CHAPTER 450: 251. COAL IMMORTAL

This is no longer a simple matter of profit or loss; it’s a battle for market share.

If the members of the association don’t follow Chen Che’s example and sell at a loss, when prices rise again next year, everyone will go to Chen Che to buy coal.

If this channel falls into Chen Che’s hands, it would be a massive blow to the entire association and other capitalists in the Ninth Special Zone.

Ubirus couldn’t possibly sit back and watch this happen.

Fortunately, according to the calculation from the entire association, Chen Che’s loss price is actually their cost price, causing the major associations to grit their teeth.

They all lowered prices by a tenth of the cost price.

This equates to a 10% loss on every ton of coal sold.

But now is the time to seize business opportunities.

These losses can’t be calculated at this moment.

Now, the entire city of Ninth Special Zone was whipped into a frenzy, with people frantically grabbing coal and transporting it into their homes in large quantities.

Countless people flocked to the warehouses of major associations simply to purchase coal.

Under such a wave, the warehouses of major associations remained open 24 hours a day.

The business on Chen Che’s side became worse and worse.

Until he heard from his subordinates that not a single customer was left buying from Chen Che’s side.

This finally made Ubirus breathe a sigh of relief, yet a bad premonition still lingered in his heart. He felt something was wrong but couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

There were still ten days until the cold wave arrived.

Ant Street Warehouse.

Zhang Xiaoqiang was moving around, looking at the warehouses full of coal with no customers coming to buy. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Zhang Xiaoqiang saw Bobby leisurely smoking nearby and said urgently, "Master, all our customers have been taken by the association’s side. We have so much coal we can’t sell; what should we do? Why are you and the boss not worried at all?

The last time I saw the boss just holding onto Sister Na, indulging in daylight pleasures... No matter how beautiful Sister Na is, the boss shouldn’t be so lost in her beauty, right?"

Zhang Xiaoqiang complained, and Bobby, upon hearing this, immediately widened his eyes, raised his hand, and gave Zhang Xiaoqiang a hard knock on the head, causing Zhang Xiaoqiang to grimace in pain.

"What do you know, who told you to criticize the boss like that? You don’t know the boss’s plans at all!"

Zhang Xiaoqiang clutched his head, pouting, "But we really don’t have any business right now, and all this coal is going to go to waste..."

Bobby glanced at the time and chuckled, "Anyway, the entire city has almost finished purchasing coal. Those who haven’t bought are just greedy folks. If they can’t get coal, it’s their own fault.

Let me tell you about Master Chen’s wisdom.

Where do you think Master Chen got all this coal from?"

Zhang Xiaoqiang replied with a puzzled expression, "Didn’t Chen also get it from the underground godfather, Mr. Kamon?"

Bobby shook his head, "Even if Mr. Kamon were powerful, he couldn’t get this much coal, let alone enough for the entire Ninth Special Zone."

Zhang Xiaoqiang looked confused, "But where did this coal come from? Every time we sold out, a significant amount would refill the warehouse overnight..."

Bobby’s lips curled into a smile, "Haven’t you noticed a problem? The coal becomes more fragmented each time—guess why?"

"Hmm, it seems like it. I also noticed the coal was more fragmented on the second day than the first, and on the third day, there was even more fine coal...

I know fragmented coal is cheaper, so I thought maybe Master Chen did it on purpose."

"Wrong, don’t these coals seem familiar to you?"

Zhang Xiaoqiang was taken aback when he heard this, not catching on immediately: "Coal? Familiar? Aren’t these just pitch-black things? What’s there to be familiar about..."

Bobby was exasperated, "You little rascal, you seemed bright enough when I picked you up, but now you’re as dense as a log? Don’t say I misjudged you."

Zhang Xiaoqiang grumbled, "Master, your words are so cryptic. How is anyone supposed to guess what you mean? Surely you don’t mean that this coal was sold to those people during the day, and we took it back at night to sell again the next day..."

Zhang Xiaoqiang’s voice trailed off as he spoke, looking incredulously at Bobby.

Bobby’s lips curved into a slight smile.

"That’s why Master Chen is who he is, to come up with such a method, with such allocation ability..."

Zhang Xiaoqiang’s mouth was gaping, unable to close, as he pieced everything together, marveling, "Master Chen is truly amazing... but what’s the point of doing this? It’s laborious and thankless!

Even though everyone in the city got cheap coal in the end, people will only remember the major associations and not remember Master Chen’s kindness at all..."

"Heh, Master Chen never suffers losses or provides benefits for others easily. If you think so, you’re underestimating Master Chen."

...

All the folks in the city got the coal they wanted, and at half the usual price.

Logically, all the people in the Ninth Special Zone should continuously praise the major associations.

After all, the associations made such a big concession, giving up so much benefit.

But what caught Ubirus off guard was the sudden publication of something called a newspaper throughout the Ninth Special Zone.

This newspaper published all sorts of information—what happened in the Ninth Special Zone today? Where did someone die? Where are the policies changing, all published in the newspaper.

The most important part was the other side of the newspaper, where something called a novel was serialized.

A novel called "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was serialized in this newspaper, with a new Chapter updated each issue.

Initially, the newspaper didn’t catch on among the populace.

But as time went on, more and more people got hooked on "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms," more and more people got hooked on this brief relaxation and entertainment.

After all, a newspaper cost around a single Beta.

The various information on it and the content on the back of the newspaper provide loads of entertainment.

Over time, it gradually popularized throughout the entire Ninth Special Zone, and the daily paper was snatched up the moment it reached the sales points.

The people were utterly captivated by "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" in the back of the newspaper.

The business association initially didn’t realize the enormous benefits hidden behind this newspaper.

Only after the association sold all the coal at a low price, allowing everyone in the Ninth Special Zone to use coal, did they think they would gain public favor and market share. But the next issue of the increasingly popular newspaper completely exposed the conspiracy of the entire association.

It informed all the people that there was always plenty of coal; it was just the business association and other major capitalists who were maliciously inflating prices to harvest the city’s market.

But Chen Che, the captain of the Lighthouse, couldn’t stand it. He believed that this coal, essential to people’s livelihoods, should never become a tool for capital to scythe down the populace.

Master Chen, the captain of the Lighthouse, decided to take a stand and eventually came up with an idea to instill fear in the capitalists.

Master Chen acquired a batch of coal, teamed up with some people, and sold this batch of coal at a price lower than the entire capital had set. All the citizens in line to purchase this coal were those who partnered with and trusted Master Chen.

Every day, they would buy the coal, and then, under the cover of night, discreetly return it to Master Chen by various means, ready to buy and sell again the next day.

Using just one batch of coal, they presented the illusion of a never-ending supply.

The purpose was solely to scare the capitalists, solely to force them to lower the prices.

In the whole Ninth Special Zone, many ordinary people knew about this, but not a single person snitched; instead, they silently coordinated with Master Chen and the whole Lighthouse.

The reason was simple, snitching was entirely a thankless effort.

Helping Master Chen meant their families could get access to ultra-cheap coal. If they snitched, they would be blocking many people’s paths, not only offending Master Chen, who had an overarching presence in the entire Ninth Special Zone today, but also the vicinity’s neighbors.

Surviving in this neighborhood would become impossible.

So it was a struggle united by all the poor people.

Everyone worked together to establish a trap for the capitalists.

Ultimately allowing the entire city to have access to low-priced coal.

The newspaper published the complete conspiracy of the capitalists and how Chen Ye uncovered this conspiracy, enabling the entire city to access affordable coal.

In an instant, the name Master Chen reached the pinnacle of prestige in the minds of the populace.

At the same time, the disclosure of this news nearly made Ubirus spit blood.

This was blatant mockery!

As Ubirus held the newspaper, reading each word, he envisioned Chen Che smiling and slapping his face over and over.

Ubirus’s face turned bright red, spurting blood directly onto the newspaper.

He realized it.

If he and the other capitalists could hold out for less than ten more days, Chen Che’s side would collapse, because the cold wave was approaching.

Essentially, Chen Che’s side was just a bubble, a scam.

Chen Che couldn’t supply that much coal; as long as they continued with high prices, Chen Che’s scam would soon crumble!

Damn it, damn it!

They could have made a hefty profit, they could have sold all the coal.

Chen Che, that bastard, damn bastard!

The newspaper was torn to shreds!

At this moment, Ubirus could no longer maintain his elegance, smashing everything he could around him, cursing profanely.

Clenching his teeth!

On the verge of madness.

He had to bear the entire blame because he had actively convinced others to quickly sell off the coal to counter Chen Che’s side.

His end wouldn’t be any better than Ulat’s!

To hell with Chen Che! To hell with him!

...

Villa.

"Achoo! Achoo!"

"Ah ah! You’re so annoying, you sneezed on me! Get off, get off!"

Xia Na, pinned down, used her tender white feet to kick Chen Che’s abdomen, wanting to push him away. Chen Che rubbed his nose, grabbed Xia Na’s small hands, pressed Xia Na’s thighs, and wondered, "Who’s thinking of me? Could it be Nishang?"

"Who cares."

With that, he lowered his head to seek Xia Na’s small mouth.

Xia Na struggled for a while, indulging this guy’s perverted interest, then compliantly wrapped her legs around Chen Che’s waist, her snow-white jade feet tightly locked together.

Outside the door.

Was the Little Princess, her face flushed, wrapped in a bath towel.

The Little Princess was lonely.

Empty.

Mainly because of An Nishang’s words, lingering in her ears.

Women have needs, it’s not shameful, not embarrassing.

A normal human physiological need.

Therefore, her seeking Chen Che for company... should be a normal thing, right?

After all, the council had said so.

Let Chen Che fulfill all the needs of this Little Princess.

Xia Yuansi really couldn’t resist, feeling too awful... the sensation of being in heat.

Her snow-white hand finally mustered the courage to lightly knock on the door...