His business extends over a wide area among small town merchants who in turn supply the farmers and working people. He can discover and react to public opinion more quickly than the average Chinese business man. When a good offi cial comes into office, he with others: tries to keep him in place as lone: as possible. He is too wise to gossip, but he can tell you the finneial status of almost_any person in the community. But more im-Portant, he seems to know the Weight, character and influence of representative citizens. During one of the civil wars, it so happened that this merchant and the writ-cer ce-operated in welcoming the invaders. - He was shrewd enough to see that plenty of fresh pork and huge jars of wine were placed 80 that the incoming Commander could not fail to observe and comment during the neg He was also prepared with information.as to supplies of rice and fuel for the soldiers. He afterwards remarked"the enemy paid us good money. for all supplies furnished." There no looting or elisord city has been "captured"
times by passing archie: merchant much as follows,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.