Chapter 215: Increasing Investment

In the evening, the whole family ate lamb soup again. Zhang Ping'an also pulled over his brother-in-law Lao Jia, Jia Dongxu, and their family. Since it was rare to have meat, he naturally had to take care of his own kin.

"Great-uncle, this lamb soup is really delicious."

The bowl-cut Bang Geng, whose face had been a bit chubby, had lost quite a bit of weight over the past two years. Even if they had the means at home now, they didn't dare to squander it; seeing meat twice a month was considered good.

"Hehe, if you want to eat it in the future, just come to Great-uncle's place."

"Mm, okay." Although Bang Geng said that, he knew his father probably wouldn't let him come over.

However, his mother Qin Huairu was pregnant again, and the food at home was much better than before. Compared to his classmates' families, it was already considered quite rich in oil and water.

After everyone finished eating, the women cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, and after chatting for a while, they each went home.

At eight o'clock in the evening, Zhang Ping'an and Wang Xiaoling had a deep exchange before falling into a deep sleep. At dawn, Zhang Ping'an woke up on time.

Zhang Ping'an first went to stroll through other Black Markets. The grain prices in the Black Markets remained stubbornly high. After searching a circle and not finding what he wanted, Zhang Ping'an went to Daoba's Black Market.

After finishing the trade of fifty thousand catties of sweet potatoes with Daoba, Zhang Ping'an, who had intended to leave, was called back.

"Brother Changping, I, I have a comrade-in-arms who wants to see you. He is..."

"Stop right there, Brother Daoba. If you still want to trade normally, let's not get other relationships involved."

Zhang Ping'an wasn't stupid. For such a long time, Daoba's Black Market had never been raided, and even during temporary inspections, everyone could escape smoothly. No one would believe it if there wasn't some background.

Other Black Markets had been raided several times, and the bosses of the Black Markets had changed several times, but people still flocked to the high profits.

"This... alright."

Daoba sighed in his heart. He also knew that this matter could not be forced; otherwise, if Zhang Ping'an really played disappearing act, his Black Market would lose more than half of its revenue.

Zhang Ping'an was also alert in his heart. He had indeed been a bit negligent during this period. The large amount of grain poured into the Black Market had likely attracted the attention of interested parties.

Sure enough, not long after Zhang Ping'an left the Black Market, someone followed him. With a flicker of his figure, Zhang Ping'an appeared behind that person.

"Don't move, or I'll give you a cold heart-piercing," Zhang Ping'an said, holding a Butcher Knife against the person's waist.

"Brother, don't misunderstand. Since you are willing to sell grain at a low price, you certainly can't bear to see the people suffer. Since you have the channels, why not cooperate with us?"

"You're right, don't say it next time." Zhang Ping'an used a hand-blade to knock him unconscious directly and sent him to the hands of the gatekeeper lackey of the Black Market.

"Hand him over to your Brother Daoba."

"Oh, oh, okay."

In the Black Market, in Daoba's room, Daoba looked at the sleeping middle-aged man with a headache and directly stuffed an ice cube into his chest to wake him up.

"Hiss~" The middle-aged man shuddered and woke up.

"How am I here?"

"Old Squad Leader, didn't I tell you not to follow Brother Changping?" Daoba said helplessly.

"Do you think I wanted to? It's just that..." The middle-aged man didn't continue.

"Forget it, forget it. Although this guy didn't use heavy hands, he is clearly very repulsed by us. Daoba, can you keep more sweet potatoes in the future?"

"Okay, I'll try my best."

In fact, half of the grain Zhang Ping'an had sent to the Black Market this year had been taken away by them directly, and only the rest circulated in the Black Market.

Zhang Ping'an used his space to erase his tracks along the way. The reason he was unwilling to deal with official people was that they were too sharp; even a slight lack of attention could expose him.

There were quite a few people with strange abilities now, and Zhang Ping'an didn't have the confidence to deceive everyone. The only thing he could do was to minimize direct contact with them.

The next day at dawn, Zhang Ping'an came again and found Daoba directly.

"Brother Changping, about yesterday's matter..."

"You tell me first, what does your comrade want?"

"Grain, a large amount of grain."

"Fine, I will try my best to transport more grain, but if you follow me again next time, don't blame me if you die."

"Good, good, good, there will absolutely not be a next time."

In fact, the Old Squad Leader had also been quite frightened by Zhang Ping'an's speed yesterday. He was clearly seen in front, but in the blink of an eye, he was behind him. He had goosebumps all over his body at that moment.

"There are one hundred thousand catties of sweet potatoes outside now, but they aren't packed. You can load them yourselves. Let's make it twenty-five cents, cash."

Since Daoba had already half-revealed his cards to him, Zhang Ping'an also planned not to be restrained anymore and to fully open up and cooperate with this black glove.

"Good, good, no problem. Here is twenty-five thousand in cash."

Daoba was also very straightforward. Through more than two years of cooperation, they had some mutual trust. Zhang Ping'an wouldn't cheat him on this little matter.

"Mm, go pack them quickly, lest they freeze." Zhang Ping'an counted them simply and put them into his satchel.

"Okay."

Daoba didn't hesitate anymore. He called his lackeys, pulled the flatbed carts, and found the address Zhang Ping'an had given. Looking at the hill-like pile of sweet potatoes, everyone gasped.

"Don't just stand there, move them quickly. Everyone gets an extra ten catties of sweet potatoes tonight."

"Got it."

Daoba ran back to call his Old Squad Leader.

"What? I'm coming over right away."

More than half an hour later, five large trucks drove over. The lackeys in the Black Market were already used to this.

"Hiss~" The soldiers accompanying the trucks also widened their eyes when they saw so many sweet potatoes.

"Load the trucks."

"Yes."

"Daoba, after weighing tomorrow, I will send the money over."

"Good."

Zhang Ping'an squatted not far away and watched quietly. The situation was indeed as he had guessed. However, as long as there was no one monitoring the Black Market during the next trade, he would trade long-term; if there was, he would have to give it up.

"How did that person suddenly increase the amount of sweet potatoes by so much?"

"I'm not very clear either, but..."

"But what?"

"He said not to try and follow him again, otherwise not only will there be no grain provided, but the person who follows..." Daoba did not continue, but the Squad Leader understood.

"Hmph, if he says don't follow, then don't follow. What's the big deal?"

"..."

The middle-aged man felt uneasy in his heart; he had truly never seen such speed, and he still remembered asking a comrade who was a Shaolin disciple.

"This is impossible." Immediately, as if thinking of something, he said with a grave expression, "Or perhaps it is not impossible."

"That person, he..."

"Is not simple. Such things only exist in written records; in any case, I have never seen it in reality. Since that person has no ill intent and is willing to provide grain, it is better not to provoke him."

"Mm, alright."

There are many extraordinary people among the folk; the one carrying large sacks might be a successor of the Tan Leg, and the tailor might be an expert in the Iron Wire Fist.

Zhang Ping'an was unaware of this; before every transaction, he would carefully scout the surrounding two kilometers, and naturally, the location was different every time.

In this way, a subtle balance formed between Zhang Ping'an and the Black Market. He was not afraid of the money he received being new bills; he would simply exchange them for gold at a few Black Market spots and spend it.

Of course, the transactions with the remnants of the old nobility did not stop, as this was Zhang Ping'an's main source of gold income.

Time flew by, and a month passed. The Steel Mill was already prepared to start construction on the pig farm and land reclamation. Zhang Ping'an brought forage seeds over again to provide guidance, still a two-day business trip.

"Welcome, Factory Director Zhang, for gracing us with your guidance."

"Hahaha, Factory Director Liu, you are too polite. Let's head straight to the site to take a look."

"Haha, good." Liu Feng had also grown accustomed to Zhang Ping'an's high efficiency.