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Once a deal is done, people still have to show up, and they will receive more invitations and the people they come into contact with will become more and more involved in the core business, so what they hear will become different.

For example, right now, a group of people are sitting around a table playing dominoes, some winning, some losing, and the conversation is quite lively. Somehow, the topic turns to gossip.

A young man from the Wu family laughed and said, "I heard that there's another group of refugees outside the city. After they starve for two more days, they can go and pick some people."

"We've already walked out of the city, how much can we pick out? They must have been screened by other families long ago." Another one sneered.

"You don't understand. The more enduring someone is, the more capable they are. Just like those pretty girls, can they be bought for a few cents? It's definitely more cost-effective to take them to the city."

"I've also heard that there are new people in several buildings. Who knows when they'll be able to list their properties?"

"Hahaha, no wonder there's been so much competition when selecting the top beauties these past two years. More young ladies are better. By the way, Brother Fang, have you been to Yanqiao Tower? I heard there are young ladies from the south there, too."

Cheng Xi casually threw out a card and said with a smile: "Alcohol and sex are harmful to the body. I am here to do serious work, so I will just play cards."

"You are just too lucky in playing cards, and you are always thinking about making money from us." The young master of the Wu family said disdainfully.

"What you said is that it all depends on one's ability. How about I call Brother Wu over and let him judge for himself?" Cheng Xi raised an eyebrow.

This sentence caused everyone to burst into laughter, but someone quietly leaned over and said, "Brother, I heard from Uncle Wu that there is rice and grain in Panyu?"

Cheng Xi glanced at him and said, "I can't say for sure."

"Alas, dear brother, why do you have to do this? It's a lean season now, and you don't even know how high the price of grain has risen. But this is a good way to make money."

Maybe it was because his voice was too loud, or maybe the other person's ears were too sharp, but someone else had already joined in: "Of course, if you have more food, you can earn more than just money. Those poor people who can't afford food will donate their land or sell themselves into slavery."

Cheng Xi asked curiously, "Silk prices have risen sharply this year. Doesn't that mean those people have more money on hand?"

The people opposite looked at each other and laughed together.

Someone teased, "You seem so mature and sophisticated, and I thought you knew everything, but I didn't expect you could be this confused. What does the rise and fall of silk prices have to do with those poor people? They're either tenant farmers in the village or peasants borrowing money from the silk commune. I'm afraid this year's harvest will be even worse than in previous years."

"Besides, the price of silk can go up, but the increase will be limited. It's up to us to decide how much the price of grain should go up," someone added.

Cheng Xi nodded slightly and sighed: "It's just too messy. I'm afraid not many people will buy silk."

"Then change to weaving silk armor. I heard that the Gu family has some connections and seems to have sponsored several people..." Before he finished speaking, someone poked him from the side and interrupted him.

The man was startled, then suddenly realized that this Young Master Fang in front of him was from Panyu and might have some connection to the Red Flag Gang. In these turbulent times, with major factions battling each other, it was hard to say if there were any sworn enemies. The aristocratic families, however, didn't care about this, often selling to anyone who offered money, and their support wasn't always limited to one family. They were all reckless men, so as long as they didn't harm their own family, it was fine. It was inappropriate to discuss these matters with an outsider like Fang Ling.

They were all smart people, so they quickly brought up the topic and continued chatting casually. Cheng Xi just listened quietly, betting a little to make the game last longer.

…

"Thank goodness Madam Jiang told me to stop buying silk earlier. I didn't expect the price to actually change. Did the great families intervene?" Lu Jingzhi, now facing Madam Jiang, no longer put on airs and spoke with complete candor. The information she provided was truly astonishingly accurate. The price of silk, which had previously soared to one tael and two qian, had slowed down. It was unclear whether it was because too many people were buying silk, or if several aristocratic families were colluding to suppress the price.

Cheng Xi smiled slightly: "Lu and Wu have negotiated a big deal, Gu wants to keep the weaving workshop, and everyone wants to buy raw silk at a lower price. Naturally, they can't let the price of silk go up all the way."

Lu Jingzhi was startled: "Could it fall again?"

He has quite a few orders on hand, and if the price drops, he will lose a lot.

Cheng Xi said, "Don't worry, it won't be too fast. After the raw silk is listed, there will always be another wave of price increases, so you can act as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jingzhi glanced at Madam Jiang for a moment longer: "Madam, you are surprisingly familiar with these things."

Cheng Xi smiled and said, "There's a bank in the south, and the trading floor inside is specifically for this. I've heard a little about it."

This was a truly novel topic, but Lu Jingzhi wasn't concerned with silk prices or the trading market, but rather with the purpose of Madam Jiang's visit. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Now that the situation is set, are we really going to take action against the Lu family?"

Cheng Xi didn't answer but asked, "Are those two cottages you mentioned really funded by the Lu family?"

Lu Jingzhi immediately said, "That's absolutely right! Whenever refugees escape, they'll be stopped by those two gangs of bandits, who will rob the women and children and drive away the able-bodied men. That way, once they reach the Lu family's territory, the remaining people will docilely submit and avoid causing any trouble. This is true for all aristocratic families, not just the Lu family."

Cheng Xi nodded slowly and said, "Lu's private soldiers are quite a lot, right?"

Lu Jingzhi sighed, "That's right. What noble family doesn't maintain an army? Some have as many as two to three thousand elite soldiers. I know what Madam Jiang wants to do. She just wants to disrupt the Lu family. Even if the straw raincoat bandits come, it may not be of any use. Besides, the Jiangdong families are all of the same blood and cannot be easily shaken."

He had indeed made a killing on the raw silk business, but he couldn't figure out how to shake the Lu family's foundation and give a small family like him a chance to take advantage. However, having come to this point, Lu Jingzhi still hoped to reap more benefits. At least this Madam Jiang and the people behind her were truly extraordinary people.

This time, Cheng Xi didn't ask any more questions, but simply said, "They are all refugees from Julong. I guess the Lu family must have some people secretly supporting them, right?"

Lu Jingzhi smiled awkwardly and did not answer.

Cheng Xi didn't want to answer, and continued: "Then please ask Master Lu to have his men move a little, disturb the refugees, and find something for those two gangs of bandits to do."

Is this really going to start a fight with the Lu family? Lu Jingzhi's heart trembled, but he didn't refuse outright, because this was indeed just a piece of cake for him. If just moving a finger could cause trouble for the Lu family, why not do it?

Even so, Lu Jingzhi still whispered, "I don't care what Madam wants to do, but please be cautious. This is Yuhang after all, and there's no room for excessive tricks."

Facing this "concern", Cheng Xi just smiled and said: "Don't worry, Master Lu, I will save myself."

As usual, after a brief exchange of information, Cheng Xi left the Lu Mansion. Before getting on the car, she turned to Lin Mo and said, "Let's get people moving. The bigger the commotion, the better."

Lin Mo didn't waste any words, nodded, turned around and left, and in a moment he merged into the crowd.

Cheng Xi got in the car as usual. After sitting down, he suddenly asked, "Are you worried about Ah Mo?"

Huang Yue was startled and quickly withdrew her gaze from the window. She whispered, "I just wonder if something will go wrong with so many people watching..."

Cheng Xi smiled: "Yes, there are many people watching me, but no one will care if I have one more maid or one less. In this world, I am afraid that only the people of the Red Flag Gang will treat her as an officer, rather than a servant at someone's beck and call."

Huang Yue looked at the smile on Cheng Xi's lips, and her eyes somehow warmed up. Yes, to others, Lin Mo was just a little girl, but to her, she was the leader of the female soldiers, a general who could offer advice and defeat the enemy, just like the person in front of her.

So Huang Yue nodded, and sat aside obediently, like those well-behaved maids, and said no more.