and said, "My mother was too foolish. She couldn't understand why my father had lied to her, making her a laughingstock. She fell ill and eventually passed away. When I was sorting through her belongings, I found that she had intermittently kept records of her life, so I burned them for her."

Li Liang paused for a moment, then continued, "I learned from my mother's records that her original surname was Zhang. Shihou Town in Suxian County is where my mother and father first met. Five years ago, after burying my mother, I came here."

"Those who don't heed the advice of their elders will suffer the consequences." This passionate love ultimately vanished like smoke. Gu Xinyue felt she was bad at comforting people and didn't know what to say, so she simply remained silent.

"My father hurt my mother, and he doesn't need me to be his son. I'm changing my surname; from now on, I'll be called Zhang Liang."

"Zhang Liang, alright, I've got it. Go ask Master Guo to help you register your household there."

"Thank you, sir. I will prepare for the scientific expedition. I'll be leaving now."

Gu Xinyue's love, which she had blinded her mind to, ultimately ended in heartbreak. I wonder if her parents are still alive? How heartbroken they must be to know that their child's passionate love ended so tragically.

She misses her mother too; she's been dreaming about her a lot lately. It's probably because she's been thinking about her during the day that she dreams about her at night.

Huilan stewed two chickens tonight to nourish the children.

At the dinner table, the children were full of excitement. They had only smelled the aroma of chicken on the street, but they didn't know what it tasted like. They were very polite, always taking their first bite after the adults.

Gu Yang stood up and put two pieces of chicken in each child's bowl, letting them help themselves to the soup.

The children were excited while eating, and their satisfaction was written all over their faces after they were full.

This time, all the houses in the Gu residence were put to use. Gu An and his three companions lived in the east wing with Master Li, the six boys lived in the two rooms next to the east wing, Su Shuang and Su Xue lived in the outer room of Gu Xinyue's house, and Granny Liu and Huilan lived in the west wing. The front yard and the west wing were left for the people on the estate.