Restless after too much quiet, off to Wu City for a look-tiger pelts in Southern Xinjiang?

This time, Liu Gaolou brought Li Long two Caterpillar Excavators. Unlike the wheeled ones Li Long had expected, these ran on tracks. There were also five used trucks of different models. GAZ was the only make Li Long recognized. There were several cars as well, making another long convoy.

Fortunately, winter had already arrived, and there were few people on the streets. Those who saw them watched for the spectacle. A few followed along, but not many.

Excavators looked quite impressive at the time. At least, there were hardly any in Ma County then. Liu Shanmin had also chosen ones in relatively good condition. Even in winter, the sight of those tracks grinding and creaking toward him felt different.

"I remember you telling me they were wheeled, weren't they?" Li Long asked as he poured Liu Gaolou some tea in the reception room.

"That's what I wanted too. Wheeled ones move so much faster. These tracked ones nearly wore me out!" Liu Gaolou had plenty of complaints himself. "My second uncle asked me to explain. They were already processing the paperwork for the wheeled ones, but someone swooped in and snapped them up.

"There was nothing he could do. He said that although he'd made quite a bit over there with scarce goods like white sugar and padded shoes, and the contacts he'd cultivated had formed a network, trading companies from other countries were dealing in these things too. Europe and the United States, even those little Japs.

"He was careful in his dealings, or he'd have nearly fallen for a scam where the same goods were sold twice. Fortunately, there's plenty of stock in the used machinery market over there right now. There are actually still wheeled ones, but they're not in very good condition. My second uncle figured