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Volume 2: Innate Talent Fifteen: Finding a Job for the Spinning Needle

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  On the sixth day, early in the morning, Zhou Xuan secretly slipped back to his own bedroom next door. After a while, he was talking to Xiao Bayue in the courtyard:

  "Xiao Xiang, why did Sparrow's sister sleep in again?"

  "I don't know, probably because I was too excited about moving into the new house and didn't sleep well."

  Xiao Xiang always finds reasons for Miss Queer.

  Zhou Xuan stretched in the room and asked Xiao Xiang to prepare washing utensils.

  Qin Que also got up on this side, and had Ya Huan Xiao Mei serve her.

  Zhou Xuan, Qin Que and Zhen Lian practiced the Five Animals Play together with four little maidservants, making the Zhou household's early morning exercise team even larger.

  Because Qin Que was a teacher, everyone imitated her every move, and even learned to frown and clench their legs like her. Especially the four little girls, who were learning for the first time and were particularly serious about it. From then on, whenever they practiced one pose, they would frown, and when they practiced another pose, they would clench their legs tightly. Qin Que's face turned red as she corrected them multiple times, but they just couldn't change. It seemed that this first impression was really too important.

  Zhou Xuan naturally knew the subtlety of it and was still laughing on his way to "Worry-Free Hall", it was so funny that his stomach hurt from laughing.

  Sanzhou chess war Shuzhou has lost, Shuzhou long history went to the capital protectorate early in the morning to bid farewell to Lin Du Hu, taking two chess players and several subordinates across the Yangtze River, returning to Shuzhou with a humiliated face.

  Zhou Xuan's first game against the top player from Ou State was over in just one hour, with Zhou Xuan winning by a wide margin of five pieces while playing black. Ou State didn't have any particularly strong players and hadn't spent a lot of money to hire famous players from other places, so their three players were far inferior to Jiang State's three. They lost all three games in the first round.

  After lunch at the Xu residence, he let Ding Desheng return to report that he would go to the North Gate "Super Autumn War Hall" and return to the mansion later.

  Zhou Xuan rode on an old horse, bringing good fortune, heading towards the North Gate. It's been several days since he went to "Super Autumn War Hall". Yesterday, when Qiao Yan and Liao Yin came to congratulate him on his new home, he didn't have time to ask them anything.

  Arriving at Laohe Tang, I found that the entrance had been renovated. The three insect shops on the ground floor had merged into one. The left side was used as a tea house to entertain insect friends from all sides. The right side was fully utilized for insect market transactions. The middle section, which is the main body of "Super Autumn War Hall", broke through the partition walls of each room on the second floor and built a large-scale arena for gambling insects and fighting insects.

  Zhou Xuan was overjoyed and lavishly praised Liao Yin and his wife, as well as Tang Xiaosan and Hu Tong. These four people have now become the pillars of "Super Autumn War Hall". Although Tang Xiaosan and Hu Tong are young, one is 15 years old and the other is 14 years old. Tang Xiaosan is fully in charge of insect market transactions, while Hu Tong is responsible for insect gambling and has held two insect battles, relying on friends' bets to earn a profit of 30 taels, which is quite good.

  Zhou Xuan's mind was broad and open, so he sent someone to invite Abu over. They discussed the salaries of Liao Yin and several other old-timers at the insect store. Zhou Xuan proposed that Liao Yin be the general manager of "Super Autumn War Hall", with a monthly salary of 20 taels of silver, and an additional bonus of one-fifth of the net profit divided into 100 parts. Xia Cuihua was to be the assistant general manager, but in reality, all the power was in Xia Cuihua's hands, with the same salary and bonuses as Liao Yin. Tang Xiao San and Hu Tong were both deputy managers, each with a monthly salary of 15 taels of silver, and a bonus of one-third of the net profit divided into 100 parts.

  Abu naturally raised both hands in approval, and Liao Yin and Xia Cuihua were overjoyed. They were clear about the profits of the insect store, taking one-fifth of the 100 shares, which would be 10 for the couple. According to the current trend of the insect store, it was estimated that within five months until the end of the year, they could make a profit of nearly 3,000 taels. The couple's reward alone would be 300 taels. In the past, even if they opened a small shop outside the East Gate for a whole year, they wouldn't have made more than 100 taels of silver. Zhou Gongzi was truly a great and kind person, and it was wonderful to do business with him in "Super Autumn War Hall".

  So, the insect shop staff all addressed Liao Yin as Director Liao, Xia Cuihua as Assistant Xia, and Tang Xiaosan and Hu Tong were called Deputy Manager Tang and Deputy Manager Hu.

  Tang Fen and Hu Fen were both extremely pleased with this title, feeling a sense of responsibility on their shoulders, suddenly becoming mature in an instant.

  Just then, Wu Kuan and Wu Pangzi led a group of young masters to come swaying, these young masters were the sons of middle and lower-ranking officials in Jiangzhou, such as recorders, clerks, and accountants. When Wu Kuan saw Zhou Xuan, he was overjoyed: "Young Master Zhou, my younger brother has brought people to fight insects."

  Tang Fengan and Hu Fengan were slapped and pushed by Wu Pangzi earlier, although Zhou Xuan won 3,000 taels from Wu Pangzi and vented his anger, now they still glare at each other.

  Wu Pangzi is now afraid to offend these two, and accompanied by a smile, said: "Two young masters, last time was a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. How about inviting the two young masters to drink next time?"

  Zhou Xuan smiled and said: "Xiao San, Hu Tong, harmony brings wealth, let's forget about what happened before. From now on, no one will dare to bully you again."

  Wu Pangzi repeatedly nodded in agreement, and Hu Tong finally calmed down, leading them to the Bug Fighting Pavilion to gamble on insects.

  Zhou Xuan took a look at Wu Baozi's insects, and there wasn't a single green-backed one among them. The most powerful ones were only at the level of upper colonel, nothing worth looking at. Thinking back to the three green-backed insects from last time with Si Chou,

  Addicted, I also thought of San Chī (Three Fools), this sword slave doesn't know if he was brought by his junior fellow disciple Si Chī (Four Fools) to become a wandering knight who always keeps his promises and actions. San Chī should take the initiative to come back as a sword slave.

  Another thing came to mind, and I asked Tang Xiaosan: "Xiaosan, how's that 'tiger's butt' doing after the last time?"

  As soon as the "untouchable" was mentioned, Tang Xiaosan came to life, his eyebrows flying and his face flushed with excitement: "Young master, 'untouchable' is too formidable, just two days ago it won a first-class insect, someone offered one hundred taels of silver to buy it, but I refused."

  "Of course it can't be sold. 'Mole' can win a school-level insect and earn 100 taels of silver, which is still an easy task."

  Tang Xiaosan excitedly said: "Young Master, I think 'Mo Bu De' can easily defeat even a mid-level insect, and it's probably not a problem to fight against a high-level one either. It's just that we can't find a high-level insect for the time being."

  Zhou Xuan thought for a moment, then went to find Liao Yin and asked him to send someone to notify the three major insect clubs in Jiangzhou City, as well as some insect friends who loved to gamble. He told them that on the 19th of August, at the hour of Chen, the "Super Autumn War Hall" would host a super insect battle between the green-backed fierce insect "Famous General Zhang Huai", who had previously defeated "Yiyang Wei Yan", and the mysterious strange insect "Mo Bu De". He invited all the insect friends to enthusiastically place their bets on the outcome of the battle.

  Tang Xiaosan exclaimed: "Young Master, let 'Mo Bu De' and 'Famous General Zhang He' fight it out. 'Zhang He' is very formidable, if not careful, both will be injured."

  Zhou Xuan said: "The insect is fighting, it must be allowed to fight, if not, the domineering aura will dissipate. I still can't determine what level 'untouchable' is, maybe it's a major general or a lieutenant general, if it's a general that would be an ultra-super surprise."

  —

  Liao Yin said: "Alright, I'll make sure to spread the word. Let's make that insect battle three days later into the most grandiose gamble of 'Super Autumn Pavilion', and rake in a fortune."

  Zhou Xuan burst out laughing and went into the back hall to visit "Super Autumn War Hall" meritorious general "Little General Zhang Fei".

  "Little General Zhang Guo" is living a very comfortable life, although he has lost two legs and injured his wings. He eats and drinks well, and has eight wives and concubines. Tang Xiao San and Hu Tong sometimes receive three female crickets as gifts and send them to "Little General Zhang Guo" to taste the freshness. His prosperity makes Zhou Xuan envy him endlessly.

  In the late afternoon, Zhou Xuan took Lai Fu back to the city. Abu had been accompanying him at the insect shop all afternoon and was now walking with Zhou Xuan on the same road, saying excitedly: "It's really great to partner with Master Zhou to open a store. This 'Super Autumn War Hall' will soon become the largest insect society in Jiangzhou, and then the largest insect society in the Tang Dynasty."

  Zhou Xuan said, "Although Jiangzhou is not a small place, compared to the two capitals of Dong and Xi, it's still a bit rustic. It's impossible for us to build the number one insect society in Tang country here. In the future, we'll have to open 'Super Autumn War Hall' in both capitals. Abu brother, are you interested?"

  Abu was both surprised and delighted. He had always wanted to sell the "Five-colored Luminous Vessel" and "Fragrant Jade Everlasting Frost" in the two major cities of Tang Dynasty, but he didn't have any connections. As a discriminated Hu merchant, how could he make any money on this over 2,000-mile water journey with all the layers of exploitation?

  So when Abu heard Zhou Xuan's words, he was overjoyed. If the "Super Autumn War Hall" could open in the capital, then his "Five-color Luminous Vessel" and "Fragrant Jade Eternal Frost" could also be sold in the capital. With Zhou Xuan's relationship with the Fuzhou Prefecture, it shouldn't be difficult to arrange a few official ships to transport some goods to the capital. After all, Dongdu Jinling and Xidu Yangzhou were both prosperous cities with a population of over 500,000, where there were many wealthy people and noblewomen. The "Five-color Luminous Vessel" and "Fragrant Jade Eternal Frost" would definitely make a lot of money. As long as he accumulated enough wealth, he would return to the Black Clothes Great Food, to fulfill his ancestors' four-generation wish - now, Zhou Xuan had given him hope!

  "That's great, I've always wanted to go to the two capitals. With Master Zhou's support, we'll be unstoppable. Brother Zhou, apart from the insect shop, I also want to partner with you on 'Five-colored Glassware' and 'Fragrant Beauty Forever Frost'. You don't need to worry about a thing, just leave everything to me, Abu. At the end of the year, we'll split the silver 50/50."

  Abu has spent a lot of money, but thinking that he can sell it in the two capitals, "Wucai Liuli" is also a profitable product, so this money is still worth spending. A true big businessman must have a keen eye, dare to invest heavily, and Zhou Xuan is indeed a good person.

  Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "Abu brother, I don't want to take your hard-earned money for nothing. I'll help you sell those two things, but I won't take a single silver coin from you. Instead, I'd like to ask you to help me open the largest garment store in Jiangzhou."

  "Ready-made clothes?" Abu was stunned. Zhou Xuan actually didn't want his half-share of silver, which was at least 50,000 taels per year.

  "Yes, a clothing store. We need to invite the best tailors in Jiangzhou, have the best storefront, and use the best silk fabrics."

  Zhou Xuan said in his heart: "Needle, I've found a job for you, you must work hard."

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