Chapter 330

Wang Xiujin had given the proposal of building houses serious consideration. In the current era, families often squeezed together in a single dwelling, bound by the traditional notion that children should not establish separate households while their parents were still alive. Wang Xiujin could not judge the rightness or wrongness of such customs; they were simply a product of the times. In truth, even if he provided the houses, there was no guarantee people would buy them, especially since he had stipulated that these properties could not be resold to outsiders—a condition that would likely deter many. However, he was not worried about a lack of buyers.

Not everyone in a family held a position of importance. Given the opportunity, some would surely jump at the chance to establish their own household. Furthermore, his pricing would be low, essentially allowing them to live there for next to nothing. If they were thrifty, the money they earned and saved over a few years would be enough to purchase several properties elsewhere.

Wang Xiujin had previously pondered whether his workshops and shops should adopt a succession system—letting children inherit their parents' positions. However, he dismissed the idea after realizing that a tiger’s cub is not necessarily fierce. Instead, he proposed a policy of priority consideration: if a worker’s child possessed talent and good character, they would be hired, but if they were incompetent, there was no reason for him to support idlers. Although he had placed many of his industries under the imperial banner, they were, in reality, his own private assets, and he was no fool to pay for dead weight.

Building houses was not as simple as it seemed. While there were still many vacant lots within the capital, Wang Xiujin had no intention of building on the outskirts. The primary purpose of these houses was to provide convenience for his workers; if he built them far away, it would defeat the purpose, even with modern transport. He needed to discuss purchasing land with the Fourth Prince and have the construction crews under the Prince’s name handle the building. Naturally, the wealth should remain within his own circle.

As the Fourth Prince expanded his construction teams, others began to spot the business opportunities. While they couldn't encroach upon the capital, they began to carve out territory in other cities. From relocation to construction, many three-to-four-story buildings sprang up. Both the officials and the construction contractors profited, but this development brought both benefits and drawbacks.

Whether rented or sold, tall buildings were lucrative. Yet, issues of safety and quality inevitably followed. Driven by profit, some contractors cut corners, leading to building collapses mere months after completion. There were also instances of officials embezzling funds during relocation and poor safety standards during construction, leading to fatal accidents. For a time, these incidents brought down many corrupt officials and led to the execution of several project managers. Yet, none of this could bring back the lives lost to such negligence.

In the wake of these tragedies, a new rule was enforced: any construction project, regardless of location, had to be registered at a sub-bureau under the Ministry of Revenue in the capital. Ministry officials were required to be present throughout the construction process; if any issues arose, they would be held accountable, and if a life was lost, they would lose their positions. The staff in the Ministry of Revenue were known for their meticulous, unwavering standards, leaving no room for ambiguity. This measure significantly reduced accidents, though it infuriated the contractors, who felt their profits were being squeezed by the strict oversight. Since the bureau had been established by the Emperor’s decree, however, they had no choice but to swallow their resentment.

Some would complain that the Emperor was like a magistrate who could set fires but forbade the commoners from lighting lamps, questioning why the Fourth Prince’s construction teams were not subjected to the same scrutiny. Before these grumblers could finish their complaints, they were often kicked out by shop assistants, who would spit on the ground in disgust. They would mock the complainers, noting that the Fourth Prince’s salt was finer and cheaper than any other, and his buildings never had issues—unlike the disaster-prone projects of the critics.

After learning of such an incident, one shopkeeper poured out the soup from a bowl on the table, cleared the spot, and told the diners at that table that their meal was on the house. The shopkeeper did not care about the status of the person he had splashed. His employer was a well-known philanthropist who had bought a new house for his son. Though the employer was a bit portly, he was far from heavy enough to collapse a building. Yet, while visiting the new home with his son, he had stepped into a void on the second floor and fallen, suffering a leg injury. The bones were so difficult to set due to his weight that he was still unable to walk.

The staff at the restaurant had all benefited from their employer's kindness and harbored deep hatred for those who had harmed him. Seeing such a person fall into their hands, they itched to punch him to vent their frustration.

The others dining with the man, sensing the danger, slipped away. They were all profiteers with guilty consciences, and none wanted to be pelted with rotten vegetables. The man who had been splashed with soup was also intimidated, but his arrogance soon flared up again. "Do you know who I am? You’ll pay for this with your lives!"

"I would very much like to know who you are," a voice boomed. A man stepped out from the crowd, dressed in plain clothes but exuding an air of authority. It was the Imperial Inspector, dispatched by the Emperor. The Inspector had come from the Censorate and was one of Lord Wang’s most formidable subordinates. Because the Censorate’s reputation overshadowed the other three similar bureaus, the Emperor had delegated the oversight of Imperial Inspectors to them, arranging for one person to tour the country annually to root out corruption. The current Inspector had been highly successful during his years at the Censorate, even donating to the national treasury like Lord Wang. Having toured many places and arrested many criminals this year, he still felt unsatisfied. Though he held absolute power, he often felt constrained. Having not yet handled a major case before his term ended, he was feeling frustrated when he heard the man’s reckless shouting.

"Who are you! Mind your own business and get lost if you want to live!" the man scrambled up, snarling, though he looked anything but fierce.

The Inspector chuckled. "Getting lost is a bit difficult. I’m a dull man and haven't mastered that skill. Why don't you demonstrate it for me? Perhaps I might learn a trick or two." The Inspector’s words drew a ripple of laughter from the crowd.

"How was it handled later?" Wang Xiujin asked, sitting beside the Fourth Prince. They had been discussing the housing project when the conversation turned to these tragedies. If the Fourth Prince hadn't mentioned it, Wang Xiujin would never have known that the Imperial Inspectors were dispatched by the Censorate, assuming instead they were part of the scholarly elite.

"Later? That boy wasn't very bright. He knew the Inspector was mocking him, and in his rage, he roared that he was the son of so-and-so and would destroy them all."

"Shouting that in front of an Imperial Inspector? He isn't just not bright; he's a fool." Wang Xiujin already knew the outcome. He recalled that not long ago, the estate of that official had been raided, the whole family imprisoned, the women sent to military brothels or sold into slavery, the men exiled to the grasslands, and the young children sent to the Ruri Islands.

"He had no idea that man was the Inspector. If he had, any person with a shred of sense would have acted like a subservient grandson," the Fourth Prince laughed. "I heard Lord Wang has been closing his doors to visitors lately. Is it because of the oversight duties?"

"My father says these duties should be left to others. He already holds too much power and feels uneasy," Wang Xiujin replied. He agreed that his father was not suited for the role.

"Your father is the only one the Emperor trusts. He can't exactly leave it to his 'Eagle Claws' (the secret police), can he?" The Fourth Prince looked at Wang Xiujin, wondering if his anxiety was genuine or merely a show of loyalty.

"Why not? Truly, they are the ones who should be doing it," Wang Xiujin said. He understood what the Prince meant by "Eagle Claws" and felt they were far better suited for the task than his father, who had too many other concerns to weigh.

The Fourth Prince was now certain that the anxiety was real. "Why do you say that? Lord Wang is a man of great integrity."

"Because my father is overprotective of his own," Wang Xiujin admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.

The Fourth Prince was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter, pointing at Wang Xiujin. "Oh, my dear brother! That reason is just too... though I must say, I never realized how much Lord Wang valued his children until these recent events showed me just how much he cares for you." After laughing, the Prince sighed, feeling a pang of envy. He knew why the Emperor valued him, and it was different.

"Perhaps it's because my father is getting older and his guilt is growing. Ever since the incident where Li Linshan was framed and forced to take a concubine, my father hasn't given him a kind look," Wang Xiujin mused.

The Fourth Prince laughed again, though he thought of the Emperor. His own father had treated him well over the years, and he should be content. "Regarding the housing, I will let you know as soon as there is suitable land. I guarantee quality and quantity—there will be no accidents." After discussing the houses, the Fourth Prince brought up the security force he was building. He had reported it to the Emperor, fearing that others might accuse him of forming a private army. "I've recruited about a dozen people so far; it’s not even enough for your shops."

"There’s no need for so many. If they are skilled enough, three or four per shop is plenty," Wang Xiujin said, feeling the Prince was overdoing it. "The most important thing is for them to be good judges of character—to be able to spot villains, evildoers, and even wanted criminals at a glance."