Chapter 50 (1/2)

Huang Xuan went out. He brought back about 50 kg of wheat and gave them to the workers, at which the four got elated. They ate rye bread not because it was nutritious but because they didn't have grains. This bag of wheat was equivalent to their wages of more than half a month. The female worker thanked Huang Xuan once again. She was holding the wheat so tight as if she was afraid that it might fly away. She patiently showed Huang Xuan the way to Kaiserslautern and asked kindly, ”Have you come here on business?”

There weren't many emerging industries in Rhineland, and manufacturing wasn't thriving either. As a yellow person, Huang Xuan definitely wasn't in the army. It seemed the woman had got it correct.

Seeing Huang Xuan nod, the female worker said urgently, ”If you want to do business, there are a great number of businessmen at the Port of Ludwigshafen. The Duke of Württemberg, Ludwigshafen, built a palace there.”

Huang Xuan thanked the four and started walking westward. Since people could transfer and get supplies only in Kaiserslautern, no matter what their final destination was, they had to go to Kaiserslautern first. It would be best if there were carriages to be hired.

Rolin searched the materials and said, ”Ludwigshafen indeed has the biggest port nearby and perhaps the most businessmen.”

”Why didn't you tell me this earlier?” To Huang Xuan, Rolin was omnipotent.

”I can only count the number of people in this region. All judgment must conform to the set conditions, and I can't judge independently.”

”Whatever.” Huang Xuan waved his hand carelessly. He had to go to Kaiserslautern anyway.

”I am sorry. Because going to Ludwigshafen takes more than one day, I didn't consider it.”

”I thought you had scanned this area.”

”Yes, I have, except for the excluded regions.”

”On the account of energy again?” Huang Xuan smiled.

”The search range must be defined. Even a level-one base can't search the entire universe.”

”Fine.” Huang Xuan laughed. It was rare for Rolin to make a mistake.

Kaiserslautern was still a small town at the time. It was located in the center of the Palatinate Forest. It had become a small city with the highest coverage rate of the forest. Even its busiest street was lined with trees. Its only beer house was also under the shades. Its population was as small as 100,000, which was equivalent to a town in China. It had been even smaller in the 19th century. The forest had limited its development as well as provided it with resources. It had always looked so thin as if it could be seen through from one end to the other.

There was no market in town, and daily supplies were sold in the town center every morning, but it wouldn't be open until the next morning. There were no consumer spots in town except the beer house where the logging workers, and also the only industrial workers, who worked outside the town, drank dark beer when having a break, and the restaurant where they occasionally went to eat.

The beer house was also a hotel. When Huang Xuan arrived, it was already nightfall, but the house was still busy. Huang Xuan walked in, uptight. Since he didn't have a penny on him, he asked Rolin to take out a few kilograms of sugar and wrapped it with clothes.

”I would like to trade sugar for money. Will you take it?”

The bartender was puzzled. He shook his head and said, ”You can try talking to Thomas.”

Hearing someone mention his name, a middle-aged man with a long beard, sitting at the other end of the bar, raised his gla.s.s and asked, ”Who wants to talk to Thomas?”

Huang Xuan smiled at the bartender and walked toward Thomas.

”I need some money for the travel and want to trade this sugar.”

”You have found the right man.” Thomas looked like an alcoholic with bloodshot eyes. He put down the gla.s.s and took some sugar to taste. Huang Xuan doubted he still had his taste after he had drunk that much.

”It's good. How much are you asking for it?”