The Slender Waist-Chapter 104 - 81 Making a Fortune from War

The people of Andu City differed from the farmers who had been allotted land; they had more sources of information and were more cautious with their lives.

As the two armies faced off, Andu was enveloped in the shadow of war at all times. At the slightest hint of trouble, newly opened shops would close their doors again. And if the rumors were more specific, maybe coming from a relative in one of the camps, some people would pull up stakes and flee Andu with their families.

All of Andu City was on edge.

Only Yutangchun operated as normal every day.

Wen Hui also found Feng Yun, "Miss, everybody in the city is talking about the Qi Army crossing the river to attack. Should we close up shop for a while until the situation becomes clearer?"

But Feng Yun said, "Hui, you don’t need to worry. If a fight really breaks out, closing up shop or not makes no difference. We are from the General Residence; either way, it’s all the same."

Wen Hui felt considerably relieved, "What Miss says makes sense."

Feng Yun smiled, "Put up a notice at the entrance of Yutangchun. We’re buying shops, residences, gold, silver, antiques, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, and so on. Transactions can be done with cash or exchanged for rice and grain. As long as the price is fair, we’ll buy anything..."

Setting up a buying station at the entrance, wouldn’t that turn Yutangchun into a huge marketplace?

Luckily, the business at Yutangchun was just so-so. If the street outside turned into a marketplace, it might even become more lively.

Wen Hui nodded, "Miss means to say that the battle won’t happen?"

Feng Yun shook her head, "It’s precisely because the battle will happen that now is the best time to buy. Once the conflict ends, where will you find cheap goods waiting for you?"

Wen Hui began to understand.

The lady intended to buy those people’s property and goods at low prices.

But she was still worried.

"Miss, have you considered what to do if the Qi Army takes Andu back?"

Feng Yun laughed sarcastically.

"The Beiyong Army entered Andu without causing us any trouble, and you’re worried about the Qi Army? Besides, in this lifetime, the Qi Army will never be able to reach Andu."

Fearing the Beiyong Army before and now the Qi Army, Wen Hui thought it was a bit ridiculous...

But for Miss to risk all she had on a deal with no certainty right at this critical juncture also seemed absurd.

Wen Hui, who’d been watching with detachment, had always felt that Miss was not as submissive to General Pei as others believed. Moreover, Miss didn’t even seem to hold the General in high regard at all.

But today, Miss’s words seemed to show great confidence in General Pei.

Wen Hui didn’t understand, but she was accustomed to following Feng Yun’s orders, so she didn’t ask any further.

"I’ll follow Miss’s instructions."

These past days, Yutangchun hadn’t made much money, but Miss didn’t care at all, simply saying to accumulate blessings and virtues; treat it as providing disaster relief and distributing grain.

The news spread quickly.

By noon that day, the rumor that the Qi Army was about to cross the river and attack Andu City was causing an uproar throughout the streets.

The people of Andu City felt imperiled, and everywhere one could see families leaving the city to seek refuge. Thus, the "Buying Notice" displayed outside Yutangchun stood out conspicuously.

Some wanted to flee Andu, having many belongings that were inconvenient to take along. Right now, even the pawnshops had closed their doors, so a place where one could trade was extraordinary.

Consequently, from morning until afternoon, a long line formed outside Yutangchun.

Some who managed to trade for the needed grain and textiles felt as if they had gotten an incredible bargain and were quite pleased with themselves.

Even more people thought Feng Shi Er Niang was a big fool, relying on the General’s favor to ruin his wealth. While laughing at her secretly in their hearts, they counted their money and left...

Many people in Changmen Village thought Miss had gone mad.

Instead of preparing how to avoid disaster, she was acquiring goods.

Even He Qia from the Hall of Political Affairs thought Feng Shi Er Niang’s behavior was abnormal.

This was going to be a tough battle; who knew how long it would last?

Possibly three years, perhaps five; if the war dragged on, Andu City was unlikely to recover its former prosperity.

What was most scarce during warfare? Food. Why would she exchange useful things like houses and antiquities for it?

He Qia couldn’t stay calm in the Hall of Political Affairs anymore.

"No, I must go and persuade her."

He felt it was his duty to advise the young lady so she wouldn’t squander the General’s fortune.

Inside Yutangchun, Feng Yun also had her worries.

It wasn’t the long line outside nor the burgeoning crowd of traders that troubled her, but the fact that there were too few people coming to sell valuable items.

All day long, she had only acquired a few shops and a couple of off-street brick houses, two large gold seals, some gold and silver jewelry, and gems...

No prime residences nor treasured goods came her way.

Had all the wealthy people in Andu City run away?

Or was there some other problem?

Feng Yun had Xing Bing send people out to investigate, and in less than half an hour, they returned. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Shi Er Niang, Huayuejian is also calling for purchases, beating drums and gongs in the streets. Their notices are written just like ours, but their prices are much higher..."

So it was Crown Prince Chunyu who was stealing her business?

A whole Princely Heir casting aside his duties for a war profiteering venture.

At this moment, Feng Yun somewhat understood why in his previous life Chunyu Yan would go to such lengths to mediate peace between Jin and Qi not once but twice.

When others weren’t fighting, he’d stoke the fires. When they did fight, he’d facilitate peace talks, brokering deals back and forth. Others died on the battlefield, but without deploying a single soldier, he became the biggest winner.

All the money has been earned by Yunchuan.

People will also gradually flow toward Yunchuan, the most stable place.

How cunning, making such a huge profit, who knows how many benefits have been reaped.

But he even copied the notice from Yutangchun, it’s clear that he’s deliberately opposing me.

Feng Yun was worried about not having an excuse to look for trouble when she received the news and changed her clothes before heading out.

"Miss," gasped He Qia as he came over and hurriedly approached Feng Yun, "what are you up to?"

Feng Yun smiled, "Didn’t Master He see everything?"

He Qia was at a loss for words.

Seeing many people around, he gestured her to come closer.

The two went into the inner room, and it was there that He Qia said with grave concern, "I wouldn’t believe this from anyone else, but why would someone as bright as the young lady be so confused at such a crucial time..."

Feng Yun asked, "What do you mean by that, Master He?"

He Qia said, "The war has just begun and no end is in sight yet. Aren’t you...sigh, ruining a general’s family?"

It’s her own money, what does it have to do with ruining a general’s family?

Feng Yun looked at He Qia with a troubled face and smiled faintly.

"I have so much money I can’t spend it all; I might as well do a good deed."

He Qia: ...

He stood there with his mouth agape, wanting to dissuade her further, but then saw the young lady stride out the door with several maidservants and followers.

He Qia closed his mouth.

How could a general with lifelong renown get involved with such a young lady?

I’m afraid from now on the household will never be at peace, and the role of the husband will be hard to sustain!

—

As autumn arrived, darkness fell early.

Just as the hour of You began, lanterns were lit all over Huayuejian.

Guard Sang Jiao hurriedly pushed through the curtains into the interior.

"Miss Feng Twelve from the General Residence is here again."

The word "again" expressed all of Sang Jiao’s helplessness.

Every time Feng Twelve came, it was never good news. The master would be unhappy, and inevitably, they would suffer too. Seeing Feng Yun felt like seeing a harbinger of disaster.

Chunyu Yan’s beautiful eyes darkened for a moment, though her tone remained calm.

"She lives in Huaxi Village, not the General Residence."

Sang Jiao did not immediately understand, but Chunyu Yan just chuckled coldly, looking down and fiddling with the white jade vase with cloud patterns he had just exchanged for two heaped measures of millet, and said lazily:

"So she’s here, is the General Residence supposed to intimidate this Princely Heir?"

Intimidate? Not at all, Sang Jiao thought twitchingly.

But the Princely Heir’s skin was fair, and the bruise left by Pei Jue’s punch had not yet faded. He was almost sick of the eggs he had been boiling to apply on his face lately; he really didn’t want another incident...

Sang Jiao went out and welcomed Feng Yun into the main hall.

Feng Yun had come with Jian Shui and Qiu Tong; the whip in her hand was even more glossy and beautifully coiled, making Chunyu Yan’s eyelid twitch, followed by a cold snort.

"What brings you here again?"

You could sense his impatience in his tone.

Feng Yun appeared unconcerned, "I’ve come to discuss business with the Princely Heir."

Chunyu Yan sneered, not taking her seriously, and curled his lips into a crimson smile, "Does Qingqing blame me for Huayuejian taking business from Yutangchun?"

"Not at all."

Feng Yun bowed slightly and without waiting for him to say more, she sat down directly opposite him, calmly regarding the man before her.

"Yutangchun is engaged in small trade, trivial matters. A person of Crown Prince Chunyu’s standing should pursue bigger deals..."

Chunyu Yan furrowed his brow, "What do you mean by bigger deals?"

Feng Yun spoke calmly, "This small business in Andu County should not be of concern to the Princely Heir."

Chunyu Yan laughed scoffingly.

"Does Qingqing think a few words from you will persuade me to give up?"

Seeing Feng Yun not reply, Chunyu Yan added, "In my estimation, this war won’t last more than three months before a ceasefire is called..."

Buying cheap during the war, then selling high when stability returned—the three-month estimate was of course not wrong, because it was Chunyu Yan who had facilitated the peace talks in a previous life.

Both the good guys and the bad guys had been played by this fellow, profiting immensely in the middle. Brains weren’t something he lacked.

But Feng Yun’s visit to Huayuejian was not for the sake of argument.

"Princely Heir, think long term. I can make you earn even more!"

Chunyu Yan glanced at her with a teasing smile and continued to play with his new decoration, "Let’s hear it."