Chapter 629 - 456: Double Yolks Right Off the Bat

Furthermore, some of the guards were originally from the surrounding villages.

Zhou Kunshan could just hide the goods, pretend he was visiting relatives or on some business, and as long as he gave a heads-up, he’d be let through.

"This... I shouldn’t accept this, right?" Lin Dadao’s eyes turned green at the sight of the meat sent by Zhou Kunshan.

Back when the village had strong laborers, they were able to get some meat every now and then to improve their meals.

Now just surviving is extremely difficult. Thinking of eating meat is even more out of reach.

"I haven’t contacted the salt seller yet. It might still take a few days. Perhaps..." Lin Dadao hesitated for a long time but didn’t suggest Zhou Kunshan take the meat back.

Zhou Kunshan laughed and said, "Uncle Lin, you watched me grow up, no need to be so formal with me."

"Our lord said, a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. Our trade has been ongoing for a long time, you can take the meat first, and when you get the salt, you can trade it with us then."

Declining Lin Dadao’s invitation for dinner, Zhou Kunshan hurriedly returned to Riverbend Village with his men.

Staying too long might attract unwanted attention.

When they returned, they happened to see Fengg Haitao walking into the house.

"Hey, I thought Luma Village wasn’t far from us, why did it take so long to return?" Zhou Kunshan asked suspiciously.

"I had to avoid some checkpoints on the way." Fengg Haitao replied, somewhat embarrassed.

After all, due to health reasons, he rarely had the chance to go out before.

Except for the people in Riverbend Village, he had hardly interacted with outsiders.

So when encountering those checkpoints, he could only choose to take a detour.

Zhou Kunshan slapped himself on the forehead in annoyance, apologizing to Fengg Haitao, "I was just focused on completing our lord’s task quickly, I forgot that your situation is different from mine."

"After reporting to our lord later, come find me. I’m familiar with the checkpoints on your route, I’ll tell you how to pass through quickly."

Both parties traded what they needed, and the transactions between Zheng Yi and several villages went so smoothly that Zheng Yi once doubted if there was a catch.

However, it was just Zheng Yi’s habit of thinking. It was merely an exchange between four villages.

Involved less than two hundred households, with a population of only a few thousand.

Except for those involved, others likely didn’t pay any attention.

Originally, Zheng Yi planned to start these trades after dealing with Zhao Tianming. Once everything settled, he wouldn’t have to cautiously probe.

But since Zhao Tianming remained inactive, despite his key position, Zheng Yi couldn’t just do nothing while waiting for him.

So, before Zhao Tianming returned, he could only proceed step by step with his plan.

The grain from Xiyuan Village was nearly depleted after just two purchases.

After all, being just a small village, even in good years, there was little left to sell after keeping some for themselves.

Moreover, Riverbend Village was like a bottomless pit, they practically devoured the grain in the blink of an eye.

As Zhang Gu regretted the inability to continue exchanging grain for meat from Riverbend Village,

Zhou Kunshan came up with another idea for him.

Though they didn’t have grain themselves, other villages must have some stored.

Even if a single village’s grain wasn’t as much as Xiyuan Village,

by purchasing from several villages, they could gradually accumulate enough quantity.

"That’s right, such a simple principle, why didn’t I think of it before?" Zhang Gu’s face flushed with excitement.

Fengg Haitao’s mouth twitched downward in mockery, "It’s not that you didn’t think of it, but you didn’t dare to think of it."

On Zhang Gu’s dark face, a rare blush appeared, and he stiffly retorted, "I really didn’t think of it... Now, I’m going to find a way to get some grain."

For what Zheng Yi sought to accomplish, grain was always the most important strategic resource, and there was never too much of it.

The same was true for the hemp cloth from Luma Village; no matter how much was sent, Zheng Yi welcomed it all.

Therefore, he also needed a continuous supply of meat to trade with the villages.

During the day, when Zhao Qing came to take the people to the mine, he noticed that several people were missing from Riverbend Village. His face darkened immediately, "Zheng Yi, what is the meaning of this."

Zheng Yi wore a partially ingratiating smile, "Steward Qing, please listen to what I have to say. When we woke up this morning, we found that a few people seemed to have contracted a contagious disease. I didn’t let them go to the mine to prevent spreading it to others."

"If it’s just our Riverbend Village, it wouldn’t be an issue, but I’m afraid they might carry the disease to the mine, and if others get infected, I couldn’t possibly bear such a burden."

"Even if these commoners died, they died, but under no circumstances should Steward Qing be implicated."

"And you can rest assured, Steward Qing, even if we’re short on people, Riverbend Village will definitely meet this month’s quota. Moreover, your share will absolutely be included, so you can rest easy."

Zhao Qing was insatiably greedy, but he was by no means a fool.

Clenching his teeth, he threatened Zheng Yi, "Boy, I don’t care what tricks you’re playing. But you’d better deliver on your promises. Otherwise... even if I don’t do anything to you, those above will never let you off."

"Don’t think those above are unaware of your little tricks. They’re just too lazy to bother with peasants like you."