Imperial County Magistrate

Chapter 381
In Qingzhou City, looking through the window at the rows of grain trucks lined up on the street, Qin Yang, Ma Shan and Mr. Zhou in the restaurant had gloomy expressions.

In just two days, the entire Qingzhou City was flooded with food.

This is just a Qingzhou city.

I don’t know what the situation is like in the rest of the places!
There was a rush of climbing up the stairs, and the steward of the Qin family hurriedly rushed to the box.

Ma Shan quickly asked: "Have you found out clearly? Where do these grain merchants come from?"

The steward was out of breath and obviously very tired. It was drizzling outside and the weather was cold and humid, but he was sweating profusely!
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the steward of the Qin family couldn't hide his panic: "It's clear that most of these businessmen in the city are from Youzhou, Tongzhou, Liangzhou, and even Jiangzhou."

"These guys have been collecting grain and driving to Qingzhou almost a month and a half ago."

"The Liu family and the Li family in Tongzhou, the Wu family in Youzhou and the Zhao family in Liangzhou are all old acquaintances. The grain brought by each family is no less than fifteen thousand dan!"

"Besides, all the big and small grain merchants from all over the country are rushing to our Qingzhou like crazy! Master, I'm afraid... I'm afraid we've been tricked!"

The steward said so anxiously that he slapped his thigh. As the steward of the Qin family, he was also considered a core figure. Naturally, he knew how much grain the Qin family had collected during this period and how much rice was piled in the granaries in various places.

I originally thought I could make a lot of money, but now it looks like I might have to lose all my pants!

What's more important is that during this period of time, they have been collecting grains aggressively, and they have already used up all the cash they can use!

Now, apart from food, the two families have no extra money!
Qin Yang swayed slightly and suddenly turned his head to look at Mr. Zhou, his eyes looking a little crazy: "Mr. Zhou, let your people stop these foreign businessmen from entering the city!"

"Are you crazy!"

Mr. Zhou looked at Qin Yang as if he were an idiot: "You asked me to stop these foreign businessmen? It would be strange if those ministers from the imperial capital didn't tear me into pieces!"

The three of them are now grasshoppers on a rope. The Qin family and the Ma family are not having a good time, and Mr. Zhou will not get any benefits, so he starts to feel anxious.

"damn it!"

Qin Yang cursed and punched the window frame: "How could these foreigners come so fast!"

"Old Qin, if you can't help it, just sell the grain to the government now!"

Mashan couldn't hold back his anger: "Otherwise, the food will fall into our hands!"

Both of them are experienced grain merchants. They naturally understand that with so many grain merchants pouring into Qingzhou with cart after cart of grain, the price of grain in Qingzhou will plummet in a short time. If they don't take action at this time, There is only one way to die in the future!
After hearing what Ma Shan said, Qin Yang hurriedly said: "Quick! Contact the disaster relief ministers from the government!"

After a moment.

Qi Yunshan came to the restaurant wearing a coir raincoat and bamboo hat. He was invited by Mr. Zhou.

After shaking off the water droplets on his raincoat, Qi Yunshan shook off his official robe. Most of his official uniform was damp.

Mr. Zhou took advantage of every opportunity to flatter him and said, "Sir Qi is really dedicated to the people. He is still standing on the front line in such bad weather. Having Mr. Qi is a blessing to us Qingzhou people!"

Qi Yunshan chuckled, glanced at Mr. Zhou and didn't want to say anything more. As a capital official, he didn't care much about the flattery of horses by local officials like Mr. Zhou.

Mr. Zhou didn't feel embarrassed even though his hot face was pressed against his cold butt, and he still greeted Qi Yunshan upstairs with a flattering smile.

When they came to the box and saw Qi Yunshan coming, Qin Yang and Ma Shan quickly stood up to greet him.

Qi Yunshan waved his hand: "No need, I know both of them, so I don't know what the three of you mean by inviting me here? Let me tell you quickly, I still have something to do."

Seeing that Qi Yunshan was not an easy talker, Ma Shan hurriedly put on a smile and said, "Sir, Mr. Qi, the head of the Qin family and I met with the government to provide relief for the disaster, and after some deliberation, we decided to give the money to the government at the price of sixteen cents per catty. The government sells grain, what do you think?" Qi Yunshan smiled playfully and looked at the nervous Ma Shan and Qin Yang. Today, the price set by Zhao Kang was still seventeen cents per catty.

The two people spoke with the name Sixteen, obviously eager to take action.

With a chuckle, Qi Yunshan said: "Thank you both very much."

Qin Yang said hurriedly: "No, no, we have always been willing to cooperate with the imperial court. Mr. Qi, do you think we should make a note first? We will dispatch the amount of food immediately. We will wait until the disaster situation stabilizes to discuss the money matter!"

Obviously Qi Yunshan's attitude just now made them think that their food would be sold soon.

But he never thought that Qi Yunshan smiled and said: "Hey, you two thought wrong. The government has no intention of purchasing grain from you."

Qin Yang and the other three froze immediately.

Lord Zhou panicked and said, "Sir, aren't you in short supply of food?"

"Food shortage? Where did you hear that?"

Qi Yunshan roared: "There are mountains of food piled up in the Wu family's warehouse. Some say there is never a shortage of food."

"This……"

Everyone was a little confused. Qi Yunshan patted his official uniform and glanced at the three of them. He smiled meaningfully and said, "The weather is really not good. The three officers have to leave first. They have to check the rice in the warehouse." It’s not damp.”

Hearing this, Qin Yang and Ma Shan panicked for some reason. Qin Yang quickly said: "Fifteen! Fifteen! Master Qi, fifteen cents per catty!"

But Qi Yunshan ignored him at all. He walked out of the box alone to the stairs, looked at the door of the box and sighed.

"You bastard, what were you doing earlier? Are you worried now?"

The three people in the box, Qin Yang, could no longer hold back any longer. They were all as anxious as ants on a hot pot and began to think of countermeasures.

Two days later, in the Wu family compound.

Zhao Kang took out three or four sweet potatoes grown in Qingzhou last year from the Wu family's kitchen and roasted them on the stove, turning them over from time to time.

After listening to the official's report, I glanced at the gloomy sky outside. The rain pattered on the tiles, making the world outside seem particularly peaceful at the moment.

"The price is set at thirteen cents. Immediately notify officials in various places to start collecting grain."

Passing the roasted sweet potatoes to Wu Xinyi and Wu Qingluan, Zhao Kang smiled and peeled off the skin of the sweet potatoes and took a bite.

Soft, glutinous, sweet, and tastes great.

The official took the order and left. Wu Xinyi whispered: "We are running out of food."

Zhao Kang nodded: "That's why I asked others to start collecting grain. Thirteen cents per pound is no profit or loss for these foreign merchants. Those who have less goods cannot be calm."

Wu Xinyi hummed and said, "Then I'll ask the housekeeper to collect the grain."

"Okay, don't touch the little money you have. I promised to give you additional money at a price higher than the normal food price in the market, but it hasn't been fulfilled yet. It will still make you spend more money."

Zhao Kang smiled, closed his eyes and listened to the sound of rain: "Autumn rain is a good season."

(End of this chapter)