"Whatever you want to say, just tell me. We won't hide it from you. We are all running out of food at home. If you don't come, we will prepare to transport some of the herbs to the town to exchange for some rice. These days, the world is too chaotic, and there are constant natural disasters. It's uneasy to have no food at home.
To be honest, we can't produce anything here, and we only have these medicinal herbs that are not enough to eat. If we keep them in our hands, I really don't know what use they are?"
"Sister-in-law, this is biased. The more chaotic the world is, the more life-saving these herbs are, just like food. The more precious they are, how can they be useless?" Qiao Xin said seriously: "Let's not talk about the habit of big families hoarding medicine. Even if the two armies go to war, how much demand will there be for herbs in the barracks? In normal times, everyone will inevitably have a headache or a fever, so won't these herbs come in handy?"
The village head's wife was filled with bitterness when she talked about this matter.
"Big sister, things are more valuable when they leave their hometown, and people are worthless when they leave their hometown. That's what you said. People who can buy medicinal herbs say that we are weeds that can be found everywhere and are worthless. They only help us collect a little because they feel sorry for us.
Even our county magistrate is not happy with everyone using ordinary medicinal herbs to pay taxes. We have to pay silver! It's really worthless to keep it here."
Qiao Xin couldn't help but glance at Qiao Yunqing, only to see that the other party's lips were tightly pursed, his eyebrows moved slightly, showing his inner unrest.
Under his rule, local officials colluded with outsiders to deceive the people, but he, the superior, knew nothing about it. Now that she had overheard it, how could he be in a good mood!
Qiao Xin never expressed her opinions on official affairs, as she could not do anything so conscienceless.
The medicinal herbs originally in the hands of the villagers were old and of good quality. Even if they were sold at the price she offered, they could still make three or four times the profit in Kyoto. If she sold them to the army at a price 20% lower than the market price, she could also make a profit.
It shows how low the price those drug dealers gave to the villagers was, and how dark their hearts were!
Qiao Xin sighed and said, "Right now, I need to help someone buy some medicinal herbs, but you are the only ones known to people in this area! I still need the help of my sister-in-law and eldest brother for all this!"
"Okay, I thought it was a big deal. We don't have much of anything here, but we have a lot of medicinal herbs. You can see that there are mountains in front of and behind the house, and there is no flat land. We can't grow food or anything, but we have enough medicinal herbs.
In the village where my mother comes from, eight out of ten families make their living by collecting herbs. If I can help the villagers sell their herbs, it would be a great deed. I will take care of it!"
"Sister-in-law, everyone will use the silver to sell firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea. You can find out what everyone is short of and make a list for me. I plan to open a grocery store in town and ship some supplies from other places for everyone. I will definitely have firewood, rice, oil, salt and other things. If everyone needs anything, just take medicinal herbs to exchange. I will not arbitrarily lower the price or deduct your things. I guarantee this with my personal integrity. Of course, everyone can also exchange for silver."
"How much do you want? You're not going to exchange it all for food or something, right? The price isn't high, is it?" someone whispered.
"That's a lot. We'll take whatever you have. Don't worry about the price. We don't have a dictatorship. The price of precious herbs like Herba Lycopodii, Ganoderma Lucidum, etc. is definitely different from the common Herba Lycopodii and Leonurus japonicus.
Tomorrow, we will discuss and come up with a list. We will set the prices for our respective items. Those who want silver can go to the shop and pay directly. Those who want goods can exchange them for goods on the spot. It's both yours and mine. Is that okay?"
"Okay, now that you say that, I feel relieved." They are not unreasonable people. The eldest sister obviously wants to do long-term business with them. This is trusting the people in her village. What's wrong with discussing it?
It is better to do business with familiar people than with strangers. With the character of the eldest sister, she will definitely not be like the owners of other grain shops who sell inferior products as good ones and fool them.
I have to have a good talk with his old man later and ask him to restrain those people in the village who are concerned about money, so as not to offend the God of Wealth!
I have to send someone to deliver a letter to my mother's family!
Why are they so anxious? It’s because these herbal farmers have been exploited for a long time. Now they finally meet a good merchant. If they can exchange more things for their household use, they can get more things. Then their life will be better!
The village chief specially cleared out several rooms in his own home to accommodate Qiao Xin and her family. He even replaced the bedding with new ones. He himself had not been willing to use the dowry brought by his daughter-in-law, but he actually gave it to Qiao Xin. This shows how sincere they are!
Seeing that the younger daughter-in-law was about to be unhappy, the village head's wife poked her forehead with a finger and said, "Don't be so shallow-eyed. Take that droopy look off your face. Serve this master well, and your father's things can be sold at a good price, and you will have money for your brothers from your mother's family to marry wives."
You brothers, don't sleep too hard tonight, go to your father-in-law's house at dawn to inform him, don't let them sell your herbs at a low price!"
"Mom, they all came empty-handed, without bringing anything, and we don't know whether what they said is true or not. What should I say when I go to my father-in-law's house?"
"Why are you in such a hurry? Just because you didn't bring anything doesn't mean you didn't bring any money. It's late today and the noble has gone to bed. I'll wait for the people to arrive tomorrow morning and ask about the details. You have to come first. You can't let the noble wait for everyone! If you miss this opportunity, don't say I didn't take advantage of this relative!"
After the village chief's wife finished speaking, she sent her son and daughter-in-law away. She and the village chief made a bed on the ground outside with thatched mats, covered them with several layers of straw mats, and fell asleep!
Qiao Xin knew that they were uncomfortable, so she did not ask anyone to come in. She just ordered the guards to go to a nearby wealthy town at dawn to buy the first batch of necessary daily necessities and deliver them as soon as possible.
At the same time, we need to ask people to buy houses in their villages and towns and build Qiao’s grocery store as quickly as possible to live up to the kindness of these fellow villagers!
Qiao Xin said to Qiao Yunqing: "We are already in Yuncheng. Why don't we let Zhang Yun escort you back? There are still so many official matters to be handled in the government office. There is no need to waste time with me here!"
"Mother, understanding the sufferings of the people is my most important job right now. After this trip, I realized that what I had seen and heard in Yuncheng before was just the tip of the iceberg. Only by going deep into the countryside to check it out myself can I avoid being deceived."
After a night of struggle, Qiao Yunqing was finally willing to put aside his scholarly arrogance and truly govern the people himself, rather than sitting in the yamen and learning about the situation through reports from his subordinates.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
