Chapter 00241: Don’t Believe Rumors, Don’t Spread Rumors
# Don’t Believe Rumors, Don’t Spread Rumors**
Chapter 241
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
**Chapter 241: Don’t Believe Rumors, Don’t Spread Rumors**
Madam is well aware and has deliberately restrained herself.
The manor doesn’t dare hire too many people either.
Aside from Nanny Qian and me, there are only two maids, two cooks and laborers, three long-term workers, and one gardener.
If manpower is lacking, we plan to make up for it with temporary workers.
He Chunhua nodded.
Other estates of similar size couldn’t function without at least twenty or thirty servants.
Even Steward Qian, who had been secretly handling business for him, managed the Zhu family’s trade in Dunyu with seven or eight servants of his own.
He sprawled onto the couch, exhaustion washing over him.
"What about Chuan’er?"
It was just an offhand question, but Old Mo unexpectedly replied, "The young master has been quite active these past few days."
He Chunhua kept his eyes closed.
"Has that brat started causing trouble again?"
He wasn’t surprised—his mood remained completely unruffled.
"Not exactly trouble," Steward Old Mo chuckled.
"The young master has taken in a few people and has been spending money to acquire properties in Dunyu and the nearby villages."
"Acquiring properties?" He Chunhua opened his eyes, genuinely startled.
"What kind of properties?"
Buying assets—this didn’t sound like something his eldest son would do.
"Wait, who exactly did he take in?"
"A few dismissed private soldiers from the Li family and a local steward surnamed Ding," Old Mo answered, clearly having done his homework.
"These properties were all arranged by Steward Ding, acquired one by one."
"The people he took in have some brains," He Chunhua remarked approvingly.
"Local connections shouldn’t be underestimated."
"Exactly. We’ve also taken in quite a few locals ourselves. Without them, many things simply wouldn’t work."
Old Mo continued, "From what I know, the young master has already bought several shops, dozens of acres of prime irrigated farmland, a fishing ground west of Clear Lake, Dunyu’s well-established He Su Lou restaurant, and even took over a trading company. That company has two complete merchant caravans under it, which were nearly disbanded before."
"He got a fishing ground?" He Chunhua stroked his chin.
"Interesting."
"I’ve heard the eastern side of Clear Lake has the most abundant water plants and fish, while the west is slightly inferior."
"Just being able to buy one is impressive. His luck is still good."
Fishing grounds weren’t something money alone could secure.
Within the Great Falcon, major rivers, lakes, forests, and mines were all state-owned, with no unauthorized fishing or logging allowed.
However, local governments found it difficult to manage these resources themselves and often leased them out, sharing profits with the lessees.
Clear Lake outside Dunyu was a massive freshwater lake fed by three tributaries, teeming with fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish.
It was divided into twenty-seven fishing grounds, all of which were already claimed.
To allow for recovery, the authorities mandated two closed fishing seasons each year, with two open seasons for harvesting.
Once the fishing season began, only the fishing ground’s own workers could operate.
Outsiders wanting to dig for clams on the mudflats had to pay first.
In short, it was a semi-monopolized industry.
Owning a decent fishing ground was like holding a goose that laid golden eggs.
"I heard this fishing ground was originally eyed by the Shu family, but Steward Ding swooped in and flashed the He family’s name."
"Not bad. The kid knows how to seize opportunities. But where did he get so much money? Did he strong-arm his way in?"
Old Mo hesitated.
"That… I’m not sure."
Just this fishing ground alone must have cost a fortune, even in these unusual times.
He Chunhua thought back—had he ever given He Lingchuan that much money before? Could the boy have saved it all up?
How strange.
Perhaps Chuan’er had gained something from the last bandit suppression? He had taken Lu Yao’s belongings, after all.
And from Blackwater City to Shihuan, then to Dunyu, plenty of people had tried to curry favor with him—some might have even bribed him heavily.
Or maybe the kid had been forcing sales behind the scenes, grabbing a few things?
But right now, he had a mountain of troubles to deal with.
His eldest son’s little ventures weren’t even worth mentioning.
He Chunhua chuckled.
"Fine, let him be. If he wants to buy, let him buy."
To be honest, he was quite pleased.
The local gentry and wealthy families of Xiazhou were selling off their assets at a loss, showing they had no confidence in Xiazhou’s defenses or in him as the new governor.
They just wanted to flee south.
Though this was partly his own doing, the thought still irked him.
But for his eldest son to step in and buy at rock-bottom prices was, in a way, a vote of confidence in his father.
The old man was comforted.
"But I want to know exactly how much he ends up acquiring."
"Understood."
---
The next morning, Dunyu City issued an official notice: starting at dusk today (the hour of Xu), the city would allow entry but no exit.
Merchants and travelers wishing to leave would need special permits from the relevant authorities to pass through the gates.
The notice also emphasized that the northern front was peaceful, the soldiers were fighting smoothly, and the situation was stable and improving.
Everyone was urged not to believe or spread rumors and to live their lives in peace.
The moment the notice went up, panic surged through the city!
Just like how price controls on goods often backfire—restricting increases only makes prices soar higher, and restricting drops only makes them plummet—the first thought that crossed many people’s minds upon seeing the notice was:
*We’re doomed.
Run!*
Something must have happened in the north.
The Xunzhou army was almost certainly about to attack!
If they didn’t flee now, they’d be trapped in Dunyu.
Rumors had been swirling for days, but the notice instantly turned their wavering uncertainty into a resolute determination to escape.
Prices plummeted—including grain.
The wealthy merchants had hoarded vast amounts of grain, but there was no way to transport it all out in such a short time.
They had no choice but to slash prices in a desperate fire sale.
Grain, which had risen to about six coppers per pound, dropped back to two coppers in less than half a day.
Bulk purchases of ten stones or more went for just one copper per pound!
A clear sign of a no-holds-barred liquidation.
If grain was like this, other industries were even worse off, all scrambling to clear their inventories before the city sealed its gates.
The prefecture sent bailiffs into the streets, beating gongs to calm the people while maintaining order and preventing looting or riots.
Even He Chunhua made a personal appearance, giving a speech at the market square to reassure the public.
Seeing how adamant he was and how swiftly the authorities acted—unlike their usual sluggishness—most commoners were somewhat soothed, their panic easing slightly.
But beneath the surface, undercurrents raged.
The gentry and wealthy families ordered their subordinates to sell off assets while they fled first.
The Zhan family’s long caravan stretched from their doorstep all the way to the city gates, nearly causing a traffic jam.
Amid this chaos, Steward Ding was absent all day, leaving his wife and children anxiously waiting at home, their hearts burning with worry.
Since when had their man been so unreliable?
Fortunately, Ding Zuodong finally rushed home during the hour of Shen.
Despite the cold weather, he was drenched in sweat.
"Water? Food? Bring it here. I’ve been running around all day—I’m starving!"
His wife hastily poured him a cup of water, fretting, "The officials posted a notice. Everyone’s fleeing. The Wang and Yin families next door have already packed up and left with their kids. Should we… should we run too?"
Ding Zuodong gulped down the water.
"Run where?"
"South, to escape the chaos! We’ve already packed everything. The horses are hitched and fed. Your son’s outside keeping watch so no one steals them!"
"He’s right to guard the horses. Right now, they’re worth more than anything."
Ding Zuodong, however, remained calm.
"Put everything back where it belongs. Reheat the food and bring it to me."
"But… but what if the Xunzhou soldiers come…?"
"Who told you that?"
"Everyone’s saying it, master. There’s no smoke without fire—the northern front must be bad."
His wife wrung her hands with her handkerchief.
"Did you hear anything from Governor He?"
"Yes, and all of it was good news. We’re staying. Let the fools leave if they want."
Though still doubtful, his wife had always followed his lead.
Since he sounded so certain, she went to the kitchen to prepare the meal.
Just then, their five-year-old grandson slipped over and clung to Ding Zuodong’s leg.
When his wife returned with the food, she saw Ding Zuodong playing with the child.
Wiping her hands on her apron, she sighed, "Some wretched thief stole the money you gave Baor for his toy horse! So we couldn’t buy it for him."
Ding Zuodong looked up.
"I took that money."
His wife froze.
What? Taking back money meant for their grandson? This old miser!
"That big mansion at the east street corner—you know the one, with the peach grove in the courtyard—the owner was selling it dirt cheap. I didn’t have enough, so I used Baor’s pocket money too."
Ding Zuodong pulled out a deed from his robe and waved it in front of her.
"Look! From now on, you’re the mistress of this house!"
That beautiful mansion—was it really hers now? His wife stood dumbfounded, taking a long moment to process it.
"Did… did we spend all our money on this?"
"I also bought two small shops."
Ding Zuodong hadn’t smiled this broadly in ages.
"Today wasn’t just about working for Young Master He. We grabbed some bargains for ourselves too."
His wife’s palms were clammy with sweat.
"Master, this is a huge gamble."
If they lost, they’d be penniless, trapped in Dunyu, waiting for the Xunzhou army to arrive.
Ding Zuodong clenched his fists, his smile fading.
"Haven’t you had enough of being looked down on? To turn things around, we have to take a big risk."
He wolfed down his meal, wiped his mouth, and stood.
"I’m heading out again."
His wife watched him leave as the last rays of the setting sun streamed in from the west.
Night was falling, and Dunyu was about to seal its gates.
Under the same sky, staring at the sunset in a daze, weren’t just the Ding family—but also Xiazhou’s most powerful clan.
The Li family was in turmoil.
The servants had packed their belongings, but the family head still hadn’t given the order to leave.
Relatives took turns urging him, but Li Zhi shut himself in his study, refusing to see anyone.
Then they remembered Li Shuang.
After all, the late patriarch had always praised Sixth Brother as clever, full of ideas and insight.
But Li Shuang shook his head.
"We’re not leaving."
"Why not?"
"If the front lines had collapsed, why would Young Master He be spending money left and right these days, buying shops and properties?"
Li Shuang added, "If Dunyu was in danger, why would the prefecture be buying grain from us and reclaiming farmland?"
He Lingchuan’s actions and the prefecture’s moves couldn’t escape the notice of local powers like them.
Li Shuang’s reasoning made sense but wasn’t enough to convince everyone.
When people were anxious, they needed solid evidence to bolster their confidence.
So it wasn’t long before some family members, unable to bear the tension, packed up and left with their families.
*(End of Chapter)*