Junior sister took first place again

In the border town of Zhaoyang State, the drought was like a ruthless giant hand, silently taking away the vitality of the border area.

In the villages outside the city, the land was cracked and the crops were withered. It looked desolate at first glance.

The villagers' faces were covered with traces of wind and frost, and their eyes were full of longing for rain.

The children's thin bodies looked even more fragile under the scorching sun, and their cries echoed in the air, making people feel heartbroken.

"Daddy, I'm hungry." A little girl tugged at her father's clothes, her voice weak. Her father, a dark-skinned, wrinkled farmer, could only stroke her head silently, his eyes filled with helplessness and pain.

In their home, the dilapidated thatched house swayed in the wind, and the empty water tanks and shriveled rice bags inside the house silently told the fear of hunger.

Meanwhile, inside the mansion of the wealthy businessman Zhao Cai, a completely different scene unfolded. His residence was located in the most prosperous area of the city, with high walls and a large courtyard, splendid and magnificent.

The courtyard is filled with gurgling water, exotic flowers and plants, making it seem like another world.

On that spacious and magnificent dining table, a dazzling array of delicacies from land and sea were piled high, the sight was dazzling. The rich aroma seemed to take shape, lingering in the air, tantalizing everyone's taste buds and olfactory nerves.

Zhao Cai lay on his side on the main seat, leaning back slightly, appearing extremely comfortable. He was wearing a gorgeous garment meticulously crafted from silk and satin, its delicate texture and shimmering luster revealing its luxury and nobility.

At this moment, his face was rosy, like a ripe apple, exuding a radiant feeling that was unique to a life of luxury.

Each of his fingers was adorned with heavy gold rings of various shapes and exquisite craftsmanship, and the gems inlaid on them were even more dazzling; and his wrists were clad in a pair of priceless jade bracelets, the warm jade and fair skin complementing each other, making him look even more wealthy.

"Come, fill my glass again!" Zhao Cai suddenly let go of the smooth and delicate little hand of the maid beside him, glanced at her, and signaled her to quickly pour him some wine.

The maid bit her lower lip, her face flushed, as she obediently lifted the wine jug and carefully filled the glass. At this moment, Zhao Cai's eyes gleamed with greed and satisfaction, as if all the beauty in the world belonged to him alone.

The luminous cup had just been filled when the butler was seen hurriedly walking out from behind the screen.

When he got closer, the butler first calmly waved his hand to the maid beside him, signaling her to leave quickly.

After the maidservant left, the steward hurried over to Zhao Cai, bowed, and said in a low voice, "Master, someone is coming from above..."

Hearing this, Zhao Cai, who had originally seemed a little lazy, had a sharp glint in his eyes. He sat up straight and asked, "Who is coming?"

The butler didn't answer directly. Instead, he extended his right hand and made a quick, subtle gesture. Zhao Cai understood what was going on, and his tense body relaxed slightly.

There was a cunning glint in his eyes and a smug smile on his lips. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Zhao Cai waved his hand gently, signaling the butler to leave, then he straightened his clothes and prepared to welcome the uninvited guest.

"Please ask him to come to the study." Zhao Cai said slowly, with a respectful expression on his face.

The butler took the order and left, while Zhao Cai slowly stood up and walked towards the study with steady steps.

His study was luxuriously decorated, with bookshelves filled with various rare ancient books and scrolls, and famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, each of which was a priceless treasure.

But at this moment, Zhao Cai's mind was not on these treasures. His mind was spinning rapidly, thinking about the possible benefits that the upcoming meeting might bring.

Soon, a middle-aged man in official robes was ushered into the study by the butler. His eyes were sharp and his steps were steady, revealing him to be a veteran who had been in the officialdom for many years.

"Boss Zhao, long time no see." Yan Lian's voice was calm, his eyes swept across the study, as if assessing Zhao Cai's wealth.

Zhao Cai hurried forward, a smile plastered across his face. "Master Yan, what brings you here? Please take a seat."

After the two sat down, Zhao Cai personally poured a cup of tea for Yan Lian, and then slowly said, "Master Yan, are there any new decrees that you have issued this time?"

Yan Lian took a sip of tea, then put down the cup and looked directly at Zhao Cai: "Boss Zhao, you are a smart man. You should know that the imperial court has been tightening its control over grain recently."

Zhao Cai's eyelids twitched slightly. He knew that the imperial court had recently tightened its control over grain due to the drought, and many merchants had been severely punished for hoarding goods.

He answered cautiously, "Yes, Lord Yan, I heard about it."

Yan Lian's lips curled up into a smile. "Boss Zhao, you have a lot of grain stored, right? The court needs it right now. If you're willing to sell it, we can discuss the price."

Zhao Cai was shocked. He didn't expect the county magistrate to be so direct this time. For a moment he couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

Zhao Cai’s mind was spinning rapidly as he thought of a countermeasure.

"Master Yan, you know, I spent a lot of money to buy these grains. If I sell them at the market price, I'm afraid I will lose money." He said tentatively.

A hint of coldness flashed in Yan Lian's eyes: "Boss Zhao, you are a businessman. You should know that sometimes making money is not the only goal. Now that the country is in trouble, shouldn't you do your part to help the country?"

Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Cai's forehead. He knew that if he refused again, he might get into bigger trouble.

He gritted his teeth and finally compromised: "Master Yan, you are right. I am willing to contribute to the country. You name a price and I will sell it to you."

Yan Lian showed a satisfied smile on his face and held up two fingers: "Do you accept this number?"

Zhao Cai felt a pang of pain in his heart, but he managed a smile on the surface: "Deal."

Seeing that he was sensible, Yan Lian was quite satisfied. He also knew that he shouldn't force these wealthy merchants. The people in the border areas were tough, and the guards in the mansion of Zhao Cai and others were not vegetarians.

Yan Lian took a sip of the tea from the table, then said leisurely, "Boss Zhao, the imperial envoy will arrive in Mobei soon. The county magistrate will not forget your contribution."

When Zhao Cai heard the words "Imperial Envoy," his heart skipped a beat. He quickly adjusted his expression, adopting a more respectful look. He said, "Master Yan, don't worry. Although I'm a businessman, I'm also a citizen of Zhaoyang State. When my country is in trouble, how can I sit idly by? I accept the price you mentioned, and I will also prepare some extra food in case the angel needs it."

Seeing Zhao Cai's understanding, Yan Lian nodded in satisfaction and said, "Boss Zhao is indeed a sensible man. The angel is here not only to deal with the food issue, but also for other important matters. If you can behave well during this period, perhaps I can pave a way for you in the Imperial City in the future."

Zhao Cai was secretly delighted. It seemed this wasn't just a simple transaction, but also an opportunity to establish connections with the Imperial City. He immediately said, "Master Yan, rest assured. I will do my best to ensure that all the envoy's needs in Mobei are met."

Yan Lian stood up, patted Zhao Cai on the shoulder, and said, "Okay, then I'll go back first. You should be prepared."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the door.

Zhao Cai quickly stood up to see him off, his face full of respect. He escorted Yan Lian all the way to the door, and only turned back to the study after watching his figure disappear from sight.

With Yan Lian's departure, the study fell into silence again, with only the occasional bird calls from outside the window slightly breaking the tranquility.

At this moment, the butler came in quietly, carrying a pot of steaming hot water. He carefully placed the pot on the table, then picked up the teapot and skillfully brewed tea for Zhao Cai again.

Zhao Cai slowly sat back on the exquisitely carved armchair, leaning back slightly on the soft backrest covered with exquisite animal skins, and began to think about how to take advantage of this opportunity.

His face was as cold as ice, and his eyes revealed a chilling coldness. Suddenly, he said coldly: "What do the lives of those untouchables have to do with me? What I want is gold and power!"

The butler standing nearby heard this and quickly nodded and said, "Master, you are wise. Those untouchables are just your pawns."

A few days later, the imperial envoy arrived as expected.

The sun shone brightly the day Li Hanlin arrived at the border town, but a shadow of gloom hung over his heart. The severity of the drought far exceeded his imagination, and the suffering of the people filled him with a heavy sense of responsibility. He was determined to do his best to bring hope to these suffering people.

As soon as Li Hanlin disembarked from his carriage, he was warmly greeted by Zhao Cai and the local officials. They were all smiling and speaking respectfully. County Magistrate Wang Tingxiao said respectfully, "Sir Li, you've had a long journey. I've prepared a place for you to rest. Please follow me."

Li Hanlin nodded and followed the group to a separate courtyard. County Magistrate Wang said respectfully, "I hear you've arrived, sir. This is the place Mr. Zhao has specially prepared for you. Mr. Zhao is the merchant who provided the most food this time, and he's also a well-known philanthropist in Mobei."

Zhao Cai hurried forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "My humble humble servant, Zhao Cai, is honored to meet the angel. I am truly honored to have the privilege of meeting an angel. My humble abode is simple, so I hope the angel will forgive me."

Li Hanlin looked at the house which had nothing to do with the word "simple" and frowned slightly. He knew that there might be some ulterior motives behind the enthusiasm of these officials and businessmen, but he also understood that their support was indispensable for carrying out his work here.

The emperor is far away and it is too late to talk about returning to the inn. He does not have so much time to waste on such things. After nodding slightly, he walked into the villa.

Zhao Cai looked at the county magistrate and the county magistrate behind him, then lowered their heads and followed him in.

As night fell and the sky was dotted with stars, Zhao Cai carefully prepared a simple yet grand welcoming banquet in his own villa to welcome Li Hanlin who had come from afar.

The banquet was ablaze with lights, and a dazzling array of delicacies and fine wines was on display. Zhao Cai, beaming, repeatedly raised his glass to toast Li Hanlin, spouting compliments that revealed his unwavering loyalty to the imperial city and his deep respect for Li Hanlin, a court official.

Li Hanlin sat at the table, initially wary. After all, being in this remote town far from the capital, people's hearts were unpredictable. But seeing Zhao Cai's warm and sincere treatment, he gradually let down his guard.

"Sir Li, your arrival has brought honor to our border town. Although we are in the frontier, our loyalty to the imperial city has never changed. If you need anything, just let me know." Zhao Cai said with a flattering look on his face.

In the following days, Li Hanlin, accompanied by Zhao Cai and other officials, visited the villages that suffered the most severe disasters without stopping.

Along the way, all he saw and heard was devastation, the people were displaced, and their lives were miserable. Li Hanlin witnessed all of this with his own eyes, and his heart was filled with endless sympathy and a firm determination to save the people.

However, whenever Li Hanlin was distressed by the tragic scenes before him, Zhao Cai and others would always come to his side and whisper in his ears in a low voice, "Don't worry too much, Lord Li. These are just isolated incidents. In fact, Lord Wang and I have been working hard to find a solution. Please rest assured."

In the night of the border town, Zhao Cai's mansion was brightly lit, like a shining pearl inlaid in this arid land.

A bright moon hung high in the sky, casting a mysterious silver veil over Zhao Cai's residence. In recent days, there had been some progress in the disaster relief efforts in Mobei, and preparations were underway for a banquet specially organized for Li Hanlin.

Inside the mansion, the lights were bright, and every corner was meticulously decorated. In the center of the hall, a large round table was covered with a silk tablecloth embroidered with gold thread. On the table stood exquisite silver candlesticks, and the flickering candlelight illuminated the gold and silver utensils and exquisite porcelain on the table.

Famous paintings and calligraphy hang on the surrounding walls, each a priceless treasure. In the courtyard, with gurgling water and dotted lights among the rockery and unusual rocks, it feels like a fairyland on earth.

Li Hanlin walked into the banquet hall accompanied by Zhao Cai, Wang Tingxiao and others. He was dressed in official uniform and had a solemn expression on his face. He was full of doubts about the purpose of this banquet.

Zhao Cai, beaming, stepped forward and bowed deeply, "Master Li, you've worked hard these past few days. Tonight, I'll prepare a little wine as a token of my respect."

Li Hanlin nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping across the banquet hall, and he couldn't help but sigh in admiration at Zhao Cai's financial resources. He replied calmly, "Boss Zhao, you're too polite. I'm here to help with disaster relief. I hope you can provide me with more assistance."

With the sound of a resounding gong, the banquet officially began. First, exquisite cold dishes were served to the table by maids in colorful attire. Each dish was beautifully prepared, like a work of art. Then came the hot dishes, each one hand-crafted by the border town's most renowned chefs. Each dish was a feast for the eyes, the aroma, and the taste, leaving everyone salivating.

Zhao Cai kept urging Li Hanlin to drink, his words full of flattery: "Sir Li, you are the envoy of the imperial city and a noble person in our border town. This glass of wine is offered to you. May every day in the border town be smooth and happy."

Li Hanlin raised his glass and took a sip, his emotions mixed. He knew that behind this glass of wine lay the calculations and expectations of Zhao Cai and the others. He responded calmly, "Boss Zhao, disaster relief is urgent. I hope you can sincerely consider the people."