CHAPTER 257: CHAPTER 253: LITTLE SECRET

Yu Xiaolian finished inquiring about the grain prices and then went to find out the market situation for salt and iron.

Currently, Great Liang’s control over iron is very strict, even stricter than that over grain. To what extent?

Strict to the point that all iron tools like iron plow heads and iron hoe heads from farmers must be surrendered.

Simply put, except for iron pots and kitchen knives, everything else must be surrendered unconditionally.

"No compensation?" Yu Xiaolian asked.

The old man sighed heavily, "Compensation? We should be so lucky.

The government officer collecting ironware said that there’s a war in the south now, there’s a shortage of iron for making weapons, and they said we need to consider the bigger picture and contribute to the country."

"Then with the iron plow heads confiscated, what will you use to plow the fields?"

"What else can we use but wooden plows? We can’t leave the fields uncultivated."

"Grain has become expensive this year. Did your family make a lot of money by selling it this past autumn?" Yu Xiaolian asked again.

The old man was nearly brought to tears by Yu Xiaolian’s question. Why did this child’s words pierce straight into his heart?

"Make what money? After paying the grain tax, what’s left isn’t even enough to get the family through to next spring.

Well, fearing the price will only go higher, we’re thinking of storing some for ourselves." The old man turned away and secretly wiped a tear with his hand.

Yu Xiaolian sighed, feeling the same heaviness in her heart. Saving up is right after all, considering grain in other towns is more expensive than in Luocheng, and it seems Luocheng’s grain prices will likely rise further.

In comparison to grain prices, salt prices are astronomical.

Salt costs two hundred wen per liang, and three liang two qian per jin.

Most people buy salt by the liang. Sometimes they buy a whole jin, but it’s rare, given how expensive it is.

After returning to Taotao Residence, Yu Xiaolian sent Zhao Erya to the government to get a grain coupon.

With such rigorous control over grain, if her family had no record of purchasing grain even once, it would appear too unusual.

Coupled with the fact that all vehicles and goods entering and exiting the city gates now have to be checked and recorded, her family having no incoming goods yet still having items to sell would also appear illogical.

Yu Xiaolian took some items off the shelves at Taotao Residence, leaving only daily necessities and skincare products.

She didn’t dare to sell alcohol either, because it’s made from grain, and she was afraid of being investigated.

After all, she didn’t even have a distillery, and one investigation would ruin everything.

There’s no choice; the world is too chaotic. Earning a little less is fine, survival is the priority.

Possibly due to the skyrocketing prices, or maybe because those young ladies have stocks, only one bar of soap, two jars of toothpaste, and one eyebrow pencil were sold today at Taotao Residence.

Although only eleven taels of silver were earned, since it’s a cost-free business, Yu Xiaolian was quite content.

Three days later, Yu Xiaolian prepared a lavish banquet at Xiangyang Lane, inviting all her friends from the literary circle, whether they had met or not, known by name or not.

Su Jingchen also brought Su Jingyue along.

Yu Xiaolian introduced Su Jingchen to Director Zhao of Jianyin Academy, who was also the older brother of Head Zhao.

Upon learning that Su Jingchen was the top scorer in last year’s Linzhou provincial examination, he immediately extended an olive branch, inviting Su Jingchen to study at Jianyin Academy, assuring that terms could be discussed.

Ordinary scholars attending Jianyin Academy didn’t enjoy any benefits; in fact, they usually had to pay a gift. But after Yu Xiaolian’s glowing praises of Su Jingchen, Director Zhao believed that anyone Yu Xiaolian vouched for could not be subpar.

Su Jingchen was also looking for a suitable academy to study at. The Northern Land now had scarce population and rampant starvation, which was not conducive to a peaceful study environment. Before leaving, he had already agreed with his father that after finding his younger brother, he would stay here and continue his studies.

His residence registration was also here to allow him to participate in the Autumn Examination here three years later.

And so, with Yu Xiaolian’s introduction, Su Jingchen decided to attend Jianyin Academy.

After the banquet, Yu Xiaolian began checking and organizing the gifts.

To be honest, there were many people she didn’t recognize, who came uninvited upon hearing about her banquet.

Although Su Jingchen helped her record each gift giver’s name and the gift they brought, Yu Xiaolian couldn’t recall their faces.

It was simply because there were too many people.

There were many gifts, but no monetary gifts, because Director Zhao had instructed Yu Xiaolian beforehand not to accept cash gifts to avoid any accusations of unfairness in future examinations.

Yu Xiaolian took a quick glance at the gifts, mostly pastries, white sugar, and tea leaves, though some people gave paintings and folding fans they had made.

Yu Xiaolian distributed the received pastries to the children of Sun Fourth Master and Sun Fifth Master’s families, making the children very happy.