My Stepbrother Is a Little Pitiful (ChatGPT Translated)

☆ Chapter 49. Returning to the time before liberation in an instant, returning t

Chapter 48. Returning to the time before liberation. . .

Cheng Songer had no intention of revealing to the old doctor that she had already stocked up on food.

She pretended to complain, saying, "Ah, if I had known that the price of grain would rise so much, I would never have used the money to repair the house. Now there is not much food left at home, and the remaining money is only enough to buy a few tens of catties. There are several people in the family waiting to eat, what's the use?"

The old doctor said, "It's already good if you can buy a few tens of catties. You don't know how many ruffians are eyeing the rice shops now. If they see you buying a large amount at once, they will directly rob you when you leave the city. They come in groups of three or five, even if you are skilled, you can't compete with them."

Cheng Songer was shocked and asked, "Have they become so brazen? Doesn't the government care?"

The old doctor snorted, "They can't even handle such trivial matters in the city, let alone have the energy to manage outside the city."

Cheng Songer nodded and said, "Thank you, doctor. Then I will leave first." She took the 650 wen she earned from selling herbs and left the medicine shop.

On her way back, she looked around at the shops along the street. Due to the rise in grain prices, many noodle shops and restaurants on the roadside had also increased their prices. But because the prices were too high, many people couldn't afford even coarse rice, let alone have extra money to eat out. Many restaurants were struggling.

She found a tooth merchant and inquired about the prices of these shops.

A tooth merchant was similar to a real estate agent in ancient times and was familiar with the prices of every piece of land in the city.

Pointing to a row of shops that were about to collapse, the tooth merchant said, "These shops have a decent storefront and a small courtyard at the back. You can do business in the front and live with your family in the back, taking care of both ends."

"How much does it cost?" Cheng Songer was unsure.

"One hundred taels," the tooth merchant said.

Cheng Songer was taken aback. She didn't expect it to be so expensive.

The tooth merchant quickly added, "It used to be one hundred taels, but now business is not good, so the price can still be negotiated. If you are sincere about buying, we can sell it for 80 taels."

Not to mention 80 taels, she couldn't even come up with 20 taels now.

However, the tooth merchant's words reminded her that if business was difficult during this period, if she waited a little longer and the famine spread further, perhaps the price could be lowered again.

She hurried back home. Previously, there weren't many people on this road, but today she found that there were quite a few more people than usual, and these people didn't look like locals. They were all dressed in tattered clothes, as if they were refugees.

After returning to Cheng's village, she specifically went to other people's fields to take a look. Although they didn't suffer from drought or locusts here, the wheat in the fields was drooping and lifeless, as if it had been affected by disease or pests.

The villagers who were farming also had unpleasant expressions, indicating that the year-end harvest would not be good.

All these signs made Cheng Songer feel uneasy.

She walked towards her home, and before reaching the doorstep, she heard Cheng Qingzhi's panicked voice: "Let go of me, release your grip!"

Cheng Songer quickly ran over and saw Cheng Qingzhi standing in the yard, with a woman kneeling at the entrance, her face pale and emaciated. She held a broken bowl tightly, refusing to let go of Cheng Qingzhi's clothes, almost tearing them apart.