Chapter 237 – Spitting Blood (Part 6)
“Let me show you a treasure!” exclaimed the viewer, “Stowaway Non-Money”: @Musician Zhuge Qinomage, I don’t even help in the restroom, but I admire you. The words written by the streamer, if flattering, can be described as soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes; if not, they’re just a mess! Yet, you can still understand them! Truly living up to your ID.
Jiang Pengji’s handwriting was as free-spirited as her personality.
Previously, she followed Liu Xi’s neat style, but ever since her last scribbles on coarse cloth with charcoal, it was like she’d unlocked a new world, and her handwriting became increasingly wild and uninhibited—practically more chaotic than cursive!
“Musician Zhuge Qinomage”: Oh, praise upon praise!
“Stowaway Non-Money”: If this really is the grain price record from the past few days… does that mean the streamer’s plan is about to commence?
In this otherworldly live stream, even if the content was dull, the viewers’ enthusiasm never waned.
As the live stream gained traction, more and more people began to believe, and viewers found it harder to catch a glimpse of the broadcast.
Every seat was incredibly tough to snag; even a thirty-year-old single person with insane reflexes and a gigabit fiber connection might struggle.
To make matters worse, this live stream couldn’t be rebroadcasted!
If other viewers wanted to catch the stream, they could only wait for the next day’s post on the Baidu forum for recorded videos.
“Stowaway Non-Money” was considered an old-timer in this streaming room, always keeping up with the updates.
He meticulously noted the events happening around the streamer during the stream and even compiled a little booklet.
Hearing about the skyrocketing grain prices, he immediately thought of Jiang Pengji’s plan to regulate grain prices, pumped up like he’d just downed an energy drink.
Jiang Pengji shook her head, “The time isn’t right.”
These days, she had been wandering the streets, visiting tea houses, food stalls, and taverns, listening to the common folk talk about the recent gossip. More and more of it related to the chaos in Cangzhou’s Meng County, yet their news was unverified and limited in scope.
If not for that, how could the grain prices have merely doubled?
Jiang Pengji murmured, “It’s still too early to act. Right now, the rumors are still brewing, and there’s time before they truly explode. At that moment, the people’s hearts will be in turmoil, rushing to grain stores to buy food, and the prices will be vastly different from today…”
Some commoners would believe unfounded rumors, but a doubled grain price would make them hesitant.
If Jiang Pengji launched her plan now, the result would be her grain store’s supplies snatched away by other forces, and when the famine truly began, most people would still have to grit their teeth and buy grain at skyrocketing prices… So, she was in no rush.
When the Hejian government finally confirmed the news of the chaos in Cangzhou, the commoners would find themselves in panic, realizing they couldn’t afford food anymore.
That would be the true moment for Jiang Pengji to strike!
She glanced at the statistical report compiled by Xu Ke, and the results of the anti-bandit campaigns over the past month were bountiful.
The silver collected had been exchanged for grain, all bought at regular prices from the nearby Zisang County, totaling about fifteen hundred stones.
Adding it to the three thousand stones extorted from the Meng Clan and the thirteen hundred stones gathered by Hejian County Guard from various families, after deducting the grain consumed during this period, there still remained five thousand five hundred stones—far more than she had anticipated.
“Ta Xue, go inform the Steward to call the grain shopkeeper over,” she said.
“Yes, milady.”
Under the second branch of the Liu Residence, there were various shops; half belonged to Gu Min’s dowry and the other half were acquired gradually by Liu Zhi over the years.
Just for the grain shops, the Liu Residence had opened three in Hejian, each in different locations, catering to different clientele.
Though necessities like rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea didn’t yield large profits, every commoner needed them, and the demand was massive, ensuring that these shops had steady profits every year; as long as the shopkeepers adhered to the rules, it was nearly impossible to suffer losses.
Suddenly summoned by the Young Master, the three grain shopkeepers were a bit startled, fearing they might’ve done something wrong and were about to be dismissed.
“No need to be so nervous; I’ve called you over to ask a few things.”
Jiang Pengji sat in the chief position, her voice cool as she inquired of one, “How’s business in the grain shop these days?”
That shopkeeper respectfully replied, “Business is decent; the commoners are worried about the chaos in Cangzhou, so grain is selling quite well.”
“Anything else?”
The shopkeeper hesitated, recalling, “Aside from some scattered purchases by the common folk, there have been quite a few large orders.”
Those large orders were actually other shops planning to buy in bulk from them.
However, the shopkeeper wasn’t foolish; with the price of grain rising so quickly, they could easily hold out a bit longer. Once prices soared to another level, they could sell gradually—after all, the price of grain wouldn’t drop, only the profit margin would differ.
“You sold the grain?” Jiang Pengji asked.
Grain shops needed to maintain stock for supply, and they usually had some reserves.
The shopkeeper hurriedly said, “How could I dare to do that? I would naturally consult the owner before making any decisions.”
Jiang Pengji nodded with satisfaction, saying, “For the next few days, just follow the trend of the prevailing prices among competitors; if commoners want to make scattered purchases, sell normally. If anyone wishes to buy in bulk, they don’t need to consult me, just respond directly…”
The three shopkeepers exchanged glances, hesitant, as they felt this was a golden opportunity to profit.
They thought they should limit sales now, wait for the prices to rise a bit more and then sell, which would yield much better profits than selling right now.
Jiang Pengji had no intention of explaining; she simply coldly instructed, “Just do as I say; further instructions will come in due time.”
Every merchant is cunning, born with an instinct for profit—this has not changed across eras.
However, for Jiang Pengji, the primary goal of her plan wasn’t merely profit but reputation, or rather, she wanted to achieve both profit and fame.
For others, this might seem impossible, yet such an opportunity was right before her eyes, and she would seize it!
The three shopkeepers looked at each other; after all, Jiang Pengji was their Young Master, Liu Zhi never meddled in household matters, Lady Die was very permissive of Jiang Pengji’s actions, and the Stepmother supported her without reason, leaving the grain shopkeepers with no choice but to comply.
“Yes, milady.”
The three answered in unison.
“Go now; if there are any other circumstances, remember to report back.”
As Hejian County subtly stirred due to the chaos in Cangzhou, the Meng Clan entourage finally delivered Meng Liang’s coffin to Meng County before the heat set in.
At this moment, Meng County was in utter ruin; the streets were desolate, not a single figure could be seen throughout the day.
The sun hung high in the sky, casting an air of chill amidst the desolation.
White flags waved in the wind, swishing sounds adding to the surrounding bleakness.
Though the Meng Clan’s mansion had been burned by Meng Hunyun, what grand residence didn’t Meng Zhan possess?
Arriving at the entrance of the Meng Manor, guards lined up on either side, standing attentively, their watchful eyes scanning the streets.
