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After listening to Jiang Mixia’s explanation, Jiang Youcheng scratched his head in contemplation for a while. Finally, he looked at Liu Shi.
Liu Shi finished the last spoonful of porridge in her bowl, showing almost no hesitation. “I think our daughter is right.”
Since Jiang Mixia woke up, she had become more astute, and her words had become increasingly reasonable. Practically everything she proposed had turned out to be profitable. Now that Jiang Mixia was considering starting a workshop, Liu Shi saw no issue with it.
On this matter, Liu Shi agreed.
As for Song Jingyun, it was needless to say that he always went along with whatever his wife suggested.
With no more hesitation, Jiang Youcheng nodded, “Alright, let’s go with what our daughter has suggested. But later, I need to discuss this with the village head. Also, I was thinking, if we are going to establish this workshop, perhaps we should set aside some money each year to donate to the village ancestral hall, to help the needy and elderly in the village.”
In a village with families of the same surname, it was often the case that when one family prospered, it would offer assistance to others, and when a family faced difficulties, others would lend a hand. If someone dared to mistreat anyone from the village, the entire community would rise in support.
This was the way of the clan.
Jiang Mixia might not have extensive knowledge of clan matters, but she certainly understood human relationships.
Kind deeds and benevolent actions were not just morally good; they also helped to win people’s hearts and establish respect. As the family’s business was sure to grow even larger in the future, it was essential to lay the groundwork early on. When faced with special circumstances, the clan could also lend a hand.
“We’ll go with what Father suggests,” Jiang Mixia said. “I only know how to do business and make money. I don’t understand much about clan affairs. Father, you handle it.”
In truth, she understood perfectly well, but she simply wanted to give her father some credit.
Jiang Youcheng chuckled and finished the wine in his bowl.
The next day, after breakfast, Jiang Youcheng sought out Jiang Zhengxin, expressing his desire to establish a workshop and hire villagers to work there. He also mentioned that half of the workshop’s earnings each year would be donated to the village ancestral hall.
“This is indeed a good thing,” Jiang Zhengxin beamed. “The people in the village can earn money through work, and the ancestral hall will receive half of the earnings each year to care for the elderly and the needy.”
“Brother Cheng, by doing this, you’re not just aiming to make money for yourself; it’s also a great service to the village,” Jiang Zhengxin added.
“Please don’t praise me too much,” Jiang Youcheng chuckled. “I’ll need your help with this. Please take care of the arrangements and inform everyone. Let’s see which young folks in the village are willing to pursue this livelihood and have them come over to my place to discuss.”
“Cheng, you don’t need to worry about this. I’ll take care of it for you,” Jiang Zhengxin readily agreed. At midday, he struck a gong, gathering the villagers at the entrance of the ancestral hall. There, he announced that Jiang’s family was looking to hire laborers and pay apprentices to learn the craft of basket weaving.
It’s important to note that they were offering wages to the apprentices, not the other way around.
The news caused a stir in the village, akin to a boiling cauldron.
“Is Jiang Youcheng out of his mind?”
“What are you saying? He’s just taking on an apprentice, and you’re saying he’s out of his mind? I think you’re the one with a problem, saying such things.”
“Take it easy, take it easy. I was just saying, those who have a skill guard it as if it were precious. Even those who want to take on apprentices usually have them pay a fee to learn the craft. But Jiang Youcheng isn’t just declining to charge them; he’s also paying them?”
“Well, when you put it that way, it does seem rather unusual. Is it true?”
“Ah, why speculate? Just go ask at their house. You’re all suspicious of those who charge for teaching a craft, and now you’re questioning why someone would pay to learn. It’s tough to please. The Jiang family is willing to pay wages because they are all benevolent people.”
“Exactly! People should know how to be grateful. Stop speculating and just go ask the Jiang family. Then you’ll know the truth.”
“Hey, hey, don’t go now. Wait until after dinner. If you all go now, it’ll seem like… You know…”
In rural areas, there is a custom that if you’re not a guest, you don’t arrive at mealtimes, as it might seem like you’re expecting to be fed. This is a rule everyone must adhere to.
So, although everyone was eager, they returned home to have their midday meals.
However, even before the members of Jiang Mixia’s family had finished their own lunch, people began to arrive, inquiring about the work and apprenticeship opportunities.
What kind of work was available, how much were they paying, and what kind of candidates were they looking for?
As Jiang Yucheng, Song Jingyun, and Liu Shi were busy with the satchels to be delivered to the academy in half a month, the task of handling these inquiries fell to Jiang Mixia.
Without hesitation, Jiang Mixia set up a table outside their home and patiently answered the questions posed by each person who came to inquire.
For those interested in labor work, such as cutting and splitting bamboo, they sought individuals with good physical strength, preferably male, not younger than sixteen. The monthly wage offered was four hundred wen, with an 80% wage during the one-month trial period. Those deemed unsuitable within three days of the trial period would be paid on a daily basis.
As for those interested in becoming an apprentice in basket weaving, the monthly wage during the apprenticeship period was one hundred wen, with an 80% wage during the one-month trial period. After completing the apprenticeship, they were expected to continue working there for a minimum of ten years. Breaching this agreement would result in a penalty. The workshop would ensure that the wage during the employment period would not be less than the market rate. However, leaving due to health reasons or the closure of the workshop wasn’t considered a breach of contract. After the ten-year period, individuals could renegotiate or pursue other work but were not allowed to engage in similar activities or teach others for ten years after leaving the workshop, failing which they would be required to compensate the workshop.
Once officially engaged in basket weaving, each person’s base monthly wage was three hundred wen, with additional earnings based on the quantity of completed baskets. The more work done, the more earned, ensuring that the basic monthly wage would generally not be less than five hundred wen.
Those who were unable to master the craft within five months could opt for the labor work of cutting and splitting bamboo. Otherwise, they could seek alternative employment, but they were not permitted to pursue similar activities for the next five years, failing which they would be liable for compensation.
Jiang Mixia explained the terms meticulously, and the people in Jiang’s village found it reasonable and clear. The most crucial aspect was that the wages were fair, and after mastering the craft, they could continue to work at the workshop, providing a fundamental form of security.
As a result, many eligible individuals in Jiang’s village applied for the positions.
After discussing it with her family, Jiang Mixia concluded that they didn’t need as many workers initially, only one for the labor work and two apprentices.
However, the number of applicants far exceeded their needs.
With a surplus of applicants, they needed to select the most suitable candidates.
When it came to labor work, there weren’t many specific requirements beyond physical strength and a commitment to long-term work. From the dozen or so applicants, Jiang Mixia and Jiang Youcheng ultimately selected Jiang Banggu as the laborer.
Let me explain the concept of wages in historical context. When you see a monthly wage of four hundred wen, which translates to just over ten wen per day, it might seem meager by today’s standards. However, approximately five taels of silver per year was sufficient for the basic needs of a small ancient family. In ancient times, human life was considered one of the least valuable commodities. The price for buying or selling a maid servant, for instance, was typically around 10 to 20 taels of silver (sometimes even less, around 5 to 6 taels). Considering this, the value of labor can be inferred. Therefore, a monthly wage of four hundred wen, amounting to approximately five taels of silver per year, was actually quite a respectable wage.
It’s important to recognize that labor costs in ancient times were significantly lower overall and cannot be directly compared to modern labor prices. Similarly, it’s not feasible to measure them using contemporary prices. It’s essential to understand this historical context.