Chapter 8 Interview and Housing Prices

  "Is there a Japanese sword for sale here?"

  "No, young master can take a look at the knife I'm chopping with, it's just like chopping people and meat."

  "No need, thank you!"

  Chen Xin brought Haitouzi and Zhang Er out of a iron shop from the south gate. Liu Min brought the remaining two, active at the north gate, also looking for Japanese knife shops. After saying goodbye to Dai Tieson and others yesterday, they walked through Anxi Gate into Tianjin, stayed in the city for a day, and looked for a day.

  Zhang Er walked and asked Chen Xin: "Brother Chen, is this Japanese knife that good? We've been searching for a whole day, or else we might as well buy a vegetable knife."

  Chen Xindao said: "You bought it to kill people? I'm looking for that shop."

  The little monk said: "Can't it be that the shopkeeper has some silver, and big brother will take us to cheat him out of some?"

  Chen Xin smiled slyly and said: "There is silver, but it's not in the store. Just do what I say and that's all. Whether we can eat meat every day from now on depends on this."

  Zhang Er swallowed his saliva and nodded in agreement. The three of them continued to ask around the street, until someone finally told them that there were a few shops selling fans on the east side that might have some.

  Chen Xin glanced at the sun and saw that it was already past noon. He led two people back to the intersection of Ten Streets, where they were supposed to meet Liu Min under the Bell Drum Tower. Liu Min was sweating profusely and as soon as he saw Chen Xin, he said: "I've been searching for you everywhere, my feet are killing me! I only found out that there's a possibility that the shops in East City that sell Japanese fans and other goods might have it. What do you want this thing for anyway?"

  Chen Xinyi opened the folding fan he had just bought and fanned Liu Min enthusiastically, saying: "It's hard work, I think what you said makes sense. I'm thinking of renting a house in Tianjin to settle down and do some business. What do you think?"

  "Huh? Is this for real? What does it have to do with the Japanese sword shop?"

  Chen Xin smiled: "Of course it's the truth, yesterday I saw Wodao and was reminded that in this era, Japan's maritime trade is very profitable. Let me investigate what kind of goods Japan has first, our capital is small, let's take a look before doing anything. I've thought about it, Tianjin has a canal and also has a sea route, even if the Tartars come to loot, we can escape by boat. For now, let's settle down and do some small business."

  Liu Min had originally been a homebody, but after arriving in the Ming dynasty he wandered around every day, feeling very unadapted. He didn't really want to go to Jiangnan and just wanted to stay in Tianjin. He immediately agreed: "Alright, I was saying that running around everywhere isn't a solution, we should settle down and do some business instead. The Hai Gouzis can also help out. Let's go, we'll head to the East City now."

  Chen Xin hurriedly pulled him back and advised: "Eat first, don't rush, there's plenty of time."

  At this time, several people looked for a restaurant and filled their stomachs. Liu Min was in a hurry and couldn't wait any longer, constantly urging everyone to eat quickly.

  The sea dog and others had just eaten a bowl of rice, but Liu Minyou was in such a hurry that they couldn't finish their meal. They could only grab the remaining grains of rice from the second bowl with their hands and stuff them into their mouths while walking. Liu Minyou led the way along Dongmen Street, asking around until they finally found two shops selling俵物 near Wenmiao Temple.

  The Tianjin Temple is spacious, with a pair of gateways on either side of the wall. Liu Min had no intention of visiting and dragged Chen Xin straight to the pawnshop. Inside, there was a strong smell of seafood, and some Japanese-style folding fans were hung up, looking like they were selling Japanese goods exclusively. On the door, a notice was posted that read: "Recruiting an accountant, monthly salary two taels, food and lodging self-provided."

  Chen Xinyi let out a laugh and said, "This is definitely prepared for me. I'm an expert at interviewing, so let's go in together, Minghe. You two, Haigouzi, wait outside for now."

  Liu Min grabbed him and asked: "Aren't you going to start a business? Why are you applying for an accountant position again?"

  "We've done business before, but our expertise doesn't match. I plan to intern at a Japanese product specialty store first and prepare for future entrepreneurship. Our capital is small, so it's safer this way. What do you think?"

  Liu Min thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, following Chen Xin inside.

  Inside sat a shopkeeper, also wearing a melon-shaped hat, his beady eyes darting back and forth, with a wispy mustache on his chin. Seeing the two men's decent attire, he hurriedly came forward, clasped his fists together and said: "Are you two gentlemen looking to buy Japanese goods? We have sea cucumbers, dried squid, shark fin, folding fans, and Japanese swords too. Among all the shops in Tianjin, mine has the most complete selection and the lowest prices."

  Chen Xin also cupped his fists and said: "Boss, I'm here to apply for an accounting position. Is there still a vacancy?"

  The shopkeeper seemed to have not expected it, his eyes rolled around and he said: "Actually, we haven't found anyone yet. The boss isn't here today, if you want the job, come back in two days."

  Chen Xin couldn't just leave like this, he had to probe for some information.

  "Wan Sheng is from Liaodong, he was once a Xiucai, his hometown was occupied by the Tartars, since entering the pass, he has been relying on relatives and friends for support, living under others' roofs, always hoping to be self-sufficient. The shopkeeper has a kind face and eyes, one look and you can tell he is a good person, I hope the shopkeeper will not hesitate to give me some guidance, regardless of success or failure, in the future there will definitely be repayment." Chen Xinyi immediately gave the thieving-looking shopkeeper a new image.

  As expected, the shopkeeper's face cracked a smile: "You young man, you're quite eloquent. Seeing that you have this self-reliant spirit, I'll give you some pointers. Actually, being an accountant is just a matter of mastering three things: writing, abacus, and the Four Pillars of Destiny ledger. None of these are particularly difficult, and since you've passed the Imperial Examination, it shouldn't be a problem for you."

  Liu Min listened and felt a bit worried. Among these, writing was not a big problem. Although he hadn't learned traditional characters, he recognized those few numbers. The types of goods in the store were also limited, so it would take only one day to learn them. However, the abacus and the Four Pillars Clear Book were troublesome.

  Chen Xin still had a friendly smile on his face, and calmly said to the shopkeeper: "My surname is Chen, my name is Xin, and my father was also a businessman. I've learned some of these skills before, including mental arithmetic, but it's been a long time and I'm afraid I've become rusty. I don't have much talent, but like you, sir, I am kind-hearted and honest. Please put in a good word for me with the master, and I will treat you as my teacher."

  That shopkeeper has been in this store for a long time, with a high status. The original accountant went to Beijing to visit relatives, and he recently took over the accounting work as well. Seeing Chen Xin's proper speech and respectful attitude towards himself, it shouldn't affect his own status. In his heart, he had already agreed more than half to let Chen Xin take over as the new accountant.

  He twisted a few strands of his whiskers, nodded at Chen Xin and said: "It turns out that you are also from a merchant family, that's even better. This notice has been posted for several days, and several people have come to see it, but the master is not very satisfied. The master is in a hurry, and he wants to settle this matter within these few days. I think you are the most suitable one, so just come back later. For now, prepare well according to what I said before."

  Chen Xin immediately kowtowed to the ground, his voice choked with emotion as he said "Thank you, senior. From Liaodong to Tianjin, I've been told by fortune tellers that I would meet a noble person who would help me, and now I see that it's only you who has treated me with such kindness, so it must be you who is my benefactor. If I achieve anything in the future, it will all be thanks to your blessing. I'm being presumptuous, but I still don't know your honorable surname."

  The shopkeeper looked at Chen Xinyue with increasing favor, his small eyes crinkling into a smile. "Sir, you're too kind, my surname is Cai."

  At this time, two more customers came in at the door. The shop assistant came forward to greet them, and the boss also took a few glances.

  Chen Xin, seeing the situation, bowed again and said: "Teaching and enlightening, it is indeed a title that suits you, sir. I am fortunate to have met you and feel a connection with you. However, I do not want to delay your work any further. If you are free tonight, would you be willing to let me host you for dinner and ask for your guidance in person?" He then lowered his voice and said to Cai Zhanggui: "As I have acknowledged you as my teacher, I will certainly set aside one month's wages every year to show my appreciation. Please do not decline, sir."

  Although the shopkeeper's income was not bad on ordinary days, he had no great status outside. Seeing Chen Xiang's respectful attitude, he naturally enjoyed this treatment and coveted that month's wages. He nodded immediately: "Since you call me Mr., I won't be polite to you either. Come to the store later tonight, and I'll explain it to you in detail then."

  Liu Min was unable to get a word in edgewise from the moment he entered, watching as the two of them exchanged insincere pleasantries and became extremely familiar with each other in less than ten minutes. Chen Xin's ability to speak nonsense was something Liu Min could only aspire to. The two of them then bowed and retreated.

  Liu Min hastily said to Chen Xin, "This abacus and Four Pillars stuff, where did you learn it? The day after tomorrow is the interview with the master of the house, aren't you afraid of making a fool of yourself?"

  "Not afraid, isn't there still two days left? Learn a bit and it's done, how hard can it be?"

  Liu Minyou was still a bit worried: "What's the point of inviting this shopkeeper to dinner? It's up to the boss to make decisions, and spending this money might not be worth it."

  According to the marketing public relations, this shopkeeper is a linemen role, grasping this person can affect the decision of that Dongjia. Now it seems that this shopkeeper is a rookie linemen, easy to deal with. Moreover, he is the shopkeeper, if he really went, there will be more time to interact, and this money will not be wasted.

  Liu Min felt a bit relieved after hearing Chen Xin say that, and the two of them went to Wénmiào outside to find Hǎigǒuzi and several others. After wandering around nearby, they found a restaurant called "Zhēnyàn Lóu" that was not bad, with moderate prices, so they booked a private room on the second floor. They also found an inn nearby to book their lodgings, and had Hǎigǒuzi and the others eat at the inn in the evening.

  As it was still early, the two of them gathered in the room to count their silver, which totaled one hundred and seven taels. This was the entirety of their ill-gotten gains. At present, the average daily wage for a laborer in the capital is five to twenty copper coins, while some government-hired workers may earn as much as half a tael of silver per day, but that's only temporary work. Those who do small business on their own may have slightly higher incomes, but generally not exceeding thirty taels. So this hundred-plus taels was already a considerable fortune.

  Chen Xin took out 0.7 taels of loose silver and put it on his body for miscellaneous use, and the rest was divided into two packages, with each person carrying one package. Chen Xin also called Zhang Dahuai brothers and Wang Dai Xi, gave them five coins of silver, and asked the three to go buy ten catties of pork and ten catties of white flour.

  After finishing the work, Chen Xinben planned to go and see Dai Zhenggang's place, but Liu Minyou disagreed, asking Chen Xin to study professional knowledge seriously. Chen Xin thought about it and agreed, as Dai Zhenggang's injury couldn't be healed in a short time, and there was still time after the job application was settled.

  The two of them immediately ran downstairs, gave the innkeeper two silver coins, and began to learn how to use the three-legged abacus. The origin of the three-legged abacus is unclear, but it began to be widely used after the mid-Ming dynasty. Compared with the single-entry bookkeeping method that had been in long-term use, it incorporated both single-entry and double-entry bookkeeping ideas. As for accounting, during the Ming dynasty, there were two commonly used types of account books: one with printed grids and one without. These were printed by booksellers and sold, with a basic uniform format for writing, where income was recorded at the top of each page and expenses at the bottom.

  Some businesses only use day clearing accounts, while others are divided into three types: goods clearing accounts, silver clearing accounts, and counter-transaction books. The methods for recording transfer and cash transactions are slightly different, but overall they are still current accounts, so keeping accounts is not a particularly special skill. For two white-collar workers who have seen countless complex tables, it's really not difficult. The four-column clearing book is also very simple, it's just a settlement method, that is, "old pipe" plus "new collection" minus "opening deduction" equals "actual". Generally, settlements are made once every ten days or half a month based on the recorded accounts.

  Two silver coins can buy seven or eight catties of pork, and the shopkeeper has nothing to do, so he might as well make this extra two silver coins. The two men learned the principles quickly, but when it came to operation, trouble arose, one was a brush pen, and the other was an abacus.

  Chen Xin used to practice calligraphy with a brush when he was young, and now he can still write a little, not too ugly, but very slow. The abacus is even more painful, the shopkeeper is unwilling to lend it to them for practice, saying that it is disrespectful to the god of wealth, only reciting some mental arithmetic formulas, Chen Xin has recorded them all, but it is impossible to learn without practicing, finally after much persuasion. The shopkeeper agreed to bring another old abacus from home for the two in the evening.

  The two of them practiced writing, and before they knew it, the time had passed to after dinner. The two of them had been together for these days and had gained some experience in telling time, so they took the meat and flour they had bought back with them. When Wang Zai walked away, he was extremely reluctant to part with Chen Xin, who pulled him several times before letting go. Then Chen Xin went to pick up Cai Zhanggui, while Liu Min directly took the things and left first for Zhenyan Building.

  Liu Minyou entered the wine building, and there was a partner to greet him. The first floor was already full of guests, changing cups and plates, the store's helpers were busy running around, the boss kept shouting for dishes, the kitchen inside was clanging loudly, the fragrance of oil filled the hall, Liu Minyou didn't like the noise, nor did he stay, directly entering the reserved second-floor private room, letting the partner report the dish names, starting to order.

  After the two crossed over, they were all eating in restaurants and inns. Liu Min was already familiar with the prices and ordered a table of relatively sumptuous dishes for no more than three or four silver coins. Like their six people usually saved money, they would eat less meat and vegetables, and one meal would cost only a few cents of silver.

  After hearing the price, Liu Min ordered a few dishes including Smoked Duck, Stir-fried Beef, and Grilled Pork Chop, plus two fresh vegetables, one Qingmei Soup, and drank a jin of Jinan's Autumn White Dew wine with a pot of Green Tea.

  After finishing his chores, Liu Minyu stood by the window to see if Chen Xin and the others had arrived. It was already dinner time, and smoke was rising from kitchens all over the city as men returned home. Women were calling out to their children, and the sound of laughter filled the air. Liu Minyu looked down at a small courtyard across the street, where a scholar-looking man had just entered his home. Two children rushed into his arms, chattering excitedly, while a woman smiled and walked up to him, using a handkerchief to wipe away the dust from his clothes.

  Liu Minyou smiled as he watched the family playing and eating in the courtyard, until Chen Xin and Cai Zhanggui appeared on the street. Chen Xin fell half a step behind, lowering his head slightly, chatting warmly with Cai Zhanggui as they walked, the two occasionally bursting into laughter, looking like old friends who had known each other for many years.

  When the two entered the private room, Chen Xin introduced Liu Minyou to Cai Zhanggui again, saying that Liu Minyou was his cousin. The three chatted and laughed together. After the dishes were served and they had drunk several rounds of wine, Chen Xin continued to enthusiastically offer toasts and told some dirty jokes, causing Cai Zhanggui to laugh loudly several times. The atmosphere was now very harmonious.

  Cai Zhanggui's ears turned slightly red, and he stroked his wine cup, saying: "When it comes to Autumn White Dew, people say it's tea, but who knew that the Autumn White Dew wine from Jinan is also so sweet and refreshing."

  Chen Xin listened and nodded in agreement: "This wine is good, but it also requires the drinker to have a discerning palate. If you give it to an unrefined laborer from the countryside, he'll just treat it like rice porridge."

  Cai Zhanggui smiled and said: "Of course, of course. But like the sake from Japan, it's very light, you can even drink it as if it were rice porridge."

  Chen Xin's eyes lit up and he flattered: "So, Mr. Cai has been to Japan before? I imagine the customs of that foreign land must be quite strange?"

  Cai Zhanggui's face was filled with nostalgia, his eyes shining brightly: "I've also been to Japan twice with Master Dong. The ordinary Japanese households can't compare to our great Ming dynasty, but if it's a wealthy household, then it's different. Their women use some kind of Southeast Asian fragrance, which they apply to their clothes and hair, and the scent lasts for a month after just one use. When serving tea, they even apply it to the edges of their hair..." Cai Zhanggui, still under the influence of alcohol, leaned in close and whispered, his expression filled with nostalgia.

  Chen Xin smiled and replied: "Isn't it that Japanese women don't take a bath for a month? If they take off their clothes, they must be smelly."

  Cai Zhanggui was taken aback and burst out laughing.

  Liu Min busily filled Cai Zhanggui's cup again and again, urging him to drink several more cups until his face was flushed with red.

  Chen Xin then reported his afternoon's study results to Cai Zhanggui, who listened and nodded repeatedly, patted his chest and guaranteed: "The master will return tomorrow, you come over the day after tomorrow morning, I'll help you with it, this matter is sure to be successful."

  Chen Xin repeatedly expressed gratitude and enthusiastically served dishes and offered wine.

  Cai Zhanggui narrowed his eyes and looked at Chen Xin, saying: "As soon as I saw you, young man, I thought you were quite suitable. You come to work in this accounting house, and I can rest assured. Do you know that ordinary accountants only get one or two taels of silver per month? You're lucky, the master is eager to use people, so he fixed it at two taels of silver per month. Although it's not comparable to those wealthy families, getting a small fortune isn't difficult either. For now, it's like this, and after you've worked for a long time, I'll help you speak up in front of the master again, and three or four taels per month is not impossible."

  Chen Xin hastily said: "It's all thanks to your great kindness, sir. Two taels a month is already a lot. I don't ask for that much now, as long as I can be self-sufficient, I'm satisfied."

  Cai Zhanggui listened and nodded: "A man should be self-reliant, you said earlier that you were living with relatives in Tianjin, are your relatives from Tianjin?"

  "My junior relatives and friends are from Ji Zhou, they have been in Ji Zhou since entering the pass. My ancestors were from Zhejiang Province. Those relatives of mine have been away from home for a long time, often missing their hometown feelings. But because they got too fat, it's inconvenient to travel, so they gave me some traveling expenses to go back to my old home and take a look, also to find out if there are any suitable jobs available. That's why I came to Tianjin."

  Cai Zhanggui suddenly said, "Oh, so your relative is also a nostalgic person. In that case, if you become the accountant, you can buy a house in Tianjin and I'll help you find someone to attach your household registration to, and that will be considered as setting up a new household."

  Liu Min originally couldn't afford to buy a house in Tianjin, and he had been constantly at odds with his girlfriend. At this time, as soon as he heard Cai's suggestion, he got a headache and shook his head: "We don't have much silver on us, how can we afford to buy a house? Let's rent a house first and talk about it later."

  Cai Zhanggui thought for a moment and nodded: "That's right, this matter can't be rushed, it will take three to five years, and we need to save 20-30 taels of silver."

  "Yes, sir said... wait, how much silver did sir just say!!!? Two... twenty-three taels of silver!!!? Not the down payment?"

  Cai Zhanggui naturally said: "Buying a small courtyard with three or four rooms is enough, if it comes with a storefront, you'll need to add a few more taels. You two don't have to worry, if there are other errands, you can also let your cousin do them. The twenty or thirty taels will be earned in just one or two years. If the two families live together, you'll need to save for another year or two and buy a courtyard with seven or eight rooms."

  Cai Zhanggui finished speaking, took a sip of wine by himself, put down the cup and looked again. Chen and Liu's mouths were wide open, staring at him with their eyes wide with wonder, hastily touching their faces, and exclaimed in surprise: "What play are you two performing?"