The War of Resistance: From Overseas Chinese Mechanics to King of Nanyang

"These are all top-quality refined salts." Chen Amao took the plastic bottle, looking at the snow-white granules with curiosity, and then looked at the other person.

"Can I try some?"

This kind of high-quality refined salt is something that even a small-time peddler like him can only afford a few times a month; it's something only high-ranking officials and nobles can afford.

"Try it as you like." It was just a little bit of fine salt, which Huang Zurong didn't care about at all. For him, this kind of necessity in later generations was already commonplace.

Having received permission, Chen Amao quickly opened the plastic bottle, dipped his finger in it, then put it on his tongue, put it in his mouth, chewed it for a while, and his eyes lit up.

"Good salt, not bitter at all." Chen Amao praised as he chewed, while inwardly thanking himself for his earlier quick thinking, otherwise this windfall would have been his.

He could easily make at least a dozen silver dollars by reselling these hundreds of pounds of refined salt, enough to live comfortably for several months.

"The price of smuggled salt on the black market is two yuan per catty, but we both know what kind of quality it is," Huang Zurong said, looking at the other person.

"Five yuan per jin (500g)."

"Too expensive." To everyone's surprise, Chen Amao shook his head, indicating that the price was outrageous.

"At most three yuan. Although the quality is excellent, not many people can afford this kind of fine salt. Most of the refined salt received on the black market is transported to the mountain city, where there are many high-ranking officials and nobles and the demand is high. However, the cost of transporting it there is also very high. There is no profit at all for five yuan."

That's true, since prices are naturally different in the place of origin and the place of consumption. Huang Zurong didn't refute this, but he certainly didn't agree to three yuan.

"Four is the lowest price. If it's lower than that, I'd rather have it stuck in my hands."

Because he knew that the Pacific War would break out in a few days, the Burma Road transport would be almost completely cut off, and the prices of all goods would rise. Even if the other side bought it for four dollars, there would still be a large profit margin.

"I don't have enough capital to cover this price. I can only help you contact some veterans, but there's really no profit margin at this price, and they might not agree," Chen Amao said after a moment's hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Huang Zurong remained calm and smiled at the other party, speaking unhurriedly.

"In a few more days, almost no supplies will be delivered."

"What..." Upon hearing this news, Chen Amao couldn't sit still any longer. If it were true, it would mean that the prices of all goods on the black market would skyrocket. This would be a huge opportunity to make a fortune. He just didn't know if it was true or not.

"Really?" Chen Amao asked excitedly.

"Of course, who else has better information than us car gang members?" Huang Zurong raised the banner without any hesitation, after all, when you're out in the world, your identity is what you give yourself.

Hearing this, Chen Amao did not refute it. After all, the supplies were all transported by the cart caravan members, and some of them also sold supplies on the black market to make a living.

There was no other way; life had become too difficult. This hadn't happened before, but in the last few months, some of the Nanyang Overseas Chinese mechanics who simply couldn't survive began smuggling supplies to sell on the black market.

In addition, there were also overseas Chinese mechanics who came to buy gasoline. The limited gasoline quota was far from enough, so in order to transport more supplies, they had to find their own way. Anyway, without approval from above, they could not get gasoline.

Besides the black market, they couldn't think of any better solutions.

"If that's the case, four yuan is indeed not expensive, but is the information reliable?" Chen Amao still felt it was unlikely, worried that the other party might be deliberately trying to fool him.

"Fortune favors the bold." Huang Zurong gave him a deep look, but didn't explain further, leaving it to him to believe or not.

This completely baffled Chen Amao. He wanted to take a gamble, but he was also afraid of losing everything and dying a horrible death.

"Okay, I'll eat it all, but give me some time to raise the money." Chen Amao took a deep breath, finally deciding to take the gamble, and said through gritted teeth.

"I need to see the yellow goods within half an hour. If you can do that, there will be even bigger business waiting for you later," Huang Zurong said meaningfully.

Since he claimed he could make the other party a boss in three months, he naturally had to demonstrate some ability.

Upon hearing this, Chen Amao responded, clearly somewhat tempted by the previous suggestion. However, he wanted to raise enough money before discussing the next step.

After the other party left, Chen Shunwen, who had been holding back his words, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"Brother Rong, where did you get so much refined salt?"

He had been holding this question in for a long time, and he would have asked it long ago if there hadn't been outsiders present.

"I saved it up," Huang Zurong replied without looking up.

"Huh?" Chen Shunwen was instantly dumbfounded. When did he save up all that?

How come he didn't know?

After all, they had been living together all this time. If the other person had secretly smuggled salt, he should have known. But what happened?

He felt that he didn't know the other person at all, and even felt a little unfamiliar with him.

Seeing the other person's expression, Huang Zurong thought for a moment and then explained.

"My family owns a bank, you should know that, right?"

"I know, UOB, right? Didn't you mention it before? But that has nothing to do with you, right?" Chen Shunwen meant that since you're not the eldest son of the main branch, you basically have no chance of inheriting the family business.

"My family contacted me and asked me to set up some businesses in China, because things aren't peaceful in Southeast Asia anymore," Huang Zurong said slowly.

"Huh? The Japanese are about to make a move?" Chen Shunwen instantly understood, and also understood why the other side was coming to the black market. Were they here to scout ahead?

After all, the Wong family's United Overseas Bank is quite powerful, operating in the trade of local products and specializing in buying and selling Sarawak's local specialties, so it's not surprising that they have refined salt.

The fact that they want to develop industries in China only shows how dire the situation is in Southeast Asia.

"Yes, it will be in the next few days." Huang Zurong nodded, not expecting the other party to react so quickly, saving him the trouble of making excuses.

"No wonder you were so sure the supplies wouldn't get in. If the Japanese really make a move, the supplies really won't be able to get in, and the prices will definitely skyrocket." Chen Shunwen sighed, then looked a little dejected. He hadn't expected that most of the supplies they had risked their lives to transport would end up on the black market, which really disheartened him. However, this guy's self-adjustment ability was quite good. He then worried about whether making too much money would be dangerous.

"Brother Rong, although we can make a fortune this way, wouldn't that be stealing other people's business? We have no foothold here, and we're probably just easy prey in other people's eyes."

Upon hearing this, Huang Zurong looked at the other party with surprise, truly not expecting that the other party would have such awareness.

"That's why I'm in such a hurry to sell salt. When I get back, I need to find a way to recruit more people and strengthen our capabilities."