Chapter 5 To Sway Future Subordinates

Er Liang put a piece of rabbit meat on his rice and added some sauce. He couldn’t even bother to talk, so busy stuffing the delicious food in his mouth. He thought as he ate, if young master was here he would definitely be reprimanded.

“Why aren’t you both eating?” Er Liang discovers Si Niang and Gou zi only added cabbages to their rice, he worriedly said, “This is not right, how can you gain weight without eating any meat? Young master always complain that I am too skinny.”

Er Liang said, pleased with himself, “In the past, only I was picked to be young master’s servant boy because I was the fattest of all of them!”

It’s too bad, after eight years old, he slimmed down, ai~

Si Niang chewed the rice in a cherishing manner. In her old home, even when the harvest was plentiful there was no rice as fine as this to eat.

The most was some white rice mixed in with the bran and beans. And that was the best of days.

She put on a fawning smile: “I don’t like to eat meat.”

Gou zi also piped up: “I also don’t like to eat meat.”

Er Liang ate another piece of rabbit meat, thinking it the strangest thing ever: “In this world, other than monks, there are actually people who don’t like to eat meat. What a strange thing.”

In Er Liang’s opinion, there is nothing more delicious than meat in this world.

Si Niang asked in a small voice: “Er Liang, does the young master have any taboos? I am an uneducated person, I’m afraid I won’t be able to serve him well.”

Er Liang spit out a bone: “My young master has the kindest heart, the heart of a Buddha. Just do what he asks of you, as long as it is part of your responsibilities, anything else you don’t need to worry about.”

Gou zi swallowed discreetly, looking at the bits of meat still stuck to the bone Er Liang spit out, unwilling to shift his eyes.

Unfortuanately, Er Liang did not catch the look, only thought that this pair of mother and son are used to not having meat as part of their diet and perhaps as a result can’t eat meat. So he ate all the meat with a clear conscience.

After finishing, Er Liang let out a rabbit meat scented burp.

“Si Niang, your cooking skills are quite good.” Er Liang wiped at the oil on his lips, “generous with the oil, makes it taste better.”

Si Niang still now is dizzy: “Wasted so much oil!”

In her life she had yet to put this much oil in a single dish. That cannot be considered pouring oil but pouring money instead.

When she was eating the cabbages she could also taste the oil, mixed with rice it was unmentionably tasty.

Er Liang waved his hand: “As long as you do the work well for young master, young master will treat you well!”

He thinks, once young master’s soybean oil is extracted, even using oil like water is possible.

“Oh right, I bought a roll of cloth, it’s for you to make clothes for yourself and Gou zi.” Er Liang says, “it’s young master’s orders.”

Si Niang gaped, frantically saying: “We, we do not deserve…”

Young master gave them shelter, a bed with blankets and food to eat. Compared to life at her old home where she lived in a grass hut that leaks on rainy days, the life now is much better. And not only that but also receiving new clothes!

In farming families only men received new clothes. Only once they are worn old will the woman patch them up and wears them instead. Once the clothes are too ripped will the woman change them into smaller sizes and given to the children.

Since birth she had never once worn new clothes. They had always belonged to someone else first.

“There’s no need for new clothes.” Si Niang says, followed by tears falling down. She often cannot eat fully as the food must prioritize her husband and children first. Instead she drinks water to stave the hunger and on their way here rely on tree bark and grass roots as sustenance.

She is as thin as a skeleton, skin weather-beaten and stretched thin, arms resembling the bare branches of trees. Her tears had none of the charms of raindrops on a pear blossom or tears on the face of a beauty. It only makes people feel sad.

Gou zi also says: “Brother Er Liang, my mother and I we don’t want any new clothes.”

Er Liang look surprised: “You aren’t cold?”

Unlike them, Er Liang is a family servant, his parents having been the servants of the Lin family before he was born. They had no private property – they live in the Lin family house, wear Lin family clothes. Their entire life from birth to death will be at the Lin family. In the hearts of these family servants, they are members of the Lin family.

Therefore, whatever the master gives them they would not have any qualms of receiving or that they don’t deserve it.

So Er Liang could not understand the feelings of this pair of mother and son.

Gou zi pulled the collar of his shirt and showed Er Liang the dry hay stuffed within, saying proudly: “I rubbed and stuffed them myself, it’s very warm.”

Er Liang reached out a hand to touch it, the hay had been rubbed and softened, not prickly as expected, and because it is close to the skin it is warm just as Gou zi claimed.

“I’ve never tried this before!” Er Liang look interested, “later, help me to also make some hay stuffing.”

He treats it as a game.

Er Liang sleeps with Lin Yuan, since the space is not big he couldn’t have Er Liang make his bed on the floor.

Er Liang is still a child with a small stature, doesn’t take up much room. And besides two people sleeping is warmer.

“I should go buy a tangpozi (TN: basically a hot water bottle put in the sheets to warm the bed) for young master.” Er Liang thinks he is not attentive enough, feeling guilty, “I actually forgot something this important. If my dad hears this he will definitely scold me.”

Lin Yuan flopped an arm on top of Er Liang, sleepily saying: “Sleep, your dad is not here.”

Er Liang mumbles some more but Lin Yuan did not catch it, falling into sleep.

Early the next morning, Si Niang finished preparing breakfast – steamed rolls, fried breadsticks, and even bought soy milk at the tofu shops. Gou zi also woke up early and is sweeping the yard.

Si Niang still feels anxious, she feels that cooking is too light work.

After eating breakfast, Lin Yuan has Er Liang stay to watch the house, going out himself to reserve a restuarant booth. The house still lacks people, specifically strong and physically intimidating people to scare away crooks.

If only the original owner’s nanny brother is still here. That muscular body, practically a human weapon.

The hunter he met awhile ago is also good, it’s too bad he wasn’t interested in temporary work much less permanent work of being a doorman/bodyguard.

The booth reserved, Lin Yuan visited Jiang Gui’s house. The place Jiang Gui rented is even smaller than Lin Yuan’s but not only is Jiang Gui and his wife and child living there but also his parents and parents-in-law.

After finding out that his parents-in-law also live with Jiang Gui and his family, Lin Yuan could not help but sigh. Although Jiang Gui is far from a gentleman, but he also cannot be considered a bad man.

His parents-in-law grow older in age but their own sons are reluctant to support their living. Their daughter, wife of Jiang Gui is part of another family since marriage and does not dare to speak of looking after her elderly parents. Jiang Gui noticed his wife secretly crying several times and as a result made the decision to bring them over to his house and be responsible for their care.

He is only one person but he must support six people not counting himself. Lin Yuan truly thinks Jiang Gui can be considered a good courageous man.

“Uncle Jiang, I am a friend of brother Jiang here to send something over.” Lin Yuan called from outside the door.

Inside could be heard of the door unlocking, an old man wearing a cotten coat appeared: “What is it?”

Lin Yuan handed over a message card: “I forgot yesterday, I must trouble brother Jiang to send this invitation to brother Dao.”

The old man does not recognize words, squinting his eyes at the card but only to feel dizzy. He nods his head: “Fine, you can be going now.”

Lin Yuan: “Great, then I will be leaving first, uncle Jiang.”

Uncle Jiang waved his hand expressing his understanding.

Lunch was eaten at home. Si Niang cherishes her current situation so despite her cooking skills being average at least she is generous with oil and salt which tastes better than food stalls outside.

Lin Yuan took a nap after lunch and then left again by himself to walk around the city.

20 workers is not enough but Lin Yuan has his own plans.

Is that brother Dao fellow trustworthy? What are his subordinates like? Lin Yuan is completely in the dark so he gave Jiang Gui a percentage of future earnings. With shared interests Jiang Gui would treat the issue seriously. After seeing just how much money soybean oil can make he would be completely on his side.

And with the ten percent of earnings there is no need to worry about betrayal.

They are now on the same boat so no matter whether it is keeping from being registered as merchant class or operating the business, Jiang Gui must take part.

Money can shake a person’s will, especially in Jiang Gui’s case with a big family to feed.

From now on they are grasshoppers on the same string.

Only with intertwined interests can Lin Yuan cease his worries. He had been part of workplace scheming for too long, has no belief in brotherhood or friends. Only connections made through interests and benefits are inseparable.

Therefore, these 20 people, Lin Yuan plans to give them managerial duties on top of their own work.

These people have experience mingling among the underworld, with them present, the rest would not dare make any trouble.

As for himself, all he needs to do is to gain the support of the gang leader, brother Dao.

How? Easy. Share another ten percent of the earnings.

Everyone bind themselves in shared interests, this way everyone will feel at ease.

Lin Yuan waited early at the reserved booth, wearing a plain cotten shirt as he observed the restaurant’s customers. The business looks to be doing well with the crowds and flittering waiters.

The manager doing calculations with an abacus, almost frantic at the busy pace.

Lin Yuan’s booth is on the second floor with a view of downstairs so he soon saw Jiang Gui with a muscular man at his side.

The muscular man is only wearing a thin shirt in the winter cold, his hair messy. Even still, he appeared to resemble a knight-errant of jianghu, free and untamed. On his waist hangs a small sheathed knife, likely the most valuable thing he owns.

Lin Yuan waves his hand: “Brother Jiang, over here!”

Jiang Gui also hollers: “Coming up!”

Brother Dao has a bigger pace so he arrived first. Lin Yuan’s first impression could be considered quite good. He had a pair of eagle eyes, sharp dark brows, straight nose and sharp edge lips. Though he is a gang leader he has an air of righteousness.

If one was to just look at his outer appearance, then it would be easy to be trustful of him.

“Brother Dao.” Lin Yuan cupped his hand in greeting, “little brother’s name is Lin Yuan.”

Brother Dao retuned the greeting: “Just call me brother Dao.”

It seems he is unwilling to reveal his true name.

Jiang Gui says: “What are you all standing for? Come sit quickly, we three brothers should drink alcohol and eat meat while we discuss important issues.”

Lin Yuan is deeply familiar with swaying people in his favor. Before when facing clients it is talk about this and that, now facing Jiang Gui and brother Dao even easier.

“Brother Jiang, sit.” Lin Yuan poured their cups with alcohol and said with a smile, “first let’s talk about my business.”

Jiang Gui and brother Dao looked at him in askance, wasn’t this about hiring?

Lin Yuan spoke confidently, as if he had a card up his sleeve, thinking privately “if I don’t display a big piece of cake, how will I be able to attract any people?

AN: Lin Yuan: “It has always been me who takes advantage of others.”

Jiang Gui/brother Dao: “….”

TN: Two updates today! Chapter 6 is in the next post. Comments and thoughts appreciated 🙂