The magistrate pondered for a moment.

"That's true. The north has been suffering from a severe drought for half a year, and this month alone, our county has taken in more than a thousand refugees. That's quite unusual..."

"That's strange, that's a sign. We and An County will soon follow the same path."

Although the magistrate's family didn't survive until the day of the severe drought and starvation in the original story, now that Jin Shu has come, she certainly won't let herself die in such an unclear way.

Since we can live a little longer, we should definitely make good plans for the days to come.

If the weather is favorable and there are no disasters or difficulties, and they can escape the calamity of Li Yong, the magistrate's family will not suffer any setbacks or hardships.

But what lies before us now is not only Li Yong, who is ready to retaliate at any moment, but also an increasingly urgent food shortage crisis.

"I heard that many farmers in the countryside have already started to secretly hoard grain. No one foresaw the drought earlier than the people in the countryside."

"Now that we've moved away from agriculture, we should be even more aware of the potential risks."

Jin Shu spoke logically and clearly, which surprised the county magistrate.

"That makes sense..."

"If we don't stockpile grain now, it will be too late."

"But what's the use of stockpiling grain? What will happen to the people of He'an County?"

Although the magistrate had three useless children, he was still a good official who cared about the people.

During his many years in office, he never stole or embezzled like his colleagues.

The expenses for the family's food, drink, and daily necessities all came from the magistrate's wife's business profits.

At this moment, the far-sighted Mr. Kim spoke up.

"Indeed, a group of foreign merchants recently came to the city and purchased large quantities of rice, flour and cooking oil from He'an County."

The prices are already high, and many local grain merchants have already sold off their entire stockpiles.

After all, the autumn harvest is just a month away, and they believe that the granaries will be filled quickly by then.

And taking advantage of this opportunity, they can also sell off all the grain they stockpiled in previous years at high prices.

At first, no one would have thought it was a natural disaster.

After all, He'an County has always been peaceful and is adjacent to a large lake, so there is no way it will lack water.

But after Jin Shu's reminder, the couple vaguely realized that many strange phenomena had indeed occurred in the city recently.

Both husband and wife are aware of potential problems, so Jin Shu only needs to give them a couple of reminders. Once they realize what's going on, there's not much to worry about afterward.

After all, the Jin family had been in business for many years and owned many industries in He'an County. As long as she wanted grain, she could definitely buy it.

The problem now is not a food shortage, but that every household is selling its grain, and some are even selling off all their savings just because the autumn harvest is in sight.

If this situation is not controlled, and a drought really occurs in He'an County, then the 40,000 people in the county will suffer.

Jin Shu herself also needs to be prepared.

There's no rush with Li Yong's side. After all, he's currently facing both internal and external troubles, and it's a critical time of infighting in the court. He can't spare the time to deal with the county magistrate's family.

Many things can be changed in a month. If nothing can be changed in the end, there is still the simplest way: kill Li Yong and replace him with a new crown prince for the people.

The Jin family usually gave him a good monthly allowance, and even though the original owner was a big spender, he still managed to save some money.

Rice and flour in the city aren't too expensive right now, so it's better to buy them ourselves than to let foreign merchants come and buy them.

Jin Shu has poor eyesight and often stumbles when walking alone. Her balance is also terrible, so she definitely can't do things like buying grain by herself.

Fortunately, there's still a lackey at home to be bossed around.

Jin Shouan had just returned from a day of fooling around and was broke. The first person he thought of was his dear younger sister.

Jin Shu injured her eyes when she was young, and her personality changed drastically after that. Her parents doted on her even more, so they naturally gave her more pocket money.

Therefore, when Jin Shou'an walked into the house with a grin, rubbing his hands together, Jin Shu knew what he was thinking without him saying a word.

"You've run out of money again?"

"Hehe... Good sister, that's why we say we're siblings. When Mother gave birth to you, I knelt before the Buddha and prayed that you would be born safely. I knelt for a whole..."

"Stop talking nonsense."

Jin Shu couldn't see his face clearly, only a vague outline.

"You want to borrow money from me?"

“We’re all family, why are you talking about lending money… I’m a little short on cash lately, could you please help me out a bit…”

"OK."

"Really?"

Jin Shu's straightforwardness was a bit hard for Jin Shou'an to believe. In the past, he would have to ask her for a long time before she would agree. Was the sun rising in the west today?

"Really, but you have to promise me one thing."

"As long as you don't ask me to find that man's old flame for you, I'll agree to anything else."

The "man" that Kim Soo-an was referring to was Li Yong.

Li Yong's old flame was the woman the original owner had been holding a grudge against for a long time.

“I’ve followed him for you several times before, and I’ve lost him every time.”

Or, when I arrived, he would be the only one left in the teahouse.

It's not that I don't want to help you, I've already done my best.

"That's not it."

Jin Shouan breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good. Tell me, and I'll do anything for you, even if it means going through fire and water."

"Here is five hundred taels of gold. Take it and use it to buy rice, flour, salt, and oil for me. After you've bought it, put it all in my courtyard in the eastern suburbs. I'll handle the rest myself."

Jin Shouan remained silent for a long time, looking at the dazzling golden gold in front of him, and suddenly felt that his younger sister might have some problems with her brain.

"Little sister, are you still dreaming? Why are you buying so much grain? Are you going to open a grain store?"

Jin Shu looked at him. Although she couldn't see clearly, her eyes were bright and clear, like a clear blue sky after a rainstorm. Jin Shou'an was stunned.

"I'll tell you to do it, so just do it. Once it's done, this ingot of gold is yours."

"real?"

That good-for-nothing brother will do anything as long as there's money to be made.

That's why Jin Shu entrusted him with such an important task.

They're so easy to manage.

"Really, this is something you and I both know. If anyone asks, just say that our mother is planning to open a grain shop."

"Remember, use all this money to buy what I want. Otherwise, if I find out you're spending my money on a lavish lifestyle, Jin Shou'an, I guarantee you'll live a life of misery."

Kim Soo-an believed this.

My younger sister has no other skills, but she's quite adept at tormenting people.

"Okay, okay, don't worry, I'll definitely get it done for you."

Oh, by the way, I bought the medicine you asked me to buy for you...

As he spoke, Jin Shouan secretly took out a package from his pocket and slipped it into Jin Shu's hand.

"I only bought this medicine for you because you begged me while crying and threatened to kill yourself. Otherwise, as your older brother, I certainly couldn't just watch my sister jump into a fire pit!"

(End of this chapter)