Chapter 83: Catching the Fugitive
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After the Chinese New Year, the weather warmed up.
The trees, flowers and plants in the yard were sprouting branches and leaves, and pedestrians on the street began to take off their shirts and put on light clothes.
Liang Jinyu and Tang Xian took advantage of the good weather and went to the countryside. As expected, spring sowing and planting had already been fully launched outside the city, and farmers were busy in the fields.
Winter wheat is beginning to turn green and grow, rice seeds are beginning to be raised, and some diligent farmers have even planted beans and peanuts.
The pear and peach trees on the ridges of the fields are in full bloom, and the wild flowers on the roadside are also in full bloom.
Everything is full of vitality, but no one would have thought that behind such vitality lies a huge disaster.
"The spring is warm in the beginning and cold in the end. This year's spring is indeed exceptionally warm. If the temperature drops sharply next month, the seeds sown now will be affected." Tang Xian said worriedly.
Liang Jinyu looked at the green rice seedlings in the fields. These are the farmers' hopes.
"Young man, young lady, please leave quickly." A farmer came trotting over, waving his hand and urging them to leave.
Liang Jinyu and Tang Xian looked at each other, both puzzled.
"Why? We can't walk on this ridge of the field?" Tang Xian asked.
The farmer said, "It's not that we can't leave, it's that our shopkeeper is coming. This piece of land belongs to the farm in front. Now that the owner is coming, we must give way to him."
"Forget it, let's go." Liang Jinyu turned around and said.
Not long after they walked along the ridge of the field, they saw a group of people walking along the road.
Liang Jinyu happened to know the man surrounded by the farmers. He was Rao Ji, the third in command of the Xie family.
"Why are all the properties of the Xie family everywhere?" Liang Jinyu complained in a low voice.
Tang Xian said with emotion: "Back then, I was just a clerk in the Xie family bank. Who would have thought that in just a few years, I would become one of the three managers of the Xie family."
Liang Jinyu patted Tang Xian's shoulder comfortingly: "Don't worry, in two years, you will be as impressive as him."
Tang Xian shook his head: "I'm not jealous of his popularity, but I think that to be able to sit in that position at such a young age, Mr. Rao must have some outstanding qualities."
"Would the Xie family come to the manor like they do now in previous years?" Liang Jinyu asked after thinking for a moment.
Tang Xian thought for a moment and said, "I don't know the details, but even if he inspected the store in previous years, it probably wouldn't be Manager Rao who came in person."
The two talked as they walked. When they came to a forest on the way, they could see thick smoke billowing from the valley ahead. Several shirtless men were coming along the path carrying baskets.
Liang Jinyu didn't take it seriously at first, but suddenly someone slipped and fell, and everything in his basket rolled out.
Those were pieces of charcoal scattered all over the ground.
"Shopkeeper Tang." Liang Jinyu suddenly stopped and motioned for him to look down.
Tang Xian asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"
"Didn't you say that hoarding food alone is not enough? How about hoarding charcoal?" Liang Jinyu asked.
These words seemed puzzling at first, but Tang Xian understood them immediately.
Because Liang Jinyu once said that there will be widespread late spring cold weather this year, and this year's winter will also be exceptionally long.
The long winter means a large amount of charcoal is consumed, especially for people in cities, where charcoal is indispensable for heating and cooking.
"If the girl is determined, it's not impossible. Once the granary is vacated, there will be vacant space in the warehouse."
The more Liang Jinyu thought about it, the more she felt that this was also a way to make money. After the spring, the price of charcoal would inevitably fall. She could take the opportunity to stock up and then resell it in the winter to make more money.
"Let's go back and discuss this with Mr. Yao and see how much money is left in the account."
Tang Xian said: "The grocery store will be open in the next two days. I think the most important thing right now is the food problem."
Liang Jinyu nodded. In fact, she was still worried about one thing. There would be rainy and snowy weather for the next one or two months. If the food got damp or sprouted, all her efforts would be wasted.
Liang Jinyu didn't buy a carriage, so the two of them walked back.
It was already evening when I arrived outside the city gate. I wanted to hurry back into the city to have a good rest, but I didn't expect to see a long queue outside the city gate.
"What's going on?" Liang Jinyu asked.
Tang Xian found a passerby and found out that the police were arresting two people, both wanted fugitives.
Liang Jinyu suddenly became nervous, thinking, how could this be such a coincidence?
The officers took the portraits and examined them one by one, regardless of whether they were men or women, and even the elderly, they lifted the cloth to look at them carefully.