Chapter 141: Digging a Pit for Meng Qinghe

"Little brother also knows the Town Mayor?" the shopkeeper stepped forward, lowering his voice: "There's something you don't know—this Town Mayor, he's gotten into trouble!"

Hearing him say that, Chi Nan Yi understood in his heart.

Their Grain Shop indeed colluded with Hou Qinian, buying grain from the common folk at low prices.

If they didn't comply, Hou Qinian would resort to extrajudicial punishment.

It seems the shopkeeper of this Grain Shop isn't a good sort either.

Chi Nan Yi paid the silver, and the shopkeeper grinned from ear to ear.

"Young master, shall these grains be delivered to the ghost manor on the outskirts of the city?"

Hearing the words "ghost manor," Chi Nan Yi couldn't help his curiosity: "Shopkeeper, what exactly is the background of this ghost manor?"

"You don't know? I thought you already knew! That place is a famous ghost manor in Jingcheng, originally the residence of the Bai family—you can't possibly be unfamiliar with the Bai clan! The once‑renowned General Bai, whose daughter was a consort, later had his entire family exterminated. Those people are all dead now, but Prince Li, you must have heard of them! General Bai was Prince Li's maternal grandfather."

Chi Nan Yi's pupils suddenly contracted at the words.

General Bai was Mo Junyan's maternal grandfather?

How could such an important matter leave no trace in the original owner's memory?

"Alas, a life that should have been above others ended up colluding with enemies and betraying the nation, only to have the whole family exterminated—well deserved. That person couldn't have lived comfortably." The shopkeeper curled his lip, eyes full of contempt: "Those who do evil always meet retribution; just look at Prince Li's leg…"

Before he could finish, Chi Nan Yi clamped his hand around the shopkeeper's throat.

"Cough… cough… let… let go…" The shopkeeper's face turned red. Chi Nan Yi realized his reaction was a bit excessive, slowly released his hand, and said with a smile: "I'm just reminding you, shopkeeper, to keep your voice low; walls have ears, and saying things you shouldn't can easily bring trouble upon yourself."

The shopkeeper, who had intended to fire a question, instantly recovered, bowing to Chi Nan Yi: "Thank you, young master, for the reminder; I'll have someone prepare the grain for you right away."

Chi Nan Yi watched his back, eyes narrowing slightly: Retribution?

Tonight I'll let you know what retribution truly is.

At that moment, a carriage stopped at the door, bearing a wooden plaque with the character "Meng" carved on it.

Meng Qinghe stepped down from the carriage; Chi Nan Yi, seeing this, raised an eyebrow, thinking how coincidental—meeting again.

Meng Qinghe entered the shop, lifting her chin as she said to the young attendant, "Whatever grain you have in this shop, Miss will buy it all."

Meng Qinghe had expected the shop's attendant to treat her with great enthusiasm, but the attendant merely offered an apologetic smile: "Miss, I'm truly sorry; our grain has just been completely sold out."

Sold out?

Sold out again?

I've already visited several grain shops, all saying they're sold out; now this one is also empty. Who bought the grain before me?

Could there be another reincarnated person besides me in this world?

The attendant, seeing her lavish attire, dared not provoke her: "Miss, it was this young master who bought the grain." He pointed at Chi Nan Yi; Meng Qinghe looked in that direction, meeting Chi Nan Yi's gaze, her brows slightly furrowing.

She didn't like the way he looked at her.

But now she needed to obtain grain from this man, and thinking of that, a faint smile appeared on Meng Qinghe's face.

"Young master, why are you buying so much grain?"

Chi Nan Yi, seeing that she didn't recognize him, said coolly: "What does this have to do with you?"

"Young master, speaking like that shows a lack of proper upbringing."

"Ha, upbringing?" Chi Nan Yi surveyed Meng Qinghe: "We are strangers; for a lady to initiate conversation with an unknown man is already showing upbringing?"

"You!" Since she returned to the Minister's Residence, no one had ever spoken to her like that.

"How audacious! Do you know our lady's status?" Cai Pin stepped forward, lifting her chin and gesturing imperiously: "Our lady is the daughter of the Left Minister; how dare you speak to her like that!"

"Oh, the Left Minister's daughter! Looking at your little maid's bearing, one might think you were the lady herself! You're even more striking, a few points prettier than your mistress."

"You!" Cai Pin's eyes flicked rapidly at Meng Qinghe; unsurprisingly, the lady's complexion turned a deep iron blue.

"Miss, servant…"

"Snap!" Meng Qinghe lifted a book and slammed it onto Cai Pin's face: "Get out!"

Cai Pin covered her face, stepping back a few paces, eyes full of grievance and a hint of malice.

Chi Nan Yi studied the expression in her eyes clearly.

Fine, very well.

"I have made it clear: I want the grain you just bought."

"The Minister's Residence's lady trying to snatch openly now?" Chi Nan Yi sneered: "I've heard the Left Minister is kind and courteous, but his daughter acts contrary to him. I wonder if his past behavior was merely a façade—'If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be warped.'"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Meng Qinghe shouted angrily: "Openly insulting a court official is a punishable offense!"

"If anyone is to be punished, it should be the lady first." Chi Nan Yi, looking at Meng Qinghe's face flushed to a pork‑liver hue, felt delighted: "In broad daylight, under the clear heavens, beneath the Son of Heaven! You try to seize my grain, and I only utter a couple of words—what's the problem?"

"Who… who said I was trying to take your grain?" Meng Qinghe patted the table: "Miss will simply buy it; tell me how much silver you spent, and Miss will give it to you."

"Pfft…" Chi Nan Yi couldn't help laughing at her words: "Seeing your demeanor, I thought you'd say something earth‑shattering! I spend a certain amount of silver, I sell you the same amount—what do I profit? Nothing but air?"

"Then what do you propose?"

"Double." Chi Nan Yi smiled faintly: "For this grain, I spent a total of 30,000 taels; if you can produce 60,000 taels, I'll sell the grain to you."

"60,000 taels? Why don't you just seize it?"

Chi Nan Yi lightly tapped the table with his fingertip and said calmly: "I am already seizing it!"

"You!"

"You are raising the price out of thin air!"

"Exactly, I'm raising the price on the spot; take it or leave it, it's up to you."

At that moment, the shopkeeper, panting, came from the back courtyard: "Young master, this time is half of the last delivery; where shall I send it to you?"

"I'll have someone give you an address later."

"Alright!"

"You've bought before?" Meng Qinghe furrowed her brows: "Why are you buying so much grain?"

"Our household is large; I, the young master, can only go out to buy grain once every few months, so I must stock up a bit." Chi Nan Yi stood up, dusting off non‑existent dust from his clothes: "I have other matters to attend to; since the lady has no intention of buying my grain, I shall take the initiative."