“Using their own methods against them. If they can severely injure us with such tricks, then we can also retaliate in kind.” Zhang Fang had a clear direction in his heart, but he feared it wouldn’t be easy to execute.
Seeing Zhang Fang’s confident demeanor, Manager Wei excitedly pressed, “Can Fifth Young Master elaborate?”
“We’ll talk later.” Zhang Fang noticed a large crowd ahead, all dressed like farmers, and quickened his pace.
Manager Wei, seeing Zhang Fang heading that way, stopped him, saying, “Fifth Young Master, it would be best not to go forward. A few days ago, the owner decided that the fabric store will only operate for another six months. If there’s no improvement after that, the store will close. To help those farmers planting mulberry and cotton find their own paths, the owner has given them this six-month period. They will still purchase raw materials during this time, but after six months, they will stop buying. These people are here to seek a long-term purchase agreement from the fabric store.”
Zhang Fang gestured for him to step aside: “I can go by myself; you don’t need to follow.”
It was clear from Manager Wei’s attire that he was associated with the fabric store. If he went over, the crowd would surely surround them.
“Uh…”
Manager Wei hesitated for a moment and said to Zhang Fang, “Just be careful, Fifth Young Master. If things don’t seem right, be sure to call for help!”
“Understood.” Zhang Fang waved his hand and walked ahead.
“If Zhang’s family won’t buy silk, what will we do?”
“We have farmed cotton for generations; if Zhang’s family stops purchasing cotton, it will cut off our means of survival!”
“If we don’t grow cotton, what else can we plant?”
“I think we should plant poppies! I’ve heard that in the Southwest, after the locals stopped selling silk and cotton, they turned to poppy cultivation!”
“That’s not a good idea! The court has banned the trade of opium. If we plant it, won’t we get arrested?”
“Why fear? The government’s policies are as unpredictable as July weather. One moment they say they’ll ban opium, the next they say they can’t. Earlier, there was a huge uproar about the ban in the coastal provinces! But when the foreign cannons fired, the capital quickly changed its stance and suddenly lifted the ban. From what I know, in the Southwest, opium can be traded freely, and the local authorities don’t care at all! I say, as long as we unite to plant poppies, what can the government do to us? If they dare to obstruct us, we’ll make a ruckus! With so many of us, can the government manage us?”
As Zhang Fang approached, he overheard a scruffy-looking middle-aged man inciting the farmers to plant poppies.
Imagining a land gradually filled with poppies, leading to opium addiction spreading from nobles to commoners, Zhang Fang’s fists clenched with anger.
“Can this really work? I’m still afraid to plant that stuff. What if I get caught…” The simple farmers were too scared to take such a risk.
“If we don’t plant poppies, we might as well starve! The Zhang family fabric store is going to close down, and when they stop purchasing raw materials, we’ll be left to go hungry! After so many years of mulberry and cotton farming, we all know that suddenly changing to crops without a proper harvest won’t support us!”
As the scruffy man spoke, he felt a chill behind him and turned around. He met a pair of cold, piercing eyes belonging to a refined and handsome young man.
With an indifferent expression, Zhang Fang approached and declared, “I am Zhang’s fifth young master, and starting today, I will take over the fabric store! Even if the Zhang family goes bankrupt, we will continue to purchase raw materials!”
Upon hearing this, the farmers’ spirits lifted instantly; their once dim eyes sparkled with hope as they looked at Zhang Fang as if he were a deity. They excitedly asked, “Is that true?”
“Are you really the fifth young master of the Zhang family? Will you keep your word?”
“You will continue to buy cotton and silk? If so, you are truly our benefactor!”
Someone led the charge and knelt before Zhang Fang with gratitude.
The scruffy man, seeing Zhang Fang threaten his scheme, intentionally said, “Who doesn’t know that the Zhang family’s young masters are all spoiled good-for-nothings! Especially this fifth young master, who is the best at indulgence! He’s the king of waste! The old master has already declared that the fabric store will close in six months; how can such a wasteful young master inherit the family business now? Don’t be fooled by him!”
Some farmers who were about to kneel were hesitant, unsure whether to trust Zhang Fang after hearing the man’s words.
But what would they do if they didn’t trust him? They had no other options!
After a moment’s hesitation, they knelt before Zhang Fang, shouting, “Fifth Young Master, will you really keep your word?”
Zhang Fang’s expression was resolute, and he responded firmly, “I, Zhang Fang, am willing to pledge my life that as long as I’m here, the Zhang family fabric store will not shut down! As long as the fabric store remains open, we will continue to purchase raw materials!”
With his willingness to pledge his life, Zhang Fang won the farmers’ trust.
At this moment, Zhang Fang was their hope, their savior!
“Thank you, Fifth Young Master! We will definitely grow cotton diligently! We will plant mulberries and raise the best silkworms!”
Apart from the scruffy man, everyone else knelt in gratitude.
Seeing his plan failing, the scruffy man sneered derisively, “You wasteful son! The Zhang family will eventually be ruined by you!”
With that, he flicked his sleeves and left the scene.
Manager Wei, hiding not far away, observed the situation. He didn’t know what transpired but saw the farmers kneeling to Zhang Fang, worried they might make things difficult for him. He decided to step in and rescue Zhang Fang.
“Fifth Young Master, did they trouble you?” Manager Wei rushed to Zhang Fang’s side, shielding him.
Zhang Fang shook his head: “No. I just told them that as long as I’m here, the Zhang family fabric store will not close down. As long as it’s operational, we will continue to purchase raw materials.”
Manager Wei was shocked, and he opened his mouth to advise Zhang Fang to retract his statement. But seeing the kneeling farmers, he feared that changing his words in front of them would incite their anger. He could only take Zhang Fang away first: “Fifth Young Master, don’t we need to go to the market? Let’s go!”
Before leaving, Zhang Fang spoke to the farmers, “Please notify others after you return. The Zhang family will continue to purchase raw materials! There’s no need to switch to planting anything else! Focus on growing mulberries and raising silkworms for cotton. I, Zhang, will clear the way through hardships to ensure our survival! In our grand Huaxia, a majestic nation with millennia of cultural heritage, our fabric can withstand time. How could we be defeated by foreign fabrics!”