A string of difficult problems crashed down. Lin Yuchan couldn’t quite handle them all.

When she calculated at home, it hadn’t been this awkward!

She even suspected that Boss Su had deliberately inflated the steamship’s operating costs.

Su Minguan had said he might be harsh with her, but wouldn’t scheme against her.

She had to think of a more effective plan to ensure this intelligence network could be profitable.

If only there were the internet, Lin Yuchan thought. They could have a registered membership system, promotion commissions, and various high-end data downloads… just like the paid financial channels of later times…

Taking too big steps would cause problems. In the Qing Dynasty’s primitive commercial environment, the concept of “selling data” did seem rather ahead of its time.

Lost in thought, her long eyebrows knitted together, her hands unconsciously gathered under her nose, using her exhaled breath to warm her fingers.

Su Minguan sat down beside her.

Her eyelashes were long and fine, not particularly dense, but each one distinct. When she had something on her mind, she slightly lowered her eyelids, and those neat eyelashes swept down, making her whole face appear serene.

He found it quite interesting. Most of the time, Miss Lin was cautious, her age growing alongside her wits, cleverly protecting herself on this muddy, chaotic land.

But occasionally, she would reveal the reckless impulse unique to youth, even the courage to risk everything, all for certain “ideals” in her heart that couldn’t be broken or shattered.

In her heart seemed to be a blueprint depicting all aspects of what she considered the “ideal world.” In her understanding, this world would naturally and inevitably become reality at some future moment.

She would spare no effort to work toward that direction.

Sometimes she succeeded, gaining small victories in her confrontation with the world. Then she would be deliriously happy, floating on air from morning to night.

Sometimes she failed, only able to grit her teeth and take the beating from society. But after the pain passed, she would dust off the mud, stand up, and continue toward the next challenge.

“A’Mei,” he suddenly asked, “why did you think of the name ‘Boya Club’?”

Lin Yuchan was stunned for two seconds, pulled from her deep thoughts.

“Um, it sounds foreign and fashionable.”

“Club” was a foreign word. In the foreign concession culture that worshipped everything imported, it seemed very high-end, and she felt it would easily win people over.

“Not club, but Boya.” Su Minguan extended two fingers, pulling her notebook from her bag, casually flipping through it, appreciating her student-like, youthfully neat handwriting. “So high-profile—not like Boya’s previous style.”

Lin Yuchan smiled: “What else should we call it? Rather than randomly picking a name, better to boost our company’s reputation.”

Originally, Boya Company, being run by women, was inherently disadvantaged in Qing Dynasty business circles, with lower success rates when dealing with business partners; the subordinates had grown accustomed to being content and unambitious, quite satisfied with the status quo.

But Lin Yuchan calculated that at the current profit rate, to reach 1,000 taels of pure profit by next year’s end, the safety cushion wasn’t very thick.

So she seized every opportunity to promote herself.

Su Minguan looked at her with a smile, suddenly stood up, and extended his hand to pull her up:

“Come with me to another place.”

Su Minguan seemed to act on impulse, yet also seemed to have grand plans in mind. He led her with a clear purpose to the passenger ferry dock, boarding a ferry to Lujiazui.

Lin Yuchan still couldn’t figure out his plan and asked: “What’s there…”

He kept her in suspense: “Come play in the countryside with me.”

The Lujiazui that would become a financial center a hundred years later was indeed rural scenery now. Due to cheap land prices, foreign trading houses purchased land there to establish warehouses, factories, and docks. Riverside industry was just beginning to flourish, with black smoke filling the sky and machine noise drowning out the sounds of chickens and dogs from nearby villages.

The British-funded “Yason Shipyard” was established along the river, spreading out workshops, ship berths, warehouses, winches, and cable posts.

The shipyard comprador was talking with the foreign boss, bowing and hunching his back, constantly nodding with an extremely respectful demeanor.

Seeing visitors, the foreign boss waved his hand, signaling the comprador to greet them.

The comprador straightened up, instantly growing two heads taller. Then he slowly raised his neck, lifting his previously cautious nostrils skyward, hands behind his back, squinting as he sized up Su Minguan for a while before saying in a nasal tone:

“You again? Why did you bring a girl? Our shipyard doesn’t allow women. Have her go back first.”

Lin Yuchan couldn’t help but frown inwardly.

Someone dared speak to Su Minguan this way?

But Su Minguan took no offense, smiling slightly and saying very respectfully: “Trouble you to show us around.”

While speaking, he cupped his hands toward the comprador and held up three fingers.

“One of us.”

The comprador was startled, putting away his haughty expression, his eyes crinkling with a knowing smile.

“Oh my, why didn’t you say so earlier?” the comprador said quietly. “Helmsman, forgive me. Madam, forgive me. Please come in.”

Lin Yuchan nearly choked: “…”

What kind of demon comprador was this? The Qing Dynasty owes you a little golden statue.

“Very sorry, Master Perry just likes watching Chinese people oppress Chinese people. The more realistically I perform, the more year-end bonus I get. No choice—I have an old mother at home, can’t afford to be noble. Please consider me as having facial paralysis.” The comprador kept his nostrils pointed skyward, face arrogant, but voice respectful, the whole person seeming quite schizophrenic. “This humble one is surnamed Li. In my youth, I made some small money, and fellow townspeople gave me the nickname Li Fugui. Third rank in the Chaozhou Guild Hall. Last year, I got into legal trouble, hid in Yixing’s warehouse for a month to avoid the storm. Thanks to the helmsman spending money to settle things, recently the coast was clear, so I came out to earn a living—Madam, this way please.”

Lin Yuchan suppressed her laughter all the way, whispering: “Lower your eyes a bit and look at me carefully—do I look like his wife?”

Li Fugui slightly lowered his eyes, finally seeing a small head in his field of vision, then glancing down to see a shiny, smooth girl’s braid.

He immediately said in surprise, “No way, it is a girl?”

This Li Fugui, when he took refuge at Yixing that year, hiding in the warehouse, afraid to make a sound, became unbearably lonely and, since then, detested all quiet occasions. After escaping danger, he became quite talkative. Although Su Minguan was prepared, he still got a headache from the chatter.

“Don’t ask so much. Business.” He told a barefaced lie, quickly defining Miss Lin’s identity. “She has some dealings with me. Treat her well.”

Li Fugui quickly agreed: “My apologies, my apologies.”

He hurriedly sealed his restless lips, asking not one more question.

By now, they had walked out of the foreign boss’s line of sight. Li Fugui could finally move his neck, lowering those skyward nostrils a bit, still walking with measured steps, giving orders imperiously, having someone push open the door to the shipway.

While glancing at these two “customers” beside him.

The dozen or so steps to the shipway wall were a bit too high for the petite girl. Su Minguan naturally went up first, then turned back to take her hand and help her up.

“Some dealings?” Li Fugui shook his head, thinking, “I’m afraid it’s more than ‘some,’ and more than just ‘dealings.'”

But since the helmsman had saved his life, he couldn’t sing a different tune, so he could only pretend to believe completely.

On the shipway lay a half-finished propeller-driven steamship. Dozens of Chinese workers busied themselves around it.

“A small steamship custom-ordered by an American trading house.” Su Minguan pointed at the unfinished ship, skillfully introducing it to Lin Yuchan. “Due to internal disputes among partners, the trading house decided to withdraw from China. They’re willing to sell this steamship at a loss, asking 20,000 taels of silver. I’m still hesitating.”

Before Lin Yuchan could respond, Li Fugui beside them jumped in: “Don’t hesitate! This is a conscience price! Those foreigners have already bought their ship tickets, decided to sell quickly! —Hey, Helm… Boss Su, this news I shouldn’t tell you, we have rules…”

Su Minguan patiently listened to him finish, then looked at Lin Yuchan.

“If this ship’s operating costs are as I just said, according to the plan we just discussed, you’d need to supplement me with 3,000 taels of silver annually for me to profit. Miss Lin?”

Lin Yuchan leaned her elbow on the shipway railing, enjoying the breeze while admiring this steamship under assembly.

She finally understood Su Minguan’s intention in bringing her to see the ship.

Twenty thousand taels wasn’t a small sum. He also wanted to find someone to share costs.

Bringing her here, letting her see the real ship, knowing she would like it and couldn’t bear to pass up such a beautiful and reasonably priced steam treasure.

“What’s this ship called?” Lin Yuchan suddenly asked out of nowhere.

“Not yet launched, no name yet.” Li Fugui jumped in again. “But after buying it, you can naturally name it whatever you want! —Of course, it can’t be too vulgar. Like last month, I saw a foreign ship named something like ‘Mary’s Lover,’ hehe! It was refused port entry and left floating on the water. The customs had to send a patrol boat over to sign a name-change document on the spot. It’s now called Wanshou, moored at Yangshupu. You can still see it when you take the ferry back—there’s white cloth pasted on the hull covering the original name…”

Su Minguan endured another earful of nonsense, only able to find gaps in Li Fugui’s chatter to lean close to Lin Yuchan’s ear and say quietly: “If Miss Lin is willing to cooperate, you can register as the ship owner, and naturally, you’ll name it.”

Another tempting enticement.

The condition was giving him 3,000 taels annually.

Either completely abandon her ambition to “sell intelligence to counter foreigners,” give up the steamship, give up bulk commodity pricing power, and continue to depend on others’ favor while doing small business.

The riverside wind was strong, making Lin Yuchan’s mind a bit stiff.

Should she go back and discuss with the shareholders…

No wait, she was now the largest shareholder with absolute decision-making power…

And the second-largest shareholder was this devastatingly handsome big merchant beside her. If she asked his opinion, he’d encourage her to pay up.

The next year, Boya’s profits would be questionable.

Or perhaps… bring in several financiers to share costs?

The Cotton Guild’s precedent was vivid. Encouraging growth beyond the natural pace would only backfire. Unless business partners had the same vision and thinking as her, it would just introduce uncertainty and cause her trouble.

“A’Mei, look,” Su Minguan suddenly pointed at the workers on the shipway. “Final assembly.”

Two separately constructed ship sections were undergoing final connection.

Workers shouted, passing various instructions.

Lin Yuchan became absorbed watching. Su Minguan explained each step to her. Some things he didn’t understand well either, so they guessed wildly together.

For a moment, she forgot why she’d come, feeling as if Su Minguan had brought her to watch a wonderful and fascinating performance.

Li Fugui coughed behind them.

“Hey, hey, if you’re going to bid, be quick about it. If you’re not buying, leave quickly! Don’t loiter here when you don’t understand anyway!”

Lin Yuchan turned around to see Li Fugui hunching his spine again, fawning as he welcomed three or four foreign merchants.

One foreign merchant in a black suit with an aquiline nose and thick walking stick was none other than Manager Kim of Jardine Matheson, Yixing Shipping’s “old friend.”

The others were unfamiliar faces, but judging by the interactions among the foreign merchants, they should all be fellow shipping industry colleagues.

Kim suddenly saw Su Minguan present, his face immediately darkened as he scolded Li Fugui: “How can you let Chinese people in? How do you do your comprador job? Do you know who he is?”

He got angry just seeing this handsome Chinese youth’s face. Since Jardine Matheson entered Shanghai, annexing and devouring Chinese markets, destroying so many local shipping companies, Kim had achieved remarkable results. But this Yixing Shipping, despite all the underhanded methods he’d used in secret—some even his colleagues didn’t quite approve of—it was like an unkillable fly, not only still flapping its wings but flying to buzz around his ears!

Looking at this situation, they planned to purchase a second steamship.

You had to know that Jardine Matheson’s fleet, excluding old hulks and barges, had only about ten advanced, fast steam ocean and river ships in active service.

Already industry leaders.

This was what Jardine Matheson had fought for over more than ten years, relying on various foreign merchant privileges.

What right did this Chinese brat have?

By this face?

Kim’s hostility preceded his arrival. But given the face of fellow merchants nearby, he still had to maintain a friendly facade, stretching his mouth corners into a grimace resembling a grin, extending his right hand toward Su Minguan.

“Mr. Su, I don’t know why you’ve been ignoring my invitations…”

Unexpectedly, a wild card appeared. A much smaller hand than expected rudely reached over, grabbed Kim’s hand, and shook it enthusiastically twice.

Lin Yuchan stepped forward with a smile: “Very sorry, this has nothing to do with Yixing. I’m the one interested in this ship. Boya Trading Limited Company.”

Su Minguan looked at her with some surprise.

Kim confusedly accepted a business card, disgustedly flipped it to check it was clean, casually stuffed it in his pocket, then suspiciously examined this seemingly delicate Chinese girl, feeling she looked familiar.

Li Fugui sensed the atmosphere was strange but dared not encourage Chinese-foreign conflict at his workplace. He gave Lin Yuchan an apologetic look, then shouted arrogantly: “Go on, go on! A little girl talking big! Think you can fool foreign gentlemen?”

To earn a living, everyone lived with difficulty. A perfectly good shipyard comprador still had to practice face-changing.

While herding people out, he secretly made a gesture behind his back.

Fifteen thousand. These foreigners were bidding fifteen thousand taels. Not yet settled.

Lin Yuchan smiled, pulling Su Minguan outside.

Kim muttered behind her, vaguely telling Su Minguan to “wait and see.”

Outside Yason Shipyard’s gates, Su Minguan asked with a smile: “You took a fancy to that ship? You’re not just being contrary with that foreigner?”

Lin Yuchan remembered Kim’s earlier words and asked back: “What invitation did Kim send you?”

“Nothing but threats and bribes—I never pay attention.” Su Minguan answered casually, then returned to his earlier question. “Or do you want that ship?”

“That’s right.” Lin Yuchan suddenly looked up, frankly admitting. “But Boss Su, I can’t afford 3,000 taels annually.”

Su Minguan looked at her expression—she didn’t seem very disappointed or reluctant. So he waited for her next sentence.

“If you could give a discount, or even waive this fee… I’d be very happy to hear your conditions.”

Su Minguan smiled. The ferry arrived, he jumped onto the deck, and pulled her up.

The little girl rarely showed such a “ready to be slaughtered” attitude. She was putting all of Boya Company’s remaining chips on the table, asking him: which ones could be traded for 3,000 taels—everything was negotiable.

For Su Minguan, there was something.

In a place she’d never thought of.

“My condition, you might not like very much.” He chose his words carefully, saying quietly, “But for the money’s sake, please consider it seriously.”

The Huangpu River waves rolled, and the small ferry swayed left and right. Suddenly, someone screamed, and a sharp turn threw Lin Yuchan into Su Minguan’s arms.

She hurriedly struggled free, looking around—others were also sprawled everywhere seeking balance, men and women pulling and tugging in various undignified poses.

So she calmly emerged from his embrace, beaming with a smile.

“Tell me, tell me.”

“A’Mei, have you considered that if your ‘intelligence club’ successfully builds a reputation, then the reputation Boya earns this year could easily be worth 3,000 taels?”

Lin Yuchan didn’t understand: “But reputation can’t be exchanged for money.”

“I received a letter yesterday.” Su Minguan took advantage of the ferry’s chaos to pull her close, revealing a small envelope from his sleeve pocket before immediately hiding it again, speaking very quietly: “Sub-helmsman Li from Jiangzhe sends his regards. Since our last gathering over a year ago, he’s heard Yixing has established firm footing in Shanghai and is gradually expanding, expressing great relief, while reminding me that there’s still considerable distance from my promise to restore the Small Swords Society to its full strength.

“A’Mei, now I need reputation more than you do. I can buy it from you.

“I can cover the steamship maintenance costs. We’ll split the ‘intelligence club’ profits seventy-thirty, which should cover the steamship’s construction costs in installments. You wouldn’t need to give me additional subsidies. The condition is that the ‘intelligence club’ operates under Yixing’s name, joins the Yixing organization, and accepts my management and coordination.”

Lin Yuchan was completely unprepared for this proposal.

“So…” she was somewhat confused yet amused, “I arrange everything and Yixing gets the reputation?”

Her first reaction was—wasn’t this getting something for nothing?

Working hard to have a child, but does it take his surname?

“Summarizing it that way is rather domineering,” Su Minguan smiled calmly. “Don’t forget your profits. And don’t forget I have the entire Heaven and Earth Society network—gathering and promoting intelligence should be much more efficient than your solo efforts.”

“But…”

“A’Mei, do you ultimately want to build fame, make Boya known, become a small leader in Shanghai’s business circles, or do you more want to organize Chinese merchants to unite and ‘control foreigners,’ reclaim your so-called ‘bulk commodity pricing power,’ let everyone earn money clearly and suffer less foreign constraints?”

Su Minguan’s expression was serious as he posed this final question.

Personal reputation or improving the entire business environment?

“But,” Lin Yuchan felt somewhat wronged, “this isn’t necessarily an either-or choice…”

“With your current financial resources, you can only choose one.” Su Minguan’s tone was gentle yet clear, without emotion. “A’Mei, you must identify the primary contradiction.”

After speaking, seeing Lin Yuchan’s shocked, somewhat indignant gaze, he half-closed his eyes.

A month and a half left.

He suddenly thought, What am I doing?

Knowing she’d be angry.

He weighed his bottom line again, slightly leaning forward to apply a bit of urging pressure.

The ferry docked. Crowds surged down the gangplank toward the bustling Bund.

“If you can decide immediately, we needn’t disembark—we can go straight back to buy the ship.”

“Woo—”

The steamship’s whistle sounded long, slowly departing the dock.

A black head poked out from a lower porthole, waving frantically.

Lin Yuchan also waved, bidding farewell to Christmas.

Being taken abroad as a slave, then returning home as a free person—Christmas’s legendary experience would give her plenty to boast about back in America.

Lin Yuchan put away her smile, turned, and left, walking several streets to visit Yixing Shipping.

Many dock workers had gone home for the New Year vacation. Su Minguan sat on the sofa reading a letter. Hearing her footsteps, he looked up with a smile: “Miss Lin…”

Lin Yuchan completely ignored him, heading straight for the counter.

“Brother Peng, I’m here to settle last month’s payment.”

Boya and Yixing’s transport contract settled the remaining payments monthly as usual. Lin Yuchan was always punctual.

Shi Peng, behind the counter, was startled, jerking his chin toward Su Minguan’s direction, meaning, since Minguan was here, why are you looking for me?

Lin Yuchan urged: “Hurry up.”

Several clerks secretly clicked their tongues. Seeing Miss Lin’s sour expression, then looking at Su Minguan, they wisely kept quiet.

Shi Peng hurriedly organized shipping documents.

While Lin Yuchan waited, from the corner of her eye, she saw Su Minguan put down his papers and approach.

“A’Mei,” he asked quietly, “still angry after two days?”

Lin Yuchan focused on checking shipping document numbers.

Su Minguan: “I’ve prepared the silver notes. Tomorrow I’ll buy that little speedboat. When that ship is mine to use, it’ll have nothing to do with you.”

Lin Yuchan’s heart clenched, giving him a business smile: “Sorry, can’t accept that.”

“Go back and recalculate—you’re not losing out.”

Lin Yuchan ignored him.

She wasn’t working for his Yixing Shipping. Su Minguan could fight for every inch of Yixing’s reputation and interests—why should Boya compromise?

So after leaving Yason Shipyard that day, she had been giving him the cold shoulder. Let him feel ashamed, too, and reflect on his character.

“Brother Peng, hurry up, don’t dawdle.”

Shi Peng finally slowly finished writing the receipt, giving Su Minguan a “this is all I can help you with” look.

Lin Yuchan finished checking and signed the draft.

“See you later.”

She still had several thousand pounds of tea to keep busy with.

Watching Miss Lin storm out, several Yixing clerks looked at each other, casting sympathetic glances at their boss.

Someone quietly gestured: chase after her?

Su Minguan stood at the door for quite a while, then sat back on the sofa, picked up the unfinished letter, and continued reading.

Suddenly, light footsteps returned.

“Boss Su,” Lin Yuchan said expressionlessly, mouth corners turned down, looking quite unwilling, “tell me your conditions again.”