Deep Space Wandering Fleet
Chapter 445 - 443: Sailing - Begin!

Chapter 445: Chapter 443: Sailing - Begin!

As they negotiated, the sound of "ding ding dong dong" music began, and the first Polonaise dance started.

For young ladies attending high-society events, ball gowns were usually in light colors, adorned with delicate ribbons for decoration. Girls like Anna wore a small strand of pearl necklace, while only married women could wear expensive jewelry and dress in black.

Zhang Yuan had no interest in dancing, even though these balls were filled with the luxurious tastes that human instinct favored.

The upper class of this society was extremely open-minded; as long as one was unmarried, indulgent romantic escapades were tolerated. Zhang Yuan’s deceased father had countless secret lovers, had even become gossip in women’s boudoirs, and he was quite smug about it...

Every world has its own temptations; in this strange and dark world, only a minority could live in affluence. Some people would sell their own children for a mouthful of food; some toiled in the pitch-black mines; while a small portion indulged in songs and dances within their rooms.

Especially if you were born destined to be among those indulging in songs and dances, you either joined them completely or tried to change.

But to change even the slightest thing had become exceedingly difficult; there was only so much of the world’s cake to go around, how could it be distributed equally?

Could transplanting Marx’s principles directly to this world make a change?

It couldn’t.

Zhang Yuan softly shook his head.

With limited living space, poor productivity, backward technology, scarcity of food, high illiteracy rates, and the existence of slavery, these challenges made deeply rooted capitalism seem insignificant by comparison.

The first dance was the grand Polonaise, which all the invitees were required to participate in, even if they would spend the rest of the evening gambling at the card tables.

The dance had a slow pace and the moves were not complicated. Soon after, a group of old gamblers gathered together, eagerly indulging in betting. Many nobles had fallen to ruin due to gambling. But that was fine, as some fell, others would rise.

The second dance was often the Cadrille.

The third was the passionate Waltz, a performance of men and women skilled in dance.

Finally came the Courtrillon Dance, offering many opportunities to pursue someone’s affection, to talk about love, and to make confessions, making it the most beloved dance.

Zhang Yuan ate some pastries nonchalantly, pondering and recalling a poem he once read, "Evgeny Onegin."

"Once full of desire and laughter, I madly adored balls, where you could secretly pass a note; there was no better place for whispered sweet nothings. Esteemed married men! Will you accept the little attention I offer?"

Indeed, many young ladies had passed him notes, and some married men sneaked glances at him.

Zhang Yuan had neither a fondness for making other men cuckolds nor a wish for his sister to engage in frivolous relationships in such an environment. He simply kept dancing round and round with Anna until she was nearly faint, then he boldly went about his business with peace of mind.

"The young Earl, you should choose an appropriate dance partner instead of confining your sister here... She has grown up and possesses her own thoughts," joked the Duke with greying hair.

He enjoyed seeing the vitality of the youth, and it was even possible he might find his next romantic adventure here.

"Duke, I’d like to discuss a business proposition with you," Zhang Yuan turned and looked at the other’s aged face, "Do you have any available fleets?"

"You mean..." The elderly man’s eyes flickered, returning to serious consideration in the face of this major business opportunity.

In this world, a single city cannot sustain itself; each city has its specialties.

Giant Stone City produces coal and steel, making it the center of the entire empire; cities in the more westerly Twilight Zone region produce fruits, vegetables, and grains; other places are rich in various kinds of fish, spices, gems, wines, and so on.

What connects these cities is seafaring.

Most nobles engage in maritime trade. Without their own trade networks, they would quickly decline in the fierce competition.

Zhang Yuan’s "father" had perished in a shipwreck a year before, and the entire fleet had been buried at the bottom of the sea; the family’s foundation was still there, but it was necessary to rebuild their trade network.

The old man quickly organized his thoughts. There was no direct competition with Zhang Yuan’s family, so giving a little help was no trouble. Furthermore, he admired the young man’s drive to venture out and was willing to make such an investment.

"Of course, renting the fleet isn’t free; collateral and rent must be paid."

"That’s not a problem," Zhang Yuan replied. "I still have some shares in candy and steel factories that I can pledge to you. As for the rest of my assets, I want to leave them for my sister. If I should encounter a misfortune at sea, I hope you will look after her on behalf of my father’s memory and pass the title to her child."

The two talked until the end of the ball and then signed a relevant agreement.

In fact, relying on the steam machinery design drawings he held, Zhang Yuan could easily open a machinery factory and lead a life of wealth and splendor. Or rather, with the contacts and resources he already had, he could engage in the financial industry; capitalism in society was still in its infancy, and opportunities were abundant. There was really no need for him to take to the sea himself.

Zhang Yuan just wanted to understand the world more.

As for the drawings, he planned to find an opportunity to hand them directly to his sister, letting her handle and manage them. Once freed from such concerns, he could do what he truly desired. How much money he could earn didn’t matter to Zhang Yuan at all.

Two months passed quickly...

A four-thousand-ton displacement ship was already docked at the port. Although it was not a real fleet, it was enough to begin normal trade operations.

Anna clutched her dress, gazing at Zhang Yuan’s departure with a look of reluctance. After two months of friendly interactions, she had become Zhang Yuan’s faithful admirer. In these two months, Zhang Yuan had managed all kinds of troubles at the original factory, including social relationships, very well, and the small knot in her heart had long since vanished, and she had cut ties with her old bad influences from her social circle.

She finally understood why her father had suddenly changed his mind, willing to pass on the title to her brother, who had always been sick...

It was completely a disparity in intelligence!

"Don’t die out there!" Anna called out loudly as they walked out the door.

Zhang Yuan laughed heartily and waved his hand, "I won’t!"

...