Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Impatiens Has Fallen
After all, this can only be explained using Immortal Techniques.
A few pounds of coarse salt, after a bit of hard work overnight, turned into refined salt. How would ordinary people know this method? Only the Immortal Gods above could achieve this.
If Chen Mo were to establish an Immortal God Sect at this moment, Han Wu would definitely be the first to become his loyal follower.
"Go, call all the idle patrol teams and have them collect shells. Each person must collect over two pounds of shells, and their families can dine tonight," said Chen Mo.
"Yes."
Han Wu responded, but just as he was about to leave, Chen Mo stopped him and asked him to bring a few people over.
Since the experiment was successful and the method was not difficult, it could be mass-produced. Chen Mo planned to build a suitable earth kiln for burning limestone.
...
The sun set at an angle.
The sunset dyed the clouds red.
In a whole day, Chen Mo not only had a proper earth kiln built for burning quicklime but also refined all the coarse salt at home into refined salt, obtaining thirty pounds of refined salt.
Encouraged by the offer of meals for their families, the patrol team collected shells that filled half of the yard.
Besides the small amount Chen Mo had, the coarse salt possessed by the villagers was just enough for daily needs.
Thus, after completing the lime kiln, Chen Mo was left idle.
Four days later, in the afternoon.
The weather was cloudy.
The time was mid-March.
Chen Mo was practicing his saber technique in the yard.
[Blade Swing +1, Demon-breaking Saber Technique Experience +1.]
[Name: Chen Mo.]
[Age: 17.]
[Cultivation Technique: Purple Sun Transformation Skill (Entry Level 1339.1/3000).]
[Realm: Refining the Viscera (Seventh Grade).]
[Power: 135.]
[Skills: Demon-breaking Saber Technique (Perfection 489996/1000000).]
Nearby, Wang Ping was reporting today’s work: "Today, six households arrived from Qingtian County, totaling twenty-seven people, and five are able-bodied. Among them is a carpenter. According to what you previously said, Immortal Master Chen, after they register, each household receives two acres of land."
Chen Mo nodded.
In the past few days, every day the village has been able to receive a few households as the deserters from Qingtian County are nearing saturation.
"Same as before. Get these five able-bodied men into the patrol team," said Chen Mo.
Just as he finished speaking, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the yard.
Song Min ran into the yard, saying, "Brother Mo, Brother Shui has returned."
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo’s eyes lit up, saying, "Quickly, let them come to see me."
Without needing Song Min to notify them.
After returning, Zhang River directly hurried to the Chen Family with Hu Changsheng and others.
Chen Mo waited in the yard and, upon seeing Zhang River and the others, directly approached them, saying, "Was the trip to Quanyang County smooth?"
"Reporting to Brother Mo, all went smoothly," Zhang River replied.
"Come inside."
Chen Mo brought them into the living room, offered them seats, and after Song Min served them tea, she went to the kitchen to assist Han Anniang.
Zhang River placed a bundle on the table and opened it; inside was a jug of wine, and others also placed bundles down.
Zhang River said, "Brother Mo, the pelts were all sold in Quanyang County, earning a total of thirteen taels of silver. After deducting travel expenses, the remaining silver was spent, per your instruction, on a jug of strong wine, and the rest on grain..."
Speaking, Zhang River produced an account book from his pocket, detailing the expenses needed.
Chen Mo took the account book but did not look at it, saying, "Brother Shui, I trust you."
Then his gaze shifted to Hu Changsheng, "Uncle Hu, how did the task I gave you go?"
"The business of pelts and meat is easy; I found acquaintances in Quanyang County, and we can sell our pelts and wild meat to them at fair prices. But the salt..."
Said Hu Changsheng, showing a hint of difficulty, "The former dealer of illicit salt in Quanyang County was Zhu Yongcai, but he’s now dead. When I visited his family, his son refused to admit they ever dealt in illicit salt, so I’m unsure whether his son has taken over the business."
"Most likely, he has. Dealing in illicit salt is a matter of life and death; it’s not something you can stop midway," said Chen Mo, asking about the condition of Zhu Yongcai’s family.
"That I don’t know; I didn’t go inside, but their home is quite large," said Hu Changsheng.
Chen Mo gently tapped the table, then stood up and went inside to fetch a pottery jar, opening it and pouring some refined salt onto the table, saying, "Try it."
Hu Changsheng and Zhang River dipped their fingers to taste it, their expressions changed in surprise: "Is this salt? Why is it not bitter?"
"That’s right, this is salt, refined through my Immortal Techniques," said Chen Mo.
Since the villagers considered him the reincarnation of an Immortal God, Chen Mo chose not to explain and regarded himself as an Immortal God.
Upon hearing this, Hu Changsheng trembled slightly, "As expected of Master Immortal."
"Uncle Hu, with your knowledge, what price do you think this refined salt could fetch?" Chen Mo asked.
Hu Changsheng thought for a moment, saying, "Currently, coarse salt in Quanyang County sells for one hundred and twenty cents per pound. This refined salt, blessed by Immortal Techniques, would fetch at least one thousand coins per pound."
"Hiss," Zhang River gasped.
Chen Mo raised his eyebrows; if he bought coarse salt and refined it, not accounting for refining loss, flipping it over would yield tenfold profit.
However, this refined salt being high-end, the clientele would certainly not be ordinary folk.
Moreover, dealing in illicit salt cannot be done in the open.
After considering for a moment, Chen Mo said, "Uncle Hu, here’s the plan: rest for one day, then go back to Quanyang County, taking this jar of refined salt to find Zhu Yongzhi. Discuss a collaboration with him; if he agrees, it means he’s taken over Zhu Yongcai’s business."
...
Two days later, Hu Changsheng set off again, not only with Zhang River but also with Hu Qiang, and brought along thirty capable men.
Five days later, Hu Changsheng returned with his group, carrying large bundles.
Indeed, Zhu Yongzhi had taken over his father’s "business," buying all thirty pounds of refined salt at eight hundred cents per pound.
But Zhu Yongzhi couldn’t only earn two hundred cents, as the refined salt at one pound per thousand coins was Hu Changsheng’s estimated price. Zhu Yongzhi could set the actual price himself.
Later, Zhu Yongzhi sold Hu Changsheng two hundred pounds of coarse salt at seventy cents per pound.
Thus, Hu Changsheng told Chen Mo that Zhu Yongzhi could still make fifty cents of profit per pound of coarse salt.
Because dealing in illicit salt is a risky trade, their lives hang by a thread, but they earn immense profits with little investment.
...
While Chen Mo was prospering from his salt dealings.
At the Pingting County Government Office, Chang Yuan wore a gloomy expression, as if he had eaten a fly.
This morning, he received reports from the front.
Impatiens had fallen.