**Chapter 141: Stocking Up on Grains Again**

**Chapter 141: Stocking Up on Grains Again**

"Then change it to two thousand pounds of coarse flour and one thousand pounds of coarse rice," Qin Xiaoyao said quickly.

In total, that would be three thousand pounds, which would cost only nine taels of silver.

Fortunately, she had sold a batch of preserved eggs yesterday, earning nearly three taels.

Including the savings from before, the nine taels were well within her budget.

According to her husband's prediction, grain prices were bound to rise soon.

Even if they couldn't finish all the grain, selling the surplus could still bring in a profit from the price difference.

"Sure thing!" the shopkeeper responded promptly.

The store had just raised grain prices, and business had been slow for the past two days. This large order would make up for it.

"I'm buying so much and even picking it up myself. You should give me a better price," Qin Xiaoyao said, seeing the shopkeeper's delighted expression.

Bargaining was her style.

The smile on the shopkeeper's face quickly faded.

He then moved closer to Qin Xiaoyao.

"How about giving you an extra fifty pounds each of coarse rice and coarse flour when we deliver?" he whispered.

Qin Xiaoyao's eyes flickered.

She was buying three thousand pounds, and getting only one hundred pounds extra was only a three percent discount.

"Add another two hundred pounds, like a ten percent discount!" she countered.

She knew this shopkeeper held a special position in the store and had the authority to decide how much discount to offer.

When she had come to buy grain before, it was this shopkeeper who helped her negotiate with the manager.

A hint of hesitation flashed in the shopkeeper's eyes.

"This—Mrs. Qin—"

"Please help out. We're not doing just one transaction. Once I handle this batch, there will be more." Qin Xiaoyao quickly added, giving the shopkeeper a meaningful look.

The shopkeeper's expression changed immediately.

"Alright! Mrs. Qin, please wait a moment while I talk to the manager and see if we can get you a better deal!" he said.

"Go ahead!" Qin Xiaoyao replied cheerfully.

She was confident that with this young man's intervention, the deal would be sealed.

"Alright!" The shopkeeper hurried off.

Soon after, he returned with a big smile, informing Qin Xiaoyao that the price had been agreed upon.

Qin Xiaoyao paid a deposit of two taels of silver with a smile, then pushed the cart to the back of the grain store with the shopkeeper.

They weighed the grains and loaded them onto the cart.

"What kind of business does your household run, Mrs. Qin? Why do you need so much coarse rice and coarse flour?" the shopkeeper asked casually as he helped Qin Xiaoyao load the goods.

He was curious but also trying to build a closer relationship with her to secure her as a regular customer.

Qin Xiaoyao's eyes flickered at the question.

"Well, it's just some labor-intensive work that doesn't earn much money," she replied evasively.

"Hey, help me load more coarse flour," she quickly changed the subject.

"Oh, sure!" the shopkeeper responded, not pressing further.

In no time, they finished loading the goods.

"This is six hundred pounds, all coarse flour. There are still sixteen hundred pounds of coarse flour and eleven hundred pounds of coarse rice left," the shopkeeper said.

Qin Xiaoyao nodded and patted the grains on the cart.

"Alright, check the goods when you have time. I'll come back later to pay the remaining amount and take the rest."

"Sure thing!" the shopkeeper agreed happily.

Qin Xiaoyao then pulled the cart away.

Watching her leave, the shopkeeper marveled at her strength.

Indeed, Mrs. Qin was quite strong.

Leaving the grain store, Qin Xiaoyao pulled the cart of grains home.

Upon returning, she found Li Danni and Liu Xiaomei had already closed their stall.

Seeing Qin Xiaoyao pull back a cart full of goods, Liu and the others came over to ask what was going on.

When they learned that Qin Xiaoyao had bought a total of three thousand pounds of grain, everyone was astonished.

"Three thousand catties? Where would we eat that much?!" Mrs. Liu immediately objected.

"Yeah, Sister San Ya. Buying so much means your family might still be eating it next year!" Li Danni added.

Sister San Ya had just mentioned to her that grain prices might rise, and she had already told Big Niu to buy two hundred catties of grain today to stock up.

She thought two hundred catties was already plenty, but her Sister San Ya had gone ahead and bought three thousand catties!

Goodness, did they need to stockpile that much?

Song Yun and Liu Xiaomei also looked disapproving.

"Not all of it is for eating," Qin Xiaoyao said, scanning everyone's faces.

Everyone looked puzzled.

Qin Xiaoyao then gave a mysterious smile.

"I got the news today that grain prices will continue to rise."

"Even if we can't finish all this grain ourselves, when the prices go up, we can resell it and make a profit." Qin Xiaoyao said this to Mrs. Liu.

It was mainly to reassure her.

She did have some plans to sell, but didn't intend to sell too much.

After all, her money was limited, and even if she tried to corner the market, she wouldn't earn much.

"Who—Who said that?" Mrs. Liu wasn't as resistant now.

Since Aunt Sun had mentioned this before, she believed the grain prices would rise.

The others also looked at Qin Xiaoyao.

"It was Master Fang from Lai Fulu." Qin Xiaoyao lied.

"I ordered three thousand catties, and Master Fang—"

Everyone stared at Qin Xiaoyao without blinking.

"Ordered thirty thousand catties!" Qin Xiaoyao said with a slight awkward expression.

Huh, thirty thousand catties might be a bit much...

But if it's too much, so be it.

Lai Fulu has opened another restaurant, and they use quite a lot of grain every day.

"Of course, Master Fang has his own channels. Buying that much grain and flour would definitely be cheaper than what I paid." Qin Xiaoyao added.

Seeing everyone's stunned expressions, Qin Xiaoyao reminded them, "By the way, keep this to yourselves. Don't go spreading it around."

Everyone quickly nodded.

"And don't tell anyone about my stockpiling grain and flour. If word gets out and causes panic in town, neither Master Fang nor our family will be able to escape blame." Qin Xiaoyao continued.

This made Mrs. Liu and Song Yun look even more nervous, and they nodded hurriedly.

They also glanced at Li Danni and Liu Xiaomei.

The two girls also nodded quickly, promising not to spread the news.

Relieved, Qin Xiaoyao prepared to move the grain to the storage room.

Li Danni quickly called Liu Xiaomei to help Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao didn't stop them.

In the storage room, Qin Xiaoyao started unloading the grain.

Liu Xiaomei helped by assisting on the side.

Li Danni didn't come forward.

Qin Xiaoyao was a bit puzzled.

After finishing the unloading, he asked Li Danni if she wasn't feeling well.

He had noticed that Li Danni seemed to have retched twice earlier.

Unexpectedly, upon asking, Li Danni turned away with a shy expression.

"My sister-in-law is fine; she's pregnant!" Liu Xiaomei said with a smile.

Qin Xiaoyao was shocked.

He couldn't help but look down at Li Danni's belly.