Chapter 339 The Great Righteousness of Merchants: Seeking Benefit for the People

The largest border market in Chang'an.

The sounds of hawking and bargaining filled the air.

With the arrival of Wei Shuyu and others, everything quieted down.

What are you doing here?

The old farmer sneered, "You wouldn't be thinking of buying some vegetables to take home after you've finished your tea, would you?"

Um?

Wei Shuyu stroked his chin and thought for a moment.

"Good idea."

Turning his head, Wei Shuyu looked at Wei Zheng.

"Dad, shall I buy you some spinach and celery to take back with you?"

"good."

Wei Zheng stroked his beard and smiled, then suddenly seemed to remember something: "Buy another hen and make soup for your mother."

"Okay."

Wei Shuyu agreed and began searching for Fang Yi'ai to pay the bill...

Why?

Where are they?

"Where is Xiao Ai'ai?" Wei Shuyu asked Cui Shenji.

"That's not how chickens are made."

Choi Shin-ki shook his head: "They probably didn't have the money to pay the bill, and Yu Zhu Xuan withheld it."

"I see..."

Wei Shuyu said indifferently, "Then let him be."

From Bingge to Wenyunge, several months have passed since the dividends were distributed, but Fang Yi'ai hasn't saved a single copper coin.

This is a lesson.

"Wei Shuyu!"

The old farmer roared angrily, "So many people are waiting for your answer, can't you be serious?"

Huh?

The mouth wasn't plugged?

Wei Shuyu glanced at Cui Shenji.

Choi Shin-ki waved his hand.

The group of friends immediately swarmed forward...

"You...you're trying to bully us again!"

The old farmer's voice was filled with fear.

Swoosh.

Choi Shin-ki, a monkey stealing peaches.

"So what if I bully you?"

"You still want to resist?"

The old farmer was indignant.

But when he looked at the crowd for help, no one stepped forward.

After Wei Shuyu's explanation, the people had already come to their senses.

"I told you to shut up, but you had to interrupt!"

Wei Shuyu muttered to himself, "Isn't this just asking for a beating?"

Looking for a beating?

oh.

I haven't hit him yet.

Choi Shin-ki waved his hand and led the old farmer to a corner.

"You guys... ah."

"Stop hitting me... Ah."

"Let me go! I'm going to appeal to the imperial court... Ah!"

"Help...help me, please help me..."

Hearing the screams around them, they felt as if a flock of crows were flying overhead.

Is it really okay for you to beat people up like this?

"Sorry, it was just a little incident."

Wei Shuyu smiled and said, "Next, let's continue talking about the advantages of the Ministry of Commerce."

"If I were to say it, you might think I'm just stalling."

"Then I'll just pick someone randomly."

Wei Shuyu's gaze swept around and finally landed on an old woman carrying a cloth bag.

"Ma'am, can I ask you a question?"

The woman felt a little scared when she saw everyone staring at her.

But seeing that it was a child who had asked him the question, he felt a little relieved.

"What do you want to ask?" the woman asked warily.

"It's just a small matter."

Wei Shuyu smiled, trying his best to appear harmless: "I just saw you buy a bushel of coarse grains, didn't I?"

What do you want to do?

The woman's wariness intensified, and she instinctively hid the cloth bag behind her back.

"Don't panic, auntie."

"I am an official appointed by the imperial court."

Wei Shuyu then pointed to Wei Zheng: "This is my father, Wei Zheng. He just wants to ask you a few questions."

Wei Zheng?

The woman looked at Wei Zheng in shock: "Are you the Duke of Zheng?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, Auntie."

Wei Zheng smiled and bowed, "May I ask my son a few questions?"

"Oh, okay."

The woman nodded.

Clearly, they had heard of Wei Zheng.

He turned to look at Wei Shuyu: "What do you want to ask?"

"May I ask how much these coarse grains cost?"

"Seven coins for a dou of rice."

Wei Shuyu asked with a smile, "Isn't this price a bit expensive?"

The woman explained, "I bought new grain, which can be stored at home for a longer period of time, so it's a bit more expensive."

Wei Shuyu's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

"What is the value of this old grain?"

"About four or five qian, depending on the quality and type."

"Thank you, auntie."

Wei Shuyu took out a coin: "Consider this coin my token of gratitude."

"Absolutely not."

The woman waved her hands repeatedly: "I only said a few words and then took the money. If people find out, they'll gossip about me behind my back."

Okay.

Wei Shuyu did not insist on it too much.

After saying a few kind words, they let her go.

"Did you all hear that?"

Wei Shuyu shouted to the crowd, "There is now a huge price difference between new and old grain."

The crowd whispered among themselves.

The recent earthquake caused a slight increase in food prices.

Five qian of old grain, six qian of new grain.

But now the price of new grain has gone up.

Are you all wondering why the price of new grain has increased?

As he spoke, Wei Shuyu's smile vanished: "This was spearheaded by our Ministry of Commerce!"

Wow.

Everyone was shocked.

Wei Shuyu actually dared to raise grain prices!

"Ha ha……"

The old farmer returned, laughing wildly, "Admit it now! You dared to raise grain prices without authorization? You're dead!"

"Shut up!"

Wei Shuyu shouted sharply, "Gag him!"

"oh oh."

Choi Shin-ki domineeringly took off one of his friends' socks.

"..."

My friend's eyes were filled with tears.

"Aren't you all curious about why the Ministry of Commerce did this?" Wei Shuyu asked with a smile.

"Please enlighten me, Physician Wei!"

Some ordinary citizens stepped forward and asked in cooperation.

"It's actually very simple..."

Wei Shuyu nodded: "The imperial court has been committed to lowering grain prices so that everyone can afford to buy grain. In fact, this policy is fundamentally flawed."

What?

Everyone was shocked.

Even Wei Zheng frowned.

"Father, don't worry."

Wei Shuyu explained, "I did write a memorial to His Majesty about this matter, but I don't know whether it was rejected..."

Oh, you submitted a memorial to the emperor? Then it's alright.

Wei Zheng continued stroking his beard, listening attentively to what was happening.

What is commerce?

Wei Shuyu paced back and forth a couple of times...

"The petty principles of commerce are to seek personal gain."

"The greatest principle of commerce is to seek benefits for the people!"

Wei Shuyu looked at everyone and said with a smile...

"Gentlemen, please do not underestimate merchants."

"Making a profit from the price difference can also be a great act of merit!"

Everyone was impatient.

After listening for so long, they actually quite enjoyed watching Xiao Wei speak.

"Dr. Wei, stop beating around the bush and get to the point," a commoner urged.

"OK!"

Wei Shuyu smiled and nodded: "The imperial court lowered grain prices so that everyone could afford to eat grain!"

"But he overlooked..."

"If food supplies are reduced to the extreme, your living conditions will never improve!"

"In other words..."

"You've all worked hard all year, and you're still broke!"

"..."

Everyone was speechless.

Are you swearing?

Do you still want to experience what it's like to be besieged by us?

"Haven't you all thought about selling the new grain and exchanging it for old grain? Wouldn't that allow you to make another profit from the price difference?"

"Then you can use this price difference to buy clothes, furniture, and so on, and improve your living standards?"

Um?

Is this even possible?

Everyone stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

But my heart started beating faster than usual!

For them, there is little difference between eating old grain and eating new grain.

Sell ​​it for seven coins and buy it for four coins.

A price difference of three whole coins!

Perhaps the middleman will make a small profit.

Even if it's just one more coin per bushel, that's still a considerable income...

“Minister Wei, I understand what you mean.”

"But how does this businessman make money? Isn't he basically giving us money for free?"