Volume 1: Mission in Danger Chapter 16: The Game of the Beasts Sharing Food
The so-called "Emperor's Southern Treasury" sounds impressive, but in fact it is not a good thing - it is equivalent to saying that the property of the wealthy merchants in the Thirteen Hongs is not actually their own, but the private money of the emperor temporarily stored in Guangzhou. Whenever the Qing Emperor needs it, he will find an excuse to ask them for it - this is the true meaning of the four words "Emperor's Southern Treasury".
Seeing Zhou Yijin's strange expression, Cai Qinghua knew that his fellow villager had already realized the danger of this matter, but he added another hammer: "However, it is quite strange that after I arrived in Guangzhou, it seems that nothing happened here."
Nothing happened. There are two possibilities. One is that Cai Qinghua's speculations are completely false, and the other is that the crisis was artificially concealed in preparation for a bigger crisis.
Cai Qinghua said, "Yi Jin, if it is an ordinary time and you want to enjoy a good life with fine wine and beautiful women, then Young Master Wu's place is a good place to go, but the Thirteen Hongs will undergo a major change in the near future. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. As a legal advisor, we hope to help our boss rise to prominence, but we have no reason to share the hardships with our boss. If you still have some sense, you should find another way out."
Zhou Yijin lowered his eyelids, pondered for a moment, and finally said: "Master, I appreciate your kindness. But the Third Young Master has been very kind to me. If it weren't for him, I would not have been able to get through the checkpoint in Beijing. Now his family is in trouble, I can't just ignore him. But Master, this kindness, I will engrave it in my heart."
Seeing that he still couldn't be persuaded, Cai Qinghua shook his head and said, "The Thirteen Hongs must undergo a major change. If it weren't for the Huizhou incident, I would have thought that perhaps another family would fall. But now that the Huizhou incident has been known, the fall of the Yijin and Wu families is inevitable. With your intelligence, you should be able to figure this out."
Zhou Yijin still shook his head.
Seeing him like this, Cai Qinghua was not angry at all, but admired him even more. He sighed and said, "Be loyal to your master, my disciple. The Grand Master must like your character very much. But I have come to you twice and still failed to invite you. Do you really need me to visit you three times to get you out of seclusion? But I tell you, although the Grand Master is patient, there is no guarantee that someone who can replace you will appear in this fairyland of Guangzhou at any time. If you wait for a price, I am afraid you will not be able to sell it."
"My disciple is not waiting for a price," Zhou Yijin said, "but at this moment, I can't just abandon him like this."
After saying goodbye to Cai Qinghua, Zhou Yijin felt very uncomfortable. It was even more uncomfortable than that night when he was half drunk and had to vomit everything.
When he arrived at Huachahao, he saw that Chuanlong Ciye and Short-legged Charlie were both there. He also saw that everyone looked unhappy, so he asked what was going on. Ciye briefly told him what happened, and the more he spoke, the more dejected he became.
Zhou Yijin was also stunned for a long time before he said, "Chengjian, I have something personal to tell you."
Master Chuan Longci had a good eye and took Short-legged Charlie out.
Zhou Yijin then told Wu Chengjian everything about his meeting and conversation with Cai Qinghua.
After hearing this, Wu Chengjian widened his eyes and remained silent for a long time.
Zhou Yijin shook him and shouted, "Chengjian? Chengjian!"
Wu Chengjian was called back to his senses, and suddenly slammed the cabin door and shouted, "Sanniang, Sanniang!"
Tan Sanniang heard the shouting, walked in and asked, "What happened?"
Wu Chengjian said, "Go, go, sell those servants and maids who are not very relevant to us, and send away those who are hired."
Tan Sanniang panicked and asked, "What happened?"
Wu Chengjian shouted, "We can't live in Guangzhou anymore! Fortunately, I had foresight. I changed the name of the Huacha, sold the Wu family's property at a low price, exchanged it for gold and silver silk tea, took the whole family, and went to England, France, or even to America to open up wasteland. Anyway, we can't live in Guangzhou anymore!"
Tan Sanniang was so frightened that tears started to flow down her cheeks: "Third Young Master, Third Young Master! What happened to you? Can you please tell me clearly? Don't be like this. I am scared. Yi Jin, Yi Jin, what happened to the Third Young Master?"
Zhou Yijin sighed, "There is a big difficulty ahead. The Third Young Master wants to vent a little. Just listen to him."
"Difficulties? What difficulties!" Wu Chengjian said angrily, "I originally thought that I was being sniped by someone, but I didn't expect it to be a situation where a hungry dragon came out of its lair and a group of beasts shared the food. Is this a fucking difficulty? This is the gate to hell! Damn God! I was wondering why you were so good to me, and I thought you really assigned me a good family, but it turns out that you have a trick up your sleeve! It would be fine if you didn't want me to live happily as a second-generation rich kid, but do you have to create such a situation to play with me?"
Wu Chengjian was raging on the Huachai for half the night, and Tan Sanniang couldn't get a word in amid his scolding. She went back to the cabin, but couldn't sleep and couldn't let go, so she came back.
Zhou Yijin took two steps closer, almost breathing in Wu Chengjian's ear, and then asked in a low voice: "Are you really leaving? Are you really going to France? England? Or Southeast Asia?"
Wu Chengjian calmed down after losing his temper. He said, "France and England are no longer the barbaric countries that those scholars think they are, but we are not of the same race as them and it is difficult for us to achieve anything. If we go there, we will just retire there. Humph."
Zhou Yijin asked: "What about Nanyang?"
"Nanyang..." Wu Chengjian said, "That place... is not a place where you can live comfortably for a long time. If I go there, I will have to work hard as a pioneer, right?"
Tan Sanniang came over and said, "You are still young. If you work hard for a few years, you can build a career and then enjoy life."
Wu Chengjian let out a long sigh.
Zhou Yijin said: "Actually, these are not the reasons. In fact, what you are really worried about is Mr. Wu, or Mr. Wu, right?"
Wu Chengjian turned his head away as if his secret had been exposed.
Tan Sanniang was slightly stunned, but immediately understood.
If Wu Chengjian really made up his mind to flee with his family, let alone to Europe thousands of miles away, even to Manila and Siam in Southeast Asia, given Wu Guoying's old age and Wu Chengjun's illness, they would probably not be able to hold out.
In other words, if Wu Chengjian made this choice, it would be tantamount to sacrificing the lives of his father and brother.
Zhou Yijin said: "In fact, the situation is so bad. If you tell Elder Wu about it, I think they will support you for your future, even if they have to sacrifice their lives for it."
Wu Chengjian turned around and said coldly: "Since they can sacrifice their lives for me, can't I stay and take risks for them?"
"How are they the same?" Zhou Yijin said, "Didn't you say that Mr. He Er had diagnosed that Young Master Wu would not live for more than a few months? As for Old Master Wu, even if he takes good care of himself, he will only have a few years left. But you are still young. I will give you an old man and a sick one in exchange for a carefree life and a bright future. This is a good deal..."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Wu Chengjian interrupted him angrily, "Can the lives of father and brother be measured in years and months?! Even if father and I can only accompany him for a few more years, even if brother and I can only accompany him for a few more months, these years and months are priceless to me. Compared with these years and months, the rest of my life and bright future are all bullshit!"
After he blurted out this conversation, he suddenly realized that Zhou Yijin was just trying to force out his true thoughts from the bottom of his heart.
The cabin became quiet again.
Zhou Yijin then smiled and said, "Since you have made up your mind, then you won't leave. What should we do next? Do you have any ideas?"
"What should I do? There is nothing I can do!"
Wu Chengjian cursed, but after his temper was gone, he calmed down and said, "The money on the ship has been taken away by Junba. Let Wu Qi withdraw some money and keep it on the ship. Also, take out another 5,000 taels. You can find a way to give it to your master later."
"He won't accept it." Zhou Yijin said, "Not only will he not accept it, but he has already made it clear that the Governor's Office is probably powerless to do anything about it. Even if Zhu Dafangbo is able to save the situation, he won't do anything. He might even push the Wu family again."
Wu Chengjian frowned, then understood and sneered, "Yes, our Wu family is ruined, so you can only go to the Governor's Mansion to be a legal advisor."
Zhou Yijin sighed and said, "In the end, I am the one who dragged down the Wu family."
Wu Chengjian waved his hand: "What does this have to do with you? It's just a coincidence that the interests of all parties converged, and no one is to blame. Well, Master Cai still has to give this gift. If he doesn't accept the money, you will become something he can accept. I won't ask him to help me when the time comes, but at least the reminder he gave me in advance is worth the price. Otherwise, our Wu family will be eaten up by others and we don't know what will happen."
Zhou Yijin was a little surprised: "Do you have a solution?"
"What? What a bullshit solution." Wu Chengjian said, "If soldiers come, elephants will block them; if chariots come, horses will block them. If you really force me, I will overturn the chessboard."
Tan Sanniang asked, "Should we dismiss these people? Should we renovate this boat?"
Wu Chengjian thought about it and said, "I won't send him away, I won't change him. No matter how bad the world goes, we will just live our lives as usual."
The condition of the eldest son of the Wu family seems to have improved under the care of his wife Cai Qiaozhu. He can be awake for a while during the day, but the so-called wakefulness is only in a semi-comatose state.
Cai Qiaozhu was both happy and sad about this. She was happy that her husband's illness did not continue to worsen, but she was sad that many of his symptoms were consistent with Mr. He's diagnosis. If this continued, wouldn't her husband not live long?
However, no matter how sad you are in your heart, you still have to put on a smiling face on weekdays: first, to show it to the servants, so that the family can be at peace; second, to show it to your father-in-law, so that the elders can be at peace; third, to show it to your children, so that your son can also be at peace.
During this period, apart from serving her husband and visiting her father-in-law hardly left the house. But if she heard that a certain temple was efficacious, she would go there in person to pray if it was nearby, or send people to offer sacrifices to the faraway ones. She just came back from Haizhuang Temple yesterday because she heard that there was a small Taoist temple on Xiqiao Mountain, where the Lu Zu enshrined was very spiritual, but the abbot would only open the door to grant talismans at limited times every month, and would only receive herself or her close relatives.
Cai Qiaozhu was now desperate and was looking for medical treatment everywhere. She went out before dawn when she heard that the talisman was effective. She got some talisman water from Xiqiao Mountain and hurried back to feed it to her husband. However, seeing that his condition had not improved for the time being, she clasped her hands together in front of her chest and silently prayed to the gods and Buddhas, asking them to see her sincerity and let her husband live longer.
She turned around to look at the unconscious Wu Chengjun, her heart aching, and she wept softly, "Sir, you can't just die like this, even if it's until your children grow up."
The tears flowed and flowed, and were wiped again and again. After a while, she noticed Lian Qiao standing outside the door. She did not enter the house, but was crying silently outside the threshold with her mistress.
Cai Qiaozhu quickly wiped her tears and said, "Why are you here now? Is there something going on? Why didn't you call me?"
Lian Qiao also wiped her tears and said, "Seeing the eldest young lady crying, I feel sad too." She was eight years old when Wu Chengjun bought the mansion and later gave it to the eldest young lady. Both of them took good care of her, so she has deep feelings for both the eldest young master and the eldest young lady.
Lian Qiao helped Cai Qiaozhu change a dry handkerchief, and then said, "Madam, someone is coming from Daxin Street."
Cai Qiaozhu's parents lived on Daxin Street in Guangzhou City. When they heard that someone was coming from Daxin Street, it meant that someone was coming from Cai Qiaozhu's parents' home.
"Oh, why didn't you tell me earlier? Let him in."
A forty-something old woman came in. She was indeed from the Cai family. The Wu and Cai families were both merchants. Although they were wealthy and had many servants, they were not as strict as the officials. The old woman only bowed and told Cai Qiaozhu that the master and mistress missed the girl and wanted to ask her mother to come back.
Cai Qiaozhu thought about it. Before Wu Chengjian went to Huizhou, she had been supporting her husband at home because he was away. She didn't expect her husband to come back but there were a series of misfortunes. She was worried about her husband's illness during this period, so how could she have the heart to think about anything else? However, she felt guilty for not going back for so long.
When her mother-in-law was still alive, she had to report to her mother-in-law before returning home, and she had no objection. After her mother-in-law passed away, she became the head of the family, and she told her husband if she wanted to go home. Now her husband was also in a coma, so after thinking for a while, she went to the backyard to see her father-in-law.
Wu Guoying had recovered a lot after such a long time of recuperation. She no longer needed to stay in bed and was sitting in the yard. After hearing what Cai Qiaozhu was saying, she said, "You should go back. You have had a hard time these days. Go to Daxing Street and visit my in-laws for me." She also ordered people to bring out many gift boxes for Cai Qiaozhu to take back. She also said, "You have not been home for a long time. You must have a lot to say to your parents. If it is getting late, stay in Daxin Street for one night. It will not be too late to go back to Xiguan tomorrow."
Cai Qiaozhu said hurriedly, "How can that be possible! The master's birthday is approaching and the family is busy. How can I stay out overnight at this time? Although Third Uncle is the head of the family now, he is a grown man and it's okay at ordinary times. But when it comes to such a big event, it's inevitable that there will be omissions when cleaning up the inner house. I still have to come back to help him look after it."
In fact, she had another reason that she didn't tell him, which was that the patient's condition was prone to relapse after nightfall, and she was worried about her husband Wu Chengjun, so she would never stay overnight at her parents' home. Women are always more superstitious, and they don't want to say anything ominous, for fear that it will become a prophecy.
Wu Guoying chuckled and said, "What kind of birthday party is this! It's just the third brother making a fuss. If he hadn't said he wanted to bring good luck to the eldest brother, I wouldn't have wanted to celebrate my birthday. I wouldn't have been in the mood to do it."
Cai Qiaozhu hurriedly advised, "Master, please don't say that. Chengjun has always been filial, and he must want Grandpa to celebrate his birthday happily. Although he is comatose, if he hears the good news, he will be happy, and perhaps it will help him recover. Third Uncle's suggestion to bring good luck does make sense."
Wu Guoying shook her head: "You only know how to help the third brother."
Cai Qiaozhu said: "No matter what, the bride must come back before dark."
