Giant Ship Across the Song Dynasty: My Supplies Come from My Motherland

Chapter 114 The Steel Plant is Completed!

Chapter 114 The Steel Plant is Completed!

After dinner, Lin Zhou was taken back to his residence. The moment he entered the door, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a feeling of utter disgust.

At this moment, he truly admired those martyrs who infiltrated the enemy. He used to think that if those bad guys smiled, they wouldn't be too annoying, but now he realized that this disgust was truly physiological.

In order to seize greater profits and allocate more resources, Qin Hui was even willing to say things like allowing someone like Lin Zhou to "stand in the imperial palace."

In other words, he has absolutely no sense of national or familial responsibility; everyone, regardless of their social class, is merely a tool for him to advance his own interests and maintain his own power.

He said he wanted to support Lin Zhou. If it were a naive and clueless young man, he might have actually believed him after that day's flawless acting.

Even without the repeated warnings from the other end not to be corrupted, Lin Zhou would never have believed that what a guy who had been kneeling for a thousand years was saying was true.

He would definitely lift her up, but even if Lin Zhou was stupid, he knew that his lifting up required him to offer something of value.

Moreover, this wasn't even the reason why Lin Zhou's expression changed so drastically. Just now, Qin Hui had given him a task: to find a way to obtain a deadly poison that would kill on contact with blood. When Lin Zhou asked him who he was to poison, Qin Hui bluntly told him that it was to poison Niu Gao.

Lin Zhou just doesn't like doing things or studying, but that doesn't mean he's mentally challenged. This is just a test.

He turned around and closed the door. He went upstairs and listened carefully for a while to make sure there was no noise next door. Then he cleared his throat and said, "Wu Guan, come here for a moment."

Not long after, Lu You pushed open the door and entered while putting on his clothes: "Brother Lin, what's wrong?"

Lin Zhou gestured with his chin to signal him to close the door, then lit the oil lamp: "Qin Hui just asked me to get some poison; he wants to poison Niu Gao."

Lu You frowned, his eyes immediately sharpening: "There's something fishy about this."

"How could there not be something fishy going on?" Lin Zhou sighed as he sat there. "The key question is, what do I do now?"

Lu You paced back and forth with his hands behind his back: "This is clearly Qin Hui's test. Whether you buy the poison or not, it's a hurdle. This question has opened up three paths for you. The first is to go along with him and he will completely acknowledge you as his disciple. But from now on, no matter what you do, you can never go back to the right path. Qin Hui naturally understands that he is already covered in filth and will not let you stay out of it."

"The second option is if you don't get him the poison, then the old thief will continue to suspect your brother, and he will also be more cautious in his actions, weighing the pros and cons and possibly even trying to push your brother to the edge, such as finding a way to make you leave Lin'an."

"I can't do that," Lin Zhou shook his head. "He still needs me to do things for him."

"Brother, don't be naive!" Lu You grasped Lin Zhou's hand: "Qin Hui will always find a way."

Lin Zhou looked up: "What about the third way?"

"So you spread the news, and Qin Hui can attack or defend at will. He can confirm my brother's identity as a member of Yue Fei's faction, or he can frame my brother as a person with ill intentions, stirring up discord between the civil and military officials of the Song Dynasty. Even if we go to the palace to confront each other, he can simply insist that he never said or did these things."

Lin Zhou's eyes widened: "Damn it, isn't this forcing me?"

"Yes, he's forcing you."

Lu You's eyes darted around: "Xiao'e and the others will arrive in Lin'an tomorrow. If something like this happens now—even if General Niu wasn't poisoned by your medicine, Qin Hui will still have a way to say it was you who did it."

That would truly be cutting oneself off from the world.

"That dog is so cunning—"

"That's Qin Hui."

"Why doesn't he just do it directly?" Lin Zhou still didn't quite understand: "Why go through all this trouble?"

"Because there were still people behind his brother, Qin Hui was still somewhat wary. So he gave his brother three paths to choose from, and did not directly force his brother to a dead end."

Lin Zhou clenched his fists: "Isn't this treating me like a dog?"

"That's Qin Hui," Lu You said through gritted teeth. "He naturally has his own set of methods of governance."

"What should we do? He wouldn't actually poison us, would he?"

"He really knows it. When he brings it up, it's not without reason. When dealing with these people, every word he says has a deeper meaning, unlike the random talk you and I usually utter without any intention."

Lu You took a deep breath and paced back and forth in the room. He seemed even more nervous than Lin Zhou at this moment, because he didn't want Lin Zhou to be dragged into it, nor did he want to see the few loyal and virtuous people being framed.

"Brother Lin, do you dare to be ruthless?"

"Tell me," Lin Zhou said, steeling his resolve, "How do you mean 'severe'?"

Lu You didn't speak directly, but instead took a bottle of wine from the cabinet: "Down it in one gulp, then go out onto the street, find a woman and start groping her."

"No—no way—" Lin Zhou shook his head like a rattle-drum: "How can this be?"

"In that case, I'll have Wan'er file a complaint against my brother tomorrow, saying that you assaulted him while he was drunk."

"Are you kidding me?!" Lin Zhou roared in anger. "How can you use your wife to dig a hole?"

"Brother, you have to spread this message eventually. If nothing unexpected happens, everyone in this room, including Brother Ying, is under close surveillance. If Qin Hui wants to accept you, he will not leave himself any potential danger."

Lin Zhou shook his head vigorously: "No, no, anyone else is fine, but not Wan'er. Damn it, do you two even have any humanity left?"

"Then—" Lu You remained silent for a long time, then began to frantically tear at his clothes: "I'll have to take the fall!"

"Stop!" Lin Zhou lunged forward and grabbed his hand. "What kind of human being am I?!"

"No, Brother Lin. There's no other way now. For General Yue, for the sake of the world!"

"Can't!"

The two immediately started fighting. At this moment, Tang Wan, who was next door, heard the commotion, put on her clothes and came over. When she came over, she saw that her husband was being held down by Lin's brother and tied to the bed. Her husband was disheveled and his face was flushed.

"Oh~~~~" Tang Wan covered her mouth and closed the door.

"Hey!!!" Lin Zhou stood up and shouted, "Come back! Come back here right now!"

"It's alright, brother—Wan'er didn't see anything. Please have pity on my husband—"

"Your mom—"

Lin Zhou chased after her and then called her back in. Tang Wan turned to the side, a hint of embarrassment in her voice, "Isn't this inappropriate? You expect me to watch over you? Is this part of your game?"

"You brainless idiot—" Lin Zhou sighed, kicking the Sword Saint next to him who was clutching his collar, his face flushed. "No, what are you being shy about! Explain yourself! Say something!"

Lu You then came to his senses and began to explain to Tang Wan.

"Oh—I see."

Seeing the fire in Tang Wan's eyes slowly die down, Lin Zhou immediately knew that this woman was no pushover either.

"That's not difficult," Tang Wan said in a deep voice, sitting beside him. "Right now, only one person can know about this, and that's Commander Han. Even General Niu can't know. Brother, don't worry about those things. I'll take care of this for you. Just go straight to the steel mill tomorrow."

"You? If Qin Hui arrests you, he'll make you a government prostitute."

Tang Wan laughed heartily: "Just Qin Hui."

After saying that, she swayed her hips and walked out, saying, "You two can keep being affectionate, I want to sleep now."

The door closed again, and Lin Zhou pointed outside: "Has she always been like this?"

"yes."

"No wonder your mother doesn't like her. If I were an old lady, I wouldn't like her either."

"Actually, it's alright now—"

Actually, they didn't have any better ideas at the moment. After chatting for a while, they went to sleep. The next morning, the first phase of the steel plant was completed, and the No. 1 furnace was about to be ignited.

Lin Zhou was naturally going, after all, he was the one in charge of both steel mills. The ignition of this first furnace, in Lu You's words, would be recorded in history if there were no accidents.

However, Lin Zhou was preoccupied with something and seemed rather unenthusiastic. When he and Lu You went out together, Tang Wan was sitting in the lobby, putting on makeup in front of the mirror that Lin Zhou had sold.

"Where are you going today? Aren't you coming out of the city with us?" Lin Zhou glanced at her. "All dressed up, doesn't look like a good person!"

"Ha." Tang Wan didn't even turn around, but her sarcastic tone flowed smoothly: "What should we do? My husband has been taken by someone else, and I, an old woman, can only suffer in silence."

Lu You clicked his tongue but didn't say anything, while Lin Zhou crossed his arms and said, "Be careful."

Don't worry.

After saying that, Tang Wan walked straight out the door and stopped a sedan chair: "To Princess Ping'an's residence."

"You still recognize the princess?"

"Yes, Princess Ping'an is my godmother." Tang Wan lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "She also has a goddaughter named Han Qiao'er, who is very beautiful. I'll introduce her to you next time, brother."

After saying that, she chuckled and said, "I'm leaving."

Watching her leave, Lin Zhou turned his head and asked, "Who is Han Qiao'er?"

"Han Shizhong's second daughter—" Lu You said in a low voice, "Because she was frail when she was young, she was placed in the care of Princess Ping'an. Taking the name of the princess as her godmother, she was adopted by the princess.

"Oh—so that's the connection. No wonder she was so arrogant. Indeed, no one would care about what happens in a princess's mansion." Lin Zhou nodded. "You said Qin Hui was watching me, but I don't see anyone around me."

"The previous cook was too rough; they must have found a better one now." Lu You said, head down and lips pursed, "Brother, don't make a fuss."

The two didn't say anything more, but simply hailed a carriage and headed straight out of the city.

The construction site outside the city was bustling with activity. It was being advertised as the first furnace in the world to be ignited, and even the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works had come in person to inspect this unprecedentedly huge steelmaking furnace, accompanied by Shen Gai.

"The auspicious time has arrived!"

Amidst shouts from the side, the furnace-opening ceremony began. Lin Zhou arrived hastily at this moment and, after being introduced by Shen Gai, bowed to the Vice Minister of Works.

"Excellent! Heroes have always emerged from among the young." The Vice Minister patted Lin Zhou on the shoulder with a smile. "Seeing that you young people can accomplish such great things fills me with joy. Come, young man, you shall be the one to light the torch."

Lin Zhou immediately waved his hand with a smile: "Please let the Vice Minister do it."

Lu You, who was standing nearby, was shrewd. He stepped forward and said with a smile, "My lord, the so-called passing on of the torch is essential. Without the cultivation of our predecessors, how can our successors rise up? I humbly request that you, my lord, ignite the torch."

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