The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 367 Join a group to keep warm
Xue Tang Grain Store.

Several guests looked displeased.

"I'm so sorry." The shop assistant smiled warmly, bowing slightly to make it difficult to be rude. "Our grain shop is not open to the public for the time being. We only accept grain coupons for exchanging grain. Please understand."

"That makes no sense."

"There are places that don't charge money?"

Some people still refused to give up, asking, "Is my money fake?"

"The guests' money is genuine, but that's the rule from above. It's not that we're unwilling to serve the guests; it's just a matter of a few cups of hot tea. It's just that it takes up their time."

The guy speaks with perfect tact.

After some back and forth, the group left helplessly.

Another moment passed.

A man arrived, hesitated for a moment at the door, then mustered up his courage and came in, standing there dumbfounded in the lobby.

"Is it the soldier?"

It was that same shop assistant again; none of the others were around. He chuckled and asked, "Here to exchange for grain coupons?"

"Don't dare."

The man was startled. He was just a militiaman, looked down upon by everyone. Afraid that the shopkeeper would misunderstand him as a servant, he quickly explained, fearing that the other party would get angry and drive him away. He hurriedly took out the grain coupons in his hand.

The grain coupons had become crumpled from being held in my hand for too long and with too much force.

The shopkeeper smiled warmly and said, "Alright, do you want to exchange them all or just a part? One coin is fine, but smaller ones won't do, as we don't have any smaller grain coupons available for you right now."

"Return everything."

The man stammered, not daring to do anything reckless.

It's being talked about all over the camp.

Xue Tang Grain Store, as the name suggests, is where the new General Commander does business. Who would dare to cause trouble here?
On the contrary, they are afraid of being made things difficult.

I'll be worried if they refuse to replace it.

"Good."

The foreman shouted, "One grain coupon for five coins, exchangeable for one bushel of grain."

"One five-qian grain coupon can be exchanged for one shi of grain."

A sound came from inside.

Confirmed.

A short while later, someone came out carrying a burlap sack.

One shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice makes one bag.

However, it is very heavy, and only strong laborers can carry it.

Next to it is a scale.

The shop assistant and the man weighed the item and showed it to the other man.

The man quickly pulled out his own burlap sack, which was more worn than the merchant's. He didn't know if the merchant's scales were accurate, but he just wanted to fill the sack.

The man who came out didn't say much. He simply made a mental note, skillfully aligned his two mouths, and then with a flick of his wrist, easily poured one bag of rice into another. The man didn't even have time to help.

"Soldier, take care."

The guy said from behind.

The man struggled to carry the sack; it was heavy, but it contained grain.

I can carry it no matter how heavy it is.

Should have known.

I'll exchange one coin first.

The man felt a little regretful, but he didn't intend to go back. After all, getting the grain was the most important thing.

A family of six.

Women, children, the elderly, and men were all present.

Women and children eat less, while adults and teenagers eat more, enough to feed a family for twenty days.

I can't survive in my hometown anymore.

The woman and her child fled the famine and came to him for help.

Am stayed at home to die.

Ah Da was escorting a family, but he didn't eat a single grain of food along the way and starved to death on the way.

The woman finally found herself alive, with her two children.

But he can't even support himself.

It all became chaotic.

follow back.

They continued to distribute silver and grain coupons.

The world is in a difficult time now, with natural disasters and man-made calamities. Even if you have money, it's not easy to buy food, and the price of food is high. Five qian of grain coupons are the key. I actually managed to exchange them for a shi of rice!

It's just enough for a family of four to eat for a month.

If you drink more porridge on weekdays and tighten your belt, you can save an extra bite of food to store up.

Add to the one and a half taels he already had.

Although food prices have risen and many other items have also increased in price, there are still many things that haven't gone up in price, so the family's life has at least become more stable.

"From home."

"Go cook quickly."

The man returned home exhausted, his body aching all over, yet his voice was incredibly loud.

A woman who had been chased out saw the bag full of rice and her eyes immediately reddened. "You really bought so much? I heard that some grain shops in the city are selling grain for four or five taels of silver per shi (a unit of dry measure)."

"The magistrate will definitely deal with them."

The man cursed instinctively.

Before the woman could speak, a disheveled brother and sister appeared at the door. The little girl said pitifully, "Dad, Mom, I'm hungry."

"I'm hungry."

The child started crying too.

"Let's make more so the children can have a full meal," the man decided.

The woman hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

Even so.

In the end, the children were only allowed to eat half full, and the woman ate the least, only a few bites.

"Save it."

The woman, terrified of hunger, advised, "What if?"

The man lowered his head.

Amu is old and definitely can't live alone. Ada even fought with his last breath to save the family, clinging to life for a few more days.

A thatched shed built outside the barracks.

There wasn't even a curtain to shield them; even a worthless rag was worth fighting over for.

Various colorful thatched huts were erected haphazardly outside the camp.

The man hesitated.

Can I leave by myself?

In case a thief breaks into the house, or someone gets greedy.

Sudden.

A group of soldiers came over from the side.

"Are you a soldier?"

"What are their names? And who are they to you?"

The newcomer had a fierce expression.

The man dared not hesitate and confessed honestly.

After one of them finished registering in the register, he asked, "Didn't you receive the notice? In your case, your family can apply to stay in the barracks. The barracks will need to vacate a tent. Although the environment isn't great, no one can disturb you at will."

"what?"

The man was both surprised and delighted; he hadn't known anything about it.

The clerk frowned.

"Our friendly forces are so unruly."

The team leader cursed.

The silver and grain coupons were all provided by the Datong Western Army. The other soldiers lined up and were distributed according to their actual needs, ensuring that each soldier received his/her share and preventing the practice of receiving pay without working.

Not only that.

Many situations have been taken into consideration, such as the current predicament of the soldiers, and detailed arrangements have been made.

However, the generals of Yongxing Army didn't care about the militia. Most of them were too impatient to manage them and not only did they not vacate the barracks, but they didn't even inform their subordinates.

In the end, the Western Army of Datong spared manpower to visit every place for investigation.

the same day.

Another 500-strong Western Army of Datong was transferred into Datong City and assigned to Zeng Zhi and his men for their use.

The militia were transferred in.

However, the militia of the Datong Western Army received a fixed monthly salary that was never delayed. Coupled with strict military discipline and a clean and honest work style, although there were quite a few illiterate people, at least they were obedient.

Zeng Zhi was so busy that he not only brought in the accountants from the Western Army of Datong to help, but also asked Zhai Wen to step in.

"It's true what they say, the commander-in-chief only needs to give a word, and the people below are running themselves ragged."

"I complained, but with a smile on my face."

Since receiving news from the capital that the general was returning to Datong, he hadn't had a proper rest. He was busy all the way there and even busier after returning to Datong. Today, he finally had half a day of free time.

Xue Tang Grain Store.

Thinking of the signboard outside, Xue Ke's face became even more confident.

"elder brother."

"You'll never be as fair-skinned as you used to be."

Xue Baoqin was also there.

Although her tone was still as mischievous as when she was a child, she also knew how to care for others and took the initiative to pour her brother a cup of tea.

There was absolutely no trace of a young master about Xue Ke.

A cup of tea may not be drunk in one gulp, but it is done cleanly and efficiently.

"I'm not a gigolo, why would I need to be so pale?"

Xue Ke disagreed.

While listening to the conversation between the siblings, Xue Yan felt pleased, but he also remembered to be concerned about Wang Xin's situation, having finally managed to call his son back.

You said you wanted to recover the stolen goods?

"Ah."

"It's no longer a secret; it will probably be announced tomorrow."

Xue Ke nodded.

"A secret? I'm afraid Master Zhou already knows."

Xue Yan sneered twice.

Xue Ke didn't believe it: "How could Master Zhou know about something so confidential?"

The Zhou family man mentioned by the father was, of course, the owner of the Zhou family business in Datong. He had deep connections and connections in the imperial court, namely Li Yuan, the Vice Minister of War. Even his grandson-in-law was Tang Ping, the commander of the Western Army in Datong.

Did Tang Ping leak secrets?
Xue Ke didn't believe it.

“Such a big matter, if you hadn’t told me, I might not have known. After all, our family’s roots are not in Datong. But what is Master Zhou’s status in Datong? Recovering stolen goods is not something that a few people can decide easily. It must be fully prepared. The more people who know, the more likely Master Zhou is to find out.”

"So what if he knows? He hasn't leaked it anyway."

Xue Ke disagreed.

"Who says?"

Xue Yan's eyes darted around, "Master Zhou has invited me to meet these past few days, probably because of this matter."

Xue Ke was taken aback.

Something felt off. "Does Father know something?"

Xue Baoqin opened her eyes wide.

"It's not that Wang Xin is becoming increasingly powerful that makes many people uneasy."

“In our Xue family alone, the eldest and second branches each contribute 30,000 taels of silver annually. Moreover, it was originally a business of our second branch, but Wang Xin suddenly brought it into the eldest branch’s hands.” Xue Yan sighed as he said this.

If it were another force, Xue Yan wouldn't be too worried.

At most, I can deal with it for a few years. Wang Xin can't keep an eye on me forever. Jiangnan is the Xue family's stronghold. I'm confident I can drive them out later.

It just so happens to be the eldest son's wife.

The eldest son's family had far more connections in Jiangnan than the second son's family, but they had lost ground in recent years and had managed to overtake them.

So if the eldest son's family returns to Jiangnan, given their original connections and influence, it's uncertain who will benefit from whom in the future.

Xue Yan was displeased and gloated, saying, "Our Xue family is like this. I don't believe Wang Xin would leave Master Zhou and his people alone without taking action. Master Zhou and his family are not stupid. They know Wang Xin's methods to some extent and will definitely find a way to deal with it."

"Father, you must not get involved."

Fearing his father might act recklessly, Xue Ke warned him, "The General has plenty of tricks up his sleeve; I don't trust anyone else."

"how come."

Xue Yan waved his hand, "We are all in this together, whether we prosper or suffer. Wang Xin can't stay in Datong, and no matter how good Master Zhou's promises are, they're just castles in the air. But we still have to take some action."

What is Father going to do?

“I can concede to Wang Xin’s demands, but Wang Xin cannot interfere in our business competition with the eldest son’s family.”

"Does Father want to take over the eldest son's business?"

Xue Ke hesitated for a moment.

"Your cousin's temperament is something I don't need to explain; you siblings know it all too well," Xue Yan said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. "You two siblings have followed me around since you were little, so you understand a bit about business."

Xue Baoqin pursed her lips.

My older cousin isn't good at it, but my older cousin is really amazing.

Xue Ke had nothing to say.

A few years ago, the Jia family was indeed somewhat hollow. Although they had a great reputation, with the son-in-law of the Salt Commissioner and the daughter of the Imperial Concubine, and held the titles of the four founding kings, eight dukes, and two dukes, they had lost real power.

Even so.

A dead skinny camel is bigger than a horse.

A dignified prefect of Jinling, he could get it done just like that.

The eldest son's family sought refuge with the Jia family. Logically speaking, their business should not have declined over the years, even if it had not improved.

Not to mention the business in Jiangnan, even the business that used to be in the palace has been lost.

The remaining businesses are small shops like coffin shops and pawnshops.

Later, they set up a few shops near the Hexi market. Unexpectedly, the Hexi market prospered day by day. The shops in that prime location alone could make a fortune, not to mention the warehouses rented by the Hexi government.

Doing business directly offers convenience, or you can simply rent it out for profit.

In short.

Xue Ke could understand his father's thoughts.

Doing business is not like farming.

Even if the harvest is bad for a few years, the land is still in your own hands, and the land and family will remain the same.

But doing business is different.

There are too many things to consider when doing business.

Human relationships, interpersonal relationships, market, resources, channels
There is no room for retreat.

Because often, once you retreat, you lose everything.

"Your cousin, let alone studying, would be doing well for his ancestors if he didn't squander the family fortune."

"You're not interested in studying anymore."

“Even a minor official is still an official.”

"In recent years, the threat of Japanese pirates in the southeast has gradually subsided, and farmland is not easy to buy. Can a few hundred acres of land support our current family business?"

Xue Yan observed that her son had a strong character and was already quite sensible.

So I patiently explained: "So the second wife's business not only needs to be maintained, but also needs to be expanded. If the first wife can support it, I won't have to compete with her. But if the first wife can't support it, I can't just give it to her and let her go downhill."

Xue Ke understood his father's meaning.

But can the main town accept it?

Xue Ke left dejectedly.

“Your elder brother has indeed learned some skills by following Wang Xin, and he has become much more sensible. Unfortunately, he has also picked up some of Wang Xin’s bad habits, and he is too careless about gains and losses when doing things.”

Xue Yan complained to his daughter.

"It's human nature to be concerned about gains and losses, but people like that are unlikely to achieve what my older brother has today."

Xue Baoqin looked at her father and smiled, "Big brother has had a difficult journey, but he has not only accomplished what others could not, but he has done it even better. So, Father, should you think about this: if everyone around big brother was concerned with their own interests and gains, how could big brother be where he is today?"

Xue Yan thought that his daughter had admired Wang Xin since she was a child, so it was not surprising that she spoke in Wang Xin's favor.

Just about to speak.

Suddenly, there was a jolt.

The more I thought about it, the more sense my daughter made.

"But what can Wang Xin get?" Xue Yan became increasingly confused.

They do not concern themselves with gains or losses.

In the end, it was all for nothing.

"Father, I often think of what Uncle said: there are people better than you, and there is always something beyond your understanding. That's why Uncle said he never dared to be perfect in business. I remember Uncle saying that you have to compete in business, but I've forgotten that Uncle also said that you shouldn't be too perfectionistic in business."

"You came up with all of this yourself?"

Xue Yan was somewhat pleased.

Xue Baoqin shook her head. "My cousin made some valid points."

She still didn't want her father to be squeezed out of the main room.

The father's ideas were too extreme.

Following his father's line of thinking, there would never be a day of peace in the world.

My older brother is right.

I just want peace of mind.

Xue Yan's face hardened. "That girl has been shrewd and ruthless since she was little. She's always trying to trick you with her words."

Having made up his mind, he decided to go see Master Zhou.

It's one thing for Wang Xin to be increasingly harsh on merchants, but after all the help I've given him, he's now bringing in the eldest son's family—isn't that just an attempt to control me?

Everyone has to find a way to protect themselves; banding together for mutual support is one option.

Xue Baoqin sighed.

When I was a child, I thought my father was always right. But as I grew up, I realized that he wasn't always right, and sometimes I felt that he was too stubborn.

(End of this chapter)