Chapter 8 Swearing Brotherhood

There was no need to worry about the sale of the soybean oil. Wu city is a big enough market for it. Jiang Gui met and talked collaborations with the owners of oil shops. The city had a total of 12 oil shops. Compared to the production costs of sesame oil, the production cost of soybean oil is cheaper and the daily production is also stable. Although you can not say it will completely replace sesame oil but the owners of oil shops still accepted the soybean oil in their store.

Lin Yuan did some calculations, each day’s profit is around 1000 coins.

“Should we sell outside Wu city as well?” Jiang Gui sees the benefits of soybean oil business so he is eager to expand the business. Who would not dislike making more money?

Lin Yuan shakes his head however:”Brother Jiang, it’s not that little brother I am unwilling, but if we were to sell elsewhere, who will make the trips? Besides, Wu city has you and brother Dao so we can make money in peace. Nowadays, the outside is in upheaval. The oil extraction method may be easy but only we know about it.”

“If someone wants to seize….” Lin Yuan did not finish.

Jiang Gui sighs:”I am too impatient, unlike you who thinks deeper.”

Lin Yuan consoles:”Brother Jiang, think of it this way, although we are not crazy rich but at least it is stable source of income.”

Now that the income has stabilized, and daily expenses not being too big, Lin Yuan must now put more attention to his land.

Yang Zi’an’s 40 people have already gone over to his land with farming tools prepared by Jiang Gui. Lin Yuan is now deeply aware of the benefits of having a friend in the government. Although Jiang Gui does not have any major powers nor can he sway the upper officials, but among the common people he still has quite the power.

The good thing is no longer having to watch his wallet thin after every spending, Lin Yuan truly sighs in relief.

“Brother Jiang.” Lin Yuan pours tea for Jiang Gui, saying seriously, “I should have people begin to build my own farmstead. I must still continue to trouble you.”

Jiang Gui drinks the cup of hot tea, although nothing fancy but to be able to have any tea to drink is a luxury now. He nods:”No problem, no problem, I shall not have even one bit of lazing from them.”

Lin Yuan explains in detail:”I don’t want to build a normal dwelling with a courtyard but a three floor building.”

Jiang Gui looks confused:”Ah? You want to construct a theater house?”

Lin Yuan shakes his head:”No, Er Liang bring over pen and ink.”

Er Liang let out an “ai” and quickly set up paper and prepared the pen and ink.

Although Lin Yuan does not know how to write calligraphy but a simple drawing is still doable. He drew a rectangular building with doors evenly spaced throughout.

“Like this.” Lin Yuan handed the paper to Jiang Gui.

Jiang Gui was also no literati, knows nothing of the four arts (TN: zither, Go chess, calligraphy, painting) but after looking closely he gets the gist of it. He asks Lin Yuan in puzzlement:”This is all squares and rectangles, as if a large coffin. How can you build it this way.”

Lin Yuan:”……”

Brother, I’m afraid this is nothing compared to Chengdu’s New Century Global Mall (TN: a building in Chengdu, China).

Lin Yuan laughs awkwardly:”To be promoted and gain wealth.”(TN: the phrase in Chinese is 升官发财 which in pinyin is ‘sheng guan fa cai’. The second word 官 which means official sounds the same as 棺 which means coffin. Lin Yuan is just trying to give a reason through a pun and hopes Jiang Gui believes his ‘reasoning’.)

Jiang Gui finally gets it, slapping his thigh:”A good message! No wonder little brother Lin is a scholar, has more knowledge than me.”

“But the price will not be pretty.” Jiang Gui knit his eyebrows together.

Lin Yuan:”Is 50 taels enough?”

Lin Yuan says:”I want it to be quick so there needs to be more people. The best case would be finished by the summer.”

Jiang Gui stands up:”Since you already asked, as Gege I of course must help. A lot of refugees have come to Wu city. We can have them do the building, just give them food. That will save some money.”

These refugees were not accepted into Wu city. Their arrival often heralds a decrease in safety of Wu city’s residents so they had not been allowed in and instead must remain outside the city gates in grass shacks. The passing of winter sees the lessening of refugee numbers.

Some died, some left.

Those that are left, all of them are young and in their prime.

Jiang Gui says:”When they just arrived last year, I even saw some children. But now only two are left, and almost on the verge of death.”

Lin Yuan frowns:”Did they feeze to death?”

Jiang Gui nods, sighing:”The higher ups won’t allow their entrance into the city and I can’t do anything about it either. My own situation is difficult, truly unable to help.”

Jiang Gui may be a kind person but without the wealth to express his kindness.

Lin Yuan says:”I’m fine with them doing the building but they may not be easy to manage.”

He is afraid that once a person is at their limits then they will choose to walk on the edge of a blade. The saying that the barren hills and wild rivers will produce wicked people is not untrue (TN: A saying that refers to environment influencing people). Once a person has nothing to hold them back then they will turn into beasts.

Jiang Gui took another sip of tea, knitting his brows together:”I will talk with brother Dao.”

Brother Dao is after all a gang leader, managing people is a skill required.

Lin Yuan did not refuse:”See if brother Dao is willing to manage them.”

……..

“No problem!” Brother Dao is currently chopping up the firewood. Hearing Jiang Gui’s question he agrees. He wipes at the sweat on his forehead and even takes a palm leaf fan to fan himself after putting away the axe.

Lin Yuan watched in envy. Brother Dao’s physique is robust and sturdy with hard muscles and a tall height. Standing next to him you can even feel the heat rolling off him. Lately, the weather has not warmed much, even if Lin Yuan and Er Liang shared the same sheets the both of them still felt the cold. If not for brother Dao’s smelly feet he is all too willing to invite him for a sleepover.

Brother Dao looks at Lin Yuan in a new light, expression of respect:”Little brother Lin, you have the heart to do good deeds, Gege will not say anthing else but help you manage them well. You give them a chance to survive, if they don’t understand the ramifications then I will let them know the ramifications of stepping out of line.”

To be able to save money as well as help others in need, can be considered a situation where he has it both ways.

Lin Yuan is also in quite a good mood, cupping his hand:”Then I will trouble Gege.”

Brother Dao pats Lin Yuan’s shoulder, also looking at Jiang Gui, saying suddenly:”Us three, we have quite the predestined affinity, now we even collaborate in business, how about we find a day and swear brotherhood.”

Lin Yuan:”…..”

Jiang Gui:”…..”

They were just having a chat, how did it become about swearing brotherhood?

Jiang Gui was the first to react, he let out a laugh:”Exactly! Swearing brotherhood, becoming sworn brothers, this way relationships will be closer.”

Lin Yuan says quickly:”But my father and mother are both in the north…..”

In this time, swearing brotherhood may not have any legal effects but once sworn then you are as close as blood brothers.

Jiang Gui and brother Dao both looked at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan:”…..Once father and mother knows in the future they will surely be delighted little brother has two good older brothers.”

Original owner’s dad and mom, apologies, this is not of his desire.

The day was picked by a fortune-teller on the street. He is an old liar, lied his entire life, and actually even gain some jianghu experience from his lying. In short, say whatever one wants to hear no matter who they are. And quite a few people actually believes him.

Such as brother Dao.

“Chen Half-Immortal.” Brother Dao says respectfully, “these two are my good brothers, please help us find an auspicious day to swear brotherhood.”

Half-Immortal rubs at his beard. Originally being skinny, so with a large and billowy daoist robe on he appears quite convincing as a mysterious daoist with supernatural abilities. His face was already full of lines but still he scrunched it up even more, reaching out a hand to calculate:”Tomorrow at noon.”

Lin Yuan remain expressionless off to the side, Half-Immortal, are you not too random?

Having picked a day, brother Dao was about to pay, but Chen Half-Immortal pressed his hand down, asking seriously in a whisper:”Little Dao, I heard you have recently been doing business? I won’t accept your payment, let me also take part?”

In an instant the aura of mystery crumbled into pieces.

Brother Dao still looks befuddled, no matter what, unwilling to believe that this crass old man is the Half-Immortal in his heart.

Chen Half-Immortal sees brother Dao has still not come out of his shock, says again:”Don’t you worry, I have money.”

The profession of fortune-telling is originally like being a doctor, the older you are the more money you make.

Young, and the common people will not believe in your abilities.

Always feeling that the older ones put you more at ease.

The doctors at medicinal shops, even if they are still young, must grow a long beard, pretend they are older than they actually are.

Otherwise patients will not come in.

Jiang Gui is not a superstitious person, he says with a smile:”Half-Immortal, brother Dao has no say, the business belongs to this little brother. If you want to take part then you must speak with him.”

Chen Half-Immortal looks at Lin Yuan with a squint.

Lin Yuan stands there staring at Chen Half-Immortal, pondering whether Chen Half-Immortal is nearsighted or farsighted?

Chen Half-Immortal looks around, seeing no people familiar with him, quickly walks over to Lin Yuan:”Little brother, look at it this way, you only have a few people at hand, the most is eat up Wu city’s market. I have some friends, who does errands in other cities. You have them do the errands outside while you stay and count the money.”

Lin Yuan:”Half-Immortal, my business has just started, I don’t dare to think that far. If in the future there is an opportunity then I will come find you.”

Chen Half-Immortal becomes anxious:”Little brother, that is white and shiny silver……”

Brother Dao:”Half-Immortal!”

Chen Half-Immortal:”Ai.”

Brother Dao’s expression is not that good:”Don’t ask anymore about this kind of stuff, and don’t meddle, just do you fortune-telling.”

Chen Half-Immortal dare not say anymore. He arrived in Wu city two years ago, and it is thanks to brother Dao’s support that he wasn’t bullied. He dare not offend brother Dao so he immediately quietens.

Brother Dao is feeling quite depressed, he truly and sincerely believed Chen Half-Immortal is a Half-Immortal, but the result is not only is he not a Half-Immortal but a crass old man. He walks in the front, feeling angry with himself, thinking that the past two years he had been a complete fool.

Lin Yuan and Jiang Gui walks in the back giving each other looks.

No helping it, Lin Yuan walks over and consoles:”Brother Dao, it’s nothing big, Half-Immortal, after all, is only half. The other half is a common person and must eat, drink, defecate and support one’s family.”

Brother Dao sighs:”He lied to me.”

Lin Yuan:”…..”

“Tomorrow noon, we will go to Cheng Huang temple.” Brother Dao brushed aside thoughts of Half-Immortal and discusses with Lin Yuan and Jiang Gui, “Don’t forget to bring the things, wine and bowl. A knife too, a sharp one.”

Lin Yuan:”A knife?” We are swearing brotherhood, not dying together in the name of love, right?

Brother Dao is reminded that Lin Yuan is from the north, age is also young, doesn’t understand these jianghu rules:”Swearing brotherhood requires dropping some blood into a bowl of wine, three people then drink from the bowl.”

Lin Yuan:”Fine.” As long as the opening is not too big, the ancient times has no bandaids, Lin Yuan asks:”Is it alright to use a needle instead?”

This causes brother Dao and brother Jiang to look at him with disdain.

Lin Yuan’s heart feels extremely sorrowful, these two don’t know how frightening tetanus can be.

TN: Ugh, I always knew that the Chinese have ways of saying something meaningful with just four words or even less but it is not until translating when I realize that these four word phrases or two word phrases must be translated into longer English sentences :,(

It takes a damn long time. English sucks.