Having transmigrated into a book, who would still want to be a secondary wife?

Upon learning that Song Ruozhen intended to invite all the heads of families in the city who had stockpiled grain, Zhou Li hurried over, his expression filled with worry.

“Miss Song, I know you are doing this for the sake of the people of the city, but I have already spoken to them before, and it is no use no matter what I say.”

Hearing this, Song Ruozhen smiled slightly, "It doesn't matter if it's useless, we just invited him over to have a chat anyway."

“I’m worried they’ll say hurtful things, especially since you’re a young woman, you’ll definitely get bullied.”

Zhou Li looked helpless. He really didn't understand what General Song was thinking, that he would entrust this matter to Miss Song.

You should know that business people are all slippery eels; once they start arguing, they can drive you crazy!

Even if he, a grown man, talked to them, it would be useless, let alone Song Ruozhen, a delicate and pretty girl. He would probably just bully her until she cried.

"Lord Zhou, there's no need to worry. This little thing won't frighten me."

Song Ruozhen smiled slightly. She, the dignified sect leader of Xuanmen, was nothing more than a few tough old bones to chew. Did they think they could scare her?

Even the original owner, who had done business in the capital for many years, had seen all sorts of cunning old foxes.

Ultimately, Zhou Li suffered because he was a weak scholar. Since the county magistrate was dead, he was just a clerk, and his authority over these matters was not legitimate, which is why those guys dared to make things difficult for him.

If it were a military general, those guys wouldn't dare to take advantage of us.

Seeing that Song Ruozhen had made up her mind, Zhou Li could only nod helplessly.

"Lord Zhou, don't worry, my sister isn't someone who can be easily frightened."

Song Zhiyu waved his hand dismissively. He remembered that when his fifth sister made her move before, she beat people black and blue without even blinking.

"Besides, I'm here. Anyone who dares to bully my sister will have to eat my fists!"

Zhou Li was somewhat relieved and then explained the situation in detail:

"These people respect the head of the Shi family. The Shi family is an old family in Pingyang City. Over three generations, their business has grown bigger and bigger. The family that clashed with the general yesterday was the Shi family."

Song Ruozhen raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking, "As expected, wealth doesn't last three generations."

When the first generation of the Shi family established this family business, he was very popular in Pingyang City. He was kind and helpful. However, each generation after that was worse than the last.

The current head of the Shi family is now a rich but heartless man, a notorious playboy in Pingyang City since childhood.

After taking over the family business, he became even more arrogant and never respected anyone. It is said that he did a lot of things like bullying men and women, but in the end, he always settled things with money.

"Apart from that, the Cao family, the Yao family and the Shi family have the best relationship, and no one else dares to offend them."

Zhou Li sighed, "Actually, I had asked other bosses before, and some were willing to sell the grain at a lower price, but the pressure from the Shi family was too great, so they didn't dare to agree."

Once I agree, I'm afraid I'll be ostracized after the floods subside.

"I see. So not everyone is deliberately raising grain prices; they just don't want to cause trouble, right?"

Song Zhiyu understood. He said that the people of Pingyang City were all so heartless that there wasn't even a single kind-hearted merchant.

"Was the previous magistrate closely related to the Shi family?" Song Ruozhen asked.

A hint of surprise flashed in Zhou Li's eyes, and he nodded. "Yes."

Song Ruozhen was not surprised at all. Without the protection of officials, how could the Shi family have such audacity, let alone do things like bullying men and women?

Without the government, they would have no way to resolve this!

Unfortunately, Zhou Li, the advisor, was a man of conscience. He had probably advised the county magistrate many times when Magistrate Yang was in office, which is why the Shi family disliked him and was now trying every means to make things difficult for him.

After receiving the invitation, the heads of various families in Pingyang City did not come to the magistrate's residence immediately, but instead went to the Shi family first.

"As you all probably know, General Song is at the county magistrate's residence. He invited us there to try and lower the price of our grain. You all know what to do, right?"

The head of the Shi family was arrogant. So what if General Song came?

They're just businessmen, unless General Song can kill them all!

If he really did that, even if Song Lin was a general, he couldn't treat human life so lightly. Would he really give up his official position for the sake of the people of Pingyang?

"Master Shi, it is said that the imperial court has sent a prince and Grand Tutor Gu to take charge of the situation. They should arrive soon. What if they are blamed later..."

"What's there to be afraid of if we get blamed? There's a food shortage right now, that's the government's problem. We're hoarding grain to feed our own families, why should we be forced to sell it?"

The head of the Shi family didn't take it seriously. "With such a severe flood, all the people are short of food. Unless the imperial court can really transport that much grain from other places, the grain we have stockpiled is the closest we have!"

As long as we persist, the government can't do anything to us, and then we'll be able to make a fortune!

I'm warning you all, don't even think about such things. If I find out, Pingyang City will definitely not have a good time from now on!

The Cao family head chimed in, "Everyone, don't overthink it. Listening to the Shi family head is definitely the right thing to do!"

The others present could only nod in agreement; their voices carried little weight, and any other thoughts they might have were of no use.

Their whole family is in Pingyang City. They will have to stay here after the flood is over. They have offended the local bullies. How can they expect to have a good life in the future?

Seeing that the person had not arrived, Song Zhiyu sent someone out to inquire.

"This Shi family head is really something, he's openly going against us!" Song Zhiyu was furious. They had invited people to the magistrate's mansion to discuss the matter, but these guys went to the Shi family instead!

"Third brother, don't be angry." Song Ruozhen patted his shoulder. "If you're angry now, you'll be even angrier later."

Song Zhiyu: "???"

When the Shi family head and others arrived, they thought they would see Song Lin, but after waiting for a long time, they only saw Zhou Li and a young lady arrive together.

The moment the head of the Shi family saw Zhou Li, a mocking glint flashed in his eyes. He hated this troublesome fellow!

He had even advised Magistrate Yang to arrest him and put him in jail, which Magistrate Yang overheard, so naturally he wouldn't be polite!

"Where is General Song?" the head of the Shi family asked.

Song Ruozhen looked at the head of the Shi family in front of her. He was no more than forty years old, and his brows were full of arrogance. In particular, his eyes were full of contempt, and he obviously did not take Zhou Li seriously at all.

“I invited you all here today,” Song Ruozhen said.

Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned, finding it absurd.

"Why are you, a young lady, getting involved in these things?" the Cao family head couldn't help but ask.

The head of the Shi family looked disgusted, feeling that all his previous efforts to gather everyone in the mansion for discussion had been in vain.

If they had known this would happen, they wouldn't have come here today!