Chapter 73

Zhou Chong had some new ideas about the long-standing smuggling model used by the Ming Dynasty. To verify the feasibility of these ideas, Zhou Chong gathered Uncle Tu and Sun Tong in the hall and collected information from them on various aspects. The information gathered showed that Zhou Chong's new ideas were entirely feasible, which finally put his mind at ease.

By evening, the brothers who had participated in the raid on the Jeolla Chamber of Commerce and hadn't slept all night finally woke up. Zhou Chong and Third Lady had already prepared a sumptuous banquet to celebrate their success. The banquet was simple, with large pieces of meat and large bowls of wine. For these sun-tanned sailors, nothing was more practical than these wine and meat.

After everyone had gathered, it was customary for Zhou Chong to speak. However, Zhou Chong knew that to win the favor of these rough men, he shouldn't say too much nonsense. So, he stood up, picked up the large bowl in front of him, and said, "Brothers, today we wiped out the damn Jeolla Chamber of Commerce, avenged the two brothers who died the day before yesterday, and vented our frustrations. This is all thanks to your efforts. Let's drink to this!"

With that, Zhou Chong raised his bowl and drank it in one go. The sailors, seeing this fair-skinned young master show such bravery, cheered loudly and also picked up their bowls, drinking them in one go.

"Alright, no more nonsense. As long as you are willing to follow me, Zhou Chong, I promise that you will all live like this in the future, drinking large bowls of wine and eating large pieces of meat. Let's start the feast!" Zhou Chong's speech was concise and to the point, winning the sailors' favor again. Everyone was also really hungry, so as soon as Zhou Chong finished speaking, they immediately started eating and drinking, though their table manners were rough, it was very genuine.

"Wen Da, I'm a rough man and not good with words, but I've seen over the past two days that although you and the old master are different, you are both capable of great things. I, Sun Tong, will toast to you. From now on, whatever you ask, even if it means jumping into the sea, I, Old Sun, will not hesitate!" Sun Tong finished his speech and drank the strong liquor in one go.

Hearing Sun Tong pledge his loyalty in front of everyone, Zhou Chong was very excited and raised his bowl again, saying, "Good, since Uncle Sun has said so, I, Zhou Chong, will not be polite. I can't promise much, but as long as I am here, no one will look down on our Nanyang Chamber of Commerce!"

Zhou Chong also drank in one go and then laughed heartily with Sun Tong. Next, Uncle Tu and Third Lady also stood up, pledged their loyalty to Zhou Chong, and each toasted him with a bowl of wine.

By this time, Zhou Chong had already drunk four large bowls of wine, totaling at least two or three pounds. Although the southern wine was not very strong, he still felt a bit dizzy. He quickly ate some dishes to settle his stomach and drank some strong tea, which made him feel better.

However, it was clear that Zhou Chong would not be able to stand and go home tonight. After Sun Tong and others toasted him, some of the small leaders and managers of the chamber of commerce also came forward to meet the young master and toast him. Zhou Chong had no choice but to drink, and he didn't even know how much he had drunk. In the end, he only remembered that the figures around him seemed to multiply, and his feet felt like he was on a boat, unable to stand steadily. Finally, he fell face down on the table and lost consciousness.

Zhou Chong didn't know how long he had slept. When he finally woke up, his throat felt like it was on fire, his head was pounding, and his body felt like it was falling apart. He couldn't even open his eyes and could only weakly call out, "Water... water... I need water!"

Zhou Chong's call was quickly answered. With a light step, a delicate fragrance wafted over, and he felt his head being gently lifted by a soft arm. A cup of water was brought to his lips, and he drank it all without hesitation, then lay back down, feeling dazed again before falling asleep.

When Zhou Chong woke up for the second time, he felt a bit of strength returning to his body. He finally managed to open his heavy eyelids and struggle to sit up. He realized he was in an unfamiliar room, simply furnished with a bed, a table, a chair, and a large bookshelf.

"You're finally awake." As Zhou Chong looked around the unfamiliar room, he heard a familiar voice.

Following the voice, Zhou Chong saw Xie Lingyun standing by the open window, wearing a light green dress, holding an unfinished book, and smiling at him. The sunlight streaming in from the window made her skin appear translucent, making her look like a fairy who had never known the troubles of the world.

"You... how did you get here?" Zhou Chong asked, puzzled. Although his head was still foggy, he remembered that he had been drinking with his men at the chamber of commerce and had passed out, so he should still be at the Nanyang Chamber of Commerce. How did Xie Lingyun end up in his room?

Xie Lingyun closed her book and walked over, smiling, "I came to see you this morning, but Third Lady invited me here. I thought you would wake up soon, but I've been waiting until now."

"Uh? You've been here all this time?" Zhou Chong suddenly remembered someone feeding him water earlier. Could it really have been Xie Lingyun? Xie Lingyun, understanding his thoughts, blushed and turned her head away, not daring to look at him.

Over the past few days, Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun had been seen together frequently. The Nanyang Chamber of Commerce and the Xie family had been working closely, and given their similar talents and appearances, Third Lady and Uncle Tu had mistakenly assumed they had a relationship. So when Xie Lingyun came to see Zhou Chong, Third Lady enthusiastically brought her to Zhou Chong's room, creating a private moment for them. When Zhou Chong needed water, Xie Lingyun couldn't ignore him, so she had given him a drink.

Thinking of Xie Lingyun, a young lady, personally feeding him water, Zhou Chong felt a bit embarrassed. However, seeing her shy expression, he decided to break the awkwardness, "Miss Lingyun, is there something important you need to discuss with me today?"

Hearing Zhou Chong's question, Xie Lingyun felt the atmosphere become less awkward, though her face was still flushed. She said, "Yes, I came today to discuss something with you."

Zhou Chong struggled to sit up and hastily put on his clothes. Xie Lingyun turned her head away, not daring to look until he was dressed. Then she said, "Oh, what do you want to discuss, Miss Lingyun?"

Hearing that Zhou Chong was dressed, Xie Lingyun turned around, glanced at his disheveled clothes, and then lowered her head, walking to the table. "Please look, this is a map of the area from Songjiang to Shuangyu Port. After careful consideration, I believe the soap workshop should not be on the mainland, as it would be difficult to keep it secret. However, if we place it on an island, the secrecy issue can be solved."

"Is this the location you've chosen for the soap workshop?" Zhou Chong pointed to the red mark on the map.

"Yes!" Xie Lingyun gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and explained, "This is a small archipelago consisting of several islands. The two largest are called Big Sheep Island and Little Sheep Island. These islands are close to Songjiang and strategically located, controlling the traffic to Hangzhou and Ningbo. Our Xie family has a base on the islands, and we are familiar with the area. If we build the workshop there, it will be both secret and convenient for transporting materials and goods."

Hearing Xie Lingyun's thorough consideration, Zhou Chong nodded, "Building the workshop on an island is indeed a good way to keep the process secret. The only issue is the inconvenience of transportation. However, your family's fleet is always active, making it convenient. The only concern is that the workers will have to stay on the island for secrecy. Will anyone be willing to work there under these conditions?"

"Sir, you don't need to worry. There are over twenty thousand refugees outside Songjiang. As long as we pay them and bring their families to the island, they will be eager to work there. We won't have any trouble recruiting workers!" Xie Lingyun said confidently. She had already targeted the refugees outside Songjiang when she decided to make soap. These people would be willing to work on an isolated island for a meal.

Hearing this, Zhou Chong nodded, thinking that Xie Lingyun was indeed a capable businesswoman, considering all aspects.

Just as Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun had agreed on the soap workshop, a chamber of commerce member came in to report that someone was visiting Zhou Chong. When they heard the visitor's name, both Zhou Chong and Xie Lingyun were surprised.