Chapter 79: Grain Shortage in the Capital

Zhu Cilang wanted to read for a while in Zhongcui Palace, but he kept feeling restless and irritable, so he brought Wu Zhong and Xu Sheng out of the Forbidden City and wandered about the city of Beijing.

Accompanied by Xu Sheng and Wu Zhong, Zhu Cilang strolled through the city of Beijing, and his mood gradually improved.

The three walked around for a while, then arrived at Dezhuang Hotpot. They did not go into a private room, but instead found a relatively quiet spot in the main hall and sat down, without disturbing the manager of Dezhuang Hotpot, Wu Cheng.

The three casually ordered a hotpot and ate with relish while listening to the chatter of those around them.

Most of what was discussed at Dezhuang Hotpot concerned the grain shipments along the canal being robbed, as well as the grain prices in Beijing that had been greatly affected.

Zhu Cilang pricked up his ears and listened, but his expression remained calm. He suddenly heard someone say that there was a grain shop in Beijing that, unlike the other grain shops, had not taken the opportunity to jack up prices, but continued to sell grain at the old price as before.

Logically speaking, this grain shop's stock should have sold out quickly, but the shop's owner was also peculiar — he did not sell freely, but imposed a limit per person, refusing to sell more than that.

Zhu Cilang's heart stirred upon hearing this. He thought to himself, it is rare indeed that there are still merchants like this who do not profit from the nation's calamity. He said softly, "This grain shop is rather interesting. Let's go take a look in a while and see just who their boss is."

After the three finished their meal, they asked around for the location of this grain shop, then unhurriedly made their way toward it.

Just as Zhu Cilang and his companions arrived near the grain shop, they saw a long queue already formed in front of it — many people, yet orderly. He looked up at the storefront and saw a horizontal plaque bearing the four characters 'Zhang Family Grain Shop.'

Zhu Cilang beckoned toward the crowd, and immediately a plainclothes member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard stepped up to him, lowering his head to listen.

Zhu Cilang told him to have Li Tingbiao thoroughly investigate the background of this Zhang Family Grain Shop. The guard acknowledged the order and immediately ran off.

Before long, Li Tingbiao came in person and reported to Zhu Cilang: "Your Highness, the owner of this Zhang Family Grain Shop is named Zhang Dabiao. He is a well-known Huizhou merchant who has been doing business in the capital for over ten years, mainly in silk, tea, grain, and pawnshops. This man has always done business fairly and values integrity."

Zhu Cilang said with some puzzlement, "Zhang Dabiao? That name sounds familiar. Isn't he the wealthy merchant who was the first to come forward and donate five thousand taels when I held a fundraising banquet at Prince Duan's residence a few months ago?"

Li Tingbiao replied, "Your Highness is discerning — it is indeed him!"

After hearing this, Zhu Cilang felt a wave of emotion and thought to himself: "This Zhang Dabiao is not simple after all. I rather underestimated him back then; I took him for just an ordinary merchant focused on profit."

Just as Zhu Cilang was recalling the scenes from that day at Prince Duan's residence in his mind, a crowd of people suddenly appeared at the door of the Zhang Family Grain Shop, saying they wanted to buy grain.

This group barged about recklessly, forcibly shoving their way to the front of the line, drawing angry curses from the common folk behind them.

Seeing that these arrivals were not to be trifled with, the shop assistant of the Zhang Family Grain Shop hurried over to attend to them and said politely, "How much grain do you gentlemen need to buy?"

One of them said, "However much grain your Zhang Family Grain Shop has, I'll take it all — the whole lot!"

The shop assistant said very courteously, "Gentlemen, I do apologize, but our shopkeeper long ago set a rule: each person is limited to twenty catties, and we won't sell more than that. How about I weigh out twenty catties for you first?"

These dozen or so men were clearly looking for trouble. Before the young assistant could finish speaking, one of them stepped forward and delivered a heavy slap across his face, sending him tumbling in a roll. His cheek immediately swelled up, and blood streamed from the corner of his mouth.

One of them cursed loudly, "What do you think you are? Never mind your shopkeeper — even if Zhang Dabiao himself showed up, so what? We'd smash his Zhang Family Grain Shop just the same."

At this moment, a man of about thirty years of age walked out of the grain shop, followed by several others. The man in the lead clasped his hands in salute and said, "Friends, I am the young master of the Zhang Family Grain Shop. Just now our shop assistant offended you gentlemen. Zhang Quan here offers his apologies to you all."

This man named Zhang Quan spoke with considerable poise and courtesy — clearly a man of business.

Even so, the group said, "Every grain shop in the capital is raising prices right now, and only your Zhang Family Grain Shop isn't. Aren't you blocking everyone's path to money, damn it? You Huizhou merchants have silver and don't want to earn this silver, but you can't block the road for us Shanxi merchants either!"

Zhang Quan smiled slightly upon hearing this and said, "So you gentlemen are in the same trade. The reason our Zhang Family Grain Shop has come this far is entirely due to the two words 'integrity' and 'trustworthiness.' My father once said: the capital is short of grain now, and while our Zhang Family Grain Shop dare not claim to share the court's burdens, we must still do our small part for the people of this capital. As for how you conduct yourselves, our Zhang Family Grain Shop cannot control that, but we will never earn this kind of conscience-blackened money."

This man named Zhang Quan looked frail and scholarly, yet his words rang out with force, immediately drawing a round of applause from the common folk buying grain around them, who shouted their approval loudly.

Zhu Cilang heard this from behind as well and instantly felt great admiration for this Zhang Quan and his father Zhang Dabiao. Even thieves have their code — merchants too must have commercial virtue and a sense of righteousness.

The troublemakers, however, were shamed into fury by his words and immediately cursed, "I think you're tired of living, boy! Brothers, beat him first, then smash the Zhang Family Grain Shop — let's see if this brat still acts so cocky!"

With that said, the men stepped forward to strike Zhang Quan. Seeing this, Zhu Cilang truly could no longer stand by, so he strode forward and said, "In broad daylight, beneath the feet of the Son of Heaven, in this bright and open world — have you no regard for the law? The Zhang family conducts business with a sense of righteousness, mindful of the nation's troubles even while in the marketplace, never forgetting honor when faced with profit. You do not reflect on your own wrongs, yet you come here to make trouble — does your conscience not ache?"

Zhu Cilang was dressed in a plain elegant green robe, giving one an impression of refined scholarship, yet his face was full of righteous indignation. It was unclear which family's young master he was.

The group burst into loud laughter upon hearing this and said, "And which road are you from? One nose, three eyes — you've got an extra breath to spare, daring to meddle in my affairs? Brothers, beat him too!"

Zhu Cilang furrowed his brow. Before he could speak, over a hundred plainclothes Eastern Palace guards and Embroidered Uniform Guard members had already surrounded them, shielding him tightly.

Xu Sheng led a dozen or so Eastern Palace guards charging forward and, in short order, beat those dozen or so ruffians to the ground. He said in a booming voice, "You bunch of thugs — did you not check the almanac before leaving home today? Didn't you know today is unlucky for travel?"

One of the thugs lying on the ground shouted, "Who are you? In the capital, you dare to clash with us Shanxi merchants? Are you looking for death, boy!"

Zhu Cilang stepped forward, flicked open the folding fan in his hand, and said with a somewhat showy air, "This young master is the top boss of the capital. Whether you're a Shanxi merchant coming in or going out, daring to shout and holler before this young master — are you tired of living? Beat him until he can't open his mouth anymore!"