Chapter 76: Hiring People

Chapter 76: Hiring Help

Yan Fengan mulled it over for a while, then named Wen Xi's embroidery shop "Qinghe Embroidery Shop." Wen Xi leaned over to look at the characters on the paper and asked him, "Why this name? Does it have any special meaning?"

Yan Fengan said, "Nothing particularly special. My private school is called Mingzheng, and your embroidery shop is called Qinghe—the two complement each other, so anyone seeing them will know they belong to the same household."

Hearing this, Wen Xi smiled and said, "Alright, let's go with that name."

With his approval, Yan Fengan took him to a plaque shop to order a signboard. On the way, they ran into a man who had ordered New Year's goods from Wen Xi the previous year.

Last year, the batch of goods Wen Xi made was cheap and good quality, and this year he wanted to place another order, but he had gone to the market several times without finding him. Now, running into Wen Xi by chance, Zhou was pleasantly surprised but couldn't help complaining, "I say, you're a merchant, but you work by fits and starts. It's harder to see you than to see the county magistrate."

Wen Xi apologized, "I'm sorry, there were some family matters recently, so I temporarily stopped taking orders. That won't happen again—I've opened an embroidery shop on Tingyu Lane called Qinghe Embroidery Shop. In the future, just come there, and I guarantee you'll always find someone around."

"That's great. With a shop, next time I won't have to run around in circles like a chicken with its head cut off." Zhou was straightforward and said bluntly, "I was actually planning to go to another embroidery workshop, but since I ran into you, I'll place my order with you after all."

Wen Xi asked him, "Same as last year—fifteen lucky money pouches, ten handkerchiefs, and ten sachets?"

Zhou said, "That's right."

Wen Xi nodded in agreement, "Alright, I'll make them once I finish my current work. In a month, just send someone to Qinghe Embroidery Shop on Tingyu Lane to pick them up."

Zhou agreed, gave Wen Xi a small deposit, and left with his maid.

The city was big yet small—who would have thought he'd run into a regular customer here in the southern part of town? And this customer hadn't come through an introduction or because of Yan Fengan's status; he simply recognized Wen Xi's craftsmanship.

Zhou didn't even know that Wen Xi's husband was the newly passed juren—he just thought the work was solid and was willing to bypass the other embroidery shops to find him. This gave Wen Xi an indescribable joy and filled him with more confidence and assurance.

As the year-end approached, orders multiplied. Lady Lu also sent someone to ask if Wen Xi was taking work. Wen Xi calculated the days and only accepted orders from Lady Lu, Lady Lin, and Zhou. Though not many, distributing some to the villagers would earn them enough for New Year's money.

The signboard wouldn't be ready for a while, and Wen Xi needed to return to the village to distribute orders, while Yan Fengan had to see Fang Mutian about the private school. The young couple locked up the house and headed to the town first.

Finding Fang Mutian wasn't hard—near year's end, he hadn't found steady work and could only set up a stall in town writing letters, epitaphs, and legal pleas for people. On good days, he could earn forty or fifty copper coins.

Next month, when more people bought Spring Festival couplets, he should earn even more.

Third Liu, who used to write couplets in town, had broken his arm after a drunken fall last year and could no longer come out to bully people.

Chen Hongwen and Fang Mutian each set up their stalls in separate spots, minding their own business and earning their own keep.

When Yan Fengan and Wen Xi arrived, Fang Mutian was bent over writing a letter for someone. They stood at a distance for a while, waiting until he finished and collected his fee before approaching.

Fang Mutian looked up and saw them, froze for a moment, then broke into a smile. "Brother Yan and your husband—what brings you to town today?"

"Just came to see you." Yan Fengan sat down nearby and asked him, "How's business?"

Fang Mutian set his brush on the inkstone and rubbed his stiff hands. "Not bad—three to five orders a day, enough to eat."

For an ordinary person, earning thirty or forty wen a day was already decent.

Yan Fengan continued, "Have you thought about finding steady work?"

"How could I not?" Fang Mutian sighed. "But a scholar is good for nothing—I can't lift a finger or carry a load. Besides writing things for people, what else can I do?"

Yan Fengan extended a timely hand. "I've opened a private school in the city, with both an elementary class and a Confucian classics class, each with over a dozen students. I can't teach them all alone. I'd like to invite you to help out, specifically managing the daily lessons of the elementary class. If you're willing—"

Before he could finish, Fang Mutian jumped to his feet and said without a moment's hesitation, "Willing, I'm willing."

Wen Xi was amused by his reaction and said gently, "Scholar Fang, don't get so excited. Sit down and let my husband explain slowly."

Fang Mutian realized he'd made a scene, clasped his hands and said, "Forgive me, Master Yan's husband."

Wen Xi replied politely, "No trouble at all."

Yan Fengan smiled beside him and said, "I haven't even told you, Brother Fang, how the pay will be calculated, and you've already agreed. Aren't you afraid I'll shortchange you?"

Fang Mutian shook his head and spoke sincerely, "Not only do I know you're not that kind of person, Brother Yan, but even if you only hired me as a servant and paid me an ordinary worker's wage, I'd still be grateful."

"You hold a xiucai title—I wouldn't make you a servant. I'm hiring you as a teacher, so I'll pay you according to the standard rate for tutors." Yan Fengan said, "The elementary class has twelve students. I'll calculate your pay at two taels per student, giving you twenty-four taels a year, and I'll arrange lodging for you as well."

This rate was somewhat higher than what ordinary private school tutors earned, but not excessive. Fang Mutian had solid scholarship—not just all show and no substance—and was honest and down-to-earth by nature. For the sake of their old friendship as fellow students, Yan Fengan was willing to look after him a bit more.

Twenty-four taels a year—more than everyone in his family combined could earn. If he could truly become a tutor at Yan Fengan's school, his parents and older brother and his wife would never give him cold looks again.

Fang Mutian respectfully made a deep bow to Yan Fengan. "Thank you, Brother Yan."

This kindness, a godsend in times of need, was too great for any words of gratitude to express. Fang Mutian stored Yan Fengan's friendship deep in his heart, vowing that if ever he found the chance, he would repay it with everything he had.

After accepting his bow, Yan Fengan said, "The school opens on the twentieth of the first month. You must report by the eighteenth at the latest. Bring a few changes of clothes and your own bedding. I'll sign the employment contract with you then."

He picked up the paper and brush from Fang Mutian's table, wrote down the school's address and name, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and took his leave.

Fang Mutian clutched the paper, gazing at the young couple's retreating figures for a long time, until his eyes grew a bit sore before he finally looked away.

Though he'd landed such a good position, he was a man who finished what he started. The school wouldn't open until next year, so for these two months, he'd keep working his stall, earning a few copper coins to bring home and keep his older brother and his wife from getting angry.

He prudently didn't mention the teaching position to his family—everything could wait until after the New Year.

This New Year, both Wen Xi and Yan Fengan were exceptionally busy. Wen Xi had orders to rush through, and Yan Fengan had more supplies to buy. The tutors and students for the school were all recruited, but he still had to prepare the teaching materials.

Tables, chairs, and stools for students, a teacher's desk, bookcases, elementary textbooks, model essays for the imperial exams, and writing materials for grading homework—all of it had to be arranged by him.

The furniture was left to his family to make, which kept costs down, but going back and forth between several shops was exhausting.

If not for the shops offering home delivery, Yan Fengan would have had to hire two servants to help.

Once the school was mostly set up, he found time to send a pair of square calligraphy scrolls to Master Lu and Master Lin each—both as New Year's gifts and as thanks for their support.

Master Lu was delighted with the scroll and immediately ordered Steward Zhu to have it mounted and hung in his study.

"Juren Yan is too kind. You could have just sent someone to deliver it—no need to come all this way yourself."

Yan Fengan knew that with his current status, many things were no longer suitable for him to do himself, but without reliable people at his disposal, he had to bear the burden himself.

He said to Master Lu, "Actually, besides delivering the scroll, I also wanted to ask you and Lady Lu for a favor. I'm looking for two honest, reliable people—one to stay at home and help my husband with his work, and one to serve as a gatekeeper at the school. The gatekeeper should be a man, and the household help a woman or a gē'er."

Master Lu turned to Steward Zhu. "Did you hear what Juren Yan just said?"

Steward Zhu bowed. "Understood. I'll arrange it right away—I guarantee they'll be honest and reliable people."

The steward of a wealthy household was very efficient. Within two days, he brought a man in his thirties and a gē'er to Yan Fengan's residence. Yan Fengan asked them some questions, found them satisfactory, and signed contracts with both.

The man, named Afu, would serve as gatekeeper at the school, responsible for monitoring student arrivals and departures, passing on messages, and overseeing sweeping and the care and storage of items, with a monthly wage of one thousand five hundred wen.

The gē'er, Aqiu, earned a bit more—besides cooking and sweeping the courtyard, he would also deliver Wen Xi's goods in the future, at two thousand wen, or two taels, per month.

Given Wen Xi's previous income, he could afford to hire a servant, and knowing things were different now, he didn't rigidly oppose Yan Fengan's decision to bring on help.

With someone to handle the odd jobs around the house, he could focus more fully on his embroidery work.

After the New Year, around the tenth of the first lunar month, Yan Fengan and Wen Xi returned to the city.

Now that both the school and the house had their signs up, anyone looking for them could find the place at a glance.

After the fifteenth of the first lunar month, Afu and Aqiu officially started working. Both were honest and hardworking. Wen Xi showed Aqiu around the house, and before long, he rolled up his sleeves, grabbed a rag, and began dusting the furniture.

Wen Xi opened his mouth, wanting to say he had already cleaned those spots, but after watching for a while, he ultimately kept quiet.

Putting himself in Aqiu's shoes, if he were a hired hand working in someone's home, he would also do as much as possible to make the employer feel they got their money's worth.

Fang Mutian showed up at the school on the eighteenth of the first lunar month, right on schedule, and behind him, someone was carrying his luggage.

Fang Mutian introduced the man to Yan Fengan as his elder brother, Fang Muhai.

Fang Muhai looked like a plain, honest farmer too. He seemed a little nervous knowing who Yan Fengan was. After helping Fang Mutian set up his bed, he hunched over, wringing his hands, his face red and sunburned. "Thank you, Master Juren, for letting my little brother teach at your school. He's been a good kid since he was young—he won't give you any trouble."

Yan Fengan replied, "You're too polite. I should be the one thanking Brother Fang for coming to help me."

Fang Muhai was not good with words and couldn't produce any polished phrases. He just kept saying "the family's struggling" and "you're a saint," like he was trying to pile every nice word he knew onto Yan Fengan.

Fang Mutian was a little embarrassed and nudged him toward the door. "Alright, bro, that's enough. If there's nothing else, you'd better get going."

Fang Muhai nodded repeatedly, offered Yan Fengan an apologetic smile, and then turned to leave.

From bits and pieces Fang Mutian had let slip, Yan Fengan had always been curious about his family. Before meeting them, he had imagined Fang Mutian's brother might not be easy to get along with.

But now that he had met him, he realized the guy was just like the plain, hardworking farmers back in the village.

To put one kid through school, the family could barely keep food on the table—how could they not grumble a little?

When Fang Mutian failed the exams, he was crushed, but weren't his folks also putting up with the villagers' gossip and snide remarks every day?

It wouldn't be fair to assume they treated him badly just because of that. If they really did, they never would've sent him to school in the first place.

Looking at him, Yan Fengan was reminded of his own two elder brothers. He called over the doorman and handed him a string of copper coins. "Take Fang's brother out to a noodle shop for a bowl of lamb noodles, and give him the leftover coins to rent a mule cart for the ride home."

The doorman took the money, caught up with Fang Muhai, and led him to the noodle shop. Yan Fengan's kindness caught Fang Muhai off guard. He initially didn't want to accept the copper coins, but the doorman insisted he take them.

The road home was long, but country folks were used to walking—why bother renting a mule cart?

Since he'd finally made it into town, had a bowl of lamb noodles, and gotten some copper coins, Fang Muhai used the coins to buy a pound of meat and a flatbread for each of his two kids back home.

He made up his mind that when he got home, he'd tell his family that his brother's old classmate, Master Juren Yan, was a genuinely good man. With his brother working for him, he'd definitely make some money and wouldn't get treated badly.

Author's note:

Paying staff for a year comes to sixty-six taels—yikes, that silver doesn't go far at all. But no matter, they're all very good at making money.