Chapter 9, Scheming and Profiting

The situation in Qu County is just as Zhuang Mu described; although the winds of war are strong, the Northern Wei has not yet besieged the city. Moreover, at this time, the price of grain in Qu County has risen fivefold compared to usual

Amidst the great fluctuations, Zhuang Shisan stubbornly resisted the urge to spit blood, gritting his teeth and calculating where to transport these grains in order to recoup his costs. Suddenly, the governor of Jingzhou, the magistrate of Qu County, and several other highly esteemed officials dispatched soldiers and officials to apprehend the major grain merchants. It turned out that these officials harbored a deep resentment towards unscrupulous merchants who inflated grain prices, and they had come to settle accounts after the harvest.

Madam Zhuang's eyes flashed with a hint of anger as she looked Ji Si up and down for a moment, then said lightly: "You are Ji Si?"

Just as Ji Si stood up in confusion, a hurried sound of footsteps approached, as someone forcefully broke into the gate of her estate. Several arrogant maidservants surrounded a woman in splendid attire, coming in a grand manner.

Ji Si stood up and said in surprise, "It is I." She furrowed her brows and asked, "Who are you?"

Those Northern Wei soldiers who were wandering outside Jingzhou and had not yet launched a formal attack on Qu County, after receiving an unknown letter, unexpectedly withdrew so decisively and swiftly

Zhuang Shisan, due to the significant matters he was planning, could not afford to rest. He was transporting ten boats of grain and once again set sail towards Qu County.

This settlement will ultimately fall upon Zhuang Shisan.

Since the serious illness two months ago, Ji Si has acquired a great deal of inexplicable knowledge. Ji Si thinks that she must make others feel that it is only natural for her to possess this knowledge, so she immerses herself in books or engages in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting whenever she has the time

Several maidservants did not respond to her words, but simply said: "Ji Si, our lady wishes to see you, please come forward to pay your respects." After saying this, Ji Si was pulled in front of the matriarch by them

This is how people are; when enormous profits are laid out before them, even the most clear-headed individuals can become intoxicated. Not long ago, Zhuang Shisan was still aware of when to hold back, but now, seeing that the people of Northern Wei have vanished without a trace, and the grain prices in Qu County continue to rise steadily, he thinks that the grain surrounding Qu County is already in his grasp. As long as he does not release the grain, the prices will continue to increase.

She added in her heart: it is the least advisable to be infatuated. Then she added: "He really only looks like that; I can play the role of a man and look much more handsome than he does."

After the news of Zhuang Shisan returned to Jing County, Zhuang's mother spat out several mouthfuls of fresh blood and then fainted.

Although a life was saved, the ten boats of grain belonging to Zhuang Shisan ultimately were lost

Ji Si did not bow either, and said: "Yes." In the blink of an eye, Ji Si asked: "Who is the lady? In broad daylight, how can she dare to intrude into another's residence without fear of others' remarks?"

In this era, due to years of warfare, there are significant gaps in population statistics, and various forms of darkness emerge incessantly, leading to the rise of the slave trade! Many harsh small landowners treat their tenant farmers as if they were slaves. Among those slaves, some have become enslaved after free citizens found themselves in desperate situations, while others have been sold into slavery.

She had long anticipated that there would come a day when they would meet again, but she did not expect that this day would arrive quite so soon

Madam Zhuang, supported by her maid, took a few steps while surveying the small estate. She continued, "In Jing County, I have always come and gone as I please for many years, and no one has dared to stand before me like this. Enough, enough, considering that you provided a good idea for Thirteen, I shall let you go this time. Otherwise, just your disrespect alone would warrant me taking action to sell you off as a slave to a distant place!" Enough, enough, considering that you provided a good idea for Thirteen, I shall let you go this time. Otherwise, just your disrespect alone would warrant me taking action to sell you off as a slave to a distant place!

It was not until Lady Zhuang had left that Ji Si let out a sigh of relief. She suddenly chuckled and turned to the stunned maids on either side, asking, "Has there been any news from Sun Fu and the others?"

In the blink of an eye, he thought again, A Si has helped me so much, when I return, I must secretly prepare some dowry for her, so that she can enter my household with honor, and in the future, even if she is not the legitimate wife, no one will dare to bully her

I do not know how I ended up with so many memories, and Ji Si, in a daze, increasingly neglected Lady Zhuang

The shop located on Zheng Street in Qushui County is worth more than the two existing ones in Jing County! In just a month or two, Ji Si has added a beautiful sum to her dowry, bringing joy not only to herself but also to Uncle Sun Fuli and others, who are so delighted that they smile at everyone they meet.

As soon as Zheng Mi finished speaking, five or six young women in the same profession turned their gazes towards Ji Zi in unison. These individuals had only come to Jingzhou City with Ji Zi because they had heard of her acquaintance with Xie Lang.

In this turmoil, Ji Si did not incite the hatred of the Zhuang family, for the information she provided was not incorrect; the defeat of the Zhuang clan was due to the insatiable greed of the Zhuang Zhou family

A maid quickly replied: "Yes, indeed, we just received a letter. Sun Fu mentioned that the situation in Qu County is exactly as the young lady predicted. The wealthy families are fearful of military disasters and are hastily abandoning their shops. Those storefronts, which were once so expensive that one wouldn't even dare to think about them, can now be exchanged for a cart of grain. Our ship of grain has exchanged for a total of five storefronts. He also said that at the latest, in twenty days, they will have everything arranged and can return."

The Northern Wei troops retreated, and in a single night, Qu County returned to normal, with the people no longer worried about food supplies! In just one hour, the soaring grain prices in Qu County suddenly plummeted!

Zhuang Shisan performed a courteous bow and replied in a refined manner: "Thank you, Mother"

At this time, Ji Si was in a pleasant mood, as Sun Fu and others, who had also gone to Qu County, had returned half a month earlier. They brought Ji Si five deeds for the best shops on the streets of Qu County.

As Ji Si spoke these words with great flair, a silence enveloped her surroundings. Then, a hearty laugh erupted from behind her, "Exactly, exactly, Xie Shiba is truly nothing of significance! Even if he were something, he would still be more effeminate than the little aunt! Hahaha, I really like what this little aunt has said! Come, come, let us get to know each other." Even if he were something, he would still be more effeminate than the little aunt! Hahaha, I really like what this little aunt has said! Come, come, let us get to know each other.

Seeing Ji Si trembling with anger, yet unable to utter a single word, Madam Zhuang cast a disdainful glance at her and arrogantly turned her head, getting into the carriage amidst the commotion.

Her close friend, Wu Shiyue, teased playfully, "Hehe, I fear that after you meet Xie Shiba, you will also develop feelings of longing like those others, and end up regretting it for a lifetime"

They approached Ji Zi and said with their heads held high: "Are you Ji Zi?"

Zhuang Shisan was greatly pleased beyond expectations

Ji Si's face suddenly turned a deep red; she remembered that the Uncle Li beside her had offended this venomous woman by speaking up for her, and as a result, he had been sold into slavery!

I naturally know it is Lady Zhuang! Ji Si thought coldly, that year, when she first met Lady Zhuang, she had barely spoken two sentences before being driven out. At the moment she turned to leave, the teacup she had used was thrown away by Lady Zhuang right in front of her... The couch she had sat on was also burned behind her...! Lady Zhuang said that she was not even worthy of being the concubine of Zhuang Shisan!

At this moment, a maid shouted, "What are you still standing there for, you little miss? This is Madam Zhuang!"

Zhuang Mu's fainting lasted a full three days. When she awoke, the Zhuang family had already fallen from grace. Originally considered a first-rate family in Jing County, and even capable of advancing to a higher status in the prefectural city, the Zhuang family had suddenly become second-rate. This was still due to the fact that, although the Zhuang family had invested all their cash, they still possessed several thousand acres of farmland, a dozen shops, and several estates.

When the news reached Ji Zi's ears, she was entering the gates of Jingzhou City with her wet nurse's third daughter, Zheng Shimi. Hearing Zheng Shimi and others casually discussing the tragic downfall of the Zhuang family, Ji Zi thought to herself, the once arrogant Zhuang Nanshi, who would sell people into slavery at a whim, when she herself becomes a concubine who can be sold at will, her expression must be quite remarkable.

Watching her son leave, the matriarch closed her eyes and listened to the Buddhist scriptures for a while, then said: "Let us go and meet that lonely girl"

The other side

Holding back his wildly beating heart in excitement, Zhuang Shisan thought to himself, after this time, the entire Jingzhou will know of the wealthy Zhuang family

Zhuang Shisan has returned as well. In the aftermath, the family deliberated, and they concluded that Zhuang Shisan was still young, and moreover, he had already shown restraint at the right moment. Furthermore, it was not he who had utilized the family treasury to purchase grain. In essence, he was merely a steward acting on behalf of his mother. Therefore, the family did not impose any punishment on Zhuang Shisan. However, his mother, the imperious Zhuang Nanshi, was stripped of her authority as the housekeeper and demoted to the status of a concubine

The Northern Wei troops have retreated

Zheng Mi spat at her but could not help asking: "Is that Xie Lang really as handsome and extraordinary as they say?" She turned her head and called out to Ji Si: "Ah Si, I heard that you have met Xie Lang, so tell me, what does he look like?"

The officials and soldiers came like wolves and tigers, not only confiscating all the grain he had hidden, but if it were not for the few literati friends of Zhuang Shisan in Qu County who interceded on his behalf, he himself would have almost been executed by the authorities as a typical example of a treacherous merchant

On this day, Ji Si was reading when suddenly a commotion arose outside the manor

Although Zhuang Shisan's tone was mild, it was evident that no one knew her son better than his mother. Zhuang's mother discerned that her son was quite pleased in his heart. This led her to feel a slight displeasure towards Ji Si, whom she had yet to meet

Ji Si was still thinking about the five shops she had earned, feeling overjoyed when Zheng Mi's dreamlike voice came through, "Ah, if I could see Xie Shiba Lang this time, it would truly be unshakable."

"What a statement?" Lady Zhuang chuckled lightly, glancing at the dilapidated small manor, and disdainfully remarked, "Even you, as a person, are merely a plaything that my son may or may not want; what is this crumbling house worth?"

In response to the gazes of the crowd of women, Ji Si smiled and said, "He is indeed handsome, and his demeanor is quite extraordinary"

"Is that so?" Zheng Mi exclaimed in surprise, "Everyone says that after Xie Shiba came to Jingzhou for a month, the city of Jingzhou welcomed spring a month early, with flowers blooming everywhere and everyone enchanted... How can it be that from your mouth, it sounds as if Xie Lang is no different from the other sons of noble families?"

However, just as Zhuang Shisan was secretly pleased with himself, on this day, a piece of news that shocked him spread throughout Qu Shui County

Seeing the elegantly raised chin of the庄母, who always glanced at others from the corner of her eye, Ji Si couldn't help but let out a cold laugh in her heart

There is indeed a distinction. Ji Si smiled again, turning to the other women, she said half-seriously and half-warnedly: "Although Xie Shiba is handsome, he is a flirtatious man. In this world, there are countless good gentlemen, but Xie Shiba is the least worthy of infatuation."