A gloomy haze hung over the capital. Months of drought had left the surrounding farmland barren, and famine, like an invisible beast, was devouring this once-prosperous city with its gaping maw. Despair permeated the streets and alleys, where ragged people lined up in long queues, their eyes vacant and helpless, desperately seeking a bite to eat to sustain their lives.
Amidst this desolate scene, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er appeared like angels descended to earth, bringing hope and warmth to the streets of the capital. Xiao Yichen stood tall and straight; though his white robe was stained with dust, it couldn't conceal his extraordinary aura. He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his gaze revealing both determination and kindness. Beneath his high-bridged nose, his thin lips were slightly upturned, giving him an approachable air. Lin Wan'er wore a pale pink silk dress, the hem fluttering gently in the wind. Her face was beautiful, her skin as white as snow, and her eyes were like a clear spring, crystal clear yet radiating a lively light. Her long, black hair was styled in a simple bun, a few strands falling on either side of her face, adding to her playful and adorable charm.
Behind them were carts laden with grain, collected by Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er through tireless efforts. Standing before the carts, Xiao Yichen spoke in a loud and clear voice, "Fellow villagers, don't panic. Today we are distributing grain to everyone; everyone will receive some." As he spoke, he personally carried a sack of grain to an elderly man, gently placing it down and saying with concern, "Old man, please take this." Tears welled in the old man's cloudy eyes, and his lips trembled as he said, "Young master, you are truly a living bodhisattva!" Xiao Yichen smiled and shook his head, "Old man, this is what we should do. Disasters are merciless, but people are compassionate. As long as we support each other, we will surely overcome this difficulty."
Lin Wan'er wasn't idle either; she busily moved through the crowd, distributing steamed buns to the people. Her movements were light and agile, her eyes filled with tenderness and compassion. Seeing a little child hiding behind his mother, his eyes revealing hunger and fear, Lin Wan'er gently approached, knelt down, and offered the child a steamed bun, saying softly, "Little one, don't be afraid, eat something." The child hesitated, looked at his mother, and after his mother nodded, the child carefully took the bun and wolfed it down. Looking at the child, Lin Wan'er felt a pang of sorrow. She patted the child's head and said, "Eat slowly, there's plenty more."
While distributing the grain, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er didn't forget to soothe the people's emotions. They patiently listened to their cries and complaints, offering comfort and encouragement. A middle-aged man said with a worried expression, "Young master, young lady, I don't know when this famine will end? How are we going to survive?" Xiao Yichen patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother, don't lose heart. This is only a temporary difficulty. We are trying to find more sources of food and will also request assistance from the imperial court. As long as everyone works together, we will definitely be able to overcome this famine." Lin Wan'er also said from the side, "Yes, brother. You must believe that darkness will always pass, and dawn is coming."
As time went on, more and more grain was distributed, and a glimmer of hope gradually appeared on the faces of the people. However, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er remained heavy-hearted. They knew that this grain was only a drop in the ocean, and that much more effort would be needed to completely solve the famine problem in the capital.
Just then, a commotion suddenly arose in the distance. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts. They instructed their men to continue distributing the grain and then headed towards the source of the commotion. There they found a group of people gathered around a grain stall, arguing heatedly with the stall owner.
"Why are your grain prices so high? This is going to kill us!" an old man said angrily, pointing at the grain on the stall.
The stall owner, however, dismissively said, "This grain is something I painstakingly transported from other places. The cost is high, so the price is naturally high. If you can't afford it, then don't make a fuss here."
"You're taking advantage of our misfortune!" a young man said, waving his fist.
The stall owner sneered, "Hmph! My prices are clearly marked; it's all up to you. If you think it's too expensive, you can buy it elsewhere."
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stepped forward and saw that the prices of the grains displayed at the stall were indeed outrageously high. Ordinary rice was selling for ten times the usual price, and flour was also shockingly expensive. Lin Wan'er frowned and said softly, "How can this be? In this time of famine, deliberately raising grain prices, how can the people afford it?"
Xiao Yichen's face was gloomy. He stepped forward and said to the stall owner, "What you are doing is immoral. When people are suffering, you should lend a helping hand, not take the opportunity to make money."
The stall owner glanced at Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er and said disdainfully, "Who are you? What gives you the right to lecture me? I have my own rules for doing business, and it's none of your business."
Xiao Yichen took a deep breath and said, "I am Xiao Yichen, and this is Lin Wan'er. Although we are not government officials, we cannot stand by and watch you bully the people like this. If you have any conscience, you should lower the price of grain so that the people can afford it."
The stall owner paused slightly upon hearing the names Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. He seemed to have heard of their charitable deeds and felt somewhat apprehensive. However, he was unwilling to give up the opportunity to make money, so he said, "Young Master Xiao, Miss Lin, I'm not having an easy time either. I bought this grain at a high price, and if I sell it at the original price, I'll lose money."
Lin Wan'er said, "It's better for you to lose money than to let the people starve to death, right? Think about it, what's the use of making a lot of money if the people all starve to death?"
The stall owner remained silent for a moment, seemingly pondering Lin Wan'er's words. Just then, Lin Wan'er suddenly sensed two strange gazes fixed on them. Following their gaze, she saw two people standing in a corner not far away, conversing in hushed tones. These two individuals were dressed differently from the common people of the capital; their clothes, though simple, were of excellent quality, and their eyes revealed an air of wariness and mystery.
Lin Wan'er's heart skipped a beat, and she whispered to Xiao Yichen, "Yichen, look at those two people over there. I think they're a bit suspicious. I'll go and test them out."
Xiao Yichen nodded and said, "Be careful."
Lin Wan'er pretended to be nonchalant and slowly walked towards the two men. As she got closer, she heard one of them whisper, "This time we must take control of the grain supply in the capital and throw them into chaos."
Another person said, "Don't worry, we've already bought a lot of grain, and we're still buying. If we can hold out for a while longer, the capital will fall into an even greater crisis."
Lin Wan'er was startled; she realized that these two people might be the masterminds behind deliberately inflating grain prices. She calmly returned to Xiao Yichen's side and told him what she had overheard.
A flash of anger crossed Xiao Yichen's eyes. He said, "It seems there's a bigger conspiracy behind this. We can't sit idly by; we must find out the truth."
Lin Wan'er said, "Well, let's start with this stall owner and see if we can find out anything."
So, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er approached the stall owner again. Xiao Yichen said sternly, "You'd better tell me honestly where this grain came from? Did someone instruct you to raise the price?"
Seeing Xiao Yichen's serious expression, the stall owner felt a little scared. He stammered, "This... this grain was bought from a grain store called Mu's Grain Shop. As for the rest, I really don't know."
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er exchanged a glance, a clue forming in their minds. They decided to go to Mu's Grain Store to investigate, uncover the truth behind the conspiracy, and seek justice for the people of the capital. Before leaving, Xiao Yichen said to the stall owner, "You'd better lower the price of your grain, or we won't let you off the hook."
The stall owner nodded hurriedly and said, "Yes, yes, I'll lower the price right away."
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er turned and left, heading towards Mu's Grain Store. Their figures gradually disappeared into the distance on the streets of the capital, but their mission had only just begun.
The central market of the capital should have been a bustling and vibrant scene. A tall archway stood at the street entrance, its exquisite carvings gleaming with the luster of history under the sunlight. Shops lined both sides of the street, wine flags fluttering in the breeze, and shelves overflowing with a dazzling array of goods, attracting merchants and customers from all directions.
However, the market is now shrouded in the shadow of famine, having lost its former prosperity. Most shops are closed, their doors and windows tightly shut, with only a few struggling to stay afloat. The once bustling streets are now deserted, with only a handful of pedestrians hurrying by, their faces haggard, their eyes filled with worry and exhaustion.
In a corner of the market, a grain stall was unusually bustling, but not because of thriving business, but because of a fierce argument. A group of ragged people surrounded the stall, shouting angrily.
"You heartless boss, how can the price of grain rise so outrageously? How are we ordinary people supposed to live?!" An elderly man with gray hair, leaning on his cane, trembled with anger as he pointed at the grain on the stall with his cane and said in a trembling voice.
The stall owner was a stout middle-aged man dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, his face full of fat. He sat behind his stall, legs crossed, toying with a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand. He ignored the anger of the people and sneered disdainfully, "Hmph! This grain is something I painstakingly transported from other places. The cost is high, so the price naturally has to go up. If you can't afford it, then don't make a fuss here. I didn't force you to buy it."
"You're taking advantage of our misfortune!" A young man roared, his face flushed red, his fists clenched. His eyes burned with furious rage, as if they wanted to devour his boss. "During this famine, everyone is suffering, and you're thinking of making a fortune? Have you lost your conscience?"
A woman standing nearby, holding a thin, frail child, said with tears in her eyes, "Boss, please have mercy and give me a discount. My child hasn't eaten properly for days; if this continues, he'll starve to death." The child cried loudly in her arms, his cries tugging at the hearts of everyone present.
But the boss remained unmoved. He waved his hand impatiently and said, "Go away, I'm doing business here, not a charity. If you don't have money, don't waste my time."
The crowd grew even more agitated, surging forward to confront the shopkeeper. Seeing the situation turning against him, the shopkeeper quickly stood up and shouted, "What are you trying to do? Rebel? Let me tell you, I have powerful backers. If you dare to cause trouble, you'll regret it!"
Just as the two sides were at an impasse, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er rushed over. They pushed through the crowd and arrived at the stall. Xiao Yichen frowned, looking at the pitifully small amount of grain on the stall at exorbitant prices, and a surge of anger welled up inside him. He stepped forward and said to the stall owner, "What you're doing is outrageous. In this year of famine, grain is the lifeblood of the people. How can you charge such exorbitant prices?"
The shopkeeper sized up Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. Seeing their distinguished attire, he felt a little apprehensive, but still tried to remain calm, saying, "Young master, don't make false accusations. I bought this grain with real money, and the high price is a last resort. If you have money, buy it; if you don't, please leave."
Lin Wan'er couldn't help but say, "Do you know how many people have gone hungry because of your high grain prices? Aren't you afraid of retribution?"
The boss sneered, "Retribution? I think you're the ones meddling. In the capital's grain market, I can set prices however I want, and it's none of your business to lecture me."
Xiao Yichen took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, and said, "Do you think you can do whatever you want? This grain is related to the life and death of millions of people in the capital. You raise prices and disrupt the market. Aren't you afraid of being investigated by the court?"
The boss paused slightly upon hearing the word "imperial court," but quickly regained his arrogance: "Imperial court? Hmph! I think you're just trying to scare me. I'm a big shot in this capital, and I'd like to see what the imperial court can do to me."
At this moment, an old man stepped forward and said to Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, "Young master, young lady, you don't know this. This shopkeeper usually relies on his power and often acts arrogantly in this market. Now that there is a famine, he has gone even further, raising the price of grain to a high level, which is really unaffordable for us ordinary people."
Xiao Yichen gently patted the old man's shoulder and comforted him, "Don't worry, sir, we will definitely get justice for everyone."
Lin Wan'er looked at the shop owner, pondering a solution. Suddenly, an idea struck her. She said, "Sir, you said your grain is transported from elsewhere, which increases costs. Could you tell us where it's from and how it's transported?"
The boss's expression changed, and he stammered, "This... this is my trade secret, why should I tell you?"
Lin Wan'er smiled slightly: "Boss, if you have nothing to hide, why don't you dare to speak up? Are you deliberately concealing something?"
The boss was speechless after Lin Wan'er's words, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. Just then, Lin Wan'er sensed an unusual presence coming from the side. She turned her head and saw two people not far away secretly observing the situation. These two people were dressed in ordinary clothes, but their eyes revealed an unusual wariness.
Lin Wan'er's heart skipped a beat, and she whispered to Xiao Yichen, "Yichen, look at those two people over there. I think they're very suspicious. They might be related to this high-price grain incident."
Xiao Yichen followed Lin Wan'er's gaze and noticed the two people as well. He nodded and said, "Let's not alert them yet, let's see what they do."
So, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er continued to negotiate with the shopkeeper while keeping an eye on the two people's movements. Seeing that Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er were unwilling to give up, the shopkeeper became a little scared and said, "Young master, young lady, I think you are good people. How about this, I can lower the price a little, but not too much."
Xiao Yichen said, "This is not the solution. You must sell the grain at a reasonable price, otherwise we will not let this go."
Just as the two sides were deadlocked, the two suddenly turned and left. Lin Wan'er quickly said to Xiao Yichen, "Yichen, they're leaving. Let's follow them and see."
Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er gave the people a few instructions, telling them not to panic, and then quietly followed behind the two men. The two men meandered through the market, finally entering a secluded alley. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er followed cautiously, afraid of being discovered.
As they reached the depths of the alley, the two men entered a dilapidated house. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er hid outside, peering through a crack in the window. They saw the two men conversing with a mysterious figure. Due to the distance, they couldn't hear the specifics, but judging from the mysterious figure's expression and gestures, they seemed to be discussing something very important.
Lin Wan'er said softly, "Yi Chen, it seems there's a huge conspiracy involved. We must find a way to figure it out."
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Yes, let's go back first and discuss this further. There must be many unknown secrets hidden behind this high grain price incident. We can't let those bad guys succeed."
So, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er quietly left the alley and returned to their residence. They sat in their room and began discussing their next move. Xiao Yichen said, "Wan'er, although we didn't find many clues today, we at least know that someone else is manipulating this high-priced grain incident. We need to find evidence as soon as possible to expose their conspiracy."
Lin Wan'er said, "I think we can start with that boss and see if we can get more information from him. In addition, we can also investigate that Mu Ji Grain Store; maybe we can find some key clues."
Xiao Yichen agreed: "Okay, let's do it that way. Tomorrow we'll go to Mu's Grain Store first, and then talk to the owner. I believe that as long as we persevere, we will definitely be able to uncover the truth of this conspiracy and solve the food problem for the people of the capital."
In this capital city shrouded in famine, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er are keenly aware of the heavy responsibilities they bear. They will face countless challenges and dangers, but they will not back down. For justice and the well-being of the people, they are determined to forge ahead and fight against the forces of darkness to the very end.
Chapter 3: The Suspicious Outsider (Write 3000 words)
Lin Wan'er, with her keen observation skills, discovers the strange people and uses her mind-reading ability to uncover their conspiracy to disrupt the capital's food supply. This adds to the story's mystery and tension, foreshadows the main plot, and makes readers curious about the forces and purposes behind it all.
Suspicious outsider
A heavy gloom seemed to hang over the capital, the blazing sun unable to dispel the oppressive atmosphere and unease. Since discovering the hidden trickery behind the high grain prices, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er felt a heavy weight pressing on their hearts. They knew that this seemingly simple grain price gouging was likely just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger conspiracy.
That day, the two returned to the busiest grain market in the city. The market was still teeming with people, but most of the residents simply lingered at the stalls, their eyes filled with helplessness and despair. The sacks that had once been overflowing with grain were now nearly empty, while the prices remained outrageously high, leaving many empty-handed.
Lin Wan'er wore a moon-white long dress, the hem of which swayed gently with her steps. Her gaze was sharp, carefully searching the crowd for any unusual signs. Xiao Yichen followed closely behind, his posture upright, his blue robe fluttering in the wind, his deep eyes revealing determination and coldness.
"Yichen, look over there." Lin Wan'er suddenly stopped and said softly, gesturing for Xiao Yichen to look towards a corner of the market. Xiao Yichen followed her gaze and saw two men standing together in a relatively secluded corner, talking quietly. Their clothing was quite different from the locals of the capital. They wore coarse linen clothes, but the fabric seemed to be of foreign origin, and the style of their clothes also had an exotic feel. They wore wide-brimmed conical hats with the brims pulled low, almost completely obscuring their faces, making it difficult to see their features.
Lin Wan'er frowned slightly. She could sense an unusual aura emanating from these two people. It was a sense of unfamiliarity, not belonging to the capital, as if they had come from a distant place with some ulterior motive.
"Let's go take a look," Xiao Yichen said in a low voice. The two of them casually approached the two people.
As they approached, Lin Wan'er secretly used her mind-reading ability. This mind-reading ability was a special skill she had acquired by chance. Although she couldn't use it casually, and each use consumed a lot of her energy, it was undoubtedly an extremely powerful tool at this crucial moment.
At first, Lin Wan'er could only hear some vague thoughts, as if shrouded in a layer of mist. But as she concentrated, the mist gradually dissipated, and the sounds became clearer.
"This mission must be completed. We must not allow the capital's food supply to return to normal. As long as we throw them into chaos, we can profit from it." One of the men's voices echoed in Lin Wan'er's mind.
“But there are many capable people in the capital. What if our plan is discovered?” another man said with some worry.
"Hmph! Don't worry. We've already bribed quite a few people, and the Mu Family Grain Store is our base of operations. As long as we continue to control the flow of grain and incite some people to riot, the capital will be in chaos sooner or later. By then, even if someone notices something amiss, it will be too late." The first man's voice was full of confidence and smugness.
Lin Wan'er was shocked; she hadn't expected the conspiracy behind this to be so vast. These people not only wanted to reap huge profits by driving up grain prices, but also attempted to disrupt the entire capital's grain supply, plunging the city into chaos and turmoil. What forces were manipulating things behind the scenes? What was their ultimate goal? Was it to overthrow the court, or did they have some other ulterior motive?
Lin Wan'er quietly told Xiao Yichen what she had overheard, and Xiao Yichen's face grew even more gloomy. He clenched his fists, a surge of anger rising in his heart: "These people are simply insane! For their own selfish interests, they are willing to plunge countless people into dire straits."
“We can’t let them succeed,” Lin Wan’er said firmly. “We must find their weaknesses as soon as possible and stop their plot.”
Just then, the two men seemed to sense something. They suddenly stopped talking, looked up, and cautiously scanned their surroundings. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er quickly pretended to be selecting goods, avoiding their gaze.
"Let's go back first and discuss this further," Xiao Yichen said, and the two hurriedly left the market.
Back at their residence, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er sat down at the table and began to discuss their next move.
“This Mu Ji Grain Store is clearly the key. We had already suspected it was related to the high-price grain incident, and now it seems that it is very likely the core stronghold of these people,” Xiao Yichen analyzed.
“That’s right. But we know very little about this Mu’s Grain Store, and going there rashly might alert them,” Lin Wan’er said with some concern.
"We can start from the side and investigate the background and personnel of Mu's Grain Store. Let's see if we can find any clues to figure out who they are and which forces they are colluding with," Xiao Yichen said after a moment of contemplation.
"Furthermore, we cannot ignore those they have bribed. These people are like hidden bombs in the capital, threatening us at any moment. We must find a way to locate them and expose their conspiracy," Lin Wan'er added.
"Yes, this matter should not be delayed. I will arrange for people to investigate the situation at Mu's Grain Store. Wan'er, you stay here and see if you can obtain more information through your mind-reading ability." Xiao Yichen stood up, preparing to leave.
"Yichen, be careful. Since these people dare to plot so openly, they won't let it go easily. They might harm you," Lin Wan'er said with concern.
Xiao Yichen smiled slightly and gently took Lin Wan'er's hand: "Wan'er, don't worry. I'll be careful. You should also take good care of yourself here, and let me know immediately if anything happens."
After saying this, Xiao Yichen turned and left, leaving Lin Wan'er alone at the table, silently praying for him. She knew that they were about to face an extremely difficult battle, and the outcome of this battle would not only determine the life and death of the people of the capital, but also the stability and peace of the entire capital.
In the days that followed, Xiao Yichen traveled extensively, utilizing all his connections in the capital to investigate the situation at Mu's Grain Store. Meanwhile, Lin Wan'er kept a close watch on the city's movements, attempting to find traces of those suspicious individuals again in order to gather more intelligence.
However, those behind the scenes seemed to have realized they were being investigated in secret, and their actions became more covert, making Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's investigation progress very slowly. But the two did not give up, knowing that if they did, the capital would be plunged into utter ruin.
As time went on, the food shortage in the capital became increasingly severe, and the lives of the people fell into deeper hardship. The cries of the people could be heard in the streets and alleys, sounds that pierced Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's hearts like sharp arrows.
"We must speed things up," Lin Wan'er said anxiously, looking at the starving people outside the window.
“I know. I’ve found some clues, but they still need further verification,” Xiao Yichen said, his eyes showing fatigue, but even more so, determination.
Just when they were feeling somewhat desperate, unexpected news arrived. An old friend of Xiao Yichen told him that he had seen a mysterious caravan on a secluded road outside the capital. The caravan was moving in a hurry, and the carts were loaded with grain, but there were no markings on them. Moreover, the caravan was heading straight for the capital.
"Could this be related to Mu's Grain Store?" Xiao Yichen's heart stirred; he felt this might be a breakthrough.
"No matter what, we have to investigate," Lin Wan'er said.
Therefore, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er decided to follow this clue and embarked on a journey to find the mysterious convoy. Unknown dangers and challenges awaited them. But they both held a firm belief: no matter what, they must uncover the conspiracy behind it and save the people of the capital from their suffering.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com