IDWBE -Chapter 220 Profits Beyond Imagination

After Wang Xun tossed the last cleanly gnawed pig bone aside, he wiped his hands on his clothes and sighed.

“Brother… my dear brother, next time bring more. You don’t know, I’ve been drinking porridge all day, it’s making me sick. If I have to keep going, I really won’t survive.”

He had never endured such hardship in his life!

Wang Xing said irritably, “How would I not know?”

He had served six months in labor reform too! That had been the poorest time in Sanhe, life was hard, and porridge was all they had. Unlike now—at least now he had two pieces of pickled vegetables, some salt in his mouth, enough energy to work.

Going long without salt made him short of breath; after a whole day’s labor, his whole body felt paralyzed.

The next morning, he was awakened by the whip—if he didn’t get up, they’d keep hitting.

He still remembered Bao Kui and Shen Chu’s way of beating people.

Damn ruthless!

It made life worse than death!

But if one really died, hardly anyone would volunteer—living badly was better than dying.

Sanhe labor reform left an unforgettable mark on anyone who experienced it.

Anyone who went through it would have a calmer temper and wouldn’t dare strike others impulsively.

Sanhe labor reform truly taught people to become better, not just empty words!

“Ah,” Wang Xun said helplessly, “Why don’t you plead with Bian Jing? Even if I can’t eat meat every meal, at least let me eat my fill?”

He had never imagined his life could sink so low—just to have a full meal!

“Hmph, might as well let me go straight to Lord He!”

Wang Xing rolled his eyes.

“Well, then do it! Go to Lord He!”

Wang Xun’s eyes lit up, smiling, “Brother, thanks for this favor!”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Wang Xing flicked him on the head and coldly said, “You didn’t even answer when I asked earlier—how did you think of opening a casino?”

“Brother,” Wang Xun glanced around and whispered, “You don’t know how much money this casino brings in! Who told you I only make a hundred taels a month? I make at least this much every month!”

He held up his rough, calloused hand.

“Five thousand taels?”

“Your imagination is weak,” Wang Xun looked at his brother with disdain, smiling, “Be bolder!”

“Fifty thousand taels?” Wang Xing couldn’t believe it when Wang Xun nodded with a grin.

The Wang family was already one of the richest in Sanhe. Business or land dealings, the monthly turnover was huge—but net profit could never reach fifty thousand taels!

Now Wang Xun alone made that much—practically robbing money!

Wang Xun was pleased with his brother’s expression and proudly said, “Otherwise, why would so many risk labor reform just to secretly run a casino? You don’t know how profitable it is! Lord He is right—people are bold and productive! Brother! My dear brother! Watch and see, gambling bans are impossible to enforce. I’ve heard many have already set up big ships, building casinos on small islands near the coast—no one cares, free and easy.”

Wang Xing frowned. “From the sound of it, after your labor reform, you want to open a casino on an island?”

Wang Xun smiled and said, “Not going would be stupid. On deserted islands, chickens don’t lay eggs, birds don’t poop—I don’t believe the constables could catch us there.”

Wang Xing sneered, “Even at sea, it’s still Sanhe territory. If Lord He wants control, not one of you will escape. After labor reform, go home and reflect, don’t wander.”

“Ah, brother!”

Wang Xun was about to follow when suddenly someone kicked him in the back, sending him sprawling face-first.

“You little brat, trying to run?”

Constable Pang Long grabbed him up.

“Who dares?”

Wang Xun smiled nervously, “For my brother’s sake, don’t embarrass me.”

“Heh, if it weren’t for your brother, I wouldn’t waste so much time talking to you,”

Pang Long grumbled. “No more pig trotters for you. Later, a big ship will arrive—you’re pulling the tow ropes.”

“Pulling ropes… why me?”

Wang Xun’s face fell. This wasn’t a human’s job.

Pang Long patted his shoulder, smiling, “You just finished a big pig trotter, full of strength, right?”

Wang Xun grimaced, “Aren’t there professional tow men? Why make us do it?”

“Lord Shan Qi said we must open new sources of labor—why waste money on tow men?”

Pang Long laughed. “It’s your turn. Eat more now—you’ll get some meat later.”

After all, labor reform prisoners didn’t get paid—why not use them?

“Wait,” Wang Xun regretted eating the pig trotter too early. “The wind’s favorable today—we don’t need tow men, right?”

Pang Long said, “Who said the big ship docks in Baiyun City? It goes north along the West River, at least to Xinguanzhen, where the grain is unloaded and sent to Yuezhou.”

“Xinguanzhen…”

Wang Xun sighed. “The river’s swift, with mountains on both sides—not easy to sail.”

“That’s why you’re pulling the ropes. Fine, that’s settled. I’ll arrange a hundred more men and allow you a midday break.”

Pang Long left.

The Sanhe army and laborers stationed along Nanzhou’s coast, while Zhang Mian’s navy and Du Sanhe’s pirates scoured the deserted islands, searching for Jiang Kan.

They were confident—they believed the Nanzhou navy, with its massive fleet, would eventually need to land for supplies, leaving clues behind.

“Come, brother, have another drink.”

You Mazi and other laborers cooked large crabs on the beach, drinking wine. Military rules forbidding alcohol didn’t apply to them, so they urged the butcher to drink.

“Too much, too much!”

The butcher shook his head, holding his cup close, refusing more from You Mazi.

“In Yuezhou, we have an old saying,” You Mazi shouted, “Brother offers a cup—no pushing! Rules must be kept.”

“Ah, you have a point,” The butcher reluctantly extended his cup, letting You Mazi fill it.

“Brother, drink!” You Mazi emptied his cup and showed the bottom. “You too! Hurry, don’t dawdle, or I’ll look down on you.”

“Alright!”

The butcher gritted his teeth and finished his cup.

“Good!”

He grabbed the wine jug. “One sip, one mouthful—good things come in pairs. Come on, drink again.”

“Again…”

The butcher was exhausted but had no choice.

When the cup was full, he drank first, not waiting for You Mazi.

“You’re straightforward, little brother—my favorite kind of drinker,”

You Mazi poured another cup while saying, “One cup dry, two to toast, three makes you happier—makes sense, right?”