Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 137 Han San Niang's Thoughts

"Han's Rice Shop in Xicheng! Fifty coins for a peck of rice!"

"real or fake?"

"It's true! Absolutely true! Sales have already started!"

"Thank God!"

Countless desperate eyes lit up as people poured out from all directions—from shabby alleys, dilapidated houses, and makeshift shelters—forming a surging torrent that converged on the direction of "Han's Rice Shop" in the west of the city.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the rice shop, in a two-story restaurant that had already been sealed off, Han Ziyu was recounting his secret conversation with Lu Beigu to Han Sanniang.

Since it's their own property, they don't worry about being eavesdropped on.

The room was brightly lit by candlelight, illuminating Han San Niang's thoughtful profile.

When Han Ziyu mentioned that Lu Beigu had offered the Han family's help to stabilize grain prices in exchange for confidential information about Fan Xiang's impending arrival, the impending changes to the salt law, and the potential for profit from hoarding copper coins, she couldn't help but ask a question.

"This will bring nothing to Young Master Lu, so why do it?"

Han Ziyu repeated Lu Beigu's rhetorical question, "What was Fan Zhongyan thinking when he opened the granaries to distribute grain despite the pressure of being demoted?" Han Sanniang was finally slightly moved.

She reached out her slender hand and gently took the manuscript of "Nezha Subdues the Dragon".

She watched very slowly and very carefully, from Nezha angrily pulling out the dragon's tendons, to the Dragon King's betrayal and flooding Chentang, to Li Jing's regret and Nezha's rebirth and subduing the dragon on a lotus, every plot and every line of dialogue flowed in her clear eyes.

Finally, Han San Niang put down her manuscript, raised her head, and looked past the flickering candlelight into the endless rain curtain through the crack in the window.

Her voice was soft, carrying a complex mix of emotions—a mixture of admiration, respect, and a subtle sense of melancholy.

"Young Master Lu risked revealing confidential information, enticing us with the profits from salt, but what he sought was not personal gain, but the well-being of the thousands of poor and weak people in the city who were about to starve. Such magnanimity and responsibility cannot be described without the words 'true gentleman.' He has even paved the way for us, and prepared the east wind to stabilize the people's hearts and build our reputation. If you ask me, the real savior of the world, 'Nezha,' is not our Han family, but Young Master Lu."

Han San Niang's gaze fell on the manuscript again, her words seeming to be spoken to her brother, and also to herself.

"Now that the storm is raging, unscrupulous merchants are hoarding goods and treating the people's livelihood like dirt. Young Master Lu is not from Luchuan, yet he can disregard personal gain and fame, using the water window to relieve the people's suffering and using nursery rhymes to soothe their hearts. My Han family has a century-old reputation and has accumulated good deeds for generations. In this critical situation, we have stood by and watched, only acting as a cold-eyed 'gentleman of Chentang,' which is truly shameful."

Her tone wasn't harsh, but every word struck a chord with Han Ziyu.

"Yes," Han Ziyu said with a wry smile, "It was only this time that I realized there really are such gentlemen in the world."

“I always felt that even if he didn’t ask for anything in return, the Han family had gained both fame and fortune, so they should at least give something in return.”

Han Ziyu remained silent, only looking at her younger sister.

Why are you looking at me, elder brother?

Han Ziyu asked intentionally, "What do you think of Lu Beigu?"

Looking through the cracks in the window at the growing number of starving people converging from all parts of the city, some carrying umbrellas and others wearing raincoats, Han San Niang couldn't help but exclaim from the bottom of her heart, "Young Master Lu is truly unparalleled in the world."

In the next instant, Han San Niang realized what her brother meant, and an indescribable sense of shame, anger, and panic surged into her heart and rushed to her cheeks.

She felt her ears burning, as if they were being scorched by the flickering candlelight. "Elder brother!" Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible reproach, her gaze frantically falling on the stack of manuscripts of "Nezha Subdues the Dragon" on the table.

Han Ziyu watched as her younger sister, who was unusually flustered, blushed slightly on her jade-like cheeks and even her fair earlobes turned pink. The vague thoughts in her mind became clearer.

He knew his sister was aloof and reserved, and that ordinary men rarely caught her eye, let alone could stir her emotions like this.

However, the phrase "unparalleled in the world," though well-founded, may well contain a hint of a young woman's thoughts.

Han Ziyu didn't press further, but simply coughed lightly, breaking the brief silence.

His tone returned to its usual calmness, but with a hint of gentle smile that was hard to detect: "Let's see how Lu Beigu performs in the state examination this year. Judging from his performance in the past month since entering the state school, he is extremely talented and has a good chance of passing the provincial examination. If he can participate in the Ministry of Rites provincial examination at such a young age, even if he doesn't pass, he can gain experience and has a great chance of advancing further in the future. With such a future, even his father would not object."

In the Song Dynasty, scholars, especially talented and promising young scholars, experienced rapid upward mobility in social classes.

The saying "In the morning a peasant, in the evening an official in the emperor's court" illustrates this point.

As long as one can overcome the incredibly low acceptance rate of the imperial examination system, pass the exam to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and then be promoted step by step, on average, it will only take twenty or thirty years to most likely be able to wear the imperial robes and become a powerful official.

Therefore, even high-ranking officials had the habit of "selecting sons-in-law from among the successful candidates in the imperial examinations" to maintain their family's status. Not to mention local powerful families who invested in poor scholars by marrying off their daughters, as long as the scholars could realize their talents, the return on investment would be enormous.

Of course, there are times when you misjudge.

However, judging from Lu Beigu's current situation, he entered the state school at the age of seventeen, not only winning first place in the welcoming ceremony, but also almost getting into the upper dormitory in his first dormitory assignment exam. His potential is almost obvious to the naked eye.

It's fair to say that Luzhou hasn't produced such a remarkable young person in recent years.

In addition, Lu Beigu's character and abilities are extremely admirable, so even the Han family, one of the top powerful families in Luchuan, cannot help but be interested in him.

Meanwhile, in the state government office, Liu Yong and Li Pan also received this earth-shattering news.

"Fifty coins?!" Li Pan was so shocked he almost knocked over his teacup. "What are the Han family trying to do?"

Liu Yong stood by the window, his expression shifting constantly.

Shock, confusion, and a barely perceptible sense of relief—a mix of emotions swirled within him.

"The Han family."

He slowly uttered two words: "What a generous gesture, it has certainly helped us."

"Shall we go with the flow?" Li Pan asked tentatively.

Liu Yong nodded and instructed, "Judge Li, I trouble you to personally gather all available constables and archers and send them to maintain order near Han's Rice Shop in the west of the city! Tell the captain in charge to ensure the safety of Han's Rice Shop! If anyone dares to cause trouble or storm the grain shop, whoever it is, arrest them and punish them severely! Tell them this is my order!"

"Yes!"

Li Pan's spirits lifted, and he immediately accepted the order and left.

On his way out, Li Pan was also filled with doubt. The Han family's move was truly unexpected. Although it could not fundamentally solve the food shortage, it at least temporarily alleviated the most pressing crisis.

Why would the Han family suddenly step forward this time?
(End of this chapter)