Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 509 - 453: Rock Oil

Sun Manhong was worried about the sales of red sausage, but Yu Xiaolian wasn’t worried, because even before her red sausage was made, she had already received orders from various inns and restaurants in Yangcheng.

Yu Xiaolian knew that these businessmen were eager to order red sausage because she was the County Magistrate’s Wife.

However, there’s no reason not to use her identity as the County Magistrate’s Wife. She hasn’t done anything unethical; the food is delicious and benefits the people, so she’s doing good and righteous deeds.

"Just red sausage, red sausage, our Yangcheng can’t even digest it all internally, so there’s no need to worry about sales!" Yu Xiaolian said, pushing a plate of sliced red sausage in front of Sun Manhong.

"Sister Manhong, you eat! I haven’t had time to come over lately, is everything okay with you all? Are you lacking anything, and has Steward Liu bought it all for you?"

Sun Manhong nodded, "He bought it, Steward Liu bought clothes for the three of us, two sets each for changing, and they are all good materials. Little Sister Xiaolian, I heard from Steward Liu that preparing these things for us cost nearly ten taels of silver. Isn’t this spending too much?"

Sun Manhong knew Yu Xiaolian was a relative of her family, but she didn’t want to receive benefits without doing anything in return. Yu Xiaolian providing them a place to stay and food to eat already made them very content.

Receiving such expensive clothes made Sun Manhong feel ’uncomfortable’ wearing the new clothes.

"Sister Manhong, you don’t need to worry about the money. In the future, you just manage the Red Sausage Factory well for me. You’re my cousin, and I trust you with the factory!"

Yu Xiaolian had also heard Sun Chunfang talk about Sun Erlin’s two daughters before, and Sun Chunfang had nothing but praise for Sun Manhong, so Yu Xiaolian also greatly trusted Sun Manhong’s character at this moment.

Sun Manhong suddenly burst into tears, "Little Sister Xiaolian, don’t worry. I will definitely help you take care of our family’s business well. Not a single pig hair will be mixed into the meat sausage."

Yu Xiaolian took out her handkerchief to wipe Sun Manhong’s tears, "I have already sent a letter to Yu State, and I believe they will reply in two or three months.

By that time, if you want to go to Yu State, I’ll send someone to escort you there!"

Sun Manhong nodded. After her in-laws passed away, she had gone to find her sister Sun Manxue, only to learn that while her sister’s family was doing well, her sister had died, leaving Sun Manhong heartbroken. At that time, she was alone with two children in the Northern Land, without any relatives and almost lost the courage to live.

Thinking back now, she was fortunate to persevere with her two children, or she wouldn’t have had the good days she has now.

"Sister Manhong, the cave you lived in is located between Beiwai and Deyang Town. Have you noticed anything unusual about Deyang Town?" Yu Xiaolian asked casually.

Unexpectedly, Sun Manhong’s complexion changed, her eyes filled with panic as she glanced around, then got up to close the door.

"Little Xiaolian, there is stone lacquer in the back mountain of Deyang Town, and that stone lacquer mixes with the spring water and flows down the mountain. Later, someone discovered that the stone lacquer can be used to light lamps for illumination. Villagers started using chicken tail feathers to dip the lacquer in bottles. I have also gone to dip it, and no one expected that the thing could keep flowing. Everyone said that the heavens pitied the common people of Northern Land and brought money up from underground.

However, when I finished using up my jar of stone lacquer and wanted to go back to get more, I found that the area was sealed off by government officers, prohibiting entry to the mountain.

Not only were we not allowed to enter the mountain, but even the hunters were prohibited from going there.

When Yu Xiaolian heard this from Sun Manhong, she finally understood Jun Mobai’s secret in Deyang Town. Without a local person telling them, they wouldn’t know where to inquire, especially about something that might bring trouble or even a mortal danger, which ordinary people keep secret.

"That stone lacquer coming out from underground?" Yu Xiaolian knew that at this time, stone lacquer was petroleum, but wasn’t petroleum generally hidden deep underground? And now it’s coming out on its own?

"I dipped oil downstream using chicken feathers. The oil flowed down from the top, and I didn’t go up the mountain, but I heard from Hunter Li that the stone lacquer up there is yellow, and what comes down is black." Because she was puzzled why the stone lacquer would turn from yellow to black, Sun Manhong remembered what Hunter Li said, but other things she didn’t remember much.

At that time, many nearby villagers knew about the stone lacquer, but they knew that once the government found out, the stone lacquer would be nationalized, so everyone tacitly dipped oil and no one gave a tip-off to the government.

However, some people were greedy and weren’t satisfied with just using the stone lacquer themselves. They took the stone lacquer to sell in town. When one person made money by selling stone lacquer, others were sure to imitate, and that’s how the Deyang Town’s Posthouse Minister found out about the stone lacquer. Wei Dachun, in order to seek recognition from the newly appointed Linzhou King, bypassed his superior County Magistrate Qian and reported the stone lacquer matter to Jun Mobai.

Jun Mobai was short of money at the time, and the appearance of stone lacquer was undoubtedly delivering money to him. The stone lacquer could be used not only for lubricating axles but also for lighting, igniting for cooking, and warming in winter, whether for civilian use or military, it was greatly useful.

After inquiring about the specific location of the stone lacquer from Sun Manhong, Yu Xiaolian reminded Sun Manhong, "Sister Manhong, don’t talk about this matter to others in the future to avoid inviting trouble."

Sun Manhong hurriedly nodded, "It’s just because you asked me. I pretend I don’t know anything if anyone else asks!"

Yu Xiaolian smiled, "I haven’t been here for the past few days. How’s the food in the factory? Has Steward Liu improved everyone’s meals?"

Even without Yu Xiaolian asking, Sun Manhong wanted to talk to her about this matter, "Little Sister Xiaolian, does the food need improving? Those in the raw meat department don’t get in touch with finished products, and most don’t get to eat anything. As for those in the smoking group, who isn’t sneaking bites? I’ve caught them several times."

Yu Xiaolian knew that stealing food might be an unavoidable problem in food factories. Even in modern times, where there are surveillance cameras in food workshops, people sneak food. Let alone in ancient times when there were no cameras.

"You caught them? How did you handle it?" Yu Xiaolian asked.

Sun Manhong replied, "How would I know how to handle this? I was afraid of offending you, so I handed it over to Steward Liu to handle."

"Oh, do you know how Steward Liu dealt with it?"

"Steward Liu deducted their wages for the day and said that if they stole food again, they would be fined three days’ wages. If there was a third time, they would be sent back home directly, no need to work anymore."

Sun Manhong actually quite admired Steward Liu. After interacting these few days, she found that Steward Liu was thoughtful in everything, and anything she didn’t understand, Steward Liu did.

Yu Xiaolian was quite satisfied with Steward Liu’s punishment. If the penalty was too heavy, it might be counterproductive. If left unchecked, it could result in a loss.