The distance from the north-facing outer quarters to the main hall where Zheng Guozhen received guests was by no means short. Shao Shuyi trailed behind the servant as they turned left and right, walking for a considerable time before finally arriving.
Pavilions, verandas, and covered walkways met the eye at every turn along the way, interspersed with two or three bamboo groves and ornamental ponds, stirring a wave of admiration.
To be frank, had Shao Shuyi not been so worldly-wise prior to his transmigration, he would have been utterly overwhelmed by the sight. How could an ordinary member of the lower classes in the Yuan dynasty have ever beheld such splendor?
Even so, he could not help feeling a twinge of envy. Compared to his current adobe hut, how could his humble home possibly compare to the Zheng estate?
*When the neighbors stockpile houses, I'll stockpile spears—whatever the neighbor owns will one day be mine!* Shao Shuyi silently bolstered his spirits—or more accurately, made the best of a grim situation.
Ahead of them, another pond came into view, set within a compact landscape garden.
Weeping willows, flowers, and ornamental grasses were planted densely around its perimeter. A bridge spanned the water, and Shao Shuyi now stood at its southern approach.
Across the bridge rose an artificial mound of earth, adorned with bizarre decorative rocks hauled in from parts unknown.
Behind the rocky knoll stood an open pavilion, upon which hung a plaque bearing three characters: *Caizhi Platform*.
Several men strolled leisurely across the terrace, chatting and laughing freely. The man leading them was none other than Zheng Guozhen.
Upon hearing the servant's report, Zheng Guozhen looked up, glanced over, and said, "Send him across."
The servant trotted over to the south side of the bridge and whispered, "Third Young Master bids you come over."
Shao Shuyi nodded. At an unhurried pace, he crossed the bridge and climbed the stone steps to the Caizhi Platform. Bowing in greeting, he said, "Greetings, Third Young Master."
"You carry yourself far more steadily than when we last met." Zheng Guozhen looked him up and down, then pointed to a stone stool beside him. "Sit."
Shao Shuyi murmured his thanks. After taking his seat, he kept his head slightly lowered, observing his surroundings from the corner of his eye.
Today, Zheng Guozhen wore a brown jisün robe and a black boli hat. An unrolled landscape scroll lay open in his hands, though it was unclear what details he was admiring.
Three men stood behind him. Shao Shuyi recognized two of them as Zheng Song and Zheng Fan; the third was a face he had never seen before.
"Wang Laizi, the prefecture has selected you, so do not think of squirming out of it." Zheng Guozhen turned his head toward the man with an air of mild impatience, speaking with heavy earnestness. "Do not forget who helped you make your fortune. You are merely being asked to serve as zhushou for a single year—why make such a fuss?"
Wang Laizi replied with a mournful grimace, "But I do not even hail from West First Du! What is more, they expect me to serve concurrently as shezhang and oversee agricultural encouragement. How could I possibly handle such duties?"
"Even Liu Yong of the Wentai Garrison was made a lizheng! You have no official status to your name, so what is the harm in being drafted as a zhushou?" Zheng Guozhen snapped in displeasure, his tone sharp with rebuke.
Seeing him flare up in anger, Wang Laizi dared not refuse any longer. He squeezed out a reluctant assent and hung his head.
"You may take your leave," Zheng Guozhen said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Having performed his courtesies, Wang Laizi slunk away dejectedly.
Shao Shuyi understood the gist of the matter now. Because Chen Wang and his entire household had fled, the zhushou of West First Du in Zhangjing Township had absconded as well, leaving the post vacant without a successor. This Wang Laizi had suffered terrible luck, being singled out by name to serve as the replacement zhushou despite not even living there—though that was a trifling matter; transferring one's household registration would easily settle it.
Naturally, Wang Laizi was unwilling to bear the burden, so he had come seeking favors at Zheng Guozhen's estate, hoping he would intercede on his behalf. Regrettably, Third Young Master Zheng was unwilling to expend his social capital on him, leaving the outcome sealed beyond appeal.
Through this incident, Shao Shuyi gained a deeper understanding of the local hierarchy.
Families of high officials possessed privileges and could accomplish virtually anything. Wealthy households, local strongmen, and minor gentry all attached themselves to their coattails, relying on them for shelter and protection. Some of these affluent families had made their fortunes entirely by leaning on such grand houses. Yet now that the grand edifice was teetering on the verge of collapse, these wealthy folk were beginning to suffer misfortune as well, slowly cast aside by the great lineages.
The ordinary commoners were the first to go bankrupt, followed by the wealthy households and minor gentry, and eventually, the high officials and nobles themselves...
"Xiaohu, Yifang told me you managed to get the better of Lu Zhonghe. I could hardly believe it at first, but once Rongfu sent over the contract, my eyes were truly opened." Zheng Guozhen chuckled warmly. "Truth be told, I never paid much mind to these matters, but Yifang was right: this is not a one-off affair. Once the terms are settled smoothly the first time, all future negotiations will be far easier."
Shao Shuyi listened in silence, waiting for what would follow.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Zheng Guozhen continued, "However, the Zheng family has never engaged in overseas trade before. You seem well-informed about miscellaneous affairs—do you have any insights to offer?"
As he spoke, both Zheng Fan and Zheng Song fixed their gazes upon Shao Shuyi. The former's look carried encouragement, while the latter's was far more guarded and complex.
Zheng Song felt that matters were slipping beyond his control. It was bad enough that this petty accountant had survived, but now he was stirring up so much attention, leaving Zheng Song with a bitter impression. He would have to keep a much closer eye on him from now on to prevent another Wang Sheng from emerging.
Having already prepared his thoughts, Shao Shuyi replied in a composed, steady voice, "Since the Third Young Master deigns to ask, this junior will presume to speak freely. In engaging in overseas trade, the Zheng family stands to gain three advantages, yet also faces three grave risks."
Zheng Guozhen looked at him with an amused smile. Was he going to deliver a speech listing advantages and disadvantages, just like an actor in a play?
"Speak your mind, then." Handing the painted scroll to Zheng Song, he took a seat with keen interest.
Shao Shuyi stood up, bowed politely, and said in a clear, resonant voice, "The first advantage lies in commercial profit. The foreign barbarian realms place immense value on our Chinese celadon and woven fabrics. If thirty thousand pieces of celadon are sold in Srivijaya, they can yield a profit of three- or fourfold. That capital can then be converted into pepper, nutmeg, sandalwood, and sappanwood, which upon being brought back and sold in Taicang will yield yet another handsome return. This is the 'profit of merchandise.'
"The second advantage lies in establishing strategic networks. Partnering with families like the Shens and the Yes, who have plied the foreign trade routes for generations, brings far more than the gain of a single ship or a single cargo. It allows us to draw upon their navigators, sea charts, and connections, opening up maritime corridors and acquainting us with the customs and trade conditions of the various foreign states. This is the 'profit of passage.'
"The third advantage lies in securing our foundation. Taicang's lifeblood rests upon sea transport and the Maritime Trade Supervisorate. The Zheng family already wields authority over the grain transport fleet; if we also master maritime commerce, it will be like adding wings to a tiger, elevating our influence throughout Liujiagang and the entire Pingjiang Circuit to an entirely new level. This is the 'profit of standing.'"
"Well said! Brilliantly spoken!" Before Zheng Guozhen could respond, Zheng Fan could not contain his praise. Looking at his beaming expression, even the scar across his forehead seemed to dance with delight.
"Indeed, exceedingly well said!" Zheng Guozhen clapped his hands and laughed, then asked, "You have named the three advantages—where, then, lie the three risks?"
Breathing an inward sigh of relief, Shao Shuyi continued, "The first risk lies in natural disaster. The winds and waves are treacherous, and reefs show no mercy. Along ten thousand li of ocean passage, an entire fortune can be wiped out overnight in a single shipwreck. Against such peril, mortal strength can do little; one can only mitigate the losses through shared-risk covenants and dispatching larger fleets. After all, ships cannot possibly sink every single voyage.
"The second risk lies in human malice. The seas harbor not only storms, but ruthless brigands. From Liujiagang to Wenzhou and Taizhou, from Wenzhou and Taizhou to Quanzhou, and from Quanzhou to Java, the coasts crawl with desperate outlaws coveting the rich bounties of merchant vessels. Only with sturdy ships, fine arms, and men united in purpose can one wrest food from the tiger's jaws.
"The third risk lies with the Transport Office and the Provincial Branch Secretariat. Foreign trade brings immense profits, and many eyes will turn green with envy. Within the Transport Office itself, the four Deputy Myriad Household Commanders come from vastly different factions. The Third Young Master seeks to build upon the Old Minister's legacy to ascend to greater heights, yet there is no guarantee others will not attempt to obstruct you. Furthermore, while partnering with the Shen and Ye families brings clear advantages, it also binds us to their fortunes. The Shens possess wealth second to none in the southeast; countless figures scheme to sink their talons into their treasures, fertile lands, and shops.
"These are the three advantages and three risks of which the Third Young Master ought to be aware."
A brief silence descended upon Caizhi Platform.
Shao Shuyi felt a faint tremor of unease in his chest.
To be candid, these remarks were hardly different from the intense political discussions on online forums in his former life, with portions even tinged with a conspiratorial tone—such as covetous eyes watching the Shen family's riches or rivals resenting the Zhengs.
Of course, none of it was entirely unfounded either. In any case, he had spoken his piece, and whether it held merit was for the Zheng family to judge.
After maintaining his silence for a long while, Zheng Guozhen rose abruptly to his feet. Clasping his hands behind his back, he paced a few steps, then halted suddenly. When he looked back at Shao Shuyi, the light in his eyes had completely changed.
"You truly do not resemble a fifteen-year-old youth," he said in a low, weighty voice. "Instead, you seem like an old clerk who has spent half a lifetime tumbling through government yamens. Could an ordinary person possess such foresight and breadth of view?"
Zheng Song's gaze also bore into him with piercing intensity.
Meeting both their gazes without flinching, Shao Shuyi replied in an earnest tone, "This humble youth is the orphaned son of a seafaring boat household from Zhangjing. Both my parents have passed, leaving behind four bare walls—such are my origins.
"In my early years, I received instruction from Mr. Yu, learning to read a few characters and acquiring a modest grasp of letters and arithmetic—such is my learning.
"When pursued for tax arrears and left without a path to flee, I was fortunate enough to be taken in by the Zheng family, granted a peaceful night's rest—such was my stroke of fortune.
"Since entering the celadon shop, I have audited accounts daily, observed the workings of men's hearts, and listened to accounts from north and south, curious tales from officials and commoners, and tangled webs of profit and rivalry.
"All that I have spoken reflects merely my everyday reflections, shallow though they may be. With your great talent and vision, Third Young Master will naturally discern the truth."
Zheng Guozhen stared at him intently for a good while, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Yifang called you a formidable fellow. To my mind, you are not merely formidable—you are steady, and you see things with utmost clarity."
Walking back to the stone table, he tapped his fingers lightly against the surface. "Wang Sheng's post is now vacant. His responsibilities are currently overseen by Yifang. But Yifang has many affairs to manage and cannot always remain in the shop; you must learn to shoulder some of that burden."
"Understood," Shao Shuyi replied.
Nodding in satisfaction, Zheng Guozhen said, "As for that ship belonging to the Shen family, continue to follow up on it. Deal directly with Lu Zhonghe... and whoever in the Shen household holds real sway. Since you drafted the contract, keep a close watch on all subsequent matters. If you require men or paper money, speak directly with Yifang."
"Understood," Shao Shuyi answered once more, the weight in his chest finally lifting.
He knew he had managed to pass today's interview, securing a greater measure of authority for the time being.
"Furthermore, since you managed to negotiate an extra ten percent of the profit—" Zheng Guozhen added, as if suddenly recalling the matter, "I am not an ungenerous master. When the ship returns in the future, you shall have your share of the reward."
"Thank you, Third Young Master." Shao Shuyi offered no false modesty, accepting the promise openly and gracefully.
"During the recent Mid-Autumn Festival, you were running errands outside, working truly hard," Zheng Guozhen concluded. "Yifang, see to it that he receives a supplemental gift. Don't be stingy."
"Right away," Zheng Fan answered readily.
A surge of pleasant surprise welled up in Shao Shuyi's heart.
For the Mid-Autumn Festival, he had already received one dou of rice and three liang of salt from the shop; he had not expected to receive an additional reward. Splendid indeed—Third Young Master Zheng was a man of grand vision, making his earlier 'profound exposition' well worth the effort.
"Stay and finish a meal before you leave," Zheng Guozhen instructed in high spirits. "Have them serve you a proper feast."
Chapter 39