Chapter 524: Shopkeeper Wu's Daily Life (IV)

With the good dishes that only come around at New Year, and drinking a light beer uniquely suited to the stomachs of the middle-aged and elderly, the two old brothers, busy for a whole day, finally had time to sit down and talk in detail.

Shopkeeper Wu, perhaps because everything had gone smoothly today and seeing his old friend much more relaxed, after two mouthfuls of beer, first poured out a stream of grievances.

White Crane Sundries had actually been going downhill before. The overall environment was bad, bandits were rising everywhere, the common people's lives were hard, and the officials' taxes and levies kept increasing. As a sundries business closest to the bottom rung of society, life was naturally difficult—sales were falling, roads were unsafe, and the customer base was shrinking. Not daring to come to He Family Basin to do business for several years prior was a microcosm of that.

The sundries business was having a hard time, but had a single day ever been easy for a farming household like those in He Family Stockade?

After listening to his younger brother's complaints, He Renzhong also let out a long sigh: Every family has its own difficult scripture to chant. The climate has been strange these past few years, the heavens have been unkind, all sorts of demons and monsters have grown increasingly rampant, and the officials' extortion has worsened by the day. The ordinary farming households in the stockade haven't seen a trace of meat or fish all year—they've all been enduring bitterly!

However, after recounting their respective situations, the two middle-ranking cadres of their respective enterprises suddenly realized that, although they hadn't met, their experiences over the past few years were very similar: both had struggled to survive amidst hardship, and then their fortunes had suddenly taken a dramatic turn for the better.

In the second half of last year, White Crane Sundries spent a huge sum to bid in Guangzhou, winning back the agency rights for seven kinds of Yi Isle sundries. From that point on, White Crane crossed a watershed, as if its luck had suddenly turned, opening up revenue streams on all sides and turning misfortune into blessing, forcefully reviving the business and returning it to its former peak.

It was the same for He Family Stockade. After this bandit suppression campaign, the stockade's various overt and covert expenditures dropped drastically. For the first time in a long while, the clansmen finally had what they called a "Fat Year"—every household had a meal with meat, and they even hired an opera troupe to perform.

You have to understand, before this, every year-end brought not only the various "tribute and customary fees" to the officials, but also the grain and money extorted by local bandits coming to the door—that was no small burden either. Now, not only were all these extortions eliminated, but once the roads were open, Shopkeeper Wu even brought reasonably priced goods right to their doorstep. These were all hidden benefits for the stockade.

Furthermore, with smooth transportation, the stockade's mountain goods like grain and medicinal herbs could be sold at higher prices with lower costs—these were tangible, long-term benefits they could see with their own eyes.

In short, as the two old brothers discussed it together, they ultimately traced the matter back to its source and discovered that the root cause of the change in their lives all occurred after that Regional Commander Cao arrived in Guangzhou.

"Ah, though he's a sea bandit who accepted recruitment and amnesty, he governs diligently and cares for the people, clearing out bandits. He's far better than those proper officials."

He Renzhong's face was slightly flushed now. Half moved, half indignant, he raised his cup: "Come, younger brother, let us also drink a toast to the Regional Commander, and wish His Excellency a prosperous official career!"

"Heh heh, speaking of this Regional Commander, your brother here has had some serious dealings with him."

After clinking cups of pure barley craft beer, Shopkeeper Wu, his face equally flushed, chuckled, a smug look appearing on his face.

"Oh? There's a story like that? Quickly, tell your elder brother!"

"That's a long story. Hmm... it has to start from the day your brother was escorting goods past Shitan, and the boat broke down at Ghost Head Hollow."

And so, with fine drink, good food, and a fine mood, Shopkeeper Wu rambled on, recounting that miraculous experience of his where a blessing came out of a disaster.

After Shopkeeper Wu was rescued by the Special Operations Team members and brought back to Huangpu Port, a few more things actually happened. His rescue wasn't a simple one. Upon arriving at the place, he first saw the great blue ships in the harbor. Then, after simple medical treatment, washing up, and changing clothes, Shopkeeper Wu was informed that this was the Official Army's Water Army encampment under the command of the Nan'ao Regional Commander.

Next, he was taken to an operations room with a large, long table and wall-mounted maps. There, some young soldiers wearing strange, short, front-buttoned jackets and Great Peaked Caps began to question him about everything he knew regarding the bandit den.

Learning that the other party was the regular Official Army, and having had his life saved, Shopkeeper Wu, his panic just settled, naturally told them everything he knew without reservation. And this telling took a full three days.

For the operations Staff Officers at the Pioneer Army Command, Shopkeeper Wu, an old hand constantly responsible for transport and logistics, was arguably the best choice for understanding the social conditions, enemy situation, terrain, and local customs around Zengcheng. Now that such a person had come and was willing to cooperate, they naturally wanted to chat a while longer.

This seemingly trivial intelligence was actually very precious. As a middle-ranking figure immersed in the front lines of society, Shopkeeper Wu's perspective, including his detailed views on everyone from the great households down to the common people, was exactly what the Transmigrators, anxious to understand a region's social conditions, needed.

Thus, over those few days, Shopkeeper Wu not only truthfully reported everything he knew about the surrounding bandit situation and terrain, but also thoroughly divulged other intelligence, including the relationships between the various gentry, local tyrants, officials, and other local customs and figures throughout Zengcheng.

After this, Shopkeeper Wu was sent back to the White Crane Sundries main store at the county seat of Zengcheng.

Of course, those who cooperate with the Transmigrators always reap benefits, and Shopkeeper Wu was no exception.

This time, Shopkeeper Wu's adventure brought immense benefits directly to him and to White Crane Sundries—not long after, the head of White Crane, Provincial Graduate Bai, personally went with Shopkeeper Wu to New District to visit Ding Liqiu, Ding District Chief. District Chief Ding, having already received the letter from the naval port and knowing the whole story, immediately granted Shopkeeper Wu a great benefit: the wholesale rights for Yi Isle salt within Zengcheng County.

This was a happy ending for all: Shopkeeper Wu originally only held some sweat equity in White Crane. Now that he had the salt wholesale rights, his share percentage increased, and he became a Shareholder.

And Provincial Graduate Bai not only gained a salt supply channel, but more importantly, he managed to connect with the upper echelons of the Transmigrators. This was something the sharp-eyed and well-connected Provincial Graduate Bai had never imagined beforehand... sitting at home, a blessing fell from the sky.

And so, that led to Shopkeeper Wu's visit to He Family Stockade today: with the wholesale rights and shares, his drive had greatly increased, so naturally he had to diligently develop his distribution channels.

After hearing his old brother's whole story, He Renzhong clicked his tongue repeatedly, calling it seeking wealth amidst danger, and repeatedly offered his congratulations to his old brother.

Shopkeeper Wu, feeling both lingering fear and pride at this moment, hurriedly clinked glasses for another drink to calm his stirred emotions.

Just then, the door of the He family's main house was pushed open, and a middle-aged man wearing a thick cotton robe walked in.

"Elder, what brings you here?"

Seeing the newcomer, Steward He first froze for a moment, then stood up and hurriedly said.