Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 6: Flattered Treatment

At the beginning of the 20th century, the mining areas in Southeast Asia were mechanized at a very fast pace.

In 1920, there were only 10 excavators in the whole of British Malaya, but by 1930, there were 160 excavators, and the number was increasing at an increasingly rapid rate, almost expanding exponentially.

The traditional production model of the Chinese in Southeast Asia is to exploit workers desperately, and often mix rubber plantations and tin mines together to fully release the labor of workers.

At the same time, they would grow opium next to the rubber plants and sell it to the workers, and open gambling houses and brothels, trying every possible way to make back the wages paid to the workers through prostitution, gambling, and drugs.

Faced with the sudden so-called machinery craze, few Chinese bosses in Southeast Asia could actually play it right. Li Xiaoshi, a top student returning from Cambridge, was considered knowledgeable, while other Chinese mine owners were far inferior to him.

With such a traditional labor culture and piggyback culture, and the fact that machines have only been introduced to the Nanyang mining areas for a short time, the Chinese now don’t even know how to use the machines, let alone how to maintain and repair them.

In such a large mining area, there is really no one who can repair these advanced machines.

Even in the whole of Kuala Lumpur, it is very likely that there are not many Chinese who can repair this thing. If someone's machine breaks down, they will ask the British or Dutch to repair it.

After all, which good person would go to Southeast Asia these days? The truly capable Chinese are either in the West, in the East, or have returned to their home country after completing their studies.

Scarcity makes things valuable, and this principle applies everywhere. Zheng Yi himself had no idea how much shock the other workers in the mine had received from his skill in repairing the machine yesterday.

When he got up early in the morning and went out, he found that everyone in the mine was avoiding him. When they saw him, they would immediately stop what they were doing, bow to him, and say respectfully, "Hello, Mr. Zheng."

This respect made him extremely uncomfortable for a while. Those who didn't know would think that Li Xiaoshi gave the mining area to him and let him be his own boss.

"Master, are you here to get your meal? Please sit down, sit down."

Yesterday's new apprentice, Wu Wenhao, showed a courtesy that made Zheng Yi very uncomfortable. He smiled like a tortoise and used his sleeves as a rag to wipe all the tables, chairs and benches in the cafeteria before inviting him to sit down.

"It doesn't have to be this way, it doesn't have to be this way."

As Zheng Yi was about to sit down, the other people eating in the cafeteria all stood up and saluted him, saying, "Hello, Mr. Zheng."

Zheng Yi was so frightened that he almost fell down.

Although he was a technician in his previous life, it is not an exaggeration to say that he could call himself a scientist. He had been shouting the slogan of attaching importance to science since he joined the unit until he died suddenly from drinking, but it seemed that he was just shouting it with his mouth.

Whenever they go out to eat, it is always these scientists who take the initiative to toast the leaders.

Zheng Yi was really flattered by being treated like this suddenly, and even felt a little helpless, not knowing what to do.

"Master, please sit down and wait for a moment. I'll go get you some food. Would you like some wine?"

"What kind of nice person drinks so early in the morning?"

"Oh, then I'll make you some tea."

Afterwards, Wu Wenhao went to the kitchen and worked for a while, and soon brought up a whole tray of food.

"I don't know what you like to eat, so my father asked my mother to cook a little bit of everything, including Yangzhou braised pork, Shandong roast chicken, Fujian rice noodles, and Guangdong rice rolls. Look, what do you like to eat? I will ask my mother to cook it for you tomorrow.

Oh, and here's some top-quality Fujian Tieguanyin tea, brewed especially for you. My dad bought it yesterday when he went back to the city. Try it, is it to your liking?"

Zheng Yi was so stunned that he didn't dare to move his chopsticks. He asked, "Your mother... can cook so many dishes?"

"Hehe, in reply to Master, my mother used to be the cook in the master's house. My father said that he married her because of her good cooking skills.

I've learned from my mother and wanted to serve my master myself, but she said I'm clumsy. Since we're still at the mine, she'll do it herself so you can eat comfortably. "This... why do you have to do this? I don't deserve it."

As he spoke, Zheng Yi couldn't help but look at the workers who were eating together in the shed. Seeing that they were eating ordinary oil-soaked rice with pickles, he felt even more uncomfortable.

There is definitely a sense of superiority, but it is more or less a little uncomfortable.

He also knew that in the Nanyang Chinese society of this era, even a relatively progressive family like the Lee family could not help but retain a lot of feudal ideas, with people divided into different classes. But he came from modern society after all, and he could not help but be pretentious in his heart.

"From now on, when it's time to eat, you can help me get the food and we can eat at home. There's no need to come to the cafeteria."

"Yes, Master."

"I've eaten two delicious meals from your mother in a row, and I feel uneasy. If your mother has time, I should still visit her to express my gratitude."

Wu Wenhao: "Master, you are joking again. My parents told me yesterday that if you were free today, they would come to visit you with the apprenticeship gift. How can you visit them?
As for this little food, it's just a small token of my mother's appreciation. Why should you take it so seriously?"

Zheng Yi also knew that the relationship between master and apprentice in feudal society was rather complicated, so he followed the local customs and nodded in agreement. He took the chopsticks from the chopstick holder and handed them to him, saying, "Alright, let's eat together."

Wu Wenhao was still shaking his head and refusing, saying that he would just eat a bun, but Zheng Yi laughed and scolded him, "This is made by your mother, how can you not eat it?

It's so early in the morning, with roast chicken and braised pork, how can I eat so much? Is it a waste if I can't finish it? Hurry up and serve it quickly. Don't be so pretentious, it makes me unhappy.

"hey-hey."

Wu Wenhao scratched his head and then sat down embarrassedly.

In fact, his mother did so much just to bring out his share. After all, his father was the mine manager and a confidant of the Li family. Although Wu Wenhao was not a young master on weekdays, he was definitely from a middle-class family with a good life. How could he be accustomed to the food rich in oil and salt in the mine?
While eating, Zheng Yi asked casually, "Xiao Wu, how long have you been at the mine?"

"I grew up in the mines. I'm fourteen now, so it's been fourteen years."

"Have you ever seen the young lady?"

"Miss? I've met her once, but she rarely comes to the mine."

After saying that, Wu Wenhao's eyes twitched and he said, "Young Miss, you are beautiful and kind-hearted. You are so pretty. I heard that you are the most beautiful girl in Kuala Lumpur. Many young talents are pursuing you. Master, why are you asking this? Could it be..."

"Don't let your imagination run wild. I'm just asking. The young lady saved my life, but unfortunately, I've only met her maid, Xiaohuan, and haven't met the young lady yet to thank her in person. You said she doesn't usually come to the mine, so why would her maid be there?"

"I actually know that. My dad told me that Sister Xiao Huan was asked by the eldest lady to look after you at the mine."

"Oh~, so that's how it is."

Zheng Yi thought about it and realized that it was indeed Xiaohuan who took care of him for more than half a month. But except for the first few days when she boiled medicine for him every day, Xiaohuan rarely came to see him after he was able to get out of bed.

The so-called taking care of him was to bring him a bowl of rice porridge at mealtime every day and call him a money-loser.

Humph, you silly girl, you are clearly being lazy and not listening to the eldest lady.

In name, he is taking care of himself, but apart from making porridge for himself, who knows where he goes to play the rest of the time.

Just after saying this, Zheng Yi became more and more curious about the young lady.

At the dock that day, he was exhausted and his eyes were blurry. He only remembered that the eldest lady was wearing a green dress and could not see her face clearly. Even if they met again, he probably would not recognize her, which was a pity.

(End of this chapter)