"Why does the family own a grain store and yet can’t afford some rice? According to Father, he will lend money rather than food because if we give out too much now, it might encourage others to do the same."
Zhōu Tóng had a somber expression. "These are fundamentally different. In times of famine, grain is life itself, while wealth is worthless. Your father runs a grain store and gets notifications from brokers daily on how many tons they sell. They're waiting for the state granaries to empty before selling at premium prices.
You don’t understand; Chengdu has had bountiful harvests this year. Last year, when Li Yuanhao attacked Yan’an, people were taken by Western Xia invaders, and our grain was sent there. If not, the regular granaries alone could feed us for two years."
Yun Zheng smiled but didn't elaborate, maintaining his composure even as he was worried about his family's food situation.
He could only worry about ensuring that his family and workshop workers were fed. Seeing Huā Niáng’s anxious gaze, Yun Zheng sighed; he would need to manage the women at Lingxī Pavilion too. Why did this have to happen?
After seeing off his classmates, Yun Zheng instructed Hándòu to bring two bags of rice and some preserved meat for Línɡlí Pavilion’s master. He couldn't give too much or risk them helping others instead. Telling an old servant explicitly was important.
Returning to the study room, he settled down when Huā Niáng and Lù Qīnyíng hurried in. Lù Qīnyíng looked troubled; she had borrowed food from her family but been denied. When Huā Niáng saw Lù Qīnyíng’s expression, her own also darkened.
"Of course we can't borrow grain. Zhao Senior plans to keep it until April or May when the situation will be dire. Chengdu isn’t short of grain; it's just in merchants' hands who are unwilling to sell, creating a shortage illusion. The summer and autumn harvests were unaffected. Farmers remain calm while weavers and city dwellers are panicked.
The ancestors’ reluctance to lend food now is right; the worst hasn't come yet. By April or May, those poor will starve. This disaster isn’t due to nature but human actions."
Huā Niáng lowered her head and said, "Women at Lingxī Pavilion are queuing for grain, but state granaries sell only to commoners, not prostitutes. Some sisters even offered their bodies in exchange, but it didn't work."
Yun Zheng smiled, saying, "Grain is available; don’t worry. I'll bring some back soon, maybe with a bit of fuss."