Chapter 14 The Moon Over the Past
However, she remained a bit conservative when facing Zhang Congzhi, saying, "I know a little bit about him, but I'll have to wait until I see the specific situation before I can say anything."
Despite Xie Ning's words, Zhang Congzhi was overjoyed. He had bought the loom in Nanjing at a low price, but he hadn't expected it to break down so soon. If he were to invite German experts to come and take a look, he didn't know how long it would take.
Stopping production would mean losing money, so he asked German experts while also asking Xie Ning if he could help.
Zhang Congzhi was an impatient man, so he immediately took Xie Ning to his family's factory. To his surprise, Xie Ning not only repaired the loom, but also said he could help him improve it.
The looms in textile factories are shuttle looms, and they are hand-drawn wire looms, which are semi-manual and semi-mechanical, not electric all-wire looms. Such looms are not very efficient.
Xie Ning's idea was to modify the iron-wood loom with an automatic shuttle-changing mechanism, then replace the wood with iron, and use iron wall panels to modify the iron-wood electric motor to create a simple automatic shuttle-changing silk loom. However, that would require time, money, and investment in various materials.
She previously studied mechanical engineering, but not in this area, so she still needs to do further research.
"You, let me think about it!" Zhang Congzhi was very excited; he needed to have a good discussion with his father.
Even after Xie Ning had stepped out of the car, Zhang Congzhi couldn't help but run down and punch Xie Ning, his face flushed. "You little rascal, if I hadn't asked, you would have known you were hiding such a precious talent without saying a word, right? Going to submit your paintings for publication, how much money can you make from that? Follow your brother Zhang, and I guarantee you'll live a life of luxury!"
Xie Ning looked exasperated.
After the two left the factory, Zhang Congzhi couldn't help but run to his office and pour himself a couple of ounces of liquor, saying it was to calm his rapidly beating heart.
As a result, the person went even crazier.
Xie Ning knew she could repair looms and even improve their efficiency, but she had no idea how much profit that could generate, so she couldn't understand Zhang Congzhi's excitement.
When Zhang Congzhi got home, he rushed into the living room excitedly, only to see his cold-faced older brother sitting upright like a god reading the newspaper. His mind immediately cooled down.
He awkwardly called out "Big Brother," and only after he was far away did Zhang Congzhi run to the old man's door. He raised his hand to knock, but a cold voice came from behind him.
“Coming home so late, still not sleeping in the middle of the night, drinking a couple of ounces of horse urine and then coming to bother your father and mother. You’re all grown up and have a family, yet you’re still so unreliable. The old man doesn’t care about you, but I, as the eldest brother, will teach you a lesson.”
After saying that, she dragged Zhang Congzhi towards the garden. The servants saw this from afar and quickly woke up Zhang's second wife from the bed, telling her to go and rescue the man.
Mrs. Zhang yawned, leaned lazily against the window, and watched helplessly as her husband, who dared not speak out against her anger, was dragged into the garden by her brother-in-law. She muttered a few words of advice to remember to drag him back later, and then went back to her beauty sleep.
What a joke! This guy's out partying so late and never home, she'd be happy if her brother-in-law taught him a lesson, not rescue him? Is she crazy? He's not going to kill her anyway.
Xie Ning had no idea that Zhang Congzhi had been beaten up when he got home. She was holding a bowl of rice, and since it had been several hours since she had lunch at Zhang's house, she was naturally hungry.
This is where the advantage of having someone at home comes in – there's always a hot meal waiting for you.
Stuffed chili peppers served with rice, followed by sweet potato soup and refreshing fruit. Although there wasn't much food, Xie Ning was really satisfied. Too much food would be wasteful, and this was just the right amount for her to finish.
Li Shan went to sleep after seeing that Xie Ning had returned safely, while Xiu Niang waited until Xie Ning finished eating and cleaned up the kitchen before going to sleep.
Spring and summer end, autumn winds rise.
Xie Ning's reputation gradually grew during his daily cartooning career, and now his Shanghai tabloids are selling very well, not only because of the gossip in the tabloids, but also because of his refreshing cartoons, such as "Two or Three Things About China".
This comic uses adorable animal characters to vividly depict anecdotes of famous figures from ancient times to the present, from the Qin Dynasty's conquest of the six states to the prosperous Han and Tang Dynasties, from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China revitalized by the Xinhai Revolution.
The comics are vivid and interesting, and so straightforward that even illiterate poor people can understand them. The last one is a scene of two rabbits fighting for food, with a gray wolf lurking in the shadows and then taking the opportunity to devour both rabbits. The sword is pointed directly at a family that is living a good life.
The northeast was constantly under attack, and the time was drawing near.
At that moment, Xie Ning was half-closing her eyes as she went downstairs, her mind filled with various renovation plans. There were looms, but not limited to looms. The Zhang family's business was not just the textile factory. During this time, she also visited their other factories in Shanghai.
The pay was generous, including 500 silver dollars a month and other gifts. What pleased Xie Ning the most was that Zhang Congzhi agreed to help her get some parts. The materials list she gave her was very varied, but the quantity of each item was not large.
So although it will take time, Zhang Congzhi's connections will allow him to obtain it.
Seeing Li Shan mopping the floor, he called out, "Go buy two chickens. We'll use one to make soup and the other to make glutinous rice chicken. Fry half and steam the other half."
Zhu Zi, who was playing with a rattle drum, immediately rushed forward and hugged Xie Ning's leg when he heard the word "chicken." "Chicken, chicken, hello sir."
The child's eyes were bright and sparkling. He was so sensible and well-behaved that Xie Ning couldn't help but bring home any little trinkets he saw. After holding the little kid in his arms, Xie Ning sat down on the sofa and saw a bowl of steaming meat porridge in front of Fu Zisi. He couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.
Xiu Niang really knows how to take care of people. She makes different kinds of food every day, making everyone plump and healthy. Xie Ning felt the most obvious difference. In this short period of time, she ate four or five meals a day. Apart from the Chinese medicine to regulate her body, she ate breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and midnight snack without missing a single meal. Xiu Niang would also give her snacks from time to time.
Her weight had increased noticeably. If she weighed 80 pounds when she transmigrated, she now weighed at least 95 pounds. Her complexion was no longer sallow, but had become fair and rosy, and her newly grown hair was jet black.
After resting for a while longer, Xie Ning will start his own exercise plan. He doesn't aim to become super strong, but at least he'll have the strength to fight.
Because of the professional doctors who came to treat him, Fu Zisi recovered quickly. He not only woke up, but was also able to get up and walk around, drink medicine and eat something on his own.
Now on the table is not only meat porridge, but also a newspaper with Xie Ning's latest comic strip on it.
"Mr. Xie, do you think it will declare war?" Fu Zisi pointed to the tabloid.
It goes without saying who that "it" is. Xie Ning's drawing is straightforward, without much concealment. Facing Fu Zisi, Xie Ning still speaks frankly, "Isn't it obvious? When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. The world economy is in turmoil, especially in island nations. The economic crisis has triggered a political crisis. Rather than internal strife, it's better to transfer the conflict elsewhere. And our country is the weakest yet fattest lamb."
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