Shang Huaitang also bought a bowl of rice noodles. While eating, he looked at the people who were happily buying rice, and thought to himself, alas, the tax still has to be collected.
Keeping prices below market value for a long time was unacceptable. Now, people from neighboring counties had heard the news and were driving their horse-drawn carriages to Pyeongchang County to buy rice. Three counties outside of King Guanghuai's fiefdom had seen a large influx of rice, and the situation was similar across the three counties.
There was one county that was not a major grain-producing county and had a shortage of rice, so the price of rice did not drop so drastically.
He and the other two county magistrates knew that the tax had to be added, but they looked at each other and thought that it would be better to delay it for two days.
Xuanyuan Hao must have thrown his memorial away. He'll be scolded next time he reports on his work. He's messed up the entire country. The price of rice is equivalent to the entire region supporting him. So what? If it's two days later, my people will still be supporting half the region. Where will the rice come from?
Thinking of this, he ate a mouthful of rice noodles with peace of mind. Who doesn't protect his own county? Helan Cheng went to rescue a disaster and kidnapped tens of thousands of people.
But the Rong family was in a state of panic. They had stored too much rice, and if they continued to sell it at this market price, they would lose a fortune. Furthermore, they had no cash flow left. Daily life and the servants' monthly wages were all dependent on each family member contributing their own money. They were about to sell their house and land to pay off their debts.
Sun Yannan sent someone to convey the message that the Shi family could take over all the grain of the Rong family and buy it all at a price of 3 to 3.5 according to the quality grade of the aged rice, with a one-time payment.
The Shi family could also withdraw the lawsuit for breach of contract and avoid the huge penalty, but as a price, the Rong family's five largest granaries and ninety-three rice shops in the county capital and four surrounding counties would be transferred to the Shi family. The Rong family would retain the rest.
When Sun Yanan went to see Old Lady Shi, he said, "My wife, Sun, also wants to get involved in the grain selling business." No one expected that she would swallow up five counties in one go.
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