Chapter 15: Familiar Currency

Chapter 15: Familiar Currency

In the twelfth lunar month, wind, frost, and rain suddenly arose. As dusk approached, Mr. Chen Liu and Zhu Ganglie invited Chen Fu to watch the Anhui shadow puppet show at Changqiao Hall and dine at Heavenly Fragrance Building, with Xianjin accompanying them.

In modern times, Xianjin had seen shadow puppetry as well, but she only knew of it in fragmented bits, never delving deeply into its intricacies.

Thus, when a complete performance of the "Selling Brocade Goods" unfolded before Xianjin's eyes, she was quite surprised—it was more captivating than she had imagined, especially the martial scenes. One person simultaneously manipulated eight puppets in four pairs, engaging in combat, while the roles of sheng, dan, jing, mo, and chou mostly appeared on stage continuously, truly embodying the saying, "A single mouth narrates all the world's affairs, and two hands dance millions of soldiers."

Xianjin and Chen Fu watched with rapt attention.

The young girl's eyes sparkled, her romantic heart eagerly anticipating.

Two faces, not alike, overlapped in view.

Old Lady Zhang, at a glance, saw a peculiar yet strange chemistry between this odd pair of "father and daughter"...

Their hearts were not ordinary indeed.

One extorted eight hundred taels of silver from others as if nothing had happened;

The other, with a battered bottom, spared no effort to sit askew for the sake of watching the show...

It was right for her, a widow, to come to Jing County—staying within the inner courtyard of the Chen family, how could she witness such thrilling events?

Old Lady Zhang fell silent for a moment, then raised her head at the same angle to watch the show earnestly.

Forget it, if you can't beat them, join them.

The threshold for watching shadow puppetry was low; three cash coins bought a seat, and both the rich and poor attended a show, though their seats differed. For instance, Chen Fu and his group sat in a private room upstairs.

Meanwhile, Zhou Ergou and his crew navigated through the hall like sardines in a can.

Zhou Ergou squeezed into the hall with the three cash coins he had left, followed by four or five laborers dressed in short jackets, their skin darkened by the sun.

"Brother Ergou! Three cash coins, that's a bowl of vegetarian noodles! I haven't eaten since morning!"

"Yeah, why not just block Mr. Chen outside? Why spend money to come in—we haven't even gotten our money back yet."

"The Chens are all the same kind, useless!"

"In my opinion, we should take advantage of the darkness and give that pork-head a beating!"

Complaints echoed from behind.

Zhou Ergou turned around sternly, "If you don't want the money, go back! I'll make up the three cash coins for you! And don't even think about sharing the money I get back!"

Silence followed.

Zhou Ergou narrowed his eyes and looked up, spotting the pork-head respectfully pouring tea for a fair-faced man in the private room upstairs.

Zhou Ergou locked onto his target and pushed forward.

His tall stature, combined with years of earning a living by physical strength, made his muscles bulge tightly under his thin jacket, propelling him forward like a charging bull. In no time, he reached the second floor.

"...To see me?"

Chen Fu kept his eyes on the show, "An employee of Chen Ji Paper Shop? What do they want to see me for?"

The hall attendant didn't know, "They said it's urgent."

Mr. Chen Liu gave Zhu Ganglie a meaningful look.

Zhu Ganglie stood up to dismiss them, "Scram! Don't bother our Young Master while he's watching the show!"

The hall attendant was about to leave.

But Xianjin spoke up, "Third Uncle, why not see them? Maybe they've come to pay their respects?"

After all, she was one of the Twin Beauties of Jing County.

Chen Fu turned to consider, "Then call them up."

Hearing the attendant's summons, Zhou Ergou tightened his joints and gestured for those behind him to follow.

The four or five burly men stood firmly in the private room, filling the remaining space densely.

Chen Laoliu's face darkened as he scanned the crowd with narrowed eyes.

What was this about?

A coup?

Or a complaint?

Chen Laoliu glanced at Zhu Ganglie, giving him a look that implied: bind these people and take them out if necessary!

"Young Master!"

Zhou Ergou gathered his breath, his voice resonant.

Chen Fu turned to look and was startled, "Oh! So many people!"

"We're all employees of Chen Ji Paper Shop," Zhou Ergou awkwardly bowed, "My name is Zhou Ergou, and this is my younger brother, Zhou Xiaogou. The other four are surnamed Zheng, cousins. We used to be from the same village as the Chens. Your mother uplifted the villagers, taking care to hire the village's able-bodied youth when recruiting employees."

Xianjin remained expressionless.

This man was rather respectful.

Chen Fu smiled, "That's good. I'll be going to the shop in a few days. How about I treat you to some drinks then."

Zhou Ergou gritted his teeth, "Young Master, we're prepared to resign collectively."

Mr. Chen Liu chuckled, wrinkles creasing his face, "If you want to resign, do so! Just inform Old Zhu! Coming to the Young Master with this, how embarrassing is that?"

Then he turned to Chen Fu with a smile, "Young ones don't know better, dazzled by the county town's allure, those who wish to leave can't be stopped. Later, I'll have Old Zhu pay out five taels of silver each from the accounts."

Mr. Chen Liu shot a glance at the group, his words laced with veiled threats, "No more than that."

The men behind Zhou Ergou rustled, seemingly in discussion.

They were quite tempted.

Five taels of silver, indeed.

Their monthly wages were merely eight mace of silver, amounting to no more than nine taels annually.

The Chen family paid half their wages each month and retained the other half, claiming the remainder would be fully paid upon completing three years of service.

After the twelfth month, it would be three years!

Pork Head didn't even mention this matter anymore.

Three years, half the wages, equaled fifteen taels per person.

They hadn't even dared dream of reclaiming their wages.

Receiving five taels back was already good enough.

Pork Head, that gluttonous one, had told them to sue if they dared, adding that the Chen family's head was an official in the imperial court, making victory in court impossible for them.

As always, commoners never fought against officials!

Some of the men accompanying him began to waver.

"No."

Zhou Ergou steeled his resolve, his words firm, "Three years' worth of half wages, fifteen taels per person! Not a single coin less."

Xianjin tilted her head back slightly.

Just as she suspected.

The wages had been paid out in full.

Yet, the signature on the voucher was Pork Head's personal seal alone.

Even if these workers couldn't sign, surely they could press a thumbprint?

There weren't any.

Not a single thumbprint.

She concluded that Mr. Chen Liu and Pork Head must have embezzled the workers' wages.

But she hadn't expected their audacity to be so great.

Embezzling for three years!

Issuing only half the wages annually!

Damn.

Even modern capitalists, who could be likened to "bloodsucking families," only dared to withhold thirty percent of annual salaries as a carrot to entice workers like donkeys!

How utterly heartless!

Xianjin herself was capital, her family owning a renovation company, but now she was a junior accountant, living off three taels of silver a month.

She couldn't empathize with capitalists.

"Words mean nothing."

Mr. Chen Liu spoke in a sinister tone, "You've worked at the Chen Ji Paper Shop for several years. If we had always owed you wages, would you still be working here? Suddenly claiming the Chen family owes you wages, why should the Young Master believe you?

Do you take others for fools?"

Chen Fu looked from one side to the other, somewhat at a loss.

"I believe you."

Xianjin pulled out a tightly bound roll of bills from her sleeve pocket and slammed it onto the table.

"Fifteen taels each! Six people! A total of ninety taels!"

"Third Master will give you a hundred taels, as interest for three years!"

"If you're willing to continue working, stay. Third Master promises to pay your wages on time every month, without delay."

Mr. Chen Liu's pupils dilated sharply.

This roll of bills looked damn familiar!