The two were on the same boat, and Zhang Jian asked Lu Runfeng for advice on his experience in running a factory. Lu Runfeng said that although the Su Jing and Sulun yarn mills were already in operation, it was just an explanation. It was difficult to raise funds in the early stage, but they had some sympathy.Although the cotton mill was in operation, there was still no profit. Moreover, due to insufficient recruitment of business stocks, the construction of the factory was seriously overrun, so we had to look forward to the future.

Lu Runfeng told Zhang Jian that now that Ding You's period had expired, he had taken the opportunity to step down from his duties at the cotton mill. The mill had long been rented to Suzhou gentleman merchant Zhu Chenggui, and he had retired with success.Zhang Jian felt that it was a pity to give up suddenly. The purpose of a gentleman's study is to seek the Tao. The so-called Tao is the way to strengthen a country.

Nishimura Matsubei and Yamamoto Jotaro went to the Japanese Consulate in Lu. Consul General Oda Shinnosuke mentioned the yarn mill and reminded them to find Chinese people who might cause trouble or could be used.When the ship arrived at the dock, Zhang Jian said that he and Kang Liang were non-Party members. After the closure of the Qiang Society, he had been busy preparing to set up a cotton mill. He was completely unaware of the subsequent plans of Kang Liang and others. He was afraid that the emperor was eager to reform and his methods were too drastic, and it would be difficult for them to escape unscathed.

While they were talking, Nishimura Matsubei came with someone and said that he had been ordered to invite Zhang Jian to the consulate.Initially Zhang Jian and Lu Runfeng refused, but Nishimura revealed that they had invited Wen Tingshi, one of the six sons of Wengmen, He Sikun, the Prime Minister of Nanyang Public School, and Zheng Guanying, the general manager of Hanyang Iron Works. Zhang Jian heard that all his friends would attend, so he simply agreed to go with Nishimura alone.

In the consulate, elites from the business community gathered together. Shinnosuke Oda explained one thing straight to the point. Only by making the Qing Dynasty as powerful as Japan can they survive. If China is willing to join forces with Japan to dominate East Asia, no one in the entire world can compete.The Treaty of Shimonoseki cost the Qing government 260 million in silver. Zhang Jian clearly saw the Japanese ambitions. He turned and left the conference room without waiting for Shinnosuke Oda to finish his words.

Soon, Weng Tongsu sent someone to convey the news that the emperor personally issued an edict in Zhubi, ordering him to open a vacancy and return to his hometown (dismissal of his official position and return to his hometown).As soon as Zhang Jian received the news, he braved the heavy rain to see his mentor off and promised him that he would do anything useful and not be a shameful official with eight or nine lives.Looking back on the past, Zhang Jian felt sad, and finally made an appointment with his mentor to meet again in Jiangnan.

Xiaoquan worked day and night to recruit workers, leading people to go door-to-door to persuade, and earnestly persuaded the women to work in the factory. After several rounds of going back and forth, there were still very few applicants.Father Ni prevented his daughter Jiujin from working in the factory, so Jiujin had to seek help from Wu Daomin.

For this reason, Wu Daoyin personally came forward to find Father Ni to understand the situation, and found out that he was worried about the many foreign devils in the factory, and worried that his daughter was still a young girl, always joining in the fun with men, and it would definitely be difficult for her to get married in the future.When Shen Lanjun heard this, he immediately pulled Jiujin out and decided to marry Jinlan to her. Wu Daomin also recognized the child and promised to personally host the wedding when she got married. Father Ni was overjoyed and readily agreed on the spot.

In the twenty-fifth year of Guangxu (1899), since the signing of the official-commercial contract, both Sheng Xuanhuai and Gui Haoqing have not fulfilled the contract, causing the Dasheng Cotton Factory to fall into financial difficulties again. It turns out that Gui Haoqing has already accepted the order of the Governor of Hubei to put aside the official business, which is true, and it is false to fund the Dasheng Cotton Factory. Sheng Xuanhuai has invested elsewhere. Zhang Jian cannot count on the two of them. In order to stabilize Dasheng's stocks, he can only continue to go to Shanghai and raise shares again.

Seeing that the official factory was being made so impressive by Jiang Mengsheng and the others, Zhang Jian felt mixed emotions in his heart.Seeing that Zhang Jian was in a low mood, Wu Daozhen persuaded him to go to Zhang Zhidong in person. Zhang Jian was deeply inspired and asked Zhang Zhidong for money the next day. Zhang Zhidong was helpless by Zhang Jian's manipulations and agreed to repair a book and ask for money from Sheng Xuanhuai to help him out.

At this time, it was less than a few days before the scheduled start of construction, and most of the machines in the factory had not yet been installed.It happened that at this juncture, Thomas suddenly stopped talking and said that he must leave for home immediately and leave all unfinished matters behind.Shen Jingfu asked the reason and found out that the factory had not paid Thomas, so he tried to persuade him to stay and promised to make up the money.On the other side, Zhang Jian finished eating at a roadside stall and came up with the idea of ​​selling calligraphy to raise money.