The following day, Fu Changfeng took Zhao Yuping to the county government office to sort out all the handed-over items in order to have a clearer understanding of the situation in Shaoming County.
Xi Chun wasn't idle either. She took Tao Zi and four guards out. This time, the group went out under the pretext of buying some things. They strolled around the streets. Because they were worried about being unfamiliar with the area and not being able to speak the language, they asked Li Chang and Yang Jiang, who had come yesterday, to go shopping with them.
"Madam, what items do you need to buy? We'd like to take you to the shop." Because Li Chang received a reward yesterday, Yang Jiang was very attentive today, hoping to get money as well.
Life in the government office was tough; the monthly salary was meager, and sometimes it was delayed. So, they were naturally very eager to earn some extra money.
"I'd like to buy some rice, flour, cooking oil, clothes, fabrics, pots and pans, and other everyday items. Also, if there's anything unusual, you can take us to see it."
After thinking for a moment, Xichun told them that these things were necessities and she wanted to see for herself the influence of the Long family in the entire Shaoming County.
"I will take you there now, madam. All these things are on the same street. They all belong to the Long family. As for the things in our county, I'm afraid you don't know. Actually, it's mainly the Long chieftain and his family who do the business. Other families can only get a little bit of soup."
So there aren't many grain shops on this street. Only the Long family and two other families have three shops in total. Let's just buy from the Long family; their business is usually quite good.”
“Sure, let’s go take a look.” Xi Chun had no objections; her goal was to visit the Long family’s shop.
"Madam, look, we've arrived. This is the largest grain shop in our county, and also the most important business for the Long family."
"Coarse rice is eight coins a pound. Take it or leave it. This is the price throughout our county." Xichun and Taozi stepped forward to look at the rice. The two of them picked up the rice and examined it carefully. They heard the young shopkeeper next to them say arrogantly.
"What did he just say?" Xi Chun understood a few of the local dialect phrases, but she pretended not to understand and asked Li Chang.
"Hehe, Madam, that shop assistant said it's eight coins a pound. If you want to buy it, just have them bring over sacks to pack it." Li Chang was a little embarrassed when he heard the shop assistant's impolite voice, but unfortunately, the Long family's power was too great. Even with the shop assistant's attitude, those who came to buy rice didn't dare to have too many objections, and could only keep quiet if they did.
"How much are these soybeans?" Xichun asked the shop assistant, pointing at the soybeans.
"Hey, are you going to buy anything or not? You keep looking at this and that, dressed like respectable people but acting all shabby. If you don't have money, why are you buying food? You might as well eat grass." The shopkeeper said this indifferently and then sat down to enjoy the breeze.
"How can you be like this? This is the wife of the county magistrate. How dare you offend her? Hurry up and explain to her!" Seeing his attitude, Yang Jiang brought up the county magistrate's nameplate. Sure enough, when the young waiter heard that this was the county magistrate's wife, someone of importance, his expression immediately changed.
"Oh my, it's the magistrate's wife! Madam, tell me what you'd like to buy, and I'll pack it for you." The young shop assistant knew, of course, that a new magistrate had arrived. In this kind of place, any news would spread overnight, let alone the arrival of a new magistrate. So he immediately switched to broken Mandarin.
He originally looked down on these poor yamen runners the most, which is why he belittled them like that. Who knew that they would find someone to rely on today? He was wondering why these two dared to wait at their shop's door today.
"How much do you sell your brown rice and soybeans for?" Xi Chun didn't give him a friendly look and asked with the same expression as before.
"This brown rice costs eight coins, and these soybeans cost six coins. Madam, how much would you like to buy? I'll have someone load it onto a cart and deliver it to the county government office right away."
"So expensive! Back home, brown rice is six coins a pound and soybeans are only three coins a pound. This is twice as expensive!" Taozi frowned upon hearing the price.
"Oh dear, sir, you don't know this, do you? Our Shaoming County is located in the mountains. Grain can't be brought in from outside, and it's difficult to transport it out. You should know that things are valued for their scarcity, so it is a bit expensive, but these are normal prices in our Shaoming County. We're fair to everyone."
"What about the other things? Let me take a look first, and then decide whether I want to buy some of each to take home and eat." Xi Chun continued to ask about the prices of the other items, and sure enough, the answer was that each item was much more expensive than outside. These were prices that could only be found in the capital, but now they were being sold in a small county town.
"Then give me fifty catties of rice, one hundred catties of wheat, one hundred catties of brown rice, and one hundred catties of soybeans first," Xichun said, seeing him staring at her so eagerly.
"Alright, I'll install it for you right away, Madam." When the shop assistant heard that she didn't want much, less than he had expected, although his smile faded, he still forced a smile and quickly went to install it.
"We'll pay you after we deliver it to the county government office. Madam is going to visit other places later," Li Chang said, and the shopkeeper didn't object.
The group then arrived at the fabric market, which was also owned by the Long family. The entire street was covered with signs bearing the character "Long," indicating that the best locations on the street were occupied by the Long family, which explained why other businesses couldn't thrive.
The fabrics are also expensive, and there aren't many styles available. They're also out of fashion in other places, but they're not cheap here. According to the shopkeeper, this is because the cost of transporting the goods is too high, so the cost of transporting them here is naturally much higher.
Xi Chun only bought a little, since she had brought quite a lot with her; this was just to gather information.
The group had been strolling around the streets all day. Li Chang and Yang Jiang's legs were numb with exhaustion, but Xi Chun showed no sign of stopping. The two were starting to have second thoughts, wondering if all wealthy women could shop so much without feeling tired at all.
Fortunately, just as the sun was about to set, Xichun finally suggested going back, and joy appeared in both of their eyes.
"Get out of here, you beggar! Is this a place for you? This is the Long Tusi's house! Get out of here, or don't blame me for throwing you out to feed the wild dogs." Xi Chun was leading them around to the entrance of the Long Tusi's house, wanting to see the Long family's grandeur beforehand, when they saw a beggar in front of the house being chased away by the gatekeeper.
“I want to see Chief Long. He has bought all my land and hasn’t paid us back yet. I have elderly parents to support and a crying baby to raise. I beg Chief Long to have mercy and give us the money.”
"Go away! Chief Long already gave you the money. You gambled it all away and now you're coming here to cause trouble. Believe me, I'll really throw you out!" The gatekeeper glared at him angrily.
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