Chapter 4: Entrusting Lin Ran to Purchase Supplies

Lin Ran smiled.

“I don’t need a chamber pot; you keep your head for yourself. But I’ll promise you this— the more Japanese soldiers you kill, the more and better equipment I’ll bring you!”

“And what else?” Li Yunlong felt as if he were dreaming.

“Of course,” Lin Ran nodded. “I said from the start that I want to cooperate with you, Commander Li. Since it’s a partnership, it’s not a one-time deal.”

“Just remember, the more you kill, the more weapons you get!”

“All right! It’s a deal!” Li Yunlong extended his hand.

Lin Ran reached out and grasped Li’s large hand firmly.

“It’s a deal!”

They exchanged a smile, as if wishing they had met sooner.

“Hahaha, very good, Brother Lin. I, Old Li, don’t often meet people I admire in this life, but you, you definitely count!”

Li Yunlong grabbed Lin Ran’s arm. “Come on, come on, let’s go inside for a drink.”

“Make sure you all handle these weapons carefully when you move them back!” Li Yunlong reminded them, then led Lin Ran to the regiment headquarters.

...

“Come, come, I’ll pour some for Brother Lin,” Li Yunlong said, taking out a bottle of white spirit and filling Lin Ran’s cup.

“This is some fine liquor I’ve been saving. The last time the brigade commander came, I didn’t even dare open it.”

Lin Ran tapped twice on the table with two fingers. “Haha, then I’ll have to savor it properly.”

He lifted the large bowl and took a sip, feeling the fiery burn.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, good liquor!”

“Hahaha, splendid!” Li Yunlong laughed heartily.

To Li Yunlong, who casually gave away weapons worth millions, a compliment on the liquor was already a great courtesy.

He raised his bowl and took a swig, wiping his mouth. “Honestly, I really admire you, Brother Lin.”

“To bring a whole truckload of weapons boldly into my territory—that’s impressive!”

Li Yunlong gave a thumbs-up, genuinely impressed.

Lin Ran smiled and pulled out a pack of Yuxi cigarettes, offering one to Li Yunlong.

Li’s eyes brightened. “Oh, good smoke!”

...

“Not exactly good smoke, but next time I’ll bring you some good liquor,” Lin Ran said, lighting one for Li Yunlong before lighting one for himself.

Maotai is beyond their budget; some Niuer priced around ten or so yuan could be brought next time.

Hearing Lin Ran’s words, Li Yunlong’s eyes flickered. “Brother Lin, what exactly does your family do?”

“Hmm,” Lin Ran thought for a moment, “you could say it’s industrial.”

Old Li chuckled, “Industry is good; industry saves the nation!”

At this, Li Yunlong’s eyes shifted, and he asked again, “Brother Lin, could I trouble you for a favor?”

“No problem, as long as I can do it!” Lin Ran took another sip from his bowl; the cold weather made it hard not to drink.

Li Yunlong lowered his voice, “Brother Lin, could you help us procure some supplies? Food, cotton, cloth—anything!”

The weather was getting colder and colder. They were short on everything, food and clothing alike.

Lin Ran’s mind flickered as he quickly immersed himself in the system.

“Brother Tongzi, can I bring some supplies over from the modern era?”

[Yes, but the technological level cannot exceed the system’s level.]

“My current level is 1, with technology unlocked up to 1945. So the items I bring must have existed before 1945?”

[Correct.]

“Sigh!”

Lin Ran sighed deeply.

He had just wondered if he could bring back some advanced technology like drones or gas canisters from the future, but apparently not.

Meanwhile, Li Yunlong saw Lin Ran silent and sighing repeatedly, his gaze darkening.

“If it’s too much trouble, forget it. Pretend I never said anything. Come, come, let’s drink.” Li Yunlong drained his bowl and poured himself another.

He knew that with the Japanese raiding from time to time, bringing supplies in was not only extremely difficult but also very dangerous.

They could lose their lives in the attempt.

“I, Old Li, have been asking for too much. You’ve already done us a great favor bringing a whole truckload of heavy weaponry!” Li Yunlong shook his head and sighed.

Lin Ran knew Li Yunlong had misunderstood and smiled, “I never said I wouldn’t help.”

“All right, I’ll check around and see what I can get for you. I’ll try to bring as much as possible.”

“Hahaha, very good, very good!” Li Yunlong brightened immediately. “I knew I wasn’t wrong about you, Brother Lin. Just wait.”

With that, Li Yunlong hurriedly dashed out of the fire hut.

A short while later, he returned carrying a box.

“Brother Lin, here’s twelve thousand taels of silver dollars. I know your side doesn’t accept Border Region notes, so I didn’t take those.”

Lin Ran was startled. “Old Li, don’t say nonsense; who doesn’t accept Border Region notes?”

Just as he was about to speak, Li Yunlong raised a hand to stop him.

“Brother Lin, don’t refuse. I’m already very grateful for the heavy weapons you sent for a whole division. I can’t let you send supplies for nothing.”

“Your family’s money isn’t blowing in the wind either. If your old man knew, he might break your legs.”

Saying this, Li Yunlong opened the box, revealing a pile of gleaming silver dollars.

“This is all my savings, Brother Lin. See how much you can get for us.”

Lin Ran looked at the box of silver dollars and didn’t offer any insincere refusals.

“All right, I’ll see what I can arrange.”

“Hahaha, then it’s in your hands, Brother Lin!” Li Yunlong rubbed his hands excitedly. The food shortage had been troubling him terribly.

“If you can bring us over a dozen tons of grain, I, Old Li, will thank you on behalf of the entire New First Regiment.”

At the beginning of the Republic era, one silver dollar could buy ten jin of coarse grain; twelve thousand silver dollars would buy one hundred twenty thousand jin—that’s sixty tons.

But now, with war raging, prices rising, and the need to transport to the Border Region, twelve thousand silver dollars could only buy a dozen or so tons of grain, which Li Yunlong was very satisfied with.

Lin Ran, however, pursed his lips.

“A dozen… tons?”

Li Yunlong thought Lin Ran misunderstood and quickly waved his hand.

“No need for fine grain; coarse grain is fine. We’re fine with coarse grain.”

Hearing this, Lin Ran’s nose suddenly felt a bit sour.

“All right, I’ll see what I can do.”

Before coming, Lin Ran had checked: a single average silver dollar was worth about a thousand yuan.

That meant Li Yunlong’s box was worth at least ten million yuan!

And yet they were only buying a dozen tons of grain?

What grain could be so expensive?

Finally, Li Yunlong breathed a sigh of relief. “Then it’s in your hands, Brother Lin!”

At that moment, a young soldier entered.

“Reporting to the commander! All the weapons brought by Master Lin have been fully stored!”

The young soldier’s eyes flicked toward Lin Ran, filled with gratitude and admiration.

Three hundred Type 24 light machine guns, fifty Type 92 heavy machine guns, and thirty mortars—the whole regiment had gone wild!

[Notification: All soldiers of the New First Regiment express respect for you. Reputation +10.]

Lin Ran stood up, knowing it was time to go.

“Commander Li, I’ll take care of the grain issue. I promise to give you a surprise...”