After dealing with Zhang Yuanwai, Lin Ze no longer felt like he had forgotten something.
His mood instantly lifted.
Over the next few days, Lin Ze finally settled into a quiet routine.
Every day was leisurely, with no need to rush around.
In the Other World, An Ye of Two Rivers Village was helping to buy up matsutake and build the Mountain Warehouse, making it easier for Lin Ze to transport his goods.
Meanwhile, in the Main World, thanks to Zhao Wenrou's efforts, Zhiyuan Trading Company was getting fully staffed and gradually settling into normal operations.
The company's employees regularly bought matsutake, providing Lin Ze with a source of goods in the Main World.
Aside from that, Lin Ze was preparing for the next stage of his trade between the two worlds.
Three days after concluding his trade with Green Curtain Mountain, an armored cash-in-transit vehicle pulled into the villa where Lin Ze lived.
With the help of the guards, 37.44 million in cash was counted and delivered to the safe in Lin Ze's villa.
A few days earlier, Lin Ze had arranged to withdraw the cash from the bank, citing payment for matsutake as the reason. After several days of preparation, it had finally arrived.
Including the more than two million in cash Lin Ze had obtained from his first matsutake shipment, he now had a full forty million in cash.
After seeing off the guards, Lin Ze got to work.
He began going out frequently with a large backpack on his back and a briefcase in hand, leaving behind traces suggesting he was using the cash to pay for the matsutake he had bought earlier.
Although Lin Ze was still a nobody, with no one paying him the slightest attention,
his efforts were mostly like winking at a blind man. Even so, this was a necessary cover.
It would keep him from giving himself away if anyone started paying attention to him in the future.
In reality, Lin Ze was gradually using the cash to buy silver.
The Gates to Heavens made things very convenient. Lin Ze could easily disguise himself and visit both legitimate and underground precious-metal markets in his own country and abroad, using his cash to buy physical silver.
His superb marksmanship and the extraordinary reflexes he had gained from martial arts were more than enough to keep him safe.
A week later, at the Two Realms Trade Base in Big Stone Village,
in the basement,
Lin Ze looked at the mound of silver bars before him, a smile appearing on his face.
This was the result of his efforts over the past while: a full 150,000 taels of silver, which had cost him 39.075 million.
In theory, Lin Ze could have bought the equivalent amount of silver directly from a bank, and done so much faster. But that would have drawn too much attention, and it wasn't something Lin Ze should do at this early stage.
This money would serve as the starting capital for the next phase of his trade between the two worlds.
"It's cramped."
Lin Ze looked around and shook his head.
The basement was still too small. With these 150,000 taels of silver in it, along with the other things he kept there, there was barely room to stand.
But his business was still in its early stages, so he would have to make do for now.
"Then I can start the next phase of trade between the two worlds."
A smile tugged at Lin Ze's lips.
"Young Master Lin, you're here."
At Eagle Beak Mountain, on the edge of Cloud Mist Mountain, the sound of wheels rolling rang out.
The many villagers from Two Rivers Village who were hard at work instinctively turned toward the sound. They saw Lin Ze in a blue-green robe, and greetings rang out one after another.
"Long time no see, everyone. You've made great progress."
Lin Ze smiled as he spoke.
He looked toward the site where everyone was building the warehouse.
The difficult part of building the warehouse was preparing the materials.
Whether felling trees or quarrying stone from the mountains, both tasks demanded a great deal of time and physical labor.
Twelve days had passed since Lin Ze had assigned the construction work. The materials were ready, so the building itself was going quickly.
By the time Lin Ze arrived, they were already putting the finishing touches on the warehouse.
It was built from stone blocks and wooden planks, and looked extremely sturdy. It would have no trouble standing up to wild animals or harsh weather.
"Looks like we'll have this warehouse finished by the end of the day."
"Since that's the case, bring all the matsutake bought recently here. I'll settle the wages while I'm at it."
Lin Ze said with a smile.
"Of course, Young Master Lin."
An Li, An Ye's son, was supervising the work there. He answered Lin Ze, then turned and went back to the village to let everyone know.
As for Lin Ze, he had some hot water boiled and dissolved rock sugar in it to make sweet drinks for the villagers on site.
They waited and chatted.
From the villagers of Two Rivers Village, Lin Ze learned what had happened at Zhang Yuanwai's home after that day.
He heard that after Zhang Yuanwai's death, his property had been seized, leaving his wife and children scattered.
"That really is a shame."
Lin Ze said this, but offered no further comment.
Some time later, An Li arranged for people to bring back the matsutake.
He also passed on his father's apologies, saying that An Ye's legs were inconvenient and he couldn't make the trip up the mountain, so he was waiting at home to welcome Lin Ze.
By then, the villagers of Two Rivers Village, refreshed by their sweet drinks, were working hard to finish the last of the construction.
After setting down the matsutake, they went back to Two Rivers Village to carry over more.
By afternoon, the finishing work was done, and a spacious, sturdy warehouse stood complete.
All the matsutake An Ye's household had bought over this period had also been brought over and placed inside the sturdy warehouse.
"Young Master Lin, there are thirty thousand jin of matsutake in all. It's all here."
"Also, fourteen people worked on this warehouse for twelve days."
An Li relayed the message his father had sent.
There was no rush to settle the payment for the matsutake, so Lin Ze paid the workers first.
As agreed beforehand, Lin Ze had set their wages at seventy wen a day. Each person had worked for twelve days, so each was owed 840 wen.
For fourteen people working twelve days, Lin Ze needed to pay a total of [amount omitted in source] wen.
Lin Ze took out specially made one-tael silver ingots and gave each worker one. The extra amount counted as a bonus.
On top of that, he gave each worker half a jin of rock sugar as an additional reward.
The villagers of Two Rivers Village all smiled happily as they received their wages and extra rock sugar.
Half a jin of rock sugar was worth 250 wen. For less than half a month's work, they had earned a full 1,250 wen. Such a job was hard to come by in the countryside.
"Thank you, Young Master Lin."
They all thanked him in unison.
"You're too kind. You earned this with your hard work. There's no need to thank me."
Lin Ze exchanged a few polite words with them and watched as they left.
"Here, this is for you. You've worked hard supervising everyone these past few days."
An Li had stayed behind. Lin Ze handed him two one-tael silver ingots.
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