Chapter 219: Buying Grain At The Song Family’s Place

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Alright!” Liu Daniu agreed to his wife’s proposal very readily.

Most of the family’s money was earned by his wife.

Furthermore, Daniu’s father-in-law, mother-in-law, and little brother-in-law had always been good to him.

At this point, if he had the ability, it was only right for him to show some filial piety.

Only then did Big Girl Li smile. She felt that she had not married the wrong man.

“Then I’ll go look for Father and the rest now,” Liu Daniu finally said after some thought.

“Mm-hmm.”

Liu Daniu returned not long after he left.

He even brought along Uncle Liu and Liu Emiu.

“We’ve gathered the money, but Father said he’ll come with us,” Liu Daniu whispered to his wife.

Big Girl Li was taken aback.

She looked at her father-in-law and her young brother-in-law, who were standing outside the door.

“They don’t have any ulterior motives. Father just want to visit Sister Sanya and the Song family personally to thank them,” Liu Daniu explained.

Big Girl Li thought for a while and finally nodded.

“Then let’s go,” she said.

The couple then left the room.

After that, the Liu brothers each pushed a handcart and followed Uncle Liu and Big Girl Li to the Song family’s residence.

When they arrived at the Song family’s place, Big Girl Li went to look for Qin Xiaoyao and told her that she wanted to inquire about buying grain.

“If your family is still preparing to sell grain, then sell some to my family. As for the price, if the price of 20 copper coins is not acceptable, we can still negotiate for a higher price.”

“But my family is seriously short of food, so you have to sell me more.” Big Girl Li acted coquettishly and tugged on Qin Xiaoyao’s sleeve.

Qin Xiaoyao looked at Big Girl Li with a smile.

After that, her line of sight went past Big Girl Li’s shoulder and looked at the trio of father and two sons who were standing not far away, looking somewhat uneasy.

“How much do you want?” Qin Xiaoyao asked.

Big Girl Li’s face was instantly filled with joy.

“I knew you’re the best, Sister Sanya!” she hurriedly said.

After she finished speaking, she took out a pouch of silver from her pocket.

“There are a total of 22 taels here. The sum of 20 taels is for our Liu family. With the remaining two taels, I want to buy some grain and send them back to my maiden family.” “Just give it as you see fit!” As she spoke, Big Girl Li shoved the silver into Qin Xiaoyao’s arms.

Qin Xiaoyao immediately felt the weight of the pouch.

She opened the money pouch and found that it was indeed full of silver.

After putting away the money pouch, Qin Xiaoyao thought for a while and finally said,

“Then we ll do as you say. 20 copper coins per catty.”

“22 taels of silver. The total is 1100 catties of brown rice and coarse flour.”

Big Girl Li’s face was filled with joy.

However, Qin Xiaoyao continued, “But at this price, 1 can only give you 50% brown rice and 50% coarse flour. In other words, 550 catties of brown rice and 550 catties of coarse flour.”

Coarse flour would definitely sell better than brown rice in the future. Qin Xiaoyao also wanted to sell the rest of the flour for more money.

“Deal!” Big Girl Li agreed.

“Then I’ll go tell them now!” After she finished speaking, Big Girl Li turned around and went to look for the Liu family’s father and sons.

When the trio of father and sons heard the details, they all agreed with the deal.

After that, Uncle Liu followed Big Girl Li to meet Qin Xiaoyao.

He expressed his gratitude to Qin Xiaoyao.

“Uncle is too polite! 1 was already prepared to sell some grain, so selling it to you was just a convenience.”

“The selling price is very different from the price I bought it at. I hope you won’t mind it too much,” Qin Xiaoyao said.

“I won’t! I won’t mind at all! The entire Liu family only feels gratitude toward you!” Uncle Liu said hurriedly.

Qin Xiaoyao nodded, then brought the few of them to the storeroom to move the grain sacks.

They were all in sacks of 50 catties each. Qin Xiaoyao retrieved 11 sacks of brown rice and coarse flour each for the Liu family.

Before they left, the Liu family expressed their gratitude again.

Uncle Liu also took Big Girl Li to look for Madam Liu and expressed their gratitude to her. After the Liu family had left, Madam Liu went to Qin Xiaoyao to talk about this matter. “You’re selling the Liu family grain at 20 copper coins per catty?” She asked her daughter-in-law in disbelief.

20 copper coins was an astronomical price. The Liu family had bought more than 1,000 catties and had even come to thank her.

“Mm-hmm,” Qin Xiaoyao replied.

Seeing her mother-in-law’s eyes widen, she lowered her voice and said, “The price of brown rice and coarse flour in the grain stores has risen to 18 copper coins per catty.

“And there is a limited supply. Each store only sells 4,000 catties of brown rice and coarse flour a day.

“There’s also a restriction. Each person can only buy 5 catties if he queues up.

“Big Girl’s family just went to queue up to buy brown rice and coarse flour. Daniu even queued up twice. The whole family went together, but they could only buy 30 catties of coarse flour and 5 catties of brown rice.”

Qin Xiaoyao ignored her mother-in-law’s shocked expression and continued, “Now everyone knows that a locust plague is coming, and there will be a famine.

“Today, the grain in the grain stores is 18 copper coins. Tomorrow, it may be 20 copper coins. It may even be higher.

“It’s because Big Girl is my sister, and our family has a good relationship with the Liu family. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have sold them so much grain at 20 copper coins per catty.” Madam Liu was utterly flabbergasted.

At this moment, she only had one feeling, and that was the grain in the house’s storage room was almost turning into gold.

“Then… the grain in our house…”

Qin Xiaoyao laughed and lowered her voice as she said to Madam Liu, “Don’t worry. I’ll think of a way to sell them.”

Then she seemed to have thought of something and added, “Oh yes. This matter about our family having grain and preparing to sell them… You have to keep it a secret and don’t tell anyone, Mother.”

“Why?” Madam Liu was puzzled.

Only then did Qin Xiaoyao look in the direction of her family’s well.

“Don’t forget the incident about the well,” she said.

Madam Liu was stunned.

Only then did she remember that the previous owner of her courtyard dwelling had sold water at a high price, which caused the neighbors to hate her.

However, was there any basis for comparing this grain crisis with the water incident?

After thinking about it carefully, it really did seem like…

“Then you’re going to…” Just as Madam Liu was about to ask some more, Qin Xiaoyao stopped her with an eye expression.

“Don’t worry. I already have a plan for this,” Qin Xiaoyao reassured her.

Although she could earn more by selling to retail customers, it was too risky as she might be recognized.

Therefore, it was best to sell the grain to the grain stores.

Of course, Qin Xiaoyao would have to discuss this matter with the stores.

However, there was no rush. She would wait for a period of time after the locust plague ended.

The grain stores were also starting to run out of grain, so it wouldn’t be too late for her to deliver it to them at that point.

“Oh… Alright then.” When she saw her daughter-in-law’s confident look, Madam Liu did not ask further, although she was a little curious.

In any case, she just had to believe in her daughter-in-law. It was all thanks to her daughter-in-law that the family was becoming more well-off.

Not long after Madam Liu left, Wang Xiaomei came looking for Qin Xiaoyao.

“Mrs. Song, you sold grain to the Liu family just now?” she asked Qin Xiaoyao.

Although the Liu family had covered up the handcart so that no one could see what they had put on the handcart, Wang Xiaomei could still tell.

After all, she was very clear about the things kept in the storage room.

“Mm-hmm,” Qin Xiaoyao replied without any intention of hiding anything.

Wang Xiaomei was taken aback.

“What’s the price?” she immediately asked.

“20 copper coins,” Qin Xiaoyao replied honestly.

Wang Xiaomei’s eyes instantly widened.

“20… 20 copper coins?” she stammered as she spoke..