In the wonton stall beside the Qinghuai Teahouse in Jinling City, Ding Yun ate wontons while intently listening to the gossip of the people in the teahouse.
She was too young, after all.
It would be too strange to enter the teahouse.
Moreover, the teahouse was not cheap. A pot of pre-Qingming Longjing tea cost one tael of silver, and the patrons were mostly people of status, unlike those run-down teahouses that served tea dregs.
The current Ding Yun could not afford it.
No matter how much grain or fruit she had on her farm, she could not sell it in large quantities. Since she couldn't sell large quantities, she could only occasionally sell a few radishes and apples to earn a hundred or eighty wen for daily expenses.
How could she afford tea that cost one tael per pot?
In the lower-tier teahouses, the patrons did not dare to discuss matters concerning the prominent families. Ding Yun had no interest in listening to the trivial gossip of her neighbors.
After considering the economic factors,
She could only come to the wonton stall beside the Qinghuai Teahouse at a fixed time every day, eating wontons while listening intently to the conversations inside.
And she did manage to piece together some information.
"Old Li, what's the situation with the Xue family's business now? I heard someone say that the remaining loyal servant of the Feng family has already reported it to the prefect.
It seems they are unwilling to let it go."
"That old servant is indeed loyal, but unfortunately, his loyalty is of no use in this matter.
Don't forget the 'Guardian's Talisman' of Jinling City.
Although the Xue family is just a royal merchant, they have connections. You know Madam Xue, her elder sister married into the Jia family, and she herself was born into the Wang family. I heard that the new prefect, Jia Yucun, was able to regain his official position by borrowing the influence of the Jia family.
So, there will be no outcome to this matter.
Unless the old Feng family servant has the ability to travel thousands of miles to the capital and beat the drum to report to the emperor.
Otherwise, he can only accept his fate.
If he insists on this.
He might even lose his life!"
"Frankly, when the pillar of the family is gone, it's just not the same. What was a simple matter was complicated by Madam Xue, and it escalated. She's so stupid, she deserves to die.
It wasn't the Xue family's young master who did it himself, but merely incited a slave to commit violence. Giving some compensation to the victim's family and handing over the servant to the yamen, at most it would be considered negligent supervision and inciting a slave to commit violence. If they were more shameless, they could even argue that the servant misunderstood and acted on his own.
Then it would only be a charge of negligent supervision.
Then, they could contact the remaining collateral branches of the Feng family, give them some money, and get their understanding.
Even the servant who committed the assault wouldn't have to die.
At most, he would be sentenced to exile three thousand miles.
Such a simple matter was dragged out until now by their family. Now, the common folk are spreading rumors that the young master of the Xue family beat him to death himself.
It seems the Xue family is truly going to fall.
Even if nothing happens to them this time, with their way of handling things, they'll probably be sold out and still count the money for others.
Truly, a foolish wife and a foolish husband.
If they are not of the same family, they will not enter the same door."
"If I remember correctly, Madam Xue was born into the Wang family, wasn't she? I heard that the ancestral instruction of the Wang family is that a woman's lack of talent is her virtue. It is said that they only learn accounting, and all other Confucian classics, moral precepts, and laws are completely unread and unlearned."
"It seems one must marry a virtuous wife."
"This is the consequence of being uneducated. They don't understand themselves, and they don't know to hire a lawyer to help."
"Perhaps we are all thinking too much. Maybe they are not foolish, but arrogant, proud, and simply believe that trivial matters do not require their attention?"
"Pearls are like dirt, and gold is like iron!"
"Alas, they have money and connections, so why would they need to resort to devious means? It's only us, without support and not particularly wealthy, who have to constantly guard against others' schemes and use our brains more!"
"Enough said, enough said. Let's drink tea!"
"..."
"Hey, have you heard?"
"Just tell us what's on your mind.
Don't always ask if we've heard, are you showing off your connections and being well-informed?"
"It's about the Nanhua Temple!
You didn't see this morning, I saw the Nanhua Temple hire quite a few escort agencies to escort a large batch of grain to that place in Jinzhou.
It's estimated to be tens of millions of catties of grain.
That's so much money! They're really willing to spend!"
"Good heavens, no wonder people always said that when Zhenren Yunqi got married, it was a 'ten-mile red dowry'. After so many years, she's still so generous. How much dowry did her maiden family prepare for her back then?"
"Hey, I heard that this batch of grain was not purchased by Zhenren Yunqi, but was donated by a believer who requested to remain anonymous."
"Are there any fools like that?"
"I don't know what kind of reckless person would donate so much grain just like that, aren't they afraid of their elders finding out and beating them to death? Or perhaps they've been brainwashed by their faith."
"Maybe they are nearing the end of their lives and are donating grain to accumulate merit, but they are afraid of offending someone by donating openly, so they wish to remain anonymous."
"Regardless, they are indeed a great philanthropist."
"The Nanhua Temple has really gained a lot of prestige this time. I heard that the nearby temples and monasteries are too embarrassed to go out recently, for fear of being asked how much grain they donated to Jinzhou this time."
"Alas, the speed of the higher-ups is too slow.
The minister who handled the last disaster relief died nearly a month ago, and they still haven't sent a new imperial envoy for disaster relief. The number of disaster victims near Jinling is increasing. If this continues to be delayed, there might be a civilian uprising, and then we merchants will suffer.
I heard that when civil unrest breaks out, shops are the first to be looted."
"It should be soon. I have some inside information.
They say that the higher-ups might send a military noble to cooperate with a civil official in disaster relief. Several Duke and Marquis residences are vying for it, as there are no wars to fight right now, and opportunities for military officers to gain merit are too few.
It's quite funny to say.
I heard that Marquis Jia En is also competing!"
"Marquis Jia En, that stable general, lives next to his stable while his younger brother lives in Rongxi Hall. Isn't he infamous? Everyone knows he's an old dandy.
I heard he doesn't hold any substantive positions.
Why is he getting involved in this?
Let's hope he doesn't mess things up."
"Hey, you're mistaken there.
A few days ago, my second brother sent me a letter detailing major events in the capital recently. Among them was the matter caused by Marquis Jia En, Jia She. My second brother said that Marquis Jia En has been acting as if he's taken the wrong medicine lately. He's been confiscating property at home and sending servants and slaves to the yamen, asking the prefect of Jingzhao to judge them according to the law. Those who deserve to be killed are killed, and those who deserve to be exiled are exiled.
It caused quite a stir.
Many families in the capital are passing the time by watching the commotion at his house. Recently, he also obtained evidence of his sister-in-law, Madam Wang, engaging in usury.
He printed thousands of copies directly.
And distributed them all over the capital.
The Wang family couldn't stop them.
Many people speculate whether he has gone mad!"