Chapter 4 Without a Breath [Revised]
Compared to the shock in Gu Congsi's heart, Wang Xiangshen was so anxious that he wanted to sneak out through the back door.
"Sir, there are also refugees guarding the back door."
Not to mention the back door, there are guards even outside the slightly lower walls.
“Mob! They’re a mob!” Wang, the local gentry, gritted his teeth.
Where did Magistrate Su's wife and her daughter learn this trick?
Could this be the idea of her future husband's family, the Gu family?!
Regardless of whose idea it was.
The local gentry were terrified.
Su Qing calmly explained at the door, "We're not the only ones suffering from loan sharks and hating them for using this as an opportunity to make money."
Many villagers behind him sold their valuable possessions to Wang, the local gentry, at low prices in order to obtain food.
Some farmers even mortgaged their land to buy grain at prices ten or even twenty times higher.
In this situation, if the government office that has done them a favor speaks up, they will naturally receive a great deal of support.
Some people who hadn't heard about the disaster relief tents immediately got up and wanted to cause trouble.
It's clear that Wang, the local gentry, has been hated for quite some time.
Wang, the local gentry, was certainly well aware of this.
After listening to her analysis, Gu Congsi finally understood why she was so calm.
Encourage Mei Niang to provide disaster relief and indulge the people in their kindness.
The disaster relief management during this period made these people naturally obedient to the orders of the government and the head constable.
Not only can they command overwhelming support, but they can also control the situation.
The latter is equally important.
This plan likely existed before she encouraged disaster relief.
Everything was under Su Qing's control.
Gu Congsi was somewhat dazed.
Su Qing was only sixteen years old and used to be shy and rarely went out.
I never expected such wisdom.
Before long, the Wang family's gate opened, and the local gentry, Wang, was helped out to greet them.
Looking at the dense crowd of disaster victims.
Wang, the local gentry, twitched at the corner of his mouth. He looked at Su Qing, who was leading the group, but deliberately avoided her. He glared at Gu Congsi fiercely, clearly holding a grudge.
Gu Congsi: ?
no?
You've hated the wrong person.
Su Qing almost burst out laughing, then cleared her throat: "Sir Wang, we meet again."
Wang, the local gentry, said coldly, "Miss Su, what are you doing? When your family came to borrow grain before, I didn't say I wouldn't give it to you, did I?"
Su Qing smiled: "So we've come to borrow grain again, but this time the amount is larger, and we need more manpower."
That's just sophistry!
The local gentryman was grinding his teeth in frustration, but faced with so many disaster victims, he could only ask, "How much is the government prepared to lend this time?"
"1.5 million catties".
How many? !
Are you crazy?!
Wang, the local gentry, and those around him, even the disaster victims behind him.
They all had a "Are you crazy?" look on their faces.
Unlike Wang, the local gentry, the disaster victims became excited.
So much grain!
That's enough to feed them for a long time!
We can definitely hold out until the autumn harvest!
Wait, what about the interest?
“There is no interest,” Su Qing continued. “As a local gentry, I should take the initiative to help my fellow villagers when they are in trouble.”
No interest?!
That's a joke!
Wang, the local gentry, pointed at Su Qing, clearly intending to curse her.
But before he could speak, an agitated member of the public slapped his hand away, shouting, "Who are you pointing at?!"
This disaster victim was tall, but he was so hungry that he looked like nothing but a skeleton.
His wife and daughters survived only thanks to the government's disaster relief grain. Mei Niang and Su Qing are his benefactors, and no one is allowed to treat their benefactors like this!
The servants of the local gentry came out carrying sticks, then quickly retreated.
Because the people behind Su Qing also had weapons in their hands.
Especially the farmers from the countryside who came from the city gate, they always had their hoes in hand and were quite strong.
Outnumbered, it's best to retreat and hide as soon as possible.
The local gentryman Wang cursed, "What use are you all!"
Before, when there was no one in the government office, the servants were still useful.
Now, with millions of disaster victims standing behind them, it's naturally different.
For every bowl of porridge Mei Niang had distributed, there were just as many people standing behind Su Qing.
Everyone can feel Mei Niang's sincerity.
This sincerity became Su Qing's greatest support.
There's no need to say more at this point.
But Su Qing insisted on saying, "I heard that there has been a riot by the disaster victims in the neighboring Jinqiao County, and they have looted the grain of several wealthy households."
"Nanjiang County does not want such a disaster to happen, so it needs to stock up on grain to stabilize the people's morale."
“Sir Wang, what do you say?”
This is a blatant threat.
If you don't want to be robbed, hurry up and provide the food.
They talked about all sorts of random things.
Su Qing even took out two IOUs from his sleeve: "Also, after I went back and looked at them, I felt that the interest rate on these IOUs was not quite right, so I changed it. Please have Mr. Wang confirm it again."
They borrowed 150,000 catties of grain and owed 235,000 catties in return.
There are too many.
Therefore, it needs to be reconfirmed.
Gu Congsi couldn't help but stare at Su Qing.
She still refused to suffer any loss.
Faced with the overwhelming force of the government and the disaster victims, even someone like Wang, a local gentry, could only grit his teeth and swallow his anger.
He underestimated the government offices of today.
They thought that since they were leaderless, they could be manipulated at will.
Now they've been forced into this situation.
As soon as Su Qing or Mei Niang gave the order, the disaster victims immediately stormed into the Wang family's house.
The war in Shunchang Kingdom has not yet ended.
Even if they complained to the government, no one paid any attention.
Mr. Wang's legs went weak, but his steward whispered a few words to him, which immediately perked him up. He said in a low voice, "Please."
Mr. Wang looked at Mei Niang, then at Su Qing, and then at Gu Congsi, deciding to pick on the easy target: "I would like to ask Miss Su to speak to me privately."
In his view, Mei Niang was highly respected and Gu Xiucai was intelligent.
Su Qing, who was standing at the very front, should be easy to fool.
Su Qing emerged gracefully, while Gu Congsi's expression was complex.
As they reached the corner, Wang, the local gentry, hardened his tone: "It's not that my Wang family doesn't want to help our fellow villagers."
"The problem is, where do we get so much grain?"
Su Qing said, "Some people have said that your family is in the grain business and also helps merchants in Jiangnan collect grain. Last year's grain should not have been delivered yet."
Upon hearing this, Wang, the local gentry, glared at Gu Congsi again.
Gu Congsi looked puzzled.
What's wrong now?
Su Qing raised an eyebrow; she hadn't done it on purpose.
When Wang, the local gentry, realized he couldn't hide it any longer, he simply brought out a large Buddha statue.
"Okay, then let's tell the truth."
“We do have 1.5 million catties of grain in our warehouse,” Wang, the local gentryman, said with a ruthless glint in his eyes. “But it was deposited here by the Ye family of Jiangnan.”
“If I misappropriate the funds, and the Ye family comes looking for trouble, I, Old Man Wang, cannot afford the consequences.”
“As long as the eldest sister is willing to write a written agreement, the grain will be moved immediately.”
Su Qing pretended not to notice the flaw in the sentence: "Okay, I'll write it now."
Su Qing immediately performed a ghost-sealing talisman.
They borrowed 1.5 million catties of grain from the Ye family in Jiangnan, interest-free, to be repaid after the autumn harvest.
This time, Su Qing didn't let her mother sign the document; she signed and pressed her fingerprint herself.
The previous two IOUs were rewritten, with the interest removed, and the amount borrowed will be repaid after the autumn harvest.
Although Gu Congsi had doubts, he did not stop it.
Once several contracts were finalized, the disaster victims erupted in cheers.
Gu Congsi then asked, "What are you planning now?"
Lending grain without interest is tantamount to forced buying and selling.
This principle has never existed in ancient or modern times.
It's like they're trampling on the dignity of the Wang and Ye families.
Forget about Wang the local gentry; given Mei Niang and Su Qing's prestige in Nanjiang County, they can't cause any major trouble.
But the Ye family of Jiangnan knew that they would not give up.
Mr. Wang, the local gentry, clearly knew there was no way out today.
They used a tactic of diverting blame and killing someone else.
Su Qing pretended not to know and walked right into the trap.
Looking at the cheering crowd and then at Mei Niang, who was crying tears of joy, Su Qing simply said, "When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it."
We'll talk about what happens after the autumn harvest.
Now, let's all have some fun.
This is indeed something to be happy about.
Not only the county seat of Nanjiang County, but also the residents of the following twenty villages.
Everyone can get food now.
People no longer need to sell their children, or pawn their land and clothes.
Endure until the autumn harvest.
Things will get better and better.
As for the Ye family...
We can't just kill her, can we?
The creditor is the real father.
Don't they know?
A note from the author:
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