Chapter 255: Rumors

That same evening, the individuals who had purchased all the grain from Auspicious Grain Store under the guise of merchants took their carts and made a circuit around the city before heading to Mr. Sun’s estate.

Master Wang and Master Du, the proprietors of the grain store, watched as their men brought back high-quality grain, and the pain of losing tens of thousands of taels of silver was somewhat alleviated.

As the grain arrived at Mr. Sun’s estate, he was engaged in amorous activities inside with the new concubine he had recently taken in.

Upon hearing that the grain had returned, although he couldn’t bear to part from the alluring beauty in his arms, he still rushed to the courtyard, his attire disheveled.

After confirming that all the grain was intact, Mr. Sun burst into laughter and declared, “Tomorrow, we’ll take this grain to our own store and sell it. The price must be even higher than the best quality grain in the shop!”

“Hmph, I doubt those people who couldn’t buy grain at their place will have any other choice.”

The next day, the townsfolk who wanted to buy grain at Auspicious Grain Store were surprised to find an unusual sign hanging on its door.

If it had been only for a day, it might have been tolerable. But for several days in a row, the same sign was hung outside Auspicious Grain Store, without any sign of activity.

Families who had exhausted their grain supplies were left with no option but to go to one of the other three grain stores in town to purchase their grain.

To their surprise, people discovered grain in one of the other stores that was exactly like what Auspicious Grain Store offered. However, the prices there were significantly higher.

The store’s attendants, seeing the frustrated customers coming in, wore unfriendly expressions, almost as if they were about to engrave the words “Love it or leave it” on their foreheads.

However, those who came to these stores to buy grain were households that had exhausted their own grain supplies. Despite their dissatisfaction, they had no choice but to make a purchase, all the while hoping that Auspicious Grain Store would reopen soon and put an end to this arrogance.

During the days when Auspicious Grain Store remained closed, people kept noticing that the other three grain stores in town were selling grain identical to what Auspicious Grain Store had offered, but at outrageously high prices.

Rumors began to circulate in the town, suggesting that the owner of Auspicious Grain Store had gone back on his word, finding buyers willing to pay more and no longer wanting to sell grain to the townspeople.

Since these were mere rumors, some believed them while others did not. However, with Auspicious Grain Store being closed for seven consecutive days, even those who were initially skeptical began to waver.

Just as the rumors were gaining traction, Auspicious Grain Store reopened, and its shelves were brimming with grain. Naturally, this shattered the rumors, putting them to rest.

Moreover, after the grain store reopened, the prices for each type of grain were even one cent lower than their original prices.

The townspeople, who knew of this, were delighted, but the owners of the other three grain stores were not pleased at all.

Seeing that the same grain at Auspicious Grain Store was now priced significantly lower than at their own stores, it was evident which choice was the most sensible.

The owners of the other three stores had all assumed that Auspicious Grain Store had run out of grain, and now they not only had grain but had also lowered their prices!

They were truly at a loss and had no grounds to confront Auspicious Grain Store, so they took their frustration out on the individuals who had posed as itinerant merchants at Auspicious Grain Store.

“You bunch of useless idiots! Weren’t you the ones who claimed to have seen all the grain being moved out with your own eyes? What’s going on now?”

The scolded individuals who had been kicked around were miserable, kneeling on the ground with tears and snot running down.

“Master, we truly did witness the grain being moved out, even clearing out the grain in the town’s grain stores.”

Seeing Mr. Sun’s massive frame about to bear down on them again, the individuals hastily added, “Perhaps Auspicious Grain Store simply has more grain than we thought.”