Chapter 44 The Show Begins

Ouyang Rong discovered something quite amazing: as a "civil servant" of the Great Zhou Dynasty, one could actually have a one-day statutory holiday for the Dragon Boat Festival, a decree issued by the Empress every year.

However, in this era, only a very small number of people can enjoy such holiday privileges, because ordinary people who are busy making a living have no concept of work and holidays.

In this world, working people have truly become superior beings...

The opening ceremony of the Penglangdu Dragon Boat Festival was nothing special. Ouyang Rong, the magistrate of the county, simply showed his handsome face, said a few words—just a few words—before leading a “dragon raising” ceremony, and then sat on the stage like a clay Buddha.

In the Wu and Yue regions of southern China, the custom of dragon boat racing during the Dragon Boat Festival has been prevalent since ancient times. Especially in areas prone to flooding, it is a way to pray for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest, making it one of the most important festivals of the year.

Ouyang Rong was merely an appointed county magistrate. During the entire Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, the Longcheng County government and the local people had their own set of well-established customs and procedures, which did not require his intervention or command. They could operate on their own. He only needed to oversee the county government's expenditures.

These past few days, Ouyang Rong has been working day and night to verify that water conservancy plan, and now he's happy to have some peace and quiet.

Moreover, he had almost achieved his goal of organizing the grand Dragon Boat Festival, so he started to slack off for a while.

Hmm, let me peel a rice dumpling first!

There are many viewing platforms along Butterfly Creek, stretching for miles, so the spectators don't all crowd into one place.

But the most crucial subjective platform is the high platform at the ferry crossing where Ouyang Rong is located, situated at the starting point of the dragon boat race.

However, there are several other viewing platforms nearby with good views, which are also bustling and occupied by the powerful families and wealthy merchants of Longcheng County.

Liu Ziwen, along with his second brother Liu Zian and their families, booked a prime viewing spot.

Liu Zian sat in his chair, silently withdrawing his gaze from the seemingly harmless young county magistrate on the main stage, and turned to ask:

"Brother, what do you think this magistrate is thinking? He lifted the grain rationing order, and the price of grain has already soared to twenty coins per dou. What, is he going to resell the grain too?"

Liu Ziwen watched the dragon boat race intently, shaking his head slightly.

"Leave him alone for now. Rising grain prices won't harm us. The most important thing right now is... that sword in the furnace... we have to keep a close eye on it. Everything else is secondary. As long as this magistrate doesn't come biting us like a mad dog, we can continue to unite with the other twelve wealthy families to isolate him."

"It's clear he really wants to control the floods, but with the current disaster, where will he get the extra silver and grain? And without the craftsmen we provide, it's impossible to repair the Di Gong Sluice Gate in the short term. Just hold on a little longer, and they'll eventually come knocking on our door."

"The principle is that simple. Justice is not something that can be done casually. Even the demoted Master Di couldn't do it back then. Does this kid think he can?"

The young master of the Liu family was not in a hurry at all, confident that he had victory in the bag.

Liu Zian glanced at his elder brother, nodded silently, and said no more.

A large ship like the Liu family needs not only a helmsman who grasps the overall situation, but also a deputy strategist like Liu Zi'an to do the dirty work behind the scenes.

Liu Ziwen is good at observing trends and making sound decisions, while Liu Zian is good at using schemes and setting up traps.

Liu Zian was quite convinced by Liu Ziwen's decision.

On the other side, there is also a viewing platform that has been booked for a large sum of money, offering an excellent view.

Wang Caozhi sat among a group of grain merchants, and he was in a good mood lately.

That's true; after all, anyone would be in a bad mood if they found money for free.

He and his Qingliangzhai were among the first out-of-town grain merchants to discover the treasure trove that was the grain market in Longcheng County. While local gentry and grain merchants were still urgently trying to obtain grain from acquaintances in other places, the outsider Wang Caozhi had already decided to transfer 30,000 shi of grain stored in Hongzhou by the Qingliangzhai trading company.

It can be said that the business is lucrative and fast, allowing them to make a quick profit.

After a large number of out-of-town grain merchants gathered in Longcheng County like sharks smelling blood, Wang Caozhi held a banquet at Yuanming Tower to warmly receive these colleagues and share news about the situation in Longcheng County. He did not hide anything from these grain merchants, who were either stronger or weaker than him, and they quickly formed a small team to speculate on grain prices.

Over the past two weeks, more and more grain merchants have come to Longcheng, but the price of grain has remained at twenty coins per dou, which is likely due to their manipulation. Of course, the high demand for grain is also partly due to the fact that every household makes zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) for the Dragon Boat Festival, but the most important reason is their regulation. The market price has not been chaotic, and although there is an abundance of goods, there is no panic selling, allowing them to slowly harvest these "leeks" (victims).

When it comes to business, everyone should work together peacefully to make money. What's the point of fighting and killing or trying to dominate? It won't last long, no matter how powerful your connections are.

In addition, Wang Caozhi had another happy thing.

Here, I met Xie Shiqi Niang, the eldest daughter of the Xie family of Chenjun, who was an outstanding and dazzling talented woman among the Wang and Xie families of Wuyi Lane. Her father was Xie Xun, a great Confucian scholar in the literary world of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Wang Caozhi had no delusions of grandeur. He was merely a member of a branch of the Langya Wang clan and was a businessman. His Qingliangzhai restaurant was not highly regarded within the family.

Those who are self-aware will maintain a strict hierarchy, especially those from prominent and wealthy families who have benefited from it.

Wang Caozhi wanted to cultivate a good relationship with Xie Shiqi Niang, at least to become acquainted with her, so that if a favored son of the Wang family could marry her in the future, he could try to build a connection with her. This was like placing a bet in advance.

"Young Master Wang, I have a feeling that this small Longcheng County can't possibly handle all of our grain."

Among the group of out-of-town grain merchants in the stands, a tall, middle-aged grain merchant wearing a purple turban stopped the string of small-leaf sandalwood beads he was holding and frowned.

Wang Caozhi turned his head to look. This man was the wealthiest among the foreign grain merchants this time, and also seemed to have the biggest background besides him. His surname was Ma, and it was rumored that he was the white glove of a certain founding noble family in Nanjing.

Wang Caozhi smiled and said, "Manager Ma, don't be impatient. Longcheng County is just an appetizer. Let's have a small feast first."

"Oh, what do you mean?"

Wang Caozhi said calmly, "Once the price of grain in Longcheng rises, grain merchants in the other disaster-stricken counties around here will definitely be itching to get in. Even if there are local grain rationing orders, it will be difficult to suppress them. We can go over there and add fuel to the fire then, hehe..."

“Longcheng has convenient waterways, so it’s perfect as our transit point. We can transport the grain here first and store it here. Later, all the disaster-stricken counties in the Jiangzhou region will become our food supply.”

Manager Ma raised an eyebrow, but among the grain merchants present, an old grain merchant with a goatee spoke up and asked:

"If grain prices don't rise for a long time, what will happen if the grain is stored for too long and becomes stale? Stale grain can't be sold for much money. We can't let those poor people benefit in the end."

The old grain merchant twirled the hem of his dark blue silk robe between two fingers, then shook his head. "The storage environment here is too damp; the grain will easily spoil."

This old grain merchant, surnamed Li, was second only to Manager Ma and Wang Caozhi in wealth, and it was said that he had some connection with the family of the Prefect of Hongzhou.

Wang Caozhi's expression remained unchanged, as if he had considered this beforehand, and he pointed to the ferry crossing at his feet:

"We still rely on the developed water transport here. So we need to communicate reasonably about selling grain every day. If we find that the market is not good and there is a risk of grain piling up for a long time, we will quickly call a boat to transport the grain and run away. Now this is a disaster area, and labor is the cheapest, so it won't cost much."

He grinned, revealing a bright white smile, pointed at the grain merchants, and then at his own smiling face:

“You’re not novice merchants, are you? Can’t you catch the slightest movement in the market? If things don’t look good, just run away. Do you think you’re doing charity? All of you uncles are shrewd old foxes. I’m sure many of you have already prepared your boats. Why bother asking your nephew?”

Manager Ma, Manager Li, and the others exchanged glances and nodded with a wry smile.

A low-profile grain merchant praised, "Young Master Wang is indeed eloquent and thorough in his work. No wonder he took over the family business at such a young age and shouldered such a great responsibility."

"I dare not accept such praise. I will have to learn more from my uncles and elders in the future."

Wang Caozhi smiled and waved his hand, but inwardly he felt a bit disgusted and impatient... I am a noble member of the Langya Wang clan. If I weren't bad at studying and had to come out to make money, who would want to deal with you lowly merchants?

Wang Caozhi glanced at the upcoming Dragon Continent Tournament in the river, then turned and instructed his attendants to bring over some sweet rice dumplings. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a somewhat familiar figure walking towards the main arena. Curious, he got up and followed her.

I'll try my best to update more free chapters before the book goes on sale to make it up to my brothers. Otherwise, I'd be too embarrassed to ask you all to subscribe at midnight, sob sob...

(End of this chapter)