Chapter 42: 42, Leaving Jiaxing, Recruiting Two Confidants
“Fifth brother, we can all see Japanese airplanes flying overhead here. Do you think they will attack us?”
Second Young Master asked about everyone’s biggest concern.
Fang Wen replied, “Probably not. I heard from the military side that the consuls of Britain and France are mediating, and the war might end soon.”
Hearing this, everyone immediately relaxed.
Father Fang spoke up. “I heard you piloted an airplane and sank a warship on the Huangpu River in Shanghai?”
“Yes, a coincidence.”
“What coincidence? That’s Fifth brother showing his extraordinary talent. I still have the newspaper a friend sent me.” Second Young Master took out a folded newspaper and showed it to Fang Wen. This newspaper should have been seen by everyone in the family, so no one crowded over.
Sixth sister dropped a bombshell: “Sister Yue just told me that Fifth brother sank the Izumo. That warship is a main battleship of the Japanese Navy, built with reparations from the Qing Government’s Treaty of Shimonoseki.”
Father Fang knew nothing about the military, but he was very clear about the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
“Well sunk, Fifth Brother. Drink with me.”
Seeing the cup raised by his father, Fang Wen stood up and drank it all in one go.
At this point in the family banquet, the atmosphere became even more lively.
After everyone finished eating and the table was cleared, they simply set out stools in the courtyard well and started chatting idly.
The child from Eldest Young Master’s family and Second Young Master’s family were particularly interested in piloting airplanes and fighting Japanese, squatting beside Fang Wen and insisting he describe the story of air combat in the air.
The innocence and liveliness of the several nephews, plus having drunk some wine, made Fang Wen a bit more open.
He simply recounted his air combat experiences in vernacular, and as someone who had experienced it firsthand, he told it vividly. The Fang Family listened entranced.
Days in Jiaxing were leisurely and relaxing.
Here, the commercial atmosphere was strong, with dozens of catering restaurants, making it a prosperous place.
These past few days, Fang Wen had been constantly entertaining, finishing at one restaurant and then moving to the next.
The county government’s invitation had to be accepted.
The local newspaper’s interview, whose editor-in-chief was Second Brother’s buddy, also had to be done.
Eldest Brother’s promised banquet also featured dozens of tables.
Plus all sorts of miscellaneous relatives and friends—in this small county town, acquaintances were everywhere, and it was hard to refuse anyone.
Too much entertaining, got tired of eating, got worn out from eating.
He had tasted all the flavors of Hui cuisine.
This feeling of knowing everyone when going out was not what Fang Wen liked. His goal was a wider world, not this narrow circle of personal connections.
It was time to leave.
After staying in Jiaxing for six days, Fang Wen said goodbye to his family members and prepared to depart.
Father Fang nodded. “Come with me. There are some things we two should talk about.”
These words made Eldest Brother and Second Brother a bit nervous, yet they didn’t dare to stop it.
In the main hall study room, Father Fang sat across from Fang Wen and said, “You’ve had grand ambitions since you were young. I know you won’t stay in Jiaxing. Be careful and cautious on this trip out, and don’t let reputation drag you down. In this world, heroes fear fame the most.”
Fang Wen nodded. “I understand.”
Father Fang continued, “Do you want this family?”
The meaning of these words was probably that as long as Fang Wen agreed, Father Fang would bias the inheritance of family property toward him.
But honestly, Fang Wen didn’t care and didn’t want to get entangled in lifelong family ties because of it.
Better to let go completely and let Eldest Brother and Second Brother compete for it.
He replied, “No, you can rest assured on this. I don’t need the Fang Family’s wealth.”
Father Fang was somewhat relieved, yet also somewhat disappointed.
“Then I have nothing more to give you. Let Shunzi and his father go with you.”
Shunzi was the youth who recognized Fang Wen on the streets of Jiaxing, following the patriarch’s surname Fang—in old terms, called a house-born servant.
His father also had the surname Fang; his wife had died long ago, and he was the shopkeeper of Fang Ji Rice Business.
In Fang Wen’s view, these two were capable hands of the Fang Family and should be highly valued by Father Fang.
Fang Wen couldn’t help but be surprised. “Why?”
“Eldest Brother and Second Brother can’t tolerate them. You said you want to start an airline company and lack trustworthy people. You can fully trust these two.”
“That’s your trust. It’s different for me.” Fang Wen refused, because of his transmigrated identity, he didn’t want to casually give out trust.
“It’s the same. I’ll tell you a secret.”
Father Fang rummaged in the study room and took out a wooden box.
He opened the wooden box and handed a yellowed piece of paper to Fang Wen.
He said, “This is his background. I’m giving it to you. As for what to do, it’s up to you.”
Fang Wen took it and looked it over.
“I, Huang Zhanwu, from Hebei, joined the Boxer Rebellion in my youth, destroyed railroads, killed foreigners. Later fled to Jiaxing and was taken in by Boss Fang, changed name to Fang Shouxin. I hereby make this deed: serve the Fang Family for life, no regrets.”
This was a deed of sale?!
Fang Wen glanced at Father Fang and put away the deed.
“Since they can’t stay in the Fang Family anymore, I can take them, but this isn’t necessary to keep.”
“Up to you. I’m old and powerless now. It’s better for them to follow you than to be bullied here.”
Father Fang melancholically took out a thread-bound book to read and no longer spoke to Fang Wen—this was a silent farewell.
Fang Wen turned and left, then went to his mother’s room.
After coming out, he said goodbye to Yue Jinping and the others, then went to find Shopkeeper Fang and Shunzi.
Fang Ji Rice Business was as busy as ever, with black-canopied boats on the canal carrying grain, farmers wearing felt hats negotiating with the rice business shopkeeper, just hoping to sell for more silver.
But this shopkeeper was no longer Fang Shouxin.
Father and son were like ordinary employees, sometimes having to help carry rice bags in and out.
Having served the Fang Family for over twenty years, ending up like this made many people feel indignant for him.
But Fang Shouxin had no complaints.
Until Third Young Master’s car stopped roadside.
“Shunzi, call your dad over too.” Fang Wen shouted from the car.
“Alright.” Shunzi pulled his father over.
“Third Young Master, hello.” Fang Shouxin said flatly.
“Shunzi, wait over there. Your dad and I have something to say.”
After Shunzi walked away, Fang Wen handed the paper to Fang Shouxin.
Seeing the yellowed paper, a change finally came over Fang Shouxin’s calm, still face.
“Master wants me to follow you?”
“His exact words were that you two can’t stay at the rice business anymore, he can’t do anything about it, so let me take you. I don’t need this thing—you can tear it up, pretend it never happened. From now on, you two can follow me, and if you ever don’t want to, I won’t stop you.”
Fang Shouxin was silent, put away the paper, and shouted to his son squatting under a tree nearby, “Shunzi, go pack your things. We’re going with Third Young Master.”
Shunzi immediately showed a joyful smile—this was the life he wanted—and hurried back to the rice business.
Father and son each carried a large bundle out, half a person tall.
One could see what was in them.
Patched bedding, pots and pans hanging on them, and some clothing.
It looked like they weren’t living well. Fang Wen couldn’t help but despise his body’s blood father—being this stingy to a loyal shopkeeper.
He asked directly, “My dad didn’t give you wages, right? Why are you using all this stuff?”
Shunzi took the initiative to explain, “No, Third Young Master. My dad saved up all the money, saying it’s for me to get a wife, then buy some land to grow grain.”
“Toss the stuff. We’ll replace it all when we get there.” At Fang Wen’s request, the two somewhat reluctantly gave a big pile of things to the rice business employees, then got in the car.
The car started up and headed toward Nanjing.
They had to stop when passing Hangzhou—Yue Jinping wanted to inquire about the current situation.
