Dong Mu He works

Chapter 196: Something Big Might Happen (Part 2)

    

little.Outside, Xu Huaiyi listened with a blank expression.Meng Erzhu carefully glanced at him. He didn't know why, but this Xu Huaiyi made him feel both strange and inexplicably awed. He was no lon...Outside the city gates, more and more refugees gathered. After being driven away by the yamen servants, they would set up makeshift shelters nearby to cope. They lined up every day to receive a bowl of thin porridge, barely enough to stave off hunger. But as the days grew colder, the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled could no longer bear it.

Moreover, with so many people gathered together, it's also easy for epidemics to occur, and then the situation would be even harder to control.

The Jingzhao Mansion wasn't completely without means to manage the situation, it just gradually became overwhelmed. They tried guiding disaster victims to relocate to villages. Some were willing to go, but others had nothing to their name and couldn't afford to move. Either way, they were begging for food, and it was more convenient to do so at the city gates.

As for the Imperial Court, it is said that they also have no silver or grain to provide relief. Now, they can only rely on the wealthy families in the capital city to distribute porridge to sustain people's lives.

How ridiculous!

Xu Huaiyi watched this tragic scene, listening to the sympathetic discussions of the nearby people, his furrowed brow never relaxed.

If this kind of mutual blame and evasion continues, sooner or later something big will happen.

Wouldn't it be better if those in power paid attention before things reached a point of no return

After entering the city, he pondered over matters all the way until he reached QiZhenGe. He tethered his mule and carried something from the carriage. After straightening his clothes, he walked inside.

This time he didn't disguise himself.

Within a quarter of an hour, he walked out with fifty taels of silver in his arms.

The shopkeeper even came out to remind him, "Young Master Xu, don't forget to bring two more pots! If the colors are even more elegant and beautiful than the one just now, the price is negotiable. I definitely won't let you suffer a loss."

Xu Huaiyi responded with "um, um," his attitude appearing rather casual.

The more he acted this way, the more enthusiastic the other party became, wishing he would go home and bring the flowers right now.

Relying on his years of experience, he was very sure that the flower called kale would be popular. Why are chrysanthemums and plum blossoms so sought after Isn't it because they can bloom gracefully even in the face of harsh winds

If this kale is as hardy as Wai Yi said, surviving even heavy snowfall, then it will definitely have its place in winter.

Things that are rare are precious, this is the motto of their Qizhen Pavilion. Right now, this pot of winged kale is one of a kind, he has to plan carefully how to sell it for a high price.

Fifty taels of silver That's nothing! At least ten times that amount would be acceptable.

Xu Huaiyi might not know that the owner of Qizhen Pavilion's heart was so dark. He had just thought that selling for fifty taels was a great deal, it was practically a risk-free transaction. The silver came easily, and he didn't feel any pain spending it. He went directly to the grain store and bought hundreds of kilograms of wheat and millet, along with several other types of coarse grains. He estimated that he had enough stored to last him until next spring.

Now that grain prices have gone up again, he's worried they will keep rising if he doesn't stock up more.

There was too much grain, so the food store delivered it to his doorstep. Xu Huaiyi gave an address and then went to the grocery store again. He bought everything he needed: oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. In addition, he also bought a lot of dried goods and cured meats like bacon.

Afterwards, he also bought some hemp cloth. He wanted to buy cotton, but unfortunately, after asking several shops, there was none. Cotton is not yet popular in the Central Plains, it is only grown in small quantities in the northwest and has all been woven into cotton cloth. If they want to make thick winter clothes and quilts, they either stuff them with silk or reeds and straw.

Xu Huaiyi had no choice. The quilted jackets worn by his family were filled with silk cotton and down, so they weren't cold. What he worried about was how others would get through this winter. If he wasn't mistaken, this winter would definitely be colder than any previous year, and there might even be a snow disaster.

It's not enough to just have a kang (heated bed), you can't stay indoors all day, right

He asked several shopkeepers to help him inquire if any merchants from the northwest were looking for cheaper cotton. They readily agreed, but they didn't really think much of it in their hearts. Could cotton be as warm as silk or as luxurious as fur

If you can't afford these two things, just use reeds and straw. Haven't poor people been getting by this way year after year

Xu Huaiyi also bought some rabbit and sheep skins, until he spent all the fifty taels he had earned, then he hurried home in a laden mule cart.

Once outside the city gates, the hustle and bustle vanished in an instant.

He didn't dare linger, leaving quickly and heading straight for Lingbao Temple.

Now Lingbao Temple is bustling with activity, a far cry from its former state. He moved all his belongings from the carriage to the camper van before parking the mule cart and heading to see Master Huisin. Oh, he's become a master now!

Visitors flocked to Master Huixin, but most were politely turned away. Those who couldn't be refused were high-ranking officials whom it was too risky to offend.

Xu Huaiyi is an exception.

The young novice invited him in, still puzzled. What was so unusual about him that his master treated him with such special regard He almost couldn't wait to meet him.

A man and a monk stayed in the meditation room, chatting for more than half an hour. No one knew what they talked about, but Xu Huaiyi's steps down the mountain were very light, clearly in good spirits.

Back home, Xu Huaiyi directed Wei Liang to move things down. They were all the same, quite a few indeed.

But they're all used for eating, drinking, urinating, and defecating, so it's not wasteful.

Gu Huanxi thought about the more than a thousand catties of grain delivered by the grain store just now, and asked, "Has the price of grain in the city gone up again"

Xu Huaiyi held his teacup and poured himself a cup, explaining, "It's not just grain that has gone up in price, everything else you eat and drink has gotten a little more expensive too. It's just that grain hasn't increased as much. And cloth is also more expensive than before. This time when I went into town, I bought extra of everything and stored it at home. It makes me feel more secure. Anyway, it won't go bad."

"Well, that grain supply should last until next spring. " Gu Huanxi asked again, "Are there more and more refugees Isn't the situation looking grim"

Xu Huaiyi nodded, his expression somewhat solemn. "I estimate that something big will happen next."

"What's the big deal"

"...Epidemic, snow disasters, and civil unrest..."

"Gu Huanxi heard the headache coming on. "Improper disaster relief often triggers these things, but what can be done You're not even an official now, you have no right to speak. Even if you joined the Military Academy..."

She thought for a moment, her voice faltering, "You wouldn't want to use people from the academy to stir up trouble and get them involved in disaster relief, would you"

Xu Huaiyi's eyes flickered. "I don't know them either. You're overthinking things. Those aristocratic young masters aren't fools, they wouldn't listen to me,"

Gu Huanxi narrowed her eyes, sizing him up. "You really don't have those thoughts"

Xu Huaiyi cleared his throat, “If there’s anyone who has a grievance, just use it.”

Gu Huanxi slapped the kang table, "Did you eat a tiger's gall You're such an idiot! Even his family behind him doesn't have any brains I warn you, Xu Huaiyi, stop causing trouble for me, or..."

Xu Huaiyi quickly soothed her, "Wife, don't be anxious. I'll listen to you. If you don't want me to do it, I won't."

Gu Huanxi hummed half-heartedly, "You better make good on your word."

Xu Huaiyi made several assurances in a row before soothing Gu Huan's anger.

The two of them discussed how they needed to prepare their home in advance, so they could handle any situation with composure.Huaiyi went to take a look at the farm.Xu Maoyuan has been keeping watch here every day. When I saw him, I took him for a walk around. All the courtyards on Zhuangzi have been surrounded by fences, an...