Chapter 52

52 Water and Food Storage

Zhou Jia returned home and told his loyal servant, Uncle Zhou, what Xia Tao had said. He said to him, “Uncle Zhou, prepare more rice and water and store them well. Xia Tao said that there are places in Great Qi that are affected by the drought. If this continues, it will also affect Great Yong.”

Uncle Zhou smiled and said, “Young Master, it’s going to be the new year in two months. Even if we encounter a natural disaster with the rice and grains we have at home, it won’t be a problem to sustain us for three to four years. The drought in Great Qi shouldn’t affect us much. It’s still more difficult to be stable in the royal court. If the Third Prince doesn’t wake up, the empress’s family will have military power. If it’s the empress’s family,” Uncle Zhou pondered for a moment and lowered his voice, “I’m afraid there will be a military disaster!”

Zhou Jia nodded in agreement. “You’re right, but that’s not something we can control.”

“That’s right! You’ve already sworn not to return to the Zhou family in the capital. That witch is still eyeing you covetously and sending people to plot against you time and time again.” Uncle Zhou looked at Zhou Jia. “Fortunately, you met your savior. Otherwise, how would I have the face to see Old Master in the future?!”

Zhou Jia thought of Li Yu and smiled. He said in a low voice, “Yes! Fortunately, she sent someone. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten to know her.”

Uncle Zhou looked at Zhou Jia’s smile and thought to himself, Young Master might have someone in his heart.

Li Yu turned around and returned to her room. Madam Li smiled and asked Li Yu, “Xiaoyu, are we not able to do our job well?”

Li Yu smiled and nodded. “Yes, Auntie Li. Mr. Zhou said that he wants to sell some goods in the Qingzhou Prefecture. It’s faster to make more with more people. He wants us to hire more people to work. Mr. Zhou wants us to quickly finish the work so that he can give us red packets for the new year.”

When Madam Li heard this, she chuckled. “That’s good! Thanks to Mr. Zhou, we can all have a good year this year.”

Li Yu thought of Chen Yaohui and his brother and asked Madam Li, “Auntie Li, did Uncle Chen go to town to look for work?”

Madam Li shook her head. “No! It’s not easy to find someone now. They’re all resting at home!”

“Then get Uncle Chen to help me draw water for a few days! I want to fill those cisterns.”

When Madam Li heard this, she smiled heartily and said, “Sure! Your uncle is also idle at home. I’ll get him to come tomorrow.”

“Alright, thank you.” Li Yu said to Zhaodi, “Cousin, tell Aunt that I have something to do in town.”

Zhaodi looked up at Li Yu and smiled. “Alright, come back quickly!”

Li Yu nodded and went to the cowshed to bring the cows out. She put on the cart and walked towards town.

When they arrived in town, Li Yu went straight to the grain shop and saw the old shopkeeper and shop assistant sitting around the brazier. When the two of them saw Li Yu, they went up to her eagerly and asked with a smile, “Miss, are you buying rice or mixed grain?”

Li Yu looked at the grains in the wooden bucket and grabbed a handful to take a look. “I want to buy grains. How much are you selling them for?”

The old shopkeeper looked at Li Yu. “Miss, the price is higher now. It’s 750 copper coins a stone.”

Li Yu recalled the grains she had bought from the village chief’s house. They were only 600 copper coins a stone. In just two months, they had grown by 150 copper coins. Li Yu looked at the shopkeeper. “Shopkeeper, make it cheaper. I’ll buy 20 stones.”

The shopkeeper smiled and shook his head. “Young lady, if you’re unhappy, the price of food is different from before. If you’re willing to buy it, this is the price. There’s no cheaper price.”

Li Yu smiled bitterly when she heard that. “Alright! I have to buy it even if it’s expensive! So many people need to eat! Give me 20 stones!”

“Alright! Wait a moment!” The shopkeeper got the assistant to go in to get the grains. He turned his head and smiled at Li Yu. “Miss, sit and warm yourself up!”

Li Yu went over to sit by the brazier. The shopkeeper looked at Li Yu and smiled. “Miss, you won’t suffer a loss by buying food now. The price of food will probably increase. I heard that there was a disaster over there. Regardless of whether it’s true or not, it’s better to store more food!”

Li Yu pretended to be surprised and looked at him. “Shopkeeper, which side has suffered a disaster? Is it serious?”

The old shopkeeper pointed at Mount Daqing and said, “Over at Great Qi! I heard from the caravan that it hasn’t rained much since the new year. The cracks in the fields can be seen clearly. Even if there’s silver over there now, they can’t buy food.”

Li Yu smiled when she heard that. “Great Qi is so far away from us. It has nothing to do with us as long as we’re fine.”

When the shopkeeper heard this, he shook his head. “You’re young and don’t understand. Great Qi is in the north, and our Great Yong is in the south. When they have a dry spell, we will suffer from floods. This is the experience passed down from the older generation.”

When Li Yu heard this, she thought about it and felt that it made sense! She had heard of the drought in her previous life! How could she have forgotten? Then why was she still drawing water?

Before Li Yu could figure it out, the shop assistant loaded the grains onto the ox cart. After Li Yu ordered, she bought another 50 catties of flour and paid. After bidding farewell to the old shopkeeper, she drove the cart towards West Mountain Village. When she drove the cart to the pass, Li Yu stood there and looked around. After confirming that there was no one around, she stored all the grains in the space.

After saving up the food, Li Yu thought that even if they really encountered a famine, it would be enough for them and her aunt to eat for two years. Li Yu still planned to mention the news she heard from the old shopkeeper to Madam Li and the others. It would be up to them to believe it or not.

Li Yu drove the cart home and placed the flour in the kitchen. She went to the room and saw that Li Mei had already returned.

Li Mei looked at Li Yu and smiled. “I invited Auntie Chen and her eldest daughter, your Auntie Ma and her daughter, Xuelian, and... they’ll come to work tomorrow.”

Li Yu calculated that there were more than ten people now. “Alright, another dozen should be enough.” Li Yu looked at Li Mei and changed the topic. “Aunt, when I went to town to buy flour, I heard from the shopkeeper of the grain shop that there was a drought in Great Qi. I’m afraid the price of food will increase. They even said that when there is a drought in the north and there will be a flood in the south. Do you think our West Mountain Village will flood?”

When Li Mei and the others heard this, they were shocked. Madam Li said, “What does the drought in Great Qi have to do with us? It’s so far away.”

“I think so too.” Li Yu looked at them. “Auntie Li, why don’t you ask the village chief and grandfather if there’s a saying that goes like this?”

When Madam Li heard this, her expression turned solemn. “Alright, I’ll ask when I get home from work.”

Madam Qian clasped her hands devoutly and prayed, “God bless us, it’s not easy for us to have a taste of life. Please don’t cause a famine!”

When everyone saw this, they put down their needles and threads and prayed devoutly.

When the few of them heard the news that Li Yu had brought back, they were all a little listless. After waiting for a long time, Madam Li rushed home and found Chen Yaohui. She said anxiously, “Ah Hui, let’s go back to Father’s place. Xiaoyu went to buy grains today and the shopkeeper of the grain shop said that the drought in the north is quite serious. He also said that once there’s a drought in the north, there will be a flood in the south.”

When Chen Yaohui heard this, he was also stunned. Without a word, he pulled Madam Li towards the village chief’s house. When the two of them arrived at the village chief’s house, Madam Liu rolled her eyes when she saw the two of them. She glanced at them from the corner of her eye. “Why are the two of you still coming over?”

Chen Yaohui also rolled his eyes at her with a mocking expression. “I’m here to see my father! Otherwise, would I be here to see you?”

Madam Liu was so angry that her face turned green, but she didn’t dare to say anything else. She watched Chen Yaohui and his wife enter the house.