CHAPTER 201: CHAPTER 201: HEAVY DRINKER

Ah Hu also realized that indeed there was no need for guards in this house. They were practically clinging on shamelessly to stay here. If they didn’t get any silver, he’d feel too embarrassed to stay.

Yun Jiao weighed the silver in her hand; it was an unbroken silver ingot, roughly estimated to be twenty taels.

She smiled, "Alright, this silver can last us for quite a while. Stay without worry."

Ah Hu watched Yun Jiao leave.

He still had ten taels of silver on him, in case there were any unexpected expenses.

This silver was given to him by Jiang Youzhi when he accompanied him out one day.

The next day, Liu Zhu indeed called his cousin Zhang Shun over.

Zhang Shun was about thirty years old, a worker at Qilin Hall diagonally across the road, where he had worked for several years. The shopkeeper there had never raised his wages, always paying him eight qian of silver a month.

Hearing from Liu Zhu that here it was one tael of silver a month, he was tempted.

When he arrived, Zhang Shun acted somewhat secretively, slipping through the door quickly.

He didn’t dare stay in the front shop, afraid of being seen, and only felt comfortable talking to Yun Jiao in the back courtyard.

He was worried that if negotiations didn’t go well and the owner of Qilin Hall found out, he’d lose on both sides.

Yun Jiao offered Zhang Shun the same terms as Liu Zhu.

However, to motivate the employees, Yun Jiao specifically told Liu Zhu and Zhang Shun that they would receive a certain bonus every month based on their performance and the store’s sales.

The bonus starts at one qian of silver. If they do well, earning one tael of silver isn’t impossible.

Upon hearing Yun Jiao’s words, Liu Zhu and Zhang Shun exchanged a glance, as if invigorated, eager to start working immediately.

After noon, Zhang Shun went to Qilin Hall to resign and then proceeded to sign the contract with Yun Jiao.

Having signed the contract, Zhang Shun said, "I saw the notice also said a medicine chopper is needed. I wonder if the owner has found one yet?"

Yun Jiao shook her head, "Not yet. Brother Zhang, do you have any recommendations?"

Zhang Shun hesitated for a moment, "Well, there’s someone."

"Speaking of his knife skills, they’re considered the best in Xiang City."

"No matter how difficult the medicine is to cut, he can handle it beautifully."

"But there’s a bit of an issue with him."

Yun Jiao raised an eyebrow, "What issue?"

Zhang Shun sighed, "He loves alcohol. He must drink every meal. If he drinks less, it doesn’t affect his work."

"But sometimes, when he’s had too much, he just sleeps and neglects his duties."

"The shopkeepers have a love-hate relationship with him."

"Due to problems caused by drinking, he was let go last year and hasn’t found another job since, and he’s run out of money for drinking."

"Actually, he’s a good person, and his skills are excellent. It’s just the drinking that’s a problem."

Hearing this, Yun Jiao was a bit hesitant. People who drink heavily are the most prone to making mistakes, and it’s worrisome to employ them.

Zhang Shun added, "If the owner is willing, I can bring him over for you to see."

Yun Jiao hesitated for a moment, "Alright, bring him over. I’ll talk to him first."

Zhang Shun nodded, "His name is Lao Jiu. I’ll go get him."

Yun Jiao stayed in the shop to wait.

Before long, Zhang Shun indeed brought Lao Jiu over.

Yun Jiao noticed his eyes were somewhat red, his nose was a bit red, and he smelled of alcohol, clearly someone who drank regularly.

Yun Jiao didn’t say much to him, and instructed Ah Tie to bring out the chopping board and knife. She pointed to a small bamboo tray in the courtyard, "There are a few pieces of gastrodia on there. Cut them for me; let me see your knife skills."