To Tang Dongdong, the spinning wheel in front of her was already remarkable, yet Jin Feng told her it could still be improved.
This made her heart race, and she pressed, “How much faster could it get after improvements?”
“It’s hard to say, too many factors are involved.”
Jin Feng couldn’t help but recall visiting a textile factory during his school days.
A hundred-metre-long textile machine, filled with shuttles zipping back and forth, made the spinning wheel before him look like a child’s toy.
But with Da Kang’s current industrial level, building such a machine was a pipe dream.
Power, materials, craftsmanship, all were problems. Even if Jin Feng devoted his entire life to it, success wasn’t guaranteed.
“What factors?”
Tang Dongdong kept digging.
“Let’s not talk about that. I’ve answered your questions, so shouldn’t you answer mine?”
Jin Feng, finding it hard to explain industrial issues to Tang Dongdong, changed the subject. “Are you planning to sell the spinning wheel outright or find investors to start a workshop?”
“Only a fool would sell such a treasure…”
“So, you’re calling me a fool?”
“Uh…”
Tang Dongdong, realising her mistake, rubbed her nose awkwardly. “How about we partner up to start a workshop? I guarantee you and Sister Xiaorou will live a life of wealth.”
“I have the spinning wheel, and you’re so poor you can’t even pay taxes. What do you bring to the partnership?”
“I can manage the workshop,” Tang Dongdong said confidently. “I know where to get the cheapest hemp, and where to sell the thread and cloth for the best price. Do you know those things?”
“Sounds like you know the textile trade well.”
Jin Feng shook his head candidly.
He could improve the spinning wheel, but the things Tang Dongdong mentioned were completely beyond him.
“Of course. My family’s been in textiles for three generations. If it weren’t for my father…”
Tang Dongdong’s voice trailed off, her mood shifting. She sniffled, looked up at Jin Feng, and said, “Anyway, I can promise you, give me the spinning wheel, and you and Sister Xiaorou will live well.”
“Anyone can make empty promises. Tell me your actual plan.”
Learning that Tang Dongdong came from a textile family, Jin Feng’s interest was piqued.
But he didn’t agree or refuse outright, wanting to hear her ideas first.
“I was going to take the spinning wheel to the city and partner with my father’s old friends to make money quickly. But those old foxes are sharp, and with my family fallen, they’d drive a hard bargain. So, let’s not bother with them.”
“Right, just tell me how you plan to partner with me.”
Jin Feng had no interest in scheming with a bunch of old foxes either.
“I’ve calculated it. This spinning wheel spins five to six times faster than the old ones. If Sister Xiaorou and I take turns spinning non-stop, in ten days at most, we’d earn enough to buy wood for another spinning wheel. Then I could hire two women workers. Even after paying them, in fifteen days at most, we’d earn enough for another spinning wheel and hire two more workers.
Keep going like this, and in a year at most, we could be Jinchuan’s biggest workshop!”
Tang Dongdong’s eyes sparkled as she stared at Jin Feng. “What do you think?”
Honestly, Jin Feng was tempted.
Tang Dongdong’s plan was simple but effective. Most capitalists’ initial wealth accumulation started this way.
The early stages might be tough, but once on track, he could be a hands-off boss, earning money while lounging at home.
He had the technical skills, Tang Dongdong had the connections and workshop management experience. They complemented each other perfectly for a partnership.
“How would we split the profits?”
Even brothers settle accounts clearly. It’s best to agree on profit-sharing upfront to avoid disputes later.
The spinning wheel is mine, I’ll need to improve it later, and Xiaorou will be spinning early on…
Jin Feng mentally tallied his bargaining chips, determined to secure the biggest share.
But to his surprise, Tang Dongdong shook her head and said, “No splitting!”
“No splitting? What do you mean?”
“I’ll marry you as a concubine, so there’s no need to split.”
“Cough, cough!”
Jin Feng choked, coughing violently at Tang Dongdong’s words.
Weren’t women in feudal times supposed to be reserved?
Why were the ones he met so bold?
His new wife was always nagging him to take a concubine, and now here was another offering herself up?
Was Da Kang’s culture this open?
Guan Xiaorou, standing nearby, looked delighted. “Dongdong, you’ve finally come around? That’s great! Come on, let’s go to Grandma Fifth’s to get your things…”
“Hold on!”
Jin Feng grabbed Guan Xiaorou and turned to Tang Dongdong. “Why?”
Guan Xiaorou married him because she had no other choice.
But Tang Dongdong clearly wasn’t in such dire straits.
Why was she so eager to marry herself off?
Did she fancy him?
Jin Feng wasn’t vain enough to believe that.
Tang Dongdong must have another reason.
“Sister Xiaorou says you’re a scholar, you never hit women, and you’re a tiger-slaying hero, the best match in the nearby villages. Isn’t it normal for me to want to marry you?”
Tang Dongdong countered.
“I want the truth.”
“That is the truth,” Tang Dongdong said. “Even if I scrape together next year’s taxes, I won’t manage the year after. I’ll have to marry eventually, so why not you instead of some village brute?”
“Fine, if you won’t say, forget it.”
Jin Feng patted his trousers and headed for the door.
Just before reaching it, a sigh came from behind, followed by Tang Dongdong’s voice. “Alright, I admit, I want to marry you for another reason.”
“That’s more like it,” Jin Feng turned and said. “What’s the reason?”
“I want to revive my family’s business and defeat the Zhou family.”
Tang Dongdong clenched her fists, gritting her teeth.
“Which Zhou family?”
Jin Feng racked his host’s memories, only recalling one Zhou family.
They were from West River Bay, living opposite Zhang Liang’s house.
But the man of that house died in battle two years ago, leaving only a ten-year-old daughter. It couldn’t be the Zhou family Tang Dongdong meant.
“The biggest cloth merchant in the county city, Zhou Changlin!”
Tang Dongdong said, enunciating each word.
“What does defeating the Zhou family have to do with marrying me?”
Jin Feng was even more puzzled.
“You said the spinning wheel could be improved further but then clammed up, so I know you don’t trust me.
The spinning wheel is yours, and I’ve told you my plan. You could easily cut me out and do it yourself, leaving me with nothing.
And if partners aren’t united, the business won’t grow big. Only by marrying you can I earn your trust and support, and the workshop can grow as fast as possible.”
Tang Dongdong gave a bitter smile. “That’s my thinking. If you still don’t believe me, I can’t do anything about it.”
“I believe you.”
“So, you agree to marry me?”
“No!”
