When Qin Yining arrived at the side hall, Master Zhong was pacing around with a serious expression. When he saw Qin Yining enter, he immediately walked over and said anxiously, "Boss, something bad has happened."
"What's the matter? Sit down and tell me slowly. "
Qin Yining led Master Zhong to a seat. Song Lan served them tea and left.
Master Zhong didn't care about etiquette. He drank half a bowl of tea to soothe his throat, which was about to spit fire.
"Recently, there are more and more people running away from the city. The people who mortgaged their properties and shops to ask for a loan all abandoned their houses and ran away! I took people to go door to door to look for them, but none of them followed the rules. They only stayed to look after their houses. Most of them left letters and deeds for their houses and land. "
Qin Yining was stunned. He took a stack of letters from Master Zhong and flipped through them.
The meaning of the letters was similar. Those people didn't care if the money they borrowed could cover the price of their shops and houses. Because there was an emergency at home, or because of other reasons, they were in a hurry to leave the capital. The money they borrowed was used by Qin Yining to buy their shops and houses. Those shops and houses belonged to Qin Yining.
What was this? Forced to buy and sell?
In peaceful times, where could he find such a good deal? Not to mention the dozens of house and land deeds in his hands, even if Qin Yining wanted to buy one of them, he would have to spend a lot of effort. According to the calculation method in peaceful times, Qin Yining got a great deal!
But the problem was that in this world, a shop front wasn't worth anything at all!
With the Tiger Army's brutal behavior in Xi Hua City, it was hard to guarantee that they wouldn't rush into the capital in the future. What if the capital was broken and the Tiger Army burned, killed, and looted in the city?
Shops and houses were inanimate objects. These people fled with their families. They couldn't take their houses and land with them, but they could take their money with them. When they went to a new place, they could still count on the money to support their families.
But what use did Qin Yining have for so many inanimate objects in the capital? They couldn't be eaten or used. If the people of Da Zhou attacked, they would burn everything down.
No wonder Master Zhong was so anxious.
Qin Yining sighed faintly, "This is the way of the world. It's useless to be anxious. Think on the bright side. At least we still have these shops and houses. In the past, if I had so many shops and houses, I wouldn't be able to use them all for the rest of my life. "
"Master, you're still able to joke at this time." Great Shopkeeper Zhong sighed and said, "Boss, you haven't gone out to take a look these days. Not to mention that these merchants have foresight and have chosen to escape with the money in advance, even the common people are selling their houses and land to leave. There are many large estates in the outskirts of the city that are selling to the outside world. But now that the world is in chaos, who doesn't know to save some money to escape? Who wants those crops that can't be eaten or used? "
Shopkeeper Zhong shook his head and pointed in the direction of the Great Zhou Dynasty as he cursed, "Say, that group of bastards, how can they be so untrustworthy? We had a good negotiation and even signed the contract. We had to cede land and pay compensation so that the common people could have a few days of peace. Now that we've paid the money and paid the compensation, they actually turned hostile and refused to acknowledge us! Yes, our Emperor is incompetent and muddle-headed, but the Emperor is a bastard. What are the common people guilty of? Right now, the common people are selling their land to escape. I think it won't be long before they'll be selling their children, their daughters, and their wives. "
Qin Yining naturally knew what kind of life the common people were living in the chaos of war. Not only were the enemy troops abominable, those bandits who couldn't eat and became bandits were even more abominable than the enemy troops. They committed all kinds of crimes, burning, killing, and raping. It really scared people to the point where they didn't even dare to close their eyes when they slept. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had to hide in the mountains alone.
"Master Zhong, right now the world is so chaotic. Have you made arrangements for your family's affairs?"
Master Zhong nodded and said, "I've already ordered my son to make arrangements for a retreat."
"That's good. Regardless of the outcome of this war, it's never a bad thing to make preparations in advance. Master Zhong, why don't you head south to lie low for a while? If the capital is safe, then it's naturally good. You can come back whenever you want. If something really happens, then you can avoid disaster. Right now, the capital hasn't reached the level of martial law yet. It's better to take advantage of this opportunity to leave quickly. If Da Zhou's soldiers really come to the city, it won't be so easy to escape. Master Zhong is a smart person. He should have made arrangements for his family long ago. "
Shopkeeper Zhong nodded his head repeatedly, and said emotionally, "It's rare for the owner to be so kind. This old man has heard from someone that the owner released the servants in the mansion, and gave them money to let them escape. Right now, many people praise the benevolence of the Marquis of Anping's manor. It's just that the Emperor has eyes but can't see, treating the Marquis of Anping like that. "
Qin Yining waved his hand and said helplessly, "Thunder and rain are all the grace of the Emperor. My father is wholeheartedly loyal, so he naturally has to accept it. I just don't want to implicate innocent people. Since they've decided to leave, I don't need to force them to stay. Right now, since Master Zhong's family has been made arrangements, when the time is right, you should also leave the capital with your children. During this time, Master Zhong can start handing over the accounts to me. "
Master Zhong purposely didn't answer because he wanted to avoid this question.
However, Qin Yining was wholeheartedly concerned about him, so he had no choice but to face the current situation.
"Master, it's easy for me to leave, but what about you?"
"Me?" Qin Yining smiled slightly, "I am the daughter of the Family Qin. Even if the sky collapses in the Dayan, I will still stay in the capital to advance and retreat together with my father."
Qin Yining stood up and walked to the back window. He looked at the lush green grass and the lush green forest outside. A few sparrows were perched on the grass, chirping happily.
He didn't know if he would be able to see such a peaceful scene in the future.
Thinking of the commoners in the city who had to run for their lives and had no money, Qin Yining thought for a moment and said, "Head shopkeeper, I have one last thing to trouble you with. After you make the arrangements, I can leave the capital with my family."
Master Zhong asked in confusion, "What orders does Master have?"
"The money I have, after using it to feed the refugees in Ning Garden, should still have some left, right?"
Master Zhong nodded and said, "The property that Duchess Ding left for Master was a large sum. Master only spent ten thousand taels. Even if you use all your strength, how much can you use?"
"Yes, it's good to have some left. Since the commoners in the city have sold their land and fled, Master Zhong, give the order to have people secretly purchase those lands. "
"What!" Master Zhong stood up in shock, "Master, the land they sold is the same as the houses left behind by the people who took out mortgages. It's useless to you! Once the city falls, those lands will become wastelands. At that time, we won't even know who the country belongs to, let alone those lands that no one cultivates! If Master spends this money, then it's all for naught! "
"I understand what the head shopkeeper is saying," Qin Yining turned around and said with a smile, "but I just don't want to benefit the Zhou Dynasty's emperor."
Master Zhong was stunned.
"If the Dayan falls, the country will no longer be a country, and the family will no longer be a family. Not to mention my Zhaoyun Agency, even the entire Family Qin and the entire Yan dynasty's treasury will fall into the hands of the Zhou Dynasty's emperor. I don't have the final say in the country's treasury. The Family Qin doesn't have much money, and it's not up to me to decide. But my own money, even if I throw it away, I don't want to benefit the Zhou Dynasty's emperor! "
"Master …" Master Zhong suddenly felt that his eyes were hot, his nose was sour, and his tears were almost flowing out.
"I definitely can't run away. Once the country falls, my things will become the Zhou Dynasty's. While the money is still under my control, it's better to give it to the commoners to escape. It's also used on the commoners of the Yan dynasty, so it's not a waste. Otherwise, in the future, if the Zhou Dynasty's emperor benefits for no reason, then my heart will really ache. "
"Master is so righteous." Master Zhong cupped his hands in admiration. In an instant, he seemed to have made up his mind. "Alright, since Master has decided, then leave this matter to me."
Qin Yining smiled and said: "Remember, this matter can't be publicized. It has to be arranged step by step so that people can't find out that it's me."
"Why doesn't Master take this opportunity to gain more fame? You're really working for the commoners. "
Qin Yining pointed to the top of his head and said with a smile: "Don't forget, the emperor has been watching my Zhaoyun Agency. If he finds out, won't he snatch it back in anger? Then we won't be able to do anything. "
Master Zhong was full of anger when he thought of the incapable emperor. But he was just a commoner, and there was no other way. The only thing he could do now was to maximize the use of Qin Yining's money.
"Alright, Master, don't worry. I'll definitely arrange it properly. Even if they investigate, they won't be able to trace it back to us."
"Thank you for your trouble, Head Shopkeeper. I think this matter will be completed in about three to five days. When the money has been spent, you can give me the deed to the house, land, and fields. Then you can leave with your family. "
Master Zhong looked at Qin Yining's sincere smile and shook his head. He cupped his hands in farewell and turned to leave.
Qin Yining watched Master Zhong leave, then returned to the fish pond and continued to chat with Qin Huaiyuan.
Five days passed like this, and it was almost July. There was little rain this year, and the weather was hot. The sun was scorching day by day, and it was so hot that it made one's heart feel stuffy.
On this day, Qin Yining hugged Er Bai and was about to take an afternoon nap when Song Lan walked in quickly and said in a low voice: "Miss, Master Zhong is here."
Qin Yining was stunned. He quickly got up, tied up his hair, and went downstairs. He went straight to the side hall in the front yard.
Master Zhong's forehead was still covered in sweat, and his face was oily. In just five days, he had tanned a little, but he looked very energetic.
"Why is Head Shopkeeper here at this time? Have you used up all the money? "
Master Zhong said: "Master, someone wants to do a big business with us! I can't be sure, so I hurried over to pick you up. "
Qin Yining was stunned and said: "What kind of business can there be at this time?"
Master Zhong's eyes were bright. Qin Yining could tell from his expression that he was excited.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
