Cosmic Trading System

Zhao Gang gave a great deal, and the customer hesitated for only a moment before deciding to buy three cartons.

It was the peak of the holiday season, and fruits were needed for family visits. Getting four cartons for the price of three was not excessive.

Zhao Gang happily chatted with Lin Yun as they put away the money, and then the two began to unload the vegetables from the truck.

"We need to deliver the rest of the vegetables to a restaurant, as my father had instructed. You know the place, let's go together," Lin Yun said with a smile. Their friendship had not faded over time, and Lin Yun and Zhao Gang were completely at ease with each other.

"Great, let's have dinner there," Zhao Gang laughed in response.

Afterward, Zhao Gang asked someone nearby to watch over his stall. Then, they both left the wholesale market, carrying the remaining vegetables.

"Young man, I've been waiting for you. Take this money, I can't accept yours..." As they reached the exit of the wholesale market, an elderly man hurried over, grabbed Lin Yun's sleeve, and handed him a stack of money.

This old man was the same one whose tricycle had been confiscated earlier, to whom Lin Yun had given three thousand yuan.

He still carried remnants of the distress he had been in earlier.

Upon closer examination, Lin Yun noted the man's plain, almost shabby clothing and his earnest, determined expression.

Lin Yun thought back to the sight of the old man pleading on his knees to the law enforcement officers who were taking his tricycle away.

It was astonishing that this man could resist the temptation of three thousand yuan -- a truly rare sight.

"Uncle, this money is nothing to me. Take it, you need to replace your tricycle," he said, sighing slightly.

"But..." the old man tried to argue.

"Uncle, my father's tricycle was confiscated a while ago too. I know how it feels. This money really isn't much to me. Please, just go home," Lin Yun said with a wistful smile.

Having said that, Lin Yun turned to Zhao Gang and said, "Gangzi, let's move on."

"What a good lad..." the old man murmured, tears welling up in his eyes as he watched Lin Yun and Zhao Gang walk away.

"Boss, you haven't changed a bit after all these years. You're still the same generous person. That must have been around two or three thousand yuan, and you just gave it away. Respect!" Zhao Gang raised his thumb to Lin Yun, chuckling as they walked.

There was not a shred of regret in his voice for the money Lin Yun had given away. Rather, he respected Lin Yun's act.

"By the way, what is going on? Why did Immortal Origin County suddenly ban all tricycles?" Lin Yun asked, laughing at Zhao Gang's comment, and briefly summarising what had happened earlier.

He remembered being young and naive when they were in school, always looking to do right by others. They had brawled quite a bit with bullies, and thanks to his strength, they had never been on the losing side. Back then, Zhao Gang used to follow him around and always called him 'boss'.

"Boss, what you told me is not the worst of it. I've heard stories of tricycles being seized even from pregnant women on their way to the hospital in the middle of the night. It's raining, and with no easy transportation, it's difficult for people to travel around, especially those taking children to and from places. It's winter and it's so cold," Zhao Gang said, shaking his head.

Tricycles seized from pregnant women on their way to the hospital, in the middle of the night?

A chill passed through Lin Yun's eyes.

This wasn't just a question of flawed policies anymore. It was about a total disregard for human life.

"There are rumors that the ban was enacted because there were too many tricycles in Immortal Origin County, disrupting the traffic. It was only because the authorities hadn't been managing the situation effectively. The ban could have been a move to improve the county's image as we are pushing to become a civilized city. Some are saying that we are trying to emulate bigger cities.

Whatever the reason, the sudden ban has lasted quite a few months," Zhao Gang continued after a pause.

"Now there are no public tricycles. City buses are scarce and expensive, and one does not come along for hours. Hardly anyone takes them. Taxis charge at least ten yuan upon entry; who can afford that? Average wages in Immortal Origin County are just over a thousand yuan a month. Going two ways eats up half a day's wages…"

"Now is usually the busiest time for business. In the past, we could make between one to three thousand yuan per day during this season. Now, we're lucky if we make 500. People can't or won't come to the city, and it's difficult for people to move around. It's impossible to do business, and I'm thinking of quitting and finding work elsewhere next year."

Zhao Gang lamented.

Having spent so many years doing business, he was extremely sensitive to these changes.

This change was significant and impossible to ignore unless he was willfully ignorant.

"Heh," Lin Yun chuckled dryly.

Were tricycles disrupting traffic?

Tricycles were the main mode of transportation in Immortal Origin County. The full ban meant that fewer people would be out and about, which in turn meant that traffic would flow smoothly. However, for an economy to thrive, people and goods needed to keep moving, just like blood flowing through a body.

If the blood flow in a human body slows, the body will become problematic.

If the movement of people and goods slows, a place's economic growth will be impacted.

Therefore, whenever the national economy weakens, measures such as interest rate cuts would be employed to stimulate the economy.

If everyone stopped going out, stopped buying goods, and hoarded their money at home or in banks, factories would collapse, workers would be laid off, and ultimately nobody would have jobs, nobody would earn money, and nobody would have food.

Fortunately, Immortal Origin County was not an isolated locale. If it were truly isolated, the impact of this policy would be far more disastrous.

Although tricycles were difficult to administer, with effective management, anything could be managed.

Being part of the Cosmic Trading System, Lin Yun was privy to countless civilizations and their variety of traditions and regulations. He knew this all too well.

As for becoming a civilized city?

What use was an award if the citizens were not having a good quality of life? How much actual benefit did the numerous squares or neon lights bring if nobody went or saw them?

And to suggest mimicking the rules of bigger cities was simply ridiculous.

The population structure, wage levels, and public transportation system in Immortal Origin County were far from being on par with those of large cities. Was it not far-fetched to make such a giant leap?

Seeing his hometown transform into this during the five years he was away made Lin Yun uncomfortable.

Initially, he was glad to see the development in Immortal Origin County Town -- the new high-rises, squares, and colorful lights. But now, all he felt was a chill sweeping over him, as piercing as the winter wind.

It was the end of the year, and indeed, there were far fewer people on the streets compared to when he left.