Madam Liu turned pale with fright: "My lord, even a power like the Zheng family can be easily eliminated in his eyes, so to him we are as insignificant as ants. My lord, I do not seek wealth and glory, I only wish to spend the rest of my life with you in peace. Why don't you resign from your official post after the refugee problem is resolved?"
She was genuinely worried, fearing that her family would become the victims.
However, Lord Liu disagreed, scoffing, "You are truly short-sighted! Although my official rank is not high, that person still needs me. As long as I seize this opportunity and perform well enough, I will naturally have a smooth career. When he achieves great things, even if I cannot be made a king or prime minister, I can at least obtain a position as a third-rank official. With further efforts, entering the cabinet is not impossible."
Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in Madam Liu's eyes: "Is it really possible to climb to such a high position?"
Doctor Liu stroked his beard proudly: "Just wait and see how you become a Lady of Imperial Decree."
These words stirred Madam Liu's heart, and her mind was filled with a surge of longing.
Lady of Imperial Decree!
This honorific title, which she had never dared to even dream of before, was now right before her eyes and within her reach.
Well, they say fortune favors the bold. If you don't take a gamble, how will you know you can't succeed?
Lord Liu and his wife were so engrossed in their emotions that night that they tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Inside the Prince Duan's residence, Gu Qinlan held an account book, carefully reviewing each and every record.
Beside him, Fu Yu was reporting one by one: "Today, all the porridge shops in Jindu worked together to cook a total of 480 pots of thick porridge, consuming 2,500 catties of mixed grains. A total of 2,765 poor households and 21,035 people came to register and receive porridge."
Gu Qinlan silently calculated in her mind that this number almost covered all the ordinary families in Jindu.
Two thousand five hundred catties of grain were divided into two meals, with each person receiving only one tael on average, barely enough to survive.
Wan Ying handed the ledgers of the granary to Gu Qinlan: "Currently, the Gu family's No. 4 warehouse has a total of 50,000 jin of grain stored. Based on today's consumption, this grain can only last for less than a month."
Warehouse No. 4 was where the Gu family stored their grain.
Hongye added, "The Gu family sent someone to inform us that the old master has ordered that the young lady must return to the manor tomorrow. This matter must be related to the distribution of porridge."
The grain used for distributing porridge was all taken from the Gu family's warehouse. The Gu family's property was misappropriated, yet they did not gain any benefit from it, which naturally displeased Old Master Gu.
Gu Qinlan calmly replied, "We'll discuss it later."
She instructed, "Post a notice in front of the porridge shop, making public the grain reserves in the warehouse and the daily consumption."
The grain in the warehouse will be consumed as soon as it is used up, with no surplus.
Hongye immediately arranged for her servants to carry it out.
At dawn the next day, before the sky had fully brightened, a long queue had already formed in front of the porridge shop. Inside, the staff were busy cooking the porridge, which was then poured into large buckets and carried to outdoor tables by designated personnel.
The crowd immediately stirred, and many people tried to push forward.
The waiter in charge of distributing the porridge shouted, "Maintain order! Anyone who cuts in line will have their entire family deprived of porridge for the entire day!"
Upon hearing this, those who had intended to cut in line immediately stopped.
Being at the back of the line means you'll get your porridge a little later, but if you're caught cutting in line, you'll go hungry for a whole day.
Someone noticed the notice and hurriedly asked, "Is what's written on this notice true? Is this really all the Crown Princess has in her reserves?"
A middle-aged man who looked like the shopkeeper came out and explained, "That's right, this is all the grain stored in the Gu family's No. 4 warehouse. Based on yesterday's consumption, it can barely last for more than twenty days."
He reassured everyone: "However, there is no need to worry too much. The court is surely devising a countermeasure, and the refugees may be evacuated soon."
Someone asked anxiously, "What if the food runs out and the refugees still refuse to leave?"
Upon hearing this, many people showed expressions of worry.
The shopkeeper reassured everyone, "There will be a way when the time comes. 'There's always a way out.' Please rest assured, 'Heaven never seals off all paths.' With my wife stepping forward this time, many more kind-hearted people will surely lend a helping hand in the future."
The public felt slightly relieved after hearing this.
The line of people eating porridge moved slowly forward.
On the other side, after having breakfast, Gu Qinlan was preparing to take stock of the recent situation in the mansion when a servant came to report that the Gu family had sent someone to request that Gu Qinlan must return to her parents' home.
Knowing that this trip was unavoidable, Gu Qinlan tidied her appearance, changed her clothes, and returned to the Gu family with Hongye, Fuyu, Sang Qian and his two brothers.
Stepping through the Gu family's gate, Madam Song rushed over like a whirlwind, angrily pointing at Gu Qinlan: "You heartless little bitch, you really have ulterior motives, daring to squander so much grain on your own!"
Maple Leaf decisively intercepted Song's arm and pushed her back: "Insolence! How dare you lay a hand on a relative of a high-ranking official! This is insubordination, a crime punishable by at least forty strokes of the cane!"
Song was pushed so hard that she lost her balance and stumbled backward.
Gu Qinlan stared at her coldly: "Now that the family business has been handed over to me, how to manage it is naturally my decision. If you are dissatisfied, you will have no choice but to swallow your anger!"
Madam Song never expected her to be so outspoken. She pointed at Gu Qinlan, her voice trembling, "You...you..."
However, Gu Qinlan didn't even glance at her, and walked directly towards Old Master Gu's residence, her eyes revealing obvious impatience.
She knew perfectly well that Song's actions just now clearly had the tacit approval of Old Master Gu.
Old Master Gu was unwilling to openly oppose her, but he was dissatisfied with her spontaneous act of distributing porridge, so he condoned Song's actions.
Therefore, when she stepped into Grandpa Gu's courtyard, she immediately spoke bluntly: "If Grandpa thinks I've handled things improperly, then take back the business rights. If you still expect me to help you with your problems, then stop with these annoying little tricks."
"My grandfather was known in the business world for his iron-fisted methods when he was young. I never expected that he would learn the same methods as a woman. It's really quite remarkable."
Grandpa Gu's face turned pale and then purple, and it took him a while to calm down: "Although your mother is unruly, it is really too much for you to make such an important decision as distributing porridge without informing her in advance."
Gu Qinlan smiled gently: "Then what does Grandfather think we should do? Should we stand by and watch the people of the city starve to death? Or should we take this opportunity to sell grain at high prices?"
Just as Old Master Gu was about to speak, Gu Qinlan interrupted him: "Grandfather, are you suggesting that merchants should prioritize profit, and therefore intend to take this opportunity to sell off stored grain? Because selling it now would both address the urgent needs of the people and bring profits to the Gu family, wouldn't you say?"
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