Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 212 - 211: Major Procurement

As it turns out, Liu Ji, who returned from the border, proves to be someone worth anticipating.

Before dawn the next day, holding thirty taels given by Qin Yao to buy grains, two taels for travel expenses, and three taels of silver from the old residence, totaling thirty-five taels, he set off with Liu Fei, each driving a cart.

Liu Fei, after all, lacked experience traveling. Once out of Jinshi Town, despite his dissatisfaction with Liu Ji as a companion, he had no choice but to follow his lead.

Because once he left town, he realized he couldn’t distinguish directions on his own.

However, in this regard, Liu Ji, who managed to walk through grasslands, could now skillfully find his way.

They first arrived at Kaiyang County, where Liu Ji parked the cart outside the city, leaving Liu Fei to watch over it. This way, he could save on an entry fee, only needing to pay one cent for himself, while Liu Fei’s fee, along with carriage parking and horse feeding fees, could be ’reasonably’ slipped into his pocket.

In the county, there were three rice shops. Liu Ji checked them all and was surprised to find that the rice prices, which he thought were not very expensive, had suddenly risen considerably.

Brown rice, three cents a pound before, had gone up to four, while fine rice reached thirteen cents a pound.

And yet, there were still many people queuing at the doors to buy grains.

For those not concerned with these living details, they couldn’t feel these subtle changes at all because they didn’t rise suddenly but grew slowly, day by day.

Those responsible for daily necessities, typically the women of the households, queued to buy grains, with complaints unending.

However, compared to rice, the price of flour rose even more steeply, doubling in price.

Liu Ji visited all three rice shops, finding them seemingly in cahoots, with identical prices, avoiding vicious competition.

Currently, it’s just the everyday demand for rice and flour, which the rice shops can handle with ease.

Liu Ji tentatively asked if they had much stock; the shopkeepers ignored him, clearly uninterested in bulk purchases.

It was understandable since grain prices were rising daily; selling at today’s rates would result in a loss for them.

Yet, the shopkeepers’ confidence indicated they had low-cost procurement channels that continually supplied them with grains.

Liu Ji stayed until noon before leaving the county city.

On his way out, he visited the academy once more, extending his leave by a few more days.

He decided to head to the south of Zijing Mansion, where grain production was higher than in the north. Being far apart, the area might not have been plagued by insect infestations.

This decision was quite risky; everything was unknown, and he’d have to ask for directions while traveling.

Furthermore, even if they bought grains at normal prices, the two carts that he and Liu Fei had would be insufficient. The round trip was long and would require additional transport fees.

But Liu Ji had his ways; no chance he was going to spend even one cent of his own.

Handing Liu Fei two coarse grain buns, Liu Ji jumped onto the carriage. "Let’s go check out the neighboring county."

"What?" Liu Fei was greatly surprised. But the buns in his hands were deliciously fragrant, so he took a couple of bites to satisfy his cravings, and then, while driving the ox cart and catching up, he asked curiously,

"Is there nowhere to buy in our county?"

Liu Ji simply replied, "Too expensive, can’t afford it."

Liu Fei gave an "Oh," said no more, and continued munching on the fragrant buns, a bit curious about what the outside world was like.

By evening, they reached the neighboring county. Liu Ji still refrained from entering the city. The two stayed in a relay station five miles outside the county city, spending five cents for hot water to wash up. Then, they filled two kettles with hot water and continued munching on the coarse grain buns Liu Ji had bought during the day, spending the night.

Sleeping in the carriage at night, the two brothers stared at each other face to face for a long time before finally dozing off.

In the morning, the two had breakfast in the relay station’s main hall.

Liu Ji, without batting an eye, tossed out twenty cents for two bowls of noodles with meat sauce, squeezed in to sit with other merchants, chatting enthusiastically.

Liu Fei carefully savored this bowl of meat sauce noodles, not leaving even a drop of soup behind.

Listening to Liu Ji talk big with those merchants, he secretly snorted, thinking, "A dog can’t stop itself from eating shit."

But soon, his face was slapped hard.

After leaving the relay station, Liu Ji smilingly told him, "Got a lead, let’s head two hundred miles further south. There are two big farms over there that weren’t hit by the insect plague; the owner’s just harvested wheat and wants to sell."

Liu Fei looked at him in disbelief. Did he really find all this out?

Not only did he find out, but they also bought wheat at normal prices.

Since they bought in bulk, hulled wheat was offered at three cents a pound.

Knowing family members preferred fine rice, Liu Ji hesitated for a moment.

But then he thought, opportunity won’t knock twice, so he quickly bought it first. Traveling outside is quite tiring; he wanted to go home and eat meat and sleep deeply.

They paid thirty-three taels for eleven thousand pounds.

The return journey was two hundred and eighty miles, yet their carts could only carry two thousand pounds. They needed ten more carts to help transport the remainder.

Even with the transport costs included, it was still more than half cheaper than prices at the rice shops in Kaiyang County.

Oh, right, they also needed to buy grain bags, which was another expense.

Liu Ji glanced at his money bag, which now held less than one tael of broken silver.

If he rented carts with it, this bit of ’hard work fee’ would be gone from his hands.

So, Liu Ji spent fifty cents in the nearest county to buy two packs of pastries, which he then took to the master selling them the grains, quickly resolving this issue.

"Mr. Yu is willing to help us find ox carts to transport the grains?" Liu Fei was astonished once again.

Liu Ji proudly nodded, "We can even take credit, and when we get to Kaiyang County, your third sister-in-law can bring the money to pay the cart fees."

"Why not just deliver it directly to our village?" Liu Fei asked puzzled.

Liu Ji raised his hand and knocked on his head, "Are you stupid? The transportation fee for an extra segment of the journey would cost more, wouldn’t it?"

From this county to Kaiyang County, it’s all wide official roads, and since this area suffered little from the insect plague, there’s no worry about being robbed on the way, making transportation costs naturally affordable.

But beyond Kaiyang County, who can guarantee there won’t be any trouble?

Better to let that fierce woman at home come with a knife to receive it; this escort master who doesn’t ask for money shouldn’t be used for nothing.

Liu Fei rubbed the back of his head, for once not shouting at Liu Ji, merely asking a bit guiltily, "Will third sister-in-law be mad?"

"Why would she be mad? I’ve got not even one cent left in my pocket now; getting things to this point is already quite good."

Liu Ji dismissively waved his hand, "Move aside, let me write a letter to send back with someone."

Liu Fei suspiciously glanced at Liu Ji’s chest, then stepped aside to give him space to write the letter.

At home, Jinbao attended school, while occasionally Si Niang came over to teach Jinhua to write. Following these children’s pace, Liu Fei recognized a few simple characters.

But what he knew was nothing compared to the full passages Liu Ji wrote with flourish and skill.

The letter’s beginning had two characters he didn’t recognize, but he guessed they might be his third sister-in-law’s name. Curiously, he asked, "Third brother, is this third sister-in-law’s name?"

Liu Ji seemed not to hear the unfamiliar term "third brother," or even if he did, he didn’t care, as this brat should indeed be addressing him so, as was right and proper.

He put down the pen, nodded, and said, "Qin Yao, the Qin of Qin Guan, the Yao of the king’s side. Remember now?"

Liu Fei uneasily scratched his head, stealing a few more glances, maybe, perhaps, possibly remembering it...