During the period when Ma Ban was suspended, it was not easy either in his heart or in his life.

Needless to say, he was just a civil affairs official in a small town before, and later when the "left hand of the king", Lord Lanxian Hedge, visited the people, he was appreciated for his excellent governance ability, and was promoted to the grain official of Danyu City.

He originally wanted to show his strength and seek the welfare of the people after he was promoted, but not long after he took office, he was suspended by Gomeh, and it was an unreasonable suspension, which was uncomfortable for anyone.

Life is the same, he is usually strict with himself, honest and honest, whether he used to work in the town, or later promoted to Danyu City, he has never been greedy for a monthly coin or a grain of grain, he is not greedy, nor is he allowed his subordinates to be greedy, and all kinds of gifts sent by nobles are not wanted, and they are thrown out of the door in person.

The salary of the grain officer is not high, this errand is mainly a lot of oil and water that can be fished in secret, and if he is an honest official like Ma Ban, he does not make money and water, and his monthly salary is only enough for daily living expenses, and he has to tighten his belt to live.

Now it's good, he's suspended, that little salary is gone, he doesn't have much savings, and in order to make a living, he has to go out and look for work like a civilian.

Fortunately, Ma Ban is not the second ancestor of the family, but from the grassroots level, his personal ability is very good, whether it is fast mental arithmetic, accurate observation ability, or mastery of market conditions, he has a skill.

No, the day after he was suspended, he found a job as an accountant in the Danyu City Chamber of Commerce, and the salary was not as high as when he was a grain officer, but fortunately, the room and board were all-inclusive, which allowed him to solve his urgent needs.

After working in the account office of the Chamber of Commerce for half a month, Ma Ban has gradually become familiar with the work here.

At this time, he is keeping accounts for goods, recording transactions according to the trade list, calculating earnings and expenses.

As he wrote on the manuscript, the pen in Maban's hand suddenly stopped, and he stared at the waybill in his hand and beckoned to others: "Come and see this, where did you buy this batch of grain?" ”

The bookkeeper walked over, just glanced at it, and said, "I bought it from the market." ”

"Which city's market?" Madara asked.

The steward shrugged: "What other city?" Danyu City. ”

Ma Ban frowned and looked at the purchase list, muttering, "That's not right... How do you buy this food? How can the average price exceed so much? ”

The steward sighed and complained, "Who knows. Recently, grain prices have been rising every day, and in the past, a pound of wheat only cost 3 iron moons, but now there are no 7 or 8 pieces that can no longer be bought. I went to the market this morning and saw a grain store that listed a price of 10 iron per catty, what the hell. ”

The brows on both sides of Ma Ban were tightly locked, and his fists were unconsciously tightened: "Such an exaggerated price increase, either someone is maliciously manipulating the market, or there is a problem with the food supply, resulting in a shortage of supply and a rising price." ”

"Wangcheng has previously transported millions of tons of relief grain, and the eight granaries are full, enough for 6 million people in Danyu City to eat for more than half a year, why didn't the grain official put grain into the stable market?!"

The steward patted Ma Ban's shoulder: "Don't worry about this, the boss naturally has a plan." Now Danyu Plain is not going to change to the blood essence grass, it is not a bad thing for us to buy some food in advance, and the food hoarded in the warehouse is enough for the whole chamber of commerce to eat for half a year. ”

Ma Ban's face was ugly, and he said in a deep voice: "The Chamber of Commerce has strong assets and can buy a large amount of grain to hoard." But the civilians are all buying and eating, and if the price of food continues to rise like this, what will you do with them? ”

"It's not something we can manage, we're just doing business, one learns to attract wealth and treasure, and the other learns to plan ahead, that's it, what do you care about other people?" The steward smiled angrily, and his tone became serious, "Do your job well, especially the fireworks we purchase from suppliers." ”

"In a few days, it's the Dragon Fire Festival, and all these fireworks must be handed over to the Ruling Mansion, and there must be no leaks, understand?"

"Food prices have risen like this, and you still have the heart to set off fireworks? It's ridiculous! Madara slammed the ledger on the table and strode away, "I'm not going to do this job, I'm going to the market to see what the hell is going on." ”

"Huh? You man! Come as you say, go as you go? Do you think we're toilets?! "The steward has cruel words on his lips, but in fact, there is nothing he can do, there is no binding force in civil work, not to mention that the other party is still a poor ghost with four walls, and people really don't do it, what can you do with him?

The steward couldn't help but be helpless for a while, so he could only shout angrily: "You haven't worked for a month, and we won't pay your previous salary!" Don't even think about looking for a job with us in the future! ”

Ma Ban didn't even look back, and strode away.

After leaving the Chamber of Commerce, Ma Ban rushed to the market as soon as possible, which was as lively as ever, crowded with people and traffic.

However, the atmosphere of the market is more impetuous than before, especially at the gate of the grain store, which has long been crowded with civilians, one by one complaining:

"Yesterday it was 5 pieces of iron moon a catty, and now I want 7 pieces, why are you so black-hearted?!"

"You deliberately took advantage of the gap between the two harvest seasons to take advantage of the fact that everyone had no surplus food in their hands to raise the price of grain here, right? I'm going to the Inquisition to sue you for disturbing the market! ”

"Everyone, unite! In the future, we will collectively boycott this grain store, and we will not buy his family's grain, let the wheat rot in their hands, and give these black merchants a long memory! ”

...

In the face of the accusations of customers, the person in charge of the grain bank was also very helpless, explaining: "Everyone, it is really not that we deliberately raise the price of grain, the price of grain in the whole city is rising, even if we don't rise, it will soon be snapped up by our peers." The market situation is like this, everyone is out to beg for a living, and we can't be forced to operate at a loss, right? ”

As soon as the person in charge said this, the civilians suddenly became even more angry, accusing these profiteers of colluding and deliberately joining forces to trap people, making the person in charge sweat and unable to argue.

Just as the two sides were arguing, Ma Ban squeezed out of the crowd, opened the grain jar directly, grabbed a handful of wheat, and put it in front of his nose to sniff.

The person in charge thought that this person was here to steal food, so he hurriedly stepped forward to stop him: "What are you doing?!" Touching our stuff without paying, be careful that I go to the sheriff's office to report and arrest you! ”

Ma Ban ignored the obstruction, and after sniffing it to himself, he spilled the wheat back into the jar without leaving a single grain, frowned and said, "This is the surplus grain from the last harvest season..."

The person in charge said confidently: "Yes, it's all the surplus food from before, what's wrong?" The next harvest season has not yet arrived, where can there be new grain to sell? ”

Ma Ban asked, "The fresh grain that was transported from Wangcheng to Danyu City a few days ago was not put on the market by the Ruling Government Mansion?" ”

The person in charge sneered and said, "It's a fart!" All of them were stored in the eight granaries, and not a single grain of wheat was taken out. If there is all that wheat as a regulation, and the market is abundant, is it necessary for us to sell the grain at such a high price? ”

The eight granaries are locked, and not a single grain is put in... Hearing the news, Ma Ban couldn't help but lose his eyes and muttered, "Gome... Lin Gengsen... What the hell are you trying to do..."