Chapter Thirty-One: Preparation

“This is a weaving machine, invented by Zhen,” Li Han said proudly. “All the cloth we sell is made with this contraption.”

“Did you really invent this?” Lin San asked, incredulous.

He considered himself fairly experienced and knowledgeable, yet he had never seen such a unique weaving device. Many cloth merchants had attempted to modify spinning wheels to increase production and make the cloth smoother, but none had achieved the ease and efficiency of Qin Zhen’s weaving machine!

But Qin Zhen was just a child! The old carpenters had racked their brains and failed to create anything like this—how could a boy manage it?

“I’ve liked tinkering with wooden tools since I was young, and I suppose I know a few clever tricks,” Qin Zhen replied modestly.

“A genius!” Lin San exclaimed, moving closer to the weaving machine, examining it as he clicked his tongue in amazement.

Suddenly, a bold idea struck him: why not sell the weaving machine itself? If he took it to the city, the cloth merchants would fight tooth and nail to get their hands on it!

But as soon as the thought appeared, he crushed it. If everyone had this machine, his own cloth would lose its value. How would he make money then? With that, he resolved not only to keep the existence of this machine secret but to guard it fiercely.

“Uncle Lin, do you know any skilled tailors?” Qin Zhen asked tentatively. “I have an idea: I want to make clothes myself, design styles, and open a shop in Wujiang City. What do you think?”

Truthfully, Qin Zhen was uncertain. Opening a shop meant competing with cloth merchants—a dangerous business, as cutting off someone’s livelihood was as grave as taking their father’s life. Qin Zhen was a country lad, and he didn’t dare challenge the city’s powerful families on his own.

Unexpectedly, Lin San’s face lit up with excitement.

“That’s a brilliant idea!”

He said, “Cloth isn’t worth much; once you turn it into clothes, the price doubles! Anyway, the wealthy buy cloth only to have someone make clothes for them. Why not hire a tailor ourselves and sell finished garments directly to the rich?”

Lin San intended to pocket the tailor’s earnings too, cutting out the middleman entirely. This was exactly Qin Zhen’s plan.

“But we must consider this carefully,” Lin San said, his expression darkening slightly, though his excitement was barely contained.

“I’ll follow your lead, Uncle Lin,” Qin Zhen replied sensibly.

To succeed, he needed Lin San’s connections. Qin Zhen didn’t need to worry; if Lin San wanted to profit, he would surely arrange everything.

After leaving the weaving workshop, Lin San was lost in thought, clearly pondering the matter of opening a shop.

Back at the house, Qin Zhen sat in the courtyard gutting fish while Liu Juan brewed tea and served water, entertaining Lin San.

Just then, Chen Shu pushed the door open and asked, “I heard you caught a sea snake?”

Qin Zhen pointed to the stone pot simmering nearby, where the prepared snake meat rolled in the snow-white broth, releasing a tantalizing aroma.

“I’ve already taken care of it for you! Uncle, go inside and sit—it’ll be ready soon!”

“I don’t eat for free!” Chen Shu chuckled, sitting down beside Qin Zhen and pulling two wild rabbits from his back, beginning to skin them. “Today, I’ll cook ‘Fiery Cloud Rabbit’ for you so you can taste my culinary skills!”

His words made Lin San, who was lounging on the kang drinking tea, awkwardly get up and come outside.

“Who are you calling a freeloader?”

“Whoever responds is the freeloader!” Chen Shu retorted, glaring.

“I came all this way, walked the mountain roads for days—can’t I rest for a bit?” Lin San replied.

“You’ll have plenty of time to rest when you’re dead!” Chen Shu sneered.

Hearing their banter, Qin Zhen couldn’t help but laugh.

Soon, the meal was ready, its aroma filling the air.

Liu Juan carried a small stool but prepared to leave; according to custom, women couldn’t sit at the table with men.

“Juan, come eat with us,” Qin Zhen pulled her over. “We don’t follow those rules in this house.”

“Husband, it’s improper,” Liu Juan said hesitantly, clearly nervous. Qin Zhen and Lin San had business to discuss, and under the weight of tradition, Liu Juan felt uneasy.

“You’re my wife—who dares to object?” Qin Zhen said, giving Lin San and Chen Shu a stern look.

Both men laughed and waved their hands.

“Sister Liu Juan, join us,” Chen Shu said with a smile.

“Come now, no one leaves until the meal’s finished!” Qin Zhen feigned anger.

Seeing this, Liu Juan hesitated but finally obediently sat close to Qin Zhen. She picked up her bowl, her face glowing with sweetness.

After some small talk, the conversation turned to fishing. Lin San asked curiously, “Little Brother Qin, where’s your fishing net? May I see it?”

Qin Zhen’s expression darkened. He sighed, “It was stolen.”

“Stolen?!” Chen Shu slammed the table, furious. “Who took it?”

Qin Zhen recounted the story of Scar Brother.

Hearing that Scar Brother and his gang had seized Golden Sands Beach and were lording over it, Chen Shu ground his teeth in anger.

He stood and walked toward the door.

“Uncle Chen, where are you going?” Qin Zhen hurriedly pulled him back.

“Where? I’m taking people to get your net back!” Chen Shu’s eyes were cold. “They’ve gone too far—do they think we’re easy prey? Wait here, I’ll go teach him a lesson!”

Chen Shu was the sort who never caused trouble, but if someone crossed him, he’d act without hesitation.

Don’t be fooled by his quiet demeanor; he was fiercely loyal.

“He’s backed by the bandits from Hat Mountain!” Qin Zhen held onto Chen Shu, refusing to let go.

“Who doesn’t know a few bandits these days?” Lin San snorted. To ordinary folks like Qin Zhen, bandits seemed formidable, but to Lin San, bandits came in all grades.

Hat Mountain’s bandits sounded intimidating, but only a handful had real reputations. Most were mere opportunists.

“I’ll go with you!” Lin San stood as well. “Those hoodlums under the bandits are nothing but dust, trying to imitate real robbers!”

Given Lin San’s nature, he could have ignored this matter. But his ties to Qin Zhen were deep, and the fishing net was crucial for making money—a direct threat to his profits, so he had to intervene.

“Uncle Chen, Uncle Lin, there’s no need! It’s just a net—I can make another,” Qin Zhen said, not out of fear. With Lin San’s men, dealing with Scar Brother’s gang would be easy.

His worry was about the bandits.

Lin San couldn’t stay in the fishing village forever; if the bandits took advantage, the village would suffer. Besides, favors are precious—Qin Zhen valued Lin San’s help and didn’t want to waste it on Scar Brother.

“I want to handle Scar Brother myself,” Qin Zhen said seriously. “Uncle Lin, trust me—if I really can’t manage it, I won’t hesitate to ask for your help.”

Hearing this, Lin San finally relented.

Chen Shu sulked, his face stern.

After a while, Lin San calmed down, weighing the pros and cons.

“I know you have your own ideas, but don’t rush,” Lin San said gravely. “My connections are all in Wujiang City—I’m not familiar with the situation near the coast. If Scar Brother truly has ties to the Hat Mountain bandits, things could get tricky.”

After all, mountains separated Wujiang City from the coastal city.

Who knew if the Hat Mountain bandits followed the usual rules, or if they were unpredictable lunatics? If things turned violent, Lin San couldn’t guarantee Qin Zhen’s safety.

That was why Qin Zhen hadn’t acted against Scar Brother.

Scar Brother was nothing—but the mountain bandits were the real threat.

“I’ll send someone to investigate the bandits here. Wait for my news,” Lin San said, sensing Qin Zhen’s concern.

“Don’t worry. If it comes to it, I’ll hire some guards for you. These days, as long as you have money, there are plenty of folks willing to protect your home.”