Chapter 5, A Moment's Difference

Wu Chaoyue nodded with a wry smile, fully agreeing with Father Martin's perspective. After finishing his remarks, Father Martin glanced at Wu Chaoyue, the only Chinese person he could communicate with directly since arriving in China, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He quickly added, "Dear Wu, since you have a deep understanding of both China and the West, do you have any good ideas on how to help the Chinese people accept our teachings? How can we lead them to become believers in the Lord?"

Having made up his mind, Wu Chaoyue finally spoke up: "Father Martin, if your intention is merely to allow many Chinese people to know the Bible and to be able to recite a few verses of its teachings, rather than immediately requiring them to convert, then I have a good method, one that I am quite confident about."

Wu Jianzhang was initially somewhat tempted, but he shook his head as the words were about to leave his lips and said: "Forget it, children need sufficient sleep for their health. Let's wait until tomorrow, let that little rascal have a good sleep, and don't wake him up. I am quite tired today as well, so I should also turn in early."

Modern people certainly know that what Wu Chaoyue said is a fact, but unfortunately, Father Martin is not a time traveler. On the contrary, he smiled wryly and shook his head, saying: "Is it really that easy? I have been in China for more than half a month, and I have learned about the situation from many Western missionaries who came to China earlier. They have told me how difficult and arduous it is to spread the gospel of the Lord in China. At first, I did not believe it, but what happened at the dock today has already shown me that they were not exaggerating in the slightest. Missionary work in China is tenfold, a hundredfold more difficult than I had imagined." I have been in China for more than half a month, and I have learned about the situation from many Western missionaries who came to China earlier. They have told me how difficult and arduous it is to spread the gospel of the Lord in China. At first, I did not believe it, but what happened at the dock today has already shown me that they were not exaggerating in the slightest. Missionary work in China is tenfold, a hundredfold more difficult than I had imagined.

Damn it! First, I will befriend this American, and then I can do him a favor. In a critical moment, at least I can run to his church to save my life. Asking him to help me get a U.S. green card would also be much easier!

It has always been a forte of Western missionaries to entice people to embrace the faith in God. Therefore, after hearing Wu Chaoyue's suggestion, Father Martin inevitably began to waver, hesitatingly saying: "Wu, you say the method may be feasible and worth considering, but getting our merchants to spend more money to hire workers might be quite difficult"

... ...

Martin felt somewhat disappointed, but he was not willing to give up. After a moment of consideration, he said, "Wu, I do not need the Chinese to immediately understand Western civilization. I only need some Chinese to be able to know the Bible, recite the Bible, and believe in the glory of the Lord. Let them first have a preliminary contact with Western culture, and then gradually influence them. Is there really nothing you can do about this?"

This question is not difficult to answer. Wu Chaoyue candidly informed Father Martin about how conservative and insular the Qing court of this era was, and how, due to the Opium Wars and other reasons, it was blind and hostile towards foreigners. There was not a single Catholic from top to bottom, so if his comprador grandfather set this precedent, he would inevitably face reprimand and inquiry from the court, and could even risk losing his official position

"Is this acceptable?" Father Martin asked in great surprise. "Wu, your method, although it sounds reasonable, still amounts to coercing them. What if they remain unwilling?"

Wu Chaoyue smiled and said: "In fact, it is quite simple. Nowadays, foreign merchant ships frequently come to the Shanghai docks to unload and load goods. Many Chinese dockworkers rely on loading and unloading goods for these foreign ships to make a living. Given this, why not require these foreign ships to only hire dockworkers who can recite the Bible? Even if they can only recite one or two verses, that would be acceptable. Those who cannot recite even a single verse should not be hired, leaving them without food. In this way, those dockworkers, whether they want to or not, will have to learn and memorize the Bible."

Wu Chaoyue nodded with a smile, and muttered to himself: "If you think it is feasible, then go ahead and do it, just don't involve me. Workers at the Shanghai docks, don't blame me; sooner or later, you will need to understand a bit about the West and the Church. I am spending money to buy friends, helping you to open your eyes to the world and increase your income, which is also for your own good"

Wu Chaoyue let out a bitter smile upon hearing this and said, "Dear Father, I truly find myself at a loss. Firstly, I cannot think of any good methods to assist you in spreading the doctrine, and secondly, I lack the ability to help you. I hope you can understand."

With the silver donated to the church by Wu Chaoyue and the enticing idea of introducing Western civilization to the Chinese, Father Martin joyfully took his leave and returned to the concession. Wu Chaoyue immediately put this matter out of his mind and went back to his room to continue teasing the pretty maid. However, Wu Jianzhang, who was busy with official duties, did not return home until it was completely dark. Upon hearing that his precious grandson had brought a foreigner home as a guest, Wu Jianzhang was taken aback and hurriedly asked the butler, 'Is the foreigner here to see me? What did he say?'

The butler shook his head to indicate that he did not know, and then said: "Sir, it seems that Young Master Sun has already fallen asleep. Should I send someone to wake him up and have him come here to inquire about the matter?"

"Speaking in foreign languages with foreigners is quite enjoyable," Wu Jianzhang exclaimed in surprise, his murky old eyes wide open. "When did that little rascal acquire such skills? I have taught him foreign languages for so many years, and he can't even remember one sentence out of ten. How could he possibly speak such fluent foreign languages?"

Dear Father, you may also add a temptation. Wu Chaoyue smiled and said: "Mr. Martin, you could also add this: any dock worker willing to recite the Bible will not only be hired by your Western merchant ships, but will also receive a reward of ten coins each. Those who are unwilling to learn the Bible will not be given the opportunity to work for Western merchant ships, thus preventing them from earning money and having food to eat. In this way, those dock workers will certainly understand what they should do.

Having wealth at home brings convenience. With a single command from Wu Chaoyue, a table of fine food and wine was soon placed before him and Father Martin. Following this, Wu Chaoyue naturally took the time to teach Father Martin how to use chopsticks for dining. However, after a strenuous practice, Martin helplessly switched to using a spoon to taste the delicacies of the Wu household. It was at this moment that Martin eagerly extended an invitation to Wu Chaoyue, saying: "Chaoyue, you are so familiar with Western culture; why not get baptized in the church and truly integrate into Western civilization? If you are willing, I would be more than happy to perform the baptism for you."

Due to a momentary lapse in judgment, Wu Jianzhang missed the best opportunity to correct his beloved grandson's erroneous behavior. The next morning, a busy Wu Jianzhang went to the customs office early again, yet he still did not wake his grandson, who was snoring while holding onto a beautiful maid. As a result, Wu Jianzhang paid the price for this, and the misguided Wu Chaoyue was left dumbfounded, because when he finally managed to get up and wash up, the priest Martin from yesterday came looking for him again. Moreover, Father Martin did not come alone; he brought along more than twenty missionaries from various Western countries to find Wu Chaoyue.

Wu Chaoyue originally wanted to continue shaking her head, but halfway through, she suddenly stopped, lost in thought. Father Martin, observing her expression, quickly said, "Dear Wu, what have you thought of? Do you have a good idea? If so, please tell me immediately. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, I will definitely be grateful to you."

Dear Wu, you are my forever friend. Father Martin, overwhelmed with emotion, embraced Wu Chaoyue and said: "Wu He - Tu - Shu, I will return to the concession to discuss with the other missionaries. If they also find your approach feasible, I will immediately work with them to strive for all the workers at the Shanghai docks to come and learn the Bible, to come into contact with our Western culture"

Should I say it or not? Wu Chaoyue originally did not want to concern himself with such trivial matters that brought him no benefit, but he was secretly calculating in his mind, thinking: "The small knife will inevitably rebel, and it will sooner or later erupt in Shanghai. The Qing court is fundamentally beyond saving. If I do not prepare in advance and provide myself with some escape routes, it will probably be too late to seek help at the last moment..."

"Returning to the master, that foreigner did not come to find you; he seems to be a new friend of Young Master Sun, who invited him to our home as a guest," the steward replied truthfully, adding, "Young Master Sun has been conversing with that foreigner in English, and they appear to be quite happy, but we do not know what they are discussing, as no one at home understands."

Wu Chaoyue was purely worried for nothing. His comprador grandfather, Wu Jianzhang, although involved in corruption and smuggling, and quietly participating in vibrant social organizations, was nonetheless a diligent worker. He took time out of his busy schedule to glance at his grandson before promptly returning to the customs office to oversee the important matter of tariff collection. Therefore, upon returning home, Wu Chaoyue not only had no need to worry about being punished, but also, under the astonished gaze of the servants at the Wu residence, invited Father Martin into the house and hosted a banquet to entertain this guest who had traveled thousands of miles.

"That's great!" Upon hearing this, Martin was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "Dear Wu, please quickly tell me your good method."

Why? Father Martin truly does not understand China in this era, and he asked in surprise: "You accepted the baptism of the Church, how could it affect your grandfather?"

"It doesn't matter, I am willing to donate three hundred taels of patterned silver to the church to assist you, Mr. Martin." Wu Chaoyue did not even blink, immediately taking out the three hundred taels of silver notes that his grandfather, the compradore, had rewarded him with today, and handed them to Father Martin with a smile, saying: "Three hundred taels of patterned silver is equivalent to six hundred thousand wen in copper coins, enough for sixty thousand dock workers to recite sixty thousand verses of the Bible. As for future funding issues, we can make it work in other ways, and we can also gradually eliminate rewards, retaining only punishments."

In the discourse, Wu Chaoyue, who had just crossed over a few days ago, spoke rather too directly, showing considerable disrespect towards the Qing court. However, fortunately, Father Martin did not intend to report Wu Chaoyue. Through Wu Chaoyue's patient explanations, he came to understand the reasons behind it all. Thus, in the end, Father Martin not only sensibly abandoned his attempts to persuade Wu Chaoyue to convert immediately, but also drew a cross on his chest and said: "Almighty Lord, please use your omnipotent divine power to swiftly awaken the ignorant and conservative Chinese authorities, Amen"

"It is certain that this day will come." Wu Chaoyue, while speaking the truth, also comforted Father Martin, saying: "With the continuous efforts of missionaries like you from the West, I believe that the people of China will eventually open their eyes to the world and will certainly come to appreciate and accept your Western culture and the Gospel of the Lord, which will also be able to spread freely on Chinese soil"

Dear Father, I must consider this matter carefully. Wu Chaoyue, having little interest in God and not wishing to bear the rather derogatory label of a traitor in this era, quickly shook his head to decline and began to fabricate excuses, saying: "There are two reasons. The first is that I do not know much about Christ Jesus and do not understand why one should believe in Catholicism. The second is that my grandfather is still an official in China. If I were to accept baptism without his permission, it would likely cause him a great deal of trouble, so I must first discuss it with him before proceeding."