Chapter 54: Prices stabilize, the two sever ties...
The people stopped and watched as carts of grain were transported into the county. The colorful flags of rice merchants fluttered in the wind. A young man held his thin daughter and wept with joy. An old woman whose husband had starved to death the day before burst into tears upon seeing the large amount of rice flowing in today. Many more people cheered with excitement.
After that, major rice merchants from Taizhou Prefecture moved into Lvtian County, thus ending the monopoly of rice shops by a single entity.
Rice price on the first day: two taels of silver per shi (a unit of dry measure);
Rice price on the seventh day: 1.5 taels per shi;
...
By the thirtieth day, the price of rice had dropped to 490 wen per shi, lower than at any time before, and prices in the county had largely returned to normal.
That day, Manager Duan brought a roast goose to thank Zhang Ting. With prices stabilizing, Qingfenglou's profits gradually stabilized.
Thinking of her difficult situation a month ago, her voice choked with emotion: "If it weren't for the Lady's righteousness and guidance, I'm afraid the property left by our ancestors would have been lost." As she spoke, she stood up, bowed to Zhang Ting, and then took out a stack of silver notes from her bosom and handed them to him.
"This is the deposit paid to the major rice merchants in Taizhou Prefecture that day. My family is poor, so I offer this as a token of my gratitude. I hope Your Majesty will not find it offensive."
Zhang Ting held onto Manager Duan's hand and helped her up, but refused to accept her silver note. "I only suggested a method to stabilize prices. It's all thanks to you, Manager Duan, for making the trip. If you still feel guilty, please leave this roast goose as a token of your gratitude."
Manager Duan opened her mouth, still unwilling to give up, but Zhang Ting stopped her in time: "If you mention these gold and silver again, you will be humiliating me."
Manager Duan sighed and finally gave up, but he greatly admired the young man in front of him and bowed deeply to her: "Your Majesty is so righteous. On behalf of all the suffering people of Lvtian County, I thank you."
It seemed like the visits would go on and on, so Zhang Ting, feeling helpless, simply pressed her down into a chair and said casually, "It was nothing, no need to thank me."
Manager Duan was impressed by her humility, open-mindedness, and indifference to fame and fortune. During their conversation, she mentioned the situation in Taizhou Prefecture that day, which she now found amusing. "I thought you wanted me to order all the rice in Taizhou Prefecture and transport it to Lvtian to sell. But the next day, the rice merchants returned all my deposits, and I was quite disappointed."
"I never expected your move to be a feint, drawing all the rice merchants to Green Fields with minimal effort. What a brilliant plan! You are truly a genius of our time!"
After praising Zhang Ting, Manager Duan thought of the culprit behind this disaster and couldn't help but worry about Zhang Ting.
She frowned, her eyes filled with worry. "But Boss Mi is ruthless. This loss is severe; I'm afraid he won't let it go easily. Your Majesty..."
Zhang Ting waved her hand dismissively.
Seeing that she didn't take it to heart, Manager Duan changed the subject. It was midsummer, and Qingfenglou was going to launch new drinks, saying that he would invite Zhang Ting to taste them.
Zhang Ting smiled and agreed. Just then, Xiao Rong and Xi Ge came to serve tea to the two of them. It got hot early this year, and they were already using iced tea at home.
Manager Duan held the cold teacup, thinking about the calamity they had just experienced. She thought that while the people there were alright, the common folk would likely suffer greatly in the sweltering heat.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ting paused, pondered for a moment, and then turned to her, suggesting, "I have a recipe for cooling off in the summer. How about we brew some herbal tea and give it away for free to passersby to help them beat the heat?"
......
The main hall of the Mi residence.
That month, the rice shop's profits plummeted, and it couldn't make ends meet.
"Aaaaaah! This is outrageous!!"
Mr. Mi's face was contorted with rage, his heart trembling with anger. He overturned the table in front of him, but that wasn't enough. He then smashed the flowerpots and stools beside him.
The servant watched in terror as his master went mad, cowering in a corner, trembling and not daring to make a sound.
A moment later, he stopped panting heavily, and after a while, he finally calmed down and realized that it was no coincidence that so many rice merchants had moved into Lütian County at the same time.
Boss Mi suddenly turned his head, his eyes glaring like a ferocious demon, and roared, "Tell Xiao Si to investigate! Investigate!!"
Who ruined her plans?! She'll tear that person to pieces!!
The servant was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling as he stammered, "Yes, yes, yes." Then he scrambled out of the room.
Mr. Mi stood motionless in the messy hall, his head hanging low.
Until the next day at 9:00 AM.
Xiao Si stepped into the hall and reported to Boss Mi that she had learned from her confidants in other rice shops that Manager Duan of Qingfeng Tower had suddenly ordered a large quantity of rice in Taizhou Prefecture, which aroused the suspicion of the major rice shop owners. That's how they discovered the strangeness in Lvtian County and all went there.
But why would Manager Duan suddenly go to Taizhou Prefecture? Xiao Si bribed the staff of Qingfeng Tower and learned that after seeing a young woman, Manager Duan suddenly closed the shop and went to Taizhou Prefecture.
This young woman's name is Zhang Ting.
Boss Mi slowly raised her head, her eyes bloodshot, her face terrifying, like a vengeful ghost. Her fists cracked as she gritted her teeth and spat out two words: "Zhang Ting".
"Prepare the horses and head to the official residence."
......
At this moment, the sun was blazing high, and the courtyard of the official residence was unbearably hot, with the flowers and plants lying flat on the ground from the heat.
Magistrate Song sat in her study drinking iced tea, while a servant fanned her with an ice basin to keep her cool.
She was in a bad mood, took a sip, and then slammed the bottle down.
Magistrate Song's information network was even more advanced than that of the rice merchant; she discovered yesterday that someone had sabotaged the recent rice price crash. However, she couldn't understand how this unknown, young girl dared to cut off her livelihood!
Suddenly, a maidservant came to report from outside the door: "Reporting to Your Excellency, County Magistrate Niu has come to visit."
Magistrate Song had his maidservant invite the person in.
This person was quite sensible, and being a colleague second only to himself, Magistrate Song gave her face and got up to greet her at the door.
Magistrate Song smiled warmly and said, "Lord Niu, what a rare guest! It's hot outside, come in quickly." She glanced over and saw a young woman standing next to Magistrate Niu.
After inviting the man in, Magistrate Song ordered his servants to serve tea before asking, "And who is this gentleman?"
County Magistrate Niu laughed heartily, “I have come to see you today to introduce this person to you, sir.”
"Oh?" Magistrate Song looked the man up and down. He was distinguished by his appearance and elegant demeanor, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Her name is Zhang Ting, a talented woman from this county, who has already achieved academic success."
Upon hearing this name, Magistrate Song's expression changed drastically, and he stared intently at Zhang Ting: "You're the Zhang Ting who brought so many rice merchants to Green Field?"
Zhang Ting lowered his eyes and calmly bowed to her, "Reporting to Your Excellency, it is indeed I, your junior."
Magistrate Song flew into a rage, pointing at Zhang Ting with trembling fingers, "You audacious scoundrel! You've disrupted the prices in this county, causing untold suffering to the people! What is your punishment?! I was just about to send men to arrest you, and you dare to jump in front of me!"
"Guards! Seize this thief at once!"
Hearing Magistrate Song's words, Magistrate Niu, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but feel angry for Zhang Ting. He had clearly done a good deed, preventing the people from being exploited by unscrupulous merchants, so how could he have caused the people to suffer so much? Magistrate Song and the rice merchant were sucking the blood of the people, and even now they still didn't repent. They were truly unworthy of being a public official. Now they were even calling a deer a horse, they had no shame at all.
Upon hearing their master's command, the maids rushed in and surrounded Zhang Ting.
Zhang Ting remained calm, slowly lifted his eyelashes, looked at Magistrate Song, and said, "I was trying to save you."
Magistrate Song flicked his sleeve and sneered, "You villain, you're spouting nonsense! You've disrupted the rice market and committed all sorts of evil deeds, how can you save me?" Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents! Zhang Ting is clearly trying to harm her!
Zhang Ting said calmly, "Does Your Excellency know that the rice merchant's hoarding of large quantities of grain and price gouging has already spread to neighboring counties, and in a few days, it may even spread to the prefectural city."
Magistrate Song pondered for a long time, unable to figure it out. He squinted and looked her up and down, then waved his hand to dismiss the maid.
"Does Your Excellency know that not only rice prices, but other commodity prices are also soaring? The common people are struggling to make ends meet, suffering from hunger, and their resentment has been building for a long time. They wish they could skin the ringleader alive."
Magistrate Song frowned. If the people wanted to hate or kill someone, they should go find Boss Mi. What did it have to do with her?
Zhang Ting paused, then said meaningfully, "When Emperor Gaozu was still a nobody, he was in a similar situation."
What was the situation like when Emperor Gaozu was in his early days?
Magistrate Song remembered that the history books recorded that the previous dynasty was corrupt and chaotic, causing widespread suffering and leading to peasant uprisings.
Zhang Ting reminded her, "I've heard that many people have starved to death in the county in recent months."
Magistrate Song was startled and his body went limp. He slumped weakly into his chair, his mouth trembling slightly. If an uprising were to break out, the magistrate's head would often be the first to be cut off and offered as a sacrifice to the flag!
Suddenly, a heavenly voice reached my ears: "However, with prices now stable, the scenes of yesteryear will likely not reappear."
Fortunately, it hasn't come to that yet. Magistrate Song suddenly looked up, rushed forward and thanked Zhang Ting profusely, "Thank you so much for saving me, sir!"
Zhang Ting sighed and looked at her sincerely, saying, "It's good that I've cleared up the misunderstanding with you, sir. You are the magistrate of Lütian, and it is my honor to be able to contribute my humble efforts to you."
These words deeply moved Magistrate Song. He grasped Zhang Ting's hand, said "good" three times, and even wanted to treat her as his own niece.
Niu, the county magistrate standing to the side, stared blankly at Zhang Ting, inwardly praising her brilliant methods!
After this incident, Magistrate Song deeply resented Boss Mi, the ringleader of the evil deeds, and was determined to sever all ties and cut off all contact with him.
No sooner had Magistrate Song seen off Zhang Ting and Assistant Magistrate Niu than Boss Mi came to pay his respects.
She coldly ordered her maid, "From now on, do not see this person again." He was always up to no good, almost getting her killed!
"yes."
Boss Mi was turned away and realized that Magistrate Song wanted to sever ties. She was filled with resentment, but she still refused to give up and waited patiently.
When Magistrate Song came out for a walk to digest his food in the evening, she suddenly rushed up to him, fell to the ground, hugged his legs, and cried out, "Magistrate Song, you can't abandon me!"
There are too many people on the street, and if someone sees her colluding with unscrupulous merchants, will she still have any reputation as an official?
Magistrate Song quickly pulled the rice shopkeeper away and led her to a secluded spot to talk, ordering his servants to stand guard around them.
"What exactly do you want?!"
Boss Mi knelt on the ground and kowtowed to her, then crawled forward and tugged at the hem of her robe. “Lord Song, you can’t abandon me. We’re practically family, and we’ve supported each other all year!”
The magistrate felt a chill and kicked her away, shouting, "What kind of kinship do I have with a lowly commoner like you?!"
"I've already shown you extraordinary mercy by letting your slutty, lewd son crawl into my house, yet you shamelessly claim to be half a relative of mine?!"
Mr. Mi crawled over, clutching his aching shoulder, and glared at her: "My son is innocent and has never done anything improper!"
Magistrate Song smiled contemptuously and said without further ado, "Tonight you will take that slut back with you!"
Magistrate Song pointed at Boss Mi and warned her, "And what do you mean by 'not distinguishing between us'? I am an honest official and have never paid any attention to a lowly commoner like you. Don't try to associate with me in the future, or you'll regret it!" He then turned and left.
Boss Mi lay on the ground with a gloomy face, his fingers clenched into fists, staring fiercely at Magistrate Song's back. Suddenly, he let out a chilling laugh, his eyes filled with madness, looking like a demon.
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