Chapter 152: There Must Be Some Unspeakable Secret, Right?
“Don’t worry about that.” Jiang Ruanxi’s lips curved up. “Even if it was stolen, they’d need a chance to wear it out openly.”
Although Jiang Ruanxi did not pursue it, Hong Ye felt extremely self-blaming deep down. No matter what, this time it was because of her own negligence that Zhong Xintong took it. Next time, she must watch Jiang Ruanxi’s things carefully.
Such matters were hard to guard against. She decided to buy another lock.
**
“Eldest Miss, He Kui has sent a letter.”
Before long, Hong Ye came in and said.
Jiang Ruanxi was overjoyed. “Quick, let me see the letter.”
But after reading the contents, Jiang Ruanxi’s mood became exceptionally heavy. Hong Ye saw it in her eyes and her heart tensed up involuntarily.
“Madam, have you encountered some difficulty?”
“This drought is more severe than I imagined. Although Lingnan City looks like it’s full of song and dance with no impact, the villagers in the surrounding villages have already started fleeing.”
The grain is still sufficient now, but if not much grain can be harvested at harvest time, this place will be littered with corpses then. “Then, what do we do?” Hong Ye showed a shocked expression.
Jiang Ruanxi’s heart was also exceptionally heavy.
“Tomorrow is the Lingnan gathering. We’ll go out then. Have He Kui wait for me at Delin. I want to ask him personally.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The next day, Jiang Ruanxi went out early.
Zhong Xintong had stolen something yesterday, but she was very worried deep down, thinking that Jiang Ruanxi would come to trouble her as soon as she returned yesterday afternoon.
She waited for a long time and even prepared excuses, but Jiang Ruanxi did not come.
After tossing and turning all night, she still felt uneasy, so she planned to come over in the morning to bump into her, but unexpectedly saw Jiang Ruanxi leaving.
Could it be that there were too many things and she only lost two bolts of cloth, so she didn’t notice?
Damn it!
Anger flashed in Zhong Xintong’s eyes.
This realization was even more uncomfortable than Jiang Ruanxi knowing she stole her things.
She was just an unfavored bitch brought back from the countryside. Why was she so arrogant to her?
“Second Miss, Eldest Miss went out yesterday and is going out again today. Could there be some unspeakable secret?”
“A girl from the countryside like her, what unspeakable secret could she have?”
Lin Mu said, “My Second Miss, how are you so naive? Do you still remember how Miss Wang from last year died?”
Before Zhong Xintong could speak, Lin Mu started chattering, “The girls who married into the Yu Family all died on their wedding night, but this Miss Wang was different. To avoid marrying into the Yu Family, she directly eloped with her cousin. Later, when the Yu Family found out, it was said she was beaten to death.”
Zhong Xintong’s eyes lit up. “You mean Zhong Ling went out to meet a lover?”
“Oh my, my Second Miss, that’s not what this servant said. But no girl in Lingnan City likes marrying into the Yu Family. Who knows if Eldest Miss is two-faced.”
“By what you say, this girl from the countryside is probably really up to no good. Let’s go follow and take a look.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s carriage had only gone a few steps when Yushui said, “Eldest Miss, Second Miss’s carriage is following behind.”
“Ignore it. Find a place to shake them off.”
The carriage gradually moved along, and after going around a few times, Jiang Ruanxi shook off Zhong Xintong.
Before long, she stealthily entered the Delin Restaurant.
He Kui had been waiting in the room for a long time.
“Greetings, Madam.” He Kui said respectfully.
“How is the business I asked you to do?”
“Reporting to Madam, from last year until now, this subordinate has hoarded a large amount of grain in the south. Just waiting for Madam’s order to release it into the market. But although grain prices are high now, it’s not the best time.”
Jiang Ruanxi knew He Kui was reliable. “Wait a bit longer on the grain matter. If I say don’t move, then definitely don’t move, got it?”
He Kui frowned. “Madam, if we start reselling now based on our hoarding costs, we can actually make quite a profit.”
Jiang Ruanxi removed her veil hat and picked up the teacup on the table. “He Kui, the purpose of my hoarding grain is not to make silver.”
He Kui was surprised. Not for silver, then what for?
Clearly, Jiang Ruanxi had no intention of explaining, but asked, “Any movements from the Jiang Family recently?”
“Reporting to Madam, the Jiang Family is buying up grain at high prices.”
“At this time, still acquiring grain?”
He Kui nodded. “Today’s harvest is hopeless. People from several nearby manors have started reselling their stored grain and farmland to survive. This subordinate guesses they probably want to leave this place, but such people are still a minority. Most villagers are still observing, hoping heaven sends rain for planting other crops next year.”
Lingnan has a hot and humid climate, allowing three seasons of rice planting a year. After harvesting the last season’s rice, it can be sown again. Even if sown a bit late, it won’t affect the yield.
Jiang Ruanxi knew a heavy rain would definitely come in a month.
But if the villagers sold off all their grain, there would be no seeds left to sow.
Then all the grain and land would be in the Jiang Family’s hands, and wouldn’t the grain prices be controlled by the Jiang Family then?
“Do this: the Jiang Family is acquiring grain at high prices, so sell them all the stored grain from the nearby warehouses at even higher prices.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Thinking of Jiang Linlei’s character, Jiang Ruanxi felt a bit uneasy. “Have someone follow the Jiang Family. Report any movements to me. Remember, Jiang family members are naturally suspicious. Best not to let them discover it.”
“This subordinate obeys.”
Jiang Ruanxi knew very well that Jiang Linlei had many ways to inflate prices.
The drought was just an opportunity.
Wanting to raise prices through acquiring grain would cost too much.
Jiang Linlei wasn’t stupid; he definitely wouldn’t sustain it for long. But what was his real objective?
Lingnan’s sunlight was a bit harsh, stinging painfully on people’s faces.
Jiang Ruanxi put on her veil hat and came out of the Delin Restaurant, just in time to run into Jiang Linlei who had come to eat.
This time without Second Master’s help, she had no reason to retreat.
Against the light, Jiang Linlei also noticed her.
“Isn’t this Second Master’s fiancée? Running into you here is really fate.”
He clearly knew she was the fiancée but said they had fate. Jiang Linlei was clearly deliberately disgusting her.
Jiang Ruanxi curtsied to him and had no intention of speaking, instead silently going around him to leave.
But Jiang Linlei had no intention of letting her go like this. He stepped forward to block her path. “Miss Zhong, we’re acquaintances at least. Even if you’re leaving, at least show your true face, right?”
