Let’s go get something to eat first.

Inside Zhenjiang’s west gate was a teahouse that also sold wontons. The standard was ordinary, but it was the only place nearby where one could sit down to eat.

Due to the crowded foot traffic, the proprietor was rushed off his feet with business. Seeing a girl in men’s clothing, he turned a blind eye and pointed to a table in the innermost corner.

Lin Yuchan covered her small bag and took a seat.

Jiang Gaosheng had probably rarely shared a table with young ladies and seemed a bit uncomfortable, stirring his soup with chopsticks, unsure what posture to eat in.

Lin Yuchan smiled and said, “Brother Jiang, my treat.”

Jiang Gaosheng felt embarrassed: “My meals are all reimbursed by the boss.”

Lin Yuchan was amused: “So good? Can mine be reimbursed too?”

This question was beyond the scope. Jiang Gaosheng hesitated for a long time, wavering between “Boss Su’s lover can’t abuse public funds either” and “Miss Lin is also a brotherhood member, so food and drink are free,” his thick eyebrows knitting together.

Lin Yuchan had only been joking casually. Seeing this big brother starting to burn brain cells, she quickly changed the subject and chatted about family matters.

Only then did Jiang Gaosheng show some smile, relaxing as he ate several wontons with big bites, saying with feeling in a low voice: “In the past when there wasn’t enough to eat, I joined the society just to be bullied less, didn’t understand any grand principles, just did whatever the big brothers above told me to. It was also accumulated virtue from past lives that this life of mine muddle-headedly survived. Only now do I understand – people must first eat their fill and dress warmly before having the heart to think about other things.”

This big brother with an extremely long reflex arc could also speak such profound truths. Lin Yuchan was somewhat surprised.

Jiang Gaosheng smiled: “Miss Bai Yushan, wasn’t this principle your idea? Minguan told us all, ‘Overthrowing the Qing and restoring the Ming’ is difficult, ‘seeking welfare for the people’ is somewhat easier. We Hongshun Hall people are relatively lazy, so we prioritize doing the latter, which doesn’t disgrace our founding master.”

Lin Yuchan was even more surprised: “He said that?…”

Not only had he polished her textbook thoughts and transformed them into rhetoric that Qing people could accept, but he hadn’t forgotten to mention the source…

What integrity.

Letting people eat their fill and dress warmly – such a simple yet seemingly impossible task. Even advancing two centuries in time, there would still be people working toward these four words.

But even now, if they could realize one more person’s basic needs, it would be a full achievement.

From the teahouse’s small window, the dock was visible in the distance. A group of small sailboats was randomly moored on the water surface, bathing in sunlight.

Suddenly, a huge shadow swept over, covering the small boats’ tops. The Luna appeared majestically, dropping anchor to dock and replenish coal and fresh water.

Since government forces were blockading Nanjing, the Yangtze waterway ahead was patrolled by warships. Civilian vessels needed to apply for special permits to pass, and policies changed daily. Su Minguan had gone early to handle this matter. Even if smooth, it would require at least a full day’s delay in Zhenjiang.

Many passengers disembarked at Zhenjiang. Based on vacated positions, they would reopen ticket sales, waiting until full before departing, which also required time.

Anyway, long-distance travel in this era had no accurate timetables. Passengers were all very zen about it. As long as there weren’t delays of ten days to half a month, all could accept it.

Lin Yuchan saw that adjacent tables were all first-class passengers who had just disembarked, ordering various wontons and eating leisurely.

Among them was one who seemed to be Tang Tingshu, the Jardine Matheson comprador. This name was familiar to Lin Yuchan’s ears. Like Zheng Guanying, he was also a major late Qing business figure, a backbone force in revitalizing the nation through industry.

However, his current status was merely that of a wealthy and powerful comprador.

Lin Yuchan pondered whether to go strike up a conversation…

Forget it. She hadn’t even figured out his business scope yet.

Tang Tingshu was richly dressed but nearsighted. He stared at his wontons for a long time before seeing whether they contained vegetables or meat, carefully bringing them to his mouth and frowning – apparently not to his taste.

His two attendants sat nearby eating when they suddenly covered their stomachs one after another.

“Ouch… stomach pain… Master, forgive me, this servant needs to use the latrine…”

Both dropped their chopsticks and ran out the door, clutching their stomachs.

Tang Tingshu’s expression changed dramatically.

“Proprietor, how are these wontons made? I could taste that the meat flavor was wrong – is it spoiled?”

Seeing it was a comprador, the shopkeeper dared not neglect and hurried over to apologize, first bowing.

“This humble one’s kitchen vegetables and meat are all freshly procured. The master can go inspect. Besides, all these customers in the hall – no one else has gotten sick from eating. Please don’t spread rumors, Master – this small shop still needs to do business.”

Speaking, he gestured around the hall with a pleading expression, asking the diners to speak up for him.

But who dared offend a comprador? Zhenjiang had just opened as a treaty port, and everyone depended on foreign trade houses for their livelihood.

So everyone pretended not to hear, intimately cuddling with the wontons in their bowls.

Tang Tingshu’s face darkened: “Call your boss! Are all the eateries by the city gate this lawless? Zhenjiang is a place for doing business with foreigners – which merchant will dare to come in the future? If you keep being stubborn, I’ll report to the officials!”

The shopkeeper pleaded even more desperately: “Master, spare my life!”

Local authorities were weak, treating foreigners like half-masters to serve. If this went to court, the comprador master wouldn’t even need to kneel, but this small shop would be finished.

During the standoff, someone spoke from a corner table.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily the wontons’ problem. Gastroenteritis also needs some time to develop. These two big brothers rode the ship for a day and night – did you accidentally eat something unclean?”

The shopkeeper looked gratefully toward Lin Yuchan.

Tang Tingshu also glanced at her. Being nearsighted, he couldn’t see clearly, only seeing an elegant young man in gray robes and purple vest, sitting across from someone in a Yixing uniform, colors all familiar from traveling together for a day and night.

Since he was Su Minguan’s subordinate, Tang Tingshu gave commercial face and asked his vomiting and diarrheal attendants: “Did you eat something carelessly?”

The two attendants almost crawled back. One wiped sweat with a pale face: “No… all our own brought things… only boiled tea…”

Lin Yuchan thought for a moment and said across the room: “I saw this morning that the second-class water boiler on the ship was very crowded with long queues. You two big brothers – did you boil that water properly?”

Both attendants were stunned and shook their heads while holding their stomachs.

“People behind were pushing too urgently…”

Lin Yuchan shook her head: “Then you were careless. Ship water storage isn’t fresh to begin with, and if not boiled properly, how could you not get stomach trouble?”

Living in ancient society was just this treacherous step by step. Lin Yuchan herself, as a parachuted soldier, dared not be careless about food and drink. No matter how thirsty or hungry, she had to boil water for over three minutes. These two attendants followed the comprador master, eating well and drinking fine things, presumably having servants serve them daily. On this rare, long trip, their self-care abilities couldn’t keep up.

Tang Tingshu lived in first class with stewards caring for his food and drink. Hearing Lin Yuchan’s words, he pondered momentarily and felt they made sense.

Though wealthy and powerful, he had a smooth personality and would never be a villain without cause.

So he glared at the shop boy and gave a way out: “Why don’t you quickly go buy some anti-diarrheal medicine!”

That shop boy nearly knelt to him and ran out.

Tang Tingshu bowed toward Lin Yuchan’s table and smiled: “Made you both laugh. People trained by Minguan are indeed very attentive.”

He then scolded his attendants: “Be more careful in future!… Forget it, rest over there.”

Lin Yuchan: “…”

What verb did he use after Minguan’s name?

She was stunned for a long time before realizing: the great comprador was nearsighted and still thought she was ship crew…

Forget it, no clarification needed. If he discovered she was female and a merchant, his attitude might change unpredictably.

So she also pretended to be crew, politely replying: “As it should be. If there’s anything on the ship in the future, don’t hesitate to trouble us.”

Everyone exchanged pleasantries across the room and continued eating wontons.

Halfway through eating, the shop owner quietly came over with a bunch of polite words and waived her bill.

If this had been misunderstood as a food safety problem, offending the foreign comprador, given Zhenjiang Port’s governance level, the wonton shop would be double-teamed by authorities and concession forces and couldn’t continue operating.

Lin Yuchan was in great spirits. One sentence had helped someone enormously.

Of course, it also relied on Su Minguan’s connections.

Old Zhenjiang city wasn’t large either. A thin layer of morning light wrapped around the tranquil Ming Dynasty ancient buildings.

A completely different world from the concession just steps away.

Jiang Gaosheng had been here before on shipping business and pointed out everything: “That’s Xijin Ferry, that whole area is shipyards. Those new docks were built by foreigners, all exclusively occupied by trading houses. Our Yixing dock is here, temporarily still shared with others… Mm, this whole area is cargo warehouses. See the number plates by the doors? Number Three – that’s exclusively rented by our Yixing…”

With every sentence “our Yixing,” Lin Yuchan beamed: “Boss Su is wealthy!”

While speaking, suddenly a crowd surged from nearby. Jardine Matheson comprador Tang Tingshu walked in front with several local officials and brokers respectfully following behind.

“This area is a warehouse?” Tang Tingshu squinted with nearsighted eyes, distinguishing various waterside buildings. “Numbers five and six are still empty? Reserve them all for me. Those cargo docks over there – I want two that can berth large ships… Yes, buy outright with ready silver, hang British flags, and don’t allow miscellaneous Chinese merchants to enter again. Add to that whole street of houses on Yangjia Gate Street – in the future it’s Jardine Matheson’s Zhenjiang China Office and inn… Yes, yes, hurry with repairs and furnishing, use the highest grade… Oh, and that Jingkou bank – have you negotiated with their boss? I’ll pay a thirty percent premium to acquire it! – Yes, in the future, Zhenjiang banking will mainly be foreign banks for convenient standardized management…”

Tang Tingshu was like a tornado, instantly deciding at least fifty thousand taels worth of real estate and commerce with grand gestures, making the nearby small officials and merchants grin from ear to ear, wishing they could float while walking.

Lin Yuchan watched Tang Tingshu’s back. Every footprint he passed seemed to shine with silver light.

She silently swallowed back her sentiment about “Boss Su being wealthy.”

There were people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens. With British capital investment condescension to invest, Zhenjiang’s GDP would at least double next year.

Simultaneously, by this time next year, at least half of Zhenjiang’s native Chinese industrial, commercial, and financial businesses would die.

Tang Tingshu suddenly took a fancy to a local cotton trading house, so he left the group of brokers and went in to chat with the boss, proposing acquisition intentions.

That Zhenjiang boss was all smiles, negotiated prices several times, and just sold his cotton business packaged to the British, planning to go home to buy land and retire.

When Tang Tingshu came out, he held another stack of contract documents. He casually reached to the side—

He forgot. His two attendants were still back at the wonton shop with vomiting and diarrhea.

He had to withdraw his hand and tuck the documents under his arm.

Rich people were used to having followers and used to keeping their hands empty. Without attendants today felt quite awkward.

A nearby broker was clever and quickly reached out with both hands: “Let me hold them for you.”

Tang Tingshu thanked him and handed the documents to the broker, then said: “Let me look at the silk shop acquisition contract again.”

The broker hurriedly agreed, fumbling through the stack of documents. Unexpectedly, his hand shook, and papers scattered to the ground, flying in the wind.

The broker panicked: “This humble one deserves death, so sorry…”

Fortunately, there were few people around. He quickly picked them up, with several contracts getting muddy.

Tang Tingshu was thus slightly displeased. But the person was helping out of goodwill, not his attendant, so he couldn’t say anything.

He suddenly felt thirsty and politely asked those nearby: “Where’s my rope teapot? The one with Maojian tea steeping inside.”

Several people were stunned: “You didn’t bring a water bottle – come, let me take you to find a teahouse to drink slowly! You can also listen to music. A ‘Little Han E’ just came from the capital, sensation of all Zhenjiang…”

Tang Tingshu quickly declined: “I still need to handle business at the concession headquarters. If you gentlemen have nothing else, please stop here.”

Locals were enthusiastic about attracting investment. But this enthusiasm wasn’t quite to his taste.

Suddenly, a clear voice was heard nearby.

“Mr. Tang, the teapot is here. You casually placed it on the cotton house counter earlier.”

Tang Tingshu was slightly startled to see an elegant, handsome “young man” holding his portable teapot with a friendly smile.

Wearing a narrow light gray robe with purple-trimmed vest and small black boots.

Though nearsighted, Tang Tingshu had good memory and immediately recognized these color blocks.

Wasn’t this Su Minguan’s person? The one “very well trained”?

So he took the teapot and thanked him with a smile: “Little brother, how are you here too?”

Lin Yuchan: “…”

Can’t say I’m trying to sneak into the concession…

Not hearing a reply, Tang Tingshu joked: “I know – Minguan sent you to scout locations, right? Mm, sorry, I’ve reserved these three streets, you’re a step late, haha…”

Lin Yuchan suddenly had an idea.

She bowed to Tang Tingshu, coughed to lower her voice, ignoring Jiang Gaosheng’s frantic eye signals, and smiled: “Our boss heard your attendants were sick with no one to carry things, so he specially sent me to serve. My surname is Lin, just call me Little Lin.”

Tang Tingshu was startled and stroked his beard, laughing: “First class has this benefit too?”

Lin Yuchan nodded vigorously, sidling up to Jiang Gaosheng and smiling: “Brother Jiang also heard the boss’s instructions, right?”

Jiang Gaosheng was stunned like a mast.

Lin Yuchan said quietly: “Big brother, wait for me outside the concession.”

She quickly stripped off the hemp scarf around Jiang Gaosheng’s neck, wrapped it around herself to cover her nonexistent Adam’s apple.

Then she actively took the stack of documents and contracts from the broker’s hands, pulled out several silk ribbons from her pocket, and efficiently sorted and bundled the documents by category, placing them in her shoulder bag.

When she first arrived at Defeng Trading House, besides moving tea, she spent every day serving tea and water, developing excellent attentiveness.

“Let’s go. Free service.”

Hearing her Guangdong accent, Tang Tingshu felt immediately close and laughed heartily, stuffing the teapot to her too.

“Good! Minguan is thoughtful!”

Only a several small officials and intermediaries around him looked at each other meaningfully, wanting to speak but hesitating.

They all had sharp vision and could tell at a glance this “young man” wasn’t quite right.

Everyone knew Tang the great comprador had arrived on Yixing’s passenger ship. How could Yixing’s ship also have little eunuchs serving?

This Yixing boss would stop at nothing to grab market share!

Compared to this, what was the “Little Han E” from the capital?

But seeing Tang Tingshu had no objections and seemed accustomed to the “little eunuch,” since everyone depended on his favor, who dared question it?

They could only nod in agreement: “Very good, very good, haha.”

Lin Yuchan hurried to keep up with Tang Tingshu, quietly waving to Jiang Gaosheng.

The concession gate was open. Several Indian police officers stood guard with guns like giants.

Tang Tingshu showed his business card and a comprador license.

The police all bowed and cleared a path.

Lin Yuchan’s heart jumped to her throat.

Sure enough, the police saw her beside Tang Tingshu, immediately sensing something amiss, frowned, and asked: “Who is this?”

She pulled the scarf up a bit.

Tang Tingshu casually answered: “My attendant. Carrying some things for me. Little Lin, come.”

Just then, a British clerk came out from Jardine Matheson and warmly greeted Tang Tingshu.

Since joining Jardine Matheson, Tang Tingshu had made countless money for Jardine Matheson and was deeply trusted by foreign bosses who let him expand business freely. He had virtually become Jardine Matheson’s “regent” in China.

Therefore, even British clerics treated him respectfully, extending their right hands from afar with warm greetings.

Tang Tingshu smiled and went to meet him.

Lin Yuchan immediately followed.

This time, the Indian police dared not stop her. Only their gazes at Tang Tingshu carried a hint of complexity.

…Bringing a female attendant?

This Chinese master was quite bold!

On the second day, Luna docked at Zhenjiang, and a stage was set up in the dock’s open area. A local opera troupe made a brilliant appearance, singing Kunqu opera with melodious voices.

Spectators crowded the deck and shore. From first-class windows, elegantly dressed ladies’ heads also peeked out.

Everyone cracked sunflower seeds while watching opera, virtually celebrating a small festival.

Residents pointed excitedly, asking: “Which noble family sponsored this performance?”

A well-informed dock worker answered: “Yixing Boss Su! Said upstream waterways are blocked, so the steamship has to delay another day. He was afraid ship passengers would be bored, so he specially contracted half a day’s opera to entertain everyone! You see, when people get rich, they become quite willful!”

The earlier person gasped and said quietly, “How come my boss has never been this willful?”

After listening for a while, he sighed and left.

By the dock edge, at a small table and chairs sat a handsome “young man” in gray robes, holding a cup of tea and shaking his head with a smile.

“Now, everyone knows Yixing passenger ships include opera-listening benefits. Boss Su, be careful not to get in over your head.”

Su Minguan multitasked, listening with relish to the dan role’s polished singing while explaining: “Unexpectedly delayed another day – if passengers wander around and something happens, I can’t bear responsibility. Better spend some money keeping them here. The crew worked hard many days, this also rewards them.”

Ancient people’s entertainment was indeed impoverished – listening to slow opera could make them happy for half a day. Sure enough, once the stage was set up, everyone craned their necks watching, forgetting about the delayed schedule. The crew was even more grateful to their boss, crowding together watching with great interest.

Lin Yuchan deeply admired Boss Su’s business acumen. She couldn’t have thought of this trick.

She suddenly asked again: “Hiring an opera troupe isn’t cheap, right?”

Though not famous performers, it was still received appearance fees for over ten people.

Su Minguan smiled slightly, leaning closer and lowering his voice.

He pointed to vendors selling tea, water, and snacks weaving through the crowd.

“A’Mei, do these people look familiar?”

Lin Yuchan: “…”

She understood.

Using the opera troupe to keep passengers on the ship, then sending people to sell peanuts, sunflower seeds, food, and drinks easily recouped the opera troupe costs.

Su Minguan’s voice wasn’t loud, but seeing the young girl’s completely convinced expression, he couldn’t help the slight curve at his eyes as he pushed a plate of sunflower seeds before her.

Lin Yuchan thought of luxury cruise services in later generations and had a burst of creative ideas, seriously suggesting, “Don’t you plan to open a casino on the ship too?”

He glanced at her and smiled: “A’Mei, listen to the opera.”

Lin Yuchan truly didn’t understand why the older generation was so fascinated by that slow, literary opera singing. During “Cantonese Opera in Schools” before, she’d tried to make herself like it, even signed up to learn for two weeks, but finally gave up – listening for a few minutes made her sleepy, not as good as English radio.

Su Minguan was usually mentally agile and spoke about Western learning with flying enthusiasm, sometimes even making her feel no generation gap; but now he also showed his true colors, like a qualified “older generation” person cracking sunflower seeds, sipping tea, and lightly tapping rhythm with his fingers.

Compared to the private opera troupe his mansion had kept years ago, these few people on stage were practically like sawing wood. But Chinese people’s love for opera was carved in their bones. Rarely hearing it once, he was also quite entertained.

Lin Yuchan patiently accompanied him for a while, then couldn’t help but talk again.

“Yesterday was so fun – I followed that Jardine Matheson comprador, Mr. Tang, all around the concession… Haha, everyone looked at him strangely, but he was the only one who didn’t know, still asking me: Little Lin, is my leather vest dirty? Is my robe dirty? Is my face dirty? Hahaha…”

Su Minguan was finally pulled from the opera by her, putting on a stern face and looking at her aggrievedly.

“Last night, Tang Tingshu invited me to dinner and immediately thanked me. I was unprepared and nearly exposed myself.” He reproached her, “A’Mei, your joke went too far. If someone exposed you, how could I protect you?”

Lin Yuchan smiled obediently at him: “Too bad the comprador master not only didn’t expose me but gratuitously felt he owed you a favor – I acted pretty well, didn’t I?”

Su Minguan suppressed a smile at his eyes and still said coldly: “Also, don’t act too well. If he falls for you and asks me for you, for Jardine Matheson connections, I’d have to reluctantly give you up. You’d be on your own.”

Lin Yuchan smiled: “Oh my, then I really thank you – meteoric rise just around the corner.”

Honestly speaking, following the Jardine Matheson head comprador for a day was truly enlightening.

Not only because he was backed by British capital with the wealthy style of buying a whole street with one move; an outstanding comprador was a bridge between Chinese and foreign, a walking encyclopedia in both Chinese and Western learning; his social skills were also impeccable, with an uncommonly open mindset.

In modern China, the comprador class was a complex group. They relied on double-faced personas, simultaneously flattering the court and helping foreigners exploit citizens, even engaging in treasonous behavior that was morally despised; but simultaneously, only this group could clearly recognize the gap between China and the world, recognize the importance of technology and finance. They were the backbone force promoting Westernization movements and national industry.

They also reaped enormous personal wealth for themselves. Those late Qing and Republican era tycoons and great families almost without exception started as compradors.

Lin Yuchan glanced from the corner of her eye at this handsome, transcendent young talent beside her. If his life journey hadn’t entangled with the Hongmen, in another ten years, he might look just like Tang Tingshu, becoming a capable general of foreign capital and an object of competition among Chinese and foreign merchants?

He might even be more glamorous than Tang Tingshu.

She lowered her head and smiled.

Things were pretty good as they were now.

“By the way,” she said again, “Yesterday all day, besides buying shops and land, I also saw Tang Tingshu…”