Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 5 Taking on a Little Apprentice

This Li Xiaoshi is clearly a master of painting cakes. He improvised a big cake for Zheng Yi for two hours, talking about national justice and family and country feelings.

They talked about his father's resignation from office to start the revolution, the recent September 18th Incident in China, the Qing army's entry into the pass, the Opium War, the Magna Carta of Britain, and Washington of the United States.

He spoke passionately and with great ambition, leaving Zheng Yi stunned.

Zheng Yi actually got the feeling that he was repairing machines for the country's rise.

If Zheng Yi had not been knowledgeable and experienced after traveling through time, he might have sold himself to him in a fit of rage.

It was more than two hours of big talk, but apart from the first sentence that the salary would definitely satisfy you, there was no mention of any remuneration.

You just feed me bread, you don't even give me saliva!
Finally, Li Xiaoshi asked him to stay in the mine and do whatever he wanted. If he needed money, he could withdraw it from the account. He said he was going to discuss with other tin mine owners and would come to see him again in a few days, so he left in a hurry.

Before leaving, he arranged for Manager Lao Wu to vacate his dormitory for Zheng Yi so that he could find another place to live.

Zheng Yi was really touched by this.

This time, no one at the mine said he was a money-loser, so he moved directly into the manager's room. Although it was not luxurious, it was spacious and comfortable. Other people at the mine looked at Zheng Yi with respect.

Aren’t things gradually getting better these days?
When it was time for dinner, Zheng Yi wanted to go to the canteen to get some food, but he saw a young man who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, already waiting outside his yard with a smile on his face. When he saw him come out, he bowed and greeted him repeatedly.

"you are?"

"Hello, Mr. Zheng. I'm Manager Wu's son. My name is Wu Wenhao."

"Oh~"

Zheng Yi couldn't help scratching his head, turned around and glanced at the spacious "dormitory", and said, "I have occupied your room, right?"

Wu Wenhao shook his head and said, "This is not our room. This is a room at the mine, belonging to Taiyou Mining. Sir, you are the most capable person at the mine, so naturally you should live here."

"Ah... Actually, I'm alone, so I don't really need such a big room. How about you move back? And then find me a smaller one."

Wu Wenhao shook his head even more vigorously this time, repeatedly saying, "Don't be ridiculous, um...my dad just went to the city and said he's going to buy you a new set of silk bedding. He'll replace it when he comes back tonight, and he'll also get new cups, bowls, plates, and other daily necessities for you."

"Uh... no need."

"Yes, yes, my father said that you are a very capable person. Even the eldest young master thinks highly of you."

Wu Wenhao put the paper bag on the table and said, "I heard that you are from Fuzhou, so my father asked my mother to make Fuzhou rice noodles for you.
And here are fish balls. These are boiled fish balls, fried fish balls, and our Nanyang specialty, curry fish balls. Here we also have roast chicken, bacon, peanuts, and wine."

As they were talking, the table was already full.

"Please try it. My mother is from Fuqing. I don't know if her cooking will suit your taste. If you're not satisfied with anything, just tell me and I'll make it for you tomorrow."

"Your mother did it?" Zheng Yi was really flattered for a moment, but at the same time, he couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

He was not that interested in the fish balls, but he was drooling over the fat and fragrant pieces of pork, staring at them with his eyes wide open.

Ever since he came here, he has not had any food in his stomach. He has been drinking rice porridge for every meal. He is really greedy.

But he also knew that when you show courtesy to others, you must have something to ask for. Manager Wu was the manager of the entire tin mine and must be a close confidant of the Li family.

He was just a skilled worker, even a skilled expert, and at most he was on the same level as the manager. No matter what, there was no reason for him to try to curry favor with him like that.

"Your father... doesn't he have something to ask of me? Better tell me first, otherwise I won't be able to enjoy this feast and wine in peace."

As he spoke, he swallowed his saliva repeatedly and his eyes uncontrollably glanced at the huge table of delicious food.

But Wu Wenhao, upon hearing this, fell to his knees and said, "Sir, I would like to ask you to accept me as your apprentice. I will learn from you and serve you in the future, accepting your orders and scoldings. When I learn the skills, I will serve you as I would my parents. Please accept me."

After saying that, Wu Wenhao kowtowed heavily, and the kowtow was particularly loud.

"Um... is that all?"

Wu Wenhao nodded.

Zheng Yi was at a loss for words. He quickly helped the child up and told him to sit down. He said, "It's just learning something. Why is it so necessary? Have you ever been to school?"

"Yes, I went to middle school. I can read and do a little math."

"That's fine, good boy. As long as you are willing to learn, I will teach you."

"Thank you, master!"

The child was so happy as if he had won the lottery. He jumped up and down with joy. Without saying a word, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times with extremely loud bangs. He didn't mind the pain. With a purple forehead, he went to rummage through the drawers to find tea leaves to make tea.

This was originally his home. Zheng Yi didn't even know where the tea leaves were, but he was able to find them. After a while, he made a cup of boiling hot tea and came back. He knelt on the ground respectfully, raised the cup high above his head and said, "Master, please have some tea."

Zheng Yi sighed and said, "Why do we have to do this? We are overseas now, and this is all old feudal customs back home."

"Yes, yes. My father said that even though we are overseas, we must not lose our Chinese culture. Besides, respecting teachers is always a good thing. Please give me some tea, Master."

"Well...whatever."

Although it was a bad habit, Zheng Yi had to admit that it was a bad habit that was beneficial to him, so he accepted it with pleasure.

He came across without any memory of his previous life. He was helpless and alone in Nanyang. Without familiar household appliances, even life was inconvenient. It was quite necessary to have an apprentice who could be ordered around at any time.

(End of this chapter)