Chapter 9: He Gave Too Much
“Should we go say hello to Director Ye?”
First Fleet Chen Jiliang suddenly interjected.
“No need! Today we’re just here to take a look, and besides, they’re busy with maintenance and repairs on the warships right now!”
“We’ve seen enough, so let’s leave here first! The fleet still has plenty of new training projects that need you to go back and train those navy new recruits and veterans!”
“Moreover, the leader still needs to see me!”
“It’s probably to discuss with me our navy purchasing heavy firepower weapons from the Japanese Army again to equip the warships, as well as the fleet’s subsequent development situation!”
Yang Shuzhuang waved his hand, signaling no need.
So he took the lead in turning around and leaving the Jiangnan Shipyard’s maintenance area, heading toward the gate.
Seeing this, Second Fleet Chen Shaokuan and First Fleet Chen Jiliang, along with the ever-silent accompanying National Revolutionary Army training fleet Li Jingxi, also departed together.
And at the moment they left,
Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu and Engineer Chen Ziting also looked up,
“They’re gone! They didn’t come over to talk to us today, did they, Director Ye?”
Engineer Chen Ziting said.
“The Navy Department has been really busy lately. Not only do they have to train and expand, but they also have to figure out how to raise money to buy new heavy firepower naval guns for the warships, and raise money to build more cruisers, destroyers, and other types of warships, so they have a lot on their plates!”
“Yeah! A strong navy means a strong nation. This is our navy’s golden age of rapid development, so we can’t miss the opportunity, or it won’t come again!”
Engineer Chen Ziting nodded in agreement.
“Mm! Well said!”
“By the way, didn’t you say that young master from the Zhou Family was coming to visit us today?”
“Why hasn’t he shown up yet?”
“Is he coming or not?”
“Otherwise, after we finish lunch later, we won’t have time to meet and talk with him!”
However, Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu suddenly changed the subject and asked in return.
“Ah! This…”
Hearing this, Engineer Chen Ziting was slightly taken aback and momentarily speechless.
At this moment, he finally remembered the scheduled time when Zhou Wenhua was supposed to come here.
He had been so busy earlier that he had really forgotten about it.
But now the time was almost up, yet there was no sign of Zhou Wenhua.
“This kid wouldn’t stand us up, would he?”
“He’s usually very punctual!”
“Because his father was thoroughly disappointed in his three brothers, he was very strict in his cultivation from childhood to adulthood, even often keeping him by his side to learn how to do business!”
“So in that environment, he matured much more than his peers!”
“Here’s what we’ll do! I’ll call his butler Liu Xing right away to see if he’s already on his way!”
But after snapping back, Engineer Chen Ziting explained rather embarrassedly.
“Alright! Go call his butler and inquire about the situation!”
“Because after lunch, we still have a lot of things to handle!”
“Especially since we have new warships’ firing diagrams that need us to hold a meeting to discuss how to design them even better!”
Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu nodded in agreement.
“Yes! Director! Thank you!”
Engineer Chen Ziting quickly thanked him.
Then he prepared to go to the communication room to call Butler Liu Xing and ask where Zhou Wenhua was now, whether he was coming or not.
At that moment,
Guard Captain Li Ziming hurriedly walked in and came straight toward him.
“Mr. Chen, there’s someone outside claiming to be from the Zhou Family who wants to see you and Director Ye. I’m here to report and confirm!”
“He said he has an appointment with you!”
Guard Captain Li Ziming greeted Engineer Chen Ziting first, then said to him.
“Hey! This kid finally showed up. He almost made me lose face!”
“Just bring him in here. Director Ye and I do have an appointment to meet with him!”
Hearing this, Engineer Chen Ziting immediately relaxed and responded with a smile.
“Yes! Mr. Chen!”
Guard Captain Li Ziming nodded in agreement and immediately acted on orders.
As the Guard Captain of Jiangnan Shipyard, Li Ziming still had to obey the orders of Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu, Director Ma Deji, and the high-level officials of the Navy Department.
He didn’t dare to act superior toward Engineer Chen Ziting, who also had a complicated background.
So he would obey Chen Ziting’s orders as well.
It wasn’t long before Guard Captain Li Ziming brought Zhou Wenhua in from outside.
He brought him all the way to Chen Ziting and Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu.
“Director Ye, Uncle Chen!”
Upon seeing them, Zhou Wenhua quickly greeted them politely.
Because Zhou Wenhua’s memories from this life called Chen Ziting Uncle Chen, he addressed him the same way to show familiarity.
“You kid finally came! I thought you might stand us up!”
“By the way, yesterday your butler Liu Xing called me and said you wanted to meet with me and Director Ye. Is it to take on an apprenticeship?”
“When did you get interested in shipbuilding technology? Haven’t you been following your father learning to do business since childhood?”
“And your father is fallen ill in bed now, unable to move on his own. Coming to take an apprenticeship to learn shipbuilding technology at this time seems like you don’t have the time, right?”
After Zhou Wenhua finished greeting,
Engineer Chen Ziting waved his hand, signaling Zhou Wenhua not to be so formal, and immediately got straight to the point with his inquiry.
Meanwhile, Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu, who was about to nod in return, was piqued by Chen Ziting’s question and listened quietly to their conversation.
“I’ll have time to learn. I go take care of Father in the evenings, but most of the time it’s left to Mother and his concubines!”
“And during the day, I need to handle his business!”
“So after handling the business, I’ll make some time to come learn from you!”
Zhou Wenhua responded without hesitation.
“Shipbuilding technology is not simple knowledge; it’s a rather complex field!”
“So to learn shipbuilding technology well, you must spend a lot of time studying it and be completely dedicated to it to achieve anything!”
“So with just that little time you have, you probably won’t learn much!”
“This would just waste both our time and energy!”
“So I think you should give up this idea and focus on helping your father manage the family business!”
“Otherwise, if your family’s business runs into a crisis, what will your family eat?”
“And I believe your father doesn’t want to see you ruin the family business he built from scratch!”
“Otherwise, he wouldn’t have placed all his hopes on you, keeping you by his side from childhood to learn reading, writing, and doing business!”
“It’s all because your brothers are disobedient! Not one of them is willing to inherit his business!”
Hearing Zhou Wenhua say he would just make time to learn shipbuilding technology, Engineer Chen Ziting immediately shook his head and refused.
“I’m coming to learn shipbuilding technology from you with great sincerity this time. The reason I want to learn shipbuilding technology is to contribute to our domestic shipbuilding process in the future!”
“And this time I’m not coming empty-handed to waste your time. If you’re willing to take me as your apprentice and let me make time every day to learn shipbuilding technology, then I’m willing to donate to Jiangnan Shipyard the funds to manufacture one minesweeper and one aircraft carrier!”
“This is the extra expenditure I can mobilize now, and it’s under the premise of not affecting our family’s business funds turnover, donated to Jiangnan Shipyard!”
In response to Engineer Chen Ziting’s refusal, Zhou Wenhua immediately threw out a bombshell gift.
“What did you say!”
As soon as the words were out,
Whether Engineer Chen Ziting or the quietly observing Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu, both exclaimed in excited surprise.
Because what Zhou Wenhua offered was too much, far beyond their imagination.
