Chapter 161: Good Things Aren

Seeing this skirt, someone screamed.

"I've seen skirts like this; the Wang Family's betrothed little princess wore one, and it was gorgeous."

"This is a winter‑style skirt, five thousand taels each."

"Heavens, that's way too expensive; it's one thing that your Diamond could rival Gemstones, but this is clothing and it's that pricey?"

"Our Ming Emperor's Cloud Brocade costs over ten thousand gold per bolt; you say my skirt isn't valuable? This fabric is even better than Cloud Brocade—making one skirt uses half a bolt, and just the fabric costs this amount, not to mention the pattern."

Qiao Mai held the skirt with both hands, approached the ladies, and let them examine it one by one.

"Wow, this fabric doesn't wrinkle; it's soft to the touch and especially thick, and inside there's a layer like fine fleece."

Qiao Mai turned back and squeezed her eyes at the elderly lady; the lady smiled, saying she had given Qiao Mai a solid audience today.

The women and miss who came today included some of higher status than hers, and she still had to bow to them; even so, the elderly lady was very willing.

To be honest, the skirt is beautiful; compared with hair ornaments, it's indeed a bit pricey, but Qiao Mai didn't lower the price.

"Shopkeeper?"

"Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl, did you add something to the tea you brewed?"

"My luck?"

"You may enter, but only one person per household can come in to purchase, and you are not allowed to wander Jingcheng begging for food."

"It's not about understanding pharmacology; this medicine simply has that effect."

"Aren't you making an Imperial Edict Lady or something?"

"Right Chancellor"

"That's quite a lot; the back warehouse is full!"

"I don't want to expose myself; I still want a peaceful life. Though helping the common folk is good, we can't always do it and let others benefit, so I want to give this benefit to you and your husband,"

"And you, elderly lady?"

"First, aid the disaster victims outside the city; on our way back we'll help some more. I plan to buy a Zhai in Tianshui Town, solely for those beggar children to live in—just to live, nothing else. We must not let them develop lazy habits; those who truly cannot move will receive further aid."

"Yo, it's not close at all."

After a morning of hustle, the elderly lady was a bit tired, and Qiao Mai brewed her a pot of tea mixed with Linghe Water.

"There is some, but not much."

"No; titles like these, without contributions to the court, the emperor won't easily issue decrees to confer them. They're all empty, and I'm not interested."

"Why is it so much more expensive than the ones below?"

"Then tomorrow I'll go outside the city, using your elderly lady's name, right?"

"What miss? I'm actually a princess of the commandery."

"Since when did you understand pharmacology?"

"Yes, I heard the gentleman resigned from office and retired into seclusion?"

"Um, your Dizi contributed money and effort, so the Wang Family got the biggest benefit, right?"

"I see, then what is the highest official title in the Main Family of the Wang Family?"

"Which Cheng Men has the most disaster victims?"

Sure enough, she took the skirt back in her hand and said, "This lake‑blue Horse‑face Skirt costs five thousand taels; anyone want it? If not, I'll take it back. Good things aren't sold cheap."

"Alas, this matter involves the Fu Family; their Minister of Revenue was the one who pushed my old man out of his position."

"Did you plan this from the start?"

"From Weicheng."

In the main hall only the elderly lady and Qiao Mai remained, and she asked, "How many were sold?"

Qiao Mai kept smiling, watching the crowd who seemed unsatisfied.

"Hmm."

"Then it'll be hard to come to you for purchases in the future."

Qiao Mai blinked and said nothing more.

"Oh, thank you. Honestly, after sitting all morning watching you sell, I'm really exhausted."

After the elderly lady drank two cups of tea, Qiao Mai had the servant girl support her back to rest.

"That's not certain; perhaps one day my friend will suddenly get some more, and I'll come to Jingcheng and post like this for everyone."

"So it's Madam Pang after all."

"Alright, we'll be waiting!"

The next day after breakfast, she arrived at a grain shop in Jingcheng.

"It's because Grand Tutor Fu has the emperor's favor, often flattering him; gradually the emperor grew displeased with my old man, and since his temper was bad, the two grew to dislike each other, so he simply resigned. Coincidentally, Zongsheng is the Prefect in Weicheng, so our whole family moved here."

"Please, miss, take good care of it!"

"When you have good items, remember to send someone to my residence to inform me."

She believed that as long as the goods are good, they will surely sell.

"The court has requisitioned all the grain, and there are so many disaster victims outside; now grain is naturally very expensive."

"Ten skirts sold for fifty thousand taels, ten small hair ornaments fetched two hundred sixty thousand taels, the hair crowns sold for three hundred fifty thousand taels; together that's six hundred sixty thousand taels—what an auspicious figure!"

Then another Horse‑face Skirt came, each distinct; those who missed the hair ornaments hurried to snap them up.

"How much grain do you have stored here?"

"Which family are you from?" the shopkeeper asked anxiously.

"Alright, I'll take all your corn flour and white flour. Pack them in fifty‑jin sacks, load a cart and deliver it straight to South Gate; I'll wait there. Payment upon arrival, and keep sending full carts continuously until your stock is exhausted."

"Ah, this official is the Head of All Officials indeed."

Qiao Mai smiled, folded the skirt neatly, gently placed it back into the box, and, holding the box with both hands, approached the girl who was shouting the price.

These skirts aren't up for auction; each costs five thousand taels, and in no time they were all sold out.

"All spent on the disaster victims?"

"The Emperor doesn't let them in?"

"Is anyone giving out porridge?"

"Yes!"

"What if later there are good things?"

"Mm-hmm!"

"Ah, so it's the Princess, my lady; from now on you can look after my business more."

"Miss, where is your family from?"

"Why? Your silver is in your own name, right?"

"I want the five thousand taels; they grabbed the hair ornaments, and if they don't bring a skirt, Qi won't go back empty‑handed?"

"Oh? Why?"

"Have you heard of Grand Preceptor Pang's younger sister?"

"South Gate!"

"Haha, that's right, that's right; hearing you say that makes my heart feel less awkward."

"Very well, Princess!"

"You said you wouldn't sell anything after this round, right?"

These women, seeing there was nothing left to sell, each one bid farewell and left Bichun Yuan.

With the auction's name, she could openly go to aid the common folk.

"Exactly, it's those prescriptions you sold to Zongsheng that benefited the people; the Emperor was pleased and promoted the Wang Family, so now you understand why I'm angry, right?"

Whatever the Fu Family earned, she would spend it all on the people, fulfilling the customer‑service line that says "take from the people, use for the people."

"Sorry about that; next time I go back to Jingcheng, I'll bring some good things for everyone."

"It contains a restorative tonic; after you have lunch, you'll surely get a good sleep."

After the first sip, the old lady sensed it.

"Corn flour is Ten Wen per jin, white flour is Thirty Wen per jin."

"Alas, it's still thanks to your blessing."

"Good day, sir/madam; if you need anything, please let me know."

"Me what?"

"How are the corn flour and white flour priced?"

"Don't be angry, don't be angry. As the saying goes, the mountains are high and the Emperor is far; we live peacefully in our corner, and that's fine. May we live a long life, while they spend their days worrying and become short‑lived ghosts."

"I am her great‑granddaughter, living in Bichun Yuan; my Grandmother asked me to come here to do good deeds and accumulate virtue."

"Understood, understood; I'll dispatch it to you right away."

Operating under the old lady's banner makes things go smoothly; although she left Jingcheng, her reputation remains, and invoking it is still quite effective.

She came alone to outside South Gate, saw refugees setting up tents around, but there was no one handing out porridge.

From May until now, it's been several months; why are there still so many disaster victims outside Jingcheng? Don't the surrounding villages have places for them to settle?

(End of chapter)