After reminding her younger brother several times to be careful and not to discuss state affairs, Shui Qing finally took Ling Ran and Fan Jiang home.

Before leaving, he left behind a large piece of pork but took away the pig intestines that Hu Wenhua had cleaned.

On the other side, Fan Jin, who was buying grain at a rice shop in Guangning Prefecture, pointed to the beans and said to the shop assistant, "Fifty catties of red beans, one hundred catties of mung beans, one hundred and fifty catties of soybeans, and one hundred catties of millet."

Every time he came to the rice shop, he didn't buy rice, but rather miscellaneous grains and beans.

Rice is delicious and cheap when bought from the mall, but the mall is strange. These beans and millet, labeled as 'organic,' are more expensive than rice!

It can be several times more expensive!

Shuiqing said that those so-called 'organic' products are exactly the same as theirs, so of course you can just buy them in Fucheng.

Previously, he would transport things like lime back home, but a few days ago, after the mushroom season started, he began transporting grain.

Shuiqing said that red beans can be used to make red bean soup and also to make red bean cakes, and she wanted to buy some;

Mung beans are best used in summer to make mung bean soup, which is good for clearing heat and reducing internal fire. They can also be sprouted, so buy more.

Soybeans can be used to make tofu, soy milk and other soy products, and can also be sprouted, so you should buy more;

My family is large, so I make millet and goji berry porridge for breakfast. Later, when I have free time, I try to make millet cakes. It's a good way to pass the time and eat healthier.

Upon hearing that he was buying over a hundred catties, the shopkeeper's face lit up with joy. He quickly bowed and said, "Great, sir! You have excellent taste. Let me tell you a secret: many merchants and families in our city have already started stockpiling grain."

Fan Jin was slightly surprised: "Someone has already stockpiled grain?"

The shop assistant peeked around and whispered, "Hey, how important is food! Not to mention last winter was unusually cold, even now, with this prince being captured today and that prince being punished tomorrow, which family with savings doesn't have a backup plan?"

"I'm not making this up to sell my grain, sir, but you're absolutely right to stock up on grain now. You see, the price is going to rise again soon!"

Fan Jin hummed in agreement, thinking to himself that he would buy some peanuts, broad beans, and peas when he came again tomorrow...

The rice shop assistant quickly loaded sacks of grain onto the oxcart, neatly tied them with thick hemp rope, and after checking that they weren't loose, he led Fan to the counter to pay with a smile.

Having bought the grain, Fan Jin dared not delay and drove the oxcart back home.

Back home, there was still a lot of work to do: chopping firewood, storing hay, drying vegetables, planting trees... and besides, Shuiqing was the only adult at home; his children were all quite young, and he was worried about leaving them behind...

As I passed by a roadside tea shop, I heard familiar, loud conversations.

Fan Jin kept his eyes straight ahead, pretending not to see anything, and walked forward. The scholar in the teahouse waved his fan very diligently, raising his voice and spitting as he commented on current affairs, not having a moment to look at the people on the roadside.

After walking a short distance and getting some distance from the teahouse, Fan Jin hesitated for a moment: those were clearly Zheng Pingsheng and his two companions.

However, in the past, they considered themselves to be of high status and always dined in restaurants, especially the best Shanhailou Restaurant in Guangning Prefecture.

Even if we haven't seen each other for just a few months, and we're not at the best restaurant, Shan Hai Lou, we shouldn't have fallen so low as to be at a roadside teahouse.

Wasn't this a disgrace to the three of them in the past? It was something they had always looked down upon.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

All unauthorized personnel, please get out of the way!

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud shout. Fan Jin looked up and saw two rows of yamen runners dressed in official robes and holding swords, rushing toward the teahouse with powerful strides.

It kicked up a cloud of dust.

Fan Jin stopped and looked toward the teahouse.

"What are you doing? What do you want to do?!" Zheng Pingsheng flung his sleeves, his face full of anger.

"What are you doing? You're making irresponsible remarks about state affairs! We're taking you to jail to sober up!" the head of the constables shouted.

Zhou Wenzhang pointed at Zheng Pingsheng and loudly questioned the head constable, "Do you know who he is?"