Chapter 16: Haino's Goal

  Storming the new book charts, today's fourth update, brothers all vote! Tomorrow will continue to explode!!!!

  On the last few pages of that old-fashioned account book where there were written words, Zhang Hainuo saw something other than daily income and expenses:

  In October 1915, the northern 40-acre farmland was sold for 450 marks; in November 1915, the eastern 60-acre farmland was sold for 600 marks; in December 1915, the mill and warehouse were sold for 150 marks; in February 1916...

  "These......" Zhang Hainuo was somewhat surprised, but he quickly remembered what the old housekeeper had said yesterday about "things that have been passed down by oneself".

  "Oh, Baron, please wait!" The old butler said as he quickly left the hall. About 2 minutes later, when he returned here, he was still carrying two cloth bags in his hand. The smaller one was only slightly larger than an adult's fist, and the other was about two or three fists in size.

  "Baron, the income from selling the land for these two years is all here. As for the remaining few antiques, I also sold them at the price you instructed! According to your orders, all this money has been exchanged for gold and silver coins!"

  When the old steward solemnly handed the two cloth bags to Zhang Haino, he immediately felt the weight. Opening the fine rope tied at the mouth of one of the cloth bags revealed a pile of yellowish round coins inside.

  "It's a total of 560 gold marks!" The old steward said in a low voice beside him.

  Zhang Haino used two fingers to pinch out a coin from the cloth bag, its front side was the head portrait of William II - Zhang Haino had seen such a head portrait on coins and banknotes more than once since he came to this era, the back side was an eagle emblem with the words "20 Marks" written in numerals and German.

  This is the Goldmark, Germany's hard currency! Even if severe inflation and devaluation of paper money occur, these coins will still stand tall due to their gold content.

  Zhang Hainuo did not count the number of gold coins, but opened another bag. The round coins inside presented a distinctly different color - slightly darker silver white.

  "The total is 1,520 marks in silver coins!" The old steward reported their sum at the right moment.

  This silver coin was also in Zhang Hainuo's pocket, the front is a large Arabic numeral 20, surrounded by text, and the back is a shiny eagle emblem. The 650 mark war injury allowance was issued in a mixed form of silver coins and banknotes - 10 silver coins with a face value of 20 marks plus 450 marks in banknotes, while Zhang Hainuo had spent about 100 marks on food and hiring a carriage before. It can be seen that people are more willing to accept silver coins than banknotes now, and choosing to store hard currency rather than paper money is also a wiser move as the war goes on.

  Zhang Hainuo retied the two cloth bags and placed them on the table in front of him. He looked up and asked the old housekeeper:

  "Do you know why we have to sell our land and antiques for this money?"

  "You only mentioned important matters in your letter, and even the servants didn't dare to ask more questions. But I remember you mentioning before that you wanted to go into business after retirement, so I think this should be related to that!" The old housekeeper said cautiously.

  "Going into business..." This was quite unexpected for Zhang Hainuo, he didn't think that someone who was proficient in torpedo technology and had a good reputation in the navy would be interested in retiring to do business, but his intuition told him that things wouldn't be as simple as they seemed on the surface, if it wasn't because he had discovered some hidden business opportunity, then there must be another reason.

  "So you know why I want to go into business?"

  Zhang Hainuo continued to try to get more information from the old housekeeper in a chatting tone.

  The old steward initially shook his head, but Zhang Hainuo still keenly caught the changes in his eyes - the deep blue eyes that were full of kindness and respect earlier now had a few more worries and helplessness.

  "It doesn't matter, I just want to hear your opinion!" Zhang Hainuo deliberately put on an air of nonchalance.

  The old steward hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to express his concerns:

  "Baron, when the old Baron took over the family business from his father, we were still a respected family in Silesia, while the Lübeck family was just ordinary merchants. Because our two families had good relations, the Lübeck family proposed to marry their young daughter Fenna to you when you were still very young! Later, the old Baron was ostracized and cold-shouldered in the military, he eventually chose to retire and spent most of his remaining time and wealth on card tables, while the Lübeck family became richer and even connected with the nobles in Berlin! Now that the old Baron is gone, we can't complain about a deceased relative. If the Lübeck family thinks we are no longer worthy of them, it only shows they are purely mercantile people who prioritize interests! Baron, please forgive old Hasting for speaking bluntly, men from the Finkenstein family take pride in their military posts and war achievements, none of them engage in commerce or excel at it!"

  Having said that, the old steward lowered his head and stood silently beside him.

  At this moment, Zhang Hainuo finally understood the language of love and suffering in Hainuo's diary. It turned out that he was doing business just to make this family rich again. In this regard, he could help himself, but what significance did that Fen Na still have for him?

  "Ah, Hasting!" Zhang Haino finally knew the name of this housekeeper. He pondered for a moment and made his first decision about his life path: "I think you're right, the Fenkenschtein family is indeed a military family that takes pride in their military service and war achievements. As long as the war continues, as long as Germany doesn't fail, I won't leave the Navy!"

  "Excellent, milord..." The old butler, Hastings, bowed his head slightly towards Zhang Hainuo, as if he saw immense hope in this decision.

  "As for the money, you can take care of it for now!" Zhang Haino thought for a moment, then took out the remaining silver coins and banknotes from his pocket and put them on the table. "Now is the harvest season, let's buy some wheat, flour, smoked meat, sausages and various wines at a good price, and store them properly!"

  "Yes, sir!" Old Hasting neither asked why nor hurried to pick up the money, but continued standing there waiting for further instructions.

  After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Hainuo still decided to ask this question.

  "How has Fen been lately?"

  Old Hastings' expression didn't change at all because of this, and he immediately replied:

  "I heard that the Lübeck family started making military supplies after the war broke out, and they all moved to Berlin! As for Miss Finna, I think she should have gone to Berlin too! If Baron wants their address, I can go ask around!"

  Zhang Hainuo originally thought that Feina's home was not far from here, and maybe he would have the opportunity to see the legendary "fiancée" this time. Unexpectedly, they settled in Berlin, and Zhang Hainuo didn't have the time or energy to go to Berlin again on this trip.