Grain Prices

Liang Qu stood up, feeling the difference in the Qi and Blood within his body.

Compared to before practicing, it has become slightly more mellow.

"Unfortunately, the Dragon Tiger Golden Body is far from sufficient, but the Qi-strengthening effect is beginning to show, and the flow of Qi and Blood is more smooth and comfortable."

The most distinctive feature of the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Vajra Sutra, which is characterized by the solidification of a golden Golden Body, is that it is divided into multiple stages.

The deeper one's cultivation, the stronger Golden Body becomes. If one has the corresponding heavenly materials and earthly treasures to assist in cultivation, it can accelerate the process even further.

However, it is impossible to condense it successfully as soon as you start learning; otherwise, this Cultivation Method would be too astonishing.

The Dragon Tendons Tiger Bones are beneficial to the formation of the Golden Body. Liang Qu himself is favored by the River Master Emperor, and his Martial Dao Talent has doubled. He learns Cultivation Method and skills faster than ordinary people.

Even so, without heavenly materials and earthly treasures, it would take at least several months to initially condense Golden Body.

Liang Qu didn't know how fast others were, but he figured they were far slower than him.

He was extremely envious of the effects of the Dragon Tiger Golden Body, especially its ability to unleash the roar of dragons and howls of tigers, which could intimidate ghosts and demons and vanquish evil spirits.

The Great Merit Exchange Ledger contained a wide variety of Cultivation Method with diverse characteristics. Although he hadn't looked at them closely, he couldn't recall any Cultivation Method possessing such characteristics, suggesting they were quite rare.

The world is full of wonders; any strange or unusual phenomenon can be found if you search within a sufficiently large area.

Having an extra, rare skill is definitely not a bad thing.

"Comfortable! Time to sleep!"

After returning from Feng Bu County, having made Great Merit, Liang Qu was given two days off and had no intention of rushing back to work.

Working people, take a night's rest.

the next day.

Aunt Zhang, who was cooking, pushed open the side door and entered, and saw Liang Qu practicing his spear technique in the courtyard, wielding the Fubo.

"The master is back?"

"Yes, I came back last night. Aunt Zhang, it's early, so you can make more breakfast. Oh, by the way, I won't be eating at home tonight. Just make enough for Master."

"I have something to do tonight, so there's no need to save me a meal."

The Old Monk pushed open the door and came into the courtyard, where he bowed respectfully.

Liang Qu nodded, not asking what the Old Monk was going to do. The two of them lived under the same roof, each getting what they needed, so it wasn't appropriate to ask too many questions.

"Then don't cook tonight. Aunt Zhang can go back and rest after you finish cooking lunch."

Aunt Zhang nodded in agreement.

Liang Qu gave her a day off, and the monthly salary was quite good, so she was happy to have an extra half-day of free time.

"By the way, Aunt Zhang, are grain prices still rising recently? If they are, I'll give you some more money so you don't run out."

Liang Qu took out a silver ingot from his pocket.

Practicing martial arts gives one a big appetite, requiring a lot of beef and mutton for meals. The cost of food alone is a considerable expense each month, which is far beyond what Aunt Zhang earns. Naturally, she has to pay upfront and settle the accounts at the end of the month.

Aunt Zhang waved her hand. "That's enough, that's enough, the price of grain has already fallen!"

Liang Qu was puzzled.

"Fall down? How did it fall? It's not harvest time yet in April, is it?"

"The price dropped yesterday. My husband told me that the price of fine rice in rice shops is now thirteen coins a pound, which is much cheaper than when it was eight coins a pound before."

I don't know how it fell; it just happened in two or three days, suddenly the baby dropped.

Aunt Zhang gestured animatedly.

She was excited, but her limited knowledge prevented her from understanding why rice prices would drop before the harvest season.

"It is the County Magistrate."

The Old Monk standing to the side spoke up.

"Master, do you know?"

"I haven't heard the whole story, but I can guess some of it. On the day Benefactor left, the County Government Office ordered the price of grain to be raised again, selling it for 20 coins per jin, which is 2 coins higher than the original market price."

Then he sent people along the river to seek grain and spread the word. I have looked into it carefully and found that the people spreading the message mainly traveled along the river.

Huainan has a well-developed canal transport system, and there are many granaries along the river to store grain, resulting in a surplus of grain in many places.

On the fifth day, merchant ships began to arrive to buy grain, and more and more ships came after that, filling the wharves of several surrounding towns with grain.

Until the day before yesterday, the County Magistrate stopped raising prices, and grain prices plummeted.

"I see."

Liang Qu suddenly realized.

Lowering prices wouldn't work, but raising prices would be perfect for merchants. They were worried the County Government Office wouldn't agree, but they ended up hurting themselves. It was all grain, so how could they get a good price?

No wonder he saw several large merchant ships following him toward Ping Yang County on his way back.

Merchants are driven by profit; they probably haven't heard the news that grain prices have already fallen. Transporting grain by canal is not that simple; with labor costs and losses, a price of only thirteen or fourteen coins per catty would definitely not attract anyone.

Going back and forth like this could very likely result in losses, making it far less profitable than selling locally.

After the arrival of the people, the County Magistrate stopped collecting grain, and the merchants could only sell it locally, because taking it back would result in losses and costs, and the price of grain in the original area was not as good as that in Ping Yang County.

The food shortage in Pingyang is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one. In the past two years, there have been no major floods or droughts, and many surrounding areas have sufficient grain reserves.

In another location, the same effect would definitely not be achieved.

After lunch, Liang Qu went to the stables, rode up Red Mountain, and carried a large pile of gifts to Ping Yang County.

On the way, Liang Qu saw the construction of the River Conservancy Office; most of the soldiers were Martial Artist.

Their hands and feet are much faster than ordinary people, and their efficiency is multiplied. The entire River Conservancy Office has become quite well-organized. It is likely that it will not be long before the office location is moved from the ship to the land.

There are many inconveniences associated with floating houses.

On the other side of Ping Yang County, the construction of the Demon Subduing Division's Prefectural Office was also proceeding in an orderly manner, with one side ahead of the other.

When Liang Qu passed by, he saw a Martial Master carrying a wild boar that was more than four meters long. He was gutting the boar and selling the Wild Boar Meat. Occasionally, Martial Artist would pass by and buy more than ten kilograms.

Judging by that wild boar's physique, it's definitely a spirit; I wonder which mountain it was caught on.

In the past, such a scene would have been rarely seen in Ping Yang Town.

A scene of bustling prosperity.

There's a reason why experts tend to congregate; in small towns, you can't even find a place to buy or sell Spirit Monster meats.

Ordinary people, once they earn money, will move to the county town.

Skilled Martial Master are even more eager to go to the capital Imperial Capital to try their luck at the elusive Fugui and honors.

Passing by the Martial Arts School, Liang Qu dismounted, picked out two gift boxes from among the many, and walked through the corridor.

"Senior Brother Hu, Senior Brother Xiang! I'm back!"

"Junior Brother Liang!"

Hu Qi and Xiang ChangSong were teaching their apprentices when they saw Liang Qu. They told the apprentices to practice on their own.

Unexpectedly, after taking a few steps closer, both of them sensed Liang Qu's undisguised Martial Artist aura, and their expressions changed.

Hu Qi took a step forward, put his arm around Liang Qu's shoulder, and looked him up and down.

"Junior Brother Liang, you 'Breaking Blood Barrier?"

"Senior Brother Hu has a good eye! From this day forward, I am a proper Four Gates Martial Master!"

Liang Qu smiled broadly and distributed the things in his hands to the two of them.

"Fast, too fast."

Xiang ChangSong accepted the gift box. He thought it would take Liang Qu some time to catch up with him, but he didn't expect it to happen almost immediately.

He still clearly remembers what Liang Qu looked like when he first came to the Martial Arts School: thin, dark-skinned, and short, with only politeness as his only redeeming quality.

In the blink of an eye.

Strong, bright, and passionate, it exudes the vibrant energy of youth.

"Great, that's wonderful."

Xiang ChangSong patted Liang Qu on the shoulder, feeling a mix of emotions.

Hu Qi took the gift box and asked, "Why did you think of sending us something? Did you run into trouble?"

"No, it's a joyous occasion!"

The news from the River Conservancy Office was only circulating within the River Conservancy Office itself, and Hu Qi and others were unaware of it for the time being.

Liang Qu recounted his experiences in Feng Bu County.

"I thought it was just an ordinary Spirit Monster causing trouble, but unexpectedly it gave me two Great Merit and a large sum of money. Big Brother Xu said I was likely to be promoted. I was so happy that I bought some gifts to celebrate with my senior brother!"

I booked a private room at a restaurant last night. After I visit my Master Master's Wife, we'll have a long chat together tonight!

Hu Qi scratched his head Xiang ChangSong.

What year is it tonight? Liang Qu has only been gone for less than half a month, hasn't he?