Volume 1 Chapter 10

  After finishing things in Yixing City, Xia Ting Cong finally had time to listen to the two managers' reports on the matters she had entrusted to them earlier.

  Xian Xia and Shu felt an unusual excitement in their hearts after hearing the conversation between Xia Ting and Guan Yuan. They then knew that their young mistress was a capable person who treated her subordinates very well.

  The monthly salary of a single shop assistant is as much as 7 taels, which was something they didn't dare think about before.

  After adjusting his mood, Uncle Chang spoke up and said, "Miss, according to your previous instructions, I have looked at several villas and am currently negotiating. However, the prices of a few villas are not cheap."

  Xia Ting listened quietly and didn't think it was unexpected. She knew without asking that this Kyoto must be a place where every inch of land is precious, so the price wouldn't be low. "Don't worry, just negotiate with them for the lowest price, even if it's expensive, we can make it back later."

  Chang Shu nodded in agreement, and indeed, Miss had a business mind, knowing that if you don't let go of the child, you can't put on the wolf.

  Yu Shu then took out a blueprint and handed it over, "Miss, I've also looked at the shops for sale in Kyoto, several of them meet your requirements, I've noted down all the ones you mentioned"

  Xia Ting took the blueprint and looked at it carefully. Finally, she stretched out her slender fingers to point out a few rooms that she thought were good, and said to Yu Shu, "Let's take these few rooms, and after buying them, decorate them according to the plan I gave you earlier."

  Then she pointed to another room on the blueprint and asked, "What's going on with this jewelry store?"

  Yu Shu took a look and said, "Miss, this shop's business is bleak, it looks like it's about to close down. The old slave saw that the storefront was quite large, with two floors, so I'll just record it all together."

  Xia Ting was tapping her fingers on the desk thoughtfully, a jewelry store, it's also worth considering opening one.

  She raised her head again and continued to ask, "Why is this shop's business not doing well?"

  Yu Hui recalled and said, "The gold decorations in that shop were not many, no new ideas. However, the weight was quite sufficient, so it wasn't cheap. Ordinary families mostly couldn't afford it, and wealthy families didn't like the pattern either. This unprofitable business, if they don't close down, what else can they do? That shopkeeper, though, is a pretty honest person."

  After listening to Yu Shu's answer, Xia Ting had an idea in her mind. She took out a piece of Xuan paper and drew several styles of jewelry on it with her hand.

  Then, with a wave of her hand, she handed it over to Yu Shu. "Go to that shop and have them make these accessories, then bring them back for me to take a look." Although the idea of opening an accessory shop was exciting, she still had to check out the craftsmanship of the artisans in that shop before deciding whether or not to buy it.

  Yu Shu took over the drawings and respectfully said "Lao Nu understands."

  Xia Ting Cong took out another 50,000 taels of silver notes from the table and handed them to Chang Shu and Yu Shu: "As I said earlier, quickly buy the Zhuangzi and the shop according to the map I drew before. The more you can buy, the better, so as not to be short when needed."

  When she was in Yixing City before, she always felt that the villa was not enough. Every time she had a new idea, she would ask Guan Bo to take a look at the villa again. It's really too much trouble.

  After finishing speaking, he paused for a moment and brought up another matter "Also, previously I asked you to choose six reliable people, have they all been chosen?"

  Chang Shu immediately replied "I've already chosen them, they're all honest and kind-hearted family-born children"

  Xia Ting nodded slightly, letting Chang Shu and Yu Shu come forward, giving them detailed instructions for a while, then reached into her sleeve and took out six envelopes, placing them on the table, before getting up and taking Wan Yu into the inner room.

  Yu Shu and Chang Shu then went out and called in the six people they had previously selected, among whom were two sons of Chang Shu and Yu Shu.

  Everyone stood up in a very orderly manner after entering the house. Chang Shu was the first to speak, saying "I called you all here today because you are all honest and loyal people. Now, Mr. Meng values you highly and wants to assign a good task to each of you."

  He pointed to the six envelopes arranged in a row on the table and continued, "In our shop that is about to open, there are three secret formulas. Each formula has been divided into two halves and placed in these six envelopes. You will each be responsible for one half of a formula. I'll say it upfront, this half of the formula cannot be shared with anyone, not even your closest relatives. Otherwise, don't blame our boss for being ruthless when the time comes. If anyone leaks their half of the formula, you'll be the first one I come looking for." Everyone hastened to express their loyalty after hearing this.

  Yu Shu also stood by and said, "Alright, now everyone come up to take the envelope, open it and see which half of the secret formula you are responsible for, memorize it and then burn it immediately."

  Everyone rushed forward, each took an envelope, and carefully opened it. They took out the letter paper, memorized the secret formula with care, and only then gradually threw them into the fire basin to burn them away.

  Chang Shu and Yu Shu exchanged a glance, both nodded in satisfaction.

  Yu Shu smiled and said, "The master has said that those who hold the secret formula in their hands will receive a monthly salary of five taels. In addition to this, 0.1% of the monthly profit from the shop will be taken out as a bonus and divided equally among the managers, accountants, and apprentices. As long as you all do your jobs well, the master will not treat you unfairly."

  Everyone who heard it was delighted, this month's money is really too thick. Secretly congratulating himself on following a good master.

  After finishing all this, Chang Shu waved his hand and said, "Everyone go down and get ready, the shop will open soon."

  After confirming that those people had left, Xia Ting Cong finally came out from the inner room. With a few points of appreciation in his eyes, "Well done, I suppose Guan Bo has already told you before coming to Kyoto, my identity is not suitable for outsiders to know, and consistently claim that I am a mysterious businessman, Jun Mo Wen."

  "Miss, rest assured that we will be careful and won't reveal your identity to outsiders," Yu Shu said respectfully. Chang Shu also nodded in agreement beside him.

  "Very well, I've always been generous to those loyal to me. From now on, several farms will be managed by Uncle Chang, and Uncle Yu will manage several shops. Your basic monthly salary is seven taels, the shopkeeper and farm manager are five taels each, and apprentices and tenants are one tael and five cents each. Additionally, 0.1% of the shop's monthly profit will be deducted as a bonus. When the farms start making a profit, it will be done in the same way. I should also head back now, you all hurry up with your work, if there's any problem just send me a message."

  Chang Shu and Yu Shu both nodded repeatedly and personally escorted Xia Ting Cong out of the village.

  Returning to the Xia residence, Li and her two daughters had yet to come back.

  Xia Ting let Wan Yu go out to gather information, and she went back to her room and lay down on the warm bed, feeling a bit tired. However, it was worth it, as business in Yixing City was booming, no matter how tired she was.

  Next she just thought about how to promote the shop and wine house in Kyoto. This was indeed a difficult problem.

  With a soft creak, the door was pushed open and Wan Yu walked in from outside, leaning over to whisper to Xia Ting's ear, "Miss, Mrs. Li and the two legitimate misses have just returned this moment, looking quite pleased."

  It seems that there is a good target at the banquet. Xia Ting coldly smiled and shook her head, although Xia Lian and Xia Rong looked good, but in this era, it's not just about looking good to get married, those powerful people care more about matching doors and households.

  In the Zhaohua Fu family, if you really want to climb high, you can only be a concubine for others. I hope that Li woman is not so brainless.

  Wan Yu didn't think so much, with a resentful face, she felt sorry for her own young lady "The young lady doesn't know how many times more beautiful than the third and fifth young ladies, but Mrs. Li only cares about her two daughters, and leaves our young lady aside."

  Xia Ting smiled and glanced at her "Don't think about it, she's better off leaving me alone, do you think she'd actually help me choose a good marriage"

  Anyone with a bit of brains knows this is impossible. Anyway, she didn't think about getting married, the priority was to open up her shop first, and when she had money, Li would naturally have no way to control her.

  Wan Yu thought for a moment and couldn't help but nod in agreement: Miss is right, Mrs. Li wouldn't push Miss into the fire pit if she didn't want to, how could she possibly choose a good marriage for Miss?