Global colonization began with Ming Dynasty pirates.

Upon hearing Shen Wangshu's resigned reply, Lin Hao immediately smiled and ordered his men to bring over some pastries.

"Haha, Uncle Shen, you're too kind. The Lin and Shen families live in the same county, we're neighbors, why resort to fighting all the time? That's so undignified." Lin Hao smiled warmly, his tone gentle. "As long as the conflict between the two families can be resolved, how could I, as a junior, be disrespectful to my elders?"

"Then... how do we resolve this conflict?" Shen Wangshu couldn't figure out Lin Hao's intentions, so she could only ask in accordance with his words.

"It's quite simple," Lin Hao said casually. "Uncle Shen knows that your father's underhanded tactics have really damaged the harmony between our two families. But I'm not one to hold grudges, so I'll let it go."

At this point, his voice gradually turned cold: "But just because I don't hold it against you doesn't mean things will be over. My father and several uncles are still bedridden and recovering from their injuries, and my grandfather, at his advanced age, has suffered imprisonment—as his descendants, this is an utter disgrace and a great act of filial impiety! Uncle Shen, do you understand how I feel?"

"This... there's probably a misunderstanding. I'm just here on orders..." Shen Wangshu hurriedly explained.

"Shen Wangshu!"

Lin Hao slammed his hand on the table with a sudden, loud bang, startling Shen Wangshu. Then, Lin Hao softened his tone, but his words sounded incredibly chilling to Shen Wangshu:

"Your steward, Shen... has confessed everything. Logically, I should have killed you outright. I'm giving you this chance now, hoping you... won't be ungrateful."

The shout and the shock jolted Shen Wangshu awake—this "junior" before him was none other than the ruthless man who had led his men to defeat his men and capture him alive earlier that day. Hearing "Butler Shen has confessed," he immediately understood that the other party was genuinely leaving him a way out.

After all, considering what the Shen family did to the Lin family, from any perspective, he deserved to die. There was absolutely no way they would treat him so "politely."

Shen Wangshu's forehead was beaded with cold sweat. Lin Hao's gentle yet sharp gaze was scraping against his taut nerves inch by inch.

He took a deep breath, and when he looked up again, his dejection was tinged with a hint of determination.

"Since Nephew Lin has put it this way," Shen Wangshu's voice was somewhat hoarse, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat, "I dare not beat around the bush any longer. But I wonder, what exactly does Nephew Lin want?"

Lin Hao didn't answer immediately. He picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, slowly took a bite, and then picked up his teacup to skim off the foam. His leisurely demeanor was completely different from the fierce manner he had displayed when he slammed his fist on the table just now, which made Shen Wangshu even more uneasy.

"Uncle Shen is a wise man." Lin Hao finally put down his teacup, the porcelain lightly clinking against the wooden table. "My Lin family has suffered such great losses because of the Shen family, and now we have even become pirates. It can be said that the future of the entire family has been ruined by you. At this time, it is not unreasonable for me to ask for some compensation."

"Not at all, not at all." Shen Wangshu nodded repeatedly, sweat beading on his forehead, then cautiously asked, "I wonder what exactly you mean by compensation, my dear nephew?"

"That's simple," Lin Hao said to Shen Wangshu, pointing to the room. "Look at us, we've been forced to go to sea, and now we're living in these dilapidated houses that would collapse in the wind. We don't know where our next meal will come from, and life is really tough."

"Nephew, you mean money? I can't make that decision. My grandfather has to agree." Shen Wangshu said with a headache. If he could, he would trade all of the Shen family's assets for his life, but he didn't have the final say on that.

"Uncle Shen, you've misunderstood." Lin Hao picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip. Then he said, "I lack everything here, so naturally I want everything. I like silver, and I'd prefer supplies. I also don't mind people; I'd be happy if there were craftsmen, especially blacksmiths and shipwrights. Besides, I'm not doing business with the Shen family; Uncle Shen, you're using your resources to save your life. Uncle Shen should carefully consider what I might be interested in, or rather... information."

Shen Wangshu now understood that Lin Hao simply wanted her to betray the Shen family in exchange for benefits, and not just the Shen family, but anything she could offer.

He could understand wanting money and supplies, but what was the point of having blacksmiths and shipwrights? Did they intend to build ships on this wretched island? He really couldn't understand it. With money, what couldn't they buy? If they didn't have ships, they could just buy them. Keeping people around was such a hassle.

But this is even better, otherwise Shen Wangshu really wouldn't know what to use to save his life.

"Nephew, you've come to the right person. Although I don't have any money, I know where you can find the person you're talking about." Shen Wangshu's words surprised Lin Hao slightly. There really was someone like that.

"Oh? Please tell me in detail, Uncle Shen. But let me make this clear first, don't tell me you're going to the city to kidnap people or anything like that, that would be insincere."

"Cough cough, how could that be? Don't worry, nephew, these people are easy to get, and there will be no trouble afterward." Shen Wangshu was afraid that Lin Hao would misunderstand, so he quickly added, "Half a month ago, our water fortress cooperated with the government to raid a private boathouse, which had a large number of shipwrights and carpenters inside, just what you need, nephew."

"The government is raiding?" Lin Hao was taken aback, then said unhappily, "If it's the government raiding, what does it have to do with me? Am I supposed to go to jail and snatch someone away?"

"Hehe, the interesting thing is that although the boat shop was raided, only the owner of the boat shop was actually imprisoned. All the other workers were sent to a place called Lutou Village to do hard labor. Lutou Village is right by the sea. My nephew, you can easily achieve your goal by sailing there."

And that's not all; a month ago, another group of people were sent here to repair the road. Most of these people were craftsmen, which perfectly met my nephew's requirements.

"This is too much of a coincidence." Lin Hao immediately became alert. So many people he needed were gathered together; it all seemed suspicious.

"Ahem, it's not a coincidence at all." Shen Wangshu coughed awkwardly, then explained, "These people were deliberately placed here, and their current predicament was even intentionally designed, just waiting for them to suffer enough here before someone comes to take them away."

"Hmm? This can be designed too?" Lin Hao suddenly found it interesting, and then continued to ask, "Uncle Shen, could you explain it more clearly?"

"All of this was arranged by the Zhang family of Fuzhou. This is not the first time this has happened. The Zhang family runs several large shipyards, and most of the ships in the Fujian sea area are made by them. What they are most famous for is their free craftsmen."

The craftsmen acquired through this method not only worked diligently, but were also willing to work for free, since they were now fugitives.

"Hiss!" Lin Hao gasped. The Zhang family was really good at this. They were so adept at reducing costs, much like those European capitalists.