“After I went there, I inquired in the town and found out that the Tang family kid somehow got connected and started a water route business too.
Before, he sold over a dozen Diesel Engines, earning tens of thousands at the very least, and now he even built a factory on the spot, but he won't let me inside.
Big Brother, I haven't heard of anyone else in this area competing with us for business!”
Li Chang spoke a whole string in one breath, he had even gone to town to inquire about Tang Wen's recent situation, and a terrifying guess had already formed in his mind:
Someone else in Goose City is doing water route business, and Tang Wen got connected to that line!
But this line of work is very particular about local influence; it’s like how Zheng Hai left his former Big Brother to go solo—that requires demarcating territory beforehand so that brothers in the industry don't overlap business scopes.
Goose City doesn't have as many factions as the south; everyone of consequence knows each other and wouldn't do something that breaks the taboo. It’s highly likely an Over-the-river dragon from outside.
It was because of this guess that Li Chang rushed back, afraid of falling into a trap.
Zheng Hai lost his Interest for fun after hearing this explanation. He found a deserted Corner to think for a while, then frowned and asked:
“Tang Wen said he can sell Motors with even greater Horsepower for cheaper? And he can supply parts for four boats in half a month—that’s sixteen engines!”
Li Chang: “We couldn't find such a powerful connection even when buying Motors in Hong Kong, Big Brother, this isn't right!”
Zheng Hai narrowed his eyes, remained silent for a moment, then let out a Cold Smile:
“To do business in my Territory without paying respects at the Dock shows that outside gangs have no manners. Rules must be followed when doing business, otherwise, no one can operate here.
A 250 Horsepower Motor for only forty thousand—even YAMAHA doesn't have that. They actually managed to get it. Since he dares to sell it, then we will buy it! And we want all four boats, within half a month!”
“However, I want his boats, but I don't want to pay the money. What do you suggest I do?”
Li Chang's eyes lit up, and he immediately got energized:
“Take him down! When it’s time to collect the boats, just say the goods he sold were junk, overturn them, and see who is in charge of this area!”
Zheng Hai Nodded in satisfaction, clearly pleased with this plan.
A Motor for a speedboat isn't cheap, costing over a hundred thousand. If he could get the boats and take down the external Over-the-river dragon at the same time, wouldn't that be wonderful?
“A Chang, you can give him half the money first, then call a few brothers to keep an eye out so they don't run away.
I need to go contact the supply source immediately; I’m counting on you all here.”
“Trust me, Brother Hai, we wouldn't suffer a setback in Goose City?
I’ll trick that kid first, otherwise, I’m afraid he’ll wet his pants and run away, haha!”
……
Liquidating assets to raise money takes time, so Li Chang didn't go look for Tang Wen again for the time being.
Meanwhile, dozens of kilometers outside Big Bay Town, a Ten-wheel truck was heading to its final stop.
Tang Shi Ba was driving, Tang Shi Jiu was on guard in the Co-pilot seat, and Wu Lao Er was counting the ledger with a saliva-covered hand, calculating exactly how much money they had earned back.
Sixteen of the twenty Diesel Engines had already been delivered, securing 60% of the payment, which for Wu Lao Er was just barely enough to cover the Cost.
This was unavoidable; very few people had the ability to pay Full Payment for inventory, not even the Agricultural Machinery Stores in other Townships.
Generally, Agricultural Machinery Stores didn't have the capacity to pay the manufacturer's invoice in one go; they would usually pay half or less upfront, with an agreed-upon payment term.
After some time selling the goods, they would settle the Final Payment during the next restocking or when the manufacturer collected the debt.
Tang Wen had a unique supply source and dared to demand Full Payment from Wu Lao Er, but the latter, being a reseller, couldn't force buyers to pay in full and had to accept a certain percentage as prepayment.
Fortunately, he had raised the price slightly, so even if he didn't receive the Final Payment, he wouldn't lose much, which is why he dared to order twenty units at once.
The previous few stops went smoothly; upon seeing the batch of finely packaged Diesel Engines in the Truck, the Buyers readily handed over the money.
The last location was Nan Tou Township; they had ordered four Diesel Engines last time, and at the same time, they hoped to see the Motors with Propellers installed. After finishing here, they could go back to Big Bay Town.
Along the way, Wu Lao Er tried as much as possible to stick to main roads during the day and didn't encounter any Risk, so he was already relaxing.
He kept patting the cushion under his rear end; all the payments received on this trip were inside it. The three of them took turns guarding it, and they didn't leave the Truck at night.
Along the way, he observed Tang Shi Ba and Tang Shi Jiu quite a bit. He noticed that although their names were strange, they were both very serious and responsible, and their vigilance was high; just standing there reduced a lot of potential trouble.
However, they were equally taciturn, rarely initiating conversation, like two closed doors.
Also, they kept a wooden box in the cab, and he had no idea what was inside; he asked, but they wouldn't say.
The wooden box took up a lot of space, but Wu Lao Er didn't dare open it, only remaining curious.
The Truck bumped along the Dirt road, and soon it stopped before a fork in the road.
Tang Shi Ba hit the Brake, poked half his head out the window and then pulled it back in, then said to Wu Lao Er:
“Which way to Nan Tou Township? I didn't ask about this place when we were in the Town.”
Wu Lao Er also quickly looked outside, but the Path he took last time was different, and he wasn't familiar with the surroundings either, so he couldn't say right away.
Once outside the city, most roads were Dirt roads; it was easy to get lost in the Wilderness, not to mention they were extremely difficult to traverse, full of potholes that could easily cause a vehicle to get stuck. It was only thanks to the Ten-wheel truck, which was built for wartime service, that they managed to drive all this way without breaking down.
This wasn't the first time they were lost; nowadays, forget navigation, there were hardly any road signs.
Maps that were essential in those days generally didn't record the Dirt roads below the Township level. Outsiders basically had to rely on Locals to guide them or ask people by the roadside.
Before navigation became widespread, many people made a living holding up road signs specifically to give directions; otherwise, it was impossible to reach the destination.
“Let’s find someone to ask. Isn't there a person on that mountain over there?”
Wu Lao Er squinted his eyes and glimpsed a Figure wearing a straw hat on the mountaintop, looking like an old man.
Tang Shi Jiu had better eyesight and confirmed it with a Nod. Wu Lao Er immediately stuffed a pack of cigarettes and some change into his pocket, jumped out of the truck, and waved toward the Figure in the distance while walking:
“Fellow villager! Need directions! Fellow villager…”
Wu Lao Er struggled up the slope and then saw that next to the old man was a bucket containing quite a few sand crabs; it seemed he was heading Home after finishing his catch from the sea.
Seeing Wu Lao Er asking for directions, the old man wasn't polite; he took two cigarettes and tucked one behind each ear before pointing the way.
Wu Lao Er quickly thanked him and got back into the truck to follow the direction the old man pointed. However, after driving a short distance, he realized the road led up the mountain.
“This isn't right, why are we going up the mountain? Did we take the wrong way?”
Wu Lao Er remembered that going to Nan Tou Township shouldn't require crossing a mountain. Just as he was considering turning back to ask again, he heard Tang Shi Jiu say:
“There’s a house ahead!”
Around the bend of the slope ahead of the Truck, there was actually a house.
“That’s great, you wait here, I’ll go down and ask…”
Wu Lao Er said as he reached to push the door open, but a large hand suddenly pulled him back.
He instinctively turned his head, only to see that two people had already walked out in front of the house.
To be precise, two people holding long, rod-shaped objects.
Tang Shi Ba immediately prepared to reverse, but found that reversing down the slope behind them was dangerous, and he also saw Figures in the rearview mirror.
Wu Lao Er didn't even think; he immediately reached for the thing under the seat.