Chapter 274: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 274: A Farce of Buying a Shop (Part 3)
"Han Zhang, to be pessimistic, I've waited for so many years without any news, and next year... I'll be turning twenty-five. Perhaps I'll never get to see it..."
For the first time, a despondent expression appeared on Chu Heng's face. A thousand-year ginseng might be possible to find, but as for the Black Reishi, it was a legendary treasure said to bring the dead back to life, and no one had ever seen it. Such a mushroom probably didn't even exist in the world.
"Your Highness, don't lose hope! Since the ancient medicine records passed down by the Ghost Physician mention both the thousand-year ginseng and the Black Reishi, they must exist. Since Your Highness started using the elixir brought by Huaixi, your health has improved a lot. As long as you continue to use it, you'll definitely make it."
Xiao Ruiyuan looked at Chu Heng with firm determination. He didn't believe they couldn't find those two medicinal herbs. His Highness would surely live well and become the most outstanding emperor of Da Chu Dynasty.
Chu Heng knew his cousin cared too much about his health. Continuing this argument might only make him angry. Seeing the gloomy sky outside, he changed the subject, asking about the possibility of a major snow disaster at the border this year.
"This is just my speculation, but regardless of whether it happens or not, it's necessary to be prepared."
Xiao Ruiyuan's response was vague. Since Yan'er's dream had been confirmed by other events, it was likely that a major snow disaster would indeed occur at the border, and those barbarians might also invade.
Chu Heng knew his cousin never made baseless guesses. Seeing that he didn't want to elaborate, Chu Heng didn't ask further, inquiring instead about the preparations at the border. Learning that the generals guarding the pass were already making arrangements, even if the barbarians did invade, it wouldn't be easy for them to break through, which relieved him somewhat.
Not long after, Mo Yan received a letter from Xiao Ruiyuan, informing her that the issue of moldy grain had been more or less resolved, which made her very happy. What excited her even more was that the merit lines on the merit bead in her space had increased significantly, with vibrant red lines occupying most of the bead. This must be because she had prevented the moldy grain from continuing to harm the people, saving their lives.
Space upgrades became progressively more difficult. Upgrading from the first level to the second level required about a hundred merits. Going from the second level to the third level required at least three hundred, and from the third level to the fourth, a full five hundred.
As for what came next, Mo Yan hadn't experienced it yet, but it definitely wouldn't be less than a thousand merits.
In just a year, the space had upgraded three times to reach the fourth level, which was many times faster than in her previous life. Although she didn't know the specific reasons, space upgrades were always a good thing. Now, thanks to the incident with the moldy grain, she had accumulated a large amount of merits, largely due to Xiao Ruiyuan's help. Otherwise, the merit bead would still be transparent, and reaching the fifth level would be even more elusive.
...
Not long after, under Emperor Huian's decree, those officials involved in the private sale of moldy grain were all convicted. The masterminds, such as the Right Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, were sentenced to be executed, with their properties confiscated and their wives, concubines, and children enslaved.
Other implicated officials also received varying degrees of punishment. Some were demoted to commoners and fined, while others faced several years of imprisonment.
As for the rice shops involved in selling moldy grain, they were also severely punished. Not only were they publicly flogged, but they also had to pay hefty fines to be released, or else they would face prolonged imprisonment.
In order to redeem Zhang Fugui, the Zhang family scraped together a hefty sum of eight thousand taels as a fine. This fine almost depleted the Zhang family's entire fortune, leaving them in a precarious financial situation, and they almost couldn't sustain their rice shop business anymore.
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