Chapter 100 – A Remarkable Idea

Chapter 100 - A Remarkable Idea

◎ Doggy had an incredible notion in mind. ◎

The shopkeeper, who had spent his entire life in business, felt for the first time that his customer was outsmarting him, leading him by the nose. He still had a thousand bricks unsold, but this man wanted a ten percent refund upfront?

What was he even thinking? Dream on!

"I'm not selling anymore, not a single brick left!" Why bother selling at all, it would just make him look like a fool. The shopkeeper was about to call for someone to help load the bricks so he could get rid of this nuisance and have some peace to figure out how much he had lost.

"I'll find a few people to help me carry the bricks," Wei Datigeru couldn't possibly carry them all by himself. He thought about visiting Doggy's place; after letting his brothers take so much old grain for free, surely it wouldn't be too much to ask for a little assistance with the bricks?

The shopkeeper immediately regarded him with suspicion, "Who are these people?"

"Does it matter to you who I hire to carry the bricks when you're selling them?" Wei Datigeru raised an eyebrow. Seeing the shopkeeper's tense body language, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you really not going to sell those remaining bricks in your warehouse? How about this, I'll buy all of them instead. I won't ask for that ten percent refund, and I'll even give you three taels of silver, one tael and three mace. Hand over the rest of the bricks, and you won't have to worry about who I bring to help move them."

The shopkeeper sensed a threat but also doubted his instincts. He was now on edge, seeing every passerby as a potential thief ready to plunder his stock. Offering three taels for over two thousand bricks – if this were before, he'd chase the man away with a broom. But now, he was both panicked and desperate. He genuinely wanted to clear his inventory immediately. It wasn't that two or three taels of silver were significant; he certainly wasn't lacking in money. It was simply a merchant's nature not to accept a loss.

How could a mere two or three taels compare to one's livelihood? He wasn't boasting about being a wealthy man, but he had his share, and the neighboring Peaceful Town already had its fair share of tragedies, with three injustices a day and no intervention from the county magistrate. At this point, not only Zhihe Town but even Changping County was unsafe! He had to go to the capital city, regardless of the chaos outside. The capital was bustling, with many high-ranking officials, and its security was better. It would be a safe haven.

Realizing this, he couldn't help but laugh, slapping his forehead, only to find his palm covered in sweat from the tension he hadn't noticed.

He had almost put himself in danger for such trifles!

Was he a fool? Had he completely abandoned his merchant's sense of weighing pros and cons? He burst into laughter, patting his belly, and declared, "It's all yours! Go get people to carry away the bricks, and have them all gone by noon. No exceptions!"

With that, he turned to collect his account books and other items, not even bothering with the three copper coins.

Wu Datiger left the shop and wandered through the streets, skillfully losing anyone who might be following him. He turned into an alley and soon stood before Doggy's dilapidated wooden door. The old woman was still washing clothes with the three children, Doggy, Cat, and Mouse, despite her reddened hands from the cold. Her face was full of smiles, as if she saw a hopeful future and was filled with energy.

Knocking on the door, he heard the cautious voice of the young beggar inside, "Who is it?" Upon raising his head, he saw Wu Datiger standing there, impossible to miss.

The wooden door creaked open, and Doggy poked his head out, looking up at Wu Datiger for a few moments before grinning widely and pulling the door wide. "Do I look clean now?" He spun around proudly, laughing at Wu Datiger.

"You're spotless, I can finally see your face clearly," Wu Datiger replied. He had noticed that Doggy had taken his advice to heart; when his father had last come to town, he mentioned not seeing any beggars, which led Wu Datiger to suspect that the boy was hiding at home. As expected, after knowing him for so long, Doggy had always been disheveled, with tangled hair and a smell of two months without a bath. Now, however, Doggy had transformed. Though his winter clothes were patched and stained, the boy was clean from head to toe, wearing cotton shoes instead of going barefoot. His little face was scrubbed clean, revealing a rather handsome appearance.

Doggy felt very close to Wu Datiger, showing off his pearly whites. "Come in quickly, it's cold outside."

Wu Datiger stepped into the courtyard, which wasn't much warmer, with drafts blowing through. The old woman had already noticed him and had placed the only non-lame stool in the yard by the time he arrived. She was reserved and not much of a talker, but Wu Datiger was a benefactor to their entire family. Because of him, Doggy's older brother could bring back so much stored grain. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to afford food at current prices, and surely someone in the family would have starved. Now, thanks to the kind-hearted man's generosity, no one in the family faced the threat of hunger during the winter.

Her calloused hands scooped up a child, and the Cat and Mouse siblings, upon seeing Big Tiger Wei, their knees weakened, not from fear, but a desire to prostrate themselves in respect. But Doggie's glance stopped them; he knew the tall man disliked such formalities. Instead, he pulled up a stool, inviting him to sit: "Why are you here today? Is there something we can help with?"

Wei Dahu sat down and nodded: "I bought some bricks in town, but it's too much for me to carry alone. I was hoping your brothers could lend a hand."

"Doggie," upon hearing this, didn't ask any questions. He immediately called out to the boy from before, "Go fetch our brothers from outside, but be careful, don't wander off."

"Alright!" Mouse smiled at Wei Dahu and dashed out.

In a similar time frame as before, a series of footsteps echoed outside, suggesting they were running back. Leading the group was still Doggie's eldest brother, followed by a cluster of young men and boys, more organized than the last time. They had already shared a task together, so their bond was naturally closer. Especially Doggie's eldest brother, who, like paying respects to a mountain lord, bowed deeply to Wei Dahu, calling him "Big Brother." Wei Dahu tried to stop him, but in vain.

"Mouse said you bought quite a few bricks, so I called all the brothers back except for number twelve. Tell us where to fetch them and where to take them, Big Brother. We're at your service," Doggie's eldest brother grinned. While every household in town scrambled to stockpile grain, his family had no such worries and even found time to chop wood in the mountains to sell to wealthy families, earning a decent amount of copper coins daily.

No matter how little or much the money, it was still an income, better than being anxious like an ant on a hot pan. If not for the kindhearted man and the stored grain, they might have joined the town's bandits, pillaging for survival. Morals meant nothing when one was starving. For the sake of surviving the winter, these brothers would do anything.

Wei Dahu asked them to gather baskets and hampers, and Doggie's eldest brother promptly fetched a stack of freshly woven hampers from a side room. Wei Dahu could tell they were handmade, likely intended for sale, but for some reason, unsold.

Doggie's eldest brother distributed the baskets and hampers among the brothers. There were plenty of hampers, but not enough poles. However, it mattered little; they would simply hoist them onto their shoulders. They lacked possessions, but not strength. Each person armed with a basket or hamper, the group set off in a grand procession, Doggie included this time.

Upon arriving at the shop, the owner, intimidated by the group of men, was haunted by the current lawless atmosphere. But considering his benevolent act of selling the bricks at a loss, he assumed Wei Dahu wouldn't resort to robbery. Steadying his nerves, he personally led them to the warehouse.

The impressive stack of two thousand bricks was a testament to the value they represented. Doggie and his brothers didn't say a word; they simply began to gather and carry the bricks, following the predetermined plan to head for the Forked Forest, where they were well acquainted.

Load after load, the men carried or balanced the baskets on their backs, transporting the bricks to the Forked Forest. After the previous experience, they worked in perfect harmony. Upon reaching the destination, some returned with empty baskets while others remained behind, armed with sickles for protection against potential thieves.

Being young, Doggie couldn't bear the weight of heavy bricks, so he stayed at the warehouse to continue gathering them. The shopkeeper had already left, instructing Big Tiger Wei to lock the door when they were done. He felt secure leaving the warehouse unguarded since there were no other valuable items besides the bricks. They were free to do as they pleased.

Before noon, the group successfully emptied the warehouse.

Big Tiger Wei secured the warehouse door, slung the last basket of bricks onto his back, and joined Doggie and the others as they left the town for the Forked Forest. Just like before, they split into two groups to carry the bricks uphill. Big Tiger led them through the woods again, depositing the bricks in the same spot as the grain before.

However, with daylight illuminating their surroundings this time, everyone could see clearly. But it mattered little; even daily woodcutters would lose their sense of direction after being led through such twists and turns. The path felt both familiar and foreign, and without Big Tiger, they would be lost.

They all understood that their leader was taking precautions, but they didn't mind. He had already done much for them, and carrying bricks was a small favor. Even if they were being guarded against, it was only reasonable given the current instability in the town.

After several trips, Big Tiger led them down the mountain, repeating his earlier warning: "You all know the situation better than I do, living in the town. I'm not an important figure, but since you call me brother, I'll speak from the heart. The world seems to be getting more chaotic, and who knows what lies ahead. With your family's elders and children, you must all be aware and plan accordingly."

Doggie's eldest brother's heart sank. He turned to his siblings, who also looked at him, unsure of what to do. Of course, they were aware of the unrest in Dinghe Town, but what could they do? They were a group of powerless individuals who had begged for survival in Dinghe Town since childhood. Even the idea of finding a safe haven for their family seemed hopeless.

Moreover, if Dinghe Town wasn't safe, was there any refuge left in the world?

Still, Doggy ventured softly, "Big... Big Brother, could you give us some advice?"

Wu Dahu lowered his gaze at him. The pause in Doggy's address had revealed to whom the 'Big Brother' was directed. With his wide-eyed gaze, Doggy looked pitiful, so Wu Dahu replied, "I don't have any brilliant ideas, but I've heard a saying: 'To forge steel, one must be strong themselves.' If your own shoulders are sturdy enough, even a sharp blade pointed at your face can be broken."

Doggy appeared lost in thought, feeling like he understood but also not quite getting it.

"If this world has no place for you, then create one with your own hands," Wu Dahu continued. "Take the grain purchasing incident last time. Without your brothers, I wouldn't have been able to do it alone. What does that imply? It implies that a united group can achieve great things. You brothers have grown up together, inseparable and deeply bonded. If you work together, pull together as one, what danger could you possibly fear?"

His tone was calm, yet the words resonated deeply within Doggy, stirring a tremor in his heart. He seemed to grasp the meaning now. Yes, one instance led to another. If others could form alliances and thrive, why couldn't they, with so many brothers in their family?

There was no need to venture out to recruit outsiders; they could rally their own forces to get things done.

In terms of strength, his brothers were more than capable. When it came to unity, who could surpass them? They didn't plunder homes or oppress the innocent, but they could certainly mete out justice and eliminate evil. This way, they could act as instruments of heaven while justifiably taking from the rich to help the needy.

With money, they could purchase abundant provisions.

And with provisions, they could attract even more people to join them.

The more people they had, the more they could accomplish.

With this thought, Doggy's eyes gleamed brightly; indeed, he lived up to being the eldest brother, so clever!

"Author's Note"

My head is pounding, I'll wash up and go to bed. Goodnight everyone, I'll catch any errors tomorrow.

(All of Doggy's musings are his own imagination and unrelated to Big Brother Wei Dahu. He meant that unity among brothers can conquer all, but Doggy seems to have misunderstood.)

(This "Big Brother" title was just casual, not carrying any sense of responsibility.)