Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 58 The taste of indulgence

"Oh, sir, I can't do it anymore. Let me rest for a while."

At dawn the next day, Zheng Xier's face was tired, her eyes were bloodshot, and she was howling for mercy at Zhang Yunxiu.

Last night was supposed to be their wedding night, but Zhang Yunxiu forced me to memorize numbers the whole night.

By dawn, Zheng Xier felt exhausted both physically and mentally.

Zhang Yunxiu also yawned and looked out the window, seeing that it was already bright outside.

"Okay, that's all for today."

After saying that, he rubbed his eyes, stood up and walked outside.

Zheng Xier was anxious. She hugged Zhang Yunxiu from behind and said in a coquettish and flattering way, "Sir, you are tired after a whole night. Let Xier serve you and let you rest."

"Weren't you tired just now?"

"I'm not tired now." Zheng Xier blushed and murmured softly.

"Well, keep on carrying it. I'll go out and ask the kitchen to get you some food."

"Son!"

Zheng Xier stamped her feet and hummed in the soft Wu dialect. Before she could continue speaking, she felt someone covering her red lips.

A tingling sensation spread from the head to the whole body.

"It turns out that you are not a piece of wood."

Zheng Xier murmured in her heart and immediately gave Zhang Yunxiu a warm response.

Half an hour later, the wind stopped and the rain stopped.

Zhang Yunxiu got up from the bed, put on his clothes, and considerately pulled the quilt over Zheng Xier to cover her sweaty body.

Zheng Xier was about to stand up to see him off, but Zhang Yunxiu held her shoulders and comforted her, "Just take a good rest. I'll come back to see you later."

"Then sir, is Xier your woman now?" Zheng Xier asked nervously, clutching the quilt tightly.

"Tomorrow, ask Zhang Fu to give you two maids, and you can buy some jewelry and clothes. If you need anything done, go to Zhang Fu. If he can't do it, tell me."

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't thank me yet. You have to keep working hard. If you still can't fully master these things when I come next time, I won't be polite then."

Zhang Yunxiu threatened Zheng Xier with a stern look, and Zheng Xier nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, and replied, "Don't worry, sir, Xier will definitely satisfy you. I just ask you not to forget Xier."

After tidying up the beautiful woman's messy temples, Zhang Yunxiu stood up and walked out the door.

Inside the house, the blush on Zheng Xier's face had not yet faded.

As soon as Zhang Yunxiu left, she closed her eyes and savored the taste and ambiguity just now. Her oval face turned red and was so hot that it could cook an egg.

On the other side, Zhang Yunxiu went straight to the dining room.

Zhang Fu had been waiting here for a long time. He came over with a smile and said jokingly, "Sir, I thought you would not get up until noon today. I didn't expect you to get up so early."

As he spoke, he noticed the dark circles under Zhang Yunxiu's eyes and thought to himself: Being young is good. I'm afraid he must have put a lot of effort into that woman this evening. Look how tired he is.

Zhang Yunxiu yawned, glared at Zhang Fu, sat down on the stool, picked up the millet porridge and gulped it down.

After eating two bowls in a row, Zhang Yunxiu looked up and ordered, "Go and give Xi'er some food as well."

"Don't worry, sir. I have already prepared it." Zhang Fu responded respectfully.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded, stood up, stretched, and walked out of the dining room.

Zhang Fu followed closely behind him and asked curiously, "Sir, where are you going so early today?"

"Go and see those craftsmen."

The two of them walked out of the mansion, one in front and one behind, and went straight to where the craftsmen lived.

Fortunately, although this place is a little far from where the craftsmen live, there are not many people passing by, so Zhang Yunxiu arrived at the destination without much effort. It was a dozen low-rise houses crowded together, and there was a large open space on the left side of the houses.

There were a few slightly larger jujube trees growing on it, and the craftsmen tied ropes to them and used them as poles for drying clothes.

Beams of warm sunlight fell from the dome, sprinkling on the clouds and mist in the courtyard, refracting a strange light.

The early-rising craftsman walked out of the room, fetched water to wash, and made a fire to cook.

Bathed in the sunshine, Zhang Yunxiu walked in.

A thin old man came forward and saw that the two men were dressed elegantly. He lowered his hands and asked respectfully, "My dears, who are you looking for?"

"Who is in charge here?" Zhang Fu asked.

"My surname is Fang Youde, and I'm the leader of these craftsmen." The old man smiled and introduced himself to the two of them.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and pulled Fang Youde to sit on the stone bench next to them.

As soon as the two of them sat down, Zhang Yunxiu couldn't wait to ask, "Old sir, how many treasure ships can you craftsmen build in a year?"

"How many?"

Fang Youde was stunned, and looked at Zhang Yunxiu as if he was a fool, then he suppressed his smile and replied: "If you are talking about a large treasure ship like the one that Eunuch Zheng can sail on, we can only build one in one or two years."

"If it is a Fuzhou ship that is 70 to 80 meters long and 20 to 30 meters wide, we can probably build two per year."

"What if the materials and wages are sufficient?" Zhang Yunxiu asked again.

"Give enough?"

There was deep hesitation in Fang Youde's eyes.

When has the imperial court ever provided enough silver?
Not to mention paying the craftsmen their wages, sometimes even the money for the materials for shipbuilding is not enough. They have to delay the process as much as possible, and the craftsmen have no choice but to grit their teeth and accept it.

"Don't worry, if I say I'll give you enough, I'll definitely give you enough."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded. Fang Youde glanced at Zhang Yunxiu, thought for a moment, and continued, "If we provide enough, we can build a large treasure ship a year, and four or five ocean-going pointed-bottomed Fu ships."

"too slow."

"Sir, this is still slow. Shipbuilding is not like planting crops. You can't just plant them and they will grow. We brothers have to work very hard to buy time." Fang Youde said with his eyes wide open.

"How dare you talk like that!"

Zhang Fu stamped his feet and shouted angrily. Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand to signal Zhang Fu to sit down, then looked at Fang Youde: "Well, let's not beat around the bush with you. We called you here to build ships. Build us 20 Fu ships first."

"We won't set a time limit for you. The sooner the better. When the time comes, we'll have a ship that's qualified for inspection and one that's finished. We'll be honest and fair."

Fang Youde was secretly shocked and couldn't help asking, "Who is the young master?"

"Our young master is the son of the Prime Minister and the current emperor's study companion." Zhang Fu pointed at Zhang Yunxiu and said proudly.

Old Man Fang was shocked and saluted him. Zhang Yunxiu held him and asked, "Old man, please tell us the truth. If we calculate the wages based on one ship, more work, more pay, can you build two more ships?"

"Yes." Fang Youde nodded, and then said, "But you have to advance some money. You know, we are a small family and cannot afford to offend big families like you."

"You old thing, do you look down on our young master? Can our young master really lack the little money from your family?" Zhang Fu said, as he was about to grab Fang Youde by the collar.

"Shut up, you!"

Zhang Yunxiu glared at Zhang Fu, then turned to look at Fang Youde: "I can give you some money first."

Now, Fang Youde had nothing to say.

After a moment of silence, he looked at Zhang Yunxiu cautiously and asked with fiery eyes, "Sir, I heard from the Jinyiwei's chief that the court will soon allow our craftsmen to redeem themselves and be freed from the craftsman status?"

"As long as you work hard, I can give you what you want."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)