Chapter Six: Winning Hearts

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Yang Cheng noticed that his promotional tactic was working.

“Everyone, please, let’s not get too excited. I never said we would only work with dumplings and noodles, did I? If you look over there, you’ll see buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk—now that’s a perfect combination! We just haven’t launched those products yet, but we can start pre-sales,” he said.

“Pre-sales?”

“All right, let’s not get tangled up in the details. Please, everyone, take a seat and we’ll work things out step by step,” Yang Cheng gestured for calm.

“Dear partners, according to our agreement, we’ll begin supplying you in seven days. Please send someone here in advance to collect your goods, so as not to delay your business. Now, my staff will demonstrate several ways to prepare the dumplings and noodles, so your teams can try them out when you return.”

Several women, following the method they had rehearsed repeatedly the previous night, began their demonstration under the eyes of dozens of shopkeepers. Frying, deep-frying, boiling, and steaming; bone broth noodles, stir-fried noodles, hand-pulled noodles, knife-cut noodles—the sheer variety dazzled the crowd. Those who hadn’t secured a spot found themselves itching with envy.

“Young Master Yang, is there any special story behind these dumplings? So we can tell our customers something interesting,” a boss asked.

“Hmm, nothing much. There’s a saying: ‘Nothing tastes better than dumplings,’” Yang Cheng suddenly remembered a mischievous joke and chuckled.

“...”

Seeing the crowd fall silent, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It sounds like you only said half the phrase.”

“Yes, I was waiting for the second half, Young Master Yang.”

“Uh... let’s just leave it at that,” Yang Cheng replied, deciding not to finish the punchline.

After some time, the demonstration concluded. Yang Cheng raised his hands to signal quiet. “Everyone, please look here. This product is called a bun. It can also be fried, steamed, or pan-cooked, and it’s easy to carry... This one is fried dough sticks with soy milk—an excellent pairing. You can sell them together or separately; it’s up to you. Here’s a twisted roll... and this is bread... These new products will be launched at a product release event in ten days, at which point I’ll double the number of available franchise slots. The franchise fee for each set will be eight hundred spirit coins. However, those of you who sign the contract and pay in advance today, just like before, will enjoy the discounted rate of five hundred spirit coins.”

“Good grief, he wants five hundred spirit coins for something we haven’t even tasted,” many muttered inwardly.

Even so, quite a few gritted their teeth, and nineteen signed contracts with Yang Cheng. Many others hesitated, preferring to pay a bit more later after seeing how the first batch of shops performed. After all, a higher franchise fee was preferable to a loss. So for Yang Cheng to secure this batch of orders ahead of time was already a significant achievement.

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This strategy could be considered a success—a modest trial to gather some seed capital. Right now, he desperately needed both manpower and resources. With only a few people, there was no way to supply so many shops at once. To quickly scale up, he needed capital.

With the food demonstration concluded, the shop owners dispersed. The chubby man swaggered over, patted Yang Cheng on the shoulder, and laughed, “Brother, your methods are sharp—limited time, limited slots! Even an old hand like me was swept up and left thinking I’d scored a bargain.”

Yang Cheng smiled, “You flatter me, brother. There’s no hidden trick—business is about mutual benefit. Win-win is my guiding principle.”

“Win-win?” The chubby man mused, then cupped his hands. “I’ve learned a lot. I am Zhu Buhuo. Next time, I’ll be sure to support your business.”

The two bid each other farewell, and Yang Cheng found the man rather amusing—so quick to make friends.

Once everyone had left, Yang Cheng finally relaxed. He told the women to rest for now and prepare in the afternoon for the release event in the North District the next day.

When Old Yang returned that afternoon, Yang Cheng instructed the three of them to wait in the courtyard for people to come and pay in spirit coins. He himself went indoors to practice and to plan the next steps.

Old Yang hadn’t witnessed the morning’s excitement and sat idly at the table at first. But as he waited and waited with no one arriving, his anxiety grew. He knew the young master’s financial situation well, and with all the recent hiring and gifting, they’d probably have to sell the house after a year of just scraping by. He was deeply worried they’d soon be out on the streets.

After quite a while, someone finally arrived, saying he’d been sent by the owner of Liuyun Pavilion in the South District to deliver payment. Old Yang’s face split into a wide, delighted grin. The payment was five hundred spirit coins, which startled him anew. His hands shook as he recorded the payment, and just as he calmed down, more people arrived—several waves in quick succession.

By the end of the afternoon, forty-four people had come. Old Yang was numb from recording payments, mechanically instructing Daniu and Maozi to count and store the money.

As dusk fell, Old Yang had Daniu and Maozi carry the ten or so money pouches to the young master’s room, and brought the register to report to Yang Cheng.

His voice trembled, “Young master, today we collected a total of twenty-two thousand spirit coins. That’s... that’s an enormous sum. Even when the old master was alive, I never saw so much.”

He looked at the young master with new respect. It was understandable—he’d started cultivating together with Yang Cheng, but despite himself having no disrespectful intentions, Yang Cheng had always seemed rather hopeless, even less capable than Old Yang. If things continued, the Yang family line would end with this young master and the two of them would be out on the streets.

But in these last few days, the young master had changed, stirring up all kinds of things. At first, Old Yang thought it would only hasten the family’s downfall. Who could have guessed that with one bold move, results would come so swiftly?

Yang Cheng smiled, “This is nothing. There are still three days left, and people from the East, West, and North Districts will keep coming. You just wait and see how much more comes in. Also, go purchase three riding beasts to help you travel between districts more easily.” Then he added, “Call everyone over, I have something to announce.”

Once the other eight had gathered, Yang Cheng began, “We’ve all worked tirelessly these past few days, and it will be just as busy for a while yet. I ask everyone’s patience. Today, I have several announcements.”

“First, Uncle Yang, here is your indenture. I spent a long time finding it, and today I will burn it for you. You are a free man now. I’ll find time to go to the authorities and complete the paperwork for you.”

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The others were quite moved. Without an indenture, they would simply be employees, free people. No one would willingly sign away their freedom unless forced by circumstance. Those who signed indentures to support their families hoped one day to earn enough to buy back their freedom, so their descendants would not be born inferior.

But once indentured, they became property of the master’s house, rarely set free. Even when paid, it was meager—just enough for basic food and shelter. Even with the occasional bonus during festivals, a year’s savings might amount to just a few silver coins. Families scrimped and saved, but unless favored by the master, they could never hope to buy their freedom. In a world where strength ruled, their children could never hope to cultivate, for even the cheapest cultivation stones were out of reach.

Old Yang was nervous, his feelings complicated. Others might not want to be servants for generations, but he had grown up in the Yang household, his very name given by the old master. With no family of his own, life in the Yang household was all he knew; he’d never even thought of gaining freedom.

Was the young master trying to send him away? But where could he possibly go?

“Uncle Yang, from now on, you are the Yang family’s steward. You know, since the last steward left years ago, it’s just been the two of us, so it didn’t matter. But now our numbers are growing, and we’ll be hiring more soon. There will be too many tasks for me to manage alone. I’ll rely on you. From now on, your monthly salary will be five spirit stones.”

“Ah!” The others gasped, their eyes full of envy for Old Yang.

“Steward...” Old Yang’s mood shifted from disappointment and confusion to overwhelming joy. “Thank you, young master, thank you!”

“You deserve it. Your loyalty should be rewarded,” Yang Cheng said. He never saw Old Yang or the others as lesser. Even with the new hires, he treated everyone with courtesy, never harboring notions of class hierarchy. At this stage, he needed people—loyal and hardworking helpers. Destroying the indenture was also a message to the others: loyalty would be rewarded.

“My friends, I’ve watched you these past days. You have all worked hard without complaint, and not one of you has shirked your duties. Those are exactly the qualities I need,” Yang Cheng continued.

“I had planned to dismiss anyone unfit, but you have all impressed me. Later, each of you should see Steward Yang for a reward of one spirit coin.”

The group was stunned, scarcely able to believe their ears. Yang Cheng went on, “Furthermore, I will be hiring more staff in the coming days. Each of you will be responsible for training the newcomers, and your monthly wage will be one spirit coin.”

“Ah!” The room erupted. Several women had tears streaming down their faces—this was several times the pay offered elsewhere. With this, they could support their whole families; their children wouldn’t have to sign away their freedom and suffer.

Many could only stammer, “Thank you, young master, thank you!” Others promised again and again to serve faithfully.

“I’m not done yet. I need everyone to work diligently, but I also value your loyalty. I believe that in a few months, or a year at most, I will return everyone’s indentures. As long as you remain earnest and hardworking, I’ll help you regain your freedom, pay off your debts, and live a prosperous life.”

The eight knelt once more in gratitude, not daring to hope for riches—being able to feed their families was enough. With such a master, they were far better off than anywhere else, and they resolved to serve him with all their hearts.