Chapter 776 (1/2)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

After leaving Samat Hill, Sui Xiong went back to Geerteng Hill again.

Presently, Geerteng Hill was a scene of prosperity. As the most important stationery manufacturer on the entire Main Plane, it produced all kinds of stationery. This was the core industry that supported the entire Geerteng Hill. The small stationery products might not seem like much, yet every year, the amount of income they could provide was comparable to that of an earl.

The “earls” should never be treated as nothing much. It should be known that in the Commonwealth of Gold Coins, there were only 14 earls in total.

The size of this country, the Commonwealth of Gold Coins, was about the same as that of the United States of America on Earth. If Alaska was kept out of the picture, the shape of its land was also somewhat similar. Both were completely big mounds that made them look grounded and stable. As of now, there were 14 earls and two marquises in control over about 45% of the territory and about 65% of the population of such a large country. And the yearly income of Geerteng Hill was comparable to that of an earl, and an earl with a higher income at that.

If the measurement was made relative to China, this place was roughly equivalent to a province along the southeast coast.

Just depending on the income generated from stationery itself, the country could support the economy of a province. This was something truly amazing!

No, it should be said that just depending on the income generated by stationery, a mere prefecture-level city could have an economic level that was equivalent to a province. That was simply crazy!

To be able to achieve a feat of such degree, the key was the God of Knowledge.

Geerteng Hill was not the only family dealing with the stationery business in this world. But Geerteng Hill had the God of Knowledge backing them up. And the God of Knowledge was the guardian of culture and knowledge. So given the same conditions, if people needed to buy stationery, they were naturally inclined towards buying from Geerteng Hill.

This was like the arms business on Earth. Would people be willing to buy from a country that had fought many wars, had a brilliant record of military exploits and military bases set up all over the globe? Or would they be willing to buy from a country that was holed up somewhere in the northern peninsular, who was loudmouth with a resounding voice but in fact, had to rely on imports for food supplies?

Of course, there were always weirdos who made exceptional choices, but the choices of the normal people were generally the same.

Other than the stationery business, Geerteng Hill was also involved in the herb industry. This place was plentiful in herbs that thrived in mountainous climates, so every year, these herbs could bring in a substantial amount of money.

However, the herbs business was subjected to a great restriction. The God of Medicine had made it clear that he did not support the act of profiteering in the herbs business. So whether it was at Geerteng Hill or Garth City, or even Keane Hill, though the herbs business was quite profitable, it was never a means of reaping exorbitant profits.

As compared to money, the herbs business brought more social connections and prestige to the people.

These things might seem somewhat illusory, but they were often more useful than money. For example, when a big businessman wanted to choose partners, money was not of utmost importance to him. But rather, he would value things like reputation, character and social connections as the most important qualities.

Apart from these two main industries, Geerteng Hill also had many subsidiary businesses. They were mainly concentrated in the handicraft industry, especially the area involving small industrial products. These products seemed no different from the “Yiwu small commodities” that Sui Xiong often heard of before he traversed worlds.

It was quite interesting to speak of this. Geerteng Hill also had a small commodity wholesale market. Sui Xiong had never been to Yiwu, so he had no idea how that country’s famous small commodity market was like. But looking at the small commodity market in Geerteng Hill, he could not help thinking about this kind of market found in his own hometown.