I used the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) to fight the Japanese.

The old steward arranged for the two to have tea in the main room and then went to call the master. Soon, the old steward brought in an old man who was slightly younger than him. It was none other than the wealthy Zhang Youcai.

"Greetings, Master Zhang! You're still as healthy as ever after all these years!" Second Master and Chengzi stood up to greet him.

“Sit down, everyone! I’m getting old, just waiting to die. Since I came back to the county town, I’ve become lazy, and I take a nap every day at noon. I’m not as good as I was a few years ago!” Zhang Youcai said with a sigh as he sat down in the main seat.

"Yes! In the blink of an eye, we've all become old men! If it weren't for the Japanese causing trouble, we would still be following you all over the country! Back then, we felt like we had inexhaustible energy. We'd be exhausted like dead dogs one day, but after a good night's sleep, we'd be full of energy and running around everywhere the next day. It was so exciting!" Second Master said wistfully.

"Haha, once you're over fifty, all you can do is talk for a couple of years. My second son is really getting old! Are you still keeping dogs?" Zhang Youcai said with a chuckle.

"Let's get one! Our son is all grown up and often away from home, so having a dog will give him some company!" said the second uncle.

"Your two sons are married, right? How can you send them out to work in this chaotic world? It's too dangerous!" Zhang Youcai asked with concern.

"What else can we do if we don't run away? We have elderly parents and young children who depend on us for support. At most, we can just be more careful."

……

The three were old friends from the same town, and they had endless things to talk about when they met. Zhang Youcai was moved when he learned that their village had moved twice to avoid the Japanese invaders, so he invited them to stay in his yard and sell their goods. He also introduced them to a few of his old friends who owned shops, suggesting they bring their goods and try their luck there.

The mention of his children brought a wave of sorrow. The old wealthy man had a son and a daughter who had been studying away from home for several years. His son graduated from the Whampoa Military Academy and joined the National Revolutionary Army, eventually becoming a battalion commander. He hadn't been home for several years! They used to keep in touch frequently by letter, but after the Japanese occupied Yuzhou, all contact was completely cut off.

My daughter is studying at Peking University and hasn't graduated yet. The university has moved several times in recent years and doesn't have a stable location, so she rarely contacts her family.

It can be said that both their son and daughter are outstanding individuals! It's a pity they were born into this messed-up era. Their large courtyard is usually only occupied by the elderly couple, the housekeeper, and two servants, making it cold, quiet, and quite desolate!

The elderly couple were delighted by the large number of people who had come. That evening, they hosted a lavish banquet to entertain them, leaving the group feeling quite flattered.

The next day, everyone got up early. Second Master and Chengzi each took one person to the shop introduced by Master Zhang to discuss business. Mancang followed Second Master, and Mantun followed Chengzi. Neither of them had ever done business before, so they were just acting as shop assistants to learn from their elders.

"Doing business and leading troops into battle have many similarities. Equipment, appearance, strategy, and intelligence are all indispensable. Most importantly, you need to be quick-witted and articulate. The Sandongnuan Fur Shop we're going to is very famous in the county town. Many high-ranking officials and nobles come here to order clothes. Observe more, learn more, and talk less later, understand?" Second Master instructed earnestly.

"Huh?...There are so many more details?" Manxiang exclaimed in surprise.

"Of course! Ten years can train a scholar, but ten years may not train a decent businessman! There's a lot to learn here!" Second Master said.

"Alright! Let Mancang do it himself next time. This thing is too brain-intensive for me to learn!" Mancang was ready to back down as soon as he heard that it required using his brain.

"Clang!" Second Master curled his finger and gave him a loud flick on the forehead!

"You blockhead! Your Mo Dao Regiment may be small, but it's complete in every way. With Man Cang in charge of the overall situation and leading troops into battle, how can you have time to worry about business? He put you in charge of the accounts so that you could manage the logistics. Didn't you see that?" Second Master said with exasperation.

"Huh?...What do you mean? I'm just a handyman, right?" Manxiang said, feeling wronged.

"A handyman? So what if you're a handyman? Xiao He did handyman work for Liu Bang and ended up becoming the most meritorious minister! A fence needs three posts, and if you can manage the logistics well, you'll also be the most meritorious! Pay attention, don't waste your years of private schooling! Fighting and killing is not easy, and managing the logistics well is just as difficult!" the Second Master instructed.

"You mean I'm indispensable in this area?" Manxiang asked, his expression clearly showing some smugness!

"Ah?...You can think that way too!" Second Master said with a chuckle.

"Alright! Who told us to be the only educated people! Tiger and the others can't read a single word, they can't do this kind of work, it has to be me!" Manxiang suddenly felt a few centimeters taller!

"Haha, whatever makes you happy..." Second Master smiled and agreed, this guy has potential!

As they talked, they arrived at East Street, a bustling street lined with shops and teeming with people. Every now and then, Japanese soldiers dressed in kimonos would stroll along the street, causing people to quicken their pace.

The San Dong Nuan Fur Shop is located on the inner part of Dongda Street. The storefront is decorated very exquisitely. The solid wood doors and windows are painted in a bright yellow, which is very eye-catching. The three large characters "San Dong Nuan" in clerical script on the thick plaque look dignified and elegant.

It was still summer, and the shop was deserted, with hardly any customers. A long table stood in the center, where two experienced craftsmen were busy cutting leather goods. Around them, against the walls, hung all sorts of leather garments: coats, vests, hats, scarves, and more.

"What would you two gentlemen like? We'd like leather jackets and coats custom-made for summer and worn in winter, soft and not stiff!" An experienced craftsman put down his work and stepped forward to greet them.

"Haha, we were just wandering around aimlessly, but the shopkeeper has really studied the leather thoroughly!" Second Master said with great interest.

"Haha, you flatter me! I've dealt with leather all my life, so I just know a bit more than most people. Please feel free to look around, and try on any piece you like. I guarantee you'll be satisfied," the shopkeeper said.

"Okay, so these are all genuine leather, right? They look pretty good with their glossy shine."

"You have a good eye, old man. All the leather in our shop is genuine. Look at this one, it's a fox pelt we just got. It's for a vest made for the old lady of the Zhao family in the east of the city. We just started cutting the material!"

"And this fur coat is made of rabbit fur, several pieces of fur sewn together, it'll definitely keep you warm!"

"You can rest assured when ordering from our store. We guarantee the quality and there's no question of cheating!" the shopkeeper said enthusiastically.

"That's good! It must be difficult to get these genuine products in these chaotic times of war, right?" Second Master steered the conversation toward the raw materials.

"That's right! There are disasters everywhere and people are suffering. Even if there are good things, transportation is a problem. It's difficult!" the shopkeeper sighed.

"That's true! With constant natural and man-made disasters, it's not easy for the shopkeeper to get so many good things!" Second Master said casually.