The Blessed Beauty Returns with a Dimension-Chapter 959 - 935: Suspicious

Lin Dawang had already arranged for manpower to quickly handle the salt distribution, knowing that the sooner it was sold, the sooner people would receive their silver.

This time, they had transported back a full 4,000 jin of salt, enough to make a substantial profit.

The villagers of Lin Family Village were all smiles; there was nothing for them to worry about this time.

On the day Lin Dawang returned, he convened a meeting with the village elders of his clan to discuss a plan.

They planned to send their people out early, ensuring they made sales ahead of the Li Family Manor and Li Family Village.

If they didn’t, the nearby villages were limited in number, and if they bought from Li Family Village, they wouldn’t buy from Lin Family Village.

Otherwise, they would have to travel further, or trade with the nomadic herders on the steppe for resources, something no one wanted due to the long and perilous journey.

Luckily, they had more manpower, while Li Family Village only had about a dozen strong men, which wouldn’t be much help.

Even if they sent out all their people, they wouldn’t match the numbers from Lin Family Village.

Upon hearing this plan, the people of Lin Family Village immediately nodded in agreement and hurried to send out their people with the salt.

After a month of hard work, Lin Dawang finally sold all the salt.

"Brother Da Wang, why do I feel something’s not quite right lately? I haven’t seen anyone from Li Family Village selling salt outside. Logically, even if we sent our people everywhere, they’d have a few familiar villages they regularly dealt with; they’d definitely send salt there.

But who would have thought we haven’t encountered a single person from Lin Family Village in a month."

Several of Lin Dawang’s subordinates came to report this; they found it strange too, as they expected to run into the Li Family eventually and clear things up by explaining that it wasn’t their responsibility.

After all, they had once fought together, blood and sweat mixed, and such camaraderie remained. It wouldn’t be right to snatch business without a word.

Who knew all the words they had prepared would be unnecessary.

But the issue was that Li Family Village also had taxes to pay, and soon enough, the tax collector would visit.

If they didn’t have the silver ready by then, would Li Family Village really let their villagers be taken as conscripts? That seemed impossible, which is why everyone found it so peculiar.

What worried them more was the fear that Li Family Village might be scheming something behind their backs.

Lin Dawang was taken aback.

Could it be that Li Family Village had some other hidden card?

That Mr. Jiang, from what I’ve heard, is a clever man with a strategic mind.

Such a man had joined Li Family Village, reportedly due to saving their people, and in gratitude, they kept Mr. Jiang there. Frankly, he was quite vexed that they hadn’t encountered Mr. Jiang first.

If they had met Mr. Jiang first, with their resources and manpower, along with his assistance, perhaps they could have achieved great things.

A good man’s ambition lies in all directions, especially in these troubled times.

These men were well aware that in times of chaos, survival depended not on one person, but on the community.

Lin Dawang naturally hoped to build up their village into a prosperous and stronghold, with a thriving population, unafraid of the bandits or soldiers running amok, ensuring a better life for all.

To survive well amidst the chaos.

To protect family and their own.

Lin Dawang greatly admired the salt merchants who could even afford to maintain private armies of thousands.

Such might in manpower and resources naturally brought a wealthy lifestyle.

Even the court had to view them with respect, offering protection — with such influence, his clan had little to fear.

He also hoped to expand their private salt trade, so they wouldn’t be bullied by others; bandits or soldiers dared to wreak havoc in their village because they seemed easy targets.

Didn’t you see why the officials didn’t heavily tax Zhao Family Castle far away?

They didn’t dare provoke them due to their strong defenses, and bandits never dared approach.

That was true strength.

In these times, naturally, the one with the larger fist called the shots.

Lin Dawang led his men to Li Family Village.

But found Li Family Village calm and peaceful, villagers leisurely chatting away and children happily playing in the fields.

There was no trace of suffering.

Lin Dawang grew even more wary.

He ran into Li Tieniu herding a wagon back.

The two faced each other.

Li Tieniu hurriedly jumped down from the wagon.

He handed the whip to another young man on the wagon, "Da Hu, drive the wagon back and report to Mr. Jiang. I’ll be back shortly."

With a smile, he said, "Brother Lin, what brings you here? Come, come, have a seat at my place."

He warmly and kindly led Lin Dawang away.

Lin Dawang felt somewhat eased; Li Tieniu, after all, was not a sly person but rather generous and righteous.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have considered merging Li Family Village into Lin Family Village; one didn’t want to befriend a cunning person, fearing they’d cause trouble.

"Old Li, Brother Tieniu, I am ashamed and have no face to meet you. Who would have thought, our men ended up taking business from the villages where you frequently sold salt. I came to apologize."

Lin Dawang bowed and saluted, performing an impeccable act of etiquette.

Li Tieniu laughed, "Brother Lin, the business is already taken, what of it? After all, us private salt traders always find a market; our village wasn’t counting on selling to them this year.

For a short while, we won’t bother with it. Without our salt, they’ll buy high-priced salt. Isn’t it just as well? Our two villages are like brothers; the business in either’s hands is still safe.

Water stays within the fields, brother; I’m not bothered a bit."

Lin Dawang looked at Li Tieniu. His face genuinely lacked anger, suggesting his words were sincere.

"Tieniu, aren’t we like brothers?"

The question came out of nowhere, and Li Tieniu looked at Lin Dawang.

"Of course we’re brothers. We fought side by side, and the villagers of both Lin Family and Li Family Villages are brothers."

Lin Dawang chuckled, "Ah, hearing you say that makes me feel our friendship wasn’t in vain. Since we’re brothers, if you have a good business, why not look out for your brother? That’s not right; with a profitable venture, we should collaborate wholeheartedly. Isn’t unity strength, as Mr. Jiang says?

Little brother, with your good business, leaving your brother behind to make all the shiny silver on your own, that’s a bit unfair. You’ve got me worried, thinking I’d snatched your business."

Li Tieniu shook his head vigorously, "Brother Lin, you jest. What good business do I have? We’re doing the same deadly business, smuggling salt. You smuggle salt, I smuggle salt; we brought back the salt together. What other business could I have?"

He would never admit to their current business, which was practically raking in the cash.