GBP Chapter 768 Food is a bit expensive
Chapter 768 Food is a bit expensive
The bustling activity outside Jia Zhenzhen's grain store remained undiminished, even attracting wealthy merchants from other places.
Even under these circumstances, he still only sold it for three hundred coins per dou.
Of course, there will always be someone who raises the price to four hundred coins per dou.
The situation was exactly the same as the previous two days. This time, the major grain seller was named Jiang Weichen. He was born with a talent for business and was known as a business genius.
If Fan Li hadn't given a strict order to consume all the grain, he would definitely have tried to negotiate.
"Young master, are you really going to buy 10,000 shi of grain for 400 coins?" the servant next to him asked doubtfully.
As the saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black," this servant, having spent a long time by Jiang Weichen's side, also developed a keen business sense. He felt that the price was somewhat inflated.
"Four hundred coins per dou is indeed a bit high, but with Grand Secretary Fan as our backer, why worry about not being able to sell it at an even higher price?" Jiang Weichen smiled faintly.
He not only had a considerable understanding of the market, but also knew the policies of the imperial court.
It is true that relying solely on market regulation will not allow for higher prices, but Fan Li's intervention in this matter clearly indicates an attempt to monopolize the grain market.
By then, grain prices in Kyoto could double, and Jiang Weichen wasn't afraid of losing money; he even wanted to buy more.
"Miss, we don't have many chances left. We must buy the grain. Why don't we ask Young Master Lin for help?" Yun'er was extremely anxious as she watched the grain being bought up in bulk.
Even if Jia Zhenzhen still has some food stored up, it won't be much. Meng Qingge should use Lin Ping's connections to buy some.
"There's always a way out. Let's go," Meng Qingge said softly, hurriedly leading Yun'er away.
She was the one who wronged Lin Ping first. Not to mention whether he could forgive her, she couldn't even forgive herself. How could she have the face to ask Lin Ping for help?
Moreover, just as Lin Ping analyzed, Meng Qingge is a strong-willed woman who will not easily ask others for help, not even her fiancé.
The situation was exactly the same on the fourth day; the Kong family bought the last 10,000 shi of grain.
Even if Jia Zhenzhen could guess that grain prices would soar, she didn't have the resources to store 100,000 shi of grain; 40,000 shi was already her limit.
As expected, the grain store was not open on the fifth day, and a group of merchants stood at the door with regret.
"It's all because of the four major families. If they hadn't bought up all the grain, we wouldn't be without tax grain."
"Is being rich a great thing? Does having money mean you can do whatever you want?"
Whether it's permissible or not is unknown, but it's certainly permissible to act in a lewd manner...
For a time, people harbored a great deal of resentment towards the four major families and even did not want to do business with them.
Cutting off someone's livelihood is indeed a very unkind thing to do.
This made the reform difficult to implement, sparking another debate in the court.
"Minister Fan, how is the tax payment progressing?" the Emperor asked from his high position.
He himself supports the method of transformation and believes it will be effective, which is why he took the initiative to ask.
Fan Li hesitated, his face somewhat grim, before finally replying after a long pause, "Your humble servant dares not speak."
"I told you to speak!" the emperor said, somewhat annoyed.
If we don't tell the emperor what happened, isn't that a crime of deceiving the emperor?
Seeing the emperor's anger, Fan Li secretly sneered before bowing his head and saying, "Your Majesty, not a single shi of grain has been received so far."
"Not a single stone has been received?" The emperor was furious, slamming his palm on the dragon throne, trembling with rage.
The method of transformation has been implemented for nearly ten days. Even if the results are not good, we cannot fail to receive a single bushel of grain.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This humble subject deserves to die." Fan Li pretended to kneel on the ground and answered tremblingly, "As soon as the conversion method was introduced, those grain merchants immediately saw the business opportunity, hoarded rare goods, and raised prices on the spot. Now a shi of grain has risen to five taels of silver."
This was mostly true, though it was a bit exaggerated. No one refuted it, and even Bai Tiantian remained silent.
"How could this be?" The emperor's anger turned into astonishment.
Fan Li knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "There is a saying among the people that the method of reform is a method of cannibalism. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider."
The emperor fell into deep thought, and after a long while, he spoke again, "Since the method of transformation has backfired, it can only be abolished."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Under Fan Li's leadership, all the civil and military officials responded in unison.
"No, this law must not be abolished," Bai Tiantian exclaimed.
Until he could come up with a better solution, he had to do everything in his power to preserve the reforms, or he would face the danger of having his military power reduced.
"Does the General perhaps still believe this method is useful?" Unable to speak for the Emperor, Fan Li replied sarcastically.
"Seven days. If the reforms fail to show any improvement within seven days, I will not only not oppose abolishing the law, but I will also agree with Lord Fan's military law," Bai Tiantian replied coldly.
Now that things have come to this, he has no way out.
"Lin Wuqing, I've covered up another murder for you, so don't disappoint me!" Bai Tiantian murmured to herself.
Three days ago, the soldiers guarding the city found a body outside the city. Just as they were about to hand it over to the government, Bai Tiantian found out about it.
He didn't want to meddle, but there was a wound on the deceased's body caused by a musket, and Bai Tiantian immediately thought of Lin Ping, so she suppressed the matter.
Although he didn't understand Lin Ping's motive for killing, he knew that Lin Ping was foolish enough not to dispose of the body and even deliberately left evidence of his murder.
In other words, Lin Ping was testing Bai Tiantian's abilities.
If the authorities do not find out about this, it will prove that Bai Tiantian played a role, and Lin Ping will owe him a favor.
The fact that he deliberately owed Bai Tiantian a favor even when his method of transformation was thwarted demonstrates his confidence in the method.
That's why Bai Tiantian dared to say those words in the imperial court.
Even though there were only seven days left, Bai Tiantian didn't plan to go find Lin Ping.
If you trust someone, you must trust them completely.
Of course, this was also a test of Lin Ping's abilities.
The emperor already held hope for the method of transformation, and now that he saw Bai Tiantian's determination, he would naturally agree.
"Don't even mention seven days, you won't get a single bushel of grain even in a month!" Fan Li muttered to himself, his gaze quite cold.
He was a civil official who was not only involved in politics but also understood economics.
Bai Tiantian was nothing more than a martial artist, good for nothing except fighting.
Fan Li was certain that Bai Tiantian wouldn't be able to come up with a solution.
In this situation, not only Bai Tiantian, but even Fan Li couldn't think of a better solution.
That evening, a large caravan of carriages left the department store and headed straight for Jia Zhenzhen's granary.
“Young Master Lin, grain is scarce and prices will continue to rise. Are you sure you want to sell at this price?” Jia Zhenzhen kindly reminded him.
Seeing tens of thousands of bushels of grain sold at "low prices" pained Jia Zhenzhen deeply.
According to his prediction, the price of grain would definitely rise to 600 coins per dou, but Lin Ping only sold it for 300 coins.
“It is indeed a bit expensive, so let’s sell it for two hundred coins then,” Lin Ping replied seriously.