Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 117

Ye Ping Rong had originally planned to stay for only two days before returning to the capital, but the heavy rain blocked the roads. He couldn't leave, so he stayed at the Qi family.

One or two days would have been fine, but by the seventh or eighth day, Ye Ping Rong was getting restless and came to Ye Jiao's place to talk with his sister.

Ye Jiao held Xu Bao as she sat on the couch, looking at the rain streaming down outside in continuous lines. She said softly: "If it doesn't stop soon, I'm afraid all the medicinal herbs I planted in the mountain garden will be washed away."

Ye Ping Rong was nearby, holding a cloth tiger to amuse Xu Bao. Hearing this, he sighed: "Never mind the medicinal herbs. With rain this long, even the dikes might not hold up."

When water breaks through dikes, it becomes a disaster.

The most merciless things in this world are water and fire. Once you're caught in them, there's no escape.

Although Ye Jiao didn't know how severe natural disasters could be, she could see the tension in the family recently. Little Ginseng was also very considerate and didn't ask many questions. She also didn't constantly think of different things to eat like before, but because of her pregnancy, she occasionally felt her mouth was missing something.

It wasn't hunger, just dryness in her mouth. She always wanted to eat something sweet.

Seeing her lick her lips, Ye Ping Rong asked: "Are you hungry?"

Little Su nearby said: "Second Young Mistress, would you like to eat something? There's chicken soup stewing in the small kitchen. Should I have the cook make a bowl of noodles?"

Ye Jiao shook her head and said: "I'm not hungry, I just want some sweets, from Fengsheng Studio." Her voice paused. "It's not urgent anyway, I'm just thinking about it."

Xu Bao raised his hand and offered it to Ye Jiao: "Mother eat cake!"

Ye Jiao didn't stand on ceremony with him. She smiled and leaned over to take a bite, then kissed Xu Bao.

Looking at Ye Jiao, Ye Ping Rong couldn't help saying: "It looks like this rain will stop soon. I'll go to Fengsheng Studio to buy some for you."

Ye Jiao smiled and nodded.

This rain lasted a full ten days before stopping.

During those ten days, it wasn't heavy rain every day. The rainfall varied, but it was still an uncommonly heavy rain.

The Qi family was fine. They were on high ground where water couldn't accumulate, and their shops in town and the city weren't affected either. The outer areas had moats around them, and inside there were ditches and drainage channels, both open and covered. At most, some medicinal herbs got waterlogged and couldn't be used, but the shops were unharmed.

The estate was located upstream on the Yuan River that ran through villages and towns. Although some areas were flooded, as long as the granaries were safe, everything was fine.

But downstream on the Yuan River, dikes were broken and several villages and towns were flooded.

Even though there were water reports, sheep reports, and many other methods to give advance warning, the villagers only had time to run to high ground themselves to preserve their lives. They couldn't take their grain and livestock with them.

Floods are merciless. After one sweeping wash, everything was gone.

While people in the cities and towns celebrated that the heavy rain had stopped, avoiding greater disaster, Qi Yun called Manager Song over.

As soon as Manager Song entered the study, he said to Qi Yun: "Second Young Master, I've inventoried the shops. The losses aren't great. The medicine garden had stored up medicinal herbs early on, and now is exactly the time to release them."

Hearing this, Qi Yun didn't say anything, because he knew what Manager Song said was true.

Disaster brought scarcity. The court had practiced benevolent governance for years, with few excessive taxes. They had just fought a war, followed by the previous emperor's death and the new emperor's ascension. Even though Qi Yun had no connection with officials, he knew the court probably didn't have much money now, and even less would be allocated to local areas.

Now if they could release their stored medicinal herbs, even at ten times the price, they could still sell them.

But Qi Yun didn't plan to do this.

He looked at Manager Song and beckoned for him to sit down, then said: "The disaster-affected areas have many connections with our estate tenants. Many people on the estate came from there. After all, they're not far away, so there will be some family ties."

Manager Song was stunned.

Then he heard Qi Yun say: "Elder Brother and I discussed it and thought we should send things to provide relief. Even just for the tenants' sake, we should help them."

At these words, Manager Song immediately calculated gains and losses in his head. Soon he replied: "Second Young Master is kindhearted. This kind of life-saving work should naturally be done. But our county magistrate isn't exactly broad-minded, and the new county deputy isn't generous either. Even if we contribute, we'll probably just be used as proof of their achievements, with no benefit to us."

Qi Yun's expression was calm. He had obviously thought of this point.

He had even thought further than Manager Song, certain that the county magistrate wouldn't report his contributions but would claim them for himself.

But Qi Yun's original intention wasn't to gain recognition, but for the Qi family: "Manager Song, you must remember that stabilizing people's hearts stabilizes ourselves. I just need to settle them down. As for recognition, that's something to consider in the future."

Qi Yun didn't dare say he had a compassionate bodhisattva's heart. On the contrary, he only cared about a few people. The rest had nothing to do with him, and he wouldn't even blink an eye. But Qi Yun was always calculating, and this disaster was somewhat related to his family, so naturally he couldn't ignore it.

Now the Qi family's workers, whether stewards, shopkeepers, or others, were mostly found among the tenant farmers.

Those tenant farmers might not look like they had much foundation, but many of them were capable. Most importantly, they were of one heart with the Qi family. This was the most precious thing.

Even using this expenditure to exchange for his subordinates' loyalty, Qi Yun felt this deal was worthwhile.

Manager Song cupped his hands again: "Master..."

But before he could finish, Qi Yun raised his hand to stop his words: "Business is never just about silver, but also about human relationships. Manager Song, prepare as I said. I won't let you suffer losses."

Manager Song lowered his head, asked no more questions, responded with "Yes," and quickly went out to prepare.

From beginning to end, Qi Yun didn't say Manager Song was wrong. Even though Manager Song seemed somewhat lacking in human feeling, his thinking was what most people thought.

It was just minding one's own business. Between others living well and oneself living well, ordinary people would choose the latter.

But this time Qi Yun chose to let others live well. It wasn't entirely a sudden attack of saintliness, but more that Qi Yun saw things more clearly.

Money could be earned again. If the foundation was lost, that would be truly finished.

The Qi family had taken root here, especially the tenant farmers on the estate. Most came from villages. If they did nothing, even those unrelated to those villages would feel sympathy for their kind.

Disappointing people's hearts would probably make their future path less smooth.

Gathering people's hearts was difficult, but scattering them was easy.

So the next morning, Qi Yun and Qi Zhao separately sent people to the estate and shops.

Six-tenths of the estate's granaries were opened, with tenant farmers escorting distributions to the villages. Half of the strong liquor stored in the wine shops was also taken out, which could both be burned for fuel and warm the body.

Doctor Li led more than ten doctors, bringing medicinal herbs and preparing pills and realgar for burning to prevent plague.

Actually, the silver expenditure required wasn't much. At least Ye Jiao's money box didn't decrease too much. But they released quite a lot of previously stored goods, all real grain and medicinal herbs. Especially the medicinal herbs, when transported from town, looked like a mighty procession.

Qi Yun calculated the silver cost of these grains and medicinal herbs separately with each family's stewards, so they wouldn't suffer losses.

After several busy days, things finally stabilized temporarily.

When doing these things, Qi Yun didn't tell Ye Jiao much, fearing she would worry.

But Little Ginseng could always hear rumors, so she pulled up nearly half the medicinal flowers in her courtyard for him to use.

These medicinal flowers weren't immediately effective like stone sprout grass, nor were they rare. Dong Shi had planted quite a few at her place too. They were mostly things that could benefit the body when burned, so they were somewhat helpful.

But Qi Yun didn't make a show of it. When Ye Jiao was talking with Ye Ping Rong, she naturally didn't mention these things. When Ye Ping Rong came to say goodbye with Qi Ming, she only said: "Elder Brother, the rain just stopped. The roads outside are probably muddy and hard to travel. Why not wait a few more days?"

Ye Ping Rong smiled: "It's fine. I checked the main road from here to town this morning. It's passable, and Third Brother's academy has reopened too. He should go back to study early."

This wasn't just for Qi Ming's sake, but also Chu Chengyun's instruction. Ye Ping Rong naturally didn't dare slack off.

Ye Jiao didn't try to keep them longer. She just went to the inner room and brought out a tassel, handing it to Qi Ming.

Third Young Master Qi looked at it and felt this tassel was a bit crooked, with red and green coloring that was particularly... distinctive.

But before Qi Ming could speak, Ye Jiao smiled and said: "Recently the heavy rain blocked the doors and we couldn't go out, so I thought I'd find something to do. This is a tassel I made myself. It's for you."

Qi Ming immediately reached out to take it. Looking at that red and green tassel, then at Ye Jiao, he held back for a long time before saying: "It's very beautiful. Sister-in-law's handiwork is really good."

This made Ye Ping Rong glance at him, thinking that scholarly people could also lie.

Qi Ming silently thought to himself: Last time I said sister-in-law's writing was ugly and had to copy countless pages. This time I won't tell the truth... No, this is the truth! Beautiful, extremely beautiful. Sister-in-law's handmade tassel is naturally beautiful. Anyone who says it's not beautiful is blind!

Ye Jiao also saw the particularly sincere expression on Qi Ming's face and thought she should make a few more for Third Brother next time.

After leaving the courtyard, the two went to see Qi Yun.

Second Young Master Qi didn't mention a word about what he had been busy with these days. He only asked Ye Ping Rong to safely deliver his brother to the city, saying nothing else.

Little did he know that after Ye Ping Rong delivered Qi Ming to the academy, he discovered a paper package in his pouch.

This was what he had bought when he went to check the road that morning in town. He had originally wanted to personally give it to Ye Jiao, but now the pastries inside had been shaken to pieces by the horse's jolting. Only then did Ye Ping Rong remember his promise to bring pastries for Ye Jiao.

This was actually a small matter. Probably Ye Jiao wouldn't blame him if he didn't bring them back, and after so many days, Ye Jiao had probably forgotten about it herself.

But for Ye Ping Rong, anything Little Sister said was like an imperial edict that absolutely had to be done.

He couldn't disappoint Little Sister.

So Ye Ping Rong turned his horse around and went to Fengsheng Studio in town again, preparing to buy another package of pastries for Ye Jiao. Even if it delayed time and he would be punished by Chu Chengyun when he returned, he felt it was worth it.

But when buying pastries, Ye Ping Rong saw that the street looked no different from usual, but this calm was the greatest anomaly.

Usually natural disasters were unavoidable. Even though the court built dikes early and widened river channels, it was just doing what humans could do. Whether disaster could be permanently avoided still depended on heaven's will.

Ye Ping Rong could also guess about the downstream villages being flooded. Normally, those disaster victims would inevitably surge toward towns and even cities to seek survival.

Even when he was stationed at the border, he often encountered disaster victims who had fled to the city. Those scenes could be described as extremely chaotic, with shops in town probably not daring to open their doors.

But now it looked peaceful, not like any disaster had occurred.

Ye Ping Rong couldn't help asking the Fengsheng Studio clerk: "Haven't people been coming to town recently?"

When Ye Ping Rong came to buy pastries in the morning, this same clerk had served him. Now the clerk wrapped pastries for Ye Ping Rong while saying: "I suppose you're asking about this flood, sir. You're probably from out of town and don't know the situation. After this flood came, besides the court providing money and grain, the Qi family over there also made great efforts, providing both grain and doctors. That's why those disaster victims didn't flee to town. If you walk a bit further ahead, sir, you'll definitely see carts carrying goods for the Qi family on the roadside."

Ye Ping Rong was stunned and quickly asked: "Is it the Qi family from the east?"

The clerk smiled: "Exactly that Qi family! There are quite a few wealthy households in the city, but only the Qi family has this compassionate heart." Then the clerk handed the wrapped pastries to Ye Ping Rong. "Here you go, sir."

Ye Ping Rong took them. The paper package of pastries was still warm, but Ye Ping Rong felt his chest was even warmer.

Standing there thinking for a long time, Ye Ping Rong didn't return to the Qi family but went to the Qi family medicine shop, had a young clerk deliver the pastries to the Qi family, then rode swiftly back to the capital.

The first thing he did was request an audience with the emperor, telling Chu Chengyun about this matter without omitting a single detail.

Chu Chengyun was completely unaware of this matter.

Setting down his brush, Chu Chengyun frowned slightly and reached for a memorial from the pile beside him. Opening it, inside was a memorial claiming credit.

It said the county deputy was capable in handling affairs and the county magistrate provided excellent guidance, but didn't mention a word about the Qi family's efforts in this matter.

Not only did it not mention them, it even attributed the things the Qi family had sent out to themselves, seeking benefits for their family members.

Chu Chengyun naturally wouldn't doubt Ye Ping Rong's intentions. Although Ye Ping Rong was related to the Qi family, he was a pure minister by Chu Chengyun's side, always honest. Moreover, such disaster relief matters could be investigated with just a little inquiry. Ye Ping Rong would never lie about this.

But if Ye Ping Rong hadn't said this, Chu Chengyun definitely wouldn't have specifically sent people to investigate the details.

Was this just greedy credit-claiming, or were they deceiving him because he was a new emperor with an unstable foundation...

Chu Chengyun narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

But soon, he said to Ye Ping Rong: "Alright, Ping Rong, get up first." Then Chu Chengyun said to Ye Ping Rong: "Since ancient times, rewards and punishments have been clear. Second Young Master Qi neither covets wealth nor seeks rewards. This is truly rare."

Ye Ping Rong looked at Chu Chengyun and thought: This talk of clear rewards and punishments only mentions rewarding his brother-in-law but not punishing anyone. What's this about?

At this moment, Chu Chengyun was already smiling as he had palace attendants bring paper and brush. He wrote a few characters with flourishing strokes, then called people from the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Personnel. As for what he said, Ye Ping Rong didn't know.

As for dismissing a small county deputy and small county magistrate, in the capital it wasn't even worth calling news.

But the emperor ordering a plaque to be made and escorted out of the capital quietly spread among officials.