African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 617: Chapter 295: The People Are Distressed

February 1881, Orange Free State.

On the streets of Bloemfontein, Rebel Army soldiers started visiting merchants and residents’ homes in groups of three to five.

”Bang bang bang...”

The door of Glein’s shoe shop was knocked with a loud bang, the small wooden door barely hanging on, as if it would explode in the next moment. Yet, no one responded, and those unaware might think the shop wasn’t open today.

”Master, should we open the door?” The apprentice in Glein’s shoe shop cautiously asked.

”Open for what? These damned money-grabbers come charging every few days. What good can come from their visit? Business is getting harder and harder!” Glein angrily muttered.

”Master, if you want to pretend no one’s here, I don’t think it’ll be that easy. Just look at those mad dogs outside, I bet they won’t give up easily. As the saying goes, you can avoid them once but not forever. If they don’t get money this morning, they’ll surely come again in the afternoon, and if not today, then tomorrow, until they get money.”

”Ugh, what can we do? Those evil creatures don’t even spit out the bones. We’re really unlucky, taking in these ungrateful wolves. These damned beggars treat themselves like the masters of Orange. If we hadn’t taken them in, they would have starved long ago. Same with East Africa, why didn’t they kill off these heartless bastards back then, I swear!” Glein vented furiously, spilling out everything on his mind.

The apprentice said in a panic, ”Master, be careful with your words. These people are everywhere outside!”

”What are you afraid of? You think you’ll snitch?”

”Master, you exaggerate. I’m a victim too! They’re not only asking you for money. No one in Bloemfontein can escape this disaster; I hate them too!” the apprentice quickly pledged allegiance.

When it comes to being inhumane, the Transvaal Rebel Army treats everyone equally, so Glein’s apprentice had no affection for them either.

”Hmph, those bastards, why don’t they ask those British for money? Everyone knows the Brits make big bucks selling diamonds, just bullying the weak!” Glein said.

By now, the Rebel Army outside lost their patience and shouted threats towards the house: ”Glein, we know you’re inside. If you don’t open the door now, we’ll break in, and we won’t compensate for your little wooden door!”

To protect his shop door and avoid further losses, Glein had no choice but to open the door and face them.

”Boss Glein, we thought you died inside!” As soon as he opened it, the Rebel Army soldiers said arrogantly, having been familiar faces for months, there was no courtesy in their words.

”Dear officers, what do you need?”

”Hmph, you pretended not to be home when we knocked earlier? Are you afraid we’ll eat you?”

Isn’t that the case? Glein thought to himself, but wouldn’t dare say that, especially facing such bandit soldiers.

”Dear officers, you wronged me, I run a small shoe repair business. Customers rarely come, moreover, business is particularly bad this year, so I’m considering closing up. That’s why our opening hours are fewer!” Glein explained in his defense.

”Hmph, who cares about your business? We’re here to collect payments today, just like yesterday. Seven pence and we leave!”

”Didn’t you just collect yesterday? Why come again today?”

”Stop talking nonsense, this is the government’s decision. We’re just executing orders, and yesterday was the security maintenance fee. Today’s is the war protection fee, the two are fundamentally different.

The security maintenance fee ensures you can do business in Bloemfontein without disruption. Our Rebel Army also keeps the streets free of thugs and vagabonds. As for the war protection fee, it funds prevention against the German invasion of the Orange Free State. Their purposes are entirely different.”

Protection, my foot. Even though I don’t know what East Africa’s like, life under these British stooges is unbearable.

As an adversary, the Brits naturally demonized East Africa in their propaganda. Early on, this was quite effective, especially with cooperation from the Transvaal losers. Their embellishments on British slander of East Africa made it seem credible, so initially the Orange people viewed East Africa negatively.

But lies eventually get exposed, especially after long exposure to Brits and Transvaal people. The Orange folks started realizing much of the East Africa propaganda was false.

It’s quite simple; some Orange people did business on the East African coast, and when these overseas merchants returned, they shared their firsthand experiences. At least the coastal areas left a deep impression—safe, orderly, low prices, fit for living.

”Officer, please have mercy. My business truly isn’t making money. Last month, which was my busiest, I earned seventy percent less than the previous years. If this month doesn’t improve, I might face total loss!”

”Hmph, that only shows your poor business skills. What’s it got to do with us? If you want to complain, blame your parents for not giving you a smart brain. Without business acumen, you’re bound to lose money.”

Listening to the Rebel Army soldier’s words, Glein was left speechless, and could only continue to meekly beg: ”Sigh, dear officers, can you possibly give me a few days’ reprieve, so I can earn the money to pay?”

”No way, these are orders from above. If we give you more time, who’s gonna cut us some slack?”

Glein: ”But you just collected money yesterday. You shouldn’t be short on cash, right?”

”Yesterday was yesterday; today is today. Everyone knows the military is a big spender. We took risks for your safety, joined the army. We risk our lives on the front lines, so your payments are only right—it’s different roles, that’s all.”

Yeah, right! Glein thought sarcastically. Everyone knows you’re just a bunch of thugs in military uniforms, used to be street hooligans or refugees from Transvaal.

”Even if spending heavily, you shouldn’t be fleecing us poor souls. British merchants truly have money, involved in big business. If you need money, wouldn’t it be better to ask the British? They do business in Orange, your army is their ’Protector’ after all,” Glein said sarcastically.

”Hey, how dare you talk like that? Say it again with that tone, see if I don’t shoot you?”

”Officer, don’t be mad. I was just joking!” Glein immediately apologized with a forced smile.

”Hmph, even if Jesus himself came, you wouldn’t escape today. Just for your words earlier, no less than three pence. And do you think the British are the same as you? You think they haven’t supported the army? See this gun? Lee-Enfield, proper British active-duty rifle. Did you think it fell from the sky? It’s supported by British lords. We’re just collecting a bit of money from you; they’re providing equipment!”

Glein was amused with anger. Everyone knows you’re in cahoots with the Brits, but as a small merchant, Glein had no choice but to keep swallowing his frustration.

People like Glein, extorted and robbed, were countless. But everyone was running small businesses and didn’t dare show dissatisfaction. However, over time, the resentment in their hearts kept growing.