usatvline Chapter 176 Dialogue
Chapter 176 Dialogue
The boy looked a little different than when they last met.
He seems to have grown taller and stronger.
He was wearing a long, bright red robe. If a scholar were to wear it, it would generally give the impression of a flowing, ethereal figure. But this man actually managed to make the loose robe look fuller, which was quite surprising.
Furthermore, their energy and spirit seemed different, but Zheng Ning had too little experience to pinpoint exactly what was different; he only had a vague feeling about it. The only thing that remained unchanged was probably their enthusiasm.
From the words in his reply, it is clear that he is very enthusiastic, kind, and capable, able to come up with all sorts of solutions, far better than those who only talk big but have no real ideas.
As Zheng Ning pondered this, he picked up a spoon and gently scooped away the foam from the teapot, while secretly straining his ears to hear what his grandfather and he would talk about.
Just as Zheng Ning sensed, Shao Shuyi's gaze towards her held only pure admiration for youth and beauty, and it lingered for only a moment before he approached Zheng Yonghe, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Lord Zheng."
"Please sit down," Zheng Yonghe gestured.
Shao Shuyi looked around and found a small stool in front of the table, so he sat down, his body upright.
"I've wanted to meet you for a long time, but I didn't expect things to get so complicated and it's been delayed until now." Zheng Yonghe carefully looked Shao Shuyi up and down and said, "Little Tiger is so strong and robust, like a great general. No wonder he can run a business on the water."
"It's all thanks to the Zheng family; otherwise, we wouldn't have had this good fortune," Shao Shuyi said.
"The Zheng family may have offered you some protection, but the path is yours to walk. How you walk it and how far you go ultimately depends on yourself." Zheng Yonghe waved his hand and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
"I travel between Suzhou, Liujiagang, and Yangzhou, making a living by transporting goods," Shao Shuyi replied.
"I haven't seen you around much last year, you must be out delivering goods, right?" Zheng Yonghe asked.
"Yes," Shao Shuyi replied, then added, "I am truly ashamed of my laxity; I hope Lord Zheng will forgive me."
Zheng Yonghe stroked his beard and laughed, "Young man, you're certainly got guts. It's alright, you've made many contributions to the Zheng family, what are these compared to that? Besides, you were there when the blueware shop was busy, even going all the way to Jiangxi to escort goods back, you were truly dedicated to your duty, weren't you?" "Yes," Shao Shuyi looked up at Old Zheng and said.
"If that's the case, what is there to worry about?" Zheng Yonghe spread his hands and laughed, "I'm sure you'll still be able to manage the cloth shop very well after you take over as manager, won't you?"
"Yes," Shao Shuyi replied again.
Seeing Shao Shuyi's reply, Zheng Yonghe seemed very pleased and said, "The ancients said, 'Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish,' and isn't governing a family the same? Distance and closeness, ability and knowledge, etc., all must be weighed; it's not that simple. Do you remember Wang Chunhe? That's Wang Sheng." "Yes."
"He scraped together the money to return part of the embezzled funds, and also gave up his house in Taihu," Zheng Yonghe said. "In the end, he was still short several hundred ingots, and he really couldn't come up with the money. He wanted to sell his ancestral home and land, but I said forget it. He's worked hard for me for so many years, how can he end up in such a miserable old age? He did something wrong, and he's already received the punishment he deserved. I don't blame him for the rest."
As he said this, Zheng Yonghe looked quietly at Shao Shuyi.
Shao Shuyi was silent for a moment, then said, "Gong Zhai is kind-hearted and admirable."
Zheng Yonghe smiled and said, "You've done a better job than Wang Chunhe, made greater contributions, and are younger. Seeing you is like seeing those many exceptionally talented people who have made a name for themselves and accomplished what others cannot, earning our admiration. From now on, work hard. The cloth shop is just for you to practice in. Once you've managed it well, come and tell me so I can be happy too. As for how to manage it..."
At this point, Zheng Yonghe waved his hand and said, "You can make the arrangements yourself. It would be best if you could take care of both sides."
Shao Shuyi was slightly surprised.
Zheng Yonghe has given him a great deal of freedom. Why? What happened? Or does he know something?
But there was no time to think about it further; he simply said, "Since you have treated me so kindly, how could I not do my utmost!"
Zheng Yonghe stroked his beard, clearly very satisfied.
Just then, Zheng Ning finished brewing the tea, ladled a bowl for each of them, and personally brought it over.
Shao Shuyi stood up to express his gratitude, took the gift, and placed it in front of him.
"The Tang dynasty scholar Lu Quan once said, 'If the emperor has not tasted Yangxian tea, no herb dares to bloom first.' Yangxian Zisun tea, please try it," Zheng Yonghe said, extending his hand.
Zheng Ning also looked at him expectantly.
Shao Shuyi thanked him, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and praised, "Good tea."
The evaluation was brief, sharp, and left a lingering impression—in reality, he couldn't articulate it clearly.
Zheng Yonghe seemed very satisfied with his answer, and then chatted with him about the great popularity of tea since the mid-Tang Dynasty, as well as the numerous famous tea varieties that emerged in Jiannan, Eyue, Huainan, Liangzhe and other places. The atmosphere was very harmonious.
When Zheng Ning brewed the second batch of tea and served it to the two of them, Zheng Yonghe changed the subject and asked, "I heard that you already own six ships?" "Yes," Shao Shuyi replied.
This is no secret. He has had every ship inspected; the government has records of it, and anyone interested can easily find out.
"What kind of work do you do now?"
"We transport grain between Suzhou and Liujiagang. Occasionally, we need to make a trip to Jiangxi to transport timber, bamboo ware, dried seafood, spices, ironware, and other goods." "Making a boat is difficult; will the earnings cover the expenses?"
"Just right."
"I thought so too," Zheng Yonghe said with a smile.
Shao Shuyi was taken aback.
"On my way back from Qiaosikong Lane before the New Year, I ran into some old acquaintances in Haiyuncang. We chatted about local events, and I learned that you, Xiaohu, are quite famous." Zheng Yonghe looked at Shao Shuyi and said, "The titles 'Timely Rain of Kunshan' and 'Number One Archer of Taicang' are quite surprising and gratifying to me. However..."
"Please speak, sir, I will obey without question," Shao Shuyi said.
Zheng Yonghe seemed quite satisfied with his attitude and said in a cautionary tone, "I know that once you get involved in the transportation business, nothing is easy, so Xiao Hu, you've had it tough too. However, you still need to be careful. Those with a bad track record should absolutely not be used, and those who are unruly should be avoided if possible, otherwise, the consequences will be endless. Do you understand?"
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Zheng," Shao Shuyi said, bowing again.
Zheng Yonghe nodded and said, "You know how to behave, which is evident from the fact that you kidnapped Wang Chunhe and sent him to the boat shop instead of killing him. Fame can certainly make you respected, but everything in excess is a bad thing."
As Zheng Ning said this, she looked at Shao Shuyi with a surprised expression.
The young girl never imagined that Brother Shao, who was described in the letter as gentle, eloquent, and always solving her problems, would have such a side to him. What did "timely rain of Kunshan" mean? Did it refer to his quick thinking and help in times of need? She believed that, because Brother Shao had always cared for her selflessly. And "the best archer in Taicang"? Did it mean he was exceptionally skilled in archery? That sounded good too; Brother Shao had mentioned practicing archery day and night, so such a reputation was well-deserved.
Furthermore, what did Grandfather mean by mentioning that the transportation industry was not simple? Zheng Ning vaguely sensed a hidden meaning, as if working in this industry required the use of some unruly individuals, who might implicate him.
She only half understood, and her thoughts were racing, she thought about many things.
Having spent a long time navigating the complexities of society, Shao Shuyi naturally understood Zheng Yonghe's meaning.
Is it possible to work in the transportation business without getting involved with the underworld? Zheng Yonghe is an old hand at this, so of course he can see what kind of person Shao Shuyi really is, especially after he killed Zhang Neng, captured Wang Sheng, and even robbed goods that pirates were selling. He is clearly not a pure and innocent person.
However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages.
Zheng Yonghe returned to Taicang and learned about Shao Shuyi's reputation in the Zhangjing and Banjing areas. He gained a certain understanding of Shao Shuyi's influence—if something happened, Shao Shuyi could really call on people.
This is also a skill, although it doesn't quite fit Zheng Yonghe's aesthetic.
Today's private meeting was partly due to his previous emergence, but the growing influence of Mr. Shao among the seafaring community cannot be ignored.
Fortunately, Lao Zheng probably doesn't know about his smuggling of salt, otherwise this meeting might not have happened.
After the matter was mostly settled, Shao Shuyi got up to take his leave.
He didn't go back to continue the banquet, but wandered around Caizhi's vicinity until Shiliu suddenly appeared, quickly stuffed a small cloth bag into his hand, and then hurriedly left.
Shao Shuyi chuckled, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he quietly untied the cloth bag and peeked inside, only to find that it was actually a bronze mirror.
The bronze mirror was no bigger than the palm of one's hand, with its edges polished smooth. The back of the mirror was densely engraved with scriptures (the Heart Sutra), the characters as small as ants, but the strokes were still quite clear. In the center was a lotus flower, with a tiny "2" hidden in its heart.
"That's thoughtful!" Shao grinned from ear to ear.
Compared to the chili pepper, the long-legged one is gentler and more thoughtful.
Besides the bronze mirror, there was also a letter in the cloth bag, which Shao Shuyi decided to read when he got back.
He lingered around Caizhi until the banquet ended, then followed the crowd to say goodbye and return home.
Although he didn't get to eat his fill at today's banquet, he still gained something, at least clarifying his future relationship with the Zheng family.