As the first snow of the year fell, the city's real problem surfaced.
Cold.
Food was being sold in the bazaar, clothes too—
but at night, people shivered.
Firewood had become expensive, charcoal was running short,
and in poor districts, even lighting a fire had become a luxury.
Li Tian watched all of this from the window.
Beneath the snow… opportunity was hidden.
"Winter comes every year,"
he thought.
"But people never prepare for it."
---
Problem Identification — Fuel Crisis
The Merchant Guild's data painted a clear picture:
Wood supply: unstable
Charcoal: low heat, heavy smoke
Price: 2–3× higher in winter
Mu Zhengyuan said during the meeting,
"If there were a solution to fuel… the entire region would be ours."
Li Tian spoke softly,
"There is."
All eyes turned to him.
---
Anthracite — Black Gold
Li Tian placed a black stone on the table.
Shiny, hard, dense.
"This isn't ordinary coal,"
he said.
"This is anthracite."
High carbon.
Low smoke.
Long burn.
Extreme heat.
The Guild members were stunned.
"It can even melt iron,"
Li Tian added calmly.
"And it keeps homes warm."
---
Birth of Li Fuel Company
A new name was announced:
Li Fuel Company
Mining (controlled sites)
Processing (standard-sized blocks)
Distribution (Guild routes)
No middlemen.
No hoarding.
Supply was locked in before winter even began.
---
Market Entry — Winter Shock
The first batch entered the market.
People used it—
and never went back.
"Less smoke!"
"It burns all night!"
"One block is enough!"
Demand exploded.
---
Next-Level Concept — Shares & Investment
Then Li Tian called Mu Zhengyuan into a private room.
"Don't look at this business only for profit,"
he said.
"Turn it into a system."
He introduced a new idea—
shares.
"Divide the company into pieces,"
Li Tian explained.
"Whoever invests… owns a part of it."
Total shares: 100
Guild: 40
Tian family: 30
Open investment: 30
Profit = proportional returns.
Mu Zhengyuan was stunned.
"This is… spreading the risk."
Li Tian smiled.
"When you spread risk,
growth multiplies."
---
The Decision Moment
Mu Zhengyuan watched snowflakes fall outside.
Fuel wagons moved through the streets.
People were warm.
"The Guild will invest,"
he finally said.
Mu Qinglan looked at Li Tian—
no longer just with respect… but with awe.
---
End Panel
Snow falls over the city.
Below, thin streams of smoke rise from every home—
controlled, steady.
Li Tian tightens his cloak.
Caption:
> "Winter gave everyone cold…
but Li Tian sold fire to all."
Next Chapter: The Chaos of Shares and the Rise of a New Power Class.