The Lucky Heiress

Just as she approached the gate of Tingsong Garden, she encountered Yun Shi, who had come to visit her.

“Where are you off to so early in the morning?” Yun Shi asked.

“I have matters to attend to outside,” Wei Ruo responded, herexpression indifferent.

“You just got back yesterday and now you’re leaving again. Just how much do you dislike being in this house?” Yun Shi questioned.

“Mother, after this massive snowfall, this is how it looks in town. Have you considered the conditions in the open fields? There are large numbers of disaster-stricken people living there. Since I’m charge of this issue, shouldn’t I take the responsibility all the way?” Wei Ruo counter-questioned Yun Shi.

Choked by Wei Ruo’s response, Yun Shi acknowledged that Wei Ruo was reasonable but also felt that she had lost face. She then said, “With the roads blocked by heavy snow, what can you do? Clearing the snow, repairing houses, and rescuing people from ruins, are these things that a woman like you can do?”

“Mother, rest assured. There is something I can do. Even if I can’t be helpful, as Madam Yuan and approved by the Seventh Prince to oversee the farming issue, shouldn’t I express my concern for this matter?” Wei Ruo retorted.

After saying this, Wei Ruo left without waiting for Yun Shi to come up with a response.

Watching Wei Ruo’s departing back, Yun Shi fumed, “I must have been out of my mind to think about reconciling with her just because she saved Chen once again!”

“Madam, don’t get angry. The young lady might have been anxious to go out,” Cuiping consoled.

“It’s true that she has work to do, but with this attitude, she’s completely ignoring me. When have I ever been disgruntled about her being busy outside? It’s her arrogant demeanor that upsets me!”

She had come here intending to have a good talk with her eldest daughter, but as soon as she saw her indifferent and perfunctory demeanor, most of her good mood disappeared.

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Wei Ruo had supplies of cotton quilts, cotton jackets, a large amount of coal, and rice grain. These goods were in high demand in the snowy weather, especially in this unusually early snowstorm that hadn’t been seen in hundreds of years.

Wei Ruo hadn’t sold these items in her store in the Government City before, so she planned to go along with Xiumei to the Four Treasure House and arrange the related matters.

As Wei Ruo and Xiumei walked through the streets, due to the joint efforts of the officials and citizens, main thoroughfares in and out of Taizhou prefecture had been cleared.

They saw many run-down houses of poor families that collapsed under the heavy snow, turning into ruins.

The situation in the city was already this bad, let alone in the countryside.

Seeing that this year’s circumstances were worse than last year’s, Xiumei couldn’t help but mutter, “What’s happening these days? It always has strange weather at the end of the year. The places that don’t usually get a lot of snow, are now getting heavier snowfall year by year!”

“Every several decades there will be a Little Ice Age. When it arrives, the climate gradually becomes colder, harsh weather occurs more frequently, and fish catches, as well as grain yields, decrease. I hope the climate changes in these two years are not related to that. It will get better after these two years,” Wei Ruo said.

Xiumei nodded and said, “Yeah, I sincerely hope that such bad weather will not occur again, otherwise who knows how many more people will die. This year we have finally grown a bit more grain, so we hope we can have a good year!”

“Hopefully.”

When Wei Ruo arrived at Four Treasure House, since her nurses and Uncle Xu had moved to the mansion bestowed by the court, the backyard of Four Treasure House was now empty. Only one room was reserved for Wei Ruo and Xiumei to change clothes and costumes.

After Wei Ruo and Xiumei had changed into men’s clothing, they started to get busy.

Wei Ruo used this courtyard as her temporary base and summoned her men in Government City.

The shopkeeper of Four Treasure House in Government City was now Shopkeeper Jia, who had been the shopkeeper in Xingshan County. After Uncle Xu and the nurses went to the provincial capital to help Wei Ruo manage her properties, Shopkeeper Jia was transferred to Four Treasure House in Government City.

There were also two shop assistants, all of whom were trustworthy and hardworking.

In addition to the manpower from Four Treasure House, Wei Ruo also called over Chen Aqing and another worker from the neighboring delicatessen.

Two more people were responsible for warehouse management and transportation of goods.

At present, there was only this much manpower in the city, adding up to a total of nine people, including Wei Ruo and Xiumei.

For the large number of people on the estates, Wei Ruo would have to wait for communication to be restored before contacting them.

For the next two days, the Four Treasure House and delicatessen temporarily halted their usual business operations and instead sold coal, cotton goods, and grain.

In the courtyard, everyone stood in front of a round table as Wei Ruo assigned tasks, with some responsible for staying in the shop to sell goods, some responsible for transporting goods from the warehouse, and others arranged for other tasks.

After that, Wei Ruo decided on the prices for the sale of goods.

The price of coal was raised three times by Wei Ruo. The top-grade coal, which was purchased for one tael of silver a bag, was priced at four taels of silver.

Similarly, she also raised the price of cotton goods threefold.

Chen Aqing asked Wei Ruo in confusion, “Young Master, you have always been kind and never raise the prices of things that people urgently need. Why is it different this time?”

Wei Ruo explained, “What I’m selling is top-grade coal. Even if I don’t raise the price, ordinary people wouldn’t buy it. The same applies to these cotton goods. Cotton clothes and quilts made from high-quality cotton and fabric are something ordinary households can’t afford; so regardless of whether I raise the price or not, it won’t affect them. They do need coal and cotton, but it doesn’t mean they need the coal and cotton I sell in my shop.”

“Oh, so by raising the prices of these goods, you’ll only be earning from the rich!” Chen Aqing said, finally understanding.

Wei Ruo then pointed to a map on the table and said, “Also, I want to set up a temporary relief site in the eastern area of the city. I have already drawn the rough blueprint. On one side, there will be food distribution for those who have been affected by the natural disaster and can’t eat; on the other side, there will be clinics mainly treating people infected with colds and injuries. The weather has turned severely cold, and it may stay this way for quite some time. With these conditions, many elderly people and people with pre-existing health conditions may feel discomfort.”

Wei Ruo continued, “I need craftsmen, skilled carpenters, masons, and a group of skilled construction workers. I also need lots of wood and clay.”

“Young Master, leave this task to me,” Shopkeeper Jia volunteered.

“You need to work fast on this task, faster the better,” Wei Ruo emphasized.

“Rest assured, Young Master. I will find the most suitable and reliable candidates and finish this in the shortest time possible,” Shopkeeper Jia promised.

“Fine, all of you go and complete the tasks I assigned today.”

Once Wei Ruo finished assigning tasks, everyone started to spring into action.

As Wei Ruo expected, coal, cotton goods, and grain were in short supply. The people buying coal and cotton goods were all from rich families.

On the first day of selling, business was brisk, and all fifty bags of coal transported from the warehouse were snapped up.