Chapter 10

Seeing the tall figure that completely blocked the door, Chen Ke stood up with a smile and greeted, "Brother Wu, you’ve finally come."

"Brother Chen, how could I not come if you invite me?" Wu Xingchen said with a forced smile.

Chen Ke ignored Wu Xingchen’s sarcastic tone, "Let’s eat, let’s eat. Everyone, let’s go eat together." Chen Ke said with a smile.

Zhou Yuanxiao and You Gou declined the invitation to eat out, citing the need to look after the workshop. Qi Huishen and He Zudao also politely declined the invitation. Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou accompanied Wu Xingchen to the same restaurant as before. This time, Wu Xingchen was different; he remained silent and only ordered dishes that he found tasty. The tall and muscular Wu Xingchen had a matching appetite, drinking large gulps of alcohol and eating large bites of meat. Whenever he found a dish particularly delicious, he would order another serving. If one only looked at his behavior, it would seem as if Wu Xingchen was the one treating everyone.

For Wu Xingchen, since Chen Ke was the one paying, there was no reason to save money for him. Chen Ke had specifically invited him to dinner, so he must have something to ask. If he acted cautiously, Chen Ke would look down on him. As the saying goes, a strong dragon does not suppress a local snake. No matter how capable Chen Ke was, he wouldn’t dare to harm the hall master of the Heaven and Earth Society. Moreover, such impolite eating habits would cost a lot, and if Chen Ke really needed something from him, he could charge more in the future. If a single meal cost so much, then helping Chen Ke with something would definitely cost even more.

Seeing the mess Wu Xingchen made while eating, Chen Ke indeed felt a bit pained. So far, the dyeing business had been going well, but this single meal had cost him a lot. Chen Ke could afford the meal, but the thought of spending so much money on a single meal made him feel uneasy. Wu Xingchen’s future demands would certainly not be low.

Thinking about this, Chen Ke showed some hesitation. Hua Xiongmou suddenly laughed and said, "Brother Wu, eat to your heart’s content. Although we are a bit tight on money, this meal is no big deal."

These words reminded Chen Ke that if he wanted to befriend Wu Xingchen, he needed to be polite. Inviting someone to dinner and then complaining about how much they ate would make him look ridiculous. Chen Ke felt quite ashamed. He had just decided to firmly execute his plan, but ended up making a big joke of himself. Chen Ke felt quite at a loss.

While Wu Xingchen was eating and drinking, he observed Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou’s reactions clearly. He secretly laughed at how naive Chen Ke was, revealing his true nature with just a little provocation. He was also curious about what had changed in Chen Ke. The Chen Ke he had met before was sharp and capable, completely different from the stingy person now. Had Chen Ke been pretending all along, with Hua Xiongmou being the real mastermind?

Recalling how Chen Ke had provoked He Yifa, which had humiliated him, Wu Xingchen began to toast and serve Hua Xiongmou, completely ignoring Chen Ke. Hua Xiongmou understood these gangster manners. He drank a cup with Wu Xingchen, ate a bite of food, and then said with a smile, "Brother Wu, my original intention was that, as the hall master of the Heaven and Earth Society, you should be treated with proper respect. However, Wenqing values you highly. He says you are a remarkable person and wants to befriend you. Since Wenqing is in charge here, I can only follow his lead. Hehe."

Hua Xiongmou’s straightforward statement made Wu Xingchen feel grateful. Although Hua Xiongmou was not very polite, his words proved that he was a good brother. When a friend made a mistake, Hua Xiongmou immediately made up for it. Thinking about the despicable things He Yifa had done, Wu Xingchen felt a surge of anger. He chuckled, "Since Brother Hua has spoken, what does Mr. Chen want from me this time?"

Hua Xiongmou had smoothed things over, and Chen Ke finally found his way back to his original plan. He asked, "Brother Wu, when you came to see me last time, was there anything else you wanted besides trying to get something for nothing?"

"Last time I didn’t succeed, so why would I have any other ideas this time? That would just be asking for trouble," Wu Xingchen said with a cold laugh.

"I want to do a deal with you, Brother Wu. A deal you can definitely handle. If anything happens in Shanghai, it won’t escape your notice. I will buy some information from you." Chen Ke added, "If there are other ways we can cooperate, I am certainly willing."

"Are you not going to find He Yifa?" Wu Xingchen asked with a mocking smile.

"How can He Yifa compare to you? He is far inferior."

"I am at least a hall master. If Brother Chen wants me to do something, it won’t be easy. I saw that you felt pained about the cost of this meal. In the future, if I do something for you, I might not be able to do it." Wu Xingchen’s tone was full of mockery.

Chen Ke’s face turned slightly red, "Brother Wu, I don’t have much money right now. This time the meal was a bit frugal. But that doesn’t mean I won’t have money in the future. I always believe that more friends mean more paths. Having a friend like you will broaden my horizons. Don’t you think so?"

Wu Xingchen looked at Chen Ke, who had already returned to his normal state. His opinion of Chen Ke improved. Moreover, since Chen Ke could befriend someone like Hua Xiongmou, he might have a bright future. Thinking about this, Wu Xingchen nodded, "If Brother Chen has any requests, just come to me. I will be waiting for you." Although his words were polite, his demeanor was quite grand.

The conversation was now complete. To Chen Ke’s surprise, Wu Xingchen had ordered many dishes but ate them all clean. As the saying goes, "knowing how much rice one can eat," this alone made Chen Ke quite impressed.

After the meal, Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou walked back together.

"Zhenglan, thank you for your help this time," Chen Ke expressed his gratitude.

"Wenqing, you have been abroad for many years and probably haven’t made any friends in the gangster world. You haven’t seen such things. Gangsters talk about righteousness, but it’s all nonsense. What they care about is face. Whether they are heroes or cowards, they first try to intimidate you with their demeanor. If you aren’t scared, there’s nothing to worry about."

"Thank you, Zhenglan, for explaining this."

"Sure, no need to thank me. I was just thinking of hearing Wenqing talk about the revolution. Last time at Mr. Cai’s place, when Wenqing talked about the revolution, I was so inspired. If four hundred million people in the country can have a revolution, who can stop this trend? If I can lead so many people in a revolution, my life would be worth it."

"..."

Chen Ke was speechless at Hua Xiongmou’s enthusiasm. Historically, the Communist Party had only one hundred million people in their base areas, yet the Nationalist Party, which was ten times stronger on paper, was completely defeated. The new China, despite its weak national strength, still managed to push the Americans back to the 38th parallel from the Yalu River. If four hundred million Chinese people really joined the revolution in the early 20th century, China would be enough to shake the entire world. However, the amount of hard work and sacrifice required was immense, and Chen Ke did not want to go into detail with Hua Xiongmou.

For the liberation of China, the Communist Party sacrificed 3.5 million members. In human history, no organization has ever paid such a high price for the independence of a country. In a situation where they were generations behind in weapons and industrial strength, it was only through such unprecedented sacrifice that China was liberated. Chen Ke was never a brave or self-sacrificing person. When he needed to take blood for a biology experiment, he had to stab his hand three times with a needle to finally draw a drop of blood. Facing a revolutionary path where death could come at any moment, Chen Ke had no confidence in himself. Putting himself in Hua Xiongmou’s shoes, Chen Ke did not believe that Hua Xiongmou was the type to "shout to the sky and then rush forward to die" — a straightforward person.

"Hehe. Zhenglan, let’s not talk about such grand things. Let’s focus on the dyeing business for now. That’s the priority." Chen Ke did not believe that as a time traveler, he could single-handedly change the world. The unfamiliar environment of 1905 made Chen Ke feel uneasy, and he had already spent a lot of energy trying to hide this unease. Regardless of whether the revolution would succeed in the end, at least he could handle the current tasks. Without the current foundation, there would be no future.

After returning to the workshop, they continued working. Around four in the afternoon, Hua Xiongmou’s friend came to the workshop to pick up the cloth. Seeing the one hundred bolts of dyed cloth and the yard full of hanging cloth, the merchant, Wu Qixian, was greatly impressed.

After receiving the money, they settled the accounts, including the wages for Qi Huishen and He Zudao. Qi Huishen patted his pocket, which was full of copper coins, and said with a smile, "Brother Wenqing, now that the money is in hand, the lecture should start, right?"

With the work plan completed, Chen Ke did not refuse. Six people gathered around the table. Chen Ke began to lecture on "Das Kapital." The first part of "Das Kapital" focuses on surplus value. Following the content taught by his political teacher, Chen Ke began to explain it simply. The students in the past found political classes unbearable, but Chen Ke’s lecture was different. As colleagues, Chen Ke used the dyeing workshop as an example to explain commodities, means of production, labor, and social average production time, and how this dyeing business could reduce costs and increase production efficiency to earn higher profits than others.

The definitions of the terms were easy to understand, but when it came to the operation of the business, He Zudao was shy, and Zhou Yuanxiao was cold, showing no particular reaction. You Gou, Hua Xiongmou, and Qi Huishen were completely excited. Especially Hua Xiongmou, who was almost jumping around, standing up and sitting down.

Just as Chen Ke finished the lecture, Hua Xiongmou couldn’t help but exclaim, "Doing business can be so complex. I’ve never heard of this before!"

Initially, You Gou had wanted to doze off on a pillow, but after listening for a while, she became interested. Whenever she heard something important, she couldn’t help but punch the pillow. At this moment, she slapped the pillow, making a dull sound. Finding it not loud enough, she slapped the table several times, "Wenqing, say more, say more!"

Chen Ke knew that in this era, there were no business majors, and naturally, no one would talk about "Das Kapital." These young people, who came from good backgrounds, naturally felt inspired by these "ordinary" principles from the future.

Qi Huishen sighed, "What Brother Wenqing talks about is based on the country. His vision is truly far-reaching." He patted his pocket, and the copper coins made a low jingling sound, "I earn money on one side and can listen to such profound lectures on the other. I’ve made a profit!"

Although Qi Huishen had only been there for a short time, he had a "fought" friendship with everyone and got along well. He Zudao, who had just joined, didn’t dare to say much but wanted to say something, his face turning red. Zhou Yuanxiao, although still silent, had a sharp look in his eyes, which was somewhat frightening.

"Wenqing, I have some questions," Zhou Yuanxiao’s voice had a hint of enthusiasm.

"Brother Zhou, please go ahead."

Zhou Yuanxiao composed himself and presented several questions about business management. After listening, Chen Ke smiled slightly, "Brother Zhou’s idea is to improve the quality of the product and expect a higher price. This needs to be based on market research. To put it simply, if the dyed cloth can’t be sold, it’s not a commodity. A commodity is something that has been sold. We dye cloth to sell it, not just to produce good things."

Hearing this, Zhou Yuanxiao’s body suddenly trembled.

"We are taking the cheap and large-scale route this time. Cheap cloth will have buyers, and with a large volume, the cost per piece can be reduced."

"Large volume, how does it become cheaper?" You Gou asked.

Chen Ke pointed to the new small machines, "All these things cost money. Let’s say we spent 50 taels to set them up. If we only dye one bolt of cloth, the cost of that bolt is 50 taels plus the cost of the cloth. If we dye 100 bolts, the cost per bolt is 50 taels divided by 100, plus the cost of the cloth. This way, the more cloth we produce, the lower the cost per bolt."

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Zhou Yuanxiao remained silent, his face turning pale. After a moment, he returned to his usual state.

Before dinner, Qi Huishen and He Zudao got up to leave.

Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou went out to eat and returned when it was already dark. You Gou was playing with a flashlight, and Zhou Yuanxiao was holding another flashlight, checking the dyeing vat. Seeing the two return, You Gou shone the flashlight up from her chin, "Who... are... you?" she asked in a strange voice. This new trick was nothing special, but it reminded Chen Ke of a past event, and he couldn’t help but want to laugh. Feeling embarrassed, he covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking.

You Gou asked curiously, "What’s wrong with Brother Wenqing?"

Chen Ke let go of his hand and forced himself to stop laughing, "When I was in middle school, there were no lights in the toilet..."

"Toilets need lights? What a luxury," Hua Xiongmou said.

Ignoring Hua Xiongmou’s interruption, Chen Ke continued, "After evening classes, a classmate was squatting in the toilet. Another classmate came in to urinate in the dark. The classmate in the toilet called out, 'Wang... Tong... Le.' Wang Tongle was scared and asked, 'Who are you?' The classmate in the toilet... the classmate... the classmate said, 'I am your father.'" Chen Ke couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter. Hua Xiongmou also laughed, and You Gou, laughing, came over to hit Chen Ke.

Suddenly, Zhou Yuanxiao let out a strange laugh, and after a moment, he laughed again. Finally, his laugh turned into a normal one. Zhou Yuanxiao, who had been depressed for a long time, bent over, slowly sliding to the ground, leaning against the dyeing vat, and burst into laughter. As he laughed, he suddenly started crying.

The young people, who had been playing around, looked at each other, none of them expecting that this rude joke would make Zhou Yuanxiao so emotional. They all gathered around Zhou Yuanxiao. "Brother Zhou, what’s wrong?" Hua Xiongmou asked worriedly.

Zhou Yuanxiao just cried, ignoring Hua Xiongmou. You Gou grabbed Zhou Yuanxiao’s shoulder, shaking him and asking, "Brother Zhou, are you okay? Don’t scare me." Zhou Yuanxiao let You Gou shake him but continued to cry.

Chen Ke tried to comfort him, "Brother Zhou, there’s no obstacle in life that can’t be overcome. If you feel that everyone gets along well and can cooperate, then cheer up. Whatever happened in the past, whether you liked it or not, it’s over. We need to look forward. Isn’t that right?"

"That’s right, that’s right. We need to look forward," Hua Xiongmou quickly added.

Chen Ke continued to encourage Zhou Yuanxiao, "Brother Zhou, whether you like it or not, when you go to bed at night, you wake up to a new day. We’ll go out first, and when you’re done crying, come out for a cup of tea. We won’t laugh at you. We are all friends."

After saying this, Chen Ke was about to leave but felt Zhou Yuanxiao’s wet hand grabbing his wrist. Chen Ke pulled, and Zhou Yuanxiao stood up. He had stopped crying and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "Let’s go out for tea," Zhou Yuanxiao said.

Chen Ke’s joke, though rude, made everyone happy. Zhou Yuanxiao’s outburst made everyone feel uneasy again. The young people gathered around the table, and Zhou Yuanxiao, after drinking some tea, spoke softly, "Wenqing, I made some mistakes in the past, ruining my family. My father even died from my actions.