Chapter 4, Mounting Debts

Young Master, although I joined the Zhu family at the age of twelve under the Old Master, I do not know much about the affairs of the household at this moment

Fortune and wealth, I come to ask you to answer, to see if I have lost anything in my mind

Thinking of that androgynous voice, Zhu Yifeng's heart was secretly beating like a drum, as it had thrown itself into this time and space and had never appeared again

Upon hearing the young master's words, Zhu Fucai was momentarily taken aback, then nodded in response

Madam, isn't it just... Thinking of his respectful and courteous daughter-in-law, Zhu Yifeng felt a sudden stir in his heart, as if his body had almost recovered, and he said to Zhu Fucai

Although the night enveloped the Zhu family's residence in a heavy darkness, inside the room, the flames of the glass high-footed oil lamp flickered and danced brightly. Under that light, several books were scattered haphazardly on the table, along with a few disordered foreign newspapers.

Could it be that he will appear again? Is there even a possibility that he might take himself home?

For more than half an hour thereafter, Zhu Yifeng asked a series of questions that he needed to know. Of course, questions such as how many households there were after the Zhu family moved to Shanghai County were not what he was truly concerned about. It was only after he had gathered a rough understanding that he finally inquired about the main topic.

Yes, young master, please feel free to ask

It is actually all for the sake of one's origins

Young master, it is so late at night, why are you still not asleep

This Qing dynasty is truly damned

Once again, while speaking to the increasingly familiar face in the mirror, Zhu Yifeng noticed that his eyes were shining like stars in the dark night

It is nothing, it is nothing, now you are him, you are him...

The words of Fu Cai immediately brought to Zhu Yifeng's mind the figure of Liang Wenzuo, a merchant who came to Shanghai from Guangdong after the opening of the port, specifically engaging in trade with foreigners. The reason why "Father" helped him back then was that he intended to use Liang as an introduction to conduct business with foreigners. That person, indeed, had also set his sights on the warehouse I owned in the concession; otherwise, why would he come knocking to demand repayment?

Upon his recent "resurrection," faced with his weeping daughter-in-law, his "confused mind" became his excuse. Although he had absorbed quite a bit of memory, perhaps due to the impact of death on memory, apart from particularly profound memories, what remained were mostly fragmented recollections. These fragments were disjointed, leading Zhu Yifeng to feel as if his memories were a tangled mess for several days, leaving him quite unclear about many matters. In fact, there were even some confusions between Zhu Yifeng's memories and those of Zhu Yifeng. The most important issue—how much wealth the Zhu family possessed—was something he, as the head of the family, could not even locate.

At noon, please do not bring the meal to the study; I will have lunch with the young mistress.

Rebellion does not require a reason, but what can one use to rebel against oneself

This is the date on the English newspaper

Despite the brightness of his dark eyes, the sickly pallor on his face was hard to conceal. Zhu Yifeng passed away from an infection of "typhoid," and the only thing to be thankful for now is that in the days following his "resurrection," the symptoms of typhoid have completely disappeared. Perhaps this is due to the assistance of that "transgender" individual, as it stands to reason that he would not allow his host to be easily harmed by illness.

When the thoughts arise in the depths of one's heart, another voice emerges in the mind, asking what if that "transgender" person sends oneself back to the original time and space, what will she do? Furthermore, if by that time her grand undertaking is only halfway through, how should she proceed?

transgender person

Yet, looking at the gaunt and pale face in the mirror, Zhu Yifeng understood in his heart that he was now merely Zhu Yifeng, the one who had died and come back to life

Looking at Zhu Fucai, who has broad shoulders and a thick back, with even his cotton clothing being stretched tight by his muscles, Zhu Yifeng couldn't help but envy his robust physique. With such a build, he could very well be a bodybuilding champion in later generations. The reason for Zhu Fucai's strong body is entirely due to the fact that, aside from being a servant, he also served as his father's bodyguard during his father's trading ventures. This was a deliberate choice by that 'cheap old man'; otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed him to start training in martial arts at such a young age.

From now on, you are Zhu Yifeng, and Zhu Yifeng is you

Consciousness transcendence, time and space, new energy replenishment

It is indeed rare that Zhu Yifeng can speak English. Eight years ago, after the opening of Shanghai and the establishment of the concessions, at the request of that "cheap old man," he began to learn English from American missionaries in the concession, believing it would be useful for future dealings with foreigners. The several issues of the "North China Herald" published in the Shanghai concession served as a channel for him to understand the world, and they also indicated his distinction from ordinary people. He began to learn English from American missionaries in the concession, believing it would be useful for future dealings with foreigners. The several issues of the "North China Herald" published in the Shanghai concession served as a channel for him to understand the world, and they also indicated his distinction from ordinary people.

According to the memories in my mind, this newspaper was published half a month ago, so the corresponding Gregorian calendar date should be the end of the year 1852

Saying this, a hint of worry appeared on the face, which was marked by illness, as he looked at the young master, Zhu Fucai quickly said

Murmuring to himself, Zhu Yifeng placed the newspaper on the table, looking at the date on the newspaper—December 1, 1852

At this moment, Zhu Yifeng had completely woken up. He stood up and leaned by the window, looking outside. The yard outside was shrouded in darkness, with no sign of light to be seen.

Oh?

Young master, you need not worry about this. Although our Zhu family has not been as prosperous since moving to Shanghai as we were in the past, the master's vision back then was unmatched by outsiders. Even if the debts owed to our Zhu family cannot be recovered...

Although Zhu Fucai appears to be a rough man, he listens to the instructions of the young lady. As the young master is currently recovering, he naturally does not want the young master to be troubled by trivial matters

With a light response, Zhu Yifeng looked directly at Zhu Fucai and said slowly

Fu Cai, tell me the truth, how much wealth does our Zhu family still have left

The reason is quite simple—utilize the material resources of China to win the favor of the nation

It is not a nightmare

Shanghai

Aren't you still hoping to achieve great success? Isn't this just perfect? The reasons are reasonable and sufficient

Entering the room was Zhu Fucai, the old servant of the Zhu family. More than twenty years ago, he was just a small beggar when he was taken in by Zhu Yifeng's father from the riverbank. Since then, he had become a servant of the Zhu family. Upon entering the room, he was taken aback to see that the young master had not yet fallen asleep.

Repeating this time, even the concessions in Shanghai and the Opium Wars from over a decade ago, this term continuously churned in Zhu Yifeng's mind, a spark gradually rising in his chest

As midnight approached, Zhu Yifeng was soundly asleep in the rattan chair in his study, with a somewhat coarse printed copy of the "Beihua Express" casually draped over the cotton blanket in front of him

Thinking of the expansion of the concession as a country within a country in the coming decades, a wave of discontent surged within his heart

Despite the fact that his "cheap" wife had not mentioned any household matters in the past few days, through his observations over these days, or more accurately, through the fragmented memories in his mind, it became clear to him that the Zhu family had indeed reached a point of decline, long since losing its former glory. The father, who was once "visionary," had experienced several business failures during his lifetime. Had it not been for this, how could he have arranged for his son to marry into the Xu family, taking the initiative to have his son wed Xu Lingyun, the daughter of a concubine from the Xu family? Zhu Yifeng, on the other hand, was repulsed by the fact that his mother came from a "concubine's background," and for two years of marriage, the couple had not shared a bed.

Although Zhu Fucai had been by the master's side for over ten years and was quite astute, concern led to confusion. Upon seeing the young master with a worried expression, he hurriedly began to recount everything in detail.

He was sleeping soundly, with the corners of his mouth occasionally twitching. Suddenly, he let out a loud shout, sitting up abruptly, his eyes wide open as he looked around. At first, he appeared bewildered, and then he began to speak to himself.

Rather, it is a memory, more precisely, the memory belonging to Zhu Yifeng. After waking up from a coma that day, Zhu Yifeng discovered that many memories had been added to his mind, memories that belonged to a nineteen-year-old boy, composed of countless fragmented recollections. Among those scattered memories, the clearest ones are likely his feelings of unwillingness and anger before his death

The information conveyed in Zhu Fucai's words still stirred something in Zhu Yifeng's heart... Oh, I never thought I would still be a landlord, a proper landlord in the grand city of Shanghai!... Indeed, as long as I guard the warehouse, and it is a warehouse in the concession, it is likely that not just in this lifetime, but for several lifetimes, I would have more than enough to eat and drink!

As thoughts were rapidly swirling, just as I was about to delve deeply into the "direction of future development," the creaking sound of wooden steps outside the door filtered in, and then the door was gently pushed open. A sturdy middle-aged man quietly walked into the room.

Eight years ago, a foreign concession was established outside the city, attracting merchants from various places to gather in Shanghai. The shops in the county became more valuable, yet no one considered that the land within the concession was also worth a fortune. The piece of land that the master secured on a perpetual lease from the concession has now become a prime location, and it is inevitable that someone will have designs on our family's property

"Fucai, how much do we actually owe to outsiders?"

This, this should be asked of the young lady!

This statement always incites anger in any Chinese person, reminding them of the repeated loss of sovereignty and humiliating territorial concessions and indemnities imposed by the Qing Dynasty sixty or seventy years ago. Amidst this anger, Zhu Yifeng felt a surge of passion within him; since he had arrived in this grand era, how could he not undertake a significant enterprise to justify the 'favor' of those deceased and disfigured?

Am I just going to linger here, eating and drinking, waiting to "go home"

Closing his eyes, Zhu Yifeng's mind conjured an unfamiliar Shanghai, a city characterized by its dilapidation, congestion, and filth. Of course, there was also the adjacent Shanghai concession standing by the river. At this moment, the Shanghai concession was far from the prosperity it would see decades later. In his mind, that concession consisted merely of a few Western-style buildings and a stretch of warehouses, inhabited by just over a thousand foreigners.

In his deep voice, there was a hint of concern; in his view, the young master was in such a weak state that naturally he could not stay up late

For Zhu Yifeng, that intense feeling of unwillingness and anger was akin to a nightmarish blaze that would often awaken him from his dreams, and each time he woke, it took him a long time to recover from the terror—this terror perhaps stemmed from a guilty conscience of usurping another's place.

Thinking of Xu Lingyun's charming face and perfect body curves, Zhu Yifeng couldn't help but smile to himself, truly a bargain for himself, once his body has recovered

Ah! I had a nightmare again

As for matters at home, you need not hide them from me. If I remember correctly, our Zhu family should be getting worse day by day now

Not to mention anything else, just relying on the warehouses in the concession would be enough to ensure that the young master would never have to worry about food and clothing for several generations

Upon thinking of this, Zhu Yifeng secretly mocked himself

Well, I took a nap earlier, and... I remembered some things, but my mind is still a bit hazy

Traveling back to the Qing Dynasty, is there a need for justification in rebellion? It could even be said to be an inevitable choice. Despite previous ambitions, the cold wind seeping through the window made Zhu Yifeng shiver involuntarily. He quickly sat back down in his chair, covering himself with a small blanket to ward off the chill. After sitting with his eyes wide open for a while, Zhu Yifeng's brows furrowed into a tight knot.

At the moment this thought emerged, he couldn't help but glance at the mirror beside his desk, which he had specifically instructed someone to place there. Looking at the ordinary-looking young man in the mirror, he could perhaps be described as fair and delicate, but the only striking feature was his pair of not-so-large eyes, which were exceptionally dark and bright. This detail made him, an otherwise ordinary-looking person, stand out remarkably.