Chapter 6: The Gigantic Tree of the Secluded Valley

  No need to mention how Tie Tou's family tried to stop him from going to Yiling, nor how he convinced them. Let's just say that Tie Tou arrived at the city of Yiling and followed the address left by Lin Chunhong. The city was incredibly prosperous, with all sorts of small shops lining the streets - fabric stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores... you name it. Everywhere there were signs and flags stretching out, and the sidewalks in front of the shops were packed with peddlers and vendors calling out to passersby, haggling over prices. Tie Tou's eyes widened as he took it all in, looking around in every direction as he walked forward.

  Just as he walked in front of a blacksmith's shop, a quarrelsome voice came over, and Iron Head vaguely heard that it seemed to be Zheng Tiancheng's voice, so he went over.

  Upon looking inside, it was indeed Zheng Tiancheng and a few others arguing with the blacksmith.

  "Master Fu, you're too black-hearted! Five saws and you actually charged me six taels of silver!" Zheng Tiancheng's face turned red with anger as he argued.

  "Isn't it expensive? You don't see how big this saw is, and how much good steel and effort I put into it? Just for these few saws, I spent a whole month's worth of work!"

  "Good steel? I don't see it, a good steel saw will shine, but this tooth doesn't shine at all. You say you put in effort, look, there are still so many burrs here, is this what you call putting in effort?" Zheng Tiancheng picked up the saw and pointed, saying. Then he added, "This saw of yours is really too poorly made, I won't say more, four taels of silver!" The people next to him immediately started teasing: "That's right, that's right, such a poor saw we'll still take, it's only fair to you."

  The blacksmith snatched the saw away and muttered: "Four taels of silver? I'd rather not sell it to you."

  At this time, Zheng Tiancheng saw Tie Tou coming in and exclaimed with surprise: "Tie Tou, you've finally come! Chun Hong said that you would definitely come over in a few days, but it's not beyond his expectations!"

  Tie Tou saw Zheng Tian Cheng and was also delighted. He asked: "Chun Hong? Didn't you used to call him Xiao San?"

  "No, after we came to Yiling this time, he would not agree to us calling him Xiao San again. He said that if we still call him Xiao San, it's like we're in a hurry, and also said that only a woman who steals someone else's husband is called Xiao San. I couldn't fight back, so I just called him Chun Hong instead." By the end of this, Zheng Tiancheng couldn't help but laugh.

  Tie Tou also smiled, then he picked up the saw and found it to be completely different from what he had seen in peacetime. The blade was much thicker than others and there was no wooden frame, only two handles were installed on both sides.

  Zheng Tiānchéng saw Tie Tóu's confusion and explained, "Chún Hóng said that to fell a giant tree, four people are needed to pull it." Tie Tóu also didn't know if this saw was really good, and asked, "Normally when felling trees, isn't an axe used? Can this saw really work?"

  "Of course, Chun Hong has tried it with a knife and it's labor-saving, fast in speed, and also..."

  "Are you going to buy it or not?" The blacksmith next to them couldn't help but get impatient as they only chatted among themselves.

  Zheng Tiānchéng saw that the drying was almost done, and said: "Alright, I won't haggle anymore either. The fixed price is four taels and two mace!"

  "Not good, five ounces!"

  "Four strings of cash for three!"

  The blacksmith fell silent for a moment, then let out a sigh and said, "Alright, I'll sell it to you. Consider me unlucky!"

  A few people paid and carried away five big saws.

  Not far from walking out, a middle-aged man quickly caught up with them, blocked in front of him and said: "Please stay for a few people."

  Several people took a closer look and saw that the man was dressed in luxurious clothes, exuding an air of wealth from head to toe. At first glance, it was clear that he was a wealthy businessman. This man had been at the blacksmith's shop just now, witnessing the whole process of Zheng Tiancheng haggling over prices.

  Zheng Tiānchéng was puzzled and stepped forward with a fist in his hand, saying: "I don't know what instructions this uncle has?"

  Guan Renmei smiled and said: "Little brother, where did you graduate from? Are you interested in following me to do some small business?"

  "Uncle has spoiled the young master, how would he know how to do business?" Zheng Tiancheng had studied for a few days when he was young and was particularly sensitive to numbers, and his speech also carried a bit of a literary flavor.

  Gu Renmei burst out laughing: "You can't do business, then there's no one in the world who can do business. A trivial six taels of silver transaction, and you've used so many tricks."

  Zheng Tiānchéng chuckled and said, "When I was young, I often followed my father to sell fish, which made Uncle laugh."

  "Come on! Follow me and I'll show you what a real deal looks like."

  "I don't know how to address you, uncle? My brothers and I are preparing to do something on our own, so we can't follow your wishes."

  Kuan Jen Mei's face showed a hint of disappointment, but it was fleeting. He replied: "I am Kuan Jen Mei. I won't force you to come with me now. When you've thought things through, look for me at the Fook Man Lou in East City."

  "It's actually Manager Guan, sorry for the disrespect."

  ……

  Farewell to Guan Renmei, Tie Tou asked Zheng Tiancheng who those people were next to him. It turned out that these people were some of the laborers recruited by Lin Chunhong at Yiling Dock, preparing to go into the mountains to cut wood. Among them was a 15 or 16-year-old boy named Xiao Daizi, whom Lin Chunhong saw as clever and recruited, without caring whether he had enough physical strength.

  Tie Tou said to Zheng Tiancheng: "You've been talking nonsense with that guy surnamed Guan for so long, why didn't you just directly refuse him?"

  "Many familiar faces on many roads, since we are preparing to do business, it's also good to know more people." Zheng Tiancheng replied.

  Xiao Daizi was young and couldn't keep things to himself, so he hastily called out: "Tian Chengge is really something! These past few days, everything from the realgar to the clothes, ropes, axes, and even two small wooden boats were all bought by him. He can always get them cheaper than others. Lin Sange said that with Tian Chengge around, they've saved over ten taels of silver in just these few days."

  Zheng Tiānchéng was greatly embarrassed, trying to grab Xiao Dai's ear, but Xiao Dai cleverly dodged to the side. Zheng Tiānchéng didn't succeed and laughed, scolding: "You won't die from not speaking!"

  Everyone burst out laughing, and Tie Tou continued to ask: "Xiao San... where did Chun Hong get so much money?"

  "He's really going all out this time, it feels like he's betting everything on one throw."

  Tie Tou asked some questions about the preparations, and Zheng Tiancheng answered them one by one. Before long, they arrived at Lin Chunhong's residence. Lin Chunhong was overjoyed to see Tie Tou arrive, and everyone drank wine to celebrate without mentioning anything else.

  In the first year of Chongzhen (1628), on September 10th, Lin Chunhong and Zhou Wang set off with twelve people in two small boats they had purchased. When there was wind, they hoisted sails; when there was no wind, they personally got ashore to pull the boat upstream against the clear river. Along the way, they saw white clouds surrounding green mountains, monkeys playing among the trees, and everyone's mood was cheerful and optimistic. Except for Zhou Wang and Li Chengzong, the other ten people were all around twenty years old; along the way, there were constant sounds of laughter and scolding.

  There was another one who was absent-minded, that is Zhou Wang. He had been thinking about what Lin Chunhong came to discuss with him. A few days before Lin Chunhong left, he told Zhou Wang that the most important things in this world are money and people, we lack both now, and it's unknown when we can avenge our father. Relying solely on the government to eliminate Wu Gan is no better than hoping for lightning to strike him dead. Going into the mountains to cut wood and earn money is important, but so is feeding a group of men, which will come in handy sooner or later. When our people grow in number, we can use military tactics to train them, and it shouldn't be difficult to take revenge on Wu Gan. Moreover, with money and people, we can establish connections with the government, secure an official position, and use the government's power to eliminate bandits with less effort.

  Zhou Wang faintly felt that Lin Chunhong's purpose was not just to avenge his father. He thought of the internal and external troubles of the Ming Dynasty, like a huge broken ship struggling in the stormy waves, with the possibility of capsizing at any time. Zhou Wang believed that Lin Chunhong's ambitions were not small. Zhou Wang was naturally delighted to see Lin Chunhong having grand ambitions and was willing to venture out with him. Although his desire for achievement had faded a lot as he grew older, Zhou Wang still had an air of pride and a heroic spirit in his bones, so he readily agreed to help Lin Chunhong train.

  "Lin Ge, you have a son who is now even unrecognizable to yourself!" Zhou Wang muttered to himself.

  Just now, Zhou Wang's face showed a self-mocking smile. Now that it has just begun, why think so far ahead and care about so much? First earn the money and then talk.

  A group of people went upstream for two days and finally arrived at Geliyan, Lin Chunhong and Zhou Wang had explored many places around Qingjiang before choosing Geliyan. The young people cheered as they landed, just like Jinshan beckoning in front.

  Zhou Wang shouted from behind: "What's the hurry? Hurry back to fetch tools and food, the mountain road ahead will take at least another day!"

  The young people returned to the boat, laughing and joking, each carrying some things, under Lin Chunhong's leadership, heading deep into the mountains along the small stream in the valley. The mountain road was rugged, and soon the young people put away their laughter and replaced it with heavy panting sounds. Fortunately, these people were all from a poor and hardworking background, their strength may not be very great, but their endurance was absolutely first-rate. Their feet became heavier and heavier, their panting sounds louder and louder, their waists bent lower and lower, until they were like dogs, using all four limbs to climb up the mountain.

  The most flexible one in the group was surprisingly Xiao Dai, who was as agile as a monkey, and the bundle he carried did not affect his speed at all. Zhou Wang and Li Chengzong, on the other hand, were middle-aged men whose physical strength was no match for that of younger people, and they gradually fell behind. After a day of arduous trekking, the group finally arrived at a valley before nightfall, which was chosen by Zhou Wang and Lin Chunhong as their campsite. The valley was located beside a stream, covering an area of about five mu, with lush shrubs growing everywhere. The group rested for a while, then quickly cleared a piece of land, sprinkled some quicklime on it, and settled down for the night.

  Although the sky was almost completely dark, everyone vaguely saw the dense forest around them, and they were all excited, as if these giant trees had turned into silver coins in their pockets.