Chapter 39: A True Man Should Be Like This

The next day, Zheng Zhilong walked out of the cabin door, his face full of exhaustion...

When he reached the deck, he realized it was already nearly noon. He usually rose at the beginning of the mao hour (5-7 a. m.), a habit unbroken since childhood—how could he have slept until this hour today?

Zheng Zhilong felt anxious inside. According to the councilman's instructions, he should have returned to report before last night.

He had schemed tirelessly to earn the councilman's trust, and now, because of wine and women, he had thrown away his bright future.

Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but feel regret and resentment, and his hatred even extended to Lin Qian.

Just then, Lin Qian called out to him from the sterncastle: "Brother Yiguan is awake? Come up quickly, let's have another cigar."

Hearing this, Zheng Zhilong climbed the stairs and stood before Lin Qian with a bitter face: "Brother Lin, you've done me a great harm..."

Lin Qian laughed carelessly: "Brother Yiguan, are you worried about failing to report back in time and incurring the councilman's wrath? Don't worry—last night I already had Jose write a letter saying the ship's cargo was extensive, and Brother Yiguan stayed up late inventorying it, so he'd return a day later. I told the councilman not to worry."

"Really?" Zheng Zhilong's worry immediately turned to joy.

"Would I lie to you?" Lin Qian patted his shoulder warmly. "Feel free to eat and stay here with your big brother. If you like it, tonight I'll have Jose write another letter, and you can stay a few more nights!"

"No, no, no!" Zheng Zhilong waved his hands repeatedly. "How could I dare impose so much?"

"Hahahaha..." Lin Qian laughed heartily and led Zheng Zhilong back into the captain's cabin.

After lighting a cigar, Zheng Zhilong blew out a smoke ring with satisfaction and said sincerely: "To be honest, I came this time actually entrusted by the councilman to pressure the price down... But since Brother treats me with such sincerity, I can't betray our bond of honor. I'll go report back to the councilman now..."

Lin Qian raised one finger: "Brother Yiguan, my letter to the councilman asks for four hundred thousand taels. But since I'm your big brother, how could I make things difficult for you? I'll deduct one hundred thousand—just three hundred thousand taels. How about it?"

Zheng Zhilong's eyes widened: "Does Brother mean it? That's a hundred thousand taels of silver, this..."

Lin Qian waved his hand to cut him off: "No need to argue further. For the sake of brotherhood, what is a hundred thousand taels?"

As the saying goes, "ask a sky-high price, settle for a ground-level offer"—the price in Jose's letter was nearly double the cargo's actual value.

If he actually settled with Zheng Zhilong at four hundred thousand taels, the councilman behind him was no fool and certainly wouldn't honor the deal.

After all, this cargo was only worth about two hundred thousand taels. Selling at three hundred thousand already meant a hundred thousand taels of premium.

Zheng Zhilong's worldview was shaken. Watching Lin Qian's dashing figure, his heart could not settle for a long time.

Capable and loyal—where in the world could one find such a big brother?

He had sailed with his uncle's boat gang and worked as an interpreter in Macao. Because he was still young, few people he met ever looked at him with respect.

Since childhood, he had always been the one desperately trying to please others—when had anyone ever treated him with such sincerity?

Zheng Zhilong suddenly conceived the idea of swearing brotherhood with Lin Qian, but then he thought of how his own status was merely that of an interpreter, while Lin Qian was noble in bearing, generous with money, and free-spirited—why would someone like that swear brotherhood with someone of his station? So the words reached his lips and were swallowed back down.

As he was puffing away, someone knocked and entered the captain's cabin, handing a thick stack of documents to Lin Qian.

Lin Qian took them, glanced through a few pages, and dismissed the man. Then he placed the stack before Zheng Zhilong.

"This is the ship's cargo manifest—even more detailed than the one I gave the councilman. I had someone copy it for you to take back, so you can report properly."

"This... Brother is truly meticulous..." Zheng Zhilong no longer knew what to say.

"After we finish this cigar, I'll have someone take you down to the hold to inspect in person."

Zheng Zhilong slapped his chest: "Brother treats me with such openness and consideration—how could I not trust you? I'll go by what the manifest says!"

Lin Qian smiled: "Bonds are bonds, but business must still be done. See it with your own eyes, so you'll have a clear picture."

After another round of polite refusal, Zheng Zhilong—already charmed senseless by Lin Qian—had no choice but to accept his proposal.

However, although this lad Zheng Zhilong refused vociferously with his mouth, when he actually went below to inspect the cargo, he checked extremely carefully, without any leniency.

Lin Qian knew history and understood that Zheng Zhilong had always been this kind of double-dealing, ruthless hero by nature, so he was not surprised.

Since he dared let Zheng Zhilong count, it meant the types and quantities of the cargo were absolutely accurate.

By the time Zheng Zhilong finished counting the cargo, it was already evening. Lin Qian kept him for another feast.

This time, Zheng Zhilong insisted on returning to report no matter what. Since Lin Qian had already achieved his goal, he didn't press him to stay.

Amid harmonious farewells, Zheng Zhilong boarded the single-masted sloop he had arrived on and sailed back to Macao harbor.

After traveling some distance, Zheng Zhilong turned back to look. He saw Lin Qian standing at the ship's rail, his figure silhouetted against the setting sun, gleaming with the galleon upon the rippling waves.

Gazing at this scene, Zheng Zhilong couldn't help but feel the sentiment: "A true man should be like this."

Meanwhile, on the galleon's deck, Lin Qian watched Zheng Zhilong sail away, inwardly lamenting the pity of it.

This man might well become his formidable enemy in the future. Letting such a tiger return to the mountain—who knew if it was right or wrong?

But to kill him without cause would not only offend the Portuguese but also make this cargo even harder to sell.

Regardless, this whole dance of deception with Zheng Zhilong—though it appeared he had conceded—actually netted a hundred thousand taels more than the expected selling price. A considerable gain.

As for matters of the future, they could be dealt with later. He, Lin Qian, was not yet at the point of worrying about some young whelp.

"Helmsman, what about those two women?" a crewman asked just then.

"Send them back to the flower boat." Lin Qian added after a pause, "Anyone who wants to patronize their business can go aboard the flower boat tonight."

"Right away, thank you, Helmsman!" The crewmen erupted in cheers.

Before long, the two "ladies" emerged, surrounded by the boatmen like stars around the moon.

Bailangzai stepped forward and gave each of them twenty taels of silver: "A tip from the Helmsman."

The two women performed the wanfu salute to Bailangzai and Lin Qian in thanks.

Jose said to them in Chinese: "Bring the flower boat closer. You two will be busy these next few days."

One woman said happily: "That's wonderful then. This humble one thanks all you gentlemen in advance."

The crewmen's gazes followed the two women off the ship, their hearts wishing nightfall would come sooner.

Jose sidled up to Lin Qian with a mysterious look and asked: "Captain, how did you know that lad likes natural feet?"

These two women were the ones Lin Qian had specially ordered found when receiving Zheng Zhilong yesterday.

Lin Qian wanted natural-footed women, naturally because the historical Zheng Zhilong had married a Japanese wife.

But the fact that Jose could ask such a question showed his deep understanding of Chinese culture. Lin Qian couldn't help teasing: "You even know what 'natural feet' means?"

Jose said somewhat proudly: "I know women very well."

Such a boast made Lin Qian chuckle softly.

Evening fell.

Lin Qian sat at the navigation table writing in the ship's log. At the corner of the table lay a sheet of paper—the astronomical data Bailangzai had recorded over the past few days.

The cabin was quiet, though from time to time the alluring cries of women drifted over from the flower boats in the distance.

Lin Qian finished a page, set down his brush, and rose to stretch.

Listening to the seductive sounds from next door, a thought suddenly struck Lin Qian. He strode out of the captain's quarters and called Bailangzai in.

Bailangzai had been observing the stars at the stern. Hearing himself summoned, he pushed through the door, sextant in hand: "Helmsman, you wanted me?"

"Go to the hold and see how much wound medicine is left," Lin Qian ordered.

"It ran out a few days ago."

At this, Lin Qian took out a silver ingot and set it on the table: "Go buy some from the flower boats. One or two bottles will do."

Bailangzai studied Lin Qian. He didn't look wounded. Suppressing his puzzlement, he only asked: "Would the flower boats... have wound medicine?"

Lin Qian couldn't help but smile: "Offer enough silver and they will. Go on."

Bailangzai said no more. He picked up the silver and headed out, walking all the way to the gunwale, where a small skiff sent by the flower boats waited to ferry passengers. Bailangzai climbed down the rope ladder into the skiff.

Once aboard the flower boat, the first thing to hit him was a thick wave of powder and perfume mixed with the reek of wine.

The madam was at the bow receiving guests. Seeing Bailangzai come aboard, she quickly had one of her girls come over to attend to him.

Bailangzai stated his purpose, and the madam's face went cold at once.

Bailangzai produced the silver: "One or two bottles will do."

The madam's face broke into a delighted smile. She pocketed the silver and gave a few instructions to her girl. A moment later, one of the girls brought over two porcelain bottles.

"This is fine wound salve from the Green Plum House." The madam pressed the bottles into Bailangzai's hands, her face wreathed in smiles. "Since young sir knows we carry such goods, you must be someone who moves in the right circles. Won't you pick a girl?"

Bailangzai's face flushed with embarrassment. He waved his hands hurriedly in farewell and fled back into the skiff as if escaping.

Moments later, he was back aboard the galleon, handing the porcelain bottles to Lin Qian.

When he stepped into the captain's quarters, Lin Qian was reading the Spaniard's parchment book, utterly absorbed. Without even lifting his eyes, he murmured a word of thanks and told Bailangzai to set the medicine on the table.

Bailangzai was full of questions, but he held them back and said nothing, merely taking his sextant and leaving the captain's quarters.

Yahei

Pink Round

Pen