The war between Zheng and Chu ended, and Chu did not occupy Zheng, and Chen Gonggong and other officials finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the external troubles were lifted, the contradictions of internal worries began to be more fully revealed, the shortage of grain caused by the shortage of green and yellow became more and more serious, and the price of grain began to rise sharply, and the rise in prices made the trend of buying more crazy, especially some wealthy businessmen, buying grain everywhere; The rise in food prices has also led to the price of other commodities following suit, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened, the number of poor people has increased, and social contradictions have become increasingly apparent.

Because Xia Ji bought two carts of grain and a pound of gold donated by Qu Wu to buy two carts of grain before the price of food rose sharply, coupled with the original grain inventory of Xia Mansion, it was not troubled by the rise in food prices for the time being, and the porridge shop still provided porridge as usual, but with the rise in food prices, the queue for porridge became longer and longer, and the number of porridge boiled was increasing every day. Xia Ji was faintly worried.

However, Xia Fu's kindness was not something that made everyone happy, and some people began to provoke in front of Chen Gonggong, saying that Lord Sima was selling his reputation and buying people's hearts. It is also said that Xia Fu is using this maverick way to satirize the government's indifference to the poor.

Chen Gonggong didn't think much of these words at first, but the three of them became tigers, and there were many people who said it, and Chen Gonggong also had some dissatisfaction with such a soup kitchen, after all, this was also stealing his own limelight.

But Chen Gonggong was not good at accusing Xia Fu of his kindness, so he had to ask the Sima family to stop giving porridge in another way. Just as the treasury was tight on grain, Chen Gonggong mobilized the ministers to hand over the surplus grain from each province to support the imperial court's war preparedness and grain storage, and ordered that all the surplus should be handed over except for the food that was enough to eat in the palace.

Xia Ji felt desperate after hearing this instruction from Lord Sima convey the king's order. If the porridge shop continues, the king will definitely blame Lord Sima for not handing over the surplus food; And how can these people who rely on the porridge shop to survive survive?

Xia Ji was worried at home, and suddenly a report came from outside, saying that Concubine Hui was visiting, and Xia Ji hurriedly went out to greet her.

"I didn't know that my sister was coming, Xia Ji was too late to take over, and I hope my sister will forgive." Xia Ji said after giving a salute to Concubine Hui.

"You and I are sisters, don't be so polite, I just want to come to see you today and talk to you." Concubine Hui said.

"I was thinking about my sister, and my sister came, don't you think it's a coincidence?" Natsuhime said.

"Oh, really? Sister, I wanted to ask you a question that day, and today I want to ask even more, why are you so fragrant, and it is that refreshing fragrance. Concubine Hui asked.

Xia Ji didn't expect Concubine Hui to ask this question, because she used a French perfume, and this perfume is now only a bottle: "Sister, I use a perfume." ”

"Really? What kind of water is fragrant? Concubine Hui was curious.

Xia Ji took the only remaining bottle of French perfume out of the bedroom and showed it to Concubine Hui, who took it and saw that the delicate glass bottle contained something like water, and a faint fragrance seeped out, but she wouldn't open it.

Xia Ji took the perfume again, opened the cap of the bottle, and then pressed the upper button on Concubine Hui's clothes, only to see a burst of incense mist spraying out, and immediately the fragrance filled the surroundings of Concubine Hui, which surprised Concubine Hui.

"Wow, sister, what kind of treasure is this? It's amazing, not to mention so fragrant, but also so convenient and exquisite. ”

"This is a gift brought by someone from far away, and now there is only this bottle left, if my sister likes it, I will give it to my sister." Natsuhime said.

"How can that be? Your only bottle, take what you love. Concubine Hui said.

"It doesn't matter, my sister is in the palace, and the importance of her image is far higher than that of Xia Ji in Xia Mansion, and this bottle of perfume is regarded as a gift for my sister to be lucky enough to meet my sister. However, after this perfume is used up, this bottle must be kept, I will prepare homemade perfume after a while, and this bottle can also be used for my sister to fill perfume at that time. ”

"Well, thank you so much, sister, using this thing is enough for me to make other concubines envious and jealous in the palace." Concubine Hui said happily.

"Yes, my sister is naturally beautiful, and this perfume can make my sister even more attractive." Xia Ji said, and explained the use of this bottle of perfume to Concubine Hui in detail.

"When I came in just now, I saw your porridge shop in Xia Mansion, and it is really remarkable that you have helped so many poor people." Concubine Hui happily put away the perfume and said again.

"Natsuhime is worried about this?"

"What's wrong? Is there not enough food? ”

"No, the king requires the governments to hand over the excess grain as a war readiness storage, then the grain for this porridge shop must also be surplus grain, if the porridge shop is handed over, it will not be able to open, many people will rely on this porridge to survive, if this porridge is broken, what will they do?"

"I see. Have you thought of a solution? Concubine Hui said.

"Xia Mansion set up a porridge shop, originally out of sympathy for these people, but if it continues to be opened now, not to mention disobeying the king's order, some people will definitely say that Xia Mansion is to be in the limelight. I would like to ask my sister for a favor, and implore the Queen Mother or the Queen to come forward and set up a porridge shop outside the palace to continue to help these poor people, and I am willing to donate the food that was previously used for the porridge shop, so that it is the best of both worlds for the king and these people in need. ”

"Your proposal is good, I will go to meet the Queen Mother in a while, and ask the Queen Mother to come forward and ask the king to build a porridge shop." Concubine Hui said.

"Xia Ji thanked my sister on behalf of these poor people."

"Don't say thank you, this is something that must be done."

"Since my sister has finally come here, let's try the food and wine of our Xia Mansion today."

"Okay, I've been thinking about it for a few days, and I don't know if the food and wine in Xiafu you said are really as delicious and delicious as you said." Concubine Hui said with a smile.

Xia Ji then asked Chun'e to inform Jiang Wei and let him cook a few good dishes.

The two talked for a while, and Jiang Wei finished the dish and served it by Chun'e and Xia Chan. Seeing that the dishes were ready, Xia Ji asked Chun'e to bring a jar of wine, and asked Chun'e to give the guests and the host a glass each.

Concubine Hui took the wine, only to see that there were no impurities at all, transparent like spring water, and a fragrance refreshed people's hearts, which made her feel relaxed and happy.

"Sister, what kind of wine is this? So different? ”

"This is our homemade wine from Xiafu. If my sister drinks it, if she thinks it is delicious, she will drink it often, and don't let others know about this wine, because it is too difficult to get this wine, too little; The second is that making wine is too expensive to eat, and now there is not enough food to eat, if it is used to make wine, many people will starve, and Xia Ji can't bear it. ”

"My sister is kind-hearted, which makes my sister admire her very much. I'm not going to tell anyone else. Saying that, Concubine Hui tasted it, and then exclaimed: "Sure enough, it is a good wine, if this wine is drunk by others, it will really be as my sister said, and make this wine from grain at any cost." ”

After tasting the wine, Concubine Hui began to study the dishes of this Xia Mansion, and sighed after eating: "Sister, this dish is really as you said, it is very delicious, more than ten times better than the fresh dishes we had in Yokan that day." What kind of blessings did Master Sima cultivate in his last life to marry such a virtuous and capable lady as you. ”

"My sister has won the prize. This is just some small carving insect skills that are not in the stream, and it is not enough to worry about. Natsuhime said.

"What carving insect tricks? If you are not married, if your wine and food are eaten by the king, it will be strange if you are not recruited into the palace. Concubine Hui said.

"My sister laughs at me, how can my sister have such a blessing as my sister." Natsuki said, but what she thought to herself was that she didn't want to go to the palace full of deceit.

Concubine Hui and Xia Ji chatted while eating, and both of them were very happy. Concubine Hui was happy to eat this dish and wine, and got a bottle of unheard of perfume; And Xia Ji is happy that those poor people who live by the porridge shop have hope of continuing to live.