Chapter Eighteen: Meat in the Future

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  On the evening of August 1st, Li Meng and Zhao Nai sat outside the gate chatting. They didn't sit in the courtyard because both families' courtyards were almost filled with sacks of salted grass.

  Two people chatted idly while gazing at the village entrance. As the sun was about to set into the sea, the person they were waiting for arrived. Chen Liu and Wang Hai hurriedly walked from the village entrance, both with somewhat excited expressions. Zhao Neng suddenly jumped up, waving his hand repeatedly, while Li Meng slowly stood up. Chen Liu quickly took a few steps forward and said in a low voice:

  "Brother Li, today I walked around that small road with Xiao Hai and saw a few people from the nearby villages, no one else."

  Li Meng nodded and said after a moment of contemplation:

  "Tomorrow morning at the fifth watch, come to my place to load salt. We're going to Xiangmeng Town to sell salt. Xiaohai, go from door to door and inform everyone that they should all bring their chicken carts. I told them seven days ago to prepare. Also, tomorrow have each person bring a 10-foot long bamboo pole as thick as a fist."

  Now these people have formed a habit, what Li Meng said, whether they understand or not is one thing, just do it. Wang Hai's childlike heart doesn't feel tired after walking all day, and he excitedly runs to each household to inform them. Chen Liu didn't go, and Li Meng doubtfully says:

  "Sixth child, hurry back to sleep, you still have to get up early tomorrow?"

  Chen Liu Zi lowered his head and chuckled a few times, somewhat embarrassedly saying:

  "Brother Li, I have a cousin who is very envious of us and begs me every day to let him join our business. This matter still needs your decision, what do you think?"

  Li Meng smiled and said:

  "It's just that we're more at ease with our own brothers and relatives, let me take a look after this trip is done, and then we can do it together."

  Chen Liu saw Li Meng nodding in agreement, and he was overjoyed, thanking him repeatedly. Only then did they return home to rest. The sun had by now completely dipped into the sea, and at this moment, the sky and sea merged into one line, creating a breathtakingly beautiful sight. Li Meng and Zhao Nai stood there, gazing out at the not-too-distant sea surface, neither of them speaking until the sky gradually darkened.

  "Brother Zhao, from now on we can eat meat every day~~~"

  Li Meng said in a low voice.

  In the morning, more than a dozen people pushed the chicken cart to gather at the village entrance. What Li Meng said was listened to by everyone, and they all held a thick bamboo pole in their hands. The bamboo poles from Shandong were very common things, and it was also convenient to find them. Li Meng also had one in his hand, and being the leader had this advantage - he didn't need to push salt or carry salt, just following along would do.

  According to Chen Liu's words: "Li Dage, if you lead everyone and still let you transport salt, wouldn't we be ashamed to death?"

  Everyone first moved the salt bags into Li Meng's courtyard and loaded them onto the carts. The courtyards of Li Meng and Zhao Neng were not large, but the amount of salt they received was not something that could be transported by these dozen or so single-wheeled carts at one time. As they quickly moved the goods, on the other side, Li Meng asked Wang Hai to bring over each person's bamboo pole, and he would cut a notch in the top with his waist knife.

  These days, Li Meng sharpened the knife very sharp, one cut down is a diagonal cutting surface, originally flat-headed bamboo becomes pointed.

  After transporting the salt goods, everyone took back the bamboo poles. However, these bamboo poles had sharp tips and were very long, making it inconvenient to place them horizontally on the cart. Fortunately, Zhao brought a pole holder and inserted the bamboo poles into the middle of the single-wheel cart, which did not affect the movement while pushing the cart.

  Because it was around five watches before leaving the village, when the sun came out, these people had already walked out of ten or more miles. It was so early, and not during the busy farming season, that there were basically no people on the small road. Halfway through, everyone stopped to rest for a while, and Li Meng had prepared steamed buns and salted fish for everyone to fill their stomachs.

  It's a coincidence that this is the place where Li Meng killed Yan Ding with his broadsword, showing off his divine power. Today, there are still five people who weren't present that day. Since they're all their own people, there's no need to hide anything. Chen Liu and others excitedly described Li Meng's majestic appearance on that day, leaving the young men in awe. Looking at Li Meng again, their eyes already held a few more parts of reverence.

  They set out early, ate their fill, and walked quickly. With some time still before noon, Li Meng and his group had already arrived at Fengmang Town. It seemed that Hou Shan was waiting in this direction. Seeing the salt-trading team approaching, he hurriedly smiled and went forward to greet them.

  As they got closer, Hou Shan saw that each rickshaw had a bamboo pole inserted into it and couldn't help but pause in surprise, wondering what kind of rule this was. Then he looked ahead and saw Li Meng walking in front, only to realize that these people were actually acquaintances. The last time he saw Li Meng, he was still dressed in tattered clothes with a messy beard, but this time he looked much more refined.

  It's true that clothes make the man. Hou Shan was even more polite and respectful to Li Meng, who also didn't hesitate and handed over several dozen coins, saying loudly:

  "This is today's salted goods, still the old routine, take us there!"

  Seeing each other again is still so generous, Hou Shan laughed and couldn't even see his eyes, bowed and said:

  "Mr. Li, recently the roadblocks everywhere are strictly checking for salt, and all the salt merchants are anxiously waiting. Your salt goods won't have any trouble selling."

  These salt goods are naturally not worried about selling, and the content of sea salt sand and impurities is very small. Compared with salt sent from other places, it can be considered a high-quality product. Moreover, when collecting salt, the salt merchant opens at what price, and does not dispute it. The salt merchant is naturally willing, and Hou Shan leads them to the Wang family's salt warehouse.

  One or two silver coins, this time they were all single-wheeled carts. Compared to carrying on shoulders, it was a bit more convenient. In total, 30 taels of silver were received, and after deducting the six taels for salt, there were still 24 taels left.

  Hou Shan got nearly three hundred wen, and his attitude became even more respectful. Dealing with Li Meng and others earned him several times more than others, and now everyone was familiar with each other and didn't want to sell through intermediaries anymore, so they went directly to the salt merchants.

  Still the old routine, as soon as they went out, they divided the money. However, this time's salt goods were paid for by Li Meng, and even the food on the beach was paid for by Li Meng every day. Everyone felt embarrassed to take the silver, but Li Meng insisted on dividing it among them, 600 yuan per person.

  Zhao Neng, Chen Liu Zi and the others were overjoyed after receiving the money, thinking that they had earned such a high reward with just some effort. It was rare for them to come to Meng Town together, so they all went shopping for their families, cheering each other on. After Hou Shan received his pay, he wanted to leave, but Li Meng called him back, patting the stone by the road and gesturing for him to sit down. As Li Meng was Hou Shan's big boss, Hou Shan naturally had to fawn over him, so he quickly sat down with a smile. Li Meng gazed at his companions who were happily shopping, asking casually:

  "What kind of people are those who come to Mangzhong Town to sell salt?"