Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 440 Opening a Dark Store_Pt.1

Chapter 440: Chapter 440 Opening a Dark Store_Pt.1

December 17th.

Three consecutive days of heavy snow pushed the branches at the entrances of the streets and alleys even lower.

As Nanzhi exhaled a puff of white fog, her face clouded with worry.

Yesterday, Xu Chou returned from the countryside, reporting that a problem had also arisen in their village fields.

We have to move quickly...

December 18th.

The weather was so foggy that the scenery couldn’t be seen.

Large snowflakes fell, covering rooftops and tree branches in a layer of silver white.

On the streets, two women were hurrying along.

"Are you telling the truth?" One woman, glancing at her neighbor who was rushing towards the Grain Shop, expressed a bit of hesitation.

Last night, the neighbor had stealthily told her that there was important news, which resulted in her being roused early that morning.

"Why would I lie to you!" Seeing her disbelief, the other woman merely rolled her eyes.

She had this information first-hand!

Yesterday, her nephew from outside the city had come to deliver goods and said that times were tough, the villagers were facing a Rat Plague, and he intended to borrow some silver to buy food.

"Haven’t you noticed the increased security at the city gate lately? That’s because there’s a disaster outside the city! They’re probably worried that the rural folks will run into the city, so we should buy more food just in case the disaster victims come in and there’s nothing left for us to eat."

Feeling a bit smug, she recalled how her nephew wanted to borrow two taels of silver just for bringing her a chicken. Did he take her for a fool?

A chicken wouldn’t even be worth two hundred wen coins, and he wanted two taels of silver right away?

She’s only telling her this because they’re neighbors. If she chooses not to believe it and can’t make ends meet in the future, she’d better not blame her.

"But the price of grain might be quite high now." The other woman frowned, unsure.

Indeed, the security at the city gate had been increased lately, and the patrols at night had become much more frequent.

"No matter how high it gets, it’s still better than families going hungry when the disaster victims come to the city."

After much hesitation, the woman finally gritted her teeth and went to the Grain Shop with her.

There were two red lanterns hanging at the entrance of the Grain Shop. Seeing people coming so early in the morning, the shop assistant was confused.

By all accounts, near the New Year, the food prices typically go up and there shouldn’t be so many people buying grain.

Strangely enough, business in the shop had been surprisingly good these past few days.

"Assistant, how much is the grain today?"

The woman looked around to ensure no one was close by, then she asked quietly.

"Today’s new rice is ten wen coins per pound, old rice is six wen coins per pound, and white flour is thirteen wen coins per pound."

The shop assistant glanced at them, pointed to the wooden board by the side.

The prices were written there each day, but somehow, people still asked.

Pretty strange.

Hearing the prices, both women looked a bit upset.

The prices had doubled!

"Are you buying or not?" Seeing their discontented expressions, the assistant rubbed his hands together.

In this freezing weather, they should at least give him an answer!

"We’ll take it—we’ll take thirty pounds of old rice, and... and twenty pounds of new rice."

The woman seemed heartbroken. Her husband can only earn nine hundred wen coins a month. A month’s worth of food and oil would normally cost over four hundred wen coins. Now with the rise in grain prices, even buying food was a pain!

But it’s almost New Year, and they can’t just be eating old rice for the festival.

The other woman, whose family was struggling even more, hesitated for a long time before deciding to buy only thirty pounds of old rice.

Seeing the two women stealthily carrying their grain bags, the Grain Shop assistant took a few extra glances before rubbing his hands together and retreating back inside.

This year’s weather seemed intent on freezing people to death.

Footprints on the ground were deeply imprinted, marring the pristine snow into slush.

When Liu Jie returned, his eyebrows and temples were frost-covered.

Seeing more than a dozen horse carts following him, Shen Wenchen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Adai had sent a letter yesterday.

Things were critical in Kyoto, they barely had time to bother with Yan City, and would probably have to figure something out on their own.

Although Yan City was prosperous, there was only so much silver left in the county government’s coffers. With most of the surrounding cities having close relations with Xin City, all they could do was hold on.

Hold on until news came from Kyoto, hold on until the end.

He had been gone for over half a month, but now he was finally back.

"General, I have returned." Upon seeing Shen Wenchen and Nanzhi, Liu Jie hastily dismounted his horse and paid his respects.

Seeing the matured appearance of his once youthful subordinate, Shen Wenchen couldn’t help but sigh.

"You’ve worked hard."

Liu Jie had hastily set off, and it was hard enough to buy the grain on the way down, let alone the setbacks encountered on the return journey.

"General, I’ve learned that Xin City has joined forces with three other cities, and I’m afraid we’ll have to rely on ourselves this time."

Liu Jie’s voice was hoarse, filled with resentment when recalling the news he had uncovered.

Xin City was built near the water. When they passed by, they specifically asked for the price of old rice—it was eight wen coins there, and new rice was thirteen wen coins.

Xin City, being near water, was always the biggest transit point for grain trades.

Unfairly, they tried to rip them off due to them being from Yan City!

When something felt off, he sent a subordinate who looked rather innocent to ask around about the grain prices.

As it turned out, local residents said old rice was only four wen coins a pound and new rice was not more than seven wen coins!

Furthermore, if the quantities were large enough, the prices could continue to drop!

It was only because they knew they were from Yan City that they had raised the price for them!

Afterward, he had a few subordinates disguise themselves and purchase five hundred pounds of grain in various grain shops inside the city before they managed to escape unnoticed.

It was only after they passed through two other cities that they realized that the entire thing had been orchestrated by Xin City.

But at least, after cobbling things together on the way, they managed to buy grain and return.

"It’s good to be back."

Shen Wenchen patted him on the shoulder, helping him up.

December 19th.

There was a renewed stir in Yan City.

After closing for half a month, there was finally some movement from Sanwei Residence.

The old sign was replaced and set aside, and a new one with "Lin’s Grain Shop" engraved on it was hung high.

The neatly arranged tables and chairs in the dining hall were gone, replaced by wooden barrels filled with various kinds of grains.

"Dear villagers, Lin’s Grain Shop officially opens today. Welcome everyone to come and have a look!"

Breaking from his usual demeanor, Uncle Ping wore a thick gray coat today, his face beaming with a shopkeeper’s signature smile.

After watching from the sidelines for a while, someone finally asked in a low voice, "Whose grain shop is this?"

"Of course, it’s opened by the City Master’s Wife." Liao Da glanced at him, his face filled with pride.

"Why is it... why is it so expensive?"

Someone spotted the price tags on the grain barrels. Unfortunately, they couldn’t control their volume.

Once he said this, other onlookers started to look over as well.

They saw a price tag of ten wen coins on the old rice, and an even higher sixteen wen coins per pound for new rice on the signboard.

"Is the City Master’s wife intending to run a rip-off shop?"

Someone muttered quietly, and naturally, someone else chimed in.