Chapter 190: Change

Huang Bin had now become a household name in Chang'an Town. A large workshop employing several hundred people was something never seen before, and to become its manager, he must have been quite capable for the owner to have taken a liking to him. Whenever Huang Bin occasionally went out on the streets, acquaintances would greet him politely from afar, respectfully addressing him as "Manager Huang." Huang Bin was immensely pleased in his heart.

Ever since the workshop was established, Cheng Lin had handed all managerial authority over to Huang Bin. He himself had received a new assignment from the head office in the capital—to establish the Four Seas Exchange House in Hangzhou Prefecture, beginning the business of lending funds to small merchants.

Having come from a later age, Zhu Youjian naturally understood how high the profits of banking could be. Although he was not deeply knowledgeable about the financial industry, he did know the simplest and most basic form of lending.

Deposit-taking operations would be difficult to develop for now, but since the purpose of taking deposits was to profit from the spread between taking in and lending out, one could simply use the principal directly for lending first.

This business targeted the source of exorbitant profits relied upon by the wealthy merchants of Jiangnan—usury.

Zhu Youjian's goal was simple: use the formidable backing of the Four Seas Trading Company to drive loan interest rates down to extremely low levels, break some group's monopoly on the lending business, let more small merchants in need of capital for development reap the benefits, and promote the great development of the entire manufacturing and commercial circulation sectors.

The chief manager of the Four Seas Trading Company headquarters had now become Gong Fanwu, while the two original managers remained in their posts to assist Gong Fanwu in his work.

By now, whether it was the Changlu or Shouguang salt works, their development had already stepped onto the right track. There was no longer any need for the capable and outstanding Gong Fanwu to remain at the salt works. After selecting a reliable successor from among the Embroidered Uniform Guard officers responsible for guarding the salt works, Gong Fanwu was recalled by Zhu Youjian to the capital to assume a new post.

As Emperor, Zhu Youjian could not casually meet with a commoner—that would violate propriety. But for Gong Fanwu's outstanding work over the past year or more, rewards were certainly indispensable.

Regarding what reward to give Gong Fanwu, Zhu Youjian had privately consulted Gong Yonggu's opinion, after all, Gong Fanwu was still his household slave—he had to ask the master what the man valued most. That is, if one was going to reward, it had to strike the heart to be effective.

According to Gong Yonggu, Gong Fanwu did not place much importance on wealth. His nature was bold and unrestrained, and he delighted in socializing. Gong Yonggu had mentioned on several occasions removing his slave status, but Gong Fanwu had indicated that he would never separate himself from the Gong family in this lifetime—though if his sons and grandsons had the opportunity, they would become independent. Gong Fanwu's eldest son had reached the age of tying his hair, and Gong Yonggu had also engaged an old xiucai to teach him from childhood. Gong Fanwu held great hopes for this eldest son, wishing that he might achieve something in the future.

As long as one knew what he valued most, things were easy. With Zhu Youjian's imperial edict, Gong Fanwu was granted the post of Chiliarch in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and his eldest son was admitted to study at the Imperial Academy.

This Chiliarch post in the Embroidered Uniform Guard was merely an honorary and nominal position, a symbol of status—he had no officers or guards under his command. Gong Fanwu's actual duties remained those of chief manager of the Four Seas Trading Company.

The Emperor's favor filled Gong Fanwu with gratitude, and especially the matter of his eldest son entering the Imperial Academy stirred his heart deeply.

He had learned from Gong Yonggu that His Majesty wished to restore the Imperial Academy to the status it had held in the early years of the dynasty, and would at an appropriate time rebuild the early-dynasty policy of selecting and employing talent from the Imperial Academy. As long as an Imperial Academy student performed well, he would have opportunities for development in his official career. As for how far he could go, that would depend on his own ability. This meant that as long as his eldest son worked hard himself, obtaining an official position should not be a problem—no longer would he be of slave status like his father.

After fully understanding the Emperor's intentions through Gong Yonggu's relayed account, Gong Fanwu decided to first establish the exchange house in Hangzhou Prefecture, and only after accumulating sufficient experience would he expand to other prefectures and counties.

Gong Fanwu personally traveled by boat to Hangzhou Prefecture. After viewing the workshop in Chang'an Town accompanied by Cheng Lin, he affirmed Cheng Lin's methods and abilities, and expressed that the workshop's scale could be expanded further, striving to drive even greater development in Chang'an Town's silk industry. Then the two men conducted a detailed analysis and study of the exchange house question, deciding to first conduct business in Chang'an Town.

Managing a workshop of over four hundred people was more than one person could handle alone. The daily variety of complicated affairs left Huang Bin frazzled. After obtaining Cheng Lin's consent, Huang Bin brought his family and relatives into the workshop.

He and his wife were responsible for management within the workshop, his two brothers-in-law handled the procurement of rice, flour, oil, vegetables and other supplies for the canteen, while his parents, his wife's parents, and the wives of his two brothers-in-law managed the preparation of meals.

After the initial chaos of various kinds, more than a month later, the workshop's various management matters gradually became streamlined, and Huang Bin was no longer as busy as he had been at the very beginning.

One day, as the workshop workers gradually finished their shifts, after carefully inspecting everything in the workshop, Huang Bin gave instructions to Old Man Huang, the neighbor hired for night watch duty, and only then returned to his home not far away.

The women who had returned early had already cooked the meal. Huang Bin's father had warmed several jugs of rice wine. Huang Bin's father-in-law, his two brothers-in-law, and Huang Bin and his father sat together in a circle, sipping wine and chatting idly, while the women and children ate in the inner room.

Old Huang raised his coarse ceramic wine bowl and took a shallow sip, then set down his cup and spoke cheerfully: "The second son of the Fan family is getting betrothed to the little girl of the Liu family the day after tomorrow. I looked at the account book—when Ah Bin got betrothed, their family gave twenty wen plus a rooster. I've been thinking, the day after tomorrow I'll return seventy wen and that should be enough. Ah Bin, what do you think?"

Huang Bin set down his chopsticks and replied: "Father, Fan Yun is skilled and capable. In his spare time he even helps me repair looms and do odd jobs. That Liu girl is also a clever and nimble worker. I was even planning to promote young Fan. This time around, our return gift should be heavier. I think we should give one tael of silver! Once he knows of it, he'll work his utmost in the future!"

The others at the table all looked at Huang Bin in shock upon hearing "one tael of silver." Old Huang stammered: "Ah Bin, what are you saying? One tael of silver! That's a huge sum of money! An ordinary family would need a month or two to spend that much!"

Huang Bin's father-in-law also said: "Ah Bin, although this is your family matter and I shouldn't meddle, this gift is too heavy! This is only the betrothal—if he gets married in a few days, what will you give then?"

Hearing that his father-in-law made sense, Huang Bin spoke to Old Huang: "What Father-in-law says is right. Then let's give five hundred wen, and when he marries, give one tael as a congratulatory gift!"

Old Huang wanted to advise further, but the words reached his lips and were swallowed back down.

Although the Huang family's circumstances had been fairly good before, netting several dozen taels of silver each year, compared to this recent period it was far too little.

As manager, Huang Bin received five taels of silver per month, plus a ten percent share of the profits at year's end. His wife had also now become a manager, with the company paying her three taels per month. Together the two of them earned nearly a hundred taels a year, already far exceeding their previous annual net income.

The old couple plus the in-law family of six each received one tael of silver per month in wages—something they wouldn't have dared to imagine before.

Hardship and toil counted for nothing; strength not used would not accumulate anyway. Being able to exchange it for silver was the real skill.

As long as things continued this way, within a few years the Huang family could become one of the town's rare wealthy households. In Huang Bin's words, in a few years he would also have fine silk robes made for the old couple, then hire several maids and servants for the household. In the future, when people saw him, they would respectfully address him as "Old Master Huang."

All of this was earned by his own son. For his son to have authority in this household, he had to have prestige. Whether he was willing or not, he had to listen to his son—especially in front of the in-laws, he had to leave his son enough face.

And so the matter was settled, and the family began discussing other things. Farming households had no such saying as "don't talk while eating, don't speak while sleeping"—eating and chatting together was what made a family atmosphere, wasn't it?

Huang Bin's elder brother-in-law Li Nian chewed his food as he spoke: "Ah Bin, there's something I want to discuss with you. Help me make a decision. Between our two families, you've seen the most of the world—we all trust you!"

Huang Bin quickly said: "Brother, just speak up! We're all one family, don't stand on ceremony!"

Li Nian glanced at Old Li, and seeing him nod slightly, gathered his courage and said: "I don't want to do procurement anymore. I want to learn loom repair from you! The workshop has two hundred looms, and sometimes several break in a single day. I see you having to look after this and manage that, too busy to cope, even needing Fan Yun to find time to help you. If I learn it, wouldn't you have much less burden? And look, the weaving households in town are increasing day by day, but there are only a few who repair looms. Sometimes when there's a rush, they can't get around to everyone. If I learn this craft, wouldn't our family have another source of income? What do you think?"

Huang Bin laughed: "This is a good thing! I was just worrying about having no one to help! Brother, having such an idea is truly excellent! Wait, let me think about who can take your place, and then you just follow me. As long as you put your heart into it, you'll surely master it within half a year! Haha!"

Li Nian raised his wine bowl solemnly and said: "Ah Bin, your elder brother toasts you! My little sister finding a husband like you means she'll enjoy blessings for the rest of her life! Our whole family has basked in your good fortune! All of us remember your kindness!"

Old Li beside him and Huang Bin's second brother-in-law also nodded vigorously. Farming folk were not good with words, but from their expressions one could tell that Li Nian's words were what they all felt in their hearts.

Huang Bin hastily waved his hands: "Brother, such words I cannot accept! Since A-Fen married into the family, she has served my parents above and raised the children below, managed the household, and now followed me into the workshop. Who among the neighbors doesn't praise me, Huang Bin, for finding such a good wife? My heart is completely content! We are one family—helping each other to make life better, that is what I think!"

The second brother-in-law Li Sui spoke up: "Ah Bin is right! As long as the family understands each other, that's enough! I'm different from Brother—I like the procurement trade. If the workshop grows even bigger in the future, I'll still be happy doing this line of work!"

Huang Bin laughed: "From what I've heard of Squire Cheng's intentions, the workshop will certainly grow bigger, and in the future our wages will rise along with it! We just need to put our whole hearts into the work and never be lazy or shifty—that's the most important thing!"

The others all expressed their views one after another—having encountered such a good employer, their families would never give anyone a reason to speak ill.

Huang Bin took a sip of wine, then suddenly thought of a matter. Setting down his wine bowl, he asked: "Second Brother, we spend all day in the workshop and hear very little of what goes on outside. You're out and about every day and hear many things. Let me ask you—are there people in this town who also want to start a large workshop but simply don't have much silver in hand?"

Hearing this, Li Sui raised his chopsticks and his mind churned. He purchased many supplies every day and came into contact with many and varied people—anything that happened in town, he could find out.

After thinking for a moment, Li Sui's eyes lit up and he smiled: "I actually do recall one person! He often asks me how so many people are managed! Ah Bin, you should know this man—Fang Li! He has several looms at home and is a decent fellow!"