After the autumn harvest, the tasks suddenly multiplied, with the sugar factory being the top priority. The beetroots had already been harvested, and now people needed to learn how to make sugar.

The cattle and sheep raised were also ready for sale. Gao Ya, who had been idle for some time, finally had to contribute.

Shuangshuang had already requested the Emperor for Gao Ya’s Imperial Merchant qualifications, and had almost finalized the team, just waiting for the products to be ready for sale.

Shuangshuang knew how to make sugar, although she couldn’t remember exactly when she learned the method. But she hadn’t practiced it before.

Before starting sugar production, Shuangshuang spent several days experimenting in the kitchen until she perfected the sugar-making technique. As for milk candy, since the cows weren’t producing much milk, there wasn’t much milk candy made.

Shuangshuang had already decided to make this sugar into tribute goods, with milk candy as the main tribute item.

In this era, milk candy didn’t exist, so its sudden appearance was sure to impress. Other fruit candies and crispy candies would be carefully selected as tributes too.

Anything that could become a tribute was of the highest quality, a living billboard that would surely attract the nobles under the Emperor’s influence. The aristocratic families would definitely spend money to indulge.

Moreover, even those who don’t love sweets can’t resist having a few pieces, let alone the vast number who are fond of sweets. There was absolutely no worry about sales.

Shuangshuang ran the sugar factory with great fervor, and under her direction, the news spread even to the surrounding Lin County.

After Shuangshuang made the sugar, she deliberately gathered the Bai Family, Chu Family, and the Imperial Merchant sent by the Emperor in Qinglin County, creating a scene where they competed to buy sugar.

Now everyone among the common people knew that Lord County Magistrate had opened a sugar factory, which was earning an incredible amount of money daily.

The farmers growing beetroots for Shuangshuang in the villages also realized that their new master was the Lord County Magistrate, and he was no fool, making a fortune with the beetroots.

All of a sudden, the common people in the streets and alleys were discussing this matter. Thanks to Shuangshuang, they would have a better winter this year. Without the fear of starving, they had the mind to gossip.

Everyone praised Shuangshuang’s clever mind, her clear governance, and her ability to earn money, full of admiration in their words.

Bright minds among them started planning to plant beetroots next year and sell them to Lord County Magistrate’s sugar factory, hoping to profit too.

Amidst this lively discussion, all village chiefs and village leaders under Qinglin County received news that Lord County Magistrate wanted them to come to the county government for a meeting.

Previously, other county magistrates had summoned village chiefs and leaders for meetings too.

However, except for Shuangshuang, the previous two county magistrates had short terms, and every time village chiefs and leaders were summoned, they returned with very bad news.

So in the past, whenever such a thing happened, villagers would anxiously gather awaiting news, but this year was different.

Even after the village chief and leaders left, the villagers gathered as usual, waiting for news, but without the usual tense atmosphere.

Women sat together with shoe soles and sewing kits, on small stools, while chatting leisurely as they worked on shoe soles.

Men held water cups, drinking and chatting about how they would spend the winter this year.

This year, every household was better off financially; during the New Year, there would definitely be meat to eat with dumplings, and they would get a few yards of cloth to make new clothes for the wives and children.

The children, having a rare luxury this year, each had a couple of handfuls of sunflower seeds or peanuts in their arms.

A few kids gathered to eat and exchanged snacks, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere, without the usual anxiety.

Soon, the village chief who went to the county government returned, stumbling slightly, looking dazed. Seeing him nearly trip over, the villagers couldn’t help but tense up a little.

A dozen villagers rushed up to surround the village chief, bombarding him with anxious questions.

"Village Chief, what’s wrong with you? Why do you look so absent-minded?"

"Village Chief, is there bad news?"

"Yes, Village Chief, please say something. You’re making us anxious, if there’s bad news, please tell us so we can be prepared."

Surrounded by people, the village chief’s wandering thoughts finally returned, and he gestured cheerfully at the worried villagers, "Shoo, shoo, it’s not bad news, it’s great news, wonderful news!"

The village chief couldn’t help but laugh loudly a few times, his face full of joy, "Do you know, our Lord County Magistrate truly cares about us common people."

Then the village chief stopped talking, turned, and knelt in the direction of the county government, kowtowing several times before standing up to finally enlighten the anxious villagers.

"Today, Lord County Magistrate summoned us because there’s a wonderful event for us. You all know about the fortune Lord County Magistrate’s sugar factory is making."

The surrounding villagers nodded repeatedly, indeed, it was rumored to have become a tribute, with many merchants journeying far just to buy sugar from Lord County Magistrate’s factory.

The village chief’s smile deepened, "Turns out, our Magistrate built this sugar factory not for personal gain, but for our benefit.

The Magistrate opened the sugar factory not to run the business personally but to pave the way for us. When the Magistrate confirmed the feasibility and profitability of the sugar factory, he decided to let us run it.

Today, when the Magistrate summoned us village chiefs and leaders, it was to inform us that he was going to teach us the sugar-making method, allowing every household to send someone to his sugar factory.

The Magistrate appointed people to teach us, ensuring we learned the sugar-making techniques. Next year, we would plant beetroots, and whether individually or cooperatively, we could establish sugar factories ourselves.

At that time, the Imperial Merchant under the Magistrate would handle the sales, but the quality of the sugar had to be good.

The Magistrate also mentioned that the best sugar produced by any household would be chosen as tribute goods for that year, sent to the Capital City to be presented to the Emperor, a tremendous honor!"

After speaking, the village chief was still trembling with excitement. His reaction was comparatively controlled, but the villagers’ responses were far more intense.

First came disbelief, then quarrels among themselves, and some slapped themselves in excitement, realizing after the sting that it was all true.

Once confirmed as true, they were overjoyed. Their first reaction was to kneel down towards Shuangshuang’s government office, fervently thanking the compassionate official.

This scene kept repeating in Qinglin County and its surrounding villages. Allegedly, two days later when Shuangshuang’s sugar factory began its classes, all those who went to learn had swollen heads, without exception.