In the bedroom, she bumped into Su Minguan, who had just changed his clothes. Lin Yuchan glared at him and pointed downward.

Su Minguan looked back innocently, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of his mouth, as if to say: Is there a problem?

She wouldn’t stoop to his level. Behind closed doors, the Boya courtyard was a century ahead of the outside world—she wasn’t afraid of being seen being affectionate with her boyfriend.

“Want to go see Mr. Rong’s machines?” Lin Yuchan was invited with a smile.

The complete set of manufacturing equipment that Rong Hong had bought from America—the world’s most advanced industrial production line—she had been thinking about it for months, and could finally get a sneak peek!

But Su Minguan sat back down on the sofa, pulled out a picture album, and shook his head at her.

Tucked inside the album was an advertisement from a shipping company under a foreign trading house. It depicted a streamlined steamship with great fanfare, stating it was the company’s new vessel, “Valkyrie,” with excellent performance, low fares, and frequent schedules, welcoming passengers aboard.

“Have dinner with Rong Hong tonight?” he said casually. “I recently discovered a nice restaurant.”

Some indescribable thoughts welled up in Lin Yuchan’s heart, and she almost wanted to ask: Luna already belongs to someone else. Can’t you look forward?

Once he had lost sleep over a steamship; now, faced with the most advanced batch of machines in all of the Qing Dynasty, he showed no interest.

On second thought, it was fine if he wanted to be idle or neglect his duties—for her sake, he had given up almost everything he owned. If he wanted to take a long vacation to adjust his state of mind…

She could support him. It wasn’t like she was short of money.

“Well then, I…”

“It’s not that I’m lazy,” Su Minguan suddenly looked up and explained unhurriedly. “The place Rong Hong wants to take you—I ran there many times before New Year’s. I get annoyed just seeing it. Don’t want to go in again.”

Lin Yuchan was surprised: “You know where those machines are stored…”

Su Minguan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, as if he sighed very softly.

“Of course,” he told her. “Qi Record Iron Works.”

Lin Yuchan never would have imagined that the Qi Record Iron Works, which Su Minguan had exchanged for the entire Yixing Shipping Company, would actually be put to this use.

At the factory entrance, the iron plaque bearing “Thos Hunt & Co.” had been removed, leaving behind a mottled trace. The corrugated-roof workshops in the courtyard still stood tall, but those coming and going were no longer compradors and foreigners—they had been replaced by pot-bellied Chinese bureaucrats. The flagpole that once flew the American Stars and Stripes still stood upright, now flying the Qing Dragon Flag instead, giving off quite a surreal sense of “changing banners atop the city walls.”

Nearly a year ago, it was this very iron works that had helped her create Boya’s first set of steam tea-processing machines. Right at this entrance, she had been robbed of her final payment by Ma Qingchen, left clutching an empty purse in a daze…

And now, at this same entrance, a Chinese-style gate pavilion had been hastily added. Under the eaves hung a tall stone-carved lintel inscribed with eight bold black and white characters:

Jiangnan Arsenal.

Lin Yuchan’s heart pounded violently. She felt dizzy and raised her hand to shield her forehead.

“Jiangnan Arsenal…”

She murmured.

The most important munitions factory of late Qing China, and the predecessor of Jiangnan Shipyard…

It was born here!

This was what Su Minguan had exchanged Yixing for—a factory that would be capable of building aircraft carriers two centuries later!

“Jiangnan Arsenal,” Rong Hong said with a smile, taking up her words. “They say it was bought from the foreigners for one hundred thousand taels of silver, just right for storing those American machines I purchased. I don’t know who negotiated the price—what a bargain they got… Now I’m the temporary supervisor, and Shanghai’s Ding Daotai is the general manager. By this time next year, it will be able to produce its own Qing Dynasty’s cannons and ships! Miss Lin, please!”

Rong Hong showed his credentials. The gatekeeper made the report, and a supervisor came running out, respectfully escorting him and Lin Yuchan inside.

Sixty-eight thousand taels of silver, nearly one hundred thousand li of global travel, a year and a half of time, an entire production line shipped across long ocean distances—all lying quietly in the two-story workshop.

Workers were unpacking the wooden crates. Inside, machines gleaming with beautiful metallic luster stood like ranks of proud soldiers, or like butterflies about to emerge from their cocoons and take flight.

Rong Hong walked slowly past each machine like reviewing troops, introducing them to Lin Yuchan with intimate familiarity.

“This is a metal cutting machine tool, this is a forging press, this is a woodworking machine… This is a lathe for processing rotating workpieces. I selected and customized all of these in America. I’ve already translated the instruction manuals—they’re all placed over there… Ah, these are machines originally from the Suzhou Foreign Artillery Bureau, also moved here. They’ve been outclassed, hehe…”

Machine tools are machines that manufacture other machines, also called mother machines. This was Lin Yuchan’s first time seeing the actual equipment. Since these machines were still in their dormant state, she scurried around like a little hamster, examining them from every angle, discovering new details with each glance.

Not far away, in an open area, sat a row of small stools. Newly recruited Manchu and Han workers were undergoing job training. Lin Yuchan inquired about the craftsmen’s wages, five or six times higher than the laborers outside, showing they were recruiting skilled personnel at great expense.

Lin Yuchan suddenly asked: “Mr. Rong, when this factory is operational, will it need to import steel, rubber, hardware components, and such? Boya has similar channels, and…”

Moreover, when she went to Beijing last year, Cixi had personally praised her understanding of foreign affairs. For future maintenance of parts for the new machinery factory, she could get involved.

Although there was a later false accusation of “colluding with foreigners,” her innocence had been vindicated. The Empress Dowager’s golden words should still count, right?

Rong Hong was surprised: “China indeed cannot yet produce steel independently and needs to import steel materials… But can you handle it?”

Lin Yuchan nodded firmly: “If we can import ships and cannons from foreign countries, importing steel and iron materials shouldn’t be any harder, right? Not many people have done it—someone has to try.”

Doing business in the Qing Dynasty, while exporting only native goods could make money, it was somewhat suppressed by foreign capital, with great economic policy risks, and moreover…

Lin Yuchan was no longer a novice in the business world. Her ambitions were gradually growing, and she could consider things beyond mere profit.

No matter how much tea, silk, and cotton she exported, no matter how much profit margin she earned, it couldn’t change China’s semi-feudal, semi-colonial nature, couldn’t stop the aggressive ambitions of the great powers, couldn’t ignite any spark of reform.

She didn’t want to make it her life’s highest pursuit.

Participating in the Self-Strengthening Movement, participating in the course of history, contributing even a tiny bit of push to the difficult advance of civilization’s wheel—looking back in the future, it would not be a life lived in vain.

Moreover, she harbored a secret obsession in her heart. This factory could be said to be Yixing’s reincarnation. If there was any opportunity, she wanted to establish some connection with it and participate in its growth.

Rong Hong clapped his hands: “The factory is newly established and needs large-scale procurement. Although there is a purchasing department, the person in charge there—I’ve met him—passed the imperial examinations but is new to foreign affairs and cannot take independent responsibility. Most likely, they’ll still need to find private merchants.”

Seeing the joy on Lin Yuchan’s face, he quickly added: “But I don’t have the final say, haha. Let me help you inquire.”

Although the Jiangnan Arsenal was called a machinery factory, being “state-owned,” its overall atmosphere still followed the traditional Qing government office system. Lin Yuchan observed that the former foreign office building had been rebuilt and renovated into a magnificent Chinese-style compound, complete with artificial hills and ponds, surrounded by placards for various departments: Public Affairs Office, Planning Department, Reimbursement Office, Supply Office, Price Negotiation Office, Inspection Office…

As they passed by, some office doors were half-open, with staff inside wearing official robes, smoking water pipes, chatting about who knew what.

In comparison, Rong Hong, a mere “supervisor,” had authority limited only to directing where each machine should be placed. For all other matters, he had to seek approval.

Rong Hong smiled wryly and whispered to Lin Yuchan, “Jiangnan Arsenal is a factory the court strongly supports. From the day it opened, quite a few people with connections were stuffed in—all reserve officials waiting for positions to open up, drawing salaries for nothing, though they won’t interfere randomly. We don’t need to worry about them.”

Rong Hong slipped into an office, first exchanging pleasantries and courtesies with the supervisor inside, then being invited for tea. After chatting for ages while Lin Yuchan waited until her legs ached, Rong Hong finally emerged, laughing and shaking his head with a sigh, handing her a document.

“Procurement plan for steel ingots and steel pipes. Three months from now, open to all Shanghai Chinese merchants, selecting capable people to authorize purchasing. All the details are written here. Miss Lin, it’s up to you—I won’t worry about it anymore. Old Zhao and Chang Baoluo are both here? I’m having dinner with them tonight.”

Lin Yuchan read through it carefully, calculated for a moment, then said with full confidence:

“Boya can handle it.”

Before she finished speaking, someone came running over in a panic, calling “Boss Lin.”

Looking back, it was a young clerk newly hired by Boya.

“Boss, you need to go take a look—something happened at that Xuhui Tea Shop!”

Lin Yuchan hurriedly jumped down from the carriage. Rong Hong chased after her.

“Miss Lin, don’t walk so fast. I can help too…”

Having just returned to Shanghai, Rong Hong saw everyone as family and was eager to play the Good Samaritan.

Lin Yuchan saw that a crowd had gathered outside Xuhui Tea Shop—men and women who appeared to be relatives, half of them wiping away tears. Among them were several somewhat familiar faces that, upon closer inspection, turned out to be Shopkeeper Mau’s apprentices and in-laws. There was also a middle-aged woman supported by a maid whom Lin Yuchan had never seen.

“My son… don’t think of doing anything foolish… who can help us… wuwu, there’s no way to live… wuwu…”

Lin Yuchan’s heart tightened. From this chaotic scene, she couldn’t make out what had happened.

Then, from inside the courtyard came the sound of hurried footsteps, and a sturdy maid charged out.

“Don’t panic!” she shouted to the people outside. “I’m watching over her! I won’t let her do anything foolish again!”

Lin Yuchan rushed forward and asked directly: “Where is Mau Shuniang? Where is your young lady?”

The maid was a rough servant girl from the Mau household who didn’t understand proper etiquette to begin with. Seeing an unfamiliar woman come up to interfere, addressing her young lady directly, her face darkened, and she snapped: “Who are you? Get lost. This is a family matter—no need for outsiders to meddle.”

Lin Yuchan straightened her back and declared loudly: “I am the major shareholder of this Xuhui Tea Shop. Shopkeeper Mau and his daughter’s wages are paid by me. What matter here, can’t I manage? Hey, you, you, you—aren’t you Shopkeeper Mau’s apprentices? The account books and drawers in this room are not for you to touch! If you don’t want to lose your jobs, stand where you are and stop this crying and wailing disgrace!”

The group had never seen a woman with such a commanding presence. But they had also heard that the tea shop’s major shareholder was a woman. For a moment, they didn’t know whether to treat her as a benefactor or a scoundrel and stood there stunned.

At this point, Rong Hong arrived and introduced himself politely: “…Er, I am a reserve magistrate with Jiangsu Provincial Administration. You can tell me if there’s anything wrong.”

With official authority revealed, those who had been pointing fingers at Lin Yuchan earlier finally quieted down, each wearing expressions as if they had swallowed something unpleasant.

The tea shop’s accounting office door was wide open, and several drawers had been pulled out. Had Lin Yuchan arrived slightly later, the documents and account books inside would have been taken by others.

She reclaimed the keys, re-locked the drawers and cabinets, locked the accounting office, and only then strode toward the inner room.

Mau Shuniang was being supported by a maid, leaning against a pile of tea processing pots and equipment, crying loudly.

Not far away, above the fire stove steps, a rope hung down from the ceiling.

Lin Yuchan felt a chill down her back. Not daring to think the worst, she asked softly: “What happened here?”

As she spoke, she opened her arms.

Her chest tightened. Mau Shuniang threw herself into her embrace.

“Wuwu… Sister, you finally came. They were about to bully me to death… wuwu…”

Mau Shuniang had grown rapidly and was already much sturdier than Lin Yuchan. But following her childhood habit, she crashed into her head-first, knocking Lin Yuchan back several steps, then buried her head on her shoulder and wailed.

Lin Yuchan listened to the sighing and lamenting cacophony outside, an ominous premonition growing in her heart.

“Where’s your father?”

“My father is dying,” Mau Shuniang sobbed. “My in-laws want me to marry over…”

Lin Yuchan’s scalp immediately tingled: “What happened to Shopkeeper Mau?”

…

Mau Shuniang cried while recounting her grievances, finally restoring the general situation.

Shopkeeper Mau of Xuhui Tea Shop was an ordinary businessman with plenty of minor flaws but no bad habits, just greedy for good food, drink, and smoking. Since getting rich following Lin Yuchan, he had been even more indulgent with his palate, growing fatter each year.

Yesterday, Shopkeeper Mau was at home smoking his water pipe, drinking wine, and eating fried pork rinds when he suddenly collapsed without warning. When carried back from the medical clinic, he was unconscious. The doctor’s meaning was clear: prepare for the funeral quickly.

The family naturally cried and became frantic; Shopkeeper Mau’s close friends came overnight to visit, leaving some money to fulfill their human obligations, but were powerless to help; the next morning, Mau Shuniang’s prospective in-laws sent people to urge the completion of the wedding. The reason was that if the father unfortunately died, the daughter would have to observe mourning for three years. Better to have her marry now, which might also bring some joy to her father.

Mau Shuniang naturally refused. With her father critically ill, she was beside herself with worry—how could she be in the mood for marriage? Moreover, once married, she would have to focus on supporting her husband and raising children, likely having to give up her tea-making work.

But the marriage was not up to her to decide. Her brother was on his way back to their hometown to take the scholar examination, traveling on some unknown road; her mother and sister-in-law were indecisive, soft-eared, and after listening to others’ logical persuasion, decided to have her marry quickly.

Mau Shuniang was no longer the shy young lady who blushed even going to the toilet—her opinions had grown strong. She quarreled with her family, was slapped several times by her mother, and was cursed as unfilial. In a fit of anger, Mau Shuniang grabbed a rope and threatened to hang herself, barely managing to stall the situation.

But what to do afterward, she had no idea. Fortunately, Xuhui Tea Shop was a senior member of Yixing, and this drama was witnessed by a passing member who quickly reported to Boya’s clerk, asking them to send someone to take charge of the situation.

As soon as Lin Yuchan arrived, Mau Shuniang’s spirit seemed to collapse all at once. She looked up at the frightening rope, her whole body went weak, and she slowly slid to the ground.

“Sister, my father is dying in bed, and I don’t want to get married in red and green… wuwu…”

The fat maid ran back and said roughly to Lin Yuchan, “Many families do this, fearing the mourning period, they rush to send their daughters away. This is custom; we have no choice. The young lady will be someone else’s person sooner or later. The master has his wife and daughter-in-law watching over him, and they’ve written to call the young master home quickly. It’s not her turn anyway. Madam, you are a reasonable person—please persuade her properly.”

Lin Yuchan nodded and told the maid to take good care of Miss Mau.

With the father’s life hanging by a thread on one side and wedding celebrations on the other, she didn’t know which bastard had established these proprieties.

She had another worry in her heart. If Shopkeeper Mau truly died, unfortunately, and Mau Shuniang was dragged off to marry, what would happen to her tea production line?

Rely on Shopkeeper Mau’s mediocre apprentices?

She suddenly raised her eyelids, some ineffable thoughts flashing through her mind.

When she entered earlier, she seemed to have seen several apprentices “organizing” the accounting office…

She crouched down and asked Mau Shuniang, “Those senior apprentices of yours are also outside. What’s their attitude?”

Mau Shuniang sniffled: “They say to follow propriety in everything… With my brother not here, they’re holding up the tea shop’s overall situation… They also contacted several peers to help…”

Lin Yuchan’s face turned cold, and she said icily: “They just want to squeeze you out so they can inherit your father’s mantle!”

A tear rolled down Mau Shuniang’s face, and she fell silent.

Back outside the shop front, Rong Hong had used his status and temperament to calm down the crowd of crying relatives and was chatting with Mrs. Mau.

Shopkeeper Mau’s three apprentices—one thin, one fat, one simple-minded—Lin Yuchan privately nicknamed them Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Monk, though she couldn’t recall their real names at the moment.

Now these three were acting like masters of the house, calling Mrs. Mau “Master’s wife” with every breath, also earnestly advising.

“We’re here, don’t worry. Getting anxious and hurting your health—what would we do then?” the sharp-faced “Wukong” said through tears. “The work won’t be abandoned. As for wages, Lady Lin will surely continue paying them and won’t shortchange us. We’ve discussed it—we’ll temporarily take over Master’s work. Three of us can also take turns caring for Master. As the old saying goes, ‘One day as a teacher, lifelong as a father.’ When Master’s health improves…”

“Gentlemen,” Lin Yuchan directly interrupted, “I’ve spoken with Miss Mau’s prospective in-laws. They’ve agreed to let the young lady first serve her father until his passing. No need for you to work so hard.”

Like a thunderbolt from clear skies, the three apprentices all changed color.

Sha Monk: “But yesterday they agreed so readily…”

The third apprentice was indeed the most simple-minded, not realizing his two senior apprentices were frantically signaling him with their eyes.

Lin Yuchan’s face was dark as water, understanding perfectly.

The in-laws’ pressure for marriage was one thing, but the in-laws were also human. Most likely, the senior apprentices had fanned the flames and perhaps even misrepresented the Mau family’s intentions, causing the in-laws to urgently press for the wedding.

Shopkeeper Mau had only one biological son, but these three apprentices had already brazenly included themselves among the potential heirs. Son Mau Dalang planned to pursue the imperial examination route and wasn’t suited for the tea business—give him some money, and wouldn’t the tea shop’s management rights fall to the three of them!

The prerequisite was that their junior sister apprentice had to marry out quickly.

Lin Yuchan roared angrily.

“At a time like this, you’re still calculating wages? Shopkeeper Mau is ill—did I say to start work? Since ‘one day as teacher, lifelong as father,’ your master is sick in bed and you don’t go see him, but run here to stir up trouble?”

With one statement, she first seized the moral high ground. The apprentices’ faces flushed red and green, muttering: “We did go see him…”

“After seeing him, don’t you know to stay and care for him? An old man needing medicine, soup, help with bodily functions, turning over, changing clothes—you want his daughter and daughter-in-law to do it? Or do you plan to leave it all to your master’s wife?”

With a glance around, several idle employees had also been summoned by the clerk. Old Zhao and Aunt Hong had arrived. With their side strengthened, Lin Yuchan was even more righteous and commanding:

“Take me to see Shopkeeper Mau! Until he recovers, no one is allowed to start work at the tea shop!”

Only then did the apprentices have nothing to say, still muttering, “We were just too anxious.”

Shopkeeper Mau’s home was nearby, just a few streets away.

Before entering, she could smell the medicinal herbs. Lin Yuchan had Mau Shuniang lead the way as she stepped through the door to see the middle-aged man lying in bed.

Shopkeeper Mau was still as fat as ever, his bald head still as shiny. But it seemed that overnight, all his vitality had left him. His complexion was gray as a wall, his mouth slightly crooked, his eye sockets sunken, motionless under the covers, with only extremely slow, shallow breathing.

Mau Shuniang couldn’t help but wail: “Father…”

Lin Yuchan’s eyes misted slightly as she sat beside the bed and took those short, thick hands that had stirred tea leaves for decades.

“I’ve come to see you.”

Shopkeeper Mau wasn’t the type of person she liked. Stubborn in thinking, snobbish, fond of petty cleverness, and his attitude toward family members exemplified all the shortcomings of feudal male chauvinism—imperiously restricting his daughter, forbidding this, forbidding that.

But at the same time, he was the first business partner Lin Yuchan had independently negotiated after embarking on her commercial path. While many tea shops had turned her away simply because of her young female face, only this bald uncle, despite his dismissive attitude, had still welcomed her in and made some introductions.

Over the following three years of cooperation, acquisition, and eventually becoming her subordinate, although Shopkeeper Mau occasionally gave her trouble, his professional integrity was beyond reproach—he never caused her major problems. Moreover, through her gradual influence, he had acquiesced to his daughter showing her face in public and inheriting his craft like his male apprentices.

He was just an ordinary person with a heap of faults. But thinking that his life was nearing its end, Lin Yuchan found her tears hard to control and had to ask for a cup of tea to wash them down.

Only then did she collect herself and briefly inquire about what medicine he was taking and what acupuncture treatment he was receiving.

Shopkeeper Mau’s eyelids fluttered, as if he wanted to say something to her but lacked the strength to speak.

Lin Yuchan suddenly turned and asked: “Have you seen a Western doctor?”

The Mau family members all shook their heads.

“Go to Renji Hospital and invite one over,” Lin Yuchan said. “I’ll pay for it.”

Most likely, it was cerebral thrombosis or stroke—Western medicine at this time was also powerless, but at least she would fulfill her responsibility as the employer.

While waiting for the doctor, Lin Yuchan glanced toward the outer room and saw the three apprentices—Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Monk—sitting on the sofa in close conversation, their faces grave, occasionally pointing secretively toward the inner room.

Lin Yuchan lowered her head, hiding a slight cold smile.

With the master still breathing, they already wanted to drive away the junior sister apprentice and sideline the major shareholder?

What beautiful dreams they were having.