Chapter 69 Undercurrents: Stockpiling Grain?
"You'll stay at this inn tonight. We'll move to the workshop tomorrow after we buy the bedding and blankets together." After saying that, Lin Yao's gaze fell on the only girl in the crowd. "A Lai, come back to the restaurant with me."
Upon hearing Lin Yao's words, Wan Chunlai remained silent and subconsciously looked at her elder brother. Her brother, Wan Chunsheng, quickly pushed her forward, saying, "The shopkeeper is asking you a question, answer him quickly."
Wan Chunsheng was afraid that his sister's hesitation would displease the shopkeeper, so he hurriedly explained, "My sister and I are twins and have never been separated since we were little. She is also timid, so she is a little slow to react."
Wan Chunlai nodded hurriedly, "I will follow the manager's arrangements."
Lin Yao handed the loose silver to the innkeeper and comforted him, "It's nothing, no need to panic." She pointed to Zhang Ping and Zhang An beside her, "They will be the workshop managers in the future, so you should get to know each other first."
After leaving the inn, Lin Yao took Wan Chun back and forth to the restaurant.
When Zhao Niangzi saw that Lin Yao had only brought back a thin maid, she couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Manager, why is there only one person?"
“The others are at the inn, and I’m worried about Chunlai staying alone.” Lin Yao had barely finished speaking when Su Niang greeted her happily, “I’ll show Chunlai around the restaurants!”
Su Niang was overjoyed to see Chunlai. Usually, after closing time, Wang Xiaoyu would go home, leaving only her, Zhao Niangzi, and Xiaoman in the courtyard. Zhao Niangzi was not her age, so they never really hit it off. Now that someone her age had come, Su Niang's eyes were full of excitement.
As Jin Yu packed up her stall, she remembered the group of people Lin Yao had led and turned to ask Xu Zhiheng, "Young master, were the people that Miss Lin led today from Xingning Prefecture?"
Xu Zhiheng looked in the direction of the brokerage firm and nodded.
Previously, in order to find evidence that Prince Rui was abusing his power and colluding with foreign enemies, he sent Lü Dazhi and his group to the northern frontier to conduct a secret investigation.
Two months ago, Lü Dazhi sent a message saying that the Jin army was making unusual movements, the defenses in the northern border area were lax, and the number of soldiers was much smaller than when his father was alive. Their town had less than a hundred people, and it was likely that Prince Rui had already begun to take action.
Lu Dazhi was temporarily staying in a small town in Xingning Prefecture. Not long after they settled in, the town was massacred by Jin soldiers, and chaos ensued. Surprisingly, not a single soldier came out to protect the people on the day of the massacre. Unable to withstand the overwhelming force of the Jin army, they could only risk their lives to rescue the children and secretly escort them to Qingquan Town.
These people were newcomers, without food or lodging, and were clearly refugees. Their backgrounds were unknown, and few families were willing to hire them. With nowhere else to turn, most had no choice but to sell themselves into slavery.
Upon reaching the entrance of Lin's Restaurant, the two tacitly ceased their conversation.
Lin Yao spotted them immediately, put down her work, called Lin Cheng who had just returned from renting the workshop to help at the restaurant, and led them to the backyard. Because the matter they were discussing today was considered a high-risk topic in this dynasty, Lin Yao specifically instructed that no one was allowed to enter the backyard.
"Young Master Xu, Young Master Jin Yu, these are freshly made salt-baked chickens today. They have the same flavor, but are prepared differently. Please try them and see which one you prefer." Lin Yao pushed two chickens towards Xu Zhiheng.
Jin Yu stared at the golden-brown, plump chicken, his mouth watering. He tore a chicken leg off the steamed salt-baked chicken. As the meat was torn off, the juicy flesh oozed chicken oil, and the rich, salty aroma of the steam filled the backyard. He placed the chicken leg in Xu Zhiheng's bowl: "My lord, eat!" He also picked out a piece of succulent meat for himself.
Jin Yu ate until his cheeks were bulging, and he had no time to speak. The soft and smooth texture made him unable to stop, and the light saltiness brought out the deliciousness of the chicken. He couldn't concentrate on anything else, and naturally, he didn't notice that the other three people were watching him.
The happiest thing for a chef is to have his food tasted properly. Lin Yao smiled and said, "Young Master Jin Yu has a good appetite."
Xu Zhiheng felt his face burning, wishing he could disappear into the ground. People used to call them "good-for-nothings" behind their backs. He didn't accept being called "good-for-nothings"—he wouldn't drink so much just to mislead others—but now, "good-for-nothings" didn't seem so unfair. He gave a slight bow: "My apologies. Miss Lin invited us to this restaurant today; surely it's not just for the new dishes?"
Lin Yao didn't mince words and said directly, "There is indeed something I want to ask Young Master Xu. Today, when I went to the brokerage, the broker said that most of these people selling themselves were from Xingping Prefecture. I took ten with me, and Master Zeng also took quite a few. We are just a small town, and yet this is the case. I wonder if there are such people fleeing in other places? I heard that Xingping Prefecture is located in the northern frontier, and it is normal for foreign tribes to occasionally invade the border. But it shouldn't be enough to make so many people leave their homes, unless the northern frontier is no longer suitable for living."
Xu Zhiheng was quite surprised by Lin Yao's deduction. He had originally thought Lin Yao was only skilled in making money, but he hadn't expected her to be so astute in politics as well. However, he couldn't say it outright, since he was now merely the descendant of a wealthy merchant whose relatives held official positions.
He pondered for a moment and said, “Miss Lin is quite right. It is indeed not peaceful. Two months ago, I had a caravan that returned from the northern frontier. The leader was an old merchant who often traveled that route. He said that the Jin soldiers came exceptionally early and were exceptionally fierce this winter. In previous years, they would only come to plunder in late autumn, but this year, before late autumn had even arrived, they had already knocked on the gates several times.”
His voice lowered: "Moreover, things don't seem very stable in Xingping Prefecture either. There are rumors that bandits are rampant. In some places, even the government granaries are empty and food supplies are insufficient."
Lin Cheng listened silently from the side, and his heart jumped when he heard this: "What if they attack us here? Should we prepare in advance? Where is it safe? Should we move to the capital?"
Xu Zhiheng shook his head. “We must not move to the capital. Once the Jin army breaks through the pass, we will be beset by internal and external troubles. At that time, the capital will be the most dangerous place. It would be better to hide in the mountains for peace.” He then sighed dramatically. “I am just a merchant and know very little about the affairs of the court. But looking at the current situation, it is better to be prepared.”
Lin Yao never believed he was just an ordinary rich man's son. This man's demeanor and business acumen were beyond what an ordinary family could cultivate. Although she didn't know why he concealed his identity, they were only casual acquaintances, so there was no need to expose him.
She digested Xu Zhiheng's words, which meant that these were turbulent times. The threat of the Jin army was one issue, but more importantly, the domestic political situation was unstable, with various factions vying for power and creating chaos. At this time, the more people gathered and the more conspicuous a place was, the more likely it was to become a target of contention.
She was almost certain that a fierce battle was imminent. But now she was calmer. Compared to her previous anxiety and uncertainty about when she would be caught in the war, at least she could prepare in advance. As long as she had enough food, she could survive even if she hid in the mountains. "Thank you for your guidance, Young Master Xu. Quickly try this salt-baked chicken; it won't taste good when it's cold. These two were prepared differently. The one in your bowl is steamed, tender and juicy, while the other one was wrapped in lotus leaves and mud and baked, giving it a lotus leaf aroma and making the meat firmer and more oily."
Jin Yu raised her head: "I prefer steamed, my lord, please try some!"
Xu Zhiheng tore off a piece of chicken. The soft, tender skin was coated with glistening juices, and the aroma wafted into his nose even before he tasted it. He took a bite, and the tender meat sizzled in his mouth, the salty and savory flavors blending together: "Indeed delicious! It's actually salt-baked?"
“It’s not all about salt. Although it’s called salt-baked chicken, salt is just one of the seasonings. There are many other ingredients added as well. This salt-baked chicken can be made with salt-baked chicken powder.” As she spoke, Lin Yao got up and went to the kitchen. After a short while, she brought out a small earthenware jar and placed it on the table. “This is salt-baked chicken powder. When you get back, please tell the chefs in your household to coat the chicken with this powder, put scallions and ginger inside the chicken to remove any fishy smell, and then steam it for half an hour.”
Seeing her so generous, Xu Zhiheng teased, "How could I possibly accept this? Aren't you afraid I'll figure out the secret recipe and sell it? I'm the young master of Zhenxiu Restaurant, and I have quite a few chefs working for me."
Lin Yao was genuinely grateful to Xu Zhiheng. In ancient times, news traveled slowly; she had no connections, no money, and no way of knowing the situation. Although he hadn't explicitly mentioned war today, he had touched on the essentials and pointed out a clear path forward. They needed to start stockpiling food; if they waited for prices to rise, their meager funds wouldn't buy much, and they might starve to death before even fighting. "Young Master is an upright man; how could he do such a despicable thing? Besides, Young Master has helped us a great deal; it's just some food. If you like it, please take it!"
Xu Zhiheng raised an eyebrow: "Oh? If I ask for an exorbitant amount, Manager Lin will have to pay a hefty price?"
Jin Yu, having eaten half her fill, finally had the energy to interject: "My lord is just too greedy." He wiped the oil off his hands, tucked the salt-baked chicken powder into his pocket, and chuckled, "Miss Lin is too kind. I'll accept this chicken powder on your behalf."
After seeing off Xu Zhiheng and his servant, Lin Cheng pulled Lin Yao aside to discuss purchasing food, and even considered moving back to Linjia Village that very night. "Ayao, you have no idea how terrible the Jin soldiers are. I heard they eat human flesh raw! They especially love little children and young women!"
Seeing that he looked like the Jin army was about to attack tomorrow, Lin Yao could only try to calm him down: "Don't panic. Judging from what Young Master Xu said, the attack won't be coming anytime soon. We need to plan our grain purchase carefully. We need to consider how much to buy and what kind of grain can be stored for a long time. Right now, we should focus on getting the condiment workshop settled and earning more money so we can buy more grain."
After hearing Lin Yao's words, Lin Cheng calmed down a little. He suddenly slapped his thigh and said urgently, "That's right! What you said makes sense, but we still have to tell Grandpa Village Head about this, otherwise if the Jin army really attacks, the whole village will suffer!"
Lin Yao gently rubbed the calluses on her fingertips, not immediately responding to Lin Cheng's words.
She turned and picked up a bundle of firewood from the wall. "Brother, this matter can't be rushed. You and I are good at business and can stockpile grain, which is a blessing. But which family in the village isn't a farmer toiling in the land for a living? These days, a bushel of millet sells for six hundred coins. Who can empty their savings to gamble on a war that may never come?"
Lin Cheng remained silent, while Lin Yao continued, "If we really go door to door persuading people to hoard grain, and if a war doesn't break out, all that stored grain won't be worth any money. Who wouldn't resent us? At that time, people will be drowning in their spittle, and who will care if we're trying to protect everyone?"
She stuffed firewood into the stove, and sparks crackled as it ignited: "It's only the beginning of winter, and the Jin people are still relying on plunder to get through the winter. How could they possibly have enough food to invade the south? We might as well talk to the village head and ask everyone to conserve their autumn harvest and stop sending grain to the grain shops in town. When spring comes, we can take the able-bodied men up the mountain to hunt, dry some venison, and smoke some wild boar meat. Hunting in the mountains doesn't cost any money, and it's better than emptying our coffers."
Seeing Lin Cheng bow his head in silence, Lin Yao assumed he hadn't figured out the implications yet and was about to continue her analysis when she saw him suddenly raise his hand, his rough palm gently covering the top of her head.
Seeing that Lin Cheng was still silent, Lin Yao thought that he disagreed with what she had said and wanted to continue analyzing. Lin Cheng patted her head and said, "A Yao, you always see things more clearly than I do. I should be the one protecting you as you grow up, but now you have to explain the pros and cons to me again and again. It's because your older brother is incompetent that you have to deal with these things at such a young age."
Lin Yao's heart skipped a beat, and she blurted out, "What do you mean by being a burden? We're family, and family members should support each other." She smiled brightly, "Our family must live well together."
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Author's Note: Writing is hard work, so please add this to your favorites if you're kind and beautiful~ [starry eyes]
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