Chapter 24: Hoodwinked into a Limp

Liu Minyou walked listlessly along Wei'anmen Street in the western part of the city. They had been living in Jingdongfang for twenty days now, and he had been searching everywhere for work for ten days, yet he still hadn't found a bookkeeping position. A laborer's yearly wage was only a few taels of silver, and he didn't want to do that kind of work — too proud for the low jobs, not qualified for the high ones. Hai Gouzi and the others' training was now being managed by Lu Chuanzong, so Liu Minyou had nothing to do every day and felt like he had become a freeloader. His anxiety grew by the day, and he couldn't help envying Chen Xin's good luck.

He walked the entire length of Wei'anmen Street and still had no leads. Seeing the West Gate drawing nearer, Liu Minyou thought of Dai Zhenggang and the others, wondering how they had been lately, so he simply left the city and sought them out in their shack.

Inside the shack, all the trackers were busy. When Dai Zhenggang saw Liu Minyou, he hurried over to greet him and invited him to sit. Liu Minyou looked at the many bundles of clothes and bedding tied up inside the shack and asked Dai Zhenggang, "Brother Dai, what is all this…?"

"I was just planning to go find you all today. Er Tun came by a few days ago — his injury is basically healed and he no longer needs the dressing changed. We've been sitting around for over ten days with nothing to do, so we plan to return to our village tomorrow."

"So that's how it is. Then Brother Dai, are you going back to the village as well?"

"When we set out back then, every family entrusted their men to my care. Now I naturally have to deliver them back to each family in person."

"I see. And what plans does Brother Dai have for the future?"

Dai Zhenggang hesitated for a moment before replying, "I still don't know right now. Chuanzong says he won't go back, that he's going to stay in Tianjin. Maybe after some time I'll come back this way too, but I just don't know what kind of work I could find to make a living."

Liu Minyou knew that Dai Zhenggang greatly admired Chen Xin, but Chen Xin was now only a bookkeeper, and the wages he earned were probably just enough to feed a few people. He guessed that Dai Zhenggang was worried, first, about being a burden to the two of them, and second, about his own prospects. Come to think of it, Liu Minyou himself had no idea what Chen Xin's plans were, or whether he really intended to go into business.

"Mm. When the time comes, Brother Dai, just come straight here. At the very least you'll have a place to stay. Even if you find some random job, you won't go hungry."

"Very well, then I'll be troubling you two again when the time comes. I'll come by this evening to bid farewell to Brother Chen and the young brothers in person."

"Then I shall await you, Brother Dai."

Inside the warehouse of the Japanese dried seafood shop.

"You mean you're setting sail in two days?" Chen Xin asked casually.

Cai Shenju's face was full of dejection. "It's true. Last night my father told me to pack my things, and later he called my elder brother over too. I don't know what they talked about, but before the last two voyages, it was exactly the same — like he was settling his final affairs. And this morning my mother said she was going to buy meat again."

Chen Xin's eyes darted around. "So that means you're going out to sea too?"

"Of course. Why else would he tell me to pack? I never wanted to go to that Wa country. My father let it slip last time — he said that at sea, you not only have to fear the wind and waves, but also the sea bandits. Even the proprietor…"

Cai Shenju glanced back at the door, then turned around and lowered his voice. "Even the proprietor does business without capital. Last time they robbed a ship — killed everyone on it, and lost quite a few of their own men too."

"Shh. You can only say things like that to me. When you're outside, absolutely don't go blabbing. We're all just earning our keep under the proprietor's hand."

Cai Shenju nodded, his voice dropping even lower. "My father said it was the proprietor who insisted I go. He said that when my father gets old, I'm to follow the ship as the purser. Who knows how many more voyages I'll have to make in the future. Even if I survive one trip, how can I survive a lifetime of them?"

Chen Xin suddenly understood. The proprietor had hired him precisely because he needed to take Old Cai out to sea and wanted to leave a bookkeeper behind in the shop. It was fortunate that this Cai Shenju was illiterate; otherwise, the proprietor would never have recruited an outsider like him.

He put on a deeply worried expression as he looked at Cai Shenju. "Ah, Brother Cai, don't worry too much. Your father has also prepared a fallback for you. Look, isn't there still your elder brother?"

"He's just playing favorites. My elder brother can write and do calculations, but he doesn't bring him to the shop — he insists on dragging me here. I'd rather be a waiter in a food stall than lose my life."

"It's not certain you'll lose your life. Come, we happen to have some free time right now. Let your elder brother teach you some life-saving methods…"

As soon as Cai Shenju heard this, he perked up and waited for Chen Xin to impart his knowledge.

"The dangers at sea are wind and waves, and sea bandits. When the ship is under sail, the wind is strong — stay off the deck as much as possible. If you get blown into the sea and you can't swim, you'll be in grave danger. When there are waves, stay in the hold and tie yourself down with ropes. Don't stay under the cargo racks, or when the ship rocks, you'll get struck and crushed. If you encounter sea bandits, hide in the hold and only come out after the fighting is over…"

"What if the proprietor loses?"

"Then you beg the sea bandits for mercy. Maybe the sea bandits will soften and let you go."

"Can sea bandits soften?"

Chen Xin shook his head. "Generally not, but you can't rule out the occasional one who shows kindness."

"Ah… I'm done for."

"Not done yet. We just talked about sea bandits. Now let's talk about wind and waves. If the wind and waves are huge and the ship capsizes, when you fall into the sea, you must hold onto a piece of wood. That way you won't sink."

"Oh, as long as I don't sink, that's good. But what do I do if I don't sink? Can I drift to shore?"

"Of course not. You can only wait and see if another ship passes by. But the Eastern Sea is boundless — maybe only one ship passes in a month or so. During that month you're waiting in the sea, you have to be careful of the things in the water. First is the shark — this fish is longer than several men, with two rows of teeth sharper than knives, and it moves through the water as if flying. Then there's the giant octopus, which wraps around a person and sucks their blood dry before letting go. But those are nothing — Brother Cai, you just have to paddle and run fast. The most terrifying are the sea monsters, with human faces and fangs. They say they're the transformed spirits of Wa bandits who died before. If one eats you, it even sucks away your soul — you'll have no hope for your next life. And there's also Godzilla, piranhas… Brother Cai, if you see them, you absolutely must run fast."

Cai Shenju's face was pale, sweat pouring down like rain. What kind of life-saving methods were these? They were clearly death-dealing methods. Those things were all natives of the sea — in the vast ocean, how could he possibly outrun them?

"G-g-g…" The more Cai Shenju thought, the more terrified he became. His teeth chattered, and he couldn't speak.

Chen Xin patted him on the shoulder and finally sighed. "Just remember what your elder brother just said. If your luck is good, maybe you can still come back. Brother Cai, hmm, are you still a green lad?"

"Ah, yes. I'm not married. My father takes all my daily wages — how would I have the chance to go?"

"When you come back, your elder brother will pay to take you to a brothel to taste the flavor of women. Even if something happens next time, at least you'll have been a man."

"No, no, I don't want to go out to sea. I haven't tasted a woman yet. I don't want to die."

"Then I'll take you to taste one tonight. Even if you don't come back, you won't have to be afraid."

Cai Shenju was nearly in tears from desperation. "No! I still want to taste it many times. Brother Chen, my father says you're the cleverest. Help me think of a way. As long as I don't have to go to sea, Brother, you'll be my benefactor — my benefactor!"

As he spoke, he was about to kowtow to Chen Xin. Chen Xin hurriedly supported him and made him sit down, then stroked his own chin, assuming a thoughtful pose. Cai Shenju, tears brimming in his eyes, stared at him imploringly.

After a long while, Chen Xin finally said pensively, "There was actually one way — I could go in your place. Your elder brother's life was picked up from the Tatars; running this trip for Brother Cai would be no problem. But I've only just arrived — the proprietor certainly wouldn't trust me enough, so I'm afraid it wouldn't work. Your brother has no other ideas."

When Cai Shenju heard this, he deflated like a punctured ball, his head drooping, tears dripping from his eyes. He looked as if half his life had already left him.

"However…"

"However what?" Cai Shenju's spirit jolted, and he grabbed Chen Xin's sleeve fiercely.

"Ah, it's just a bit difficult to arrange."

"No, it's not difficult! Just tell me, Brother Chen. I'll do anything."

"If your father and you suddenly fell ill, you wouldn't be able to go. With no one else available, the proprietor could use me to make this trip for you."

Cai Shenju was like a man clutching at a straw, his eyes flickering with excitement, his pupils darting wildly. "Sick, right, sick. How can I get sick? A cold? No, the weather's too hot. Pox? I can't fake that either. What should I do…"

Chen Xin guided him patiently. "A minor illness won't do. It's best to eat something that makes you unable to get out of bed, but nothing too serious."

Cai Shenju suddenly clapped his hands. "Dysentery! I've got it. I'll put some croton beans in the food — both my father and I will eat it. It won't hurt the body too much. Brother Chen…"

He turned his head to look at Chen Xin and only then remembered that Chen Xin would be going in his place to feed the sea monsters. He couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed, and he added lightly, "It's just that I'm putting you out, Brother Chen. I'll burn extra incense for you every year from now on."

Chen Xin cursed inwardly, but his face remained all smiles. "Brother Cai, don't treat me like a stranger. I've always regarded your father as my teacher and you as my brother. Now that I can relieve your troubles, it can also be considered repaying your father's kindness. But this matter does, after all, harm your father's health. Brother Cai, you absolutely must not tell anyone, lest my good intentions earn me a bad name, and lest you earn a reputation for being unfilial."

Cai Shenju hastily agreed and thanked him again, then began to plot. Chen Xin prompted him from the side, guiding him to refine the plan — things like buying the croton beans from a medicine shop where no one knew him, how to hide the drug, and how to slip it into the food.

Cai Shenju followed the advice readily and committed it to memory. After lunch, he hurriedly slipped out of the shop and headed toward the western part of the city to buy the drug.

Chen Xin had succeeded in his deception and felt pleased. He needed this long voyage. From his scattered historical knowledge, he knew that maritime trade was very profitable, but he had to investigate firsthand to understand exactly how it was done, and he also needed to build some personal connections. The first step was to obtain this opportunity. Seeing hope now, he began to plan secretly in his mind.

Cai Shenju returned before long and secretly shot Chen Xin a look, signaling that the drug had been bought. Chen Xin smiled faintly. The two of them didn't speak and just sat in the shop until the end of the workday.

Chen Xin and Lu You returned to Erdaojie together. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Liu Minyou sitting beside the stone table in a daze. Chen Xin waved his hand in front of Liu Minyou's eyes, but there was no reaction.

"What's this, missing that poor, ill-fated Pan Jinlian?"

"Go on, I'm worrying about finding work."

Chen Xin chuckled. "What's the rush about work? It's not like we have nothing to eat."

"You have work to do, so of course you're not anxious. I idle away every day; I've become someone who eats without earning."

"Then you could start a small business yourself. Why follow me and be a wage earner?"

Liu Minyou said helplessly, "What can I do? Before, I only knew how to write code. I don't know anything else."

Chen Xin found a stool and sat down, saying to Liu Minyou, "Look, I've been thinking lately. With all these people, once we send them out to work, each doing their own thing, people's hearts will scatter. We still need to start a small business together. I've thought of a few ideas."

"Hey, you've already come up with several? How come I didn't think of any?"

"You're not as brilliantly clever as me, that's why. Let me first tell you what I've thought of. With our capital, we can't do anything big, nor anything that ties up too much stock. The fastest turnover is a restaurant, but we don't know how to run one. Those dishes from later eras can't be made without the right seasonings. So I thought we could make some clothes."

"Now you know clothes? What kind of clothes?"

"Dresses!"

"Huh? Would anyone even buy those? This is the Ming Dynasty."

"Why wouldn't they? It's not a bikini. Look at the women's clothing styles all over the street — they're all deep robes and bijia vests, with the front panels crossing to the right. The patterns and colors are all disjointed, which ruins the effect. We'll make high-collared dresses with buttons set in the back. The color and pattern on the front can be one continuous piece. Stylistically, they'll be much prettier than deep robes."

Liu Minyou thought it over carefully and raised a question: "There's no technical difficulty with this. Others will copy it very quickly."

"No problem. I've observed for a while now — all the current shops have one flaw: they're too singular. We can absolutely integrate products. Sell dresses and pair them with other items, like clothes hangers. I've been into tailor shops several times and never saw a clothes hanger inside. (Note: The clothes hanger was only invented by the American Albert in 1904.) Bundled as a set, the competitiveness far outstrips a single item. We can also give away small gifts like handkerchiefs and pastries. Put a trademark on every product, then print advertising sheets and give a stack to every street vendor to distribute widely. Once the brand takes off, those small shops will only be able to compete for a few low-end customers. When sales volume increases, costs will spread thin, and small shops will be even less able to compete. And later we can improve the styles — lace, embroidery, bras, mid-length dresses. We've seen more than enough women's clothing."...

Liu Minyou listened with growing enthusiasm, planning in his head as he spoke: "Right, women's money is easy to earn. Marketing — we've always seen this stuff. We can also make high heels. I saw them in a shoe shop a few days ago; they call them high-soled shoes, with heels four or five centimeters high. And cosmetics — like you said, we don't manufacture them, just buy them and repackage. Then rent the shopfront from Jiang Wang's family and turn this place into a women's goods boutique. Once it becomes a brand, we can even open branches in the capital. Think how huge that market is. Who knows, we might become the Ming Dynasty's Pierre Cardin or Issey Miyake. Haha, then everyone in this courtyard will have something to do."

Chen Xin saw he was getting a bit overexcited and quickly patted his hand: "Business is business, but Hai Gouzi and the others' training cannot stop. If this business does well, what do we do when people come to cause trouble?"

"Fine, fine, whatever you say. Let me think more. Don't disturb me."

"Think about what? Go inside and write up a proposal. Costs, profits, budget, personnel, timeline, suppliers, market strategy, competitive analysis — write it all down."

"Right, but no need to write that much. Don't come calling me if there's nothing urgent."

Liu Minyou got up and went into the room, slamming the door shut. Liu Minyou had always been extremely diligent when working at his company, and crossing back hadn't changed him one bit. Chen Xin absolutely did not believe he could become some Pierre Cardin. He had proposed this idea simply because he didn't want Hai Gouzi and the others going out to work, lest their hearts scatter. As long as this clothing shop could support these few people, that was enough.

Liu Minyou wrote all the way until dinnertime. Dai Zhenggang came to bid everyone farewell. Chen Xin ordered wine and food and kept Dai Zhenggang to stay the night. Lu Chuanzong had already decided to stay, while Er Tun planned to go back. Dai Zhenggang agreed to escort these people home before returning to Tianjin. The few of them hadn't spent long together, but they got along very well, and they chatted in the courtyard late into the night.

When the moon was high in the sky, the three of them spoke of Lu Lvzi. Dai Zhenggang said to Chen Xin, "Lu Chuanzong doesn't want to return to his hometown. He has a restless nature. He told me he admires you greatly and wants to follow you and do something. If he ever acts rashly in the future, I must ask Brother Chen not to take offense."

Chen Xin said, "Brother Dai, your words are too serious. Brother Lu and I also get along extremely well. Even if something happens, what offense is there to take among our own brothers?"

Lu Lvzi, listening nearby, also spoke: "Just as well Brother Dai is here. I, Lu Chuanzong, have a worthless life. I admire Big Brother Chen's character and willingly follow him to seek a future. Even if I lose my life, it's none of Big Brother Chen's business. Brother Dai can bear witness for me."

Dai Zhenggang remained silent for a moment, then after a pause sighed and said, "Whose life isn't worthless?"