Published: March 12, 2025
Chapter 453: Light Food and Drink
Returning to his courtyard, Zhao Hai finally let out a sigh as he sat down in the living room. Laura, noticing Zhao Hai's expression, immediately poured him a cup of Kaya and asked, "What's wrong, Brother Hai? You look tired. Did Smith say something to you?"
Zhao Hai forced a smile and replied, "He didn't say much and was quite polite, but dealing with them really made me feel exhausted—more tiring than fighting a battle."
Laura chuckled at his words, "Of course it's more tiring than a battle. After all, when you're fighting, you're just sitting back and directing things; it’s not tiring at all."
Zhao Hai shot her a glance, provoking a laugh from Laura. Just then, Meigen walked in from outside, her face beaming as she looked at Zhao Hai and said, "Brother Hai, it seems like Uncle and the others have a good impression of you. That’s great! With their support, it will be much smoother for us to handle things in the future."
Zhao Hai smiled and replied, "It's not that simple. When I had dinner with my uncle today, I noticed that Uncle and the others didn't talk about any family matters at all; they were just chatting about mundane things. This indicates that they still see us as rivals. If they were too supportive of us at this time, it would only strengthen Uncle's position. I doubt they would do something like that, so you might as well give up on that thought."
Upon hearing Zhao Hai's words, Meigen sighed and didn't say anything further. She knew he spoke the truth. At the moment, her uncle and the others were polite to his family, but if it came to competing for power, they wouldn't hold back.
Seeing Meigen's expression, Zhao Hai comforted her, "It's fine. You don’t need to think too much about it. I see that they understand the stakes. Moreover, my uncle told me that the Karlqi Family has its own oversight methods, so nothing too big should happen. You don’t have to worry."
Meigen nodded, but it was clear she was still unhappy. Zhao Hai couldn't help her with that; such power struggles could happen in any family.
Zhao Hai thought for a moment and changed the topic, "In a bit, let's go deliver those seafood items to Grandpa Gan. The festival is just a couple of days away, and I think we should go to the city for a bit. Karsen City is bustling with all kinds of goods, and with the festival approaching, there will definitely be even more. We should go have a good look and buy some nice things to bring back."
Meigen looked at Zhao Hai with a smile and said, "Alright, let’s go explore the city tomorrow. What do you want to buy, Brother Hai?"
Zhao Hai chuckled, "I haven't really thought about it yet. I just want to see what good stuff is available. Take me to the slave market here tomorrow; don’t you think we should buy some slaves after a while?"
Meigen nodded, "We should, but Brother Hai, can we buy slaves right now? Don’t forget, there are going to be a hundred thousand orc slaves coming to the Black Earth Wilderness after the New Year."
Zhao Hai laughed, "Don’t worry, I haven't forgotten. However, those orc slaves won’t be able to farm, but human slaves can. After we buy those human slaves, we can let them work the fields for the orc slaves. Also, most human slaves can build simple houses, while orcs are used to living in tents. There are many differences in their living habits, so bringing back some human slaves will definitely benefit us."
Meigen nodded, "That’s true. However, the slave market isn’t in the city; it’s outside the city. I think we should wait until after the festival to go. During the festival, there are too many people at the slave market, and it’s better to go when there are fewer people."
Zhao Hai was taken aback, "Why are there so many people during this time? If there are too many, won't the good slaves be picked over by others?"
Meigen laughed, "During the festival, many large families become overwhelmed and will take out some decent slaves to help at home. If these slaves perform well, their lives will improve. Plus, during the year, many slaves die from illness or overwork, and most families take this opportunity to buy new slaves. Don’t worry, Brother Hai; there will be plenty of slaves at the market; they won’t be picked clean."