??Chapter 47: Use those you trust and don’t doubt; doubt those you use and don’t employ them (Second Update)
Chapter 47: Use those you trust and don’t doubt; doubt those you use and don’t employ them (Second Update)
Nata’s wife very politely led the group inside.
Habu dispersed the villagers who were gathered outside the courtyard gate.
The adults sat in a sparsely furnished room to talk, while Balang and three children played in the yard.
Li Xianyun said, “Let’s get straight to the point, I want to open an Ice Porridge Shop in East Market, starting with one. If the business goes well, I plan to open several more branches.”
“Ice Porridge Shop?” Nata asked.
He had never even heard of ice porridge.
Looking at Nata and his wife, Li Xianyun said, “I want the two of you to run the first Ice Porridge Shop. I will pay you one silver per month.”
One silver?
They couldn’t make that much in half a year.
Nata’s wife waved her hands and said, “We can handle a bit of small trade, but running a shop? We have no experience at all and fear we might ss things up.”
Li Xianyun said, “I have a lot of confidence in both of you. When employing soone, what matters most is their character, then their capabilities. Your honest and steadfast nature goes without saying. Despite not being wealthy, you keep your house in perfect order, and your three children are also clean and tidy, which speaks volus about your hard work and industriousness.”
Nata’s wife was efficient and skilful when tidying up the ssy fruit stand, a good hand at getting things done.
Li Xianyun had felt a fondness for Nata’s wife from the mont she saw her. As soon as she entered, Li Xianyun observed the Nata household, where details revealed character.
The two were very neat, keeping their ho in perfect order, which is very important for running an Ice Porridge Shop.
Li Xianyun continued, “Don’t feel burdened, it’s normal for business to have ups and downs, and it’s okay even if you make a loss.”
Seeing that Nata and his wife were still hesitant, Li Xianyun said, “Opening the Ice Porridge Shop will require a lot of fruit, which can help with the surplus fruit in the village.”
Hearing this, Habu chid in from the side, “Nata, Nata’s wife, just agree to the young master’s proposal. The young master said that it’s okay even if you make a loss, and by doing this, you can also help the people in our village. You know how grim our village’s situation is, even if outsiders don’t.”
Nata looked at his wife and then made up his mind, saying to Li Xianyun, “Alright, we agree.”
Li Xianyun glanced at Youlan.
Youlan took out a silver note worth fifty silvers from her sleeve and handed it to Nata.
Nata looked at Li Xianyun in surprise and said, “Young master, this is…”
Li Xianyun said, “It’s not easy for
to make a trip from ho, and there are many things that need handling by both of you. In the next few days, you both should visit East Market and rent a storefront that can accommodate more than twenty people. You often do business in East Market and should know where businesses thrive. Rember to choose the shop carefully. It must be near a barbecue place or a shop selling flatbreads and baked buns.”
“Understood, young master. I’ve got it,” Nata replied.
Li Xianyun went on, “You need to find a place that sells ice and negotiate a deal for bulk purchases. The price must be reasonable, for we will use a large amount of ice on a regular basis, so you can really push for a lower price.”
Bater and Zhuo Ma looked at Li Xianyun in amazent. She handled matters with such savvy, considering every detail as only a true business expert would.
Li Xianyun continued, “You will also need to hire soone to renovate the storefront, get soone to make a sign for the Ice Porridge Shop, buy so tables and chairs, and recruit a few honest and hardworking people to work at the shop. Once all of this is ready, you can send a ssage to…”
She paused and looked up at Bater.
Bater caught on imdiately and said, “Master, I have a very reliable relative in East Market who can be told this information and pass it on to .”
“Good, later you can give Nata the full address.”
Bater said, “Yes.”
Li Xianyun looked at the couple and said, “From now on, you will be the shopkeepers. You must attend to all matters, big and small, and not shirk them as botherso.”
Upon hearing they were to be shopkeepers, Nata and his wife felt sowhat nervous, yet they were very excited. A surge of energy filled them as they eagerly anticipated doing a good job.
Nata’s wife said, “Young Master, rest assured, we will do our utmost.”
Li Xianyun nodded.
Nata looked down at the fifty silver notes. He had never seen so much money at once in his entire life and said with a trembling hand, “But this is too much money, we can’t possibly use it all.”
Li Xianyun smiled and said, “Keep the surplus for now. There are plenty of places where it will be needed. If it’s not enough, send a ssage to .”
She paused, then continued, “It’s said that clothes make the man and the saddle makes the horse; the sa applies to the shopfront. You must be willing to spend money on renovations, and also listen to other people’s advice, understand?”
Nata nodded earnestly and said, “Understood.”
Habu looked at Li Xianyun with a smile and said, “Young Master, thank you for solving our problem with the unsold fruit.”
Li Xianyun replied, “A few Ice Porridge Shops won’t solve the problem of excess fruit.”
Habu frowned and asked, “Young man, what do you an?”
Li Xianyun responded, “On my way here, I noticed a large expanse of saline-alkali land to the west of your village. Is that land yours?”
Habu nodded and said, “Yes, but since it’s saline-alkali, fruit trees won’t grow there. It has been lying unused. Do you have a use for it?”
Li Xianyun said, “I want to construct several Drying Rooms for drying fruit on it. Is official Governnt approval needed to use the land?”
Habu answered, “No approval is required, just my consent is enough. However, we need to pay one silver per month as rent, as stipulated by our superiors. If you find it expensive, I can negotiate with the county official.”
“No need, I am willing to rent,” Li Xianyun said as he looked around.
Nata’s household was indeed poor; the ho was bare, with not a single valuable item in sight.
“Do you have paper and pen?”
Nata’s wife shook her head.
Habu explained, “There aren’t many literate people in the village, and paper and pen are quite expensive, so…”
Li Xianyun said, “I need to draw a construction plan for the Drying Room for you. You will need to organize the n in the village to build it, and I will hire them for fifty wen per day.”
The issue of fruit not selling had only been discovered after they had set out, and the idea to construct Drying Rooms had been a spur-of-the-mont decision. Had Li Xianyun known earlier, she would have prepared the construction plans for the Drying Rooms in advance.
“Fifty wen? That much money?” Habu said, surprised and delighted.
Li Xianyun smiled and said, “However, I have a construction deadline, and the work must et quality standards. If anyone cuts corners, I will dock their wages.”
Her words were ant to ensure that Habu would maintain high standards and assure quality and quantity.
After all, no one’s money cos from the wind. If you pay, it must be for sothing of value.
Li Xianyun continued, “In addition, I will pay you a hundred wen per day. Old man, you must ensure things are up to snuff for .”
Habu smiled and said, “Certainly, certainly.”
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