After Manager Wen said so much, Gu Yuzhi naturally understood the seriousness of the matter, but since they had already promised Prefect Qi, it wouldn't be good for them to go back on their word.
Although Gu Yuzhi was young, he knew that one should not break one's word. He hurriedly discussed with Xie Changshi and others how to bring back so much grain and medicine without attracting the attention of Li Ji Trading Company.
The discussion lasted from noon until night, and they finally decided to have the escort agency transport the grain back in batches, entering the city under cover of night. They even consulted with Prefect Qi, suggesting that at least half of the coarse grain be mixed with the disaster relief grain and sent back to Changzhou.
Prefect Qi felt guilty towards Gu Yuzhi, so he readily agreed. Moreover, Chief Clerk Xie proposed that they could take in two hundred males aged seven to twenty.
Two hundred people! They really solved a huge problem for him.
Upon hearing Chief Secretary Xie state the number, Manager Wen froze on the spot, muttering, "Wasn't it supposed to be three thousand guards?"
Shu Xiaohan laughed so hard she hiccuped, clutching her stomach: "Hahaha, 'A trade is like a mountain'? Chief Secretary Xie is too naive? Manager Wen, shouldn't you think about what you were saying before? Is Chief Secretary Xie really such a tactless person?"
Wen Xiuzhu was furious and embarrassed. Remembering Shu Xiaohan's previous support, he said contemptuously, "Hindsight is 20/20!"
Gu Yuzhi covered his mouth and chuckled secretly. He felt that although Teacher Shu and Manager Wen still argued, their relationship was much better than before.
After the refugee issue was mostly resolved, Gu Yuzhi resumed his busy studies. It wasn't until red lanterns were hung throughout the mansion that Gu Yuzhi realized the New Year was almost here.
Standing under the eaves looking at the big red lanterns, he couldn't help but think of his mother. Every year during the New Year, the big red lanterns in the palace were hung up by his mother and the palace maids. He remembered that the year before last, his mother even held him while hanging one.
I wonder how my mother is doing these days. It's almost the New Year, and my brother and sister-in-law must be very busy. They should have received gifts from him, right?
Meanwhile, in Consort Taixian's palace, in addition to the Empress and Consort Xian, Consorts Liang, Shu, and De had all arrived, and the four of them were playing cards around a table.
Consort Liang's face was now covered with notes, and she looked at Consort Shu beside her with murderous intent: "Sister Consort Shu, I advise you to surrender. I'm sure I'll win this hand!"
Consort Shu was not about to surrender so easily. She sneered and used her hand to remove the paper strips that were blocking her view: "Sister Liangfei, your face is already covered with paper strips. Why don't you add a couple more? Your left and right sides are asymmetrical, which doesn't look good!"
Consort Liang sneered, "Ha, are you sick! You have to worry about whether a card game is symmetrical or not!"
Seeing the young girls' unladylike behavior, Consort Tai Xian couldn't help but smile. She beckoned to Consort De, and the two whispered to each other: "Consort De, I heard that Xiao Liu sent word a while ago that he wants you to help him make some connections to buy some medicinal herbs..."
Before Consort Tai Xian could finish speaking, Consort Shu burst into laughter, waving the cards in her hand and saying, "Sister Liang Fei, admit it, you're no match for her!"
Consort Liang was so angry that her teeth itched. She angrily threw down the cards, tore off all the paper strips from her face, and looked at Consort Taixian: "Consort Taixian, you don't need to thank Consort De. Although the Zou family is the largest medicinal herb grower in Sang Dynasty, they really don't have shops in the northern desert. Now that Xiao Liu has spoken up, the Zou family should thank Xiao Liu."
Consort Shu was also dissatisfied, saying, "Exactly! This Xiao Liu just doesn't know what kind of money is easy to make. Otherwise, why don't you ask me to connect my family with someone, and a jewelry shop could be opened, right?"
These concubines had all entered the palace when the emperor was still a prince, so they believed they knew him quite well.
The Emperor may seem to dislike Xiao Liu, but Xie Changshi, Qi Chenglang, and Qin Yuanpan are all outstanding individuals in their respective fields.
If the Emperor truly dislikes Xiao Liu, he could simply raise her in the palace until she reaches adulthood and is granted her own residence, then abandon her anywhere else. Why bother with all this trouble?
Moreover, when Xiao Liu wrote home for the first time, the Emperor sent him many rewards...
Just as Consort Liang said, the Zou family indeed did not own a single shop in the Northern Desert. All the pharmacies in the Northern Desert had been taken over by a company called Li Ji Trading Company. Naturally, the Zou family was unwilling to let them go head-to-head with a powerful local tyrant and end up with both sides suffering heavy losses.
So after Xiao Liu wrote the letter, Consort De felt that the Zou family's luck had turned, but she was also afraid of the Emperor's suspicion, so she took the letter to the Emperor. Before she could even speak, the Emperor said, "Xiao Liu said that the snow disaster in the northern desert was severe and many people were injured, but the medicinal herbs in the northern desert are very expensive, so he wants to cooperate with the Zou family so that the people in the northern desert can use some affordable medicinal herbs. What do you think?"
Consort De immediately covered her mouth and laughed: "Your Majesty already has the answer in your heart, why ask me?"
Seeing Consort De's reaction, Gu Yuchen snorted coldly but eventually nodded.
Consort De left happily with a satisfactory answer, not even thinking to say a few more words to the Emperor. After returning to the palace, she immediately sent a message out of the palace, while Gu Yuchen summoned Qi Chengjun and revealed the news to Qi Chenglang, who was waiting for news outside the capital.
Upon receiving the news, the Zou family and Qi Chenglang quickly made contact. They gave Qi Chenglang a seal and told him that with this seal, he could get all the medicine from the Zou family's pharmacy at cost price.
The next day, when Consort De went to pay her respects to the Empress, she proudly boasted to the other concubines, receiving envious and jealous glances from them before returning to her palace satisfied.
Even though several days had passed, Consort De couldn't hide her pride when she brought it up again: "Sister Consort Shu, how old is Xiao Liu? Even if he's going to get married, it will be many years from now. Xiao Liu doesn't need those jewelry pieces. Have you forgotten that Xiao Liu wrote in his last letter that he thinks silver is more practical than jewelry?"
Consort Shu's face darkened considerably. She twisted her handkerchief, thinking, "Consort De handled this matter well, making the Zou family stand out in front of the Emperor. Her mother even sent a letter a few days ago, wanting to know what exactly happened."
Seeing Consort Shu's discomfiture, Consort Liang felt that even the note on her face was not hateful. Her eyes flickered and she said, "Sister Consort Shu, don't be discouraged. Little Six will grow up eventually. When he gets married, you'll have to worry about him a lot. I just don't know if your family's jewelry shop can support a prince's wedding."
It's ridiculous that a jewelry shop dares to compare itself to a large pharmacy.
Feeling slighted, Consort Shu was very unhappy and angrily pushed away the leaf-shaped card, saying, "I'm going back first!"
Xiao Liu wants to open a business; how can he manage with just a pharmacy?
No, she had to get her mother to think of a good way to make money...
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