Chapter 103: Little Schemes (Seeking Monthly Tickets, Subscriptions)

Zhao Jin pondered for a moment, then began to explain. Naturally, he knew no classical literary language and spoke entirely in plain vernacular. Ye Wenshu wore a smile, but an undisguised contempt flickered in his eyes. Wang Zhaojing listened very attentively, a faint smile also on his face.

As they listened on, both Ye Wenshu and Wang Zhaojing's faces became utterly shocked. Chen Hong also listened with absolute concentration.

Although spoken in vernacular, what Zhao Jin laid out was tightly interlocked and meticulously thorough. The rights and responsibilities of both the proprietor and the hired hands were clearly delineated — who was to do what, who would receive what, what the rules were, and what the penalties for violations would be — all spelled out with such clarity that not a single loophole could be found. Ye Wenshu's brush flew as he recorded it, terrified of missing a single point.

Drafting a contract document was simplicity itself for Zhao Jin. He had seen countless real-world examples before; this one he had even deliberately simplified.

Zhao Jin finished speaking quickly, but Ye Wenshu did not speak. He carefully blew the ink dry, meticulously read it through once more, closed his eyes and was silent for a moment before letting out a long breath. Opening his eyes, he said with deep feeling, "Remarkable. I must keep a copy of this document. In the future, whenever there is a similar employment contract, if it's written according to this, no one will be able to find fault with it."

After speaking, he was about to make a second copy. Just as he was about to start, Wang Zhaojing stopped him with a smile and explained, "Official documents cannot afford ambiguity. It is better to use classical literary language. Wait a moment; this student will organize it briefly."

Without waiting for Ye Wenshu to reply, Wang Zhaojing ground his own ink, lifted his brush, and began writing at flying speed, his brush darting like a dragon over the paper.

At Wang Zhaojing's interjection, Ye Wenshu felt offended. His face darkened and he was about to flare up, but Zhao Jin quickly leaned close to Ye Wenshu's ear and said, "Uncle Ye, this is the young master of the Wang Youshan household."

Upon hearing that identity, Ye Wenshu was stunned and immediately fell silent. Wang Youshan's lofty and unsullied reputation went without saying. The tales of the Wang family's young master, a childhood prodigy and a born scholar, had been spread far and wide, and he had already earned the rank of Licensed Scholar early on. This was not something a down-and-out scholar like Ye Wenshu could compare to.

Leaning over for a look, the embarrassment on Ye Wenshu's face had already transformed into admiration. He couldn't help but praise, "Fine calligraphy, fine literary talent. Even the private secretary serving His Excellency the Prefect might not be able to produce this."

With his deep family scholarship, Wang Zhaojing's literary accomplishments surpassed those of most scholars and students in Xuzhou City. Organizing vernacular speech into phrases suitable for official use was a mere trifle to him, and his calligraphy was exceptionally fine.

"Young Master Wang, this piece of calligraphy cannot be given away. This humble one will take it back to have it mounted and keep it as a copybook." Ye Wenshu offered a flattering remark with a smile, then lifted his brush and began to copy.

After writing a few lines, Ye Wenshu looked up at Zhao Jin again before continuing. A thought had occurred to him. He knew that the son of Chief Constable Chen Wu played with Zhao Jin, but he had never imagined that the son of Wang Youshan was also with Zhao Jin, and what's more, seemed to regard Zhao Jin as the leader. This kid was truly no simple matter.

Before long, the contract was written and handed to Lu Da. Lu Da couldn't read. He just asked gruffly once more, "Can I eat my fill?" After receiving an affirmative answer, he readily pressed his thumbprint and signed on it.

The onlookers around them had long stopped their jeering laughter and were watching this scene with rapt attention. Everyone was thinking, could it be that Zhao Jin and his friends really intended to hire a money-loser like Lu Da?

After Lu Da had pressed his thumbprint and signed, Zhao Jin also signed his own name. Although he'd had no professional training these years, he had written records often enough that his handwriting had taken on a decent appearance.

Once this was done, Zhao Jin nodded to Chen Hong. Chen Hong swiftly counted out one hundred wen of copper coins and pushed them forward. Zhao Jin said with a smile, "Take these one hundred wen home first!"

"For me? I'm really taking them?" Watching Zhao Jin nod repeatedly, Lu Da reached out and grabbed the one hundred wen, stuffing them into his bosom. His hands and feet were both very large; what others would need several handfuls to take, he scooped up in just two.

Zhao Jin said with a smile, "Come back at this same time tomorrow. If your parents are worried, they can come along and take a look too."

Lu Da nodded blankly, turned, and left, muttering as he walked, "Gonna buy meat buns. I'm going to eat my fill."

"Brother Zhao, you just gave him a hundred wen like that? Aren't you afraid he'll take it and not come back?" Chen Hong asked from the side. Zhao Jin replied with a smile, "Once the contract is signed, there are rules binding him. And within this Xuzhou City, who would dare cheat us out of our silver and coin?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept around the circle. The onlookers all subconsciously shrank back. A moment ago, some had been laughing at Zhao Jin for being a fool. Hearing Zhao Jin raise his voice and say these words, everyone suddenly realized just how fearsome this young master was.

Just as they were talking, two more people walked over, also wanting to enlist. After all that talk, copper coins were what mattered most. Seeing Lu Da walk off with the coins tucked away, people began to think this matter wasn't a swindle.

People trickled in sporadically, and Ye Wenshu began to get busy. It went on until the sun slanted westward. Everyone of the right age in the area had come to enlist, yet in total, only twelve were recruited. Some hadn't gotten their parents' consent; others had a roguish, shifty air, looking like street riffraff. Zhao Jin rejected all of these out of hand.

"Uncle Ye, I'll trouble you to copy a few more copies tonight; they'll be needed here again tomorrow. Copying is hard work — let's say ten wen per document for you." As they were leaving, Zhao Jin gave Ye Wenshu a few words of instruction, then counted out one hundred and twenty wen and handed it over.

More work, more pay, a steady trickle — a one-time payment wasn't enough. He also gave the two bailiffs thirty wen each, leaving everyone well pleased.

Zhao Jin called his companions to carry the tables and chairs back to that warehouse. After everything was tidied up, Zhao Jin said to Chen Sheng, "Your family burns charcoal, so you must have plenty of wooden poles and sticks. Bring several dozen good wooden poles, the same thickness as this spear of mine."

Before he could finish, Chen Hong leaned in and said, "Brother Zhao, my family's charcoal yard has to pay for those. Taking them for free would get me scolded by my parents!"

Chen Sheng's face changed, but Zhao Jin asked with a smile, "How much do they cost?"

"Five wen each!" Chen Hong answered very crisply.

"Fine. Bring them and I'll pay. Make sure you bring good wooden poles." Zhao Jin agreed with a smile. Chen Hong nodded like a chick pecking at grain.

Zhao Jin turned to find Shi Manqiang, but behind him he heard Chen Sheng scolding in a low voice, "What money for those things? Did you come here to make me lose face?" "The allowance at home is too little..." He could also hear Chen Hong's defiant retort.

"Erhong really has the makings of a businessman!" Zhao Jin said with a laugh. Then he said to Shi Manqiang, "Shitou, your father is familiar with all the craftsmen. Help me arrange this: knock through the walls connecting this courtyard and the neighboring one, level all the ground, and build some bunk beds inside the rooms. Start with accommodations for fifty people. Pay according to the market price — make sure you explain that clearly."

As he spoke, he gestured. Shi Manqiang, who also had a family background in the trade, had a rough plan in mind by the time Zhao Jin finished.

After arranging that, Zhao Jin said to Ji Xiang, "The meals for these few dozen people will need your father's help. Tomorrow, start by preparing food for sixteen people. Include both fine grain and coarse grain, and three kinds of vegetables. Don't stand on ceremony with me — everyone works hard for their money. Everything will be at market price. We mustn't shortchange our own people."

As Zhao Jin gave his instructions, everyone unconsciously followed behind him. After finishing this, he turned to Sun Dalei and said, "For these courtyards and the goods yard, I'll take advantage of you a little. Give them to me at the original price, paid with our own silver. Bring the contract tomorrow, and we'll go to the yamen to notarize it and complete the procedures."

Sun Dalei said with a laugh, "It's me taking advantage of everyone. The price of these courtyards and the goods yard has fallen quite a bit, and you, Big Brother, still want to buy at the original price. Ten percent off, ten percent off."

Everyone's expressions remained largely unchanged; only Chen Sheng shot Sun Dalei a cold glance. The prices had fallen far too much over the years. Even selling at ten percent off was still considerably higher than the market price. This Sun Dalei was too calculating. For these useless goods yard and warehouse residences, anyone else would have just given them away for free.

Chen Hong had been following behind the whole time. Every time Zhao Jin arranged something, he silently did mental calculations. When Zhao Jin was done, Chen Hong couldn't help but speak up, "Brother Zhao, you're about to spend over one hundred and twenty taels in one go. That's way too much! We don't have much silver saved, and there will be more expenses later!"

Calculating as he was, Chen Hong had already placed himself in the role of accountant, thinking of Zhao Jin's interests in every matter.

"You have to spend money to make money," Zhao Jin replied with a smile.

Simple as the words were, Chen Hong stopped in his tracks and pondered them for a moment.

Zhao Jin halted his steps, pointed at the dilapidated warehouse residence, and said, "Brothers, this is the foundation of our enterprise. The place may be small, it may look old, but it is our own. Perhaps in the future we will grow to be very, very great, but everything begins right here!"

Hearing these words, everyone subconsciously looked toward the courtyard wall. Sundry items were piled there. The setting sun shone down, and the entire courtyard seemed bathed in gold. Every one of them unconsciously held their breath.

When everything was tidied up and they were about to lock the gate and leave, Liu Yong hurried over, a short, skinny man following at his side.

"Yicuomao came to the God of Wealth Temple today to take over the accounts. His attitude was very respectful. But Big Head Huang said his leg injury hasn't healed yet and he needs to recuperate at home," Liu Yong came straight to the point, reporting the situation over there.

"Today, Brother Chen sent someone to Butcher Li and Yan Heilian's places to give notice. Both sides refused to see the messenger and didn't give any good face either." At this point, Liu Yong specifically explained, "According to the rules in the city, when a new head brother takes over, he's supposed to send a notice to the other two families, and then the other two families send a polite reply back. The way those two acted means they don't acknowledge Brother Chen's position."

Zhao Jin nodded. This was within his expectations. Such a sudden rise to power was tantamount to breaking the rules, which would certainly make all those on the path of the Jianghu share a common hatred.

"Xiaoyong, keep a close watch for me. Come notify me the moment there's any change. And the same old advice: the key is your own safety. That operation at the God of Wealth Temple — it's no great loss if we abandon it."

Hearing Zhao Jin's words, Liu Yong nodded gratefully, then asked, "Big Brother, what do we do next?"

"Wait. Yicuomao relies on the gambling den at the God of Wealth Temple, so he had no choice but to submit. Big Head Huang is relatively independent, so he's acting more aggressively. Neither of these two is reliable. Make sure you explain all this clearly to Chen Ergou and tell him to keep a tight watch," Zhao Jin said in a deep voice.

As soon as he finished, Chen Sheng frowned and interjected, "Since they don't know what's good for them, why don't we strike first?"

"Wait. They definitely won't be able to hold back and will make a move. When they do, the people behind them will show themselves. That will be our best chance to act."