Gao Mei strongly agreed with Madam Liu's words. She raised her voice and said, "Uncle Ding, the head steward at Master and Madam's mansion in the capital, has long since told us to change our address. We should call the eldest young lady 'Madam'. All the mistresses of large noble families in the capital are called 'Madam'!"
Everyone felt enlightened and nodded in agreement, stating they would change their address to "Madam" from now on.
"Don't be too formal, everyone. Call me whatever you like," Bai Sheng said with a hearty laugh. "As Brother Feng and Brother Zhao told me, the village is now mainly managed by Uncle Gao and the two Uncle Wangs, right?"
Gao Mei's father, Little Ma's father, and Bamboo Pole's father all responded with shy smiles.
Bai Sheng asked Lu Ye to take a wooden chest out of the carriage. Upon opening it, it revealed stacks of gleaming silver.
"Heavens, so much silver!"
The villagers watching widened their eyes and gasped in amazement.
Bai Sheng smiled and said, "Last year, I promised that if our Red Tree Village worked hard and achieved excellent results this year, I would donate 2,000 taels of silver to the village for the Chinese New Year. This would allow everyone to organize a proper Red Tree Village Spring Festival Gala and also reward villagers who have outstanding performance in various aspects.
I have written down the specific procedures for the gala, the award settings, and precautions in a booklet. This booklet and the 2,000 taels of silver will be kept by the three uncles. All expenses should be recorded and made public to the villagers. I hope our Red Tree Village develops more and more prosperously, and everyone's life gets better and better!"
As soon as Bai Sheng finished speaking, the villagers erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Lu Ye had Bamboo Pole's father and Little Ma's father carry the silver to the village committee for safekeeping.
He then called for Ma San and instructed him to properly arrange the affairs of the guard team. After all, the journey to the capital would be quite long, and the village's safety and defense could not be neglected.
With the village matters roughly settled, Tian Guihua loudly addressed everyone, "Alright, everyone, disperse. Our Master and Grand—Madam have been driving carriages for half a month, and they are very tired. Don't disturb their rest today. Go back home."
Only then did the villagers reluctantly scatter.
Gao Mei's parents and younger brother, carrying the large packages brought back from the capital, walked home happily, one step after another.
Upon arriving home, Gao Mei proudly declared, "Father, Mother, guess how much silver I've earned in the past two years?"
Gao Mei's father extended two fingers, "Twenty taels?"
"Oh my, that much?" Gao Mei's mother nudged her husband with her elbow.
Gao Mei narrowed her eyes and looked at her mother, playfully chiding, "Mother, you don't believe me that much?"
Gao Mei's mother chuckled, "Really, twenty taels?"
"Indeed!" Gao Mei poured the silver from her cloth bag onto the wooden table with a rustle, proudly declaring, "A full eighty taels!"
"Eighty taels? Oh my, our family is rich! Our family has money now!" Gao Mei's mother clucked like a hen and laughed triumphantly.
"Daughter, how did you earn so much money?" Gao Mei's father was worried his daughter might have done something illicit.
"Besides my wages, Madam also often gives us bonuses and red envelopes, which I've saved all together," Gao Mei said with a face full of pride.
"Heh heh, Old Sun, you are no longer the pillar of our family. Our daughter is!" Gao Mei's mother said, her eyes shining as she held the silver.
Gao Mei's father grinned foolishly, "Oh, my Old Sun, raising a daughter is even more capable than raising sons!"
Upon hearing this, Ga Dunzi immediately felt a sense of urgency, "Father, Mother, I will earn a lot of money when I grow up, even more than my sister!"
Gao Mei's father shook his head, "Your sister is following Madam. In terms of making money, you should just accept your fate."
"Can I also follow Madam?" Ga Dunzi asked hopefully.
Gao Mei's mother patted his head, "What are you following Madam for, you are a boy?"
"Madam has already helped one child in our family. We shouldn't be so greedy or presumptuous. Unless Master and Madam need it and bring it up themselves, none of us are allowed to ask!" Gao Mei's father said sternly.
"Yes, Father is right," Gao Mei nodded seriously.
Gao Mei's mother also nodded.
Listening to his parents and sister, Ga Dunzi looked forward to the day Master and Madam would mention his name.
Gao Mei then took out the clothes, shoes, and various food items she had bought for her family.
Gao Mei's father immediately put on a new set of clothes, intending to seize the opportunity to show off. He wanted to make those bastards who mocked him for doting on his daughter back then green with envy!
Little Ma, Bamboo Pole, and Lu Xing all asked Lu Ye to bring back money and gifts for their families. Lu Ye had Zhao Dazhuang and Huang Gousheng deliver them to each household.
The last time it rained heavily, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye had returned. Now, after more than three months, upon returning, they found that Red Tree Village had truly undergone earth-shattering changes.
That rain had lasted for more than twenty days. The entire Tianshui Town had absorbed so much moisture that various plants in the sandy soil had all sprouted.
As the climate in Tashajun was very similar to the Pearl River Delta in modern times, being warm and not cold in winter, the trees in the village had grown lush and green, presenting a vibrant scene everywhere.
Lu Ye and Bai Sheng, riding on Black Wind's back, looked at the undulating green landscape around them with immense satisfaction. Their efforts over the past two years had truly paid off.
Perhaps this was the meaning of Heavenly Dao tossing her into the desert. Bai Sheng felt she had lived up to Heavenly Dao's intentions.
The vast wheat fields were planted with lush green wheat.
The fruit trees in the orchard had grown exceptionally strong. Every time Bai Sheng returned, she would secretly water the fruit trees with spiritual spring water, so this year they had harvested the first batch of fruit.
Feng Pingyuan and Zhao Dazhuang had not sold a single fruit; they had distributed it all to the villagers.
This was also Bai Sheng's instruction. Although she had given the villagers a way to live, the villagers had also repaid her with sincerity and worked diligently. Naturally, she couldn't be too stingy.
The cactus and aloe vera gardens had been expanded, and the workshops were also continuously growing. Almost everyone in the village now had a way to earn a living.
Although it was only the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, every household in the village had hung red lanterns and auspicious red knots, creating a festive atmosphere.
Besides Red Tree Village, the entire Tashajun had also undergone earth-shattering changes.
The diligent efforts of Prince Yu and Minister Ji had truly changed the entire prefecture. The heavy rain a few months ago had made Tashajun famous overnight.
Prince Yu, Minister He, and Minister Ji had seized the opportunity to encourage all the people in the prefecture to plant and protect trees by offering bonuses. This not only allowed the common people to survive but also improved the ecological environment of the entire prefecture. In the near future, Tashajun would no longer be the most remote and impoverished desert prefecture it once was.
Because Bai Sheng's planting method required a small amount of soil and straw, Prince Yu had specifically organized a transportation team to transport soil and straw from Qingzhou.
Although the journey was long, with persistent effort and the encouragement of the entire Tashajun population to start planting trees, the entire Tashajun was now covered with small green trees.
It was said that the people of Tashajun had even built a merit temple for Prince Yu and Minister Ji, placing their stone statues in the temple for worship.
Later, they felt that Minister He had also contributed significantly, so they sculpted a stone statue for him as well. However, Minister He's statue was clearly smaller than those of Prince Yu and Minister Ji, and it was carved rather roughly, with Minister He even lacking nostrils.
Bai Sheng, however, felt that this merit temple was fitting for Prince Yu and Minister Ji.
After all, in times like these, there were almost no princes who would use their own money to subsidize a region and genuinely consider the welfare of the people. Prince Yu was truly unprecedented.