Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 115: Trick to Negotiations

Tian Erhe was not confused by the fancy name as he asked weakly, “What exactly does it entail?”

Jiang Baimian had already thought of the way to phrase it and answered fluently, “To put it simply, you have to provide the company with the intelligence and books you have obtained. At the same time, some transactions that are inconvenient for the company to carry out will be relegated to you.

“In addition, you can’t refuse if a member of the company needs a place to stay or a certain level of help. What you can obtain is: Better weapons, more bullets, wider knowledge, high-production seeds, cheaper cotton, cloth, drugs, and salt...”

Upon hearing the latter part of the explanation, everyone in Moat Town—including Li Zhengfei—was moved.

For a settlement that could barely be self-sufficient, be it weapons, bullets, cotton, cloth, drugs, or salt, they were items they were lacking. They worried every day about where they could trade for such items.

In the past, they mainly relied on excavating city ruins to obtain them. However, after so many years, countless Ruin Hunters and wilderness nomads had come and gone. They had long emptied the necessities in the relatively safer ruins.

This compelled Moat Town’s residents to explore more dangerous places or transact with other settlements. Moat Town was hidden, and only a few people they trusted knew how to reach it. The number of transactions they could complete was inevitably limited.

“Acceptable...” Tian Erhe—who was lying on the bed—looked at Jiang Baimian and nodded gently. “What else?”

Jiang Baimian said seriously, “The company will also send an armed team of more than 20 people to be stationed here to help you train the town guards and make them stronger.”

Moat Town residents’ expressions changed at the same time. Some were alarmed, some were solemn, and some were vigilant.

To them, providing intelligence, helping in transactions, or providing shelter didn’t affect their core interests. However, having a fully-armed team camp in Moat Town meant that they had lost their autonomy.

This was unacceptable to many people.

Before Li Zhengfei could say a word, Jiang Baimian smiled and added, “I’ve already submitted Moat Town’s location to the company.”

After dropping the ‘bomb,’ she scanned the faces of the other people in Moat Town one after another.

None of them dared to look her in the eye as they lowered their heads one after another.

They secretly looked at Bai Chen with resentment, blaming her for bringing Pangu Biology to Moat Town so easily. She had failed to live up to the mayor’s trust.

This resulted in them having no room for negotiation. An agreement was fine, but they would be forced to agree even if they didn’t want to.

How could a large faction not be able to overrun a small settlement?

Long Yuehong—who was beside her—was a little confused because he remembered that his team leader had promised Bai Chen not to tell the company about Moat Town in advance. The report she had submitted had indeed been vague about this.

Long Yuehong looked at Shang Jianyao and realized that his mouth was moving slightly as he silently uttered a word.

As a person who couldn’t lip-read, Long Yuehong could only guess what Shang Jianyao was saying based on his own imagination.

Shang Jianyao was likely saying: “Liar.”

Tian Erhe fell silent for a while before coughing violently. “It’s not really unacceptable.”

“Yeah...” Li Zhengfei slowly exhaled.

The others’ expressions returned to normal one after another as they asked, “Where will they stay when the time comes? There aren’t many rooms in these buildings. We can’t make everyone empty their rooms, right?”

“Will they bring their own food, or do we have to provide them with food? Will we be compensated?”

...

Long Yuehong was surprised by these questions, and he was confounded by the current situation.

They were clearly discussing the town’s survival, so why did they suddenly talk about such trivial and petty matters? Even if they were forced to agree and could only accept it, there were still many important questions that needed to be discussed and confirmed!

After the cacophony died down, Tian Erhe sighed and said, “In any case, I don’t have long to live. When the time comes, empty this room, and it’ll be the meeting room for Pangu Biology...”

“Mayor, you’ll be fine. Pangu Biology has very good doctors.” Bai Chen anxiously consoled Tian Erhe.

Tian Erhe smiled and said, “How can humans not die?”

“A mechanical monk can...” Shang Jianyao replied.

Jiang Baimian then glared at him, and Shang Jianyao silently shut his mouth.

Tian Erhe was unaffected as he looked at the Moat Town residents in the room. “What else do you guys have in mind?”

Since the mayor had already made a promise, and their own interests didn’t seem to be affected, the others didn’t harp on this question. They shook their heads one after another to indicate that they didn’t.

Tian Erhe looked at Jiang Baimian and hesitated. “What’s your company’s attitude toward those people in the square?”

He was referring to the large number of residents in the middle and lower echelons of Moat Town. Most of them were ‘outsiders.’

Jiang Baimian replied without hesitation, “To the company, everyone is a precious resource. They won’t give them up easily.”

She saw many people in the room reveal looks of disdain and dissatisfaction, and she smiled. “The company will also allocate a few spots every year to reward those who have made great contributions or have outstanding talent. They will be made official employees of the company and receive the corresponding treatment. Just like us.”

Upon seeing these clean and glamorous outsiders, the residents of Moat Town present clearly reeled in excitement.

They felt that those spots were prepared for them.

How could ordinary townsfolk have the opportunity to make great contributions?

As for how good being an official employee of Pangu Biology was, they couldn’t imagine it for the time being. They could only intuitively tell the difference by looking at Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and company.

“That’s good, that’s good...” Tian Erhe heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. His body seemed to deflate a little. “Is there anything else?”

“That’s about it.” Jiang Baimian did not agitate the residents of Moat Town any further. “If you’re willing, we can also send people to help you design a new management system to increase your labor efficiency and prevent anyone from being lazy.”

She deliberately focused the matter on how to manage the other townsfolk.

Upon seeing that no one had any objections, Tian Erhe said with some difficulty, “Then, it’s settled. Zhengfei, what do you think?”

Li Zhengfei thought for a few seconds and replied, “No problem with me.”

Upon hearing this and not wanting any delays to cause any hitches, Jiang Baimian immediately turned her head and said to Long Yuehong, “You and Shang Jianyao are to bring the radio transceiver over.”

She did not directly instruct Shang Jianyao because she was worried that this certified mental patient would say something in response. That was clearly not suitable for such a situation.

“Alright.” Long Yuehong was very enthusiastic when it came to him showcasing his usefulness.

After leaving the building with Shang Jianyao, he looked around and lowered his voice. “Team Leader said that she had already informed the company of their location. Was she lying to them?”

This allowed her to gain the upper hand in the negotiations!

“What else do you think it would be? To lie to you?” Shang Jianyao asked in response.

Long Yuehong knew that he had guessed correctly and happily retorted, “That’s not impossible.”

“You wouldn’t have realized it if she wanted to lie to you.” Shang Jianyao glanced at his companion.

“...That’s true.” Long Yuehong couldn’t deny it.

...

In Tian Erhe’s room, after watching Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong leave, Li Zhengfei probed, “Shall we gather everyone and announce this matter?”

Tian Erhe glanced at him and coughed. “There’s no need. It’s fine as long as you agree. It won’t be too late to announce it when Pangu Biology’s team arrives.”

“That’s right,” Jiang Baimian echoed. She was worried that an accident would happen.

Although the conditions set by Pangu Biology wouldn’t cause any real harm to the townsfolk in Moat Town’s middle and lower echelons and would instead benefit them greatly, such promises would only lead to suspicion before they were fulfilled.

Furthermore, huge changes would definitely cause one’s heart to waver and result in instability.

In such a situation, people were very sensitive and prone to irrational behavior. If a few more ambitious or more extreme people took the lead, the situation would often spiral out of control.

When Pangu Biology’s team entered the city, everyone definitely wouldn’t dare to have any temporary ‘opinions’ under the pressure of immense firepower. They would be able to witness the promises being fulfilled calmly. Lives would slowly improve, allowing them to accept the matter sincerely.

Tian Erhe and Jiang Baimian’s words made many of the townsfolk in the room feel completely at ease. They felt that their status wouldn’t be moved and that they wouldn’t be on the same level as the people in the square.

Before long, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong brought the radio transceiver up.

Jiang Baimian then handwrote the telegram and showed it to everyone.

The content mainly indicated that Moat Town had already agreed to sign a friendly partnership and that the company could send people over.

At the end of the telegram, Jiang Baimian described Tian Erhe’s condition and got the company to send a doctor with the corresponding drugs or equipment with them.

No one had any objections to this telegram.

When she codified the text, Jiang Baimian secretly added two lines. They were the entrance to Moat Town and the secret countersign they had agreed on.

After she was done, she quickly received a reply.

The reply was very simple. There were only two words: “Roger that.”

Tian Erhe watched the entire process and instructed the townsfolk in the room, “Go back and rest. Leave Zhengfei here to accompany me.”

After everyone left, Bai Chen said to Tian Erhe, “Mayor, do you want to eat something and have some sleep? The company’s personnel might not arrive until tomorrow afternoon or evening.”

Tian Erhe shook his head and smiled. “Not for the time being. The injection you gave me was really effective. I’m not sleepy at all. Lass, we’ve known each other for many years. How about calling me Grandpa?”

Without waiting for Bai Chen’s response, he deliberately wore a pitiful look and coughed a few times. “Look, none of my grandchildren are left...”

Bai Chen pursed her lips and said softly, “Grandpa.”

“Haha.” Tian Erhe laughed and said to Bai Chen and the others, “Tell Zhengfei and me about Pangu Biology.”