manynovel Chapter 29 Elder Brother's Demeanor and Long-Term Planning
Chapter 29 Elder Brother's Demeanor and Long-Term Planning
Inside the space, Lin Yan finished deducing the cultivation technique and suddenly remembered something important. He immediately focused his mind and, through the mysterious imprint in his sea of consciousness, contacted Lin San, who was far away in the mainland in charge of coordinating the black market network.
"Lin San, how is the situation progressing in various places?" Lin Yan asked directly through his mind.
A moment later, Lin San's steady voice came through the mark: "Reporting to Master, progress is as expected. The two lines of establishing strongholds and recruiting personnel are proceeding simultaneously. We have initially established a foothold in the provincial capitals and are now penetrating into lower-level cities and counties. Recruitment targets are prioritized for reliable and impoverished veterans. We have already recruited more than 300 people and are currently conducting training and assessments in batches."
Lin Yan pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Well done. But remember, the preliminary preparations must be thorough; better to be slow than chaotic. Once all the strongholds are ready, do not immediately deploy large quantities of food."
He carefully explained the strategy: "Initially, we can encourage and guide nearby villagers to form teams to hunt and gather wild game in the mountains. We can then exchange grain for their prey. This way, we can slowly supplement the local meat supply without seeming too abrupt. Most importantly, this year, at least openly, there absolutely cannot be any excessive amounts of grain of unknown origin!"
His gaze deepened: "The 100 million tons of grain we have prepared in our warehouses are not only life-saving grain, but also strategic resources. They must have a 'legal' source that can be openly acknowledged. Ultimately, this grain will be used for large-scale transactions with the government. There must be ships, people watching them being transported in from 'overseas,' and a complete, verifiable logistics chain."
"If a huge amount of grain suddenly appears on the black market, the state apparatus will first suspect whether its source is legitimate, and secondly, it will investigate how such a large transportation fleet and channels could have been used to smuggle it out. This will arouse unnecessary vigilance and thorough investigation, which will only make things worse. Therefore, you must accurately grasp this 'degree'. In the early stages, use barter, test the waters on a small scale, and slowly increase the quantity. The real bulk of the grain should be 'seen' at the right time and in the right way."
"Yes, Master! Lin San understands! I will definitely keep a good balance and never act rashly." Lin San immediately understood Lin Yan's meaning and responded solemnly.
After severing the connection, Lin Yan felt somewhat relieved. Planning ahead requires careful attention, like cooking a small fish; it cannot be rushed.
The next day after get off work, "cousin" Lin Gang came home a little earlier than usual. As he pulled his cart into the yard, he ran into Uncle Yan Bugui, who was watering the flowers at the gate.
When Yan Bugui saw Lin Gang's sturdy build and energetic appearance, and thought of the delicious pork from yesterday, he couldn't help but beam with joy and greeted him, "Gangzi, you're off work so early today?"
Lin Gang stopped his cart, gave a simple, honest smile, and pointed to some woodworking tools and a few pieces of good timber on the cart, saying, "Uncle, you're here at the perfect time. Yesterday, I went up the mountain and not only hunted a wild boar, but I also saw some nice trees and cut down some logs. I was thinking of making a reclining chair for my little Yan as soon as possible. When the weather gets better, he can move it out to bask in the sun; the doctor said it's good for his health. I'll also get him a small tea table next to the reclining chair, and put his water bottle and cup there, so he doesn't have to go through the trouble of running back inside to get a drink."
Uncle Yan Bugui was a little bewildered by Lin Gang's meticulous and thoughtful manner, which almost treated his younger brother like a son. His own calculations and confusion couldn't help but surface, and he blurted out, "Gangzi... I'm not trying to criticize you, but aren't you... spoiling Xiao Yan a bit too much? He's such a big young man..."
Upon hearing this, Lin Gang's honest smile remained unchanged, but his eyes became exceptionally serious. He looked at the Third Uncle, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable firmness:
"Third Uncle, you don't know this. My father and Xiao Yan's father are brothers. Now, only our generation is left in our hometown; all the elders have passed away. According to the old custom, I am Xiao Yan's closest brother in this world."
He paused, his tone growing even more serious: "Yes, Xiao Yan couldn't go to work because of health reasons. But he gave me such a good job opportunity without hesitation, allowing my wife and me to establish ourselves in the city, have a stable job, and become proper city dwellers. I, Lin Gang, will remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"
"So, in my heart, I am his older brother, and an elder brother is like a father! I have to support this family! As long as I have it and can do it, I am willing to give it to him. What's a table and chair for him? If Xiao Yan wants to eat meat, I will go up the mountain to hunt for him! If Xiao Yan wants to eat fine grains, I will work hard and save up more food coupons to exchange for them for him!"
As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced around to make sure no one was watching before lowering his voice and speaking frankly to the Third Uncle, "To be honest, Third Uncle, I secretly asked the doctor who treated Xiao Yan... and the doctor said that Xiao Yan's illness is probably difficult to cure in China. But I've heard... that in Hong Kong, in foreign hospitals, there might be a way..."
His eyes shone with a mixture of hope and heaviness: "I've been thinking that my wife and I should work harder now, save every penny we can. When things are a little better in the future, we'll see if we can find a way to take Xiaoyan there for a checkup... What if... what if he can be cured? Then I'll have done right by my uncle's spirit in heaven, and I, as his older brother, will be at peace with myself."
These words, though sincere and unpretentious, conveyed a profound sense of responsibility and deep brotherhood.
Yan Bugui listened in stunned silence. He had been a shrewd strategist his whole life, always weighing the pros and cons of everything, and finding joy in the smallest gains. But now, faced with Lin Gang's sincere words, devoid of any personal gain and purely driven by brotherly responsibility, he was deeply moved, though he couldn't fully understand or agree with them at the moment.
He subconsciously compared the scenes of his sons bickering and scheming over trivial matters with the Lin Gang and Lin Yan brothers in front of him... In a daze, he felt that his family seemed to be missing something of vital importance.
What exactly is missing?
Yan Bugui frowned, watching Lin Gang shoulder his lumber tools and head towards his home. For the first time, he fell into genuine contemplation, one that transcended petty calculations. Perhaps, he needed to think things through carefully to understand.