Zhenniang: The Three of Us (Chapter 31)

Zhao Zhenniang was completely bewildered within the story, while Jian Yu'an was equally listless outside of it.

This involves a very classic question: the eight-year War of Resistance against Japan is about to end.

It is now the fourteen-year War of Resistance against Japan, and we have only fought the first year.

From this moment on, every moment will be worse than this moment, and this ever-worsening environment will continue for fourteen years.

She even hoped that Zhao Zhenniang would do the same as those merchants, escape to the south, or even abroad.

The tide of history cannot be stopped. Even government troops with soldiers and guns can run away at will. What can a businesswoman do?

But Zhao Zhenniang didn't seem to sense the imminent danger.

She made no preparations to escape, nor did she pray to Buddha or gods. Instead, she continued her life normally and ran the Chinese Business Alliance.

Not only is the consumer environment deteriorating, but due to the war, countless supply channels have been cut off, the Japanese are becoming increasingly active in the surrounding areas, and internal instability is also rampant. Every blow is a vital artery to the Chinese business alliance.

The factory dared not stop production, but the goods could not be sold. There were not enough raw materials to continue production. The people below were in a panic, and urgent messages were coming from all directions.

Zhao Zhenniang lowered her head and pondered for a long time before raising her head.

"Go outside and post notices. The Chinese Business Alliance wants to build another alkali manufacturing plant."

His subordinates were puzzled. The Chinese business alliance was on the verge of collapse, with existing goods piling up and unable to be sold. Why open a new factory?

It is precisely because it is on the verge of collapse that it continues to show an expansionist attitude.

It can barely maintain its surface shine and survive by rolling over this hurdle.

If they show signs of weakness, they will be doomed in an instant.

However, since the Japanese businessmen have already made their move, they certainly can't rely on just one method. The operational status of the Chinese business alliance was already being manipulated by some people before people even realized it.

The foundations and banks of the Chinese Businessmen Alliance were in dire straits, with countless people holding notes and wanting to sell their funds or withdraw their money. This made things even worse for the already struggling businesses.

Faced with this situation, Zhao Zhenniang immediately had a donkey cart bring over several boxes of silver bars and coins, and took them.

The troublemakers watched this scene in disbelief. In their estimation, the Chinese Business Alliance, after so many blows, would never be able to come up with so much money.

His eyes darted around, and as if remembering something, he shouted, "These aren't real silver!"

Zhao Zhenniang glanced up at him, seemingly indifferent, and reached out to the person next to her, who handed her the axe.

Zhao Zhenniang had been chopping wood and doing all sorts of things since she was a child. She picked up an axe and smashed the boxes containing silver one by one.

The gleaming white silver ingots and coins flowed out of the box, and the surrounding people gasped in surprise at the sight of such a pleasing color.

After chopping, Zhao Zhenniang handed the axe to the people around her, letting them inspect it at will: "Take a look, is it real silver?"

The bolder one carefully picked up the silver from the ground, took a bite, and then exclaimed with delight, "It's real silver!"

Zhao Zhenniang smiled slightly and instructed her subordinates to reload the silver into the cart, speaking gently and kindly.

"Please don't push, line up to withdraw your money. Huashang Bank is a large and powerful company, it's not like they can't come up with this much money. Please don't rush, everyone can withdraw their money."

Those who were in a hurry to withdraw their money cheered. For ordinary people, having actual cash in hand is the only way to feel at ease at this time of year.

The people can be swayed because they are genuinely anxious.

But those holding funds slowed down.

If you can afford to buy funds, it means you have some capital. Selling your funds now will definitely result in a loss.

Judging from the current state of the Chinese Business Alliance, it seems that it hasn't suffered any major damage, so we can wait and see for a while longer.

Even bolder ones might simply buy in during the downturn, betting that the Chinese Business Alliance can turn things around and make a fortune!

Because of those several chests of silver and the Chinese Merchants Alliance's continued expansion without regard for others, the wave that was about to rise in Ping'an City subsided once again.

It's nothing, it's just normal fluctuations caused by the war. There's Ōseki-no-kami (the Japanese commander) outside Heian-jō (Peace City), so the Japanese won't be able to break in so easily.

Prolonged warfare and colonization caused immense suffering for the people, but also made them numb to war. They became so accustomed to fighting that they quickly returned to normal life.

Just take it one day at a time. Don't think too far ahead; it's pointless to think about it.

The Japanese businessmen who instigated the sell-off couldn't believe it: Where did the real money that helped the Chinese business alliance overcome its difficulties come from?

When Zhao Zhenniang saw the Japanese businessman again, she couldn't help but return his smile: "Is this possibly my home, you idiot?"

Because it's her country, her home, her neighbors, and her friends, even if she's completely broke, she can still find someone to borrow money from.

Needless to say, the people of Zhao Family Fort are all one family. If she needs anything, of course she'll take whatever she has on hand.

Her close relatives were willing to raise funds for her, and her tenants were willing to give her grain on credit.

Even Butterfly, a movie star recently promoted by her film company, gave her all her savings from the past few years.

The aid from all directions, some large and some small, together form an immeasurable force.

Most importantly, she also has a friend named Zhang Ying who is currently the deputy county head.

Zhang Ying misappropriated some public funds.

Zhao Zhenniang had nowhere else to turn but to Zhang Ying. Zhang Ying looked honest, but the things she said were very offensive.

“Government officials and the military can withhold their salaries, but my workers cannot.”

Zhang Ying: ……

How do you know the government is going to be unable to pay salaries?

The overall environment has deteriorated, and no one is having a good time.

However, Zhang Ying still ran around and made every effort to get all the government funds that could be moved to Zhao Zhenniang's account.

Just as Zhao Zhenniang said, the workers of the Chinese Businessmen Alliance can still be paid, but government officials, teachers, and police officers can no longer be paid.

Zhao Zhenniang allocated goods from the warehouse of the Chinese Merchants Alliance, exchanging goods for capital, and using the goods as wages.

Zhang Ying was asked to hand over whatever she needed, and to take whatever goods she had, and also to help clear out some inventory.

All the money was pooled together with Zhao Zhenniang. Everyone was practically gritting their teeth as they looked at her, saying, "You absolutely have to get back up! If you don't, we're all doomed!"

Bearing such a heavy responsibility, Zhao Zhenniang certainly could not let everyone down.

Her people have taken all the advanced technologies of the Chinese Business Alliance to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, where they will make the technologies public to all Chinese businessmen and build an even larger Chinese Business Alliance!

Previously, Chinese merchants mainly sourced their grain from the three northeastern provinces. Now they are trying to purchase grain from other places, hoping that their own grain will be available next year.

If sales channels are damaged, switch to other channels and find new outlets.

When targeted by Japanese businesses, they sought cooperation with other countries.

There are always more solutions than problems. As long as she stands here, she will surely be able to get back on her feet!

Zhao Zhenniang persevered for another seven years, stubbornly resisting pressure from all sides and preventing the collapse of Ping'an City's economy, ensuring its normal operation.

But seven years later, when the Japanese army attacked again, Zhao Zhenniang couldn't help but laugh when she learned that the governor-general—no, now he should be called the commander-in-chief—had run away without even fighting.

It's one thing to run away when the Southern government attacks, but you run away when the Japanese attack too?

There's so much I want to say, but in the end I can only laugh it off; saying more is pointless.

What the people of the three northeastern provinces experienced is now happening to the people of Ping'an City, and it is time for the people of Ping'an City to go into exile.

Zhao Zhenniang gathered everyone together and opened all the gold, silver, and grain in the treasury, dividing them into countless portions: "The more urgent the situation, the less chaotic it must be."

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Take these things and flee in different directions."

"There will always be one that survives. As long as one survives, it will take root there and live well."

The Zhao family village has a very tough family tradition; everyone is taught to read and write and to shoot from a young age.

Despite the extremely dire situation, everyone maintained the composure to face the chaos, nodding vigorously: "Don't worry, boss!"

Zhao Zhenniang was very satisfied, and then instructed, "When you flee, take the people from the city with you. We have settled down here thanks to the people in the village."

"The road ahead will be more difficult, but it will be safer to stay together."

"Don't be stingy with money and food when things happen; in chaotic times, nothing is more important than human life."

"We need to help more people survive. As long as people are alive, everything else will be alright."

Everyone nodded again, agreeing to follow the leader's lead!

Zhao Zhenniang gave many more instructions, and everyone listened attentively. But as they listened, something seemed amiss. Huang Qiuju looked at Zhao Zhenniang and said, "Everyone's talking about us, but where are you, the head of the household?"

Having probably guessed that someone would ask this question, Zhao Zhenniang paused for a moment, then looked up at everyone and said, "I'm not leaving."

Everyone was stunned: What?

Zhao Zhenniang looked at everyone normally and said, "Even when you cut a piece of wood, you'll leave a few barbs. Do you think the Japanese can cut it so smoothly? I'm not leaving."

Everyone: ...

"But what kind of people are the Japanese? If they stay, wouldn't that just mean..."

The local people have a strong aversion to the Japanese army because the Japanese army has a precedent of massacring entire cities.

Zhao Zhenniang was not yet born when the massacre occurred while the old dynasty was still in power, so she was unaware of the details. However, Huang Qiuju was a survivor of that catastrophe.

It was because of that incident that her family fled to this area, and it was also because of that that the people in this area were very anti-Japanese.

This Japanese neighbor, with similar hair and eyes, looks remarkably alike at first glance.

But they truly wanted to completely devour this land, to mix every drop of the original owner's blood into the soil.

But precisely because of this, how could they possibly retreat completely?

Even the threat of guns and cannons couldn't stop the Japanese army from massacring people. Would simply handing over our homes make them happy, merciful, and refrain from harming us?

This is the home where she has lived for generations. If the same thing really happens, someone has to spread the sad news.

Someone has indeed raised the butcher's knife, and someone must seek revenge against the executioner.

There must be people like that for the rest of us to survive.

If no one else can do this, then let her do it.

The area around Ping'an City is a vast and desolate landscape of mountains and lakes, winding and inaccessible to humans, and a breeding ground for bandits.

Zhao Zhenniang had prepared herself mentally. If Ping'an City really fell, she would lead all those who couldn't leave up the mountain!

Everyone: ...

When they were planning their escape, they weren't too heartbroken because there seemed to be hope ahead.

But when Zhao Zhenniang made the desperate decision to stay, everyone realized that it was her last stand.

Aunt Wang looked around and suddenly laughed: "Then I'll stay. I thought you were really leaving. My old bones can't take the bumpy ride."

Zhao Zhenniang was taken aback, and immediately looked at Granny Wang: "Godmother, you have to go, you're so old..."

Zhao Zhenniang meant well, but where could an old woman like her go?

Dying at home is better than drifting to a foreign land and becoming a ghost there. She would rather spend her last days with this daughter she picked up for free.

Even those who were expected to migrate decided to stay. Such is the way of the world; where is there any pure land left?

Rather than wandering around like stray dogs, we'd rather stay and teach the Japanese a lesson!

But someone had to keep the fire burning, and eggs had to be packed in several baskets, so Zhao Zhenniang still forced them to set off.

After so many years, Zhao Family Fort's own children and the orphan girl they adopted have all grown up. Zhao Zhenniang told them to set off with the wealth accumulated by Zhao Family Fort over the years.

Money, food, and technology are all valuable assets that should be shared with more people. Of course, there are even more important assets to be shared.

Zhao Zhenniang distributed all the outstanding IOUs to everyone who was traveling.

"These are both debts and sentiments, and everyone must remember them. Even if a person dies, the debt cannot be erased."

"This life of being homeless and without a country will not last forever."

"One day, we will return to this place."

"Then, we'll continue with everything we have now!"