CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 70: A GAMBLE

Lin Wanwan feigned indifference and said, "People living by the sea, with so much sea around them, it’s quite normal to get some sea salt, cousin, why be surprised."

Xiao Chong stood up, remained silent for a while, then said, "From what you’re saying, cousin, you extracted this sea salt? Why is it being sun-dried here?"

Lin Wanwan replied, "Exactly, I did it. This is plank drying salt, much more convenient than boiling sea salt. Besides plank drying, there’s an even more convenient method called beach drying for salt production."

Xiao Chong fixed his gaze on her for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said, "Cousin, do you know that the Great Tang inherited the salt system of the previous Sui, practicing a tax-free system? You have extracted such pure salt from seawater, the benefits are enormous, could this method have been taught by your master?"

"Yes, we live secluded in the mountains, naturally being self-sufficient in everything. My late master knew five hundred years forward and backward, astronomy and geography, nothing unknown to him. This trivial salt drying method is just nothing."

To present a treasure, Lin Wanwan naturally had to boast greatly, portraying the so-called "late master" as an all-knowing wise sage, which would benefit her future development.

Already seeking a connection to salt, she had researched early Tang documents on salt policy.

In the early Tang, for recuperation and welfare, there was not only the equal-field system but also a particularly lenient salt policy. Not collecting special taxes nor monopolizing sales, not until after the An Lushan Rebellion did the Tang Dynasty start to regulate salt taxes, gradually forming the national salt monopoly system.

At present, if one had enough power to engage in salt trading, it would surely be immensely profitable.

As for the situation of the Salt Gang in Mao County, Lin Wanwan dared not be certain, but she was sure of one thing: behind the Salt Gang, there was surely the influence of a powerful family. And the Xiao Family in Jiangnan, though not native, was by now well established as one of the top noble families.

Xiao Chong smiled a bit, walked out of the glass greenhouse, and said slowly, "Cousin, which mountain did you live on before? Such a figure as your master, yet his name didn’t even get mentioned, it’s truly a regret. If there’s a chance, I would like to set up a shrine in the place where your master secluded himself."

Lin Wanwan’s vigilance rose, the performer in her emerged, showing a sorrowful face, and she said mournfully, "A nameless mountain, a heavy rain, a landslide, buried everything. So-called ’long in the cage, returned to nature’, the master grew weary of mundane disturbances, so he secluded in the mountains; why should I disturb his peace beyond? Brother, I appreciate your kind intention, but there’s no need."

Xiao Chong humbly said, "My condolences."

Lin Wanwan weakly smiled, but thought to herself, "This rhythm is off; with such a huge goldmine in front, why don’t you ask the specific method to move it away? Instead, you’re changing the subject to talk about building a shrine? Forget it, regardless of his reaction, I’ll follow my own rhythm."

"Brother, based on my observations over the past few months, the price of salt in Mao County’s workshop isn’t cheap. We live by the sea, it makes no sense for the common people to afford salt with difficulty. Look, I’ll offer the method to purify salt from seawater to the government, how about that?" Lin Wanwan tried to make herself seem exceptionally noble.

Xiao Chong halted, turned his head to look at her, and said lightly, "If cousin is willing to give up the benefits involved and do this noble act, you will surely get rewards from the court. But cousin must know, the salt drying method you mentioned contains so many benefits, perhaps far beyond what the court’s reward can match, won’t you regret it?"

The Xiao Family is undoubtedly a major power in Jiangnan, but even as part of the Xiao Family’s direct lineage, Xiao Chong has never seen pure white salt like that in Lin Wanwan’s glass greenhouse. There’s lots of green salt, and it’s expensive, not something ordinary people can enjoy.

Lin Wanwan had already thought over the pros and cons, and was not bothered at the moment and said, "Brother, I’m indifferent whether it’s given to the court. This method is my gift in return for the treasure zither you gave me; Cai Yong’s hand-made Jiaowei Zither is truly priceless. Besides, this method is both a good thing and a trouble to me, leaving it up to you is safer."

Xiao Chong’s eyes flashed with surprise, and he smiled, "Cousin knows zither well, yet this return gift is too much for me to accept. Since cousin is so generous, then I’ll thank you on behalf of the people of this world."

The two exchanged smiles.

Lin Wanwan quickly returned to the study, took out the scroll documenting the beach drying method for sea salt, and handed it to Xiao Chong: "Brother, my method for sun-drying sea salt mainly involves the salt field approach. It requires constructing salt fields on coastal flats with high temperatures, ample sunlight, and level terrain.

The first steps aren’t much different from the existing boiling method of Great Tang. Brine has to be created first, by refining low-grade seawater into fresh brine, then pouring it into salt boards, relying on sunlight to dry it into salt, saving much labor, materials, and financial resources compared to boiling salt.

The specific method is all documented clearly in this scroll, brother, go try it yourself."

Xiao Chong quickly glanced through the scroll, sighed, "It turns out to be possible this way, your master really was a great talent; not being able to meet him is indeed a major regret in life."

Lin Wanwan smiled silently.

After Xiao Chong returned to the County Government, he immediately began preparing to make sea salt based on the method, if this beach drying method proved feasible, plus the previously submitted high-yield auspicious signs — hybrid rice cultivation and sweet potato, Lin Wanwan’s reward should be considerable.

Of course, it’s possible she may be targeted by high families, but since ancient times, wealth and risk go hand in hand, this risk is worth taking.

This time with the salt drying method, Xiao Chong planned to convey the message through family internal channels, firstly to speed up the process, secondly to prevent someone from taking the fruits midway, and thirdly to provide some protection for Lin Wanwan.

This is the benefit of having someone in court.

If an ordinary County Magistrate wanted to submit to the Emperor, it would be impossible, only civil servant Third Rank and above who are dispatched can submit directly to the Emperor.

Ordinary County Magistrates can only submit their messages through state officials level by level upwards, and the "fruits" naturally have to be distributed level by level, leaving little for the common people — it might even directly eradicate the person who cultivated the fruits.

But Xiao Chong is the direct lineage of Xiao Family’s Qi Liang Room, occasional breaches of bureaucratic rules are not a big problem. Despite inevitable impacts on him, the superior can’t do anything about him.

Thinking of Lin Wanwan’s sunny smile, Xiao Chong couldn’t help but want to protect her a bit more.

The previous high-yield crop, Xiao Chong had already submitted through state officials, considered as a friendly gesture to show goodwill to superiors. Now regarding the salt method, he chose family channels, even if others had thoughts, they couldn’t say much.

With deep heritage, numerous retainers, still highly valued by Li Shimin, Xiao Family’s Qi Liang Room fears no one. Moreover, the Xiao family isn’t just the Xiao family, they have marital ties with Du Gu family, Tang Li, and Jiangnan Gu family, interests intertwined, forming a mutual prosperity circle.