Volume 2: Eagle vs. Dragon Chapter 36 Reconciliation
The three of them walked to a construction site, where they saw Tanka Sanniang busy at work. She had her hair tied up and was busy working in the cold winter wind, with sweat all over her forehead and white steam constantly emitting from her. Her body was covered in mud and water. From head to toe, how could she have the charm of an otaku?
Wu Chengjian memorized this scene all at once. In his eyes, those gorgeously dressed courtesans in Shenxian Island were not even as good as the little finger of Tan Sanniang in front of him. When he saw her, all the boredom and anger he had felt during this period disappeared in an instant.
Tan Sanniang also caught a glimpse of the three of them, stopped and asked, "Why are you here?"
The foreman noticed something was going on and took over the command, telling Tan Sanniang to take a rest.
Tan Sanniang took the three people into a small room and poured tea for them. After the tea was poured out, she remembered that this was the inferior tea that the workers drank, and said hurriedly: "Alas, Huachahao's tea was not brought here, you may not be used to it."
Just as he was about to think of a solution, Wu Chengjian took a sip and frowned, saying, "Is this what you're drinking these days?"
Tan Sanniang smiled and said, "It's just used to quench thirst. It has a little tea flavor and is not as unpalatable as plain water."
Wu Chengjian said: "This tastes worse than boiled water."
Wu Qi saw that the two were about to talk privately, so he pulled Tietou Junba and Bihe out.
There was no one else in the room, so Wu Chengjian said, "Alright, stop getting angry with me and go back. This is really not a place for people to stay."
Tan Sanniang said, "I'm not angry with you. In fact, I've wanted to come over and help for a long time."
Wu Chengjian said: "You paid for the entire manor, and you still think it's not enough?"
Tan Sanniang said, "Paying money and paying effort are two different things. Besides, all my money comes from you, so this money is actually paid by you."
Wu Chengjian frowned: "You are telling me so clearly!"
Tan Sanniang had been working all day these days, and now she had something to focus on, so she felt much more relaxed. She smiled and said, "Okay, it's my money. But it feels different to just invest money and to lay the foundation with your own hands."
Wu Chengjian asked, "From what you said, do you intend to wait until the charity cemetery is built before you go back?"
Tan Sanniang did have this intention. She had been so busy these past few days that she was actually a little addicted to it. She almost wanted to stay here and not go back. But looking at Wu Chengjian's frown, she knew that if she really said that, a new conflict would inevitably break out. She didn't want to be angry with him anymore, so she compromised in her heart and said, "I will go back after this row of houses are built and the second batch of foundation materials are settled."
Wu Chengjian asked, "How long will it take?"
Tan Sanniang said, "About a month."
Wu Chengjian was furious and slammed the cup in his hand: "Doesn't that mean we have to spend the New Year here?"
Tan Sanniang said softly, "The first batch of elderly and weak people have already moved in. They are all a little nervous about arriving in a new place. I am accompanying them so that they can have a good New Year. I know I am being a little willful, but can you just let me do it for once?"
Wu Chengjian listened to her soft words, and his heart softened, so he said, "Alright, alright!"
The two of them calmed down and talked slowly. Wu Chengjian poured out his grievances. What he had experienced during this period was not what he liked.
"Do you know the Kunqu Opera Troupe of the Pan Family? I don't know how long I have been coveting it since Qi Guan established this troupe. You know, Guangdong's Cantonese opera is naturally good, but Kunqu Opera is not so good. The troupes in Shenxianzhou can only please the local rich people in Guangzhou. In fact, their accents are not correct. No matter how Yi Jin teaches them, they can't change. But the troupe of Panjiayuan invited a master from the beginning, and the actors used are all from Jiangnan. When the drums and music start, and the actors start singing, people who don't know would think they are not in Guangzhou but in Suzhou and Hangzhou."
Tan Sanniang said, "Now that this troupe has fallen into your hands, isn't it just the right thing for you to fulfill your wish ?"
"This is the most fucked up thing." Wu Chengjian cursed, "At first I drooled when I saw this troupe. Pan Youjie was such a jerk. He kept teasing me but kept covering my eyes and not letting me see them. The more I couldn't get them, the more itchy I felt. Now Pan Youjie has handed the troupe to me, but I find that I have no interest in it... Alas! I don't know if in a few years, I will become like my eldest brother, using an abacus and looking at account books all day long as fun and interesting things..." He suddenly showed a disgusting expression: "Huh! If my life is like that, I might as well die!"
Tan Sanniang smiled and said, "If there really comes a day when you regard using an abacus and looking at account books as fun and interesting, you won't feel disgusted anymore."
Wu Chengjian said, "No way! It's too damn disgusting."
Tan Sanniang smiled and said, "Let everything take its course."
The two of them stayed in the room, chatting casually, but intentionally or unintentionally avoided talking about Wu Chengjian's marriage. Wu Chengjian felt a little regretful at this time, but things had come to a point where there was no turning back, and Tan Sanniang didn't want to make things difficult for herself.
Outside the house, Bi He patted her chest and whispered, "Okay, okay, we're finally reconciled. I was so worried about you these days."
Wu Qi also smiled and said, "Me too. Everything has been going well for a while, but Hao Guan always has a sour face. I know that only Sanniang can make him laugh."
Seeing that it was getting late, the three of them prepared to have a dinner at the charity cemetery. Wu Qi prepared it himself, using a large pot to cook mushrooms as the soup base. Tietou Junba also went to get some game, and added fish bought nearby and vegetables picked from the fields., we want to make a big hot pot.
The big hotpot was almost ready when someone came from the Huachahao. It turned out to be Hutabu who came to visit. They first went to the Xiguan mansion, but didn't find him. Wu Dacheng said that Haoguan had gone to the bank, so Hutabu went to Yihehang, but didn't find him again. It was said that Haoguan had gone out in a small boat, so Hutabu went to Shenxianzhou, and when he saw that he was not there, he went to the Huachahao, but still couldn't find him, so a sailor tried to come to Yizhuang to try.
When Wu Chengjian heard that it was Hutabu who was looking for him and refused to give up after so many twists and turns, he knew that there was probably something important. He couldn't help but said irritably, "I wonder what trouble this is going to cause."
Tan Sanniang said, "Hutabu is now the house servant of the Thirteenth Line. Although we don't need to flatter him like Cai Shiwen flattered Galau, we can't be too neglectful. Go quickly."
Wu Chengjian was helpless and said, "Okay, I'll go meet him."
The two said goodbye reluctantly.
Watching the boat go away, Bihe folded her hands and prayed. Tan Sanniang asked, "What are you mumbling about?"
Bihe's face was full of smiles: "Thank you, Mazu, for making everything go smoothly for me."
Tan Sanniang quickly put her hands together and said, "No matter good times or bad times, it is all the grace of Mazu."
"After today, I feel relieved." Bi He said with a smile: "Even if Hao Guan gets married in the future, I won't be afraid. I can see that his heart is still with you."
Tan Sanniang scolded, "What are you talking about? Let's go and invite everyone to eat the hot pot. Don't waste this big pot of good food."
Tietou Junba drove the small boat and flew to the Huacha. Wu Chengjian boarded the boat and saw Hutabu sitting on the deck drinking. There were people waiting on him. When he saw Wu Chengjian, Hutabu smiled and said, "Where did Haoguan go to visit the United States? It took me a long time to find him."
Wu Chengjian chuckled and said, "It was Sanniang again. She set up a charity cemetery in the south, and I went to look for her."
Hutabu said, "I have heard of it. Building this charity cemetery is a great deed and a great merit! Now everyone in the flower shop in Shenxianzhou says that she is the reincarnation of a bodhisattva. There have been many courtesans throughout history, but how many of them can be like Sanniang, donating all her savings to do such a great good deed? She is truly an extraordinary woman! I will donate some money later to accumulate some merit."
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "If it were anything else, I would have given this small amount of money on behalf of Manager Hu, but since this is a good deed, I would like to thank you on behalf of the elderly, weak and orphans in the charity cemetery."
Hutabu said: "Official Hao still calls me Hu Guanshi. Don't tell me that I am just a slave and not worthy of being your friend?"
Wu Chengjian said hurriedly: "What are you talking about! Others can't even reach my level, but you're a few years older than me. If you don't mind, I'll call you Big Brother from now on."
Hutabu was overjoyed: "Hao Guan calls me brother. I, Hutabu, am really proud in Guangzhou!"
The two men burst into laughter, and Wu Chengjian asked Wu Qi to take out the jar of monkey wine that was treasured on the boat.
Hutabu said, "Don't drink yet. I came here today to do something ordered by the master. Otherwise, I wouldn't have to run around three or four times a day."
Wu Chengjian hurriedly said, "I wonder what Master Jishan wants to say."
On the night of the reversal, Wu Chengjian used his power to make Jishan unable to do anything to him, so the two of them almost fought against each other that night. But as time went by, his relationship with Jishan slowly returned to "normal". Although Wu Chengjian was praised everywhere, he did not really think that he could be on par with Jishan.
Hutabula pulled Wu Chengjian's hand and whispered, "It is rumored that Haoguan wants to replace the current general merchant. Is this true?"
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "That's true. I do plan to ask Master Jishan to hold a business protection meeting to discuss this matter in the next two days."
"It's easy to convene a meeting to protect the merchants." Hubuta said, "It's also right to drive Hei Caitou down."
When talking about Cai Shiwen, Hubuta felt so angry that his teeth itched. In fact, he hated Galiu even more. However, Galiu had already been dealt with by him, and the next person to be dealt with was Cai Shiwen.
"But," Hutabu said, "Once Hei Caitou comes, the position of the general merchant will be vacant. Haoguan, are you also interested in this position?"
When he said this , his face looked solemn.
Wu Chengjian neither admitted nor denied it, and said with a smile: "Well, it all depends on how the Ministry of Internal Affairs arranges it and how Master Jishan chooses. As for me, I will just do my job with peace of mind."
"You are not speaking from your heart." Hutabu said, "I treat Haoguan as a brother. If you don't tell me the truth, I will leave now."
As he was about to leave, Wu Chengjian quickly stopped him and said with a smile, "You haven't even finished the wine yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
Hutabu pretended to be furious: "If you don't even consider me a brother, why should I drink wine?"
Wu Chengjian quickly stopped him and said, "What are you talking about? I can't play tricks on you, Brother Hu, with anyone. Okay, let's be frank."
Although there was no one in the cabin, he still leaned close to Hutabu's ear and pretended to be secretive and said, "It's a lie to say that I, Wu, don't have this ambition, but whether I, Wu, have this idea depends on how Master Jishan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrange it, right? If I have a chance, I will naturally try to fight for it, but if the higher-ups have other arrangements, I will definitely obey them. But I'm just a businessman, how can I know how the higher-ups arrange it? I have to ask you, Brother Hu, for advice on this matter."
Hutabu softened his expression when he heard this. Wu Qi brought the wine over. Hutabu took a sip and exclaimed, "Good wine!" Then he said, "Actually, if you are willing to listen to me, I will give you a favor. Don't fight for the position of General Merchant now!"
"Oh?" Wu Chengjian said, "Brother Hu, please analyze it for me."
Hutabu said, "Brother, you are now in the limelight, but this is only a limelight, after all, it can't last long. In terms of foundation, after all, it is still not as good as Pan, Lu, and Cai. The Cai family is shaken now, but the Pan family is still stable. The reason why Pan Youjie failed to take the position of head merchant a few years ago was because he was too young at the time. Now he is old enough and has gained enough qualifications. I think the meaning of the higher-ups is that the Thirteen Industries should still focus on 'stability'."
Wu Chengjian nodded repeatedly after hearing this: "That makes sense, that makes sense!"
Hutabu added: "As for you, my dear brother, you are only a few years old, why are you in such a hurry? Give up the position of chief merchant for the next few years, and then you can lay a solid foundation. After a few years, when Yihe Bank's foundation is more solid and you are old enough and experienced enough, the position of chief merchant will be in your hands sooner or later."
"Not bad! Not bad!" Wu Chengjian said, "Thank you, Brother Hu, for your guidance. If it weren't for your guidance, I would have almost missed the big thing. But..."
Huta asked, "Just what?"
Wu Chengjian said, "Brother, you know that I don't really care whether I become the general merchant or not, but the business is so big that the people below me are bound to have wild thoughts . As the business owner, I have to follow the will of the superiors and appease the people below me. What should I do? Let me think about it carefully."
Hutab smiled and said, "Let me help you solve this matter."
Wu Chengjian was overjoyed and raised his glass, saying, "That old man is truly my benefactor! Needless to say, I'll drink this glass of wine first."
