Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Inside the courtyard, the lingering aroma of tea from seeing off the two ministers had not yet completely dissipated. Lin San did not leave immediately. He sat quietly for a moment, and after confirming that no one else was around, he calmed his mind and, through the invisible divine connection, sought instructions from Lin Yan, who was far away in the space.

"Master, cooperation with the authorities has been established, and the grain trade has come into the open. So... should we continue to maintain our black market channels? If so, how should we position them? Please advise, Master."

Inside the space, Lin Yan, who was observing the growth of the spiritual herbs with his divine sense, answered almost without hesitation, his voice echoing directly in Lin San's mind:

"The black market must not only continue, but it must be operated even better."

He paused briefly to allow Lin San to process the decision, and then explained the reasons in detail. His meticulous thinking and far-sighted consideration impressed Lin San.

"First and foremost, and most realistically, is shipping capacity." Lin Yan's voice carried a calm, overarching perspective. "The Bao and Huo families each have a monthly shipping capacity of 100,000 tons, totaling 200,000 tons. That sounds like a lot, but you have to understand that we're facing a three-year-long, nationwide food shortage. This 200,000 tons might alleviate some of the immediate crisis, but it's absolutely a drop in the ocean, far from enough. We must develop more, more direct, and less constrained by shipping capacity supply channels."

"Go and greet those comrades from the Central Committee later," Lin Yan instructed, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Tell them clearly that we will fulfill the agreement regarding the grain shipped via Hong Kong. But for the north, we have other channels that can be excluded from this 200,000-ton shipping quota."

His reference to "the north" was clear. "Get our brothers in Heilongjiang moving. Along the long Sino-Soviet border, choose a quiet, discreet time and place late at night to retrieve the goods directly from the space and stack them up. Then notify our people back home to receive and transport them themselves. This way, we completely bypass the bottleneck of sea transport. How much we can provide depends solely on the output of our space and the border's receiving capacity. It's more efficient, and we can handle larger quantities."

"Secondly," Lin Yan's tone deepened, revealing a profound understanding of human nature, "the black market is something that cannot be eradicated. It's human nature; where there's demand, there's bound to be a market. If we don't do it, someone else will. But if someone else does it, they'll hoard goods, drive up prices, and profit from the national crisis. In the end, it's the ordinary people who suffer, and social order is disrupted."

"And we have a huge advantage in doing this," Lin Yan said with an air of absolute confidence. "First, we have a stable and almost unlimited supply of goods at extremely low costs. Second, we can promise the government that the price of grain at all black market outlets will remain the same as before, without any price gouging. We will sell it at our 'conscientious price.' That's our biggest advantage and our reputation!"

"You can use this as leverage to negotiate with the government," Lin Yan instructed Lin San on how to deal with the authorities. "Explain the pros and cons to them: rather than letting an uncontrollable black market proliferate, allowing unscrupulous merchants to profit and causing public resentment to boil over, it's better to let our 'controllable' and 'affordable' black market network continue to exist. We can even promise that the sales situation of each outlet can be secretly monitored by them to ensure that we do not raise prices and mainly sell to ordinary people who are truly in dire need of food."

"In this way," Lin Yan summarized, his thinking crystal clear, "we not only solved the dilemma of insufficient official transportation capacity to cover all demand, but also effectively helped the country stabilize hidden market prices, appease public sentiment, and demonstrate that our Lin Group is not solely driven by profit, but genuinely serves the country and its people. At the same time, the black market outlets can continue to serve as an important information gathering window and a covert channel for distributing supplies, achieving multiple benefits in one fell swoop."

"Remember," Lin Yan emphasized finally, "cooperation with the authorities is the overt approach, but to truly take root and have a far-reaching impact, the power of the covert network is often more important. The black market is an indispensable covert network for us. Go ahead, and discuss things along this lines."

Lin San suddenly understood, deeply admiring his master's far-sighted planning and thorough consideration. He respectfully replied, "I will obey your instructions, Master! Lin San understands what to do!"

He immediately realized that this was not just a business deal involving food, but a profound strategic maneuver concerning people's hearts, order, and future influence. What the master wanted was never merely profit or simple assistance, but rather to subtly infiltrate the Lin family's influence into both the overt and covert aspects of society, firmly grasping key moments. This "affordable black market" would continue to be a sharp blade inserted into real-world needs—silent, yet crucial.

Just two days after his meeting with Ministers Sha Qianli and Ye Jizhuang, Lin San received a notification from a higher level. The notification was personally delivered to his courtyard by a serious-looking but efficient secretary, whose tone was respectful yet authoritative: "Mr. Lin San, Comrade Chen Yun wishes to discuss some specific details regarding the grain supply with you in person. Please come to the office of the Financial and Economic Committee of the State Council at 9:00 AM tomorrow."

Chen Yun! Lin San's heart stirred slightly. This man was one of the core figures who controlled the nation's economic lifeline, concurrently serving as the director of the Central Financial and Economic Commission, and directly leading the industrial and commercial administration work that managed market order, including black market activities. His summons carried profound implications.

The next day, Lin San arrived on time. It was a simple yet practical office, with a large map of China and economic charts hanging on the walls, and a mountain of documents piled on the desk. Chen Yun sat behind a large desk, wearing glasses, his expression calm yet tinged with weariness, but his eyes were piercing. Several officials sat beside him, including Director Wang, whom he had met before, and a middle-aged man with a serious face and sharp eyes—Deputy Director Liu from the Administration for Industry and Commerce.

"Mr. Lin, please have a seat." Chen Yun's voice was calm yet carried an inherent authority. "Minister Sha and Minister Ye have already reported the situation to me. The Lin Group's timely assistance has relieved the people from their dire straits; the nation will remember this kindness."

"Minister Chen, you flatter me. It's just my duty." Lin San sat down calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

After a few pleasantries, Chen Yun changed the subject, getting to the point with a more serious tone: "The main reason I invited Mr. Lin here today is to discuss the follow-up implementation details in more depth, especially... the issues regarding transportation and supply methods. Director Wang reported that Mr. Lin mentioned another channel on the northern border?"

"Yes, Director Chen." Lin San nodded and clearly explained the plan he had previously discussed with Lin Yan: "With the strong support of Mr. Bao Yugang and Mr. Fok Ying-tung, Hong Kong's shipping capacity can guarantee 200,000 tons per month. However, this is still far from enough to meet the needs of the whole country. Therefore, we plan to find another way and directly supply grain through special channels in the north. Specifically, our people will select a suitable location and time along the Sino-Soviet border to prepare the grain, and your side only needs to send people to receive and transport it. This approach can completely bypass the restrictions of sea transport, is more efficient, and can handle larger quantities."

Upon hearing this, the officials present all showed surprise and excitement. This was undoubtedly fantastic news! Only Deputy Director Liu frowned, as if he had thought of something.

Chen Yun pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "If that's really possible, it would indeed solve the biggest transportation problem. The country will fully cooperate in receiving and transferring the goods. But..." He paused, his gaze becoming exceptionally sharp as he looked at Director Wang beside him.

Director Wang, sensing the gaze, coughed lightly, a hint of nervousness in his voice, and took over the conversation, forcing a smile as he said to Lin San, "Mr. Lin, there's another question. Regarding... regarding those... unofficial sales outlets you mentioned earlier. Director Chen and we both believe that now that we have formal cooperative channels, shouldn't these informal outlets, which clearly contradict current policies,... be discontinued? After all, they have a negative impact."

Before the words were finished, Deputy Director Liu, who had been holding back his anger, slammed his fist on the table and interrupted sternly, "It's not a matter of whether it should or shouldn't, it's that it must stop immediately! Mr. Lin! We don't deny that your Lin Group has contributed to the country! But merit is merit, and demerit is demerit! Engaging in the black market is disrupting the unified socialist market; it's speculation and profiteering—this is a matter of principle! In the past, due to special circumstances, we could temporarily refrain from pursuing the matter, but now that it has come to the forefront and gained the country's recognition and support, how can you continue to engage in such underhanded tactics? What kind of decorum is this! Where do you place our country's policies and regulations? Where do you place our Administration for Industry and Commerce?!"

He became increasingly agitated, his words sharp and vehement, filled with an instinctive aversion and distrust of the "capitalists'" exploitative and manipulative behavior, even carrying a hint of condescending reprimand: "I advise Mr. Lin not to become arrogant just because you've achieved some success, and not to try to challenge the bottom line of national policy! These black market outlets must be shut down immediately, completely, and unconditionally! There is no room for negotiation!"

This sudden, fiery, and accusatory rebuke instantly chilled the atmosphere in the meeting room. Director Wang, his face pale, wanted to smooth things over but didn't know how to begin. Chen Yun remained silent, simply watching Lin San, seemingly observing his reaction.

However, the fear, explanations, or compromises that Deputy Director Liu had anticipated from Lin San did not materialize.

Faced with this sudden, stern rebuke, the gentle smile on Lin San's face vanished instantly. He didn't slam his hand on the table or utter a word in rebuttal; instead, he slowly, very slowly raised his head, his gaze calmly meeting that of the righteous and stern Deputy Director Liu.

But the instant his gaze fell upon him, an invisible and intangible pressure, as heavy as a mountain and as cold as an abyss, instantly spread out from him! It was not a simple aura, but an absolute difference in the essence of life levels, an unconscious manifestation of the soul power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

In an instant, the air in the conference room seemed to freeze!

The once impassioned Deputy Director Liu suddenly felt a sudden heaviness, as if he had been thrown into the deepest part of the ocean. An indescribable pressure squeezed him from all directions, making it impossible for him to breathe and even making his heartbeat incredibly difficult! His mouth was open, but no sound came out. Cold sweat instantly seeped from his forehead and back, his face turned from red to white, then from white to blue, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror, and a fear that came from the depths of his soul. His body trembled uncontrollably, and he almost slid off his chair.

Director Wang and the other cadres, though not the primary targets of the intimidation, also felt a tightness in their chests and rapid breathing, as if something invisible was choking them. A strange, immense sense of palpitations and unease gripped them, turning their faces pale. They instinctively tried to back away, but found it extremely difficult to even move a finger. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, save for the heavy, labored breathing of the group.

Although Chen Yun, seated in the main seat, felt the least pressure, he clearly sensed the suffocating and terrifying atmosphere that suddenly enveloped the room, and the extremely unusual reactions of his subordinates. A hint of extreme surprise flashed in his deep eyes as he carefully examined the excessively young Mr. Lin before him once again.

Lin San didn't let the oppressive aura last long. After only a second or two, the terrifying pressure receded like a tide, as if it had never existed. A faint, enigmatic smile reappeared on his face, as if everything that had just happened was merely everyone's illusion.

But his voice carried an undeniable, cold calm, each word striking the still-shaken hearts of the crowd with clarity:

"Deputy Director Liu, you flatter me. Mr. Lin is not challenging the policy; on the contrary, he is doing his utmost to uphold the policy's ultimate goal—to stabilize public sentiment and safeguard people's livelihoods."

He stopped looking at the nearly exhausted and cold-sweat-drenched Deputy Director Liu, and instead turned his gaze to Chen Yun, whose eyes were deep and penetrating, his tone regaining some sincerity:

"Minister Chen, gentlemen, please forgive my bluntness. Closing our outlets is easy. But I ask you, after closing them, will there be no black market? What will people do when they can't buy enough food?"

He answered his own question in a low but resounding voice: "Real speculators will emerge, and they will not hesitate to drive grain prices sky-high! They will profit from the national crisis! At that time, it won't be surprising if a pound of grain sells for one or even several dollars! Public resentment will boil over, and society will be in turmoil. That will truly challenge the bottom line of the country and undermine the overall stability!"

"And we, the Lin family, will handle it," Lin San said resolutely. "We can guarantee Director Chen and the nation three things: First, all sales outlets will resolutely maintain the original price of grain, without raising it by even a penny! Second, we will strictly control the purchase volume, prioritizing ensuring that the most vulnerable families can buy enough to survive. Third, we welcome secret supervision from the government of all sales activities! What we want is not that meager profit, but overall stability!"

"Director Chen," Lin San finally looked at the silent Chen Yun, his tone utterly sincere, "one is a channel we control—affordable, semi-transparent; the other is a completely out-of-control, exorbitantly priced, hidden black market. Which one is more in the country's interest? Which one can better help the people overcome their difficulties? Please, Director, make your judgment. We are not asking for policy exceptions, we only ask that the country... tacitly approve this 'existence,' which in itself is the greatest contribution to stability. All overt responsibilities will be borne by the Lin family."

A long silence fell over the conference room. Deputy Director Liu slumped in his chair, panting heavily, not daring to look at Lin San again, his eyes filled with lingering fear. The others were still shaken, but also deeply moved by Lin San's words.

Chen Yun's gaze lingered on Lin San's calm face for a long time, then swept over the pale faces of his subordinates. Finally, he slowly, extremely slowly, nodded, his voice steady and powerful:

"Mr. Lin's words...are not without merit. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures may be necessary. Ensuring food supply, stabilizing market prices, and calming public sentiment are the top priorities. The specific...measures will be discussed in detail between Director Wang and Mr. Lin later. However," his tone suddenly turned stern, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, "what is said here today ends here. Externally, everything will be handled according to the rules."

These words undoubtedly represent the highest level of tacit approval.

Lin San understood, knowing his objective had been achieved. He bowed slightly: "Thank you, Director Chen, for understanding the situation. The Lin Group will certainly not let you down."

A crisis was quietly resolved thanks to the intangible deterrent effect of Lin San's absolute strength and his highly persuasive and pragmatic analysis. He not only preserved the crucial black market network but also left a powerful, mysterious, and significant impression on the top economic decision-makers.