Chapter 425: Chapter 425
The heavy snow caused a disaster, and refugees entered the city. Whenever there’s a disaster, the noble circle in the capital naturally s and sets up porridge stalls to aid the victims.
The Prime Minister’s Mansion was no exception and had prepared early.
Madam Song, upon hearing Song Ci’s suggestion to use coarse rice instead of fine rice to make porridge, was initially apprehensive. But upon learning that the price of grain had increased significantly, even coarse rice had doubled in price, she felt somewhat relieved.
However, this relief vanished when she heard some mocking remarks, and her expression changed.
Madam Song accompanied Song Ci to the back gate of the porridge stall. They peeked through the door and heard those sarcastic comments from the refugees about which family used fine rice, and how the dignified Prime Minister’s Mansion was so stingy, making her face darken.
She instinctively looked towards Song Ci.
Song Ci, however, just smiled and walked out.
"Mother, let’s stay here, lest the people outside bump into us." Madam Song was startled. Chapters first released on novel·fire.net
Song Ci patted her hand and said, "It’s fine, the servants and guards are outside maintaining order."
Seeing her insistence, Madam Song reluctantly followed her and walked out.
Upon their appearance, a clever stewardess shouted that the Grand Madam and Madam had arrived.
The dense line of refugees waiting for food looked up, saw the two noble figures standing on the steps, and all knelt down to express their gratitude.
Song Ci motioned for them to rise.
She observed that these people were dressed quite unevenly, some winter clothes were ill-fitting, likely d by different households, varied in quality.
Someone loudly questioned why the Prime Minister’s Mansion, which used fine grain to set up porridge stalls in past years, switched to coarse rice this year; after all, the family had married a Commandery Princess, yet was so stingy despite their wealth.
Madam Song’s face turned stern, she signaled to the guards, who understood and quietly moved over.
Song Ci loudly retorted, "Who said porridge stalls must use fine rice? The porridge stall is set up voluntarily by the Song Family to aid the refugees out of good intentions. What we use is our choice, as long as we don’t use bad or stale rice. Whether it’s fine or coarse rice, as long as it fills the stomach, why does it matter? Even the Emperor hasn’t made such a demand! You’re more demanding than the Emperor."
The man’s face changed, he said, "The Prime Minister’s Mansion is powerful and wealthy, how much would it cost to use fine rice?"
"The wealth of the Prime Minister’s Mansion doesn’t mean we owe you a living. Our wealth is accrued by ourselves, not from exploiting the people. As everyone knows, we even set up a Charitable Hall to give back to the community. We have done what is expected. Oh, you claim my family married a Commandery Princess, so we should shower you with wealth? Who are you! You, with your moral superiority, having money, why don’t you set up porridge stalls to save the world?"
"Moreover, since you know the Song Family used fine rice in previous years, it proves you are not a refugee from elsewhere but a local resident. Otherwise, how would you know whether we used coarse or fine rice in the past? You either pretended to be a refugee to sponge off our aid, robbing these refugees of their food supply, or are here intentionally to stir trouble. Whichever it is, your intentions are despicable!"
Upon hearing this, the refugees looked at the man with discontent.
Such a shameless person even steals their food.
Song Ci walked to the porridge tub, took a ladle, and thrust it into the porridge barrel: "I won’t explain much. Tell me, can the ladle stand upright in fine rice porridge like it does in my coarse rice porridge? If not, go eat fine rice porridge somewhere else. But act quickly; these porridge stalls won’t be there forever, fine rice gone, the stalls close. Oh, if there’s no fine rice porridge left, come queue at the Song Mansion. Coarse rice is cheaper, so our porridge stall should last a few more days than those using fine rice. That’s why we use coarse rice."