The small western-style building was in complete disarray. The numbered shelves with their goods had been temporarily moved aside. Lin Yuchan’s favorite green leather sofa fortunately hadn’t been disposed of yet, with a handwritten price tag reading “thirty taels of silver” dangling from its armrest. She collapsed onto it, unwilling to move.

The Wuxi cuisine takeout delivered from Sichuan Road was still steaming hot. The Boya clerks had been exhausted all morning and were now famished, pulling over tables, chairs, and benches, grabbing chopsticks to dig in.

For a moment, the shop fell completely silent, like a chaotic crime scene, with only the faint sound of chopsticks clinking.

Lin Yuchan also couldn’t be bothered with appearances, swallowing several three-fresh wontons before pushing a plate of sauced spare ribs toward Rong Hong.

“Eat while we talk.”

Rong Hong patted his belly, embarrassed. “I just ate a twelve-ounce steak.”

Everyone glared at him with fury.

Rong Hong sighed softly.

“I thought this place would have long since dispersed, with nothing left, under new ownership, perhaps even refusing me entry. So… the closer I got to home, the more timid I became. When returning, I dawdled, not daring to come look. I never expected everyone to persist for so long. I… I truly don’t know what to say.”

Lin Yuchan gnawed on a spare rib with her left hand while pointing at the wall with her right. There hung a handwritten document in a wooden frame.

“Boya Trading House Temporary Joint Management Declaration.”

Several signatures and handprints were distributed below.

“Why we persisted for so long is all written in the declaration,” she said methodically. “Additionally, all the monetary transactions and asset changes during your absence are recorded in detail in these account books.”

Still chewing on the rib bone, she used one hand to unlock a drawer with a key and pulled out several ledgers.

Rong Hong nodded, reading the “Joint Management Declaration,” his expression slightly moved. As for the account books, he didn’t examine them closely.

“When I was first imprisoned, there was indeed a charge of treasonous collaboration with the enemy. The evidence was that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s official seal I had refused. The long-haired rebels are the Qing court’s greatest threat, and capturing even a minor soldier brings heavy rewards, let alone someone with an official seal. No one listened to my self-defense. In the adjacent cell, there were daily screams. Through the air, you could smell the stench of blood. Every day, some died unable to endure the torture. Fortunately, I had contacts from Yixing looking after me, so I didn’t experience those ordeals…

“Later, coinciding with the emperor’s birthday, the yamen took a holiday, and I was temporarily left idle in prison. Knowing the legal proceedings would be lengthy, I had someone deliver a letter, asking Miss Lin to handle Boya’s assets as early as possible. At the time, I felt that whether I could emerge alive or not, I would probably be cut off from the merchant’s path in the future, starting everything from scratch. These empty titles and wealth, sooner or later, wouldn’t be mine—why cling to them desperately.”

“This empty wealth is also mine,” Lin Yuchan interjected without politeness, seriously saying. “My heart and sweat are also invested here. Having partnered with you for so long, I haven’t just earned money.”

The others also said, “Boss, you didn’t want to implicate us—your intentions were good. But Boya is also our life’s work.”

Rong Hong looked ashamed, cupping his hands toward everyone in a circle. “My apologies. Trapped in that dark, narrow space, facing death threats daily, it was difficult to think rationally.”

Even scholarly prodigies are flesh-and-blood ordinary people. Everyone quickly expressed understanding. After all, if it were someone else with a butcher’s knife suspended over their head, they probably would have been too terrified to think at all, let alone about rationality.

Rong Hong continued: “Later, word spread from the county yamen that quite a few prominent figures wrote letters pleading for me, citing my past credentials and American citizenship. A small county yamen had never seen a suspect with such influential connections, and the officialdom considered it extraordinary. Even the jailers asked me to write English letters for them and sing English songs… Haha, it was rather amusing.

“Then one day, someone ordered me to change clothes and wash my face, to board a ship and meet with a governor…”

“Governor,” Su Minguan suddenly interjected. “The Governor-General of Liangjiang? The one surnamed Zeng?”

The Boya group was gathered around the table, eating and holding their meeting. He couldn’t properly mix in, so he selected a few dishes from the takeout, found himself a stool, and sat a zhang away.

Others occasionally caught glimpses of him eating with relish, appearing completely absorbed in his meal, not seeming to listen seriously at all.

Yet his sudden interjection immediately restored his presence.

Chang Baoluo asked, “The Governor-General of Liangjiang—who is that?”

They were all common folk who couldn’t afford to worry about state affairs. Governors were high officials, but they changed every two or three years, sometimes several times a year. Some were dismissed before even taking office, some had just donned their official robes when they went into mourning. Who had the patience to remember them all?

Rong Hong replied: “Duke Zeng Guofan, the chief commander of the Hunan Army, who has been at Anqing Camp in recent years, overseeing the suppression of the Taiping military campaigns. When I first heard his name, I was indeed terrified, fearing he was summoning me for execution… Miss Lin?”

Lin Yuchan’s mind was filled with nothing but “Holy shit,” staring wide-eyed, saying softly, “You met Zeng Guofan?”

Rong Hong interpreted her awestruck expression as fear, smiling. “My head is still on my neck, isn’t it? Don’t be afraid. At the time, I also went with the resolve to die, proceeding to the Anqing Inner Arsenal, neither humble nor arrogant, to meet Duke Zeng. He had indeed thoroughly investigated my past, asking about some details regarding figures in the Taiping Army. Some I answered truthfully, others I refused to answer, unwilling to betray friends.

“But he didn’t get angry or press further. Instead, he had me speak extensively about foreign affairs, from the Yale rowing team to the North American War of Independence, not like momentary curiosity, but as if genuinely interested.

“Finally, he said: ‘They say southern oranges become bitter when transplanted north. But looking at you, this foreign-raised fake foreign devil, in appearance and behavior, still looks like a Chinese person.”

The Boya clerks listened in fascination. Initially anxious, now they all felt great relief, repeatedly saying, “A good official, a good official—this is an enlightened, reasonable good official.”

Rong Hong smiled: “Only later did I learn that Duke Zeng widely recruited Western learning talent. My good friends Li Shanlan, Xu Shou, and others had already entered his staff earlier and spoke many good words for me. At our second meeting, he no longer treated me as a prisoner, directly asking what I thought were the most urgent undertakings for present-day China.

“If I gave my personal opinion, I would have said we should provide all of China’s new generation with Western-style literary and scientific education, breaking free from the Four Books and Five Classics’ limitations, sweeping away the people’s dull countenance, following the path of Western nations’ rise to reverse the Qing’s fortunes. But I also knew this wasn’t something achievable overnight. Duke Zeng summoned a suspect like me for urgent consultation, not for a beautiful new world decades hence… So I settled for second best, telling him we needed Western technology—merely purchasing and importing Western machinery wasn’t enough. It would be best to establish machine factories in China. These factories should have machines for making machines, serving as mother factories to create various other machine factories, capable of producing not only weapons but also agricultural tools, clocks, various civilian machinery, thereby establishing the foundation for national manufacturing.

“Duke Zeng, upon hearing this, heartily agreed. A few days later, I received his appointment letter, putting me in full charge of purchasing Western machinery—oh, you ask about that treason charge? I don’t know when it was dropped. I only know that when I departed from Anqing Camp, I already held official status.”

Rong Hong beamed, retrieving an official document from his luggage, opening it, and placing it upside down on the counter.

Everyone crowded forward to look—

“Fifth-rank military merit, wearing blue feathers! Oh my!” Old Liu grinned, raising both hands as if to kowtow. “Incredible! This commoner pays respects to Lord Rong!”

Chang Baoluo was so delighted his hands didn’t know where to go, moving a pen back and forth on the counter, laughing. “We worried for nothing, thinking at most you’d be released. Who knew our boss had heaven-reaching abilities, even convincing the Governor-General of Liangjiang?”

Zhao Huaisheng grabbed a bottle of foreign liquor from the shelf. Everyone worked together to open it.

“Cheers!”

Everyone surrounded Rong Hong, forcing him to drink two cups of brandy, accidentally spilling most of another cup, immediately filling the room with wine fragrance.

Only Lin Yuchan remained curled up on the sofa, smiling as she watched everyone go crazy, incidentally taking a cloth to wipe up the spilled liquor.

Exactly. Big shots don’t die that easily. She shouldn’t have worried needlessly.

However…

She waited patiently for Boya’s celebration to conclude, then suddenly smiled and asked, “Mr. Rong, according to what you’ve described, you were at Anqing Camp for at most twenty days. So—what about the following month-plus? Where did you go to play?”

Rong Hong froze, his face slightly flushed, setting down his wine cup, actually looking somewhat embarrassed.

“I… they were guarding me, not letting me leave. Being in the military camp, to avoid leaking important military affairs, they also wouldn’t let me contact outsiders… I wanted to write to you all…”

Everyone was puzzled, saying one after another, “Weren’t you already given official rank? Why were you still under guard? The Governor-General of Liangjiang handles myriad daily affairs—surely he wasn’t chatting with you every day?”

Lin Yuchan studied Rong Hong’s profile, suddenly having a realization.

Su Minguan sat far away, fiddling with interesting items from the shelves awaiting sale, watching the drama from the corner of his eye.

Seeing her look over, he shook his head at her with a slight, cold smile.

Lin Yuchan tiptoed over, pointed at Rong Hong, then touched the back of her head, making a downward pulling motion.

Su Minguan couldn’t help but smile, turning to face the wall, giving her his back to indicate he saw nothing.

She immediately ran to Rong Hong’s side, sweetly asking, “Aren’t you hot?”

Then she grabbed his queue and tugged at it—

“Ow!” Rong Hong cried out. “Miss Lin!”

Lin Yuchan’s premonition proved true, and she collapsed on the sofa in silent laughter.

“Oh my, sorry—it’s real?”

The clerks stared in astonishment.

Rong Hong had only drunk two cups of wine, yet was now extremely red-faced. A grown man, he twisted bashfully, not daring to look at her.

Finally, he confessed in a low voice: “Already a fifth-rank sesame official—couldn’t very well keep a Western hairstyle. For the following month-plus, Duke Zeng ordered me to grow my hair until it could be braided before releasing me.”

He sighed, then smiled openly. “Now I’m the same as all of you. Though it feels a bit awkward.”

Everyone laughed heartily, clapping and stamping their feet.

Exactly! Their boss had gone astray in his youth, following foreigners and being corrupted by association, somehow losing his queue in confusion. Since returning to the country these past years, everyone had harbored secret worries, fearing that someday his disguise would fail and unscrupulous soldiers would find fault.

Now he was safe!

Though the lower section of the queue was still attached, the upper part could no longer be faked. Many men on the street inevitably had baldness or hair loss, their hair too sparse to hold up properly. They also attached false queues below—quite understandable.

Lin Yuchan naturally didn’t join the cheering. She felt it was such a pity.

Rong Hong’s hair was slightly curly. When he removed his hat, that original three-seven parted short hair was very flowing and beautiful.

Looking at his embarrassed expression, one could see that changing this hairstyle was an enormous sacrifice for him.

For their ideals, some people cut off their queues, while others grew them back.

Simply not forgetting one’s original intentions.

Rong Hong touched the back of his head, then suddenly left everyone to approach Su Minguan.

“Brother Minguan, I’ve said everything that needed saying. I’m not seeking favor with power, nor am I intentionally currying favor with the court. I’m simply practicing my life’s ideals since graduating from Yale. Others may disapprove, but I believe you’ll understand. I don’t know bureaucratic wisdom—in the future, I’ll still need guidance from the ‘hometown association.'”

He still extended that silver coin.

Su Minguan set down his chopsticks, stood up, and smiled lazily.

Zeng Guofan killed Taiping troops, slaughtering until cities and villages ran with blood. When Rong Hong first entered the war zone, he had lamented why the government troops needed to be so ruthless.

Now, for the sake of some machinery, his stance had changed quite quickly.

“Lord Rong, think carefully,” he said politely. “Straddling two boats—the consequences are unpredictable.”

Rong Hong replied seriously: “I stand on neither boat. Rong chose to return to serve the country. As long as it benefits China’s prosperity and strength, regardless of what hairstyle I must wear or whose salary I take, I don’t care. Even if it requires me to go against my nature, to say ridiculous things, do absurd things—as long as it’s not too excessive, I’ll strive to adapt. Today, Governor-General Zeng ordered me to procure machinery, establishing the beginning of Chinese manufacturing. To match this task, he gave me the corresponding official status. If one day he orders me to do things that violate my principles, I’ll also unhesitatingly return this official position to him.”

Su Minguan studied him for a moment, smiled slightly, and accepted the silver coin.

Then he sighed softly: “What to do—more and more important people. Next year I’ll have to consider raising prices.”

Rong Hong paused, pondering for a long time before catching the slight sarcastic meaning, smiling openly without further self-defense.

Since returning to the country, he had wanted to take the political path. Chinese society was rigidly hierarchical—as a commoner, no matter how many aspirations he had, how could he forge connections upward?

It was just that in previous years, he had never encountered a patron, thus wasting time in commerce. Making money was only for daily expenses, not his life’s ambition.

Fortunately, while in business, he had kept his mind on two tracks, meeting many people, taking on various tasks here and there. These seemingly minor accumulations, step by step, finally achieved a qualitative change from quantitative change in the summer of the second year of Tongzhi, carrying him onto the great path of participating in state affairs.

The seemingly carelessly accumulated dead leaves and weeds, given just one spark as a catalyst, would burn brilliantly.

Su Minguan had just cupped his hands when Rong Hong suddenly said, “Don’t leave yet. I need you to help me… witness something.”

Su Minguan raised an eyebrow, asking, “Didn’t Miss Lin already summarize the shop’s daily transactions? You still don’t trust her?”

Lin Yuchan couldn’t help making subtle eye signals toward Su Minguan.

Cold sarcasm also needs limits, young master!

Su Minguan wore a slight, cold smile at the corners of his mouth, pretending not to see.

Rong Hong, having finished recounting his experiences, only then took up the account books and work reports Lin Yuchan had summarized, reading them carefully.

Just a few hours ago, he had thought his shop had already turned to ash. Heartbroken as he was, with his great ambitions fulfilled, he wasn’t too dejected.

Miss Lin handled affairs steadily—perhaps she would leave him a few scraps, so when he returned, he wouldn’t need to stay at others’ homes. He was already grateful.

Now, opening the ledgers, he grew increasingly amazed.

Most of the business was still intact, all preserved through Lin Yuchan’s various methods. Those that had to be sold were negotiated at appropriate prices, not wholesale dumped.

Those contracts and loans he had abandoned—she had calculated carefully, robbing Peter to pay Paul, re-signing countless documents. Only three to five violations occurred, preserving Rong Hong and Boya’s commercial reputation at minimal cost.

More precious still, Boya brand premium tea supply hadn’t been interrupted—when warehouse raw tea ran out, she decisively contacted Xuhui Tea Shop, using their channels to find equivalent-grade raw tea supplies from Fujian—though prices were several times higher, she operated at a loss for the sake of publicity, securing the brand’s difficult survival.

Rong Hong’s expression grew solemn as he moved to a seat with abundant sunlight, reading line by line.

Su Minguan couldn’t help showing another cold smile at the corners of his eyes. “There are no errors. I helped review…”

“Enough.” Lin Yuchan pulled up a stool to sit beside him, whispering persuasively, “It’s just being an official—it’s not like he actively sought it. Young master, please show mercy.”

Su Minguan’s expression softened slightly. Looking at her, he smiled.

The young lady rarely spoke so gently in pleading for anything, and this time she finally made an exception, yet she was still speaking for someone else. He wanted to put on a fierce face and lose his temper with her.

“I just can’t stand him leaving you all hanging for so long,” he said softly. “If I’d known he’d be this at ease with himself, I should have advised you to go to Macau.”

Lin Yuchan held a grudge, saying with a stern face, “Too late.”

“I only refrain from being an official myself—I don’t oppose others being officials,” Su Minguan smiled almost imperceptibly, explaining in a low voice. “Having people in court makes things easier. I’d love to develop even Zeng Guofan into a Heaven and Earth Society backbone.”

Lin Yuchan also smiled. “That might be somewhat difficult.”

“Not as difficult as you think,” Su Minguan said seriously. “You may not know, but among the Hunan Army that Zeng Guofan recruited, there are quite a few Elder Brother Society members—that’s a Heaven and Earth Society branch in the two Hu regions, with ‘blacker’ hands than our Guangdong societies. When Rong Hong goes to work under him, he should be able to exchange secret signals with many people. His future official career will only be smooth—no one will dare dig pits for him.”

Lin Yuchan was stunned. “…”

Does Zeng Guofan know about this?

Rong Hong suddenly turned his head to call her. “Miss Lin, please come over.”

Lin Yuchan quickly resumed normal expression, sitting with the clerks.

“Looking at the general ledger, there are still 947 taels of silver remaining,” Rong Hong said, taking out a key to open the cash box. “During this period, thanks to everyone’s combined efforts in management, the wages you received were also short. Rong is deeply grateful. This money was saved through everyone’s help. I dare not make decisions alone—consider it a bonus for this period. Old Liu…”

Hearing that all the remaining silver would be distributed as bonuses, no one cheered. Even the slowest realized Rong Hong’s intention.

“Boss, you’re still going to dispose of everything?”

Chang Baoluo was somewhat confused. “Officials can also conduct business simultaneously. There’s no prohibition. Other officials all do this.”

Lin Yuchan couldn’t help offering her opinion: “We struggled to maintain things for several months so that our little Boya family wouldn’t scatter. Please reconsider.”

Rong Hong looked apologetic, once again bowing to everyone in a circle.

“Procuring machinery is an important matter. I must focus wholeheartedly on it, abandoning other miscellaneous affairs where possible. Please don’t try to persuade me.”

Having found a more beloved career, the shop and such were merely external possessions.

Though everyone was reluctant, seeing Rong Hong’s mind was made up, they could only accept.

Everyone gazed around with melancholy and deep affection.

Rong Hong pondered for a moment, then began distributing: “Old Liu, Old Li, Little Zhao—you each take two hundred taels. Don’t refuse. The remainder goes to Baoluo. Congratulations on your marriage—go enjoy a honeymoon.”

Everyone held their breath in unison, staring at each other open-mouthed.

“Two hundred taels…”

Equal to several years’ wages!

But everyone didn’t have time to express thanks. They immediately realized one person had been omitted.

Chang Baoluo immediately said, “Though Miss Lin receives no salary, since April, she hasn’t taken her dividends. She’s also contributed quite a bit of her savings.”

Rong Hong smiled. “Since April, the shop hasn’t been profitable either. Her dividends are gone anyway.”

He glanced at Lin Yuchan.

Hearing Rong Hong’s distribution that heartlessly didn’t mention her at all, Lin Yuchan was initially shocked for two seconds, calculating that it probably wasn’t because he was angered by her complaining tone earlier.

“I’ve been subsidizing you all along, and now I’m nearly penniless,” she smiled as she hinted. “The goods on these shelves are all leftovers that are extremely difficult to sell. Please don’t give me impossible tasks.”

“Oh, right, these goods.” Rong Hong seemed to just remember, pointing at those toothbrushes, tooth powder, smelling salts, and thermometers covered in eight layers of dust, smiling. “All yours. However much you can sell them for depends on your ability.”

He uncapped his fountain pen and began writing a transfer document.

“Also, the remaining dozen-plus boxes of tea, furniture, and household items at Boya Hongkou all belong to Miss Lin. You may dispose of them as you see fit. If you terminate the lease on that courtyard, you may keep the twenty-tael deposit.”

The clerks looked at each other, also showing puzzled expressions.

These items seemed numerous, but… were trivial bits and pieces. They barely covered the money she had contributed during this period.

If this had been several months ago, she was the least senior member of Boya Trading House, young in age and a maiden—receiving slightly inferior treatment would be quite normal, and no one would object.

But everyone had witnessed these past months. Without Miss Lin’s careful calculations, Boya Trading House would probably have died completely long ago, absolutely not remaining like today with substantial assets for Rong Hong to distribute with care.

Boya’s clerks were all honest people, incapable of overly self-serving behavior.

Zhao Huaisheng couldn’t help saying, “Boss, still leave her some silver. Nine hundred-plus taels, divided five ways…”

Rong Hong shook his head, smiling. “I now hold official status and must avoid suspicion. How could I give large amounts of silver to an unrelated young lady?”

Lin Yuchan made an “mm” sound, feeling somewhat bitter inside.

In an instant, several thoughts flashed through her mind: These past months, to save Rong Hong, to keep Boya operating normally, she had advanced large sums without avoiding suspicion, keeping most on her person for ready access.

Su Minguan had long warned her that even if she maintained perfect integrity with clear accounts, she must be careful of inviting gossip.

After all, money passing through hands leaves traces—in the Qing’s business world, this was all too normal.

Rong Hong might not question her character. But there was no guarantee others wouldn’t spread rumors, thinking that having held public funds for so long, surely not a single coin remained in her own pocket?

Perhaps… Rong Hong already assumed she had kept enough benefits for herself. No need for additional rewards.

Perhaps…

Not so many perhapses. She had long ago confided her true feelings to Su Minguan. Even knowing it would invite criticism, she would still act this way.

Just do good deeds, don’t ask about the future. She had long considered all possible consequences.

She smiled, taking the fountain pen from the table, about to sign the transfer document.

“Wait.”

Rong Hong smiled as he extracted the pen from her hand.

“Miss Lin, just now I reviewed our relationship since we first met over that silver dollar. You’ve earned quite a bit of money from me, but every copper coin was earned honestly through your own hands. There were difficulties along the way, but overall, it’s mostly me who’s wronged you. Not to mention, when I was in trouble, you gradually contributed back the money you’d earned, allowing me to return to Saigon Road intact, even gaining two pounds—thinking about it, this debt of gratitude is probably very difficult to repay.

“According to the Municipal Council’s latest ‘Concession Land Regulations,’ though Chinese nominally cannot purchase real estate within the concession, certain legal operations can enable property transfers without this restriction. The western-style building with garden at No. 7 Saigon Road, occupying three mu, which I purchased and renovated in the ninth year of Xianfeng for 2,100 silver dollars—it should have appreciated somewhat by now. I transfer this property to Miss Lin Yuchan in gratitude for her unwavering dedication.”

Rong Hong looked at her with bright eyes, smiling.

Lin Yuchan tensed completely, suddenly standing up.

“This won’t do…”

“Listen to me finish—there are conditions.”

Rong Hong wore an expression of successful mischief, suppressing laughter as he glanced at her.

“First, don’t let me down regarding the Boya refined tea brand—find a way to restore it quickly. Second, Chang Baoluo, Zhao Huaisheng, Liu Youde, Li Gan—these men are like friends and family to me. I don’t wish to dismiss them. You must continue paying their salaries. Unless they leave voluntarily, you cannot fire them. Third…”

Rong Hong finished writing the last line of the transfer document, signed his name in a flourish, blew on the ink, and capped his fountain pen.

“Third, don’t destroy the garden or remove the ivy. Don’t replace the handles on the western-style building’s wooden window frames. Those are seventeenth-century French antiques I worked hard to find.”

“Miss Lin, don’t just stand there stupidly—the ink is about to drip.”