“Nonsense, absolute childish nonsense!”
“How audacious, how audacious!”
“Treating the law like a game!”
These words exploded like bombs, filling the small break room with smoke.
“Emma, I thought you were a well-behaved little lady. I thought hiding in your room daily meant reading, and going out meant socializing and having tea with your friends. When I wanted you to return to England, you refused – I thought you couldn’t bear to leave Shanghai’s weather! Tell me honestly, how many inappropriate things have you secretly done behind my back – behind your mother’s back! I brought your mother and you to China to enjoy the happiness of family reunion, not to let you become a savage in this wilderness! I… I’m simply furious! I – the distinguished newspaper editor, the renowned Mr. Compton of the Far East – his daughter has been so improper behind the scenes, stirring up trouble, deceiving the world, and stealing fame… I… I’ve wasted twenty years teaching you!”
Even Mr. Compton’s anger was refined, keeping his voice low and correcting grammatical errors even in his fury. Only the deep anger and frustration in his eyes reflected his extreme disappointment.
Miss Compton was pale, huddled in a corner of the room, completely different from her earlier radiant appearance.
“I… Papa, I didn’t… you’re mistaken…”
Mr. Compton laughed bitterly in his rage. Even now, she was making excuses!
He’d long suspected this E.C. Bennett was an alias of some acquaintance, investigating his apprentices, colleagues, subordinates, even friends’ sons, but never finding any trace.
From the trial’s beginning he’d noticed his daughter’s odd state. When Ma Qingchen shouted “Miss Bennett,” others thought Mr. Macartney was hysterical and raving, paying no attention. Only Mr. Compton’s heart skipped a beat, the question mark lingering in his mind straightening out, and the puzzle that had troubled him long suddenly revealed its answer.
When he considered the possibility that “Bennett is a woman,” the answer was too obvious!
Mr. Compton felt like a complete fool!
“You’ve been practicing different handwriting styles – I thought it was just passing time.” Mr. Compton pointed at his daughter’s nose, reproaching forcefully. “You went to places where Chinese people gathered, telling me it was charity work. And… and don’t think I can’t see – E.C. Bennett – the first two letters are abbreviations of Emma Compton, and you’ve loved reading Pride and Prejudice since childhood. The heroine of that novel is surnamed Bennett… Good heavens, I should have thought of it earlier. Your foolish little tricks fooled me for so long. Thank goodness I discovered it today, or if others had figured it out, it would have become an even more eye-catching laughingstock for all Shanghai than today’s trial! You’ve deeply disappointed me! Tell the truth – who taught you these lawless skills!”
Mr. Compton angrily glanced at Lin Yuchan nearby, speculating: “Was it the Dupont family! Was it Mrs. Bollaire!”
Thanks to stereotypes, Mr. Compton didn’t immediately suspect the Chinese girl in a jacket and skirt beside him, instead guessing several French family names. These French people, deeply poisoned by romanticism and liberal thought, whether male or female, often made outrageous, heretical statements.
Miss Compton cowered like a brown ball of yarn, daring neither to nod nor shake her head.
“Our family doesn’t lack that bit of manuscript fee. Tonight you’ll go home and pack,” Mr. Compton commanded, tapping his walking stick. “I’ll buy you the earliest boat ticket back to Wales, with your mother, to spend two good years at your grandmother’s farm. She mentioned a young doctor in her last letter…”
“I don’t want to go back…”
“I am your father! I have the right to decide everything for you! No ridiculous law can help you!”
Miss Compton covered her face as tears flowed through her fingers.
She was a pampered young lady, enclosed in a small Far Eastern pearl. Like a fragile princess living in a gorgeous castle, others wouldn’t let her step outside the castle gates because the surroundings were full of dangerous swamps and beasts.
She’d read about worldly suffering in books, learning about equality and resistance like Lord Ye who loved dragons, even boldly sneaking out for adventures, thinking herself a warrior clearing thorns and brambles.
But when her usually loving father put on his authoritative airs and scolded her harshly for the first time, all her eloquent words vanished. Grievance and hurt like bitter seawater in the ocean submerged this delicate, sensitive girl.
“I’m sorry… I was just playing around… but I didn’t do anything wrong, Papa… I just wanted to prove that women needn’t only discuss jewelry and clothing with each other – we can also do useful things for society…”
“You are wrong! Your most useful contribution to society is marrying a good man! You understand the principles, you just want to oppose me! To satisfy your ridiculous desire for attention, completely disregarding the family’s dignity! As long as you don’t repent, don’t think about going out!”
Mr. Compton watched his daughter cry sadly, standing angrily aside, hardening his heart not to look at her.
Until someone gently tapped his arm.
“Sir,” Lin Yuchan said calmly, “don’t rush to marry off your daughter. You witnessed the entire trial just now – do you want her to experience Mrs. Macartney’s predicament, even as a remote possibility?”
Mr. Compton was startled, only then noticing the Chinese girl hadn’t left and had been listening to the whole drama.
His daughter had used the alias Bennett to turn the British Consulate upside down today. He felt this Chinese girl was probably a puppet Emma had found to play with fire together.
However, this Miss Lin’s performance today was witnessed by all. Her English proficiency matched that of an educated middle-class person, and her courage was certainly solid – calm under pressure, better than many British men.
Mr. Compton casually glanced at her and condescended to respond.
“You needn’t worry about that. I’ll naturally find Emma a husband of excellent character.”
“Excellent character doesn’t mean he’ll treat his wife kindly,” Lin Yuchan immediately countered. “Didn’t Mr. Macartney also find a pile of witnesses to prove his moral perfection? Moreover, Mr. Compton, you brought your wife and daughter to Shanghai for a family reunion, but now, just because Emma did one small thing that displeased you, you want to send them back. Have you considered their preferences? Their stable lives were suddenly disrupted because of your whim, having to travel thousands of miles to the other side of the earth and start everything over…”
Mr. Compton’s expression grew increasingly ugly as he warned, “Miss, the trial is over. I don’t need your lengthy speeches.”
“…If your daughter meets an unsuitable person and encounters the same predicament as Mrs. Macartney in England, you won’t even know immediately, let alone help her one bit… Would you want to see your beloved daughter trapped in such helpless circumstances? You wouldn’t. As a jury member, you kindly chose to side with Mrs. Macartney today. But when it comes to choosing your own daughter’s fate, you’d rather value your face over her happiness… I must say you’re very selfish, Mr. Compton. Opposite to the fairness and selflessness you show in newspapers.”
Perhaps it really was post-trial syndrome – Lin Yuchan felt her speaking ability had reached unprecedented heights. She didn’t care about Mr. Compton’s dignity, saying whatever came to mind, eloquently criticizing him thoroughly.
Miss Compton gently tugged her sleeve, telling her to stop. She ignored it.
Even if Mr. Compton wrote three thousand words defaming Boya in tomorrow’s newspaper, she’d accept it!
Miss Compton had fought alongside her for so long, not seeking fame or glory, but at least she couldn’t watch her sacrifice herself.
Mr. Compton, who trained his Chinese subordinates daily, was being lectured by a Chinese person for the first time. Somewhat dazed, he stepped back two paces, touching his cheek whiskers.
“You should be proud of your daughter.” Lin Yuchan seized this opening, speaking rapidly. “Reasonable or not, you must admit she accomplished what most boys her age couldn’t…”
Mr. Compton solemnly walked out of the break room.
“Someone!” he called. “A Chinese person is lingering in the consulate – get someone to escort her out!”
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Sir Hong Bei was also packing up to leave, chatting and laughing with companions. Lin Yuchan immediately approached.
“Your Honor,” she smiled sweetly, pulling a fountain pen from her sleeve, “I found this under your seat. Is this your pen?”
It was her pen. Just an excuse to strike up a conversation.
Sir Hong Bei adjusted his glasses and leaned over to look: “No, dear miss. Take it to lost and found.”
This delay let him see Mr. Compton at the break room door.
“Ah, you haven’t left yet.”
Inevitably there were more pleasantries, thanking Mr. Compton for taking time to attend today, benefiting the settlement’s people, etc…
The two men were busy exchanging courtesies, temporarily ignoring the two girls nearby.
“…Speaking of which, that Mr. Bennett was truly impressive,” the Chief Justice, having finished work, could finally express some personal views, chatting casually. “Both a writer and understanding of human psychology – I believe most jury members were moved by his writing… Though it’s only because Shanghai’s settlement atmosphere is relatively free. If this were a rural English court, I believe Mr. Macartney would still win… Ah, can you believe those country bumpkins can take to court how thick a stick they can use to beat their wives…”
His accompanying clerks and assistants all echoed agreement.
Mr. Compton awkwardly stretched his mouth corners.
If time had been reversed by half an hour, he would have agreed with the judge and praised Mr. Bennett extensively.
But now…
He didn’t have that thick skin.
Just a little girl’s mischief. She was lucky this time, fooling a group of people – could she succeed every time?
But he still had to nod and echo: “He’s certainly very capable, hehe.”
The Chief Justice left with a sigh. Mr. Compton’s expression was complex.
“Sir, did you hear?” That talkative Chinese girl approached again, finding evidence from the Chief Justice’s remarks on the spot. “If you return to rural England, when your poor daughter is bullied by your son-in-law without her father’s support, she’ll have no recourse…”
Lin Yuchan discovered that men with daughters, as long as they still had affection for them, were easily softened.
She’d dealt with Shopkeeper Mau this way. Using his love for his daughter, she’d made that stubborn bald shopkeeper gradually compromise, from initially forbidding his daughter to show her face in public to now allowing Miss Mau to earn a salary – though not complete liberation, it was acceptable progress.
Same with Mr. Compton. He raised his daughter like a canary, but even with a bird, you’d develop feelings after raising it long enough, right?
Especially that cute little angel with chestnut curls and freckles he’d watched grow up!
Mr. Compton was a literary man. Literary people were easily swayed by emotions.
Lin Yuchan saw the anger on his face gradually fade, and then he suddenly sighed heavily.
“Luna is right,” Miss Compton dried her tears and gathered courage to bare her heart to her father. “Papa, I don’t want to marry. I want a career…”
Lin Yuchan quickly pulled her aside and fiercely gestured for silence.
You must gradually oppose the elders, Miss!
With forced marriage on one side and shouting about not marrying on the other, they’d immediately be incompatible, with no room for compromise.
Lin Yuchan immediately said: “Um… I think Miss Compton means she doesn’t want to marry immediately now. After a few more years, perhaps Britain will pass more laws protecting married women’s rights – it’s the trend of the times… When she marries, your daughter will have more confidence and won’t worry about having her property calculated or being beaten with precisely measured sticks… She did tell me this.”
She kept winking at Miss Compton.
“Oh yes,” the young lady’s intelligence finally came online as she repeatedly agreed. “That’s exactly what I meant. In a few more years, I won’t be old anyway.”
Mr. Compton shook his head slightly, leaning against the wall and sighing.
“Alright, Emma,” he finally said softly. “Forgive Papa’s hasty words in anger. You’re still young – I’m naturally willing to keep you by my side…”
Miss Compton turned from sorrow to joy, sniffling hard.
“…However, no more random submissions to newspapers. This disrupts our normal work…”
Miss Compton’s smile hadn’t fully bloomed before it collapsed again.
“I can’t do that, Papa! My manuscripts are all qualified writing that passed review – I’m not causing trouble! You can’t refuse just because she’s female—”
“Mr. Compton, I understand your concerns. If your colleagues knew the contributor was a girl, and your daughter, it would cause unnecessary speculation questioning your impartiality.” Lin Yuchan sighed and played peacemaker again. “But you might not know your daughter has more than just the E.C. Bennett pen name.”
Both Comptons simultaneously: “…”
Miss Compton blurted: “Luna, you can’t betray me!”
Mr. Compton was shocked, feeling countless bombs suddenly falling before him, blasting a row of craters.
“What… what others are there…”
“See, you can’t guess either, proving your daughter’s writing ability can match any other journalist without arousing suspicion. If you want to prohibit her from submitting to newspapers, I think… unless The North China Herald stops accepting all anonymous submissions, you can’t prevent Miss Compton from displaying her talent.”
Miss Compton held back and held back, finally couldn’t contain herself and added fuel to the fire: “Or unless you lock me up.”
“Which you absolutely won’t do.” Lin Yuchan quickly put out the fire. “As a kind father, you certainly hope your daughter lives as happily as possible without damaging her reputation. Especially, think about it – she’ll eventually marry, and you don’t have many years left to spend pleasantly with her. When she marries, when you’re in church under God’s gaze giving her to another man, you’ll regret not loving her more…”
Regardless of which year Miss Compton married, or if she never married at all, this hypothetical scenario had to be arranged.
She’d already tested this on Shopkeeper Mau. For fathers with relatively normal values, such emotional scenes were quite devastating.
Sure enough, foreigners couldn’t escape human nature either. Mr. Compton gazed toward the trial hall, looking desolate, helplessly shaking his head.
“Mr. E.C. Bennett was very prominent today. Many people, for various purposes, will investigate his background.” He finally said quietly. “I don’t want to see any more submissions signed with that name – not even to other newspapers.”
Miss Compton: “But I…”
Lin Yuchan: “It’s settled! Thank you!”
Then in a low voice: “It’s just abandoning one pen name – what’s the big deal! Quickly thank your father!”
That bit of manuscript fee and teaching salary couldn’t even buy her a dress. She couldn’t offend her financial backer.
Miss Compton reluctantly turned her head.
Fortunately, her father knew her temperament, sighed, and let it go with a smile, turning to Lin Yuchan.
“Miss Lin, would it be convenient to visit the newspaper office? You can take my carriage.”
Lin Yuchan was startled, her first reaction being wariness: “What for?”
“Don’t be nervous.” Mr. Compton smiled. “By custom, The North China Herald publishes the trial process and verdict for every case concluded by the British Consular Court. Since I can’t find Mr. Bennett, I need you to confirm some details. I know Chinese women usually don’t like to be famous in public – don’t worry, I can use a pseudonym for you.”
Rumble, rumble…
Gentle noise continued steadily as light smoke puffed from a squat chimney. Countless people crowded at a small window, eagerly observing the string of dark Western machines inside.
“Let me through, let me through… It’s my turn!”
Steel axles operated rhythmically as tea leaves turned on copper plates with rustling sounds.
Then the tea leaves were conveyed by chains from the copper pot to screening nets, then to another table for pressing, and finally pouring out dark tea leaves from pipes. Several workers positioned tin cans, and after filling them, placed them on another platform for weighing and sealing…
“This is Boya Company’s new tea production line!” Lin Yuchan had no time for water, shouting hoarsely. “The tea produced is no different from handmade! Neighbors, please honor us – there’ll be free tea later…”
With Gao Dewen’s three thousand tael investment, Boya Company managed to pay the final installment on the last day before the deadline, obtaining the steam tea-making machine designed by Xu Jianyin and supervised by Qiji Iron Works.
Using the just-acquired workshop from Defeng Trading, they installed boiler machinery, learned and tested for several days, then began production.
Lin Yuchan watched the regular component operation without blinking, both proud and retrospectively frightened.
A month ago, she’d sat roadside with an empty bag, wanting to cry but having no tears.
The lawsuit had been fought in chaos. If any link had gone slightly wrong, this machine wouldn’t be before her eyes.
But now all difficulties were past. Riding the Qing Dynasty’s Self-Strengthening Movement wind, she’d finally leaped from the agricultural age to the steam age!
With the precedent of Hankou tea merchants saying “machines ruin feng shui,” Lin Yuchan specifically instructed that on opening day, all gods that should be worshipped must be worshipped, firecrackers should be set off to death, tea should be sent to all disturbed neighbors, and a feng shui master should be hired to solemnly adjust the machine’s orientation, pasting several peace talismans on top of the Lancashire boiler, ensuring these foreign objects would follow local customs in China, work obediently, and not cause trouble for Chinese people.
The factory was open for three days for neighbors to visit freely and resolve their curiosity.
Additionally, letters were sent inviting all shareholders to visit and see where their investments were used.
So these days, crowds surged around the factory as everyone came to observe this tea-making monster.
“Shanghai’s first steam tea company! Here’s a poem as proof—”
Cotton manager Chang Baoluo made a rare friendly guest appearance, literally reciting several new poems he’d written specifically praising this epoch-making steel beast.
Clap, clap, clap – everyone applauded. Some responded on the spot, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Suddenly, someone noticed: “—Hey, why is there a woman inside? Can she operate machines?”
Mau Shunniang had her head wrapped in cloth, but her thick hair still showed several strands poking out. Holding a thermometer, she was carefully adjusting production details.
Girls naturally had weaker physical strength. She was most receptive to this new concept of using machines to replace human labor. Combined with her thorough understanding of tea-making processes, she’d become proficient in just a few days, becoming the workshop’s leader.
Outside the door, Lin Yuchan smiled and explained: “This is our company’s… um, technical manager! Women are physically weak but careful – they can’t do heavy labor, but are more suitable for operating these machines. Please excuse us.”
In today’s China, Western machinery had just been introduced to coastal areas, and the stereotype that “men are more suitable for operating machines” hadn’t yet formed. On the contrary, women were considered more suitable for using mechanical assistance due to physical limitations. For example, spinning, weaving, and cotton ginning – countless rural women had long used small machinery for production and labor.
So Lin Yuchan slightly guided the narrative, and everyone accepted this explanation: “Exactly. A little girl – you can’t expect her to carry these big pots and ladles, haha.”
Others were curious: “What’s this barrel for? —And that furnace?”
Lin Yuchan and several Boya employees divided responsibilities, becoming tour guides to answer everyone’s questions.