Rong Hong chose a nearby Western restaurant. The restaurant had a Chinese-style storefront with an English sign discreetly displayed outside. But once inside, it was like stepping through a portal into another world, as if suddenly transported through a magical door to some exquisite New England tavern. Deer heads hung on the walls, wood grain decorated the surfaces, a small fire crackled in the fireplace, and brass oil lamps illuminated the patterns on the brown-yellow floor tiles.

In the restaurant, foreign gentlemen and ladies sat scattered in groups of two or three, elegantly wearing gloves as they perused menus printed in ornate English script, occasionally leaning together for quiet conversation and laughter. Waiters with their left hands clasped behind their backs poured golden wine into tall glasses.

Lin Yuchan, living in the Qing Dynasty, was not experiencing this sense of temporal displacement for the first time. The foreign concessions were like this—Chinese soil, like an obedient little girl, taken away from her own home by foreigners and dressed up according to their preferences.

She repeatedly confirmed her memory: hadn’t Rong Hong just said he was treating, right?

It seemed that going Dutch wasn’t fashionable yet. Whoever invited paid. Hmm.

Rong Hong misunderstood her hesitant expression and smiled, “There are no rules here about men and women sitting separately. Please sit and enjoy the freedom.”

So she openly sat at the same table as Rong Hong, and indeed, few people gave her sideways glances—the few pairs of eyes that did were surprised by her skin color and clothing, as Chinese commoner girls rarely patronized Western restaurants.

This carefree feeling was so precious. Unfortunately, in the Qing Dynasty, it only existed in the small concession areas where sovereignty had been lost, exclusive to those very few “upper-class” people.

She smiled and asked, “How was your journey to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom?”

Before the appetizers arrived, Rong Hong began pouring out his grievances: “Let me tell you, this Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is nothing like what I imagined.”

Like many Western romantics, he had originally thought that the new regime established in Nanjing was a progressive society that devoutly believed in Christianity, embraced science, and promoted equality for all.

Who knew that when he arrived, he discovered that, except for their nominal faith being different, the Taiping court was equally hierarchical, extravagant, and corrupt. The rulers despised Confucian culture, the common people were illiterate, and their level of ignorance was no different from the outside world. Women did have their feet unbound and participated in warfare, but those outstanding women ultimately ended up being selected into the “palace” to become concubines of various kings, never to be seen again…

They had indeed once had lofty ideals and strict self-discipline. They had also once displayed formidable combat effectiveness that made many regular Qing troops pale in comparison. But now the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement was in its twilight years, and like most peasant uprisings throughout history, it was slowly being defeated by the unchecked weaknesses of human nature.

Many Western powers had also tried to cooperate with them, sending investigation teams, but all returned disappointed and turned back to supporting the Qing government, which was more rule-abiding. The foreigners now remaining in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom were mostly gamblers, swindlers, and speculators, each calculating for their benefit.

Listening to Rong Hong’s account, Lin Yuchan couldn’t help thinking: perhaps the greatest achievement of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was breaking the numb, stagnant state of this land, making people wake from their dreams to realize that this soil could have a second face.

She asked, “Did you meet your old friend?”

Rong Hong nodded: “I had an audience with Hong Rengang and wholeheartedly presented him with many suggestions for governing the country—all the crystallization of my careful thoughts, written stroke by stroke in that cramped ship cabin. He was very appreciative after reading them, but he regretfully told me that no one in their court would support these reforms.”

He sighed deeply again and finally made a fair summary: “These are a group of great people. But observing their personnel quality and character, I don’t think they will succeed.”

They say those involved are confused. But the Qing native Rong Hong saw more clearly than anyone.

But what of it? The torrent of the times had not yet swept in. These clear-sighted people were like mere drops of water—no matter how transparent and clear, they could hardly rush forward.

Rong Hong gripped his silver fork, sighing as he put food in his mouth, probably not even noticing whether it was fish or meat, just immersed in his thoughts.

It wasn’t until the waiter brought the bill that he suddenly realized, saying self-mockingly, “Miss Lin, don’t take offense. I’ve heard that one sign of human aging is the tendency to complain endlessly.”

Lin Yuchan had been a good listener for an hour, and upon hearing this, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“You’re old?” she laughed, “You’re in your prime.”

Go ahead and act however you want. You’ll still live to see the twentieth century, she thought to herself.

Rong Hong signed the bill, left a tip, exchanged a few words with her, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and rose to leave.

Lin Yuchan knew what was up. Her six hundred pounds of tea were probably down the drain. Scholar Rong had been worrying about the country and people all along the way, probably not in the mood to help with her shopping. This elaborate Western meal was probably an apology.

She was a bit disappointed but not too dejected. This kind of thing, where you ask someone for help—if they help, it’s a favor; she couldn’t force it.

As long as she could get back those hundred silver dollars intact, she had brains and hands and could make new plans.

“Thank you for the hospitality,” she said to Rong Hong. “Shall I see you back?”

But Rong Hong stopped her: “Not going that way. Come, let’s take a walk to digest our food.”

Instead, he headed toward Suzhou Creek for a stroll.

Lin Yuchan: “…”

Still talking? Don’t I need to rest?

The hundred dollars were still in his hands, so she could only hurry to keep up. Rong Hong held the umbrella over her head.

Rong Hong: “Looking around on this journey, my heart feels too heavy. Miss Lin, have you ever seen vast stretches of barren fields? The wild grass is two feet tall, without a single crop. Not a single boat is seen on the canal all day, and nine out of ten houses by the roadside are empty… People all say the Taiping troops are brutal, but little do they know that government soldiers are even worse. Those war zones that are contested back and forth are even more tragic… There was an old man who chased after my boat, wanting to sell me his family’s clothes and bedding—he had been starving for three days… I gave him a silver dollar and bought everything in his basket, and he kowtowed to my boat…”

Lin Yuchan said calmly, “You can’t save all these people.”

Rong Hong wiped the corner of his eye and suddenly said, “Oh right, about the tea you asked me to buy…”

Finally remembered. Now Lin Yuchan wasn’t anxious and smiled, “It’s fine if it didn’t work out. I gained a lot of insights today.”

Rong Hong suddenly slowed his pace, looked into her eyes, and said, “May I presumptuously ask, Miss Lin, how do you plan to conduct this tea business?”

The purchasing agent suddenly started interviewing her. Lin Yuchan was a bit confused.

Looking at his expression, eager with a hint of cunning, patiently waiting for her answer.

This was a Yale honor student—a few pointers from him would benefit her immensely.

So she organized her thoughts and said seriously, “In the startup phase, I don’t plan to spend money renting a storefront. I’ve worked at a tea shop—six hundred pounds of tea is a family workshop scale. I’ll handle all the roasting and packaging myself, then set up stalls in high-traffic areas. My target customers are people from other provinces and foreigners who like Guangdong tea. At market prices, I can make a thirty percent gross profit. With the current frequent warfare, maybe I can sell even higher. Also…”

Rong Hong interrupted her: “Where will you store these six hundred pounds of tea?”

Lin Yuchan was puzzled again. Had he bought it?

She said, “I rented a room in a shikumen row house on the third floor, about four hundred square feet. Apart from my bed and wardrobe, it’s just enough to store six hundred pounds of tea. Don’t underestimate me—I’m quite strong. I used to do manual labor at the tea shop…”

Rong Hong interrupted again: “Roasting, packaging, transporting—all by yourself?”

“Of course. If you want to eat salted fish, you must endure thirst. To make money, you must suffer. But after accumulating capital, I can hire people…”

Rong Hong stopped talking and looked at her with a smile, his eyes suddenly strange, seeming both appreciative and inquiring.

“Miss Lin,” he finally stopped at a dock, gazing at the waves on the river surface and the various cargo ships, saying, “I just told you that within the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom territory, the people’s living conditions are quite terrible. With trade disrupted, for one silver dollar, they can sell anything, even kowtow to me—did you know all this beforehand?”

Lin Yuchan honestly shook her head and said quietly, “Much more miserable than I imagined. This Qing Dynasty is beyond saving.”

“I also had contact with many tea farmers. Their year’s harvest was about to rot in warehouses. They practically begged me to buy. They would trade all their possessions for just one day’s food.”

Rong Hong pointed to a cargo ship flying the American flag on the river.

America was currently in civil war, and the Stars and Stripes was also missing some stars and stripes, not as crowded as later versions, appearing somewhat unfamiliar to Lin Yuchan.

Rong Hong: “I couldn’t bear to drive down the price too much, nor did I want you to suffer losses. In the end, I could only compromise—based on the tea farmers’ lowest asking price, I closed my eyes and bought this cargo—Miss Lin, this is your tea.”

Lin Yuchan gasped. She rushed out from under the umbrella’s protection and ran several steps to the dock’s edge. Her feet stepped in a puddle, and spring rain fell on her face.

“This ship… this ship…”

This ship flying the Stars and Stripes, judging by its draft, carried over a thousand pounds of cargo!

She was both surprised and delighted, pointing at the ship and turning back to ask, “You didn’t drive down the price?”

Rong Hong’s smile bloomed as he reached out and gently touched her fingertips.

“Don’t get excited—there are three more ships following behind.”

Lin Yuchan’s legs truly went weak, and her hand gripping the railing trembled continuously.

“Your ten-dollar travel fee wasn’t enough, so I deducted fifteen dollars. With the remaining eighty-five dollars, I purchased four thousand pounds of tea. Fortunately, I didn’t fail the mission.”

“Now, Miss Lin, tell me—how do you plan to carry these four thousand pounds of tea, ant-like, up to your four-hundred-square-foot apartment on the third floor, and roast them pot by pot?”