The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 781 - 780: Business Mutual Promotion

Chapter 781: Chapter 780: Business Mutual Promotion

The hunters pressed their handprints with joy in their hearts. Although it had only just passed the Qingming festival, they were already looking forward to the Spring Festival.

Those who did not wish to learn a craft could leave after pressing their handprints, while those who wanted to learn the tea-frying skill were kept back to sign a separate contract.

This contract stipulated that Hengchang Commercial Firm could select one person from each family to learn the tea-frying technique. During the apprenticeship, in addition to food and clothing, each person would be paid ten wen per month.

After completing the training, they must serve the tea business of Hengchang Commercial Firm for ten years, receiving a monthly wage like the other tea masters.

After ten years, these people had the choice to leave or to stay.

This condition was considered quite favorable. In these times, it was terribly difficult for children from poor families, especially those from the mountains, to learn a trade.

Many families, wishing to have their children learn a craft, not only had to present tribute to the master, such as grains, meat, and alcohol, but also had to send their children to live with the master as long-term laborers, serving the master and his family like servants.

During the holidays, they also had to prepare generous gifts for the master’s household, and nothing could be overlooked.

They had to be cautious and humble to win the master’s favor before he would teach them anything. Moreover, the teaching was often accompanied by beating or scolding; the slightest disobedience was considered disrespectful to the master’s ancestors.

If they were fortunate to find a kind-hearted master who would teach them more, they could, after careful study, manage to make enough to maintain a household.

If they encountered a cruel master, they might be worked like a long-term laborer for years without being taught anything of value, and be insulted as fools who couldn’t learn—an unfortunate situation with no recourse.

And those sent to shops to serve as shop assistants had, in the first few years, to be content with just enough food. They had to fight for the opportunity to do the dirtiest and most tiring work, be sharp, and constantly learn to stand out and eventually catch the shopkeeper’s eye.

Several hunters, though illiterate, listened as the shop assistants read out the contract, and their hearts bloomed with happiness.

Was this not only teaching a trade to their kin without asking for tribute but also providing spending money? Not to mention the ten wen might seem too little, for the hunters of the mountains, living off the land meant that good luck could sustain the family’s basic needs, but bad luck could lead to the family’s ruin.

Who would not wish for a stable life without having to risk their lives every time they ventured into the mountains?

It was just that they had been hunters for generations, with hunting as their only skill, and they were not adept at any other trade.

The people at the foot of the mountain could farm. Even if their daily meals were poor, at least they weren’t in mortal danger.

With a trade, let alone other considerations, the next generation would not have to live like they did, with hearts in their mouths every time they went into the mountains.

Thinking this way, the hunters’ gazes toward Zhang Yinbao and Wang Yongzhu became one of gratitude.

Especially Loo Xiaoshan, who knew that all this was due to Wang Yongzhu’s efforts, which brought hope to the next generation of Yingzi Gully.

Men usually unyielding, who would not utter a sound even if they broke a leg or an arm, now found their eyes reddening.

However, being men of the mountains, awkward with words, they simply gave Wang Yongzhu a deep bow, "Scholar’s Lady, your great kindness to our Yingzi Gully! We in Yingzi Gully have it etched in our hearts! No need for many words, from now on, just give the word, Scholar’s Lady, and these hundred or so people of Yingzi Gully will follow your every command!"

Wang Yongzhu stood her ground, nodding slightly, "Don’t speak of great kindness and debt. Just make sure you live your lives well; that’s the best thanks you can give me!"

Upon hearing this, not a single hunter from Yingzi Gully was unmoved.

Only after the hunters had dispersed did Zhang Yinbao approach, admiringly clasping his hands at Wang Yongzhu, "Scholar’s Lady is truly noble!"

In his nature as a merchant, he certainly did not believe that Wang Yongzhu did these things without any self-interest.

Even now, he still harbored doubts, but that didn’t stop him from feeling a bit of admiration for Wang Yongzhu.

A woman, regardless of her motives, who could give up a continuous flow of silver just to secure a better life for these unrelated mountain hunters, deserved respect!

Wang Yongzhu smiled and initiated mutual flattery, "Boss Zhang also profoundly understands benevolence, with a generous heart. The apprenticeship contracts you signed with the hunters are truly honorable! No wonder Hengchang’s business keeps growing; it’s inseparable from Boss Zhang’s character. Not to mention this time, Ninth Master Lee, such a picky person, saw Boss Zhang and agreed to cooperate quite readily. I was quite surprised!"

Zhang Yinbao was over the moon! This man didn’t have many faults, but he did love a bit of flattery.

Yet what he didn’t like was people praising him for his wealth or for having a keen eye in business! Weren’t those things obvious? If his judgment wasn’t good, he would have lost everything to bankruptcy and gone back home to farm a long time ago!

Who would enjoy spending all year travelling around and hardly having time for family if it wasn’t profitable?

To listen to this insincere butt-kissing that didn’t hit the right spot was irritating.

Wang Yongzhu’s words hit the nail on the head for him.

Since he began dealing with high-society individuals, Zhang Yinbao realized that these merchants, albeit wealthy, didn’t command respect—especially from the government officials and nobility, who condescended that all merchants smelled of copper.

Initially unaware, he had tried using money as a tool, only to hit snags, especially with the scholars who were so arrogantly impoverished and had such toxic tongues, deeming them unworthy to take the stage as members of commerce.

Who wouldn’t be infuriated by such remarks?

Angry internally, Zhang Yinbao also learned the importance of a good reputation when dealing with scholars, especially those who held official ranks.

Since then, he made an effort to align himself with the scholar-merchant and benevolent-merchant ideals. As for being a scholar-merchant, he could forget it—he was naturally blessed with a face that spoke of wealth, and he hadn’t read much, unable to recite a line of text smoothly.

He had to take the path of righteousness: building bridges and paving roads in his hometown, providing food and clothing during festivals, and helping those with potential or unique goods to secure a better future and good karma.

Slowly, his reputation spread, and he wouldn’t have the connections with the Capital City otherwise.

Therefore, what he loved most was hearing people extol his benevolence, sense of justice, and integrity.

Today, Wang Yongzhu’s words truly scratched his itch. He felt that although Wang Yongzhu was a woman, she had the discerning eye of a sage, recognizing his true nature at a glance!

He did not skimp on praise, commending Wang Yongzhu for her wisdom, virtue, charitable deeds, and accumulating good deeds...

Such praise nearly made Wang Yongzhu unable to maintain her smile!

Damned paragon of virtue!

Taking a deep breath, she excused herself to go roast the tea.