Not only Li Pozi inquired about Zhu Hua from Grandma Qin. Grandma Qin revealed more or less the news.
At this time, the legend of the "bitter well" also spread throughout Yan County. Qin Sen, not to be outdone, put on his gear again to become brothers with the beggars in Yan County.
It was true that someone was collecting grain from various villages, and it was true that Yan County's grain stores had little grain. News of widespread rebellions in Qingguo had also reached the ears of ordinary people in the northwest.
Given the precedent of the Northwest Grand Camp's grain requisition, the villagers of Yangshu Village couldn't help but overthink. Not only did they overthink, but people from surrounding villages also began to hoard grain in secret and stop selling it.
Qian Duo, who had already returned to the Zhao family, frowned upon receiving the news from Divine Doctor Mo that she couldn't buy grain.
What went wrong again?
The axe incident might have been a variable caused by her arrival in the northwest, so why was someone competing with her for grain?
This year and next year, the northwest was enjoying favorable weather compared to other regions, and the common people would not starve even if they sold their grain.
Why were some people no longer selling grain? And who was buying grain along with her?
Qian Duo didn't know that besides the original grain merchants, there were two other powerful individuals also collecting grain: Ling Manshuang and Zhao Liangcai.
One had more money, and the other had more people.
One could buy grain at a higher price than Qian Duo offered, and the other could go to distant places to collect grain before Qian Duo.
Ling Manshuang came to Yan County because of Qin Junyao, and Zhao Liangcai knew about the crop failure in the land of fish and rice because of Qin Junyao.
"Duo'er? Duo'er?" The knocking on the door outside brought Qian Duo back to her senses.
She put away the letter from Divine Doctor Mo and got up to open the door.
Aunt Qian was standing outside.
"Aunt, you can just send someone to tell me if you have anything," Qian Duo stepped forward to help Aunt Qian into the house, holding her arm.
"We're so close, it's no trouble."
"Duo'er, I've thought about what you said again and again, and I don't think it's appropriate. That man is almost thirty. If he's truly never been married, does he have a physical ailment?"
"Besides, merchants are considered to be of a lower status."
Qian Duo felt a little displeased but still smiled and helped Aunt Qian sit down.
She sat down next to Aunt Qian. "Aunt, the Chen family is a family of scholars and farmers. Although Chen Changming is a merchant, his elder brother is a scholar with good learning. He will surely pass the imperial examination in the next one."
"The reason he is twenty-nine and not yet married is that he observed three years of mourning for his grandfather and mother. Aunt, there are not many people who observe three years of mourning for their grandfather these days. He is filial, wealthy, and good-looking."
Aunt Qian looked at Qian Duo, who was only a year older than Zhao Rui, and blurted out, "Then you..."
She regretted it after saying just two words.
She thought to herself, if there's someone good, why wouldn't Qian Duo marry him herself instead of her precious daughter? But she could only think it and not say it.
Qian Duo's smile instantly stiffened. She withdrew her hand from Aunt Qian's and sat opposite her.
"Aunt, you know my feelings. I am willing to be a concubine for cousin."
"Cousin runs to the study every day. Yan Bai's mother has even come to say that their family is not good enough for them. But what about cousin?"
"Before, there were people who came to propose marriage. Although they were all from families of low standing, now even those families don't come." Su Dan Novel Network
Qian Duo sighed. "I heard that the Yan family is now arranging a marriage for Yan Bai. Cousin can't be a concubine, can she?"
"What are you talking about?" Aunt Qian slammed the table and stood up. "What's wrong with Rui'er just liking scholars?"
Aunt Qian thought of the silver Qian Duo had given her, and her tone changed. "It's all Zhao Liangcai's fault. If he had said a word, the Yan family wouldn't have dared to refuse the marriage."
Qian Duo sat in her seat and did not respond. The room became silent for a moment.
"Duo'er," Aunt Qian broke the silence. "Rui'er's marriage is not urgent."
"You rest. Aunt is leaving."
Qian Duo got up to see her off. At the doorway, she softened her tone and said to Aunt Qian, "Aunt, I was inconsiderate about this matter."
"It's alright. You're just worried about Rui'er. Rui'er is still young, she'll be fine when she's a little older."
After seeing Aunt Qian off, Qian Duo closed the door again and sat on a stool, thinking. Zhao Rui must marry Chen Changming; this was the deal made for Chen Changming's help in collecting grain.
It seemed she had to find another way.
Qin Junyao, who was also thinking in her room, was not as calm as Qian Duo.
She was very conflicted.
She had sold the grain from her space to Ling Manshuang and Dr. Sheng. There was no reason not to sell it to Zhao Liangcai.
But she couldn't find a good reason to sell it to Zhao Liangcai.
"Junyao, I remember I made you a blue dress when you first came here. Is it too small for you now?" Mother Qin came in from outside and asked Qin Junyao.
"Yes, it's small. Mother, do you need it?"
Mother Qin nodded. "Find it for me. Today, I saw Er Ni's clothes were already exposing her ankles. I'll alter your clothes for her; it will be perfect."
Qin Junyao agreed and chuckled as she went to the chest to find the clothes.
Er Ni was Zhang Da Ni's younger sister. Zhang Da Ni had two younger sisters named Zhang Er Ni and Zhang San Ni, and a younger brother named Zhang Yang.
When Zhang Da Ni accompanied Mother Qin to the snack stall, she displayed a strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
In Qin Junyao's eyes, this was like having "social butterfly syndrome."
No matter what kind of customer it was, Zhang Da Ni could handle them with ease.
In the past, Mother Qin was always soft-hearted, adding more noodles or chili, which didn't always bring gratitude but also led to people taking advantage of her kindness.
When Zhang Da Ni was there, every customer had to be polite, whether they were soldiers or salt miners.
She was also efficient and never slacked off when planting saxaul trees in the saxaul fields recently. It was impossible for Mother Qin not to like such a person.
However, Qin Junyao always had a question: how could Zhang Da Ni have such a personality that her father would pledge her mother to a gambling house?
"Mother, do you mean this one? This one is a bit small too," Qin Junyao took out two sets of clothes and handed them to Mother Qin.
"The blue one is fine for Er Ni. This one with flowers can be altered for Xiao Yu to wear."
"By the way, Junyao, you need to go to a tailor to order your wedding dress. You probably won't grow any taller."
Qin Junyao closed the chest and turned to Mother Qin. "Zhao Liangcai will prepare the wedding dress."
She walked to the doorframe and stood there to measure herself. "Mother, I can still grow. I grew taller after changing my environment. Look, my brother and the others have all grown."
"You marked the doorframe, but you're still the same height. Your height is enough now, so you don't need to grow any taller. Tall people don't look good," Mother Qin said, taking the clothes and leaving Qin Junyao's room.
Qin Junyao pouted, looking at the marks on the doorframe. She was only about 1.63 meters tall now, and in front of Zhao Liangcai, she still looked like a little chick.
Who said tall people don't look good? She wanted to grow to 1.7 meters, with long arms and legs, which would look beautiful.
In modern times, at 1.6 meters, she envied tall people so much.
As soon as Mother Qin left, Aunt Qin Er came to find Qin Junyao again.
"Yao Yao, last time Dengzi Tui said whether San Niu would return tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. My memory is not good now, and I forget things when I'm busy."
"Aunt Er, it's the day after tomorrow. I'll go to Yan County tomorrow to buy some big bones for San Niu; he loves to eat them."
Hearing that Qin San Niu would return the day after tomorrow, Aunt Qin Er's smile faded a little. "Is it really the day after tomorrow? Alright then."
After speaking, Aunt Qin Er turned and left Qin Junyao's room again.