Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 286 - 284

Chapter 286: 284

"Mother, your sister-in-law is much more assertive than you." Xiao’er laughed.

"Indeed. She is even planning to buy a mansion in the Imperial Capital and move her entire family there. She said she is tired of cowtowing to Jie’er."

"That would be nice if everyone can look after each other." However, her fourth cousin’s family situation was quite different from her own. Her fourth uncle was the only son Mrs. Shen had confidence in controlling. To escape from Mrs. Shen’s grasp would not be easy.

The dream is beautiful, but the reality is quite harsh.

Mrs. Lu had made a decision. She would buy a small courtyard and open an iron shop in the Imperial Capital. Only after she had spent all her silver would she go back to fetch her father and son!

She couldn’t touch Mrs. Shen, but she could hide from her!

Mrs. Shen had returned to the village. The main and second branches would definitely ignore the elderly couple. They would not be able to withstand an all-out attack from Mrs. Shen. Her husband was a softie, and she had long accepted that their silver might eventually be lost. It was best to avoid Mrs. Shen’s fury.

However, she would have to leave some pension silver with the clan chief so that he could deliver it to the elderly couple regularly.

Having been through the ordeal of the previous imprisonment, Mrs. Shen would never dare to set foot in the Imperial Capital again, even mentioning the capital would change her complexion.

Xiao’er and Mrs. Liu accompanied Mrs. Lu to look at the mansion and shop. It was now September and the weather was still oppressively hot.

They had just bought a two-compartment courtyard for nearly 2,000 taels. The prices in the Imperial Capital left Mrs. Lu gasping.

"This weather is killing me! Your mother told me it hasn’t rained in the Imperial Capital for over three months, and this year’s crops will definitely decrease. It seems like we’ll have to be conservative with our food at home. We’ll need to buy and store more grain since we don’t know what next year will bring."

Xiao’er glanced at the glaring sun overhead and nodded, "It would be good to store some. The price of grain will likely increase soon."

The Imperial Capital was supposed to be dry in the autumn. Now, according to Bai Tian, the drought would last until winter, with no sign of the first snowfall.

The lack of rain for more than half a year indicated a severe drought.

Mrs. Lu was a woman of action, "I can’t wait. In a year of disaster, grain prices can change drastically in a day. Now that new crops are about to come in, everyone is probably waiting. I’ll buy and store some now. Besides, now that we have purchased the mansion, we have a place to keep it."

Hearing this, Mrs. Liu asked Xiao’er, "Should we also stock up on some old grain for our supermarket?"

"Don’t worry, mother. The steward of the supermarket has already prepared the old grain. We have also signed agreements with some farmers for the new grain, which will be purchased at the market price once available. However, the price will undoubtedly be much higher! But those who shop at the supermarket are usually well-off, storing too much old grain isn’t good. Fourth aunt, I’ll ask the supermarket’s steward to set aside some for you so you won’t have to make a run."

"No need, no need. Since I’m out, I can buy my own. Besides, I plan to buy more, if you contribute to my stockpile from the supermarket, won’t it disrupt the supermarket’s budget? But hearing you talk like this, it seems the supermarket steward is pretty thorough." Mrs. Lu praised after hearing this.

"Indeed!" Mrs. Liu nodded with a smile.

The three of them arrived at the grain and oil shop, only to see it filled with people. It appeared many were worried about rising grain prices and came early to buy.

As soon as they entered, Mrs. Lu noticed the grains in the Imperial Capital were of much better quality than in their town.

The quality of the rice in the town was often mixed with broken grains, whereas there was less of it here, but the price was five coins more expensive per pound.

"This rice is so expensive!" Mrs. Lu couldn’t help but gasp at the price of rice.

"Ma’am, our shop has the cheapest rice in the whole Imperial Capital! The rice production this year is bound to decrease. The price of rice in other shops has already increased. Today is the last day we keep the price unchanged. Our shop will also raise the price of rice from tomorrow on! We are currently limiting the quantity available." The assistant next to her heard Mrs. Lu’s words and quickly explained.

A woman who seemed to know the market said directly to the assistant, "Waiter, I want 200 pounds of broken grains, 500 pounds of cornmeal, 500lb. black flour, 100lb white flour."

Seeing the woman so readily buying so much grain, and judging by her attire, her family should be average. Such a woman would need to be careful with her spending. Buying so much at once proves that the assistant’s words were not wrong.

Mrs. Lu quickly said, "Then I want 300 pounds of middle-grade rice, 200 pounds of high-grade rice, 200 pounds of cornmeal, 300 pounds of white flour."

Mrs. Lan and Shen Bao’er were at the other end of the shop, and they turned around when they heard a familiar voice.

Seeing the three of them, Mrs. Lan was surprised, "Fourth sister, how come you are also in the Imperial Capital?"

And they were buying so much rice in the Imperial Capital. What was going on?

Mrs. Lan’s voice was quite loud, and people in the shop turned to look at them.

Mrs. Lu retorted irritatedly, "What’s wrong with me coming to the Imperial Capital? Aren’t you also here?"

"What about our parents if you are here? Are you planning to live in the Imperial Capital since you’ve bought so much grain? Who’s going to take care of our parents then?" Mrs. Lan looked at her accusingly.

"Sister-in-law, aren’t our parents also your parents? You, the eldest daughter-in-law of the eldest branch, are in the Imperial Capital. Why can’t I be here? I would like to ask you too, how can our parents manage themselves if you’re in the Imperial Capital? I’m a wife who left the home after marriage. Technically, the parents live with you. Who do you think should take care of them?" Mrs. Lu retorted without hesitation!

The others listened to Mrs. Lu’s words and began to look at Mrs. Lan and Shen Bao’er differently.

This woman was too shameless. As the eldest daughter-in-law and eldest grandson, they had the responsibility to support their parents and would inherit the ancestral house and eldest son’s field after their parents passed away.

I came to the Imperial Capital for some business. Why are you so unreasonable? What’s wrong with helping us take care of our parents for a while?" Realizing that more people were looking at her, Mrs. Lan regretted her impulsive words on seeing Mrs. Lu earlier.

"I’m also here on an errand. It’s not that only your family has business to do."

"Fourth aunt, you ought to wait until my mother comes home before you leave! My mother didn’t stay because she knew you would be at home. Leaving the two elders alone at home, that’s not right. "Father in, not travel far" is the saying. My mother decided to come because she knew you would be at home." Seeing people looking at Mrs. Lan unfavorably, Shen Bao’er quickly tried to shift the blame onto Mrs. Lu.

"Enough, I didn’t go to school, I don’t understand what ’father in, not travel far’ means. I only know that as the eldest branch, and having separated, the parents live with you in name but practically we care for them most of the time! While you are calling the shots in town, we eat coarse food with the parents at the village! It’s fine! Sister-in-law, now that you know I’ve left too, aren’t you going to hurry back?"

Upon hearing these words, other people in the shop began whispering about Mrs. Lan and Shen Bao’er.