Chapter 1429 – Continuing the Construction (3)
“These manuscripts should be useful for you; take them all back for reference,” Jiang Pengji said plainly. “There are comprehensive regulations regarding land reclamation. I’ll have someone deliver a copy to you later, and if you follow the steps, you shouldn’t make any mistakes. Zong Guang’s task is focused on how to replenish soil fertility, so come up with a detailed plan. It would be best if we can utilize it by next spring to ensure a good harvest the following year.”
Upon hearing this, Dou Xi felt a mix of excitement and wry amusement.
“This is a big task! If I do it well, I’ll have earned my title as the Agricultural Officer for real.”
But if things go south, it’s not just a tarnished reputation; it could lead to utter disgrace.
However, Dou Xi was not the type to shy away from challenges. He took a deep breath and solemnly accepted this heavy responsibility.
The first public toilets were to be built within the boundaries of Xiangyang County.
Basically, there would be one toilet per street, with each split into sections for men and women.
Due to technical limitations, while Xiangyang County had drainage systems, there weren’t any established networks specifically for dealing with waste.
If public toilets were to be constructed, they could only opt for dry toilets, with designated personnel scheduled to periodically clean the pits to keep odors manageable.
This move gained a lot of support from the common people. Though they had chamber pots at home, they were hard to manage, and not every family could build a proper restroom. When laboring or conducting business outdoors, many vendors had no choice but to find secluded spots to relieve themselves. Men had it easier, just turning their backs and pulling down their trousers in any corner. But women had it tougher.
From some perspectives, this was also a reason why women were somewhat shackled to their households.
Despite Jiang Pengji’s strict management of sanitation in Xiangyang County, there were always those who flouted the law, resolving their needs right where they stood.
On bustling main streets, people were typically cautious, but those less frequented corners were problematic. Come summer, the smell became unbearable. Sometimes, stepping outside could lead to an unfortunate encounter with a heap of waste, whether from cows, sheep, pigs, dogs, or humans.
This was the case in big cities, and small towns were even worse.
The common people seemed used to it, having little to complain about.
Unexpectedly, when Jiang Pengji made this move, the common people cheered, smiling brightly.
People cared about their dignity; even those who couldn’t read recognized the embarrassment of openly relieving themselves. In the past, they had no other choice. Having public toilets available for their physiological needs was beyond fantastic!
Most common folks were eagerly anticipating this, though not everyone supported the plan.
There are always self-important nitpickers in the world, always keen to find faults.
“What family doesn’t have a chamber pot? Why must we build these things? It’s just a waste of the people’s resources!”
These comments criticized Jiang Pengji for stirring up trouble and wasting money.
“Who needs restrooms divided by gender? Most women rarely leave home. What’s the point?”
“Public toilets may not be open air, but they’re not homes either. Is it proper for women to undress at such places? If someone sees—”
These were complaints about the futility of women’s restrooms, with others worried if their female relatives would face harassment in the toilets.
Should a woman be harassed in a public restroom, who would take responsibility for that?
When Jiang Pengji said that the women’s restrooms would be strictly monitored to ensure the safety of the women, this group had more to say.
Here’s a public building that has no profit motive, yet it consumes so much manpower for management and maintenance? Truly a waste of resources!
Jiang Pengji was like, “…”
Dealing with nitpickers was exhausting; no matter what she did, they could always find a fault.
Regardless of how these ancient “keyboard warriors” criticized her, Jiang Pengji still had her work to do.
She had a mountain of tasks at hand, needing to revise child protection laws with Han Yu multiple times, trying to ensure they aligned with contemporary ethics, while also guiding Dou Xi through myriad affairs in constant motion…
Once caught up in the whirlwind, everything else became a blur.
By the time the public toilets were completed and in use, the child protection laws took shape, and Dou Xi discovered a straightforward fertilizer enhancement plan… a month had flown by. The weather grew cooler; deep autumn had arrived. Only then did Jiang Pengji finally find a moment to breathe and paused her frantic pace.
Of course, she didn’t relax much. The administrative office was still crammed with paperwork.
As she prepared herself for the daunting reality of unfinished tasks, she spotted a slender figure resembling bamboo in the hall, bent over official documents.
Jiang Pengji rubbed her forehead and approached to ask, “Zixiao, have you recovered from your illness?”
Wei Ci looked up upon hearing her voice, his slightly pale lips curving into a warm smile.
He stood up and saluted, “Greetings, my Lord. I am well now.”
Jiang Pengji squeezed his hand; his warmth was lower than usual.
“This is what you call ‘well’? I went through so much effort getting you back to health, and just a little time away, you’ve lost all the progress. Sure, I’m busy with the administration, but we have enough hands. Why are you jumping into the fray again?” She sighed. “You should be resting properly; at the very least, you should have gained a few pounds, right?”
Jiang Pengji had a preference for a little extra softness; she liked the feeling of a bit of plushness, yet Wei Ci seemed to be the type who just wouldn’t gain weight no matter how hard he tried.
Wei Ci replied, “To be able to do something, however small, for my Lord is far more nourishing than any tonic.”
With so many matters piling up outside, watching and being anxious, how could he sit still?
Once his injuries were somewhat healed, Wei Ci hastily returned to the office.
He was a true model of hard work!
Jiang Pengji sat beside her desk, playing with his oversized sleeve. “So, Zixiao, you’re really sure you’re all better?”
Wei Ci’s gaze was somewhat puzzled, but he nodded sincerely.
“Do you remember, I mentioned that when you recovered, I’d give you a gift?”
Jiang Pengji’s lips curled into a mischievous smile, making Wei Ci’s heart race.
A sense of foreboding washed over him.
“Well, I’m almost better,” Wei Ci said cautiously, “My Lord is so kind; my family has everything they need…”
Jiang Pengji playfully pressed her finger to his lips, laughing, “Wrong, wrong, wrong! The gift I’m giving you isn’t something your family has!”
Wei Ci: “…”
How does the foreboding feeling get stronger?
Though he said that, Wei Ci waited anxiously for a long time and still didn’t see Jiang Pengji’s promised gift, causing him to let out a relieved sigh mixed with a bit of melancholy.
Had his Lord forgotten?
Absolutely not; Jiang Pengji was simply swamped with busyness.
As the year-end approached, the tasks only piled up. How could she spare time to think about personal affairs?
Anyway, that frog soup Wei Ci had been simmering for so many years wouldn’t change much whether it was early or late.
Feng Zhen saw Jiang Pengji busy yet still smiling and felt a chill run down his spine.
“Did my Lord run into some good fortune?”
Jiang Pengji threw her arm around Feng Zhen’s shoulder, grinning impudently.
“Guess!”
Feng Zhen: “…”
