Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 260 You know what I mean, right?
The so-called "vehicle drivers" are not people who pull or drive vehicles, but rather people who mainly engage in the resale of grain.

After the fall of Beiping, the city's economic situation deteriorated rapidly, prices soared, and supplies were extremely scarce.

The looting by the Japanese and their puppet regime led to a severe shortage of essential supplies for the residents of Beiping, while Zhangjiakou and Xuanhua had relatively abundant grain production and lower grain prices than Beiping.

Although the Japanese military implemented a policy of controlling strategic materials, and violators would be punished as 'economic crimes',
However, the pressure of hunger, the price difference in grain, and the relatively short distance still drove many people to risk taking the train from Beiping to Xuanhua and Zhangjiakou to sell small commodities, and then buy grain to bring back to Beiping.

This is what's called a sports car driver.

To put it simply, at that time in Beiping, there were at least 80,000 people who made a living by driving cars, and there were also quite a few people from other places who came to Beiping to work as drivers.

However, due to strict enforcement, the quantity carried by each person is relatively limited, and the vast majority of them do not pose a significant threat.

If we're talking about the biggest ones, then it would be those traitors.

Although they did not participate in the matter personally, those who carried large quantities of goods all had their shadows behind them.

There are many black markets in Beiping, and most of the grain sold there comes from these black markets.

For example, in the black market managed by Little Ears, there are quite a few people selling grain.

"A sports car driver?" Little Ears' mind raced. "Brother Cao, are you thinking of getting into the grain reselling business?"

"I suppose so." Cao Weida nodded and waved his hand, "Alright, hurry up and get it done. I have to go out for a bit. Let me know when it's done."

After saying that, he got up and left the police station.

At noon, Cao Weida met with Zheng Chaoyang and discussed the matter of supplies.

Zheng Chaoyang was pleased to learn of the shipment of grain and weapons, but he had some doubts about contacting Lao Luo privately and transporting the supplies out of Ruixin Grocery Store.
"Why not just put them at Ruixin Grocery Store and let Lao Luo sell them directly?"

Cao Weida shook his head directly: "No way. Putting aside the fact that guns and ammunition cannot be openly transported out of Ruixin Grocery Store, even getting them in and out is a problem."

"Any goods that pass through Ruixin General Store must be registered and recorded. And Ruixin General Store is not just owned by the Japanese Army, but also by the Navy."

"This batch of supplies cannot be made public, and the Army will certainly not consider sharing the profits with the Navy, you know what I mean."

Zheng Chaoyang understood, so he didn't say anything more and got up to leave.

In the afternoon, Xu Jingge contacted him again.

“I have already conveyed your message to the higher-ups, and they have agreed. They will no longer assign Liu Rusi any tasks. She will be your sole intermediary liaison, placed under my command, and I will assist you in establishing the transportation line.”

"That's for the best." Cao Weida nodded upon hearing the result, his emotions remaining calm, as this was something he had anticipated.

However, what he didn't expect was that Liu Rusi would be assigned to Xu Jingge's command.

That's good too. Given his relationship with Xu Jinge, even if the war is won, Liu Rusi will receive great protection and care.

"Start preparing now. If you need any help, just tell me and I'll do my best to help you."

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony. I do have something I need your help with. I've already chosen the transport route, and I need you to prepare some permits, good citizen certificates, and exemption certificates."

Upon hearing Xu Jingge's request, Cao Weida chuckled inwardly, thinking, "What a coincidence!"

Previously, it might have taken some effort, but now, he can easily produce a dozen or so exemption certificates and passes, which is more than enough for Xu Jinge.

It should be noted that Ono Oda and Fujita Sosuke, in order to "do good deeds and accumulate merit," and because such things could not be publicized in a big way, and were also troubled by the food shortage in Beiping, were in a situation where even a skilled cook cannot cook without rice. Therefore, they gave Cao Wei Da considerable authority to find a way to obtain food.

Therefore, special passes, inspection-free passes, and the like, can be issued in any quantity he asks for.

Of course, there has to be a limit to the number, but whether there are a few more or a few less is just a matter of his word.

He smiled and agreed. After returning to Sesame Alley in the afternoon, he did not go home, but instead knocked on the door of Yan Zhensheng's house diagonally across the street.

"Oh, Master Cao! Please come in, please come in!" Upon seeing that it was Cao Weida who had come to the door, Yan Zhensheng hurriedly smiled and invited Cao Weida into the house, and then had someone serve him tea.

Before long, a woman dressed in coarse clothes came in carrying tea and said respectfully, "Master, sir, please have some tea."

Cao Weida picked up the teacup, looked it up and down, and then smiled at Yan Zhensheng:

"Boss Yan's family upbringing is indeed remarkable; even a maid is so well-behaved and polite."

Yan Zhensheng smiled modestly and said, "Master Cao, please don't make fun of me. Our Yan family has been making pickled vegetables for generations. How could we have learned the manners of a wealthy family?"

"Her name is Baofeng. She is a descendant of Manchus and was originally the daughter of a wealthy family. Unfortunately, her family fell into poverty, so she came to our house to do some work to support herself."

Bao Feng glanced at Yan Zhensheng with some gratitude. The idea that she was here to do some work to support herself was just a nice way of putting it; it was just to save face for her in front of outsiders.

The truth is, she was sold to the Yan family by her parents! To be precise, she was a servant in the Yan family!

"Boss Yan is indeed very lucky; he can even bring the daughters of wealthy families under his wing."

"Master Cao, you're joking. What good fortune or bad fortune? It's just that I happen to lend a helping hand while trying to make a living."

Cao Wei Da smiled and didn't dwell on the matter any further.

He actually had a pretty good impression of Bao Feng. She came from a noble family and was the daughter of a wealthy household. She had been pampered since childhood, but later her family fell on hard times and she was sold to the Yan family to work as a servant.

She is straightforward, assertive, and decisive, but also somewhat cunning and selfish.

But she never did anything heinous, and she wasn't inherently bad.

Although she has lofty ambitions and is unwilling to accept her current fate, and is determined to change her life, what's wrong with that?

In any case, Cao Wei Da didn't think this was a flaw. People strive for higher positions, and water flows downhill; isn't that human nature?

Putting her aside, how many modern women don't have the same thoughts?

However, he didn't have any particular feelings for Bao Feng, mainly because she didn't appeal to him.

Now he has a large number of wives and concubines at home, and there are two women in Xiaguang Garden who he only favored once. He is no longer the boy who stared at a beautiful woman with wide eyes when he first transmigrated.

These days, he won't even bother with something unless he really likes it.

He glanced around casually and said:
"Is there some good news coming up at Mr. Yan's house? There are red decorations everywhere."

"Haha, that's right, it's my son Yan Kuan getting married, so as his father, I naturally have to hurry up and make the arrangements." Yan Zhensheng's face lit up with joy when he mentioned his son's wedding, but he didn't see the strange look that flashed in Cao Weida's eyes.

In Cao Weida's view, the Yan family was a complete mess and a total oddball.

He mentioned it before, but he still wants to complain now. He wonders if Yan Zhensheng's head was kicked by a donkey.

He thought his son was dead, so he arranged for his daughter-in-law to marry his son's best friend.
That's bad enough, but they even agreed to change the grandson's surname.
Later, Yan Zhensheng's wife, Lin Cuiqing, became even more audacious. Due to the promulgation of the new marriage law, Yan Zhensheng decided to divorce her. After the divorce, Lin Cuiqing developed feelings for Bao Xiang, the cook in the Yan family, and they had a daughter, Bao Cuicui.
Anyway, when he watched this TV series, his values ​​were pretty shattered.

Putting aside the fact that the marriage law after liberation didn't operate this way, and it's impossible to force someone to divorce, let's just talk about the Yan family's relationship.
Tsk, it's a long story.

He felt a strange feeling in his heart, but he smiled and congratulated him: "Oh, so it's the eldest young master of the Yan family getting married. Congratulations! Let me know when the wedding is held, and I will definitely prepare a generous gift."

"Haha, then thank you in advance, Master Cao."

The two chatted for a few more minutes, then looked around. Yan Zhensheng understood and waved for the servants in the room to leave.

Seeing that there were no outsiders present, Cao Wei Da said, "Everything is ready and you can take it at any time. Here is the address."

"Thank you so much, Master Cao!" Yan Zhensheng hurriedly took the note and thanked him excitedly. "Please wait a moment, I'll go get the money for you right away!"

This was a matter of life and death for his son, and he couldn't afford to be negligent in the slightest.

"."

When Cao Weida returned home, he found the women playing mahjong, with Mo He watching them with amusement.

"Hey, playing mahjong, huh? How's it going? Who won and who lost?" Cao Weida walked over to Mo He, who was watching them play cards with amusement, pulled her into his arms, and pretended to be angry.
"Look at you, nobody wants to hang out with you, and you're still here laughing like that, are you out of your mind?"

"No, that's not it at all. It's just that I'm not very good at playing and I don't want to lose money." Being hugged in front of her sisters made Mo He feel a little shy but also secretly pleased. She quickly waved her hands to explain, afraid that her husband might have misunderstood her sisters.

"Two barrels."

Liu Rusi played a card, covered her mouth and laughed, "Third Sister, don't listen to him, Master is just teasing you."

Then, she gave him a coquettish glare and said, "Master, you really are something. We sisters have such a good relationship and are very happy together."

"And you, you come right up here trying to sow discord between us sisters. Are you really hoping for unrest in the inner quarters?"

"That's right, that's right, the master is really too wicked!" The remaining concubines immediately chimed in, their faces showing a harmonious expression.

"Yes, yes, sir, I'm sorry. I'll apologize to you, okay?"

Cao Wei Da chuckled and took out a small peach wood box, handing it to Mo He: "Here are some gold bars. Consider them an apology. Take them and use them for your spending money."

Then, in a soft but perfectly timed voice, just loud enough for them all to hear, he said:

"They never include you when they're playing together, so when you're dividing the spoils, secretly hide a little bit of yours so they don't find out!"

(End of this chapter)