bullyxtreme Chapter 38 Encountering the Young Master
Chapter 38 Encountering the Young Master
The room fell completely silent again.
Zi Nu's beautiful eyes darted between the sketch on the wooden board, the half-modified spinning wheel, and the plain silk cloth. Finally, her bright eyes fixed on Zhao Heng's face, and her breathing quickened slightly for a moment.
Although she calmed down immediately, the light in her eyes when she looked at Zhao Heng was different. It was no longer the inquiry she had when looking at an interesting child, but the shock of an experienced businessman who had suddenly glimpsed a gold mine slowly unfolding before his eyes.
At this point, Zi Nu had fully understood the source of Zhao Heng's confidence in "returning the gift himself".
She then suddenly remembered that, whether at Zuiyue Tower or just now, when the young man mentioned repaying the ten thousand coins, he always emphasized that it was himself, rather than using the treasury of Chunping Jun's mansion.
It's not that the boy is ignorant of his own limitations, but rather that he knows all too well how high the sky is and how thick the earth is, and he holds the powerful tool to open up mountains and dig through seas!
Putting aside everything else, the very idea of "automatic jacquard weaving based on the flower pattern" alone, once realized, would produce brocade patterns that are far more intricate, exquisite, and standardized than any fabrics that rely on the hand-to-hand transmission of weavers today.
What's even more alarming is that while production increased dramatically, labor costs actually decreased as a result.
What does this mean?
This means monopolistic profits, and the potential to devastate and even reshape the existing textile industry.
Whether it's the Qi silk, which is said to be unparalleled in the seven kingdoms, or the Lu silk and Chu silk, which are popular in the Central Plains, they will all be easily crushed underfoot and pale in comparison to this kind of efficiency and quality that is like a dimensional reduction attack.
More importantly, cloth was a hard currency in all nations, no different from money. This equated to a continuous flow of wealth, and everything that wealth could buy…
Connections, intelligence, and influence.
This young man... just how many surprises does he hold that are enough to overturn ordinary people's understanding?
Zi Nu gazed at Zhao Heng, her beautiful eyes lingering on his still somewhat immature face for a long time.
Zhao Heng simply put down his charcoal pencil, looked around to see if there were any stains on his clothes, and seeing that there was nothing wrong, he met her gaze without flinching.
Suddenly, Zi Nu chuckled softly.
She didn't bother to ask Zhao Heng about the origins of his ingenious ideas, as if it didn't matter. She simply walked to the half-finished spinning wheel and sat down in the spot where Zhao Heng had just been sitting.
Then, she gently rested her elbow on the spinning wheel frame, supporting her chin, and tilted her bright face up slightly, looking at Zhao Heng with amusement.
"Young master, have you forgotten that this is only our second meeting? You've already shared all your brilliant ideas with me, haven't you? Aren't you afraid..."
She paused deliberately, tilted her head slightly, and made a slightly intimidating expression:
"Aren't you afraid that I'll turn around and memorize everything in this room, find a skilled craftsman to replicate it, and then pocket it all? In that case, you might end up losing both your money and your life, having worked for someone else's benefit. Wouldn't that be a pity?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng was not annoyed at all; instead, he shook his head and laughed, as if he had heard an interesting joke.
He pointed indifferently to the pile of unfinished parts and messy blueprints: "If you really like these crude things, you can call someone in now to collect all the odds and ends in this room, pack them up, and take them back to Zuiyue Tower. Heng will not say a word."
He walked up to the spinning wheel, patted the rough connecting rod mechanism, and said to her with an encouraging tone:
"If the young lady can figure this out on her own and make a usable foot-operated multi-spindle spinning wheel, especially the jacquard machine... that would save Heng a lot of effort and allow him to relax."
Zi Nu was slightly taken aback.
Then, she covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling, instantly making the humble room filled with sawdust and tools seem to be imbued with a touch of spring warmth.
"What you say, sir, is truly... I am but a woman, and while I can manage the music hall and entertain guests with some effort, I only have a superficial understanding of mechanical contraptions. How could I possibly possess your extraordinary ability to turn wood into gold? Even what you just described is beyond the comprehension of most experts I have sought out..."
As she spoke, her smile faded, her expression turned serious, and she looked earnestly at Zhao Heng, saying, "However, you went out of your way to bring me here to demonstrate these ideas, surely not just to prove to me that you are indeed capable of repaying that mere ten thousand coins of betrothal money?"
"Indeed." Zhao Heng nodded frankly: "I invited you here not without reason, but because I have a request of you."
"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."
"The young lady claims to be from Xinzheng, yet she has managed to quickly establish herself in this foreign land of Handan and take charge of Zuiyue Tower. Her skills, connections, and knowledge are beyond the reach of ordinary people, and she must have associated with many people from all walks of life, including talented individuals and those skilled in various crafts."
Zhao Heng said, "As for me, I am just a child who has never even left Handan. Even if I have a thousand ideas and ten thousand blueprints, without a capable craftsman to turn them into reality, they are all castles in the air."
Upon hearing this, Zi Nu's heart stirred again, and she couldn't help but scrutinize the young man before her once more.
To be fair, if she were Zhao Heng's age and could come up with something so revolutionary, she would inevitably be overjoyed and even carried away by her success.
Yet this young man before me was so calm when he talked about this idea that could turn lead into gold. When he analyzed his own limitations and needs, he was even more frighteningly calm, without the slightest hint of arrogance.
"Therefore, I have a favor to ask." Zhao Heng cupped his hands in greeting: "If you know any skilled craftsmen who are proficient in mechanical and woodworking techniques and are reliable, please do not hesitate to introduce me to one or two."
Zi Nu lowered her eyelashes slightly and did not respond immediately, but simply reached out and gently touched the rough connecting rod on the spinning wheel. The wooden rod turned, making a dry, grinding sound.
After a moment, she raised her eyes again, that enigmatic smile returning to them, and gazed at Zhao Heng with a gentle smile: "Young master is so frank, and so clearly has a request... does this mean you wish to join hands with me to build a great enterprise?"
Zhao Heng first shook his head, then nodded.
"Whether or not to cooperate depends on your wishes and considerations, Miss. If I can get your help, I would be more than happy to do so. But if you think this matter is too complicated and that I am just making things up, or if you simply regard this 'mountain of gold and silver' as dirt, then I cannot force you to cooperate."
Zi Nu was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing, her body trembling with laughter, her charm undeniable.
After a while, she stopped laughing, wiped her eyes lightly with her sleeve, and said reproachfully, "Young master's words are quite novel. I have never heard such a...unique metaphor before. I am a merchant, and my business is about welcoming and seeing off guests, but I have never seen any businessman... well, who would really regard something as precious as 'money' as dirt."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng merely raised an eyebrow slightly, indicating that since you understand this principle, why did you need to waste your breath just now?
Seeing his expression, Zi Nu could only shake her head and chuckle. She then slightly suppressed her joking expression. Although she was still smiling, her eyes had become serious, as if she had instantly switched back to the state of being the manager of Zuiyue Tower.
She gently patted the wooden frame of the spinning wheel:
"Very well. Since you have already presented me with a mountain of gold, if I were to hesitate or act coy, I would truly appear pretentious, hypocritical, and ungrateful. I will accept this deal."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng didn't show much joy on his face. He simply tapped his temple and reminded him:
"Young lady, you're straightforward, but you should think carefully. If you cooperate with me, all I have to offer you is the ideas in my head and some drawings I might be able to produce. In short, I have nothing right now."
Zi Nu looked at the handsome young man in front of her. He looked so young, yet he spoke and acted with an air of maturity. He meticulously analyzed the pros and cons, making it sound so righteous that he could get something for nothing.
For some reason, the urge to tease him because of his composure quietly resurfaced in her mind.
Then, Zi Nu's lips curled into a smile, tinged with a languid yet alluring charm. She tilted her head slightly, gently biting her full lower lip, her eyes brimming as she gazed at him.
"Why must you always be so modest, young master? In my opinion, just by 'gaining' you as a person, I've already made a sure profit and gained a huge advantage. As for the craftsmen, money, materials, and other material possessions, what do they matter?"
She leaned slightly forward, her elbows resting on the wooden frame of the spinning wheel. This posture accentuated her curves, making her heavy breasts appear even fuller and more alluring, almost pressing against the unpolished wooden edges. She seemed oblivious, her breath sweet and fragrant.
"Speak, my young master, besides craftsmen, what else do you lack right now? Now that you've asked, I will do my best to arrange it for you."
Zhao Heng, facing her deliberately displayed allure—enough to make any man's heart flutter—remained calm. After a moment's hesitation, he said composedly:
"In that case, Heng will speak frankly. In addition to introducing artisans to Heng, Miss, you must also take on all the responsibilities for setting up the weaving workshop, purchasing land, hiring and training weavers, buying raw silk, and opening up sales channels in Zhao and other states."
His tone turned slightly somber, and he added one last point: "Furthermore, it would be best if all of this were to be completely unrelated to Heng and the Chunping Jun Mansion in the open."
Zi Nu pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I can agree to what you have proposed, young master. But you must understand that my business is based on mutual benefit and win-win, not on running a charity or doing good deeds..."
"That's natural."
Zhao Heng nodded, responding very quickly:
"If this matter succeeds, I will only take 30% of the profits. The remaining 70% will belong entirely to you. Of course, if you feel that this profit sharing ratio is inappropriate, or that the risks and investments far outweigh the value, you are welcome to raise this issue, and we will discuss it further. My only requirement is that this matter proceed as quickly as possible."
Zi Nu frowned slightly.
"Young Master seems... quite eager to advance this matter?"
Zhao Heng was taken aback upon hearing this, and then paced around the room for a few moments, thinking it over carefully.
Spring was in full bloom outside the window, and a beam of bright sunlight slanted in, illuminating half of his handsome profile.
After a moment, he stopped by the window, looked at an old plum tree in the courtyard, and said slowly, "To say it's urgent is not entirely true."
He turned around and shook his head.
"I'm not afraid to tell you, young lady, that I never intended to do this. In fact, you might find it pretentious, or even laughable, now that I'm saying it."
Zi Nu simply watched him quietly, without interrupting, and waited patiently for him to continue.
"A few days ago, I went for a walk in the streets. I didn't take a car or bring many attendants. I wandered through the streets and alleys, and what I saw touched me deeply."
Zhao Heng considered the words carefully and said:
"In the streets and alleys, I saw mostly women and children, with girls outnumbering boys. I was puzzled and asked the neighbors, only to learn that in many families, the men had either died at Changping or perished in the siege of Handan, and even the young men who were not yet twenty had been conscripted to guard the frontier and had not returned. The families had lost their breadwinners, leaving only women and children to depend on each other, struggling to make a living. I heard that in some families, the girls were so poor that they could hardly afford a few complete clothes a year. They were confined to their homes year-round and could not go out."
Upon hearing this, Zi Nu was slightly taken aback.
"When a nation is no longer a nation, war rages on, and in the end, it is the common people at the very bottom who suffer. I am a grandson of the King of Zhao, enjoying a life of luxury and ease. Seeing this, I cannot find peace of mind. The nation's incompetence has brought such suffering to its people, and I, despite having this position, seem powerless to do anything about it."
The young woman just asked me if I was anxious about this matter. I asked myself, with my comfortable life and impeccable safety, what is there to be anxious about? But seeing this situation, my heart... is truly uneasy.
Zhao Heng walked up to the piece of plain silk and gently stroked its surface.
"Later, I heard people say that the mulberry trees in my Zhao region have been famous since the time of my ancestors. Their leaves are thick and lush, making it the best place for raising silkworms and reeling silk. With such a gift from heaven, why can't we use it to support more people in Zhao, especially those helpless women and children, and give them another way to survive?"
He seemed to be questioning himself, or perhaps asking Zi Nu:
"If this improved spinning wheel and loom can be completed, weaving workshops can be built, and women can be recruited extensively. The silk produced will be of high quality and low price, and can not only be sold to various countries to exchange for money and grain, but women can also use the looms to have an additional means of livelihood to supplement their household income. With a surplus of cloth in the market and a decrease in price, wouldn't those girls who have no clothes to cover their bodies be able to have an extra garment to cover themselves?"
At this point, Zhao Heng looked at Zi Nu, whose eyes were already trembling and whose expression was moved, and his tone became even more sincere and frank:
"Miss Zi Nu, it is not that I, Heng, am feigning righteousness or pretending to be selfless, nor am I boasting of any noble virtue. I simply believe that if one only knows how to amass wealth for personal gain, satisfying one's own hunger while causing the world to suffer, such behavior is ultimately like draining the pond to catch all the fish, a path that leads to the destruction of the nation for personal gain. Money is useful to me, but not of great use."
Therefore, if you feel that the 30% profit mentioned earlier is not enough, you may take it all; that is perfectly acceptable. Heng only has a very small request—”
Zhao Heng paused briefly before slowly continuing:
"If this weaving workshop can truly be built because of what we say today, then its benefits will definitely not be limited to nobles and wealthy merchants. Its existence should enable more girls in Zhao to have clothes to wear, houses to live in, and hope to survive. I, Zhao Heng, am willing to do everything in my power to help it grow. I want it to truly benefit more impoverished women and children in my Zhao Kingdom, so that... everyone can live."
The words fell.
The room was completely silent, with only the soft rustling of a gentle breeze through the eaves outside the window.
Zi Nu's hand, which had been resting casually on her chin, had quietly fallen to her knees and was slightly clenched. She sat up straight, forgetting all about her manners and charm, and simply stared intently at the young man standing with his back to the light.
He was still rather thin, with shoulders and back not yet broad enough. He wore an indigo-blue Hu robe, and his face still had a touch of childishness, his eyebrows and eyes not yet fully developed.
But it was precisely this boy, whose physique was not yet fully developed...
My trip to Handan had left me disheartened, but I never expected to encounter such a person and glimpse such a mindset...
Zi Nu sighed silently in her heart.
She rose and walked to Zhao Heng, then curtsied gracefully.
"Only today have I truly come to understand your magnanimity and character, my lord. If there was any disrespect or rudeness in my words or actions before, it was all due to my ignorance and shallowness in failing to recognize your true character. I hope you will forgive my disrespect."
She straightened up, her purple eyes clear and bright, no longer showing any trace of frivolity:
"Although I am a female merchant with limited knowledge, I still know the distinction between righteousness and profit, and understand the principle of helping others when one is successful."
Such a benevolent act, benefiting the common people and bringing blessings to future generations—how fortunate I am to have met you, sir, and to have been able to participate in it! What need have I to waste my life and wealth on this? How could I dare not do my utmost for you?