"Husband, this is all grain! All fine white rice!"
Looking at the plump grains of rice in the bags, Madam Fang spoke with a look of pleasant surprise at Chen Dong.
They hadn't eaten such good rice in a long time, as the price of white rice in Bianliang had never been cheap in recent years.
Even the lowest grade of broken rice could only be cooked with wild vegetables into porridge.
With this white rice, they could finally have a proper meal of white rice.
"Young Master, all the goods are here, please check them!"
Seeing that everything had been unloaded, the shop assistant hurried to cup his hands towards Chen Dong and said.
"No need, no need to check. Please wait here for a moment. I'll write you a letter. When you go back, please deliver it to Brother Han!"
"Yes!"
Upon hearing Chen Dong's words, the shop assistants quickly replied.
Hearing Chen Dong speak, Madam Fang also hurried to the side to help him grind ink and prepare paper.
After Chen Dong finished writing a letter with vigorous strokes, the shop assistants took the letter handed to them by Chen Dong and carefully tucked it into their chests.
As for the small pieces of silver Madam Fang gave them, the shop assistants insisted on not accepting them. After a long period of back and forth, Madam Fang felt quite embarrassed.
"Brother Chen, I see they are shop assistants from the Zhe Commercial Bank. Brother Chen and that Senior Scholar Han..."
Witnessing all this, the scholars who had been discussing animatedly with Chen Dong just moments ago, quickly and cautiously probed.
"You speak of Brother Han? I felt an instant connection with Brother Han. However, a roc like him is indeed not something that sparrows like us can compare with!"
When it came to Han Mo, even Chen Dong couldn't help but sigh.
Back then, they were both students at the Imperial Academy. But how much time had passed? He himself was still a student, while Han Mo had already become a powerful official renowned in one region.
The gap between them was widening, so much so that Chen Dong himself had to admit that he would never be able to catch up to Han Mo in this lifetime.
"Brother Chen, why don't you take up a post under Lord Han?"
Looking at the emotion on his face, the scholars beside him felt both envy and jealousy.
With the abolition of the Three-Ward System, the difficulty of becoming an official had soared.
Compared to earnestly taking the imperial examinations, becoming a staff official under Han Mo seemed like a good option.
"I still believe I can pass the examinations!"
After a moment of hesitation, Chen Dong said earnestly.
Upon hearing his words, the others fell silent. Was this perhaps Chen Dong's last stubbornness?
"Brother Chen, I have some matters to attend to at home, so I'll be leaving now..."
"Yes, yes, I also have some other matters. Let's talk another day then!"
After being dampened by him, they could no longer stay.
He had a fallback, but they had nothing. At this moment, they could only rely on themselves.
They had originally intended to freeload here, at least to get a meal, but after hearing Chen Dong say this, they had lost all interest in freeloading...
"Wait, esteemed scholars! The city has been quite chaotic lately. I understand the circumstances of everyone's homes. Since Lord Han sent these things, each of you can take some back!"
The people he associated with were actually not doing well at home either. After all, from the day the Three-Ward System was abolished, the status of the Imperial Academy had plummeted.
The scholars from influential families had long since returned home to visit famous scholars.
The remaining ones who were still here were entirely due to the meager rations the imperial court distributed to them each month.
Although the rations distributed each month had decreased over the years, it was still free...
"Thank you, Brother Chen..."
Upon hearing Chen Dong's words, everyone's hearts stirred.
Grain prices had already skyrocketed. If they could get some grain to take back, they could at least hold on for a few more days.
"You are too kind, esteemed scholars. Wife, get some sacks!"
As Chen Dong spoke, he called out to Madam Fang to get some burlap sacks. He distributed over ten catties of white rice to each of them before letting them leave.
"Husband, these things were sent to you by Lord Han. Why did you give them away to them..."
After seeing them off, Madam Fang began to complain.
"Don't worry. This is a letter from Brother Han. He will send grain every month from now on! Also, ask your father to come over later and move these things to your father's place for the time being. Oh, and you should go back and stay at your father's place for a while too!"
Listening to his wife's gentle complaint, Chen Dong's face was filled with reluctance.
"What are these?"
Madam Fang spoke while looking at the wooden chests beside them.
"These are your security..."
Chen Dong smiled and directly opened one of the chests.
"Ah!"
The moment the chest was opened, Madam Fang couldn't help but cry out in surprise at the sight of the gleaming silver inside.
The chest was filled with silver ingots. Although they hadn't been counted specifically, there were at least a thousand taels or so!
"These four chests are all filled with silver. If I don't return this time, you must not give these things away easily..."
As Chen Dong spoke, he gently reached out and tidied Madam Fang's disheveled hair.
"You, what are you going to do?"
Upon hearing his words, Madam Fang's body trembled. The implication in his words made it sound as if he were about to do something extremely dangerous.
"Don't worry, I'm just saying that. Keep this safe. As long as the Zhe Commercial Bank exists, we will always have a meal to eat!"
As Chen Dong spoke, he handed the letter written by Han Mo directly to Madam Fang.
It was unclear who leaked the news, but in less than half a day, the news of the Jin army's vanguard crossing the Yellow River quickly spread throughout Bianliang City.
Immediately, a wave of despair swept through the entire city.
With the Yellow River as a natural barrier, people had some residual hope in their hearts. But now that the last line of defense was gone, everyone's hearts were hanging by a thread.
The people of Bianliang, who had always thought of war as distant, suddenly realized that war was perhaps imminent!
"Speak, all of you! You're usually so eloquent. Why are you all silent now!"
In the grand court assembly, looking at the ministers in front of him who could only remain silent, Zhao Huan was furious.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I, Sun Fu, a Remonstrance Official of the Ministry of Personnel, have a memorial to present!"