A group of grain merchants in the county government's classroom complained incessantly, but Zhu Ping'an was very patient. He did not interrupt any of them and listened carefully, nodding occasionally, until the grain merchants could no longer complain or grumble.
The room suddenly became quiet, so quiet that the grain merchants could only hear their own heartbeats.
What I fear most is the sudden silence in the air... The sudden silence in the classroom made the grain merchants feel inexplicably panicked.
Did we overreact? Some grain traders began to reflect uneasily.
But this is not our fault. What the county magistrate said just now about defining the grain price in Jingnan was too shocking and had a huge impact on us. We couldn't control ourselves for a moment.
Fortunately, the silence only lasted for a second before it was broken. A gentle voice broke the silence in the classroom, saving the grain merchants from their anxiety.
"As you have just said, grain procurement is difficult, the journey is long, the freight is high, and there are many risks... These are the difficulties you have actually encountered, and they are all true. I can understand. Well, when determining the price of grain, these factors must be taken into consideration. Do you have anything else to say?"
After no grain merchants complained, Zhu Ping'an still asked everyone in a gentle voice with a feeling of lingering desire.
Well
There is something wrong with the county magistrate.
Now not only Shopkeeper Yang discovered it, but all the grain merchants also discovered it belatedly.
We are so uncooperative, shouldn't the county lord be angry? Why is he so patient and gentle?! There is an idiom that goes "Excessive joy leads to sorrow", and the truth is that the county lord is not too angry with us?!
"Replying to the Lord, there is no more. We have just told you all the difficulties we have encountered. I hope you will consider it carefully."
The grain merchants looked at each other and spoke one after another.
"Everyone, I understand your difficulties, but determining grain prices is related to the people's livelihood and overall stability of Jingnan County. As long as the grain price is uncertain, Jingnan will be uncertain. The grain price still needs to be determined." Zhu Ping'an nodded when he heard this, glanced at the grain merchants present, and said in a firm tone.
Right! This is the reaction that the county magistrate should have! This is the attitude that the government should have! When the grain merchants heard that Zhu Ping'an insisted on defining the grain price, they felt it was normal.
"Taking all factors into consideration, one stone of grain..." Zhu Pingan paused here, squinted his eyes and thought for a few seconds before opening them. He looked at the grain merchants with burning eyes and continued, "One stone of grain is priced at 2,000 Wen. What do you think?"
"County Master... We are really working hard. One stone of grain costs two thousand coins... Huh?! What?! Two thousand coins?!" The small shopkeeper who was winked at by Shopkeeper Yang stood up reflexively to express his objection. He was halfway through his words when he realized belatedly that the county master set the price of one stone of grain at two thousand coins. He immediately screamed "Ah" and his eyes almost popped out of his head in shock. His mouth opened as big as a fist, and then he swallowed twice before saying the rest of the words.
However, no one laughed at him at this moment! Because all the grain merchants present, including the shopkeeper Yang Zhen of Yangji Grain Store, were all stunned! Their expressions were not much better than his!
"What?! Two thousand wen?!"
The grain merchants were stunned and exclaimed! They simply couldn't believe their ears!
One stone of grain costs 2,000 wen!
Oh my god! Did I hear it wrong?! The current market price of grain is only 1340 coins per stone, but the county magistrate actually priced it at 2,000 coins per stone?!
Could it be that the county magistrate sitting above is a grain merchant in disguise? ! The grain merchants stared with their eyes wide open, looking up at Zhu Pingan who was sitting at the head seat in disbelief. At this moment, not only did they not believe their ears, but they also did not believe their eyes.
"Well, it's a bit low, isn't it? Yes, the journey to purchase grain is long and risky, and the cost is rising day by day... Then let's set the price at 2,500 Wen per stone!"
Zhu Ping'an narrowed his eyes, paused for a moment, and then spoke.
What? ! ! One stone of grain is priced at two thousand five hundred coins? ! ! Two thousand five hundred coins! ! !
Snap!
After hearing this, a grain merchant was so shocked that he fell off his chair! He fell to the ground and muttered to himself, "This can't be true, I must have heard it wrong, I must have heard it wrong..."
Another grain merchant suspected that he was dreaming, so he quietly reached out and pinched his thigh. The pain made him grimace, and then he believed that this was not a dream, but reality.
Surprise! Great joy! Ecstasy!
One dan of grain costs 2,500 coins! This is double the current market price!
Gulp…
In the county government's classroom, the grain merchants could be heard swallowing their saliva in unison, unable to control themselves.
The county… the county lord is not deliberately saying the opposite of what he means?! Is he trying to tease us?!
The surprise came so suddenly and violently that all the grain merchants could not believe it was true.
"In Jingnan, one stone of grain is priced at 2,500 coins. Do you have any opinions?"
Amid the disbelieving gazes of the grain merchants, Zhu Ping'an asked again in a gentle voice.
"No! No problem!"
A group of grain merchants spoke up one after another, shaking their heads like electric fans. "Are you kidding? One stone of grain costs two thousand five hundred coins. How could we have any objection? We are just afraid that you may have an objection!"
"County... County Master, is one stone of grain really priced at 2,500 coins? Are you trying to tease us?!"
The young shopkeeper who was winked at by Shopkeeper Yang was pushed out again and, on behalf of all the grain merchants, carefully asked about the issue that worried them the most.
All of a sudden, all the grain merchants turned their eyes to Zhu Ping'an. They were observing him more seriously than ever before. They didn't even blink, and they were concentrating fully, not wanting to miss any of Zhu Ping's expressions or movements. They were worried that this was a false joy.
At this moment, I was afraid that Zhu Ping'an would sneer and add, "Hmph, you wish for it. Dream on!"
"The price of grain is related to the county's economy, people's livelihood, and overall stability. How can we joke about it? If you have no objection, or your opinion is not acceptable, I will draft a document and issue a notice to the whole county! From the time this notice is posted: the price of grain in Jingnan County will be 2,500 coins per stone!"
Zhu Pingan glanced at him and said seriously.
"No objection, of course no objection!" The young shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly, his heart pounding with ecstasy. He tried hard to control his expression, but he couldn't help grinning.
Confirmed!
real!
It’s actually true!
All the grain merchants were overjoyed. Each of them looked like they had drunk two kilograms of wine. Their faces were flushed with excitement. Their faces were as red as flowers and they rubbed their hands vigorously with excitement!
At this moment, they all wanted to run up, hold the county magistrate's face, and bite it hard.
Excitement and joy impacted every cell in their bodies. They were almost crazy with excitement. If they hadn't been mindful that this was the county government office, they would have danced with excitement.
"I have only one request. No one and no grain store is allowed to limit the amount of grain they sell! Sell as much grain as you can! I will send people to conduct random inspections from time to time. If anyone dares to limit the amount of grain they sell, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Zhu Ping'an stretched out a finger, glanced at everyone with a burning gaze, and said seriously.
"We will obey the order of the county lord! There will be no limit on the amount of grain we can sell! If we disobey, we will be punished by the county lord!"
The grain merchants responded without hesitation.
You must be kidding. The price is fixed. One stone of grain costs two thousand five hundred coins. It's like robbing money. How could we limit the sale of grain? On the contrary, not only will we not limit the sale of grain, we will also mobilize all the forces we can to purchase grain from all over the country.
Oh, by the way, my fourth uncle is a local grain merchant in Bashu, I have to send him a message and ask him to transport the grain to Jingnan for sale! Also, I have to tell my sworn brother, we can make money together...
People in Jingnan are stupid and have a lot of money! Come quickly!