Chapter 1, The Unscrupulous Grandson of the Comprador
"Grandfather, you can rest assured," Wu Chaoyue flattered, "In the past, I was unworthy and always made you worry, which was my fault. However, I have truly repented this time. In the future, I will definitely read and write more, striving to be of assistance to you in your official matters."
In addition, Wu Chaoyue is also aware of another secret regarding her comprador grandfather Wu Jianzhang—Liu Lichuan, the leader of the Shanghai gang known as the Shuangdao Society, and a senior ancestor of Du Yuesheng and Huang Jinrong. Liu Lichuan is not only a hometown friend of Wu Jianzhang but also a grassroots representative of interests that Wu Jianzhang personally supported, specifically engaged in carrying out illicit activities for Wu Jianzhang on the Bund in Shanghai. For Wu Jianzhang, eliminating a few local merchants without backing is truly not a significant matter.
"Go, go ahead." Wu Jianzhang indeed kept his word, immediately lifting the house arrest on his grandson. He also reminded him, "However, make sure to bring more people along. Don't just casually take two people like before; pay attention to your safety"
Originally reluctant to truly scold him, Wu Jianzhang's anger dissipated significantly upon receiving such concern from his grandson. He threw the ruler onto the ground and sighed, "You are truly disappointing! If you want to indulge in women, I do not oppose it; in fact, I would be glad if you could give me a great-grandson soon! But what is the point of constantly visiting brothels and courtyards? What use is it to sleep with those women? Can you even acknowledge the sons they bear? And fighting with others on the boat, if it weren't for your good luck this time, being rescued in time, our Wu family would have been cut off!"
However, there is nothing surprising about it. Wu Chaoyue, who has already integrated the memories of his predecessor, is well aware that his current grandfather, Wu Jianzhang, possesses both the capability and the courage to do so—from a chicken vendor in Macau to one of the major compradors in the Thirteen Hongs of Guangdong, and then to the military governor of the Suzhou, Songjiang, and Taicang regions, wielding significant military power over these three prefectures. At the same time, he also serves as the customs supervisor in Shanghai, dealing specifically with the officials of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and the Western powers. He is praised by the Qing court as a great talent in communication with foreign nations and is regarded by Western powers as the only Manchu official capable of direct communication, even more senior than the likes of Li Hongzhang and the compradors of the foreign trade party, possessing power, influence, and wealth.
Wu Chaoyue was hesitant and truly did not know how many times the previous Wu Chaoyue had made such guarantees in front of Wu Jianzhang. At this moment, the butler, who had been waiting outside for a long time, saw that Wu Jianzhang's anger had subsided, and cautiously walked in, whispering: "Master, the one who pushed Young Master Sun into the water has been caught by Liu Lichuan. The confession has been clarified; he is a traveling merchant from Sichuan, engaged in the timber business, with no significant backing, just a bit of brute strength. What should we do next? Please give your instructions, Master."
Wu Chaoyue's vow is truly heartfelt, as she is acutely aware that various forms of venereal diseases have infiltrated China in this era. Currently residing in Shanghai, one of the five treaty ports established during the Qing Dynasty, the odds of winning in a sexual entertainment venue are several hundred thousand times higher than that of the Double Color Ball lottery. Wu Chaoyue cannot afford to risk her current body, reminiscent of the past of the flower and willow emperor, Tongzhi.
The effects of diligent study far exceed Wu Chaoyue's imagination. It is said that the precious grandson is indeed reading and writing. Although Wu Jianzhang scolded the servants for helping his grandson deceive him, he still held onto a glimmer of hope and took the time to check on his grandson's academic progress. He even said to Wu Chaoyue: "Write a character for me to see. If you write well, not only will I allow you to go out freely, but I will also reward you handsomely"
Upon receiving the order, Wu Chaoyue exaggeratedly clasped his fists and sang a promise, eagerly sprinting outside. As he ran, he shouted, "Wu Dasa, bring more people! My grandfather has allowed me to go out and play!"
"That's right, that's right," Wu Jianzhang nodded repeatedly with tears in his eyes and said, "If you truly excel like this, next year, your grandfather will grant you an official title and arrange for you to marry a beautiful wife, so that you can bring glory to our Wu family. Someone, quickly bring me three hundred taels of silver to reward my grandson, and also order a set of golden writing implements for me, for my grandson to use in his studies and writing"
Old man will kill you! Kill you! Kill you, you little brat! What sins did I commit in my past life to have a grandson like you? You do not bring me any peace of mind, not at all, not at all!
Dare to strike the grandson of this old man, almost causing me to lose my lineage, what purpose does he serve? Break his hands and feet, mutilate his face, stuff him into a sack, and throw him into the Huangpu River to feed the fish
"Grandfather, I will no longer board the flower boat." In order to avoid being beaten for others, Wu Chaoyue quickly swore an oath, saying: "I swear to heaven, if I do not make something of myself in the future, if I step onto a flower boat again, or further into a brothel, may I be struck by five thunders from heaven and meet a terrible end!"
In fact, as soon as Wu Chaoyue understood the new environment and identity, he already knew that his future would not be very bright. This year, the Taiping Army had already emerged from the mountainous regions of Guangxi and advanced into Hunan. It would not be long before they moved east along the Yangtze River, capturing Nanjing, which is very close to Shanghai, to establish a regime. The historically notable Small Sword Society uprising would also break out in Shanghai, and the impoverished Small Sword Society army would need to enter Shanghai and control it for a period of time. At that point, the family of Wu Jianzhang, who was a wealthy Manchu official, would inevitably face disaster. If Wu Chaoyue's luck were to be slightly worse, he would soon meet a tragic end with his head on the ground.
When Wu Chaoyue stuck out his tongue, Wu Jianzhang also turned his gaze back to his precious grandson and scolded, "Stay at home honestly, and without my permission, you are not allowed to go out! If you are truly idle, occasionally show me a few books. I do not expect you to pass the scholar or the provincial examination, but at the very least, you should be able to read the household accounts, right?"
Unexpectedly, a drunken night at KTV caused Wu Chaoyue to travel back to the second year of the Xianfeng era in the mid-nineteenth century, inhabiting the body of the current Wu Chaoyue. Just as Wu Chaoyue was beginning to understand his situation, his grandfather Wu Jianzhang came to settle accounts. Wu Chaoyue was wrongfully blamed and suffered for others, naturally crying out in injustice, feeling utterly aggrieved.
However, it does not matter. Since he is aware of this danger, he can simply avoid it in advance. After all, Wu Chaoyue clearly remembers that the uprising of the Small Sword Society occurred after the Taiping Army captured Nanjing. Once the Taiping Army takes Nanjing, Wu Chaoyue will immediately return to his hometown in Guangdong, where he can continue to live a life of decadence and depravity as a young master, bullying a few tenants, teasing a few village girls, marrying several beautiful wives and concubines to carry on the Wu family lineage. He can then wait until his comprador grandfather and cheap father pass away, allowing him to squander their vast wealth at will, living out his life in corruption and decay. Therefore, Wu Chaoyue, who harbors no great ambitions, comforts himself in his heart, "It's fine, there's no need to be afraid; I can just run away early when the time comes. I cannot provoke the Taiping Army or the Small Sword Society, but can I not hide from them?"
"Grandfather, may I go out for a walk now?" Wu Chaoyue, who had not been able to go out since his arrival in this world, quickly inquired.
Fortunately, Wu Chaoyue is after all the only grandson of Wu Jianzhang. Wu Jianzhang married eight wives and concubines before having a son, Wu Xiaoping, and then married six wives and concubines for his son, resulting in the birth of his grandson, Wu Chaoyue. He has always cherished Wu Chaoyue as his heart's treasure, and no matter how angry he gets, he cannot bear to truly harm this only grandson. Therefore, he still exercises some restraint in his actions. At the same time, Wu Jianzhang is over sixty years old and has limited mobility. While chasing after his grandson, he accidentally tripped over a chair, losing his balance and nearly falling. As a result, Wu Chaoyue, showing some sense of conscience, quickly supported his grandfather, the former master of the family, and gently reminded him, "Grandfather, be careful."
Wu Jianzhang's reaction left Wu Chaoyue both amused and exasperated. Holding Wu Chaoyue's poorly written characters, he looked left and right. The sixty-something Wu Jianzhang unexpectedly shed tears, choking up as he exclaimed, "He has made progress, finally showing some improvement! The heavens are watching, our ancestors' graves are smoking! My grandson can finally write! The characters he wrote are still barely legible!"
"Little rascal!" Wu Jianzhang chuckled and scolded, then picked up his precious grandson's calligraphy book again, examining it carefully, nodding continuously. He instructed, "Someone, take my grandson's writing and have it mounted, send it to Guangdong, so that my unfilial son can see it. My grandson is more promising than him; at just seventeen, he can write so many characters! Let him see that I insist on having my grandson come to Shanghai for personal guidance. Is it not better than how he manages and teaches?" He reiterated, "Someone, take my grandson's writing and have it mounted, send it to Guangdong, so that my unfilial son can see it. My grandson is more promising than him; at just seventeen, he can write so many characters! Let him see that I insist on having my grandson come to Shanghai for personal guidance. Is it not better than how he manages and teaches?"
Wu Chaoyue felt wronged to the point of tears, as she was indeed innocent. This Wu Chaoyue was originally a promising young person of the 21st century, graduating from university with outstanding grades—averaging only about three and a half failed courses per year. She was filial to her parents and caring towards her female classmates. After entering society, she was doing quite well—having already become a management personnel in a state-owned enterprise controlled by her uncle, holding a high position and eyeing her female colleagues. She was busy with work during the day and with life at night, with a very bright future ahead.
Embracing a mindset of going with the flow, Wu Chaoyue began to enjoy life in his new home in the 19th century, indulging in exquisite delicacies and fine wines, sleeping on a large bed made of sandalwood draped in silk, and having a few attractive maidservants to tease and flirt with. Life was exceedingly comfortable. However, in order to navigate life in an era devoid of computers and smartphones for typing and sending messages, and to please his grandfather, who held significant financial power, Wu Chaoyue still made time to read some books, review the traditional characters he had nearly forgotten, and reluctantly picked up a brush to practice calligraphy—though the characters he produced were more akin to scribbles than anything legible. Nevertheless, in order to navigate life in an era devoid of computers and smartphones for typing and sending messages, and to please his grandfather, who held significant financial power, Wu Chaoyue still made time to read some books, review the traditional characters he had nearly forgotten, and reluctantly picked up a brush to practice calligraphy—though the characters he produced were more akin to scribbles than anything legible.
In Wu Jianzhang's murky old eyes, a fierce light radiated as he issued a command devoid of humanity without even a hint of breathlessness. As a result, the butler did not even blink, immediately bowing out in compliance, while Wu Chaoyue beside him could only stick out his tongue, filled with immense admiration for the cruelty of his current grandfather
Wu Chaoyue quickly agreed, and only then did Wu Jianzhang leave in a huff. However, before departing, Wu Jianzhang still reminded his servants to take good care of Wu Chaoyue, ensuring that his grandson would not suffer any grievances. Wu Chaoyue then rubbed his somewhat sore bottom and lay back down, groaning softly, continuing to sort through various memories of this era.
Having been cooped up at home for several days, Wu Chaoyue was overjoyed upon hearing the news. He immediately wrote down a line of barely legible flattery on a piece of paper—"May Grandfather enjoy longevity and prosperity, with blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and a life as long as the Southern Mountain!" He then presented the paper to Wu Jianzhang with a smile, cheerfully asking, "Grandfather, how do you find this heartfelt message I have written?"
Grandfather, it's a misunderstanding! It's a misunderstanding! It has nothing to do with me, it really has nothing to do with me!
"I swear I will never say anything nice." Wu Jianzhang reprimanded his only grandson, who was capable of carrying on the family line, and scolded, "Do you think I would still believe you? Tell me, how many times have you said such things?"
The sound of roaring filled the air, and the ruler continued to strike heavily against Wu Chaoyue's face and body. Wu Chaoyue dared not retaliate and could only dodge, jumping around the room as he was beaten by his grandfather, Wu Jianzhang, who was over sixty years old, shouting in protest. However, Wu Jianzhang paid no attention to his grandson's explanations, merely swinging the ruler at Wu Chaoyue while scolding, "Do you still dare to protest? If it weren't for you fighting with someone on the flower boat, would you have fallen into the water and nearly drowned? How come you didn't drown? I would rather have no descendants than keep you as my grandson! One day, you will surely drive me, your wasteful grandson, to my grave!"