"They’ve traveled far this time. Out and about, plans can’t keep up with changes; a couple days early or late doesn’t really matter. This place didn’t have rain recently, but people say many areas did get rain, much heavier than ours," Lian Shouxin said.

Talking about the winter wheat seeds inevitably reminded the family of another matter.

"Someone actually bought those spring wheat seeds the Old Zhao family is selling!" Lady Zhang sighed.

The Lu family’s winter wheat seeds weren’t brought back, but Zhao Wencai transported several carts of spring wheat seeds from Taicang and started selling them at a price of fifty Wen Money per pound, which is twenty-four Wen higher than the Taicang seed price and twenty Wen higher than Lian Manman’s family seed price.

"Our seeds are sold out too. If they wanted to plant wheat but didn’t buy from Old Zhao’s family, what would they do? Around here, it’s just his family selling seeds. Yet his business is a bit... not very ethical," Lian Shouxin also shook his head and sighed.

"Dad, you’re being too polite. They’re not just a bit unethical; they’re extremely so," Lian Manman interjected.

Lian Shouxin fell silent.

The reason Zhao Wencai’s seed-selling business was said to be unethical wasn’t due to his pricing. It was because of what he said when selling the seeds.

"He said that the seed sellers in Taicang all received orders from the Yamen, that in the Liaodong area, wheat seeds can only be bought from him; no matter who else wants to buy, they won’t be sold. If you want to plant wheat and buy seeds, you have to buy from him. And he said since it’s the beginning of sales, the price is cheap out of neighborly consideration. If you don’t hurry to buy, his seed price will keep increasing, even doubling," Lian Manman said, "What kind of talk is that?"

What ability does Zhao Wencai have to make the seed-selling shops in Taicang only sell seeds to him, not to others in Liaodong Prefecture? Also, talking about orders from the Yamen, this must naturally involve those people from Lian Family Main House.

The closest place to Liaodong Prefecture where seeds can be purchased is Taicang County. They’re all farmstead folks who can’t afford to travel further to purchase; either lacking money or lacking people. So, some indeed believed Zhao Wencai’s words, feared future price hikes, and begrudgingly bought the seeds from him.

Secret complaints and curses were naturally unavoidable.

Lian Shouxin got wind of it and became quite agitated.

"I don’t think we can just let this issue slide," Lian Manman pondered and said.

Wu Lang was deep in thought.

"How do we handle it?" Lian Shouxin quickly asked.

"Brother," Lian Manman turned to Wu Lang, "do you think you can write a note to the County Yamen in Jinyang County?"

"Yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking," Wu Lang said, "I’ll write the note right away and send it to the County Yamen first thing in the morning."

"But..." Lian Shouxin opened his mouth, seemingly about to say something.

Everyone looked towards Lian Shouxin.

"Dad, do you disagree with brother’s decision?" Lian Manman asked, "Is it because of those people from the Upper Room in Taicang?"

"It’s not exactly disagreement," Lian Shouxin hesitated.

Seeing Lian Shouxin’s difficult and conflicted expression, Lian Manman understood. Lian Shouxin was a typical farmer, possessing the common traits of farmers: honest, straightforward, timid, apprehensive, and most afraid of getting involved with the Yamen.

Deep-rooted thinking of ordinary folks: "Rather die than face a lawsuit, avoid the Yamen."

"Dad, this isn’t just a trifling matter anymore," Lian Manman addressed Lian Shouxin, "Whatever unfolds in Taicang is out of our reach. But with matters arising right here, we can’t ignore it."

"Dad, my brother is now a Scholar, a person of merit. When encountering such matters, we need to act, and we are capable of doing so," Lian Manman noticed a slight shift in Lian Shouxin’s expression and continued, "Dad, don’t you also want to prevent the local folks from being bullied this way, right?"

"...that’s indeed true," Lian Shouxin remarked. His sense of justice was quite strong. "I just don’t really understand; in such a situation, will Wu Lang’s note to the Yamen be effective?"

"Effective, how could it not be effective? You’ll see tomorrow, Dad," Lian Manman said.

That night was uneventful. Early the next morning, after a hurried breakfast, Wu Lang took Han Zhong and Xiao Xi to the county. By noon, Wu Lang was back, bringing with him Yamen officers who shut down Zhao’s shop. The officers also took Zhao Wencai and his son to the county for questioning.

When Wu Lang returned home, the family gathered in the front hall to talk.

"Brother, have you had lunch?" Lian Manman noticed Wu Lang looked weary and asked.

"I’ve been handling things all morning, haven’t eaten yet," Wu Lang replied.

Lian Manman quickly instructed Xiao Fu to go to the kitchen to find Han Zhong’s wife and prepare food for Wu Lang.

"What did the family have for lunch?" Wu Lang asked.

"We had noodles," Lian Manman replied.

"Just make me noodles, that’ll be fine," Wu Lang suggested.

"Add more toppings and prepare some side dishes as well," Lian Manman instructed Xiao Xi to have the kitchen make fried sauce noodles for Wu Lang.

Then Lian Manman inquired about the course of events from Wu Lang.

Wu Lang briefly recounted, and things went quite smoothly. As soon as his note was handed over, the County Magistrate summoned him to the private chamber for a talk, and then he sent people to close Zhao Wencai’s shop and take the men from the Zhao family to the County Yamen for questioning.

The matter went smoothly, yet Wu Lang showed no hint of happiness.

"...the Magistrate told me he had already received the news. It involved our family, but he didn’t know if the news was true, so he hadn’t taken any action," Wu Lang said slowly.

"Our family?" Lian Manman felt a sudden jolt, "Brother, does this mean our immediate family, not those people from Taicang?"

"Yes." Wu Lang nodded.

This meant someone had whispered to the Magistrate that Zhao Wencai’s selling of wheat seeds involved their immediate family.

"Brother, it sure was lucky you went," Lian Manman said.

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Writing amidst the festive Spring Late and the ceaseless sound of firecrackers offers a unique taste O(∩_∩)O

An extra update to wish everyone a happy New Year, and ask for pink support. (To be continued. If you enjoy the work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)