Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Beo/You will witness history. …
"Jessica?"
Audrey repeated subconsciously and exchanged glances with Lucy and Emily beside her.
If I remember correctly, there was once a maid named Jessica in Norman Manor.
Isabel lowered her eyes, seemingly oblivious to their expressions, and chuckled softly, "That name is quite common. Perhaps you've heard it somewhere before."
Caroline shrugged. "That's just my imagination. Jessica is the leader of the women's transport team, and I heard she's from the South, too. Oh, she's a very greedy, difficult-to-talk-to girl, but also very loyal. She's always wanted to meet my employer, but I think I should ask your opinion first."
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Caroline." Isabel took a sip of her coffee. "I'll go see her when the time is right, but not now."
Caroline nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
"Yes, let's stop wasting time. We should first find the wandering painter, travel writer, devout missionary, absurd artist and future consultant for China Shipping." Heinrich had no interest in the boring conversation just now, and mocked Sisyphus, whom he had never met, with an expressionless face.
Audrey, standing beside her, unconsciously clutched her sleeves, her aquamarine eyes hiding anxiety.
Hermann glanced at his wife calmly, then looked at Isabel, whose expression was normal, and a look of contemplation flashed in his dark gray eyes.
But now is not a good time to explore. As Heinrich said, the most important thing is to find Sisyphus first and open a new route to China.
-
A few days later, several horse-drawn carriages rolled through the cinder-covered streets of Haddonfield.
According to the address provided by Tilov, Charles did not leave after finding out that it was the Feast of Sisyphus and stayed near the factory.
Having locked onto the target, Isabel and her family appeared, ready to welcome the artist returning from the East with the highest standards.
Not far away, Charles saw the carriage and ran over quickly, with a helpless look on his face: "Oh, gentlemen and ladies. Mr. Sisyphus is really a stubborn stone. I offered him a generous reward and wanted to invite him to visit the manor, but he didn't even look at me!"
Herman and Audrey looked at each other, and Heinrich frowned: "You won't use my identity?"
Charles spread his hands: "He said he is not afraid of offending the nobles, so he can arrest them if he wants."
Heinrich sneered: "He really has a bad temper. I actually admire him a little bit."
Isabel opened the car door. The wind carried the fishy smell of sewage. She looked at Charles and said, "Take me there. I'll invite him myself."
Charles turned around helplessly and pointed to the riverside of the factory and said, "It's right there."
Everyone looked in the direction.
By the river, a middle-aged man with half-gray hair was sitting on a wooden box with his back to them. His coat was full of holes and paint stains were stuck on the cuffs.
He had an easel before him, and on the canvas was a muddy river flowing around a red brick factory building, while in the distance chimneys belched gray smoke, staining the sky a dirty leaden color.
This is what Haddonfield looks like most of the time, and it is also the scar left by industrial development.
"Mr. Sisyphus." Isabel stepped forward and said straight to the point, "We would like to invite you to serve as a consultant for China's new shipping route."
Sisyphus's hand on the brush didn't stop, the tip of the brush added a shadow on the canvas, and his tone was as flat as if he was discussing the weather: "Go back, lady. Since the publication of "Travels in the East", countless people have come to ask me to be a consultant. You want to use me and treat the East as a hunting ground for gold and silver."
"Actually, everything I have to say is in that book. That's all I know."
Isabel lowered her eyes and waited for him to finish before saying, "You misunderstood. We want to open a trade route, but it's not all about money."
"Yes, nine out of ten businessmen say they're not in it for the money, but to change the world." Sisyphus finally turned around, his eyes full of sarcasm. "Do you know why I stopped being a missionary? Because I found that the Holy Light Church is just like you, full of lies."
Paint-stained fingers tapped the canvas, then pointed at the stinking sewage river and the gray fog in the sky.
"Open your eyes and look at what a horrible state you've turned Ceylon into. The river water is so stinking it could kill fish, and children are born with asthma." Sisyphus sneered, "The East is the cleanest place I've ever seen, with its blue tiles and white walls, clear rivers, and fresh air. I don't want you to bring your filth in and turn it into a cesspool."
Isabel was about to say more, but he had already packed up his easel, the canvas rolled up in such a hurry that the paint smeared on his torn coat.
"Let's go. I don't want to be rude to a lady. Don't keep me from painting!"
Just as he was about to stand up, another voice came from behind him.
"Robin Thorne?"
Sisyphus's movements suddenly stopped.
He tightened his grip on the easel and slowly turned around.
The sunlight fell on Sisyphus's gray hair and illuminated his cloudy eyes.
Seeing Hermann's iconic long silver hair, some long-lost memories came flooding back.
"Hurley?"
Sisyphus raised an eyebrow and repeated, "Are you Hurley?"
The little kid in my memory who held a half-broken pencil and begged him to teach him how to draw has grown up to be dressed in a suit and has a cold look in his eyes.
Audrey looked at the two people looking at each other curiously and asked in a low voice, "Do you know him? Hurley."
Hermann knew his wife was calling him by his nickname on purpose, so he sneered. Then he looked at Sisyphus, the teacher who had come to Elmi and taught him how to paint the sunset.
"It's me, Robin, long time no see."
Confirming it was the child from before, Sisyphus' voice was a little hoarse and filled with disbelief. "Oh, I thought a child as young as you would have difficulty escaping the slums, either starving to death in the coal pit or being forced to work as a child laborer and exhausted to death. But you have shown extraordinary courage since you were young. At least you are the first one to take the initiative to ask me to teach you to paint."
Herman raised an eyebrow. "I also thought you were buried on some nameless desert island, a snack for sea monsters. After all, you always said you wanted to pursue freedom."
The old man and the young man attacked each other skillfully, as if they had regained their memories of the past.
Sisyphus lowered his guard and his voice softened: "Anyway, I'm glad you've achieved something now."
"But..." He paused, glancing at Isabel, Heinrich, and the others, "If you're here to convince me to be your consultant, then I'm sorry, the answer is the same as it was for them: no."
Herman said calmly, "Don't be so quick to deny it. At least listen to our sincerity first."
Sisyphus... no, now I should say Robin Thorne. He stared into Hermann's eyes and finally did not refuse.
-
The group was led to Robin's cabin.
The simple room could not accommodate everyone, so only a family of four followed them in.
The wooden windows, covered with old paper, rustled in the wind, revealing poverty everywhere. However, the pictures and books on the wall and the table reveal the spiritual wealth of the painter.
"For Hurley's sake, go ahead and speak. I'll give you three minutes." Robin said casually while sorting through the picture album.
Isabel observed him calmly for a moment, without further ado, and said, "Mr. Robin, you wrote in your travelogue that the craftsmen of the Eastern Continent were also undergoing technological changes. During your absence, they may have been experiencing the same pains of the times as Ceylon."
Robin's fingers paused slightly, his face expressionless: "What do you want to say?"
Isabel smiled and said, "We want to go to the East, not just for trade, but also to bring the latest technological research there."
Audrey stepped forward at the right moment and pulled out a stack of blueprints and notes from her bag, her eyes sparkling. "Sir, please look! I've designed an improved textile machine, and my colleagues at Norman have other inventions. These have already been put into production at the White Factory, and they've proven to improve efficiency and reduce pollution."
The blueprint was densely packed with data. Robin picked it up and asked suspiciously, "Did you really invent the improved machine mentioned in the newspaper?"
"Of course I am." Audrey puffed out her chest proudly, her eyes sparkling. "Actually, I'd also like to know how machines are made in the East. Maybe they have more ingenious designs. If we learn from each other, it can help the East avoid detours and also improve Ceylon's technology. Isn't that more meaningful than just making money?"
Herman looked at his wife's confident expression with a smile in his eyes.
"This is my wife, Robin."
Robin raised an eyebrow, his eyes less scrutinizing, and looked at Audrey with the kindness of an elder. "Extraordinary talent."
He looked at Isabel again. "But this still doesn't impress me. From what I know, the technological development in the East is probably no less advanced than ours. Humans are always greedy. Who knows if seeing the wealth there will give you the desire to plunder? Even if you don't, it's hard to guarantee what others will think."
Isabel smiled: "Don't be so quick to refuse."
She looked behind her and Miss Lauren came in at the right time, holding a notebook in her hand and showing Robin the oriental writing on it.
"Mr. Robin, before setting off, our team thoroughly studied the Chinese language and culture. We also read their history based on the books you translated," Isabel said slowly. "I understand your caution, because it stems from your appreciation and love for the East."
"Actually, my feelings toward the East are similar to yours." Isabel chuckled. "I'm the primary leader of this route, and I'm deeply fascinated by the mysterious East. If a leader knows how to respect another culture, then you can be confident that our entire team will treat it with kindness."
Robin looked at the three people in front of him and clenched his fingers unconsciously.
He was silent for a long time, but he knew in his heart that Isabel was telling the truth.
Anyone who is willing to take the time to understand history and culture must have an appreciative feeling in his heart.
Isabel saw the emotion in his eyes. She lowered her eyes, gave up all negotiation tactics, and said frankly: "Mr. Robin, in fact, I have selfish motives."
Robin looked up: "What?"
"When the time is right and the routes are ready, I'd love to visit China myself," Isabel smiled. "It would be best if I could bring my family and friends with me to see the vast lands you describe. The southern water towns, the grasslands and deserts, or the famous towers and ancient buildings, mountains and rivers described in the Chinese poetry you translated."
Isabel looked at the "Travels in the East" on Robin's desk and finally said with a smile, "Perhaps there are still beautiful sights that you haven't had time to see. Don't you really want to go there again in your lifetime?"
Robin was stunned and looked away hastily, but the hesitation in his eyes was gradually replaced by longing.
Indeed, Isabel hit the nail on the head.
To be honest, he really wanted to go to the East again.
Back then, Robin happened to be stranded on an island in the East Indies, and later met an Eastern merchant who was doing business there. Robin was alone, and even though he was an outlier with blond hair and blue eyes, he could not pose any threat.
So his Eastern merchant friend readily agreed to take Robin to China, where he learned the Chinese language and history and saw the rich landscape of this great country. Even after returning home for a long time, he still missed it and wrote this book, "Travels in the East."
Unfortunately, there has never been any shipping between Ceylon and China. Over the years, Robin could only travel to East India from time to time to keep in touch with his merchant friend. However, communication is inconvenient now, and his connection with China may be cut off one day.
Robin was silent for a long time, and finally sighed: "Okay, you win. You are really good at reading people's hearts. But let me be clear, I am only an advisor and will not participate in your trade."
Isabel: “Okay.”
"I really don't understand. I think you know enough about the East. Why do you still need me to come forward?" Robin muttered, looking at Herman again, "Boy, tell me quickly, what do you want to use me for?"
Herman said calmly, "We are about to embark on a groundbreaking route. Only you, someone who has personally set foot on Chinese territory, can boost everyone's confidence."
Isabel smiled. "Trust us, Mr. Robin. You will witness history and perhaps even become a legendary figure in future textbooks."
Audrey also said happily, "What could be more exciting than realizing your dreams and creating miracles at the same time? You won't regret it."
Heinrich sneered: "Don't worry, old man, the Spencer family's rising sun lion flag will escort you on your trip to China."
Even the most rebellious artist will be overwhelmed by a series of arguments.
Robin scratched his gray hair, looked at the gray sky of Haddonfield, and sighed, "Oh, you guys have made me look forward to it."
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