"Mrs!"
Someone grabbed Shen Qing's arm.
She forcefully shook off the other person's hand.
The young man who had just offered to buy her a wire drawing machine said with a suggestive look, "Shall we find a quiet place to talk this out? Actually, everything is negotiable..."
Realizing that Cheng Zhiwen was also looking this way, Shen Qing immediately became angry and said loudly, "What are you discussing? If it's true, it's true; if it's not, it's not! Who are you trying to string us along?"
As he finished speaking, he gave Cheng Zhiwen a defiant look, then turned and went downstairs.
"Madam!" The man caught up, "Madam, please listen to me..."
Shen Qing ignored him and went down the tall stairs leading to the foreign firm in one breath.
She stood on the street and turned back to look at the foreign firm. She saw the man still standing on the stairs, his head down, listening to what Cheng Zhiwen was saying.
Judging from his appearance, it seemed like he was being scolded by Cheng Zhiwen.
Shen Qing cursed inwardly, "Mind your own business," and turned to go to the next foreign firm.
After a busy half-day, I managed to buy up all the available nitrates in Shanghai, but the wire drawing machine is still nowhere to be found.
Shen Qing could only go back to the hotel to think of a solution.
As soon as she entered the Astor House Hotel, she remembered that Cheng Zhiwen also stayed here when she returned to Shanghai.
My mind is in turmoil; I feel angry, empty, and lost.
What angered me was that Cheng Zhiwen was with other girls.
What's missing is that Cheng Zhiwen will never participate in her business again; from now on, she will be fighting alone.
The dilemma is that without a fiber-drawing machine, it's difficult to separate the amber raw material into fibers and weave them into the lining fabric. Without the lining fabric, the down vest can't be made, and this business deal will fail again!
Borrowing money is getting harder and harder each time. If she fails again this time, she doesn't know if she'll have a third chance.
"Knock knock..." Someone knocked on the door.
Shen Qing snapped out of her daze and walked to the door: "Who is it?"
"It's me."
It was Cheng Zhiwen.
She hesitated for a few seconds before opening the door.
He was dressed in a sharp suit, looking at her with no emotion, as if the two were complete strangers.
Not to be outdone, she leaned lazily against the door, arms crossed, and gave him a cool glance: "What is it?"
Seeing that she had no intention of inviting him in, a look of displeasure flashed across his face, but he did not force his way into her room and simply stood at the door.
What are you doing in Shanghai all by yourself?
"Come buy a machine."
"The man who was arguing with you at the trading company this afternoon is not a trader. Don't be fooled by him."
Shen Qing smiled slightly: "In your eyes, do I look that stupid?"
What kind of machine do you want to buy?
"It's none of your business!" Shen Qing turned to go inside.
She believed that she didn't want to say anything more because Cheng Zhiwen also couldn't buy a wire drawing machine.
But Cheng Zhiwen thought that her jealousy probably stemmed from seeing him with another girl a few hours earlier.
He still remembered the last time she saw a red mark on his chin, and she was angry for several days.
The more she cared, the more worried he became.
Maintaining a cold tone, he said, "I can buy you a wire drawing machine."
The door, which was about to close, suddenly opened again.
She stood inside the door, her eyes shining, and her tone returned to normal: "Really? But I've asked all the foreign firms in Shanghai, and they all say they don't have this kind of machine!"
He maintained a stern expression: "No, it can be done."
"How do we do it?"
“I know a German industrial designer. Tell him what kind of machine you want.”
Shen Qing was surprised.
So this is what 19th-century customization was all about?
A small, cautious hope ignited in her heart.
Having been disappointed too many times, I didn't dare to be so confident this time, and cautiously asked, "Is that German designer in Shanghai?"
"It's located on the north bank of the Suzhou Creek."
That year, the German consulate was established on the north bank of the Suzhou Creek, and most Germans lived near the consulate.
From the Astor House Hotel to the German Consulate, it's just a short walk across a park bridge.
Shen Qing was eager to know if the wire drawing machine could be made, so he turned around and went back into the house to get his cloak: "Let's go over now and see if we can settle this matter tonight."
Cheng Zhiwen took out his pocket watch, glanced at it, and calmly said, "It's getting late, let's go tomorrow."
Shen Qinggang paused with one foot just outside the door, realizing he had been too hasty.
She stepped back and looked at Cheng Zhiwen: "Meet at the entrance of the Li Cha Hotel tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM) and we'll go together."
Cheng Zhiwen nodded without saying anything.
They are more unfamiliar than strangers.
"Good night." Shen Qing closed the door.
She stood there for a moment, her back against the door, lost in thought. Then she took off her cloak, casually placed it on a chair, and walked to the window.
The Bund is not far away, and the German Consulate is on the other side of the river.
The thought of a designer who might be able to make a wire drawing machine living there filled Shen Qing with excitement and anticipation.
She drew a sketch of the wire drawing machine overnight and labeled the desired wire diameter in English.
She needed an extremely fine silk fiber, and upon seeing that number, she worried that even German designers might not be able to create such a machine.
Perhaps because she fell asleep with anxiety, she dreamed that she received a wire drawing machine and successfully made a down vest.
She was so excited in the dream that she woke up before dawn the next day. After a quick wash, she went downstairs to wait for Cheng Zhiwen before it was even morning.
The sky was just beginning to lighten, and there were few pedestrians on the road. The late spring chill made the air bleak and cold.
Shen Qing pulled his cloak tighter and breathed on his hands to warm them.
So early?
A tall figure stood beside her, casting a long shadow on the ground.
Shen Qing knew it was Cheng Zhiwen without even looking at her face. She calmly put away her hands that were breathing on her skin, looked straight ahead, and said in a formulaic tone, "You're here pretty early too."
She didn't look at him, not knowing what his expression was, but she heard a familiar soft laugh beside her.
The shadow waved his hand forward, and a rickshaw came running over.
The man pulling the cart was emaciated, wearing a faded dark coarse cloth shirt, with a long braid wrapped several times around his thin neck, high cheekbones, and his face seemed to be nothing but skin.
This is the face of the impoverished lower classes in this era.
The rickshaw stopped in front of Shen Qing. The driver knelt on one knee, tilted the rickshaw, and waited for them to get in.
Cheng Zhiwen politely gestured for him to enter.
Shen Qing glanced at the driver for a moment, then turned to Cheng Zhiwen and said, "I don't want to take the carriage. It's not far anyway, let's walk."
Cheng Zhiwen was puzzled.
"Miss," the driver pleaded, "please take my rickshaw! My children haven't eaten for days, and I want to earn some money to buy them rice."
Shen Qing felt reluctant to part with him, and her throat felt a little sore.
She took out her purse, pulled out a small piece of silver, and went over to help the driver up.
"Here's some money for you. Go quickly and buy some food for the child! The child is growing and can't stand being hungry! Go now!"
The coachman's hands trembled as he accepted the silver, holding it in his palms and staring at it blankly, as if he couldn't believe that someone would be so kind as to give him a piece of silver.
"Go buy some food for the children!" Shen Qing reminded them again.
He finally came to his senses and bowed deeply to Shen Qing, tears streaming down his face, saying, "Miss, you are such a kind person! Thank you! Thank you!"
"It's alright, go ahead."
"Hey!" The driver pulled the cart and ran in the opposite direction.
Seeing that he didn't return to the queue to solicit customers, Shen Qing knew he had really gone to buy food for the child, and felt quite relieved.
Turning around, he saw Cheng Zhiwen looking at him.
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