Book 2 - Chapter 4 – Great Sche Wealth (1/2)
Book 2 Chapter 4 – Great Sche forand Xu Ziling, the pair that was hard to differentiate which one was older and which one was younger, arrived at Yuhang [district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang], a big county town by the sea
After having their sto said, “Now that everybody is after our treasure-trove, whichexceptional divine skill first, weBut if we look for a place to hide and shrink our heads like a turtle, not only on’t achieve what Niang was hoping for us, ill never be able to kill Yuwen Huagu either What do you think we should do?”
Xu Ziling sighed and said, “I really wish to see Li Dage and Susu Jiejie; but Gaoyou is so close to Yangzhou That oldsoood chance ill co, “Noe have only a little silver left, and I a other people’s pocket We don’t even have a place to stay, what do you want e ht that we are dead; how could he wait for us at Gaoyou?” he said, “You are right, right noe have to get soh travel expense to go to Luoyang to look for He Clan’s Jade Annulus?”
“Do you have good idea on how toalready had the answer, “All great schemes to acquire wealth are inevitably linked to set your hand on it when the price is low, and let it go when the price is high This is a salt-producing area As long as we buy his granny’s cart of salt and sranny’] into inland area where there is shortage of salt, we can exchange salt to e’s bloody Battle Ten-Style, on’t need to use ridiculous tree branches”
“Do you know a place where salt is scarce?” Xu Ziling wondered
Kou Zhong’s eyes flitted toward a table on the left side of the wine shop; he said in low voice, “Look, that girl is so cute!”
Xu Ziling was rain of rice]; he was not interested even to look “Co put on an air of iin he said, “The ht now the Ol’ Du has cut off the river route along the Great River Unless people with power and influence like Song Clan, nobody has the ability to transport salt to the region west of Liyang Therefore, if we can shi+p his bird’s one cart of salt over there, even if we have to set up a stall on the ground [fig to start up a new business], ill earn a bowl full, a basin full of profit Coet rich, co the bill, the two left the wine shop They asked around where the salt wholesale place was, and i wavered “We have financial resources to buy salt,” he said, “But where would we find the hed aloud and said, “You did not seem to have heard of a reliable means of transportation called the wheelbarrow[1] Come on!”
The two boys walked for half a sichen [re the dock outside the town They saw boundless ocean extending indefinitely in front of them This was the first time they saw ocean that they were du breathed out a mouthful of cold air as he said, “It would be better if we could steal a boat and then go to the other side of the ocean to take a look Based on our skill, maybe we can be the emperor of another country; at that time, it won’t be a problem for us to take a dozen concubines”
As far as his eyes could see, Xu Ziling saw countless shi+ps and boats, the masts were like a forest, and there were hundreds, if not thousands, of porters loading and unloading the boats, withstrea with noise and excite, as still having a longing look on his eyes, he said, “Getting rich is o!”
The two boys joined the throng They saw not only all kinds of Jianghu personalities, they also saw a lot of govern and Xu Ziling were unsure whether there anted notices on the the officers, they tried to avoid them as far as possible
Soon afterwards they reached the street where the most famous salt distribution center was located There were e, spacious stores with open areas where row after row of salt were on display These stores were built against the sea, behind these stores were the piers, where big cargo shi+ps and small boats were moored
There were over a dozen shops, but each and every one of those shops was jam-packed with people The salt piled up like a mountain, it was so cheap that it looked like one could just take a sack or half sack without paying anything
Encountering this kind of situation, the two boyswas elected as the designated negotiator They decided on an elderly gentle soreat difficulty Xu Ziling squeezed hi his throat, he said, “Laoban [boss]! We want to buy your goods”
Without even looking up, the elderly gentleoods here have been pre-ordered Which store are you fro was at a loss and did not kno to answer, Kou Zhong pushed hio to different store!”
The elderly gentleman acted as if he was not even aware of their existence; he continued concentrating on his abacus
A ainst the counter stared at thedi looked unfa nodded, “We are froentleet out of the shop, don’t obstruct people picking up their order here
Ol’ Liu winked at the two boys, and led them out of the shop and onto the street, where he sized thethat you can transport it inland toas you are doing it Howand Xu Ziling grew up in the marketplace, how could they not know that they havetheir head, they turned around to leave
Ol’ Liu’s countenance suddenly changed He blocked their path and said o that easily?”
‘Bang!’ Kou Zhong’s fist landed on his lower abdomen
Immediately Ol’ Liu doubled up in pain like a shrimp, and then he dropped on his kneith his hands on his storound; he did not even have any strength to groan
One after another the people nearby scattered to avoid theasped, “When did your fist beco also looked at his own fist; stunned, he said, “Could it be because I have mastered the first level of Nine Mysteries Great Method that I a that hundreds of eyes were looking at them, while this Ol’ Liu’s life and death was still unclear as he was still lying on the ground and beca away into the crohich automatically made way for them
They were just about to enter another salt store to try their luck when frodi, please hold your steps!”
The two boys knew that trouble has arrived; they stopped and turned around
They saw three ular forhtforward appearance His manner and movement indicated that he was a man as used to run a expression as he cupped his fist and said, “I a [sea sand gang] Yuhang division Seeing two Xiao Xiongdi’s skill and toughness, my heart itches to make friends with you What do you say we find a place where laoge [old brother] can play a host to you?”
The two boys felt he was giving them a lot of face, but at the saang ood would co shook his head and said, “We still need to hurry to buy so quickly cadi want to buy salt, you need not bother to waste your tioods here have already been divided up a to sell so and society] ant their share, the officers ant their share, the authorities ant their share, and lastly you have to pay salt tax In short, for a hundred hard work, the profit is not enough to spend three days in a low-grade brothel, and I rade brothel”
Hearing this, the boys’ two hearts sank to the botto wealth result in nothing?
Tan Yong laughed and said, “Colances, and then they followed hi introduced his subordinates first, the other two , the other Chen Gui, before casually asked the two boys’ background
Kou Zhong answered all his questions, but naturally he gave him fabricated answers He wanted to be a Wulin’s h yet However, speaking about lying, even Du Fuas duped by hi, as practically a nobody; of course they believed everything he said without any doubt
He believed the two boys were Fu Zhong and Fu Ling, that their eneration to generation, and that currently they were looking for an opportunity to sters
[1] I found an interesting article on Chinese wheelbarrohich is different froazinecom/2011/eelbarrowhtml
Chapter 4, Part 2
Anh, Jaya, HPC, Sky, Janger, you are welcoBin, CFT, the first time I saw (or noticed) that kind of wheelbarroas in the movie Joy Luck Club (I am sure there are a lot more in other movies, I just did not pay attention) At that tin', but did not think about searching it on the internet
Tan Yong see your palm and fist, what kind of weapon can you use?” he asked
Xu Ziling patted his chest, “We use sabers,” he replied, “A dozen or sowas a bit skeptical, “Is it possible for di’s saber skill?” he asked
Kou Zhong arrogantly replied, “Real gold is not afraid of red fire But it would be better if Tan Ye [master] tell us your business first Man’s life on earth is nothing more than to seek riches I aic … Ha!”
Tan Yong laughed aloud He said, “As soon as I sao Xiao Xiongdi, I feel like I’ve known you for a long tidi wants et woo back and meet our Duozhu [hel you don’t like, you can just letwas very fa people worked just like his own ten toes With a giggle he leaned over and whispered in Tan Yong’s ear, “Tan Ye noticed that we are from out of town, also we are just two kids who are still wet behind the ears; therefore, you want us to join your Haisha Gang to kill people fro Afterwards, you push the blame away, neat and clean Hey! This is called ‘black pot can crush people dead’”
Tan Yong was ihu veteran like Tan Yong was caught unprepared and was unable to respond, becausesaid was exactly why he wanted to win the two boys over It was as if Kou Zhong was the worm in his belly Naturally there was considerable difference in the ins and outs of this ’s shoulder “Xiongdi!” he said, “Let’s go!”
Tan Yong turned around and called out, “Hold on!”
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling thought that froe; hence they stood close together, ready to fight
Xie Feng and Chen Gui’s eyes were also glealint; they were ready to hed and said with a wry smile, “Fu Xiaodi is really formidable It would be better if I speak openly …”
Kou Zhong cut hihu rule, we can’t forget of getting away”
Xu Ziling also laughed aloud and said, “We two brothers entering the Jianghu andonly on our skill; we have never considered relying on any patron”
Hearing this, Tan Yong, three people were dumbstruck These two boys possessed absolute sophistication that did not e; they were really i away After cupping their fist in salute, they no longer care about the three people, they si the street, the two boys were a little apprehensive, without thinking their feet took them back to the piers
This ti near, and was overn for the big shi+p
For so shi+p attracted the two boys’ attention,exuded exoticis boat docked, i on the deck, but since the boat was far away, they could not see clearly It was not until a government official, escorted by four officers, cliained their vision
Kou Zhong wrapped his ar normal business is really not easy Turns out people who can strike it rich are unscrupulous businesshteousness and justice Ha! I have another great idea Tonight we come back here and steal his bird’s boat of salt, and then we slip away quietly This e could even save those few coins”
Xu Ziling’s heart wasa dozen sacks will not make the about that shopkeeperwas delighted “Now that’sa thief we must have thief’s equipment; for example, steel wire to pick locks, weapons to protect ourselves, bunch of ropes, and so on Our future rice and porridge will depend on this endeavor”
“You are the one who came up with the thief idea, naturally you s,” Xu Ziling said
Kou Zhong giggled and said, “Joined together we are strong, divided we are weak In this world o brothers only have each other, certainly you don’t want ht I can’t even er brother], you will have to be the thief alone”