Chapter 246 – Switch Up the Streaming Map (Part One)
She smiled and said, “With the right time, place, and harmony on my side, this time, it’s mostly luck.”
Qi Guanrang nodded in agreement, “It truly is a matter of luck this time.”
If Liu Zhi hadn’t been at the Liu Residence but instead stationed in Hujun, Jiang Pengji would have faced quite the hurdles to succeed.
Forget about rough tactics like assassination; there are plenty of dirty, blood-free methods in ordinary business competition.
Those blinded by profit will surely find a way to tarnish her reputation.
Even if Jiang Pengji had the best intentions, if her opponents truly wanted to bully her, she would end up in a heap of trouble, making it impossible to implement any restrictions.
At the root of it all, it was just too easy to fool the common people. They believe any rumor without forming their own judgment.
“Given the current situation, the grain prices shouldn’t be higher than what the grain shop sets,” Jiang Pengji mumbled as she sipped her tea, “I hope we can safely hold out until the autumn harvest. If that’s the case, the common people shouldn’t cause a major grain shortage.”
“But we can’t let our guard down. The civil unrest in Cangzhou’s Meng County has already spread to Hejian and other counties. How to accommodate the wandering people remains a major headache.” If these roaming folks couldn’t be restrained, local security would plummet.
Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow and laughed, “That’s the problem of the Hejian County Guard and the other noble families; it doesn’t concern us.”
Qi Guanrang paused. Right! They were both just commoners without titles—why bother with such worries?
Jiang Pengji then said, “Instead of thinking about these matters, Wen Zheng should consider how to be the groom. Wei Niangzi is still young; you should bear it for a while.”
“Absolutely.”
Qi Guanrang’s expression softened somewhat, radiating warmth.
Meanwhile, as Jiang Pengji teased Qi Guanrang, the streaming room was cloaked in a gloomy cloud.
Why?
Because Jiang Pengji, the streamer, was playing by her own rules—totally unpredictable!
You’d think that with her crossing over from the stars to ancient times, she’d fit the mold of a typical reincarnated heroine, right?
In the usual reincarnation tropes, any decent man nearby would typically develop feelings for her.
There could be one male lead, but supportive male side characters should line up endlessly!
After months of streaming, only a handful of men had appeared, and among them, only a select few were even worth a glance.
And now, Qi Guanrang was getting married!
【Clueless Commenter】: Not cool! I thought Qi Guanrang would become the streamer’s love interest, sparking some romantic chemistry during their interactions… ahh! I can’t believe he’s actually getting married; rooting for the wrong CP hurts!
【Hey, Your Chewing Gum】: Isn’t Qi Guanrang on his second marriage now? Where do you see him and the streamer as a perfect match?
【Cafeteria Lady】: #Sigh, I kinda like that pairing, but honestly, Qi Guanrang doesn’t seem right for the streamer. They share some personality traits, so they’d make good friends, maybe even friendly rivals… but the streamer is still so young.
Yeah, who knows how old the streamer was before, but she looks about twelve now—she’ll only turn thirteen next year.
【Spring’s Refreshing Breeze】: Three years minimum, maximum death penalty!
【Here’s a Chestnut】: Three years of bloodshed for profits; a death penalty isn’t a loss!
【If Your Heart is as Clear as Ice】: #Sigh, while uncle-loli relationships are nice, I prefer childhood sweethearts—Feng Jin as a youth is perfect!
【Good Luck in the Year of the Rooster】: I like Xu Ke more! I have no issues with the loyal dog and proud master pairing!
【Let’s Do Another Chestnut】: Going by your logic, that boy named Han Yu seems decent too; let’s ship him as a quirky love interest with the streamer.
Even the proper dad, Liu Zhi, wasn’t worried about his daughter’s marriage, while the stream pals were already dissecting all the male characters Jiang Pengji met, hoping to play matchmaker for her future.
【Old Driver Alliance】: Why worry so much? Whether the streamer marries or not isn’t certain yet.
As those words were spoken, the room was stunned into silence.
The audience finally realized, given Jiang Pengji’s character, there was indeed no need to fret about it.
【Old Driver Alliance】: In my view, none of the guys you mentioned match well with the streamer. First off, their ages—they’re all several years older than her. Considering the ancient norms of early marriage and early reproduction, by the time she’s seventeen or eighteen, they all might be married or on their second try—do you think she should be a mistress or a secondary wife?
Just the thought of such a scenario made many in the audience uncomfortable.
Jiang Pengji’s excellence was undeniable; many viewers had eagerly followed her streams for so long simply for her charm.
If someone as remarkable as her were reduced to being someone’s mistress or secondary wife, it felt like eating stale delicacies—just wrong.
【Old Driver Alliance】: The streamer still has a long way to go. It’s too soon for romance. The world is vast, and there will be better options out there. Why limit her options to just a few characters? Qi Guanrang won’t be the streamer’s love interest; they’ll merely remain friends.
Though Jiang Pengji didn’t take the audience’s comments to heart, that user, Old Driver Alliance, certainly resonated with her.
While she kept an eye on the chat, she chatted away with Qi Guanrang.
“By the way, is Lan Ting supposed to leave with the Liu County Guard to the capital soon?” Qi Guanrang suddenly brought up, sounding somewhat regretful, “I was hoping to invite Lan Ting to the wedding, but it looks like that’s unlikely now.”
“Yeah, he has to leave. The Meng Clan will have to respond and investigate soon. Although I’m confident in my clean hands and feet, I can’t guarantee the Meng family won’t suspect me.” Jiang Pengji shook her head, saying, “Not to mention, my father and Mr. Wei Yuan have recommended me to study in Langya, so I’ll be leaving here eventually… But I’ll make sure to send a gift for you and the Eldest Lady’s wedding.”
The winds were tightening; it was time to slip away and avoid the heat.
Han Yu previously mentioned that Jiang Pengji would likely miss her chance in Langya County because Mr. Yuanjing would take his students to the capital for assessments, and coincidentally, Liu Zhi was the chief assessor this time. Jiang Pengji would go with him to the capital, where she might bump into Mr. Yuanjing.
Qi Guanrang sighed, “Who knows when we’ll meet again after this parting?”
Jiang Pengji smiled and said, “When I need you.”
They exchanged smiles, and when that time came, Qi Guanrang would finally get down to business.
But before that, she still needed to scout for other talents.
After all, she couldn’t rely solely on Xu Ke—what if he got overworked?
Not to mention the furious grain shopkeepers in Hejian County, grain prices had slowly stabilized after quite a promotion, still higher than usual, but regular folks could manage to buy some without starving altogether.
And beneath this seemingly peaceful facade, an urgent letter arrived at Shangyang Palace, igniting outrage throughout the realm!
