Chapter 16: Delivering the Message…

Fang Dahai was someone who had already been through life-and-death situations multiple times, and his mindset was exceptionally steady. Even when he suddenly realized he had transmigrated into a novel, he managed to regain his composure within three seconds and responded to Aunt Qiao’s suggestion with a warm and friendly smile.

“That’s great. My family just moved here, and everything is unfamiliar. I was worried the kids might be too scared to go out. But now, with your eldest leading the way, I feel totally at ease about Dajiang going out.”

See? The Qiao family kid was clearly a year younger, yet he could shamelessly say he’d feel relieved having someone else’s kid take his out… His thick skin even made Master Lei glance sideways at him, thinking to himself: this kind of talk only works because it’s the Qiao parents listening. If it were the Qiao boy, he’d probably have burst out already, eager to play tour guide. Just a country boy—where’d he learn this stuff?

Not that it mattered where he learned it from. Or rather, it didn’t matter to Master Lei. After all, they were just clients. Calling him “boss” only applied while the work was being done. Once the job was finished, the relationship would be over—no need to think too much. So he simply smiled and nodded in agreement, just a little polite gesture to show respect to the temporary “boss.”

But while he didn’t care, the one being praised certainly did. Just look at Aunt Qiao—her face was positively blooming with delight. She looked at the Fang brothers more and more favorably by the second. And the rest of the courtyard, hearing Fang Dahai’s words, turned to look too, suddenly taking this supposedly 14-year-old head of household more seriously.

This kid wasn’t very old, but he already spoke and handled things with such calm maturity. Give him a few more years, and none of the younger generation in the courtyard would be able to match him.

People often said that anyone who could survive the war years was sharp, and while that might be a bit of an exaggeration, it wasn’t far off. Unless you were absurdly lucky, getting through chaotic times took brains.

So, seeing Fang Dahai’s potential, the neighbors weren’t about to miss their chance to cozy up to him while they still could. It’s always best to build a connection early—if the kid really became successful, the goodwill they extended now could become valuable in the future.

Just as Fang Dahai was still exchanging pleasantries with Aunt Qiao, Aunt Chen—who lived in the south-facing rooms of the west wing—hurried out and seized the first opportunity to show her goodwill.

“Fang kid, so it’s settled then? When does the construction start?”

They all lived in the same courtyard—he hadn’t kept the renovations secret—so when someone asked, Fang Dahai had no reason to hide the truth.

“Starting tomorrow. We’ll begin with the outer walls of the front hall and the outside work, then move indoors. That way, the four of us still have a place to sleep at night.”

“Oh, then it’ll have to move fast. Master Lei, if you need extra hands, just say the word. There are plenty of able-bodied young men in the courtyard. Oh! My boy’s home tomorrow too—feel free to put him to work. The sooner it’s finished, the sooner the family can settle down.”

“Exactly! There’s so many people here. If everyone lends a hand, don’t be shy.”

“We may not have the skills, but we can carry and lift things at least!”

Such enthusiastic neighbors. Even though Fang Dahai knew they had their own motives, he was still pleased by the friendly atmosphere and the willingness to help. With this kind of gesture, it meant his family’s initial footing in the courtyard was solid.

“Thank you, uncles, aunties, big brothers, and big sisters. We just arrived, and to receive this much help from you all… I won’t say any more—just know that if you ever need anything from me, don’t hesitate. I won’t say no.”

He cupped his hands to everyone as he spoke, turning in a full circle, even bowing from time to time, making everyone feel warm and comfortable.

Ah, this was exactly what everyone was hoping for. Good relationships now meant it’d be easier to ask for help down the line. For one, that pushcart of Fang’s was pretty handy. No one else in the courtyard had one.

After Master Lei left, the household goods and food that Fang Dahai had ordered started arriving one after another. Since most of the courtyard residents were still gathered in the front yard, how could they not lend a hand? And thanks to them, everything was quickly moved inside.

And you know what? He’d really bought quite a lot—enough to fill an entire side room. This left everyone a little stunned. They exchanged puzzled glances, their eyes full of questions.

Wasn’t it said that the kid had spent all his money buying and renovating the house? So how did he have the means to buy so much stuff? Was the gossip they’d picked up from the back yard wrong? Did he actually have more money than expected?

They wanted to ask, but the Fang family had only just moved in and weren’t familiar enough yet. Asking might seem too nosy and ruin the good impression they’d just built. But not asking left everyone itching with curiosity. What to do?

They all looked at one another, subtly nudging and glancing, until finally someone was pushed forward.

Who? Naturally, it was Aunt Qiao. As the closest neighbor who had already spoken the most with them, she was considered the most suitable to ask.

“Fang boy, why did you buy so much grain? There’s only four of you. How much can you eat in a day? A hundred pounds or so would’ve been more than enough. This much is really unnecessary. Even stored in a jar, grain attracts mice, you know.”

As a housewife, what better way to ease into asking questions than through household advice? And when it came to a family of children like Fang’s, starting with how to manage a household was perfectly reasonable—and gave a nice impression of caring too.

“I actually wanted to buy less, but if I don’t buy today, the price might go up again tomorrow.”

Since these neighbors were showing such goodwill, Fang Dahai didn’t mind sharing some information with them. After all, the grain price hike was something they’d find out as soon as they stepped outside—he might as well earn a bit of goodwill now.

“The grain prices have gone up?”

“Oh my, Brother Fang, are you serious?”

“It’s absolutely true. If you don’t believe me, just go to the grain shop and see for yourself.”

“Why did the price suddenly go up again? It already went up once when the refugees increased. Why again? What’s the reason this time?”

At this time, many common folks didn’t have stable jobs. Even someone like He Maozhu, a cook, was just getting by selling buns. Stability was a rare luxury during times of war and chaos. Most families didn’t have much savings and could only buy as much grain as they earned money for. When there were a few days without work, they had to survive on wild vegetables—life was truly hard.

Under such circumstances, frequent grain price hikes were practically a threat to survival. How could people not be anxious? A few particularly destitute individuals even showed expressions of despair, which made Fang Dahai’s heart ache.

“I do know a bit about this,” Fang Dahai continued earnestly. “I heard from someone at the grain shop that more than half of the city’s stockpile was requisitioned by the military. With the supply dropping, even if the shopkeeper wants to stretch it out and avoid empty shelves, there’s no way the price wouldn’t rise.”

Understanding their hardship, Fang Dahai didn’t hold back at all and shared everything he heard at the Fuxing Rice Shop. He hoped it would help them plan ahead. As for offering more help… he was just an ordinary man—he didn’t have that kind of ability.

Fang Dahai’s information was detailed and credible—so much so that it was impossible not to believe. After just a moment’s hesitation, the women who managed their households’ daily expenses began to act.

Some ran out to verify the news, some rushed to find their husbands, and those who were more decisive and held the family purse strings went straight home to get money, ready to buy grain immediately. In the blink of an eye, the crowd that had gathered at the Fang household’s door had completely dispersed.

But Fang Dahai’s business wasn’t over yet. Since he had already informed these newly acquainted neighbors about the grain price hike, how could he not tell his own tongyangxi’s (child bride’s) second uncle?

He couldn’t not tell him. The He family was his greatest support in this courtyard. He had to treat them like family every step of the way if he wanted to maintain a long-term relationship and ensure that his children wouldn’t be seen as easy targets.

So, Fang Dahai hurried off to the central courtyard. Coincidentally, earlier that day, He Maozhu had delayed his bun-selling business all morning to help mediate the contract switch between Fang Dahai and the old lady from the Lin family. After getting back and seeing there was still time, he had pushed his cart back out to sell buns—he wasn’t home at the moment, leaving only his wife and children behind.

This was a big deal. A grain price hike meant one problem for other families—food. But for the He family, it was twofold: not only eating, but also whether their bun stall could keep running. But now…

The second aunt glanced at He Yusong, who looked completely lost as if he hadn’t heard a thing, then at Fang Dahai, who came to inform them. She gritted her teeth, turned into the inner room, and came back with 10 silver dollars, stuffing them into Fang Dahai’s hand decisively.

“Dahai, you can see for yourself—your aunt is sick and can’t walk far to buy grain. Your brother here is still just a half-grown kid, not as sharp as you, and probably can’t beat others to it. So I’m counting on you to help. Could you take your brother along and buy 10 dollars’ worth of grain?”

How could he not agree? He had come specifically to build goodwill. Leading He Yusong to buy grain was the perfect way to solidify this favor—of course he’d help.

“Auntie, don’t worry. I’ll take Dasong right now. Oh—should we let Uncle know too? If grain prices are rising, maybe he should raise the price of the buns too?”

Raise bun prices? That wasn’t urgent—after all, the current batch of flour was bought at the old price. Raising prices now might actually drive customers away. Still, it was worth informing He Maozhu. He likely still had a few coins on him, and if they could be pooled together to buy more grain, all the better.

“Yes, go tell him. And see what Dasong’s father thinks too. Sigh, prices keep going up—how are we supposed to live like this…”