Chapter 366: Selling Rice

The servants of Jixiang Yuan eat this daily, so they feel nothing, but anyone who has never tried this rice knows at once it's good.

Steward Zhang flips his eyes and says, "If you want to eat, a bowl costs ten Wen, eat as you like; our Crown Princess said the charity porridge lasts until the second day of the second month, still more than a month away."

"Hehe, this porridge at ten Wen a bowl is truly cheap."

I scoffed; starting that day, Fu Wang's porridge stall not only gave out charity porridge but also sold it. Many people, hearing of its uniqueness, regardless of status, brought bowls to buy porridge.

Thus it spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred; on the capital's streets this scene appeared, long lines forming to buy porridge.

One bowl ten Wen, ten bowls a hundred Wen, a hundred bowls a tael of silver; in the capital, daily porridge drinkers number in the thousands.

After they finish the porridge, just like those beggars, they run to a spot, squat, and start cooking.

Steward Zhang told Qiao Mai, "Master, what do you think?"

"If they want to buy, we sell; we don't lack that rice, send out more people, add more pots to simmer."

Ling'er poked her head out, looking gloomily at Tian Sanzhuang.

The carriage just entered the Guan Dao from the village road; Tian Sanzhuang, hurrying his carriage home, saw the opposite carriage and knew it was from the Qiao family.

He stopped the carriage, mustered courage and shouted.

"I put the rice at Qiao Ji; from now on you go there to buy, don't bother me with everything."

"Hehe, as long as the Emperor likes it, not to mention a hundred Wen, a tael of silver per jin is fine."

"One hundred Wen!"

One thousand bowls equal ten taels; originally it was charity porridge, now it's sold porridge.

"Tell the Imperial Household Commissioner to bring silver over to buy!"

"Yes, my mother just wants them to live, to let them know how good her life was, so they will feel remorse; that's better than killing them. But thinking of the sins my mother suffered, I …"

Qiao Mai was speechless; she offered porridge, and a group of monks and nuns came out, coming for her rice.

"This Crown Princess knows your intention, but there are many monks and little food; you cannot leave by almsgiving."

"He is unworthy!"

"Yes, Master."

Everyone wanted to outdo Fu Wang's porridge stall, but alas, after drinking, Fu Wang's porridge is still the best.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of Taohua Village, "Princess, what are you doing here?"

The Abbots of Ganye Si, Huanglong Si, Jingxiu An, and Yuntai Si, with their disciples, visited Jixiang Yuan one after another.

The number of people coming to buy porridge exceeds that of the beggars.

Thinking back, how could they still be so brazen to come for the Blood Dripping Test?

It is said Qiao family's porridge is tasty; they don't give much charity porridge either—only two pots a day, each simmered with meat soup and containing many lean meat chunks.

"Fifty Wen per jin, a household supplies only a thousand jin per year."

In this world, perhaps only the Qiao family can afford such a carriage; what are they doing here?

Many years have passed; Fu Wang's Crown Princess wanted revenge and already took it. It is said that two years ago the wife didn't return; all that were sent were children—could it be Ling'er?

Jin Mama asked cautiously, "Is he the Crown Princess's ex‑husband?"

Fu Wang's family does charity, which makes those great households uncomfortable.

"Princess, in a few months you'll have your grand wedding; I heard the Crown Princess is giving porridge in the capital to accrue blessings for you, so don't waste the Crown Princess's goodwill."

"How much per jin?"

"Then a tael of silver per jin."

Just after sending a few people away, Yubao from the palace arrived.

Damned it!

Tian Sanzhuang constantly heard a voice in his heart calling him: chase, chase after her—she is your daughter, she truly is your daughter.

"But"

"All of you Tian family should die; fortunately that old couple died early, otherwise, if they fell into my hands, I would make their lives worse than death."

If father and mother treated the Qiao family kindly, perhaps the Crown Prince's father would be himself.

Tian Sanzhuang's whole body twitched; it seemed Princess of Tianshui knew everything, but is she his daughter? If not, why come to Taohua Village?

Could it be just to see her mother's enemy? Tian Sanzhuang sat at the carriage head and let out a light sigh.

"Yes, mother suffered much here; I want to kill that family."

In the Keting, three Abbots, a nun, a Taoist nun, and a group of disciples stood behind them.

"Too little, how about ten thousand jin?"

"Benefactor, just name your price."

As soon as she spoke, the carriage driver, holding a whip, casually swung it at him, and Tian Sanzhuang dodged.

Is it almsgiving or buying? It's said these temples have strong incense, likely not short of money. She's not a pious believer; she trusts only herself, not others—she won't give away for free! No way!

Now the Qiao family all look down on him.

"Hmm, at that time my grandmother's family was poor, exchanged my mother for a sack of wheat; after this man married my mother he went to enlist, my mother …"

"Better not, Princess, you know the Crown Princess's temperament best; if you wanted them dead, they'd have died long ago, not survived until now."

"I want to see where mother once lived."

"Is the one seated in the carriage the Princess of Tianshui?"

Qiao Mai sat at the head, having already exchanged greetings.

At that moment, snow began to fall from the sky; Ling'er wiped a tear and ordered the driver.

"Yes, Princess."

"The Emperor, in disguise, visited privately, tasted your porridge, felt the rice was good, you know."

Although their wealth cannot compare with the Qiao family, they still have to put on a show.

Qiao Mai had someone use the silver they were selling to buy ordinary cotton clothes and bedding and give them to the beggars, so that with food and warm clothes they can survive this winter.

Jin Mama paused silently, gently lifted the curtain, "Move away quickly."

At this time Ling'er had already finished handling affairs and visited relatives and friends; now she and Jin Mama were in a carriage.

So he immediately turned the horse's head and chased after, "Princess of Tianshui, I am Tian Sanzhuang!"

"We naturally will not take advantage of the Benefactor."

With dozens of taels of silver a day, not to mention this person is getting richer, even serving porridge can earn silver.

Every time news came from Jingcheng, it was about how their family prospered, and the gap between him and them grew larger.

"First give the silver, then take away the rice?"

"This rice, except for my family, is nowhere else; buy it with silver, okay?"

"The servant has presented a gift to Princess Consort Fu Wang."

Ling'er has been gone for half a month, and Qiao Mai is not worried; the matter will not fail, just return sooner or later.

When Ling'er finished telling everything to Jin Mama, she opened her mouth in shock and said.

Because of the porridge matter, people from several major temples in Jiaojiao all came to the door.

So, Qiao Mai accepts everyone; it's just that the rice is a bit pricey—ordinary families can afford it, but they feel uneasy about how much they eat.

In the carriage, Jin Mama looked at her, "Why aren't you answering?"

Tian Sanzhuang could only, with lingering resentment, turn the horse's head and leave; Ling'er in the seat pursed her lips and made no sound.

From then on, Qiao Ji added another business: selling rice.

Jin Mama hugged Ling'er, letting her cry in her arms; a mother gave the best things to herself—such a good woman, why must she endure such grinding? Every time she returns, she wants to destroy the Tian Family.

Yubao, frightened, trembled, "No, the servant only described it that way; His Majesty the Emperor is very frugal, just—just a hundred Wen per jin, okay?"

Ling'er said nothing, and the driver ignored him, hurrying the carriage past his vehicle.

"Did the Princess Consort live here before marrying the Prince?"

"Return to Jixiang Yuan."

Xiao Qing built many large warehouses in the space; this spiritual rice has filled several warehouses and should be sold now.

Even some monks and nuns who practice almsgiving lined up; this fragrant sweet porridge, they have cultivated for years yet never tasted.

Honestly, fifty Wen per jin is too cheap; a hundred Wen isn't much either—this is proper spiritual rice that even if you have money you can't buy.

"Hmm, is Grandfather Yu coming personally with something?"

"Is the Princess Consort your biological mother?"

"Yes."

"Then that man just now is your biological father?"

"Yes."

(End of chapter)