Chapter 1161: Soaring Prices <<<
"Then, the woman should answer about Liu's business first."
Liu Sichun remained calm and composed, her logic clear as she replied: "Overall, things are going well. Everything is within our predicted plan. While there have been some minor changes, the Liu family can handle them. Especially the money lending business, which has noticeably started to grow recently. The public's trust in the money lending house is also gradually increasing, and they have begun depositing their money there one after another."
Moreover, the soap business has begun to expand its reach and sales are very good.
Surprisingly, some remote areas that were initially reluctant to allow money lenders in changed their tune after being promised a large supply of soap. It shows that the allure of wealth is a timeless truth that transcends all boundaries.
Li Chen nodded, his mood improved. He said, "These things, the Ministry of Revenue has reported, but it's not as detailed as what you said. Very good, this palace did not trust the wrong person."
Liu Sichun chuckled softly, "It's all thanks to your grace."
Li Chen glanced at Liu Sichun. Her complexion was rosy and healthy, especially the aura emanating from within her, which was unforgettable and left a deep impression.
"Even you have learned to flatter."
After casually saying that, Li Chen said again: "What about the general market prices?"
Li Sicun replied without hesitation, "Prices are soaring, and the people are struggling."
These eight words froze the smile on Li Chen's face, and the following sentence immediately turned Zheng Baorong's face green.
"Especially in the capital region, prices fluctuate wildly every day, making life unbearable."
Li Chen glanced coldly at Zheng Baorong, and before he could speak, the entrance of the rice shop ahead suddenly became noisy.
"In the morning, a jin of rice only cost seven copper coins. How come by afternoon it costs eight? Where in your rice shop is there such a practice?!"
The woman speaking was an ordinary housewife. She had a bamboo basket in her arms and was scolding angrily, her eyes red with tears.

The clerk of Mi Xing stood at the door, sneering and saying: "Who doesn't know that rice prices are soaring now? If you didn't buy it this morning, it will be at this price this afternoon. You decide whether to buy or not! Can't afford it, get lost! What kind of wealthy person do you pretend to be as a poor fellow? Go dig some wild vegetables if you can't afford rice!"
The woman trembled with anger, and the surrounding onlookers mostly denounced Mi Xing's wickedness. Obviously, they had all been victims themselves.
Li Chen turned his head and directly walked past Zheng Baorong, asking Liu Sichun: "How much does ordinary rice cost?"
Liu Sichun immediately replied: “Before the disaster, a normal price of one or two silver could buy two stones of rice. If it was last year’s old rice, you could even get an extra 500 jin. During the disaster, the price soared to one and a half silver for each stone. At the beginning of this year, the price gradually stabilized, about one silver for one and a half stones.”
In the Qin Empire, silver was legal tender.
One or two taels of silver equal one thousand wen of copper coins.
An ordinary family's annual income was around five taels of silver.

This price is relatively normal.
Rice now costs eight cash per catty, which is a rise of more than six times.
Li Chen glanced at Zheng BaoRong with indifference, ignoring the bitter look on his face. He started walking through the crowd and asked the clerk: “This young man, market conditions always have rules. It's normal for prices to fluctuate with market changes, but the price in the morning rose again this afternoon, isn’t that unreasonable?”
That fellow glanced at Li Chen, seeing that he was well-dressed and surrounded by a few people, the women with ethereal beauty and the men equally imposing. Though impatient, he still said: “The market price isn’t something just our shop decides; it’s the same throughout the entire Jing-Ji region. Reasonable or not, arguing with me won’t do any good. If you have the ability, go talk to our shopkeeper.”

(Editor in charge：)