Chapter 13: Yao Zao Fan

  Yao Zao Fan

  He Wan Nian stared at Yao Fan for a while, stuttering: "Fan is quiet, quiet means far-reaching, hanging the sail early and going out to sea, getting quiet and far-reaching, it's really a good word. However... taking this name as the shop name..."

  Yao Fan waved his hand and said lightly, "Brother He, since we're family, there's no need to flatter each other. Anyway, it'll either be called Wannian Business or Zaofan Business."

  He Wan Nian hesitantly said: "Brother, I'm just a small shareholder, I wouldn't dare to take the name of this big business, but I think the name 'Early Sail' is a bit..."

  Yao Fan had no good feelings towards the Qing dynasty at all: "Let's use 'Early Sail' for now, if it doesn't work out, we can change it later."

  He Wannian saw that Yao Fan, the major shareholder, had made up his mind, so he had no choice but to agree with a bitter face. He thought to himself that this name was quite ambiguous, but Yao Fan had just given himself a courtesy name and was probably still in high spirits, so it would be better to advise him again after a few days.

  Yao Fan's ambition had inflated after calculating that his goods were worth such a huge amount of white silver.

  He carelessly slapped his thigh with the silver ticket in his hand: "Wan Nian brother, you also saw it yesterday when we opened the box and checked the goods. This foreign watch was able to be sold at a price comparable to the foreigners' iron walnut only because Mr. Liu covered it up."

  He Wan Nian said: "I see, if this Lord Liu presses down with his hand, and renegotiates the price according to new goods, that would be an expenditure of two or three thousand taels of silver. If Lord Liu lifts his hand, brother, you will have to pay two or three thousand taels less."

  Yao Feng said: "You take 3583 taels from me, and have two reliable colleagues deliver the tax silver of 3583 taels calculated yesterday to the customs. Additionally, I also have a thousand taels in silver notes here, send them to Liu's house at the customs through a trusted colleague, just say it's my respects."

  He Wan Nian nodded and said, "This is for the best. I will instruct someone to take care of it immediately. As for these three apprentices I hired for your store during your absence, what do you think?"

  "What's going on?"

  He Wan Nian said: "All three are local people from Jiaozhou. One is called Luo Guangqun, a fallen scholar who was originally teaching as a western seat in the Wang family here. Once because of drunkenness, he scolded the fourth wife of the master's father and was driven out. This person can calculate and write, I think he can do an account house. Of course, if Brother Yao has confidential accounts, it is absolutely impossible to let these people who have not been domesticated yet do them."

  Seeing Yao Fan nodding, He Wan Nian continued: "The other two are also my He family's collateral branch descendants. One is called He Shi Cheng and the other is Wang Chuan Nian. He Shi Cheng's ancestor and my great-grandfather were cousins, while Wang Chuan Nian's mother was my grandmother's goddaughter. Anyway, they are all distant relatives who can't be compared to us."

  "Brother Yao, don't worry about my face at all. If they deserve to be scolded or punished, just do it as usual. It's better for them to behave properly in the end. As for Luo Guanzhong being a scholar, we should still give him some respect."

  Yao Fan felt that He Wan Nian was considerate of him, and smiled: "Alright, I've taken note. As it happens, I'm just about to go out now, so let's have He Shi Cheng follow me."

  He Wan Nian said: "Alright, I should also go back to the pawnshop and get busy."

  Yao Feng then bid farewell to He Wannian and called He Shicheng to follow him, going straight to the Chunmiantang.

  Na He Shicheng was still just a half-grown child, with a dark and thin face, his fine braids coiled around his neck, looking quite clever.

  He Shicheng hurried out a carriage from the narrow alley of the courtyard, and the carriage was a wooden cage with a square shape and a pointed top. The front beam was polished to be bright and shiny, looking like it had been used frequently by the He family before.

  Yao Feng didn't get in either, and instead leaned against the front of the carriage, sitting at an angle like people from the Qing dynasty on TV. He gave the order: "Shi Cheng, let's go! We're going to Chunmian Hall."

  He Shicheng slightly bowed to Yao Wenyue and said: "Yes! Master."

  As he spoke, he led the little cart horse forward towards Chunmian Hall.

  Yao Weng estimated that He Shicheng was absolutely no more than fifteen years old, although he was quick and agile in his movements, looking like a seasoned hand at things, but the beardless face still showed a childish tenderness.

  "Shi Cheng, how old are you this year? Have you read books? Are your parents at home?"

  He Shicheng strode forward with big steps, skillfully using the whip to urge on the horse's head, but he couldn't bear to hit it, obviously a good hand at driving.

  "If I go back home, I'm thirteen this year. At home, I've studied for a year and can read the Hundred Family Surnames and the Three Character Classic. My dad says that I can already recognize half of the characters in a basket."

  Yao Feng heard his clever words and smiled: "Your family's He Wan Nian told me that from now on, you'll be following me. Are you willing?"

  He Shicheng walked with big strides, turned half of his face back and smiled foolishly: "What's not to be happy about? When Second Master came to our house and said it, my dad was overjoyed. To say that the life in this city is much easier than farming in the countryside, who wouldn't want to come to the city?"

  Yao Fandao: "How much salary did your second master tell you per month?"

  He Shicheng said: "If I go back to Dongjia, I'm just an apprentice, and apprentices don't get paid. Since they provide food and lodging here, I feel like I'm taking advantage of Dongjia's kindness. Er Ye told me that after three years of apprenticeship, if I do well, he'll give me a monthly salary of one or two taels as a partner. Don't worry, Dongjia, I learn quickly and will definitely do well."

  Yao Fan didn't make a sound, originally intending to settle the wages with his partner, but now he was somewhat hesitant.

  "He Wan Nian did help me peel it thoroughly... But this He Shi Cheng is a member of the He family, no matter how distant the relative, he's closer than I am as an outsider... I still need to buy people's hearts."

  Since he had made up his mind to buy people's hearts, Yao Feng smiled and said to He Shicheng who was leading the horse: "I think you're quite clever. From now on, you'll be my apprentice and my attendant at the same time. When I go out, you'll follow me, and I'll give you ten taels of silver a month."

  He Wan Nian heard Yao Feng say this, and his feet almost tripped himself up. He grabbed the horse's head, with a face full of disbelief, and stopped to say to Yao Feng: "Master, don't joke with me, my second uncle's pawnshop has the best old accountant, and he only gets eight taels of silver per month!"

  Yao Fan said calmly, "Hurry up and drive, don't dawdle on the main street. You're about the same age as my younger brother, I feel close to you. Besides, can a personal attendant be compared to an accountant? From now on, if you encounter any thugs or hooligans on the street, you should stand up to them."

  He Shicheng hurriedly turned his head and continued to pull the cart, excitedly saying: "Master Dong, don't worry, I will serve you well, just like serving my own father. Although I'm still young, I was quite good at fighting in the countryside. Hei Dan and Gou Wa from the village entrance couldn't beat me."

  Yao Weng smiled and said, "Stop bragging. Let's see if you have the ability to handle things when we really encounter them in the future. On your way back to the store, I'll give you three months' worth of wages, thirty taels, and have someone send it to your home to support your parents and let them live a good life."

  He Shicheng heard Yao Feng say that he was bragging about being able to fight, and felt wronged in his heart. He walked forward with his head down, leading the horse, and said to himself: "This master is really good, Second Uncle has helped me find a good job and a good master. Master, you just watch, one day I will let you know that I am not afraid of fighting, I have strength."

  Yao Fan knew that people's hearts bought with money would disperse because of money, but for now, he had no other choice.

  Jiaozhou City is not big, except for the main road paved with stone slabs, the rest are dirt roads.

  In just a moment, the creaky wooden carriage traversed the bumpy road paved with yellow earth and arrived at Chunmian Hall. Yao Feng jumped down from the carriage, smoothed out the wrinkles on his long gown, pushed open the two large black lacquer doors that were slightly ajar, and walked in.

  "Third sister~~~~! Where's third sister?" Yao Fang shouted loudly from the front yard after entering the gate.

  Here is the translation:

  "Look, it's Mr. Yao coming. Old Wang, the madam, with a smile on her face, came forward to greet him and made a strange bow: "Ah, isn't this Master Yao? Please come in and sit in the elegant room."

  As he spoke, he turned his head and instructed the tortoise beside her: "Hook, don't you see the tea."

  Yao Fan waved his hand impatiently and said, "No need, call San Jie to clean up a bit and I'll take her away."

  As he spoke, Yao Fan pulled out a one-thousand-tael silver note that had been prepared in his sleeve pocket.

  Wang's mother had a forced smile on her face, and the fat on her face was trembling unnaturally, as if even her teeth were about to fall out.

  "Mr. Yao, don't be in a hurry, sit down and have a cup of tea first."

  Yao Fanshen felt something was off, raised his head, and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Wang Ma.

  Seeing her unnatural expression, Yao Fang's heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

  "Queen Mother, what kind of medicine are you selling in this gourd? Speak plainly! What's going on? It's all written down in black and white, do you still want to go back on your word?"

  Wang's mother saw that she couldn't hide it anymore, so she put on a sorrowful face as if she had been harassed by debt collectors and couldn't get through the New Year, saying: "Master Yao, to be honest with you, my third daughter...she is not here with me right now."

  Yao Fang's heart sank, knowing it was bad.

  "You think you can fool me? Ah? Fool me? Do you believe it, I'll burn this dirty den of yours to ashes right now."

  "Master Yao, please calm down! I'm just an old woman, and like the saying goes, 'a monk can't run away from his temple', how could I possibly deceive you? It's just that we've encountered a difficult situation, and I'm also at a loss for what to do!"

  The old woman pretended to wail loudly, exclaiming "My heart's treasure! My life!"

  Yao Fan encountered such a shrewish woman and felt both angry and resentful in his heart. He knew that this place must be a trap.

  He forcibly suppressed the fire in his heart, raised his hand and threatened: "Shut up! If you scream again, believe it or not, I'll slap you with my palm! Speak! What's going on!"

  Yao Weng's eyes started to blaze with fury, his face twisted into a gambler's scowl, and the turtle-like servant named Gouzi hastily presented him with a cup of tea.

  Yao Fan's hand rose with a "pa" sound and struck the teacup, shattering it and spilling tea all over the floor.

  The hook was so frightened that it shook and retreated two steps back.

  Wang's mother saw Yao Fan's murderous face and was also frightened. She immediately began to ask what was going on.

  He Shicheng, who was waiting outside the door, heard Yao Feng yelling inside and rushed in with a stick from the carriage frame. Seeing Yao Feng standing there, he stood firmly beside him, holding the stick and listening together.

  The next day after Yao Fan left, Guo Jixiu, the big brother of the Guo family, one of the five major families in Ji County, including Zhou, Huang, Lan, Yang and Guo, came to Chunmian Hall, specifically asking for San Jie.

  Following Wang's mother's words, no matter how she stopped him, telling him that San Jie had already been redeemed by someone, but Mr. Guo just wouldn't listen.

  Wang's mother said, "That old man Guo Jixiu from the Guo family said, 'Since Lanzheng has already opened the bud for Sanjie, how can I not sleep? This time, I must take advantage of Huaguduo still being fresh and not rotten, to get along with this knowledgeable and reasonable Sanjie, and share the same bed as Lan Zhengrong.'"