Chapter 105: 104 Tong Yuyue: How Can a Master and Disciple Act So Recklessly

Pi Taiyu was seen with a face full of indignation.

Glaring at Ning Mu, he rebuked: "With the people's livelihood currently in ruins and grain prices remaining high, the disaster victims are already terrified and lack the money to purchase any. Yet you still want to raise the price by thirty percent? Six qian for a jin of Coarse Grain—do you take this for some rare, priceless treasure?"

"I originally thought that since you are a Disciple of Ye Liushi, and Ye Liushi still possesses a shred of compassion, you would be different. But you, this brat, are so vicious! Do you intend to watch with your own eyes as hundreds of thousands of disaster victims all die outside the city?"

Pi Taiyu glared at Ning Mu.

He was just short of pointing at his nose to curse him.

Although he was incompetent in his post, greedy for money, and lecherous, at a time like this, he still had a bit of benevolence.

Looking at the disaster victims outside, he also felt a bit unable to bear it.

Ning Mu's previous words had touched his heart; if the disaster victims were not handled well, they would indeed easily become scapegoats and be held accountable by the Imperial Court.

That was even putting it mildly.

Once the matter broke, it would be far more than just a crime of dereliction of duty.

Having his family property confiscated and being beheaded were both possibilities!

But without any disaster relief grain, he was at his wit's end as to how to save so many victims.

Yet, hearing Ning Mu's words just now, he was truly enraged!

He Daqian, on the other hand, felt a sudden joy in his heart upon hearing that prices would rise further, his small eyes spinning around.

But seeing the Prefect so angry, he found it difficult to interject.

"Oh my, what is this? I was only gone for a moment, why is it so tense in here?"

"Little Mu, speak properly to the Prefect!"

Just at this moment.

Tong Yuyue returned, and seeing the atmosphere in the room was wrong, her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly smiled to smooth things over.

"This official disdains to converse with such a petty person!"

"Ye Liushi, farewell!"

At this moment.

Before Ning Mu could explain, Pi Taiyu snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and rose, intending to leave.

"Little Mu!"

Liu Qingmei was also anxious!

However, Ning Mu's expression remained very calm. He looked up and said unhurriedly: "When grain prices rise, grain merchants from other regions will see the profit to be made and will surely swarm here."

"Compared to the past, the grain price is more than ten times higher. With such great profit, Merchant He, if it were you, would you miss it?"

He Daqian was startled, not expecting that he would be involved in this.

But after hearing Ning Mu's words, he looked up at the just-risen Pi Taiyu, and then, as if casting caution to the wind, said firmly: "With twenty percent profit, one can muster courage; with fifty percent, one can risk danger; with one hundred percent... even the guillotine is nothing to fear!"

"Prefect, this is the inherent nature of merchants to pursue profit!"

Ning Mu smiled indifferently and looked at Pi Taiyu.

He Daqian's expression was sheepish and somewhat annoyed, but he dared not act out.

Not to mention the Prefect was present.

Ning Mu held leverage over him; how could he dare to act recklessly?

If he said one more word about Pi Taiyu's concubine, he would end up with no place to be buried! "Even so, with grain prices remaining high, how can the disaster victims benefit?"

Pi Taiyu finally could not hold back.

His expression softened slightly, but his tone remained gloomy.

"For the next steps, I will need the Prefect and Merchant He to take action."

"Prefect, please sit; let me explain in detail."

Once Pi Taiyu sat back down.

Liu Qingmei and Tong Yuyue both breathed a sigh of relief.

Tong Yuyue did not dare to leave either.

She sat by the door, ready to help at the first sign of need.

Liu Qingmei was nervously holding Ning Mu's hand.

Ning Mu smiled calmly, gently squeezed her soft hand, tickled her palm, and then said: "During this period, a certain amount of grain is needed to keep the victims from starving, but relying solely on porridge distribution is not enough."

"But we can use Work-for-Relief!"

"Work-for-Relief?"

Pi Taiyu frowned, a look of contemplation in his eyes, as if a flash of realization crossed his brow.

Ning Mu began to explain.

"I passed by the Prefectural Office a few days ago and saw that the government buildings were a bit old. Why doesn't the Prefect, in the name of the government, recruit Laborers to renovate the office buildings? You don't need to pay much in daily wages—two meals and a few dozen wen in extra wages—I think plenty of people would be willing to do it!"

"This renovation effort isn't limited to the government buildings. The Prefect can apply pressure from above, and Merchant He can take the lead. Labor is at its cheapest right now; if you don't build new buildings or renovate estates now, when will you?"

"I won't hide it from you two noble people, I have leased Hua Man Ge and renamed it Yichun Courtyard. I have been wanting to recruit Laborers to build two more Cang Jiao Lou buildings by the Qintang River, but the government has been slow to lift the ban. The free Laborers outside can't get in, and the Laborers in the city are too expensive, so it has been dragged out..."

"By the way, isn't the Sacrificial Saint Festival coming up soon?"

"I suggest the Prefect, in the name of the government, extend the activities of this Sacrificial Saint Festival to a month, or even two!"

"Not only extend it, but host it on a grand scale!"

"Poetry, singing, dancing, and dragon boat racing—have each competition take turns. Furthermore, the brothels should also select a top courtesan. Not just for one building or establishment, but select the top courtesan for the entire Yonghang Prefecture!"

"You can let various great families or merchant firms and shops sponsor these activities. Those who reach the top three, or take first place, can be granted tax exemptions by the government for a certain period. The Prefect can control the degree of this. These merchant firms and shops can take this opportunity to advertise, letting more people know about the goods they sell—it's a move that achieves multiple goals at once."

"What does the Prefect think?" Hearing Ning Mu's words, Pi Taiyu and He Daqian were both shocked.

He Daqian's shock stemmed from anger.

This brat is truly fucking ruthless!

He is no fool.

On the contrary, after listening, he clearly understood who the real sucker was in the whole process!

It was himself! It was those Grain Merchants led by him!

It was those businessmen represented by him! Regardless of whether it was the Sacrificial Saint Festival activities, the Work-for-Relief, or driving up grain prices... behind all these various methods, the only ones who had to pay were these wealthy Grain Merchants! It could be said that among all this, the Grain Merchants were the group that got cheated the most miserably!

He Daqian could not help but be furious, yet he dared not show it!

With this boy as an enemy, he must not be left alive! At this moment, a strong murderous intent toward Ning Mu rose in He Daqian's heart! Meanwhile, Pi Taiyu's shock stemmed from the fact that such measures could provide disaster relief without the Imperial Court or the government needing to pay anything.

As for the subsequent measures, he already understood them.

Being the Prefect of a prefecture, he was no fool either; after thinking about it a little, he understood what to do next.

Work-for-Relief, as well as holding the Sacrificial Saint Festival on a grand scale, could directly or indirectly help the disaster victims quickly recover their Original Qi. And after this, the Grain Merchants who flocked in from all over, seeing that their grain could not be sold, would inevitably lower their prices.

Otherwise, the transportation costs and various expenses for just one trip alone were not something they could easily bear!

Wonderful! Simply wonderful!

"Young friend has great talent!"

Finally, Pi Taiyu understood the entire process and sincerely gave Ning Mu a thumbs-up.

He did not need to pay much of a price.

Yet he could resolve the mountain of disaster victims hanging over his head! He could even gain a great deal of official reputation; if handled well, it was not impossible to use this to enter the central government!

During this time, he had actually been worrying as well.

When Liu Qingmei came to find him some time ago, he had indeed already submitted a report to the Imperial Court and was waiting for disaster relief to come down.

But just the day before yesterday, the Ministry of Revenue sent an urgent dispatch via an eight-hundred-mile express.

It was filled with text.

Yet he only saw four words between the lines.

"Handle the disaster relief yourself."

Although Yonghang Prefecture was a prosperous and wealthy place, with hundreds of thousands of disaster victims, what was he supposed to use to provide relief?

Therefore, for these past two days, he had been filled with anxiety.

He knew that once these disaster victims erupted, only one outcome awaited him: becoming the sole scapegoat for this unprovoked disaster! "With young friend's talent, managing a small flower house is truly a waste; if you could enter the court as an official, you would surely be enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a prime minister one day!"

At this moment, Pi Taiyu was sincerely admiring Ning Mu.

It's over!

Seeing Pi Taiyu's enthusiasm, He Daqian's heart sank completely to the bottom!

He knew that counting on Yu Ji to whisper in his ear and reject Ning Mu's proposal was already impossible! Although Pi Taiyu was lecherous.

But compared to the official hat on his head, he could still distinguish which was more important!

Ning Mu gave a modest smile, waved his hand, and said, "Speaking of which, the Yichun Courtyard opens on the day of the Sacrificial Saint Festival; at that time, I must invite Prefect and President He to grace us with your presence and provide guidance!"

"Rest assured, Prefect, our Yichun Courtyard is not an ordinary brothel. Our main business is not the flesh trade of the red-light district, but rather a comprehensive club that focuses on letting people relax, integrating leisure, health preservation, and entertainment!"

"Oh?"

Hearing about health preservation and entertainment, Pi Taiyu's eyes immediately lit up.

He smiled and nodded, saying, "In that case, this official will certainly go to show my support when the time comes."

"I welcome you with both hands!"

Ning Mu laughed heartily.

Immediately, he looked at Second Aunt and said, "Second Aunt, order someone to serve the dishes and wine!"

With the serious business discussed, it was time to eat and drink.

Before long, the wine and dishes were all served.

"How about this: after the banquet ends tonight, Prefect and President He go together to the Yichun Courtyard to experience it for yourselves before the grand opening?"

A glint of craftiness appeared in Ning Mu's eyes as he looked at Pi Taiyu and He Daqian.

He Daqian looked listless and lacked interest.

But Pi Taiyu readily agreed.

In order not to slight the Prefect, He Daqian had no choice but to nod and agree.

"President He, do not worry; the grain in your hands can all be sold to me at the normal market price of the past."

Ning Mu said to He Daqian with a smile.

He Daqian was stunned.

He hurriedly raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp!

The normal market price was already a profit.

If he really waited until a few months later, with a large amount of grain piled up in Yonghang, the price of grain would fall to the bottom and become worthless.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.

The group dispersed.

Liu Qingmei arranged for people to send Pi Taiyu and He Daqian to the Yichun Courtyard.

Ning Mu also promptly arranged for a Servant from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to call Yu Linglong over, instructing her to treat this with caution and ensure this first order of the grand opening was done perfectly.

All customized services were to be prepared: foot massages, saunas, and even carnal pleasures—they had to let these two have a good experience.

In addition, prepare more of the fine brewed wine for these two to take back with them.

After Pi Taiyu and He Daqian left.

In the room.

Only the tipsy Ning Mu, Liu Qingmei, and Tong Yuyue remained.

Finally.

With her face flushed red, Liu Qingmei could no longer suppress the excitement in her heart, and disregarding Tong Yuyue's presence, she wrapped her arms around Ning Mu's neck and planted a smack on his face, leaving behind a bright red lip print.

"That's amazing!"

"Little Mu, these ingenious ideas of yours are simply unheard of; it seems like you did everything, yet you did nothing at all. Not only did you solve the problem of the disaster victims, but you even made Prefect Pi hold you in high regard!"

"How did you ever come up with them!"

Liu Qingmei was incredibly excited, and like a little woman, she hugged Ning Mu's neck and said excitedly.

Her voice was delicate and soft, and her eyes were filled with the light of admiration.

That flush from the wine was like the most beautiful flower, making it impossible for one to look away.

*Pa! * Ning Mu let out a drunken hiccup, his thoughts muddled, and he brazenly hugged Liu Qingmei and gave her buttocks a pat.

Meanwhile, Tong Yuyue, who had drunk the least, sat opposite them, feeling at a loss.

Watching the state of this pair of Master and Disciple, she had already fallen into a daze...

What had she just seen? Her husband's primary wife, Liu Qingmei, who was also the Master, had actually hugged her male Disciple and voluntarily offered him a fragrant kiss on his face?

As the Disciple, Ning Mu had actually reached out with evil claws toward his Master? Was she certain she wasn't the one who was drunk?

Tong Yuyue shook her head vigorously, her face full of disbelief.

(End of this chapter)