webnovelfull Chapter 89 Division of Labor
Chapter 89 Division of Labor
"Magistrate Li?" Tian Changqing asked in surprise.
Magistrate Li... has only been in Baishi County for a few months.
He probably has no connection with Tian Tian's family...
Why would he write a letter of recommendation for Tian Jinghe?
Tian Changqing didn't ask directly, but instead said something to the guard at the door, and then led Tianxiang, Tiantian and the others inside.
“I will lead you to the priest.”
Tian Jing looked around curiously...
He will be studying here from now on.
Tian Changqing asked, "Tian Xiang, Tian Tian, has your family not returned to the village recently? Have you been staying in the county all this time?"
Tian Xiang hummed in agreement, "I've been staying in the county recently."
"I'll go back when winter comes and business slows down."
"A transaction?" Tian Changqing asked casually. "What kind of transaction?"
He didn't know what kind of business Tian Xiang's family was in.
Tian Xiang said, "We sell food."
She subconsciously didn't want to mention the name of Baishi Teahouse.
Tian Tian didn't intend to hide anything from anyone, so she let Tian Xiang say whatever she wanted.
"Meals?" Tian Changqing blinked; he seemed to have heard this word quite often lately.
Meals...
He widened his eyes. "Meals? Meals from Baishi Teahouse?"
Tian Xiang was about to nod.
He added, "You're working for the Baishi Teahouse, aren't you?"
"I've heard that the food at Baishi Teahouse is delicious, and many people from other places come here specifically to try it."
"Is it really that delicious?"
Seeing that he had misunderstood, Tian Xiang did not correct him. "It's very delicious. The key is that it's not available anywhere else, only at Baishi Teahouse."
Tian Changqing nodded, "That's how it is..."
"But it's still too expensive. I've only heard others mention it, but I've never eaten there."
"Hey, have you guys tried it?"
Tian Xiang: "I've eaten it."
They had tried all the food, drinks, and desserts in the teahouse.
Moreover, they are always the first to try any new product.
"Then how did you get to know the county magistrate?" Tian Changqing asked again.
Tian Xiang: "The county magistrate had a meal at Baishi Teahouse."
Tian Changqing thought to himself, "Just like that... the county magistrate is willing to write a letter of recommendation for Tian Jinghe? The county magistrate is quite nice."
"arrive."
They walked through several courtyards before finally reaching the study where the final instructor was located.
"This is the abbot's study. I'll go and inform him."
Tian Changqing knocked on the door, went in to announce their arrival, and then came out to call them in.
The instructor was standing. When he saw Tian Xiang and Tian Tian enter, his eyes flickered. "Do you have a letter of recommendation from the county magistrate?"
He was somewhat skeptical.
Tian Tian stepped forward and handed Li Huaiyuan's letter to the instructor.
The instructor opened the box, and his previously distrustful face immediately changed, replaced by a fawning smile.
"Is this the child who wants to study here?" He looked at Tian Jinghe.
Tian Jinghe stepped forward timidly, bowed his head, and said, "Jinghe greets Your Excellency the Instructor."
"Good, good," the instructor exclaimed repeatedly. "This child is clearly intelligent."
Tian Xiang and Tian Tian exchanged a glance...
"Your Excellency, we would like to pay our tuition fee first, and then send Jinghe to study next year."
The instructor nodded again, "Okay, that's fine."
“The annual tuition fee is... five taels.”
"Jinghe has just started his primary education, so we need to buy him basic primers, as well as a set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones..."
"A total of eight taels."
Tian Changqing looked at Tian Xiang and Tian Tian, feeling a little worried, wondering if they could come up with the money.
Under his gaze, Tian Tian took out a few pieces of silver from her sleeve.
“Your Excellency, here is eight ounces.”
In one month, the shop collected more than eight thousand taels.
Eight taels of silver was just spare change to her.
*
Tian Changqing saw Tian Xiang, Tian Tian, and Tian Jinghe off as they left.
"Tianxiang, someone in your family is studying, which requires a lot of money. You... will have to work hard."
Tian Xiang touched her hair. The amount of money needed was considerable, but given the family's current situation... they could definitely afford it.
“It’s alright, as long as Jinghe studies hard, we’ll support him no matter how much money we have,” she said.
Tian Changqing sighed, "You guys are still oversimplifying things."
Upon arriving at the county school gate, Tian Changqing couldn't help but express his goodwill, saying, "If you can't raise the money in a short time, come to me, and I'll talk to the instructor and ask for some time's grace."
"Ah...oh, thank you, Uncle Changqing." Regardless, the intention was good.
Tian Tian thought to herself that she would remember his kindness.
*
Baishi Teahouse has been open for a month and five days now.
It's time...to split the profits!!
The monthly income was over 8,200 taels. After deducting the cost and taxes, the net income was 4,940 taels.
After deducting the wages of the thirty-two workers, each receiving three taels, we deducted another ninety-six taels.
Tian Tian was the head manager, and her wages were ten taels of silver.
The final income was 4,834 taels.
As previously agreed, Lu Tao and Liu San Niang each received 1,450 taels of silver.
To encourage the workers, each person received an extra tael of silver as a bonus for the month, while Tian Tian herself received two taels, leaving a total of thirty-four taels.
The remaining 1,900 taels will be temporarily recorded in the shop's accounts.
"Thank you, Madam Lu, thank you, Madam Liu, thank you, eldest daughter, thank you, second daughter, thank you, eldest daughter, thank you, young master Jinghe."
The men cheered with joy.
They earned four and a half ounces of wages in just one month, which is equivalent to four months' wages in the previous month.
Embarrassed by being called "Young Master" by everyone, Tian Jinghe put his arm around Tian Tian's leg.
Tian Tian rubbed his head, took out two strings of copper coins from her bosom, and gave one string to Tian Jinghe. "Jinghe, this is yours. This is your wages for helping to take care of Qian'er and Yao'er this month."
Tian Jinghe shook his head, not wanting it, but Tian Tian insisted on giving it to him, saying, "Keep it safe, you can buy whatever you want in the future."
She went to Tian Xiang's side again, where Chu Qian was nestled in her arms.
“Our Qian’er has been very well-behaved this month, so he deserves a reward.” Tian Tian held up a string of copper coins in front of him and swung it gently.
Chu Qian turned his face away shyly.
Tian Xiang was extremely helpless and turned him around, "Hurry up and thank your auntie."
"Thank you, Auntie..." Chu Qian murmured, but his little hand honestly grasped the coin.
"Little guy." Tian Xiang gently pinched his cheek.
Liu San Niang carried a heavy purse, which contained not only cash but also banknotes.
Tian Tian did not reveal in public how much money was in her purse, only saying that it was this month's bonus.
But Liu San Niang already knew beforehand that there were 1,450 taels of silver in the money.
One thousand four hundred and fifty taels!
She never dared to dream of such a number, not even in her wildest dreams or when she was just bragging, but now she has it all in her arms.
I'm so...so excited, I can't help but...want to cry!
With so many people around, she could only hold Daya tightly and hold back her tears.
Daya didn't understand, "Mother?"
Liu San Niang hugged her, "Da Ya, Mother is alright, Mother is happy."
She worked so hard making tofu all this way to raise money for Daya's dowry.
Now everything is fine, the dowry is enough.
She has no more worries.
That's not right either...
She was still worried, but... now she was worried about finding a husband for Daya.