Shi Yue stayed in Sun Yanan's yard that night. Of course he had a quilt. How could one person only have one quilt?
Although the two had not consummated their marriage, Shi Yue's hands were becoming increasingly restless. Shi Yue himself was also puzzled. He had never felt the urge to cuddle with Sun Yannan before, but now, whenever he saw her, he wanted to hold her in his arms.
It is still more comfortable to sleep with his wife in his arms. The next morning, Shi Yue ordered the servant to move all his things to Sun Yanan's yard. He wanted to live there for a long time.
Sun Yannan rolled his eyes at him unhappily and said, "I want to meet Master Shang from Shang Huai Hall."
Shi Yue said, "I asked you to go visit Madam Rong, and you're going to complain to my boss?
Even if you accuse me of favoring a concubine and neglecting my wife, you have no basis for it. I don't even have a concubine."
Sun Yannan said: "It's a small vision, isn't it? What do you scholars say? Establish a mind for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, carry on the lost knowledge of the past sages, and bring peace to the world for all eternity.
Although I am a woman, it would be a good thing if I had the opportunity to do something for the peace and tranquility of the world."
Shi Yue said: "If you don't tell me what it is, I won't do it.
Who knows what you said to Mr. Shang? "
Sun Yannan said, "This matter is somewhat related to our family's business. Please help me pass on a message for both public and private reasons."
Shi Yue said, "I dare not tell you this, both publicly and privately."
Sun Yannan said, "Then I'll go find my grandmother and go to the yamen to deliver the invitation myself, and wait for Lord Shang to be free to see us."
Shi Yue laughed and said, "You think your grandmother is you, playing with you like a child."
After Sun Yanan met Madam Shi, Madam Shi’s visiting cards were lined up at the gate of Shanghuaitang the next day.
Shi Yue formally sent a letter to the Rong family, but the Rong family declined. When Rong Li saw Shi Yue, his eyes were red and swollen: "Grandmother fell ill after returning. When she recovers, I will invite Brother Shi and Sister-in-law to come as guests."
Seeing her like this, Shi Yue felt very uncomfortable.
The old lady of the Shi family sighed when she heard about this and said to Sun Yannan, "The Rong family has recently been purchasing a large amount of grain from the Guanghuai Prince's fiefdom. Although this grain is aged rice, it is cheap and well preserved.
It's not as delicious as new rice, but it's still good. As usual, the Shi family reported the grain production from their various fields to the Rong family's shop, but there was no response.
Sun Yannan said, "In that case, let's go and block Lord Shang of Shang Huai Hall."
An old man and a young boy waited in a carriage parked outside the yamen gate for nearly three hours before they saw Lord Shang leading a group of people striding in.
Madam Shi and Sun Yannan hurried forward to pay their respects. Shang Huaitang had met Madam Shi and Sun Yannan before, and assumed they were looking for Shi Yue urgently. So he first gave Madam Shi a respectful salute as an elder, then turned around and called out, "Shi Yue."
When Shi Yue stepped forward, he saw that it was his grandmother and his wife. He hurried forward to support his grandmother and asked, "Grandma, why are you here looking for your grandson?"
Seeing that Lord Shang was about to go in, Mrs. Shi hurriedly wiped away Shi Yue's hand and said, "I'm not looking for you, I'm looking for Lord Shang."
Shang Huaitang heard it, stopped and turned around and said, "Old Madam, do you want to see me about something?"
Mrs. Shi nodded and said, "That's right."
An attendant nearby seemed dissatisfied: "Master Shang only has time to eat when he returns, and you are also encroaching on his time."
Mrs. Shi was a little embarrassed, and Sun Yannan said, "What a coincidence, our matter is related to the food security of thousands of people.
"If you don't mind, Lord Shang, please enjoy your meal while we report something to you. My grandmother has been waiting for almost three hours, just hoping that Lord Shang will listen."
Shang Huaitang heard this and asked, "Has the old lady had her meal yet? Would you like to have a simple meal here?"
He also called Shi Yue: "Shi Yue together."
So everyone followed Shang Huaitang and walked quickly inside. When they entered the government office, someone called out to everyone to go eat and meet back here at the agreed time.
Everyone dispersed. Shang Huaitang said to Madam Shi, "Madam, please follow me." Shi Yue and Sun Yannan followed behind.
After entering the tea room, the four of them sat down and were immediately served tea. After taking two sips, Shang Huaitang said, "Madam, what do you want to tell me?"
The old lady said, "Let my granddaughter-in-law speak. This idea is hers. I don't know if it's right or not, but I think this is a big deal."
Sun Yannan bowed to Lord Shang and said, "Your Excellency is busy with official duties, so I will speak directly.
The floods in Prince Guanghuai's fiefdom have been eliminated, and there have been good harvests every year. A lot of grain has been stored in recent years, and he has recently been quietly selling the stored grain in the surrounding counties.
Although it is old grain, the price is cheap and the quantity is astonishing.
Our dynasty has a vast territory, but there are only three counties that can produce a lot of grain. The other counties can either only be self-sufficient or need the court to transfer grain from other counties to make up for the shortfall.
The grain produced by these three counties provided food for almost half of the Xuanyuan Dynasty. If the three counties had a good harvest, the whole country would have enough food. If the three counties had a poor harvest, the whole country would suffer from famine.
The border warehouses set up by Your Majesty are needed for war purposes, and any shortage will be replenished immediately.
However, an epidemic broke out in southern Yunnan that year, causing food shortages in Yunzhao Prefecture and mutiniation among the people. The imperial court opened the granary to take out grain for emergency relief. However, after releasing the grain, it took six years to replenish the granary, and it was only in the seventh year that the government was able to make up the gap.
Our dynasty has always been short of food. People have no food, let alone the ability to raise poultry and livestock. Ordinary people can't eat meat or eggs.
In the past, the fiefdom of King Guanghuai suffered disasters one year and good harvests the next, and was only self-sufficient. But now it has become the fourth most productive county, but the court is unable to levy and use the remaining grain.
Because King Guanghuai probably would not report his actual grain production, just like now, they could choose to sell it secretly at a low price. Once grain merchants become addicted to buying such cheap grain, after all, the profits are huge, they will no longer buy grain at normal prices.
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