277: Chapter 277 Waiting

If government appropriations were so easy to get, wouldn't every magistrate be able to make a fortune?

The wool comes from the sheep; the money for expanding the city is basically borne by the city itself.

Few magistrates would do such a thankless task.

Not only would failing to do it well bring trouble upon oneself, but it might also make one's seat unstable.

As the top Great Family in Wuyang, the Pei Clan naturally cannot sit by and watch Wuyang stagnate.

It is naturally impossible to ask the Pei Clan to pay for the expansion of Wuyang. The Pei Clan is no sucker, and certainly not yet rich enough to disregard the funds required for city expansion.

The development of the Yuanhong Trading Market is based on this consideration.

This can not only build an economic circle centered on the Yuanhong Trading Market but also solve the housing requirements for a portion of the population.

For now, Yuanhong Phase I can be considered to have achieved initial success, accommodating nearly ten thousand people.

Since Yuanhong Phase I is primarily commercial and no dedicated residential areas were built, shop operators basically stay in their shops at night.

Originally, the reason for this design was not that Pei Qingyun hadn't considered it.

Shop prices are usually far higher than residential ones, and Yuanhong Phase I was just an experiment.

If there were no business for the shops, why would anyone come to buy residential properties?

Moreover, as long as Yuanhong Phase I succeeded, the Pei Clan could launch subsequent phases.

However, this does not mean the environment of Yuanhong Phase I is poor.

In terms of living conditions, this place is slightly worse than the independent small courtyards in Wuyang, but it is vastly superior to the living conditions of ordinary people.

In terms of hygiene, it is strictly controlled by the Pei Clan.

Except for the first month when many people were not accustomed to it, it has since improved.

Additionally, the security conditions of Yuanhong Phase I are something other places do not possess.

For a trading market to develop, security is the top priority. If a trading market cannot even guarantee safety, how can it grow?

Time passed quickly.

Until nightfall, the Pei Clan only finished the recruitment work for two thousand people.

"Last time, I thought Taibai was joking. I didn't expect it to be true. These people are too enthusiastic, coming all at once, but thankfully it's done. I'm exhausted," said a young Pei Clan member responsible for recruitment, stretching.

"Tired? This is only the first day, it's still early, isn't it? I told you not to come, but you didn't believe me. See? I didn't lie to you. Let me tell you a secret, don't be scared—a full twenty thousand people came this time," said another short Pei Clan member.

"No way, that many? I only saw a few thousand. If there were really that many, they couldn't even stand here," the young man said in surprise.

The short one said, "The people you saw were actually just the number after being diverted. The later ones were all persuaded to go back. Otherwise, the entire Yuanhong Trading Market would be blocked. By then, let alone hiring, work couldn't even start."

The young man realized, "So that's it. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it."

"This is just normal. With the Old Ancestor here, our Pei Clan will only become stronger."

...

In a pavilion to the west of the Yuanhong Trading Market, an old man in his sixties leaned against the railing, looking down at the street below with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

This old man was none other than Pei Dingming.

He had been at the Yuanhong Trading Market for several days. Although Pei Qingyun had specifically ordered his identity to be concealed, he did not restrict his movements.

During these few days, apart from staying in the pavilion at night, Pei Dingming would walk on the streets during the day.

The impact of these few days at the Yuanhong Trading Market far exceeded the past few decades.

Whether it was the architectural style here or the sales methods, everything gave him a different, novel feeling.

Before coming to Jinhuai Prefecture, he actually held prejudices against the Pei Clan and Wuyang.

After all, Longxi Prefecture far exceeded Jinhuai Prefecture in terms of Martial Artist power, commercial trade, and living environment.

Not to mention that he came from the Longxi Pei Clan, which was a notch above the Qian Clan, the top Great Family of Jinhuai Prefecture.

And Wuyang was just a county-level city under Jinhuai Prefecture.

Longxi Prefecture City and Wuyang were simply not on the same level.

Although both families were of the same Bloodline, due to Ancestor Pei Yuhuan, he would not show an arrogant attitude, but the pride in his bones was not so easily changed.

To put it bluntly, if it weren't for the fact that the two families shared the same Bloodline, he might never have come to a small city like Wuyang in his life.

Before leaving, the only thing that surprised him was the compensation offered by Pei Qingyun, which was a full three times what he received in the clan.

In his view, Pei Qingyun was very bold; for a third-rate family to offer such compensation, there was no other possibility than emptying their coffers.

This was also one of the reasons he came voluntarily.

But after coming here, he realized how ridiculous his thoughts were.

This wasn't emptying the coffers; they were filthy rich.

At this moment, he finally understood why the Wuyang Pei Clan attracted the covetous gaze of the Qian Clan.

Before coming, he couldn't figure this out.

After all, the gap between a third-rate family and a second-rate family was simply too large.

Unless they had an astonishing backer, no third-rate family would provoke a second-rate family; they would basically back down whenever possible.

Now it seemed that none of this was strange.

Even he, a member of the main family, couldn't help but feel a hint of greed for the Yuanhong Trading Market.

Let alone the Qian Clan, which was several notches inferior to the Longxi Pei Clan.

Just the Yuanhong Trading Market alone allowed him to glimpse the tip of the iceberg. The commercial prosperity here was in no way inferior to Longxi Prefecture City.

The only difference was that the market scale of Longxi Prefecture City was larger. But in terms of per capita transaction volume and transaction frequency, this place was higher.

Although Pei Dingming could not be precise to this extent, his many years of experience traveling north and south were not for nothing; by observing the operations of some shops, he could still get a glimpse of the whole picture.

The Wuyang Pei Clan, a third-rate branch family, could achieve this. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he absolutely would not have believed it.

Not to mention, through information gathered from others, he learned that the current Yuanhong Trading Market was still only the Phase I project.

In his view, the annual revenue generated by Yuanhong Phase I was already enough to maintain the operation of a top-tier third-rate family.

However, the Wuyang Pei Clan not only had other industries not inferior to Yuanhong but was also pushing forward with the yuanhong phase ii project.

Just as he was deep in thought, a figure appeared behind him.

The person who came was a young man of seventeen or eighteen, whose appearance was somewhat similar to Pei Dingming's.

Hearing the footsteps behind him, Pei Dingming did not turn around but spoke directly, "You're back."

"Yes," the young man replied.

Pei Dingming said indifferently, "After seeing the recruitment for yuanhong phase ii, did you gain anything?"

The young man paused before saying, "The impact of this recruitment was huge. Recruiting two thousand people in one day—I didn't quite believe it at first. Even with the prestige of our Pei Clan, it wouldn't be easy to recruit so many people in one day in Longxi Prefecture City. Yet the branch family not only did it but did it very well; both the efficiency and the order were perfect. If the branch family hadn't limited it to recruiting only two thousand people a day, they could definitely have recruited more."

"I roughly estimated that the number of applicants today should not be less than ten thousand."

Pei Dingming said, "Hearing you say that, the branch family is very supported by the local people. These people all came voluntarily, not by force."

The young man explained, "Yes. The people here all have rosy complexions, and their eyes are bright; their lives are no worse than the people in our Longxi Prefecture City. It's just that these people are generally ordinary people, with very few Martial Artists. Ordinary people can live very well here. But it is not easy for Martial Artists to obtain Martial Dao resources."

Hearing this, Pei Dingming did not change much, as if he had already known everything.

"Seeing this shows that you have put your heart into it. Wuyang is located in a remote area, adjacent to some ordinary forces, so there aren't many Martial Dao resources flowing here, and the number of Martial Artists is naturally smaller, but that is only temporary."

"The branch family building the Yuanhong Trading Market here is equivalent to opening up commercial routes from all over. Once this place becomes a hub for trade, Martial Dao resources will flow in endlessly. In addition, it borders the Hengduan Mountain Range to the north and faces the river to the south. The Hengduan Mountain Range is full of Strange Beasts and Vicious Beasts; it is both dangerous and an opportunity. And facing the river to the south, if the renovation is completed, there is also an opportunity to add a maritime transport hub."

The young man steadied himself and continued, "Third Granduncle, listening to you, your grandson is enlightened; it really is the case. However, I remember you didn't think highly of the branch family before; why are you suddenly speaking up for it today?"

Pei Dingming said seriously, "Tianting, Third Granduncle is not speaking up for the branch family, but stating facts. Saying so before was just based on experience. 'A leaf blinds the eye'; experience is a useful thing, but sometimes it can also cover one's eyes. Do you understand?"

"Grandson understands," the young man said.

Pei Dingming asked, "Do you know why I didn't bring anyone else on this trip, but specifically brought you?"

The young man looked up at Pei Dingming, his eyes full of sincerity, "Grandson doesn't know, and hopes Third Granduncle will enlighten me."

Pei Dingming cleared his throat and explained, "Among the Tian generation, you are the youngest and also the most sensible. You are talented and eager to learn, but that is all on paper. Contacting the outside world earlier will be of great benefit to your future. Taking this opportunity, I can just take you to walk around the outside world and verify what you have learned and asked."

The young man said respectfully, "Thank you, Third Uncle, for your teachings. Your grandson will keep them in mind."

Pei Dingming said, "If there's nothing else, go and rest. Tomorrow, I have something else to arrange for you to do."

"Yes," the young man nodded and took his leave.

Watching the young man's departing back, Pei Dingming sighed in his heart. Being too sensible sounds good on the surface. Actually, it means having no independent opinion. It also means that this type of person easily follows rules and is rigid. However, these words could not be said from his mouth.

"Perhaps, I can find an opportunity to let him get in touch with the younger generation of the branch family," Pei Dingming thought.

...

Wuyang, Pei Clan Estate.

Since the recruitment started, Pei Qingyun had ordered people to pay attention to every dynamic of yuanhong phase ii.

Although the Qian Clan had not made a move so far, he was sure this was only temporary.

When the Qian Clan would make a move, and at which point they would act, everything was unknown.

Unable to eliminate it fundamentally, he could only control every link well to respond to all changes with constancy.

As long as the Qian Clan acts, there will be flaws.

This is his opportunity.

If it's small skirmishes or a battle of attrition.

The Pei Clan absolutely cannot compare to the Qian Clan or the Lü Clan; the foundation is there.

The only advantage of the Pei Clan is this invincible Grandmaster, as well as the two Grandmasters borrowed from the Longxi Pei Clan.

In terms of numbers, the Pei Clan cannot compare. But in terms of combat power, the Pei Clan has the advantage.

As long as he finds an opportunity, he can turn the advantage into a victory.