Chapter 244
“This is 10,000 Peace Coins.”
After transferring 90,000 bricks to the warehouse of Desolate City Haven, Tang Yu’an counted out 10,000 one-unit Peace Coins as per Hei Xiong’s request.
Hei Xiong grinned and accepted them happily.
The wage from the brick kiln was 10 Peace Coins per month. If paid in 10-unit denominations, it would be just one note, but in 1-unit notes, it would be ten.
For ordinary town residents, the primary use of Peace Coins was for warmth. The value of individual coins didn’t matter much yet, so they preferred smaller denominations in greater quantities for wage payments.
Even the guards had the same preference, which Hei Xiong had noticed, prompting him to request payment in 1-unit notes this time.
Besides the monthly salary of 10 Peace Coins, the brick kiln also provided three meals a day.
In addition to soybeans, the menu now included newly harvested sweet potatoes, sweet potato leaves, and potatoes.
Every day, people gathered outside the brick kiln, hoping it would expand its workforce. Some were even willing to work just for food, without wages.
A new kiln was already under construction, and production speed would soon increase.
Five hundred workers had generated 10,000 Peace Coins’ worth of value in less than a week. The numbers would only keep rising, and the mountain lord would surely be pleased when she heard the news!
“How’s the sweet potato and potato harvest?” Tang Yu’an asked, noticing some guards carrying lunch ingredients.
“Very good!”
Hei Xiong chuckled. “And they taste better than soybeans, especially when roasted.”
He looked at the two young men and suddenly said with heartfelt sincerity, “I really don’t know how to thank you.”
Tang Yu’an waved his hand. “Since Sister Hong Li has joined the Merchant God Sect and become part of the Peace Commerce Guild, we’re family now.”
“We’re all working toward the same goal—to help more people stay warm and fed and to survive in this apocalyptic world!”
Having read plenty of discussions in forums about “Merchants’ Philosophy,” Tang Yu’an was able to say such words effortlessly. More importantly, he truly believed in this philosophy.
For Hei Xiong, however, it was the first time hearing something like this.
Although Hong Li had joined the Merchant God Sect, she never explained much to her subordinates.
Hearing Tang Yu’an’s words now, he couldn’t help but feel stirred.
“I understand!” he said. “I will do my best to contribute!”
Afterward, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi toured the brick kiln, offered some safety recommendations, and then took their leave.
“Brother Qi, Peace Coins are really popular now!” Tang Yu’an muttered. “But I feel like they’re being used differently than I expected.”
It seemed people were valuing Peace Coins more for their practical uses rather than their role as currency.
Would people ever really use them for trade?
“No need to worry. Once demand is saturated, people will naturally start trading with Peace Coins,” Zhou Qi reassured him.
“For now, issuing 1-yuan Peace Coins should accelerate this process.”
After all, people were hoarding Peace Coins primarily for warmth, but Peace Coins weren’t consumable items—their temperature-regulating effect could last over ten years.
Once people had enough to meet their needs, they would naturally start using the excess for trade.
As long as Desolate City Haven and Jufeng Grocery Store maintained a stable exchange rate, ensuring a consistent value for Peace Coins, there wouldn’t be any major problems.
Tang Yu’an considered Zhou Qi’s reasoning and realized it made sense.
Some people might still treat Peace Coins as treasures and hoard them, but eventually, more and more people would use them for transactions. The herd mentality would take over, and even more would follow suit.
After all, having a standard currency made trade more convenient and allowed for better price evaluation—just like mobile payments. At first, only a few people used them, but it took almost no time for them to spread nationwide.
They had time to let things develop naturally.
“The brick kiln only hires strong young adults,” Tang Yu’an said, glancing at the half-grown children waiting outside for job opportunities.
Zhou Qi nodded. It made sense—Hong Li needed the kiln to be profitable, and young adults were simply more efficient workers than children or the elderly.
“Let’s bring these kids to Desolate City,” Tang Yu’an suggested. “And the experienced elderly as well!”
Anyone who had survived this long in the apocalypse wasn’t someone to be underestimated.
Tang Yu’an was more than willing to recruit them. The elderly might not be suited for physical labor, but they could teach, manage, or perform other vital roles in the homestead.
“Let’s go talk to Sister Hong Li. With her help, this will be much easier.”
“Alright!”
Having agreed on their plan, they flew toward the guard post.
When Hong Li heard they had already completed their trade with Hei Xiong, she simply nodded, uninterested in interfering.
She had already delegated full control of the brick kiln to Hei Xiong. That way, it was no longer technically hers, allowing her to conduct business with him.
“Hei Xiong says the kiln is running well and is considering increasing production. Will you really take all the bricks they produce?”
“Of course,” Tang Yu’an nodded. “If demand for bricks ever decreases, we’ll give you a heads-up in advance.”
Hong Li frowned slightly.
Sensing her concern, Zhou Qi added, “Besides, we’ll also help Jufeng Town find other economic opportunities, so you don’t have to worry.”
Once residents who had found stable livelihoods lost their jobs, they could become a source of unrest. It was crucial to provide them with new employment.
Hong Li’s frown relaxed, and she smiled. “As expected of the Merchant God Sect—always so resourceful!”
Tang Yu’an then explained their main reason for visiting.
Hong Li raised an eyebrow. “Desolate City Haven wants to recruit teenagers and the elderly?”
“Yes,” Tang Yu’an nodded. “We hope the guard post can help us with the recruitment and arrange for soldiers to escort them to Desolate City.”
Before she could respond, he produced a small box, opened it, and said, “Inside are 10,000 Peace Coins as a reward for the guards.”
Hong Li’s expression fell slightly.
The last time she helped collect orphans, she received a fuel-powered motorcycle as a reward. She had ridden it all the way back from Desolate City, enjoying every moment of the high-speed journey.
Unfortunately, since it couldn’t be taken up the mountain, she had to leave it at the first outpost below.
She had been hoping for another exciting reward this time, but all she got was 10,000 Peace Coins…
“Fine, I’ll make the arrangements.”
Hong Li didn’t refuse. The population decline of Jufeng Mountain was inevitable, but since Desolate City Haven was at least taking in children and the elderly, it was a sign of goodwill.
“Still 50 people?”
“Yes, let’s start with that many for now,” Tang Yu’an confirmed. It wouldn’t be ideal to bring in too many at once without enough housing.
“Alright. But are you not using that big vehicle to transport people this time?” Hong Li asked.
“No, that vehicle is needed for something else right now.”
Tang Yu’an nodded and then added, “However, once we extend the security fence to the base of the mountain, we plan to set up a public transport system for daily commutes.”
There were passenger buses available for purchase in the marketplace. The standard model cost 50,000 points, while the smart version was even more expensive.
But he had a discount card, which made it cheaper.
Although the initial investment was high, Tang Yu’an believed better transportation would boost trade and development, just like how high-speed rail revolutionized their old world.
Since he had enough points now, he wasn’t afraid of spending up to 100,000 points on a good investment.
If only there were an automated ticketing system—it would make things much easier.
Then again, considering the residents of Jufeng Mountain, expecting them to self-pay might be too optimistic. At least for now, they would still need an attendant on board.
“If it doesn’t count, then why are transactions between employees deemed invalid? And also…”
Zhou Qi continued with another strong piece of evidence: “Malice toward an employee is considered malice toward the Mysterious Merchant and is restricted by the ‘Evil Guests Dispelled’ aura.”
Tang Yu’an opened his mouth, only to realize he had no way to refute it.
“Then let’s test it?” he suggested.
Originally, he planned to ask Sister Hong Li to find another unclaimed house, but seeing Zhou Qi’s expression, it seemed he had his eyes on the Guard Post.
“Hong Li has already joined the Merchant God Sect, and Jufeng Mountain will be an important focus of our future development,” Zhou Qi explained. “Since that’s the case, we need to bring Jufeng Mountain entirely under the control of the Merchant God Sect. We can’t let other forces swoop in and take advantage—not even the Fortress.”
And the Jufeng Town Guard Post was the center of power in Jufeng Mountain.
Only by controlling it could they truly bring Jufeng Mountain into their sphere of influence.
On the surface, it would still be managed by Hong Li, but in reality, ownership had silently changed hands.
This was also a test for Hong Li.
“If Sister Hong Li agrees, it proves she has fully sided with the Merchant God Sect. If she refuses… then she might still have other intentions.”
Listening to Zhou Qi’s analysis, Tang Yu’an felt a bit dizzy.
He really disliked thinking about these kinds of power struggles. He had assumed that once Hong Li became an employee, she was already one of them…
However, due to Qing Mu Fortress, they had always maintained some vigilance toward Sister Hong Li.
If this matter could remove those doubts, it might not be a bad thing.
“Alright, let’s do it your way,” Tang Yu’an obediently followed along.
Since they were still at the Guard Post, they could establish the new branch store immediately. As for the protective barrier and teleportation point, those would depend on how they later guided Hong Li to build them.
From Zhou Qi’s perspective, Sister Hong Li was likely similar to Brother Yunqing—she would need to exchange a large amount of personal points.
After all, Sister Hong Li wasn’t earning points much slower than Brother Yunqing.
Before long, Hong Li received a task notification.
[Congratulations! You have triggered the Elite Mission: “Establish the Guard Post Grocery Store.”]
[Elite Mission: Establish the Guard Post Grocery Store]
[Description: Due to your outstanding performance after joining, the Mysterious Merchant has decided to give you a further test.]
[Mission Objective: Leave a “1” in the store’s message board to agree to cede ownership of Jufeng Town’s Guard Post to the Mysterious Merchant and transform it into the Guard Post Grocery Store.]
[Reward: Blessing of the God of Commerce]
Seeing the mission notification, Hong Li was stunned.
Hand over ownership of the Guard Post?
She narrowed her eyes. Her first reaction was refusal—this was a place she had managed for years. How could she just give it away?
Even though she had joined the Merchant God Sect, she wasn’t ready to hand over all her assets so easily.
Hong Li carefully reread the mission details.
Leaving a “1” in the store’s message board?
So the message board really was being monitored by the Divine Envoys?
So far, there had been three revealed Mysterious Merchants—Solaris, Silver Light, and Dark Moon. She still didn’t know which one she was affiliated with.
“Blessing of the God of Commerce…”
Hong Li pondered the mission reward. She quickly thought of the strange abilities that had appeared in Desolate City Haven and Jufeng Grocery Store.
Anyone harboring ill intent toward the Merchant God Sect would be repelled, and even hostility toward employees was considered hostility toward the sect.
That must be the “Blessing of the God of Commerce.”
Her eyes flickered. After some internal struggle, she finally entered “1” in the store’s message board.
*
Meanwhile, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi had already used their Shadow Cloaks to return to the Guard Post.
Seeing the new message in the store’s chat, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but smile. Just as Zhou Qi had said—if Sister Hong Li agreed, it meant she was truly sincere in joining them.
That thought made him happy.
Then, he opened his interface and attempted to establish the new branch store.
[You are establishing a new branch store.]
[You have ownership of this building, meeting the conditions.]
[Would you like to spend 2,000 points to designate this building as a branch store?]
[Yes] [No]
Wow! It really worked!
Tang Yu’an excitedly clicked “Yes” and named the new branch “Peace Grocery Store – Store #10.”
With this, he officially owned eleven stores!
Before he could proceed with the next upgrade, he suddenly noticed something strange—some of the patrolling guards had vanished.
The moment the new branch was established, several guards from the Guard Post disappeared one after another.
In the end, about seven or eight people reappeared outside the Guard Post entrance.
They looked around in confusion, glancing at each other—only to see their leader emerging from the Guard Post with a dark expression.
