usatvline Chapter 174 Team Building
Chapter 174 Team Building
In the last few days before the Lunar New Year, Shao Shuyi traveled all over the villages of Taicang, his main task being to distribute holiday gifts to those who had worked for him. Those who had only worked in water transport usually received a salted fish and a few strings of cash.
Those who had practiced skills and military formations received two salted fish, a preserved chicken, three bushels of rice, ten strings of cash, and a jar of unlabeled Jiangyin Laojiao liquor. As for core members like Yu Yuan, in addition to the salted fish, preserved chicken, rice, and Jiangyin Laojiao liquor, they received five ingots of cash.
With the eldest brother so generous in distributing bonuses, the younger brothers were naturally overjoyed and full of praise, all saying they would continue to work for Brother Shao next year. Brother Shao's reputation spread rapidly throughout the countryside.
Besides these people, Li Zhuang, Qian Baishi, Manager Mo, and even Cao Tong, Liu Jiu, and the Huang family aunt and nephew all received gifts. Even the Zheng Fan family, which was far away in Dadu, received gifts worth several ingots from Shao Shuyi in person.
Actually, there was originally a woman named Shen Niangzi, but she returned to Suzhou in mid-December to be with her parents, leaving only a few people to look after the shop in Liujiagang.
On New Year's Eve, Shao Shuyi returned to his home in Zhangjing, Taicang.
After a glorious year, the Red-Headband Thief Leader, the Great Sage of Jiangnan, the Strict Father of Tongzhou Patrol Inspectorate, the Number One Archer of Taicang, and Brother Shao, the Number One Assassin of Jiangyin, who was feared throughout the martial arts world, actually ended up spending New Year's Eve alone.
It wasn't that his old friends had invited him to their homes for the Lunar New Year, but Shao Shuyi declined them all.
Bian Yuanheng went to Suzhou to visit his cousin. Before leaving, he invited Shao Shuyi to go with him, but Shao Shuyi refused.
On a day when families reunite, there's no need for an outsider like myself to get involved and make others feel uncomfortable.
As for the small courtyard by the river, it's mostly women and children; we'll go see it after the New Year.
Of course, he wasn't completely alone.
As evening fell, Tie Niu came over carrying two baskets and said, "Brother, my wife made some dishes and asked me to pick a few to bring over." "Put them down," Shao Shuyi said, sitting on the doorstep and pointing to the kitchen.
After the food was placed in the kitchen, Tie Niu stood in front of Shao Shuyi and stammered, "Brother, why don't we go to my house for a while? Neither Baijia Nu nor Gou Nu are here." "We'll talk about it later," Shao Shuyi waved his hand and asked, "Tie Niu, since you've been working for me, are your wife and children at home dissatisfied?" Tie Niu was silent for a moment, then said, "No dissatisfaction, but I am worried. A few days ago I heard there was land in Matuosha, and I was very happy, saying it was worth it." Shao Shuyi nodded and said, "Have you figured out what I asked you to think about in Jiangyin?"
Tie Niu paused for a moment, then said embarrassedly, "I forgot."
Shao Shuyi said helplessly, "What if from now on I only give you land, houses, money, and silk, but not shares in the trading company? What do you think?" "That's fine," Tie Niu replied.
"Do you really think so?"
"Isn't it all about money?" Tie Niu frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "The fields can produce grain, beans, silk, and hemp; that's enough."
Shao Shuyi smiled.
Although Tie Niu was a bit simple-minded, he was sometimes not easily misled by convoluted arguments and would get straight to the point. Just like when he was convinced that he was a powerful figure in Liujiagang, no matter how eloquently you spoke, he simply wouldn't believe you.
He now believes that land can provide him with income, much like shares in a trading company, and he still holds this very straightforward view.
Shao Shuyi was also very satisfied. He didn't want his bodyguards to get too involved with others, even those who were veterans who had fought alongside him. The benefits Tie Niu could obtain could only be given to him by Shao Shuyi himself.
After chatting casually for a while, Shao Shuyi got up, locked the door, and went to Tie Niu's house.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Renri (Human Day), Shao Shuyi changed into a bright red robe and put on a newly bought turban. Under the protection of Tie Niu, he headed west. When he reached a vegetable field, he stopped briefly and gave the farmer guarding the field two salted fish, a preserved chicken, and ten strings of cash. Compared to a year ago, the farmer had more wrinkles on his face, and it seemed that he was not living a very good life.
Shao Shuyi sat in the shed for a while.
When the vegetable farmer brought out his treasured bottle of loose wine and insisted on treating the two of them, they got up to take their leave.
The vegetable farmer saw them off for quite a distance before reluctantly saying goodbye.
We walked until the end of the 11 PM, and the Zheng family's old house on the west bank of the Yantietang River finally came into view.
Tie Niu was led by a servant to the back room to wait, while Shao Shuyi went straight into Cai Zhi's room.
Today, Zheng Yonghe and his son Zheng Guozhen hosted a banquet in Caizhi to entertain guests, and Shao Shuyi was one of the invited guests.
The banquet had not yet begun. A group of people were standing or sitting in the courtyard, each divided into several circles.
Shao Shuyi glanced at him and noticed that Zheng Song had actually returned. Before this, the man had gone to Qingyuan to serve as a clerk in the Qingshao Thousand-Household Office of the Grain Transport Bureau. Zheng Song also noticed him and nodded, but didn't come over to speak, because standing next to him was an old man with a goatee, whom he remembered as the Zheng family's chief accountant, surnamed Fang.
Zheng Sheng was also there. He sat at a stone table, chatting and laughing with the Ni brothers.
The Ni family was a well-known wealthy household on Qingyuan Road, with a large fortune and numerous servants. They had a good relationship with the Zheng family and were very close to them.
Shao Shuyi didn't recognize the rest of the people, except for Wang Laizi.
Just then, Wang Laizi happened to look over. When he saw Shao Shuyi, he hesitated for a moment before walking over, cupping his hands in greeting, and saying, "Are you Shao Shuyi, Young Master Shao?"
"Indeed." Shao Shuyi returned the greeting and asked, "How is Master Wang?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Laizi smiled wryly and said, "Not good."
Shao Shuyi chuckled inwardly and comforted him, "You have children around your knees, a virtuous wife at home, and a large fortune. You must be the envy of many." "Your fortune used to be quite substantial, but it's not so good lately," Wang Laizi said bluntly. "After serving as village head for a year, two-thirds of my family's wealth was gone. I've worked for nothing for decades."
"We'll be back," Shao Shuyi said.
Wang Laizi shook his head, sized up Shao Shuyi, and asked, "I heard you already have several boats, Shao? You're quite the young man." Who told you that? Who has such a big mouth? Shao Shuyi said helplessly, "It's just small-scale business, nothing compared to the stability of buying land and houses, sir." Wang Laizi waved his hand, looking rather disheartened, and said, "I used to think that way too, but now it seems I'm not as good as you. The government is forcing me to become the village head; can I refuse? They only target you because you have land and houses, so they can help them cover their debts. Decades of hard work, all for nothing, just to benefit the government. Sigh."
"What are you worried about, sir?" Shao Shuyi said. "Now that you've stepped down as village head, you can finally put your skills to good use and make up for the deficit."
"It's no use," Wang Laizi sighed. "I'm getting old and not as capable as I used to be. In Sanshe's eyes, I'm no longer worth giving him any more benefits."
Shao Shuyi remained silent. He believed this statement; Zheng Guozhen was indeed such a pragmatic person.
Wang Laizi had risen to power under Zheng Yonghe and was considered a "former minister of the previous dynasty." Now nearing forty and showing signs of decline, he was no longer able to fight for Zheng Guozhen. Therefore, Zheng decisively abandoned him—at least within the Zheng clan's peripheral vassal group, demoting him by one level. No wonder Wang Laizi was full of complaints and even became disloyal.
"Seeing you is like seeing myself," Wang Laizi smiled, and continued, "Back then, when my late father passed the imperial examination, he returned to his hometown of Quzhou. Penniless as I was, I gritted my teeth and volunteered to serve there, and that's how I got to where I am today. You rose to prominence by winning the favor of the three yamen, didn't you? True, but you should think more about yourself in everything you do. That's all I have to say."
Shao Shuyi bowed in thanks.
Today's banquet is probably a large-scale team-building event for the senior management of the "Zheng Group".
Wang Laizi was once a member of this group, enjoying many years of glory. He even married a maid who had been favored by the old lady, further deepening their relationship. However, he is now slowly being marginalized.
He, Shao, had just managed to squeeze into this group by sheer luck, but his status was low and he seemed to have already been marginalized.
"Damn it! I just got promoted and I'm already told I've hit my ceiling? Is this for real? Does nobody in this company understand my worth?" "By the way," Wang Laizi suddenly asked, "I heard you rejected San She's arranged marriage?"
Shao Shuyi nodded and said, "That is indeed true."
"You have more backbone than I do." Wang Laizi glanced at Shao Shuyi and sighed, "Back then, when the old lady betrothed her personal maid who had served her for many years to me, I didn't dare to refuse. On the contrary, I was moved to tears. You refused her three times to her face. You have much more courage than I do."
Shao Shuyi smiled bitterly again and said, "I must observe mourning for my late father."
Wang Laizi didn't believe him and said, "If you are truly in mourning, you should build a thatched hut to live in, wear mourning clothes and a mourning hat all day long, not drink alcohol, not eat meat, and not enter the inner room." "I am observing mourning in my heart," Shao Shuyi said.
Wang Laizi was amused by him and said, "Alright, I won't argue with you. But you don't need to worry too much. Sanshe isn't that concerned about saving face. If you can bring him extraordinary benefits, even if you've offended him before, he'll still use you. But if you're incompetent, even if you've done good deeds before and are on good terms with him, you'll still be ruthlessly abandoned. I really don't know how the old master taught them; they're like heaven and earth, completely different people." "Be careful what you say, sir," Shao Shuyi reminded him.
"Alright, I won't say anything then." Wang Laizi nodded and said, "When we take our seats later, you'll sit next to me."
"Okay," Shao Shuyi agreed.