My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 92 Buying Grain

Lin Mansion in Qingyang

"Master, this is the latest news from Fuchun." Butler Tao handed a booklet to Lin Zhong.

Lin Zhong took it and began to carefully look through it.

"Dai Qin?" Lin Zhong suddenly asked.

"According to our investigation, she was originally a peasant girl who sold herself to Chunhua Tower. Later, for some unknown reason, she escaped from Chunhua Tower and went into hiding in Pingding Village with a man and a child. That man is Hu Xinhua, whom she killed this time."

"Has Hu Xinhua been investigated?" Lin Zhong asked.

"The two came from Zezhou to Fuchun County. Dai Qin knew that they came from Chunhua Tower and that he had a younger sister, but Hu Xinhua was unknown and knew nothing about his past." Butler Tao replied after a moment's thought.

Lin Zhong frowned: "Can't we find his official credentials either?"

“We’ve checked. There was indeed a man named Hu Xinhua in that village, but he left many years ago. Whether the two are the same person is now impossible to confirm.” Butler Tao thought for a moment and then said, “Now that the young master knows he’s poisoned, won’t you suspect something?”

“Tao Xian, you’re being too cautious,” said Granny Liao. “Ziping knows she’s disguised as a man, and this medicine was specially found by us to conceal her identity. All medicines have some toxicity, and it’s hard to avoid. Besides, Ziping is kind-hearted and soft-hearted. He Jinbao, who pushed her into the water before, had a fight with her but they made up later, didn’t they? We’re doing this for her own good, and she’ll understand.”

“Qingyu, I’m worried about this too. More than ten years have passed now, and…” Butler Tao sighed.

Seeing this, Lin Zhong said, "Butler Tao's concerns are not without merit, but Ziping is someone we raised, and she will surely realize in the future that we are doing this for her own good. By the way, what's the situation in Tao Xian's capital now?"

Butler Tao said solemnly, "The ministers eventually agreed to let the princes go on their study tours, but the second young lady of the Li family also went with the sixth prince."

"What? This is ridiculous! How can a woman of marriageable age do this? The Li family, how could the Li family agree to this?" Lin Zhong slammed down the booklet in his hand, his voice tinged with anger.

“What’s wrong with women? Ziping is a woman too, and she’s all alone out there now,” said Granny Liao, displeased.

"I...I didn't mean that," Lin Zhong said sheepishly, touching his nose.

Butler Tao glanced at Lin Zhong and Granny Liao: "The Li family probably doesn't know. We received news that Old Madam Li is in seclusion, and Lord Li and Madam Li are not in the manor either. It was Second Miss Li who approached Ji Xun, and Ji Xun went to plead with Her Majesty the Empress. By the time we received the news, His Majesty had already agreed."

“Now that Ji Xun and Fang Zhili have entered the court, the Ji and Fang families’ positions in the court are becoming more and more secure,” Lin Zhong sighed. “It’s a pity that the emperor has ordered that merchant families cannot participate in the imperial examinations, otherwise Ziping would still have a chance.”

Granny Liao chuckled and looked at Lin Zhong meaningfully, saying, "There's no use saying these things now. You should stick to your choices and not feel regret or guilt all the time."

After saying that, Granny Liao left without even glancing at the two of them.

"Master..." After watching Granny Liao's figure disappear, Steward Tao looked at Lin Zhong with concern.

Lin Zhong smiled wryly and said, "What she said makes sense, but sometimes I wonder if my choice back then was right. Never mind, let's not talk about it anymore, it'll only cause more trouble. Tao Xian, please keep a close eye on things in the capital and in Ziping these days."

"Yes," Butler Tao replied.

Lin Ziping was completely unaware of what had happened at the Lin residence. Thinking that there was no food left at home, he decided to take advantage of his day off to go shopping.

There are three grain and oil stores in the county town, and they were all packed with people when Lin Ziping went there. He was a little dumbfounded. Was there a promotion or discount?

After finally finding a place where there weren't too many people, Lin Ziping squeezed in with difficulty. He saw that the price was fifty coins per dou for fine grains and thirty-five coins per dou for coarse grains, which was much higher than the price when he bought them last time.

Just as Lin Ziping was hesitating about how much to buy, the price of coarse grains rose by two coins.

Seeing this, some people started to discuss it amongst themselves.

"The price of coarse grains is almost the same as that of refined grains. How do you run your business? Be careful, or we'll report you to the county government."

"This is outrageous! They raised prices for no reason. They're trying to kill us!"

……

The shop assistant at the grain and oil store said, "If you don't want to buy, then don't. I'm telling you, the price won't be the same in a little while. Other stores have raised their prices by five coins, and their granaries are almost empty. Are you going to buy or not?"

Lin Ziping happened to be standing in front of the waiter. Upon hearing the waiter's voice, he nodded repeatedly: "Buy, buy, buy fifty dou each of coarse and fine grains."

Hearing Lin Ziping say this, the waiter looked smugly at the group of people who had just spoken and said, "If you're not going to buy, don't stand here. I'm telling you, several people have died in Mao Mao Village. I heard it's a plague. If you don't buy now, you might not be able to buy later. This price is what it is. Once you miss this opportunity, it won't be the same price again!"

Plague? Isn't it heatstroke?

Looking around at the people, the scene of buying grain was somewhat similar to the "salt hoarding" and "salt grabbing" that Lin Ziping had encountered before, but back then it was a rumor, is it still the same now?

Carrying the grain sacks home, the innkeeper's words about the plague kept replaying in Lin Ziping's mind. He had experienced two major viral outbreaks in the past, and even in an era of advanced medical technology, defeating such large-scale viruses required enormous financial and material resources. In ancient times, if the Maomao Mountains were indeed plagued, the consequences of its spread would be unimaginable.

Without delay, Lin Ziping found County Magistrate Feng and reported to him about the rising grain prices at the grain store and what the shop assistant had said about the deaths in Maomao Mountain possibly being caused by plague.

After listening carefully to Lin Ziping's words, Magistrate Feng asked, "Ziping, is it possible that the grain store fabricated the story of the death on Maomao Mountain to raise grain prices?"

"Well, Your Excellency, I think it's better to believe it than not, especially since there are indeed many sick people right now," Lin Ziping said earnestly.

Magistrate Feng frowned: "You've only just arrived. You don't know that these merchants will stop at nothing to make money. Xiao Lin, I know you're doing this for the good of the county government and for Fuchun. But this is just something you've heard. I'll send someone to verify it. Today is your day off, so you should stay home."

"Lord County Magistrate..."

“County Magistrate Feng is right. We will investigate this matter. Lin Ziping, you can go back now,” Patrol Officer Chai interrupted Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping knew he was being somewhat rash, but he believed the waiter wasn't speaking without reason or making things up. He looked up at Magistrate Feng, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

After leaving Magistrate Feng's house, Lin Ziping initially intended to leave directly, but then he thought that if it really was a plague, the sooner it was discovered, the fewer people would die. He stopped in his tracks and headed towards the magistrate's house.

The magistrate's room was locked, but after several inquiries, Lin Ziping found out that he was in the backyard.

"I was originally a carefree man from Wolonggang, who could discuss Yin and Yang with ease and safeguard the universe."

The late emperor personally visited Nanyang three times to invite Cao Wei to join forces with Eastern Wu to destroy Cao Wei and establish a tripartite balance of power.

He was granted the title of Marquis of Wuxiang and held the seal of command, leading campaigns in the east and west and suppressing rebellions in the north and south, possessing extensive knowledge of ancient and modern times.

When King Wen of Zhou visited Jiang Shang, the Zhou dynasty was greatly restored. How could Zhuge Liang of Han compare to his predecessor? [1]

Before even seeing the magistrate, Lin Ziping heard the sound of singing. Approaching the sound, he saw Magistrate Wei pacing on a high platform, singing in a low, melodious voice, accompanied by an musician. Lin Ziping bowed respectfully to Magistrate Wei.

"With nothing to do, I'll play a tune on my zither in the enemy tower."

Hahaha

I lack a kindred spirit.

"And who is this?" Magistrate Wei asked Lin Ziping in a singing voice.

"Your subordinate Lin Ziping greets Your Excellency the County Magistrate," Lin Ziping replied loudly.