Chapter 241

"The lady understands and has deliberately restrained herself. The residence also doesn't dare to hire people freely. Except for Qian Ma and me, there are only two maids, two cooks and handymen, three long-term workers, and one gardener now. If the manpower is not enough, we plan to use short-term workers to make up for it." He Chunhua nodded. Other residences of the same size couldn't function without twenty or thirty servants. Even Steward Qian, who had been working for him in secret, was just acting as an agent for the Zhu family's business in Dunyu, and his own family had seven or eight servants.

He sprawled on the couch, and all the exhaustion surged up. "What about Chuan'er?"

This was just a casual question, but unexpectedly Steward Mo said, "The Young Master has been making constant moves these past few days."

He Chunhua still closed his eyes. "Is this kid causing trouble again?"

He was used to it, and his mood had no ripples.

"It can't be called causing trouble." Steward Mo laughed. "The Young Master recruited a few people and then started spending money to acquire assets in Dunyu and nearby villages and counties."

"Acquiring assets?" He Chunhua opened his eyes, truly surprised. "What did he acquire?"

Acquiring property was not something his eldest son would do. "No, what kind of people did he recruit?"

"He recruited a few private soldiers dismissed by the Li family and also recruited a local steward surnamed Ding." Steward Mo clearly had also done his homework. "These assets were all arranged and acquired by Steward Ding, who went to collect them one by one."

"The people he recruited are quite brainy." He Chunhua nodded. "The help of locals cannot be underestimated."

"Yes, yes, we also recruited quite a few people. Many things really can't be done without these locals." Steward Mo continued, "As far as I know, the Young Master has already bought quite a few shops, dozens of acres of high-quality irrigated fields, a fishing ground west of Qinghu, the old-brand restaurant He Su Tower in Dunyu, and also took over a trading firm. This trading firm has two complete merchant teams under it, which were originally about to disband."

"He took over a fishing ground?" He Chunhua stroked his chin. "A bit interesting."

"I heard that the water grass is most abundant and the fish schools are most numerous east of Qinghu, while the west side is slightly inferior."

"It's not bad to be able to buy it; he is still lucky." Fishing grounds couldn't be bought just with money. Large rivers and lakes, forest farms, and mines within the Great Yuan Realm all belonged to the state and were not allowed to be fished or logged at will. However, it was difficult for the local government to manage them on their own, so they often contracted them out and shared the profits with the contractors.

Qinghu in the suburbs of Dunyu was a huge freshwater lake with three water sources flowing into it, rich in fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish, so it was divided into twenty-seven fishing grounds, all of which had owners. In order to rest and recuperate, the official regulations stipulated two fishing seasons and two fishing seasons per year.

Once the fishing season arrived, except for the fishing ground's own manpower, outsiders who wanted to dig clams on the mudflats had to pay first.

Simply put, this was a semi-monopolized industry. Holding a fishing ground with good resources was like enclosing a hen that laid silver eggs.

"I heard that this fishing ground was originally favored by the Shu family, but Steward Ding intervened and even displayed our He residence's signboard."

"Alright, this kid is quite capable of speculation. Where did he get so much money? Did he use force?"

Steward Mo was stumped. "That is not clear."

Just this one fishing ground probably cost a lot, even in these extraordinary times. He Chunhua looked back; did he give He Lingchuan so much money in the past? Could it be that this kid saved it all?

Very strange.

Perhaps Chuan'er gained something in the previous bandit suppression? Lu Yao's relics were touched by him. Besides, from Heishui City to Shi Huan, and then to Dunyu, there were quite a few people who wanted to curry favor with him through Chuan'er; perhaps some of them bribed him with heavy money?

Or was it that this kid privately bought and sold by force and circled some things?

But there were still a bunch of troubles waiting for him to deal with, and this small matter of his eldest son didn't even rank. He Chunhua laughed. "Alright, don't worry about him; let him buy whatever he wants."

To tell the truth, he was quite happy.

The wealthy gentry of Xiazhou were dumping assets in a flesh-cutting manner, indicating that they had no confidence in the Xiazhou defense line or in him, the new Chief Steward, and only wanted to withdraw and flee south. Although this was not without the result of He Chunhua's secret promotion, he was still a bit angry when thinking of this.

The eldest son entering the market to bottom-fish at this time was using his actions to prove that he had full confidence in his father.

The old father was very comforted.

"But I want to know how much property he finally acquired."

"Yes."

￥￥￥￥￥

The next morning, Dunyu City issued a formal notice that from dusk today, which was the Xu hour, the whole city was allowed to enter but not to leave. Merchants who wanted to leave the city needed to hold a special signed order from the relevant government office before the city gate could release them.

The notice also specifically mentioned that the northern defense line was peaceful, the official troops were fighting smoothly, and the situation was improving steadily; please do not believe or spread rumors, and live in peace.

As soon as the notice was posted, a wave of panic broke out in the city! Just like it's hard to limit price increases, the more you limit, the more it rises, and it's not good to limit price drops, the more you limit, the more it drops; as soon as this notice came out, the first thought in many people's minds was:

It's over, run! There must be something wrong in the north, and the Xunzhou army is 99% likely to attack!

If you run late or slow, you will be trapped to death in Dunyu.

Rumors had been flying everywhere these days, and as soon as the announcement came out, the hesitation in their hearts immediately turned into a resolute will to flee.

Prices plummeted, including grain.

Wealthy merchants held a large amount of grain, and they couldn't transport it all at once, so they had to dump it urgently. The grain on the market had originally risen to about six wen per jin, and it fell back to two wen in less than half a day, and the bulk price for buying more than ten shi at a time was only one wen! It was a proper floor-price sale regardless of cost.

Grain was like this, and other trades were even more so, all wanting to dump their stock before the city was sealed.

The provincial government sent bailiffs to the street to beat gongs, asking the people not to panic, while maintaining public order and stopping looting and riots.

Even He Chunhua himself came forward in person to preach at the vegetable market to pacify the people's hearts.

Seeing that his words were firm and seeing that the government's style was vigorous and different from the past, the emotions of most commoners were pacified and calmed down slightly.

However, there were undercurrents surging beneath the water surface.

The wealthy gentry instructed their subordinates to dump assets and left first; for example, the Zhan family's long motorcade stretched from their doorstep to the city gate, almost causing a major traffic jam.

Under these circumstances, Ding Zuodong didn't return home all day, and his wife and children were looking forward to it, waiting until their hearts, livers, and lungs were about to be scorched.

When was their own man ever so unreliable? Fortunately, Ding Zuodong finally ran home at the Shen hour. In such cold weather, he was sweating profusely. "Where is the water? Where is the food? Bring it to me. I ran all day outside and was starved to death!"

His wife hurriedly poured him a cup of water and said anxiously, "The official notice has been issued, everyone is going to run, the neighbors Wang and Yin families have already carried boxes and held children and left, are we, are we running?"

Ding Zuodong gulped down the water. "Run where?"

"Fleeing south. We have packed everything, the horses are harnessed, and we have fed them forage in advance. Your son is watching outside to prevent others from stealing our horses!"

"He is right to watch the horses; horses are more expensive than anything else at this time." Ding Zuodong was very calm. "Put the things back in their original places, heat the food, and bring it to me."

"But, but, what if the Xunzhou soldiers kill their way over..."

"Who told you that?"

"Everyone says so, Master, this is not groundless, the situation in the north is not good." His wife hurriedly clutched her handkerchief. "Did you hear any news from Chief Steward He?"

"Yes, all the news I heard is good news. We stay, those fools can leave if they want."

Although his wife was half-believing, she had always followed her husband's lead. Since he said it so firmly, she went into the kitchen to get busy.

At this time, the five-year-old grandson slipped over and hugged Ding Zuodong's thigh.

When his wife came out with the food, seeing Ding Zuodong playing with his grandson, she wiped her hands on her apron and said, "I don't know which killer stole the money you sent to Bao'er! The bamboo horse promised to Bao'er wasn't bought either."

Ding Zuodong raised his head upon hearing this. "I took that money."

His wife was stunned.

What, the money sent to the grandson can be taken back? This old thing!

"That big house at the east street entrance—you know which one I'm talking about, the one with the peach forest in the wall—the owner is selling it cheaply, and I didn't have enough money, so I filled in Bao'er's pocket money too." Ding Zuodong took out the house deed from his bosom and shook it in front of his wife. "Look, from now on, you are the mistress of this house!"

Such a beautiful house was going to be hers? His wife was dumbfounded, and it took a long while for her to react. "All our money is, is invested in it?"

"I also bought two small shops." Ding Zuodong hadn't laughed so heartily for a long time. "Today, not only did I do things for Young Master He, but we also picked up some bargains ourselves."

His wife's palms were sweating. "Master, this is a big gamble." If they lost, they would be penniless and trapped in Dunyu, waiting for the Xunzhou people to attack.

Ding Zuodong clenched his fists, and his smile gradually faded. "Haven't you suffered enough idle anger? To turn things around, you have to gamble big."

He finished the food in three or two bites, wiped his mouth, and stood up. "I'm going out."

His wife watched him leave, seeing the last ray of sunlight sent by the sunset in the west.

It was getting dark, and Dunyu was about to seal the city.

Under the same sky, it wasn't just the Ding family who were staring at the sunset in a daze, but also the first wealthy family of Xiazhou.

The Li family was also panic-stricken. The servants had all packed their luggage, but the head of the Li family had been slow to speak.

The clansmen took turns to persuade him, but Li Zhi closed the study door and wouldn't see anyone.

At this time, the relatives remembered Li Shuang again; after all, the old Master Li always praised Little Six for being smart, having ideas, and having insights.

Li Shuang shook his head. "Not leaving."

"Why?"

"If the front line is lost, why would Young Master He be scattering money, buying shops, and acquiring assets all over the city these days?"

Li Shuang added, "If Dunyu is in danger, why would the provincial government still be buying grain and repurchasing reclaimed land from us at this time?"

He Lingchuan's actions and the provincial government's deeds certainly couldn't be hidden from these local snakes.

The reason Li Shuang gave was reasonable but not sufficient, and not enough to convince the crowd.

When people are uneasy, they need to see solid evidence that can support their confidence. So soon, some clansmen couldn't endure the time and left with their families.

(End of chapter)