Chapter 58: Brothers

  In response to Zhang Lei's invitation, Zheng Zhihu agreed readily and immediately instructed a few people to stay here and guard the place. The rest of the hundred or so people followed Zhang Lei to the newly built guild hall of the Chamber of Commerce. This was where the Chamber of Commerce would hold discussions and make decisions in the future, as well as receive clients. The location was spacious and the decor was impressive, making it a suitable place for Zheng Zhihu to come to.

  With such a big client coming, everyone naturally became busy. Xu Feng specially asked Er Gou to bring more than ten people to make a big purchase, and also invited the head chef of Ming Yue Lou to take charge of cooking. In just over an hour, they prepared enough delicious food for everyone to feast on. Dozens of jars of fine wine were placed on the table, filling the air with fragrance and making everyone's mouth water.

  "Today, the adults are in a strong position, I suppose that from now on, the Su family will not come to trouble me again. This allows me to develop peacefully, and as a token of gratitude, let's first toast each other with a cup." Zhang Lei filled up a large bowl of wine and said.

  Zheng Zhihu naturally didn't hesitate, and in one gulp he downed the fine wine in his bowl. "Ten-year-old Chen Nian Hua Jiao," he said, "what good wine!"

  Zhang Lei smiled and said: "It turns out that you are a connoisseur of wine, when wine meets the right person, a thousand cups are not enough. Come, let me toast you again."

  "Boss Zhang is so old yet has such a huge capacity, I admire him...". Zheng Zhihu drained the remaining fine wine in his bowl and the two men burst out laughing at each other.

  "Everyone, don't be polite, please eat and drink to your heart's content, there's plenty of wine and meat!"

  Everyone burst out laughing, and the sound of guessing boxing and toasting was endless. It's a harmonious scene. Probably no one can imagine that merchants and pirates could get along so well.

  The words were divided into two factions, each representing one end. In stark contrast to the liveliness of Zhang's gathering place, the Su family was eerily quiet at this moment, as if the oppressive atmosphere before a great war had arrived. Even the footsteps of those walking around were light and soft, as if everyone could hear their own breathing and heartbeat.

  It wasn't until after a long time that the old man sitting in the armchair finally spoke up. He asked Su Tong, "Tongtong, how much did this ship lose?" He was nearly seventy years old and was the first generation master of the Su family. In front of Su Tong, he was already of the grandfather's generation.

  Su Lun hastily said: "Seven thousand six hundred taels."

  "Seven thousand six hundred yuan, that's several months' worth of pure income! It's all gone just like that?" He raised his head to look at the sky, his tone calm and composed, but those who knew him understood that he was a man whose emotions didn't show on his face, making him an even more formidable opponent than those who wore their hearts on their sleeves.

  Upon hearing this, Su Ren knelt down and bowed his head, saying: "It was all the fault of your son's foolishness, causing such a great loss. I hope you will punish me."

  "Alas, it's all over. If punishing you could make up for the loss, don't you think I would? Now that things have happened, what's the use of blaming you again? Tongtong, go and get in touch with Zhang Lei. With my many years of experience in judging people, I still can't see through this young man."

  It's said that Su Tong is going to show up, Su Lun anxiously said: "Absolutely not allowed, Zhang Lei always has a lustful look on his face when he sees sister, I'm afraid he has ulterior motives towards sister..."

  He hadn't finished speaking when he was interrupted: "Shut up, you've caused enough trouble lately. Just stay at home and let your sister handle business matters."

  This was equivalent to taking away Su Lun's power, and Su Lun wanted to argue a bit, but after looking up, he couldn't muster the courage, and in the end, he could only sigh and kneel on the ground without saying a word, his hatred for Zhang Lei reaching its peak.

  Su Tong, however, was nonchalant and at the same time, he also developed a strong interest in Zhang Lei, so he replied: "Tong'er will not disappoint your expectations."

  "I trust you, go."

  Out of the room, Su Lun finally let out a long sigh, it was really too difficult inside, just like a small bird being locked in a black bird cage.

  "Now are you satisfied?" Su Tong glared at Su Lun and said, "It's good that you're being honest and staying at home. I don't allow you to go looking for trouble with Zhang Lei again. Did you hear? Now he has the support of the Admiral of the Navy, going against him is like an egg hitting a rock."

  Su Lun was like a tiger with its fangs pulled out, no matter what Su Tong said, he didn't respond. After a while, the two of them walked through the courtyard, and when Su Tong was about to enter her own room, Su Lun spoke up: "Be careful around Zhang Lei, sister."

  "I know, I know. Your performance today made me very pleased." Su Tong couldn't help but smile as he thought of Su Lun blocking in front of him several times.

  Su Leng said: "Sister, if this is considered a compliment, it's the first time for my memory."

  Let's talk about Zhang Lei again. After three rounds of drinking and five flavors of dishes, the delicious food on the table had been ravaged, and most people were already drunk, lying on the table or falling to the ground without caring about their image. Occasionally, two people suddenly jumped out and shouted loudly: "Good brothers, Wu Kui Shou, 666..."

  Zheng Zhihu's face had turned bright red like a cooked prawn, and his voice was starting to slur. But Zhang Lei was still fine, relying on the two catties of white wine that he had trained for many years without staggering, he was still standing upright.

  "Brother, I'm telling you, it's not bragging, back when we were at sea... " Zheng Zhihu patted Zhang Lei's shoulder and began to recount his glorious exploits as a pirate many years ago in a daze.

  "Come on, sir, let's drink, let's drink, bottoms up!" Zhang Lei hastily interrupted him and said. He picked up his bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

  If he had heard the secret of Zheng Zhi Long and Zheng Zhi Hu, it was likely that his own life would not be guaranteed after Zheng Zhi Hu sobered up.

  "Zhang brothers good wine capacity... come, dry." Zheng Zhihu suddenly stood up, holding the wine jar, gurgling and pouring all the remaining half jar down. After a burp, the wine was on fire, and before he could speak, he fell to the table, unconscious.

  Zhang Lei said to the several long workers standing beside him, "Help him down and find a place to rest. Sweep this place clean." He stood up, his footsteps were also a bit unsteady, and he couldn't help but laugh at himself: "Alas, not drinking white wine for a long time has reduced my capacity."

  The next morning, Zhang Lei was woken up by Zheng Zhihu's loud voice. In a daze, he heard Zheng Zhihu shouting outside: "Brother Zhang, the sun is shining on your butt, get up, get up..."

  Zhang Lei quickly finished washing up and went out, bowing to Zheng Zhihu: "I've seen the master."

  Zheng Zhihu warmly put his arm around Zhang Lei's shoulder and said loudly, "Brother Zhang, stop calling me 'sir', we're not even half-official. I'm just a few years older than you, from now on just call me 'big brother'."

  "How can this be... a humble commoner..." Zhang Lei was somewhat surprised and delighted, Zheng Zhilong's brother, Zheng Chenggong, the national hero, should call himself what? Uncle?

  Zhang Lei's words were interrupted by Zheng Zhihu, who patted his chest and said: "I say I can do it, what's the difference between being a commoner or not? I'm just an ordinary person too. What's the difference? If you refuse, then you're looking down on me. Don't blame me when I get angry later."

  Since things have been said to this point, Zhang Lei no longer had a reason to refuse. If Zheng Zhihu really got angry and gave himself a slap in the face, who could bear it? He could only slightly lower his head and say: "Then I'd rather obey than show respect, big brother."

  "This is more like it, yesterday night you really got me drunk, when we were messing around at sea, we also ate and drank a lot, but in the end I was still taken down by you, what a defeat. Never mind, once I've trained enough, let's have another match." Zheng Zhihu thought about being knocked out last night and suddenly felt very stifled.

  Zhang Lei suddenly realized and thought that no wonder he wanted to be brothers all of a sudden, it turned out they were just sworn brothers over wine and meat, so he let go of his concerns.

  Two people walked and talked, before long they arrived at Zhang Lei's study. Zheng Zhihu suddenly said: "Just now I went to your factory."

  "What?" Zhang Lei looked very surprised.

  Zheng Zhihu continued: "The cooperation thing I told you about yesterday, think about it. We are brothers now and won't let you suffer a loss."

  Zhang Lei knew that this was something he couldn't refuse, so he said: "That's great, if we can cooperate with the Navy, then I'd be more than happy to do my best to satisfy your requirements."

  "Alright, alright, heh heh, when I go to the capital next time, I'll put in a good word for you. To be honest, the national treasury is empty, and we can't even pay the military salaries. There are internal and external troubles, and the situation doesn't look optimistic at all. However, I see hope here with Boss Zhang, let the people get rich first, and then the national treasury will get rich, those rebellions will naturally subside." Zheng Zhihu said.

  Zhang Lei muttered: "You're thinking lightly." But on his face, he said sincerely: "Right, right, right."

  The two of them were chatting happily when suddenly someone outside said: "Boss, there's someone outside who wants to see you."

  Zhang Lei was taken aback and asked, "Who could it be at this hour?"

  The man outside replied: "He said his name was Feng Yong."

  "Feng Yong? What is he here for?" Zhang Lei thought for a moment, then said: "Tell him to come in."

  Feng Yong, 34 years old, is the son of Xujiaying village. He is one of the few literate people in the village, steady and capable, with a strong sense of justice, and is respected by all. He has a good reputation among the villagers. This time he came out from Xujiaying village specifically to find Zhang Lei.

  Zheng Zhihu stood up and said: "Zhang brother, should I step aside for a moment?"

  Zhang Lei smiled and said: "You are now my elder brother, what to avoid? This Feng Yong is an old acquaintance of mine, I suppose someone must have entrusted him to come find me."

  Zheng Zhihu sat down again and after a while, Feng Yong came in. When he saw Zheng Zhihu, he was taken aback for a moment, then said to Zhang Lei: "Boss Zhang."