Chapter 220: The End Of The Locust Plague
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Mm-hmm. It’s two copper coins higher than the price they paid at the grain store,” Qin Xiaoyao continued.
Wang Xiaomei was shocked once more.
The price of grain in the grain stores had already risen to 18 copper coins per catty?
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at Wang Xiaomei and could roughly guess what she was thinking.
“The grain store’s price just rose. There’s a high chance that it’ll continue to rise.
“If you also want to buy grain here, I can sell some to you at 20 copper coins per catty by today.”
Wang Xiaomei’s eyes flickered.
“I… can only pay five taels… Er, no. Five taels and four coins of silver,” she quickly said.
The sum of five taels and four coins of silver was practically all of her savings at the moment.
Although Wang Xiaomei had asked Mrs. Song before, and the answer she got was that the price of grain would probably rise, she did not use up all her savings.
After all, Mrs. Song had mentioned that she would sell grain.
However, the situation was quite clear now.
Wang Xiaomei had to seize this opportunity. The amount of grain that could be exchanged with the money in her hand would become less and less.
A smile flashed across Qin Xiaoyao’s eyes.
“Not bad.”
This little girl was indeed capable. She had quietly saved up so much money.
However, it was also true that this girl was diligent.
She would set up her stall in the morning and at night. In the afternoon, she would weave straw sandals whenever she had time.
It wasn’t easy for her to earn this money.
A look of embarrassment flashed across Wang Xiaomei’s face.
“But, are you sure you want to spend all your money on food?” Wang Xiaomei was probably buying the grain for her big brother and father.
It was fine to support her big brother a little. After all, Wang Dashan really doted on his younger sister. However, in the case of Wang Laoshuan…
Well, he was Xiaomei’s father, after all.
Forget it. It was Wang Xiaomei’s private matter, so Qin Xiaoyao shouldn’t interfere too much.
Besides, it was good to let this girl empty her purse.
It would prevent her from saving up too much money and give rise to the idea of redeeming herself and leaving.
Qin Xiaoyao couldn’t bear to let go of such a diligent girl.
A look of hesitation flashed across Wang Xiaomei’s eyes.
A moment later, she nodded her head firmly.
“Mm-hmm.”
The corners of Qin Xiaoyao’s lips curled up.
“Deal! Five taels and four coins of silver. That’s exactly 270 catties of grain.”
“Give me the money, and you can go to the storeroom to get the goods.
“By the way, for this price, you are getting 50% brown rice and 50% coarse flour.
“In other words, you get 65 catties of brown rice and coarse flour each.”
Wang Xiaomei nodded.
“Alright!”
“But can I take the goods later?”
When she saw Qin Xiaoyao looking at her, Wang Xiaomei quickly added, “I’ll give you the money immediately afterward.”
Qin Xiaoyao nodded.
“Alright. However, you have to take the goods away within half a month.”
Half a month later, she would go to the grain store to get rid of the grain.
At that time, it would be easier to check how much grain was left in the storage room after Wang Xiaomei had removed her goods.
A look of hesitation flashed across Wang Xiaomei’s face.
“Alright.” In the end, she still agreed.
After she finished speaking, she went back to her room to get the silver.
Not long after, Qin Xiaoyao received the money.
Today, she had earned nearly 30 taels of silver just by selling the grain. Qin Xiaoyao was in a good mood.
The next morning, the flying locusts attacked again, as expected.
It was just that the scale was not as great, and the duration not as long as yesterday.
Not long after the flying locusts flew off, many people came to the Song family’s courtyard.
Some people came to buy water, while others came to buy bean sprouts.
They bought water because it was a necessity in life.
Others bought bean sprouts because they thought the price was low.
The grain price in the grain store was skyrocketing, and the bean sprouts were also grown from grains.
The Song family’s bean sprouts were only three copper coins for two catties. That was a good bargain!
How much bean sprouts could they buy with the money saved from buying one catty of brown rice and coarse flour?
Qin Xiaoyao naturally understood this logic.
However, in the current situation, she couldn’t deliver goods to Fortune Mansion or sell bean sprouts at the market.
There were too many of these bean sprouts that had been grown in advance, so she could only settle for small profits in preference for a quick turnover.
However, she also explained the situation to the neighbors.
Due to the rise in food prices, the price of her family’s bean sprouts would also rise with the increase in food prices after the locust plague.
After all, according to Qin Xiaoyao’s explanation, the beans she was going to use next had to be bought from the grain store, which would not be cheap.
Everyone expressed their understanding of this matter.
They were also very grateful to Qin Xiaoyao for selling them bean sprouts at such a low price.
Just like that, the Song family gained another wave of goodwill in Yong An Lane.
There were also many people who came to the Song family’s place to buy bean sprouts.
In fact, after learning that Qin Xiaoyao didn’t restrict selling bean sprouts only to people who stayed in Yong An Lane, some people even introduced their acquaintances to buy bean sprouts at the Song family’s residence.
Thus, Qin Xiaoyao, who had been worried that she wouldn’t be able to sell all her bean sprouts, discovered that all her bean sprouts were sold out before nightfall.
In the evening, at the Wang family’s house in Brook Falls Village.
The father and son of the Wang family, who had just returned from fetching water, were sitting on the steps below the roof eaves with dejected expressions.
The father and son did not dare to enter the mountain again when the locust plague broke out.
In the morning, they fought against the locusts at home.
After the flying locusts flew off, the two of them cleaned up the courtyard. Then, they dried the locusts they caught and turned them into dry food.
There were less than 20 catties of brown rice and coarse flour left at home.
And these brown rice and coarse flour were given to them by Wang Xiaomei.
Considering that there wasn’t much food left, the father and son didn’t dare to touch the food since the locust plague started and instead ate the locusts.
However, the locusts were dried and not fried with oil, so they didn’t taste good at all.
In addition, there weren’t a lot of locusts, so their stomachs were extremely empty.
“I wonder how your sister is doing?” Suddenly, Wang Laoshuan spoke up.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wang Dashan shot a sharp look at Wang Laoshuan.
This caused Wang Laoshuan to avoid his son’s gaze.
Knowing that his son had misunderstood him, Wang Laoshuan explained, “I don’t have any other intentions. I’m just worried about Xiaomei.”
He was genuinely worried.
After all, when the flying locusts were wreaking havoc, it was entirely possible for a person to suffer great injuries if he stood outside.
Of course, he also wanted to ask his daughter for some help.
Notwithstanding other things, the food supply at home was…
Wang Dashan glanced at his father and did not say anything else.
To be honest, his father had changed a lot recently.
This was particularly obvious when it came to the way he treated his mother. His father was a completely different person.
However, his attitude to Xiaomei…
Forget it. How could a person change overnight?
Perhaps, he should give his father more time.
Therefore, Wang Dashan said, “When the locust plague is over, let’s continue to gather firewood.”
“When the firewood is sent to the town, I will go and visit Xiaomei.”
He was also a little worried about his younger sister, but he believed that she would be fine with the Song family.
There was more greenery in the countryside, and the locusts liked to come to the countryside a lot more.
If it was in town, the locust plague might not be as severe.
Wang Laoshuan glanced at his son.
“Mm-hmm.” After mumbling a reply, he didn’t say anything else.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
After two consecutive days when the locust plague did not break out in Mountain Spring Town, the locust plague was considered to have finally come to an end.
The streets of the town started to become lively again, and order was slowly restored in the town.
In Brook Falls Village, the father and son of the Wang family went into the mountains to gather firewood again.
The next morning, Wang Dashan pushed a handcart full of firewood into town..