"Dad, Xu Yong asked me this morning if our two families should propose a marriage alliance."

"As long as Ruinian marries into the Xu Family, they are willing to give us five acres of good land. Once Ruinian and Xinghua have children, they will give us a son with the Gu surname to care for, so our family line won’t be considered ended."

Gu Youtian eyed the silhouette of Gu Ruinian outside, discussing with Mr. Gu.

He felt that Mr. Gu’s concerns were mainly because once Gu Ruinian married into the Xu Family, the Gu Family would lose a descendant.

Doesn’t addressing the lineage issue solve it?

The Xu Family is willing to give him five acres of good land.

Trading a lame youngest son for five acres of good land is quite worthwhile.

Mr. Gu took a drag from his pipe, showing hesitation on his face.

To be honest, he was tempted by the Xu Family’s promise to provide a future son for the Gu Family under these conditions.

Given the current household situation, finding a bride for Gu Ruinian seems difficult.

When Gu Youtian mentioned the marriage between Gu Ruinian and Xu Xinghua, Mrs. Jia glanced over at Mr. Gu, whose expression increased her anxiety. Though she usually feared Gu Youtian, she was always willing to fight when it came to matters concerning Gu Ruinian.

"No, even if they give us ten grandsons, it’s not okay. Ruinian’s leg can still heal, and he needs to continue his studies," said Mrs. Jia.

Mrs. Gu grunted, saying, "Study, my foot! Where are we going to get the silver for him to study?"

Mrs. Jia argued, "Ruinian has his ways of earning silver. Didn’t he bring home cotton clothes, charcoal, and silver a few days ago?"

The cotton clothes on Gu Ruinian and the charcoal in the house were sent by Second Young Master Zheng, but Ruinian kept it from the family, saying he took on a copying job, and it was for a wealthy young man in the city.

Mrs. Jia thus rekindled her hopes for her son’s civil service examinations.

Mrs. Gu fell silent with a gloomy face.

They all saw the rich family sending people with goods for Gu Ruinian.

Gu Ruinian lifted the curtain, entered the room with a chill, and raised his head to address Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu, "Grandpa, Grandma, give me a few more days. Before the year ends, I will definitely earn a large sum of silver for the family. If I can’t, I will agree to marry into the Xu Family after the New Year."

Mr. Gu thought for a moment and agreed.

...

Another snowstorm began.

It snowed for two days and two nights.

The temperature dropped to the point where, as Boss Qian would say, "a pot of boiling water would freeze before hitting the ground."

The entire Pingchuan County was gripped with a panic over the lack of charcoal.

Second Young Master Zheng stood under the corridor of Wanliu Academy, gazing at the swirling snow with a smile in his eyes.

The Zheng Family’s hoarded charcoal began to enter the market.

This batch of charcoal was not only on sale in the prefecture capital, Ning City, but also had sales points set up in Pingchuan County and various towns.

The news of charcoal sales quickly sparked excitement throughout Ning City, and even the people of Qinghe Bay learned of it, with nearly the entire village rushing to buy charcoal.

In fact, there was still some charcoal at home, but with the temperature dropping, the usual consumption of charcoal at home was three times that of previous years. People feared running out before winter’s end, so they rushed out upon hearing news of charcoal sales.

Quickly, they returned to the village dejectedly.

The price of charcoal exceeded their imaginations.

Whereas before, a load of charcoal could be bought for thirty coins, now it cost five taels of silver.

For those working in the countryside, saving five taels of silver a year was already quite something, so who could afford such a price for charcoal?

Five taels of silver for the village folk was akin to robbery.

"What kind of unscrupulous merchant charges five taels of silver for a load of charcoal, that’s skinning us alive."

"The charcoal merchant says it’s Xu Zaohua’s family, no wonder their eldest son died young, doing so many wicked deeds."

"Merchants seek profit, but not to this extent. I’ve lived to seventy and never seen such a thing."

The villagers returned and cursed the charcoal merchants.

Except for the wealthy Xu Family, others returned empty-handed from their trip to buy charcoal.

Five taels of silver for a load of charcoal, no one could afford it.

"We really should thank Pandi. Without her getting two cartloads of charcoal at that time, we’d all be freezing now."

Seeing Tong Pandi coming out from the pig farm, everyone hurried to thank Pandi for her benevolent act, filled with regret for not stockpiling more charcoal.

Tong Pandi was troubled. Thanks to her memories of the previous life, the charcoal she stored was enough to last through this harsh winter.

What distressed her more was that most people lacked memories of past lives and were unaware of the severity of this extreme weather.

Originally, she believed that the villagers respected Mr. Su and would heed his words. Thus, she hoped he could warn everyone about the unusually cold winter, but it seemed no one paid serious attention.

People exchanged a few words at the village entrance and then left, unable to bear the cold.

Three days after Zheng’s charcoal hit the market, Tong Huaqiong and the Lu Family began to act.

...

Magistrate Yao listened intently to his subordinate’s report, his face calm.

The chaos over charcoal in Ning City was spreading like wildfire. Even with the extreme cold setting in, coal should have been available.

Yet, inexplicably, twenty days earlier, all the charcoal in Ning City seemed to vanish overnight.

Then in just the past three days, a large quantity suddenly appeared, selling at five taels of silver per load.

Certainly, someone is deliberately hoarding coal, taking advantage of the people’s plight to profiteer.

County Magistrate Liu was having similar headaches.

With charcoal scarce everywhere in Pingchuan County, merchants exploited the opportunity to raise prices to extortionate levels.

If this continued, people would begin to freeze to death.

County Magistrate Liu was so angry he wanted to chop down the charcoal merchants, but even doing so wouldn’t solve the problem, as harming them wouldn’t produce more charcoal.

The Zheng family, hidden in the shadows, distributed their hoarded coal to various stores, insisting all adhere to their set price.

As for the consequences of pricing it at five taels per load, the Zhengs didn’t care, nor did they fear government censure. Business deals were always voluntary; at their high price, you’re free not to buy.

Tong Huaqiong braved the cold wind arriving at Pingchuan County, overhearing noisiness as she passed a charcoal store.

"Scram, that’s the price. Buy it or don’t. Many others will," a voice rudely told the villagers.

"Never mind five taels, even ten per load would sell out. Let the paupers freeze to death," the store clerk callously declared, protected by the Zheng Family’s influence.

Mrs. Hong, accompanying Tong Huaqiong, lifted the curtain and observed the clerk gleefully rebuking the crowd. She shook her head, saying, "When my husband was a manager for the Zhengs, he’d never let this happen."

Tong Huaqiong wanted to respond when the store clerk’s voice rang out loudly.

"Not for five taels! From today, it’s ten taels a load. Go check if any place, let alone in Pingchuan, but all Ning City, has any coal like ours," he bragged.

"Insane," seethed Mrs. Hong, gritting her teeth.

Five taels a load was outlandish enough, but now it was even more absurd.

Tong Huaqiong coldly commented, "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad. Let them enjoy their pride for a few days."

"Qingyou, turn the carriage. We’re not going to Jufu Supermarket. Head to the county government first," Tong Huaqiong told Qin Qingyou, the coachman.

Originally, she intended to prepare at Jufu Supermarket and see County Magistrate Liu the next day.

Seeing the Zheng’s madness now, she found delay unnecessary.