"I tell you, today is the first day of business after the flood. The guests are waiting outside the door. Everything must be prepared and nothing is left behind. If anything is missing, I will not scold you, hit you, or deduct any deductions.
Your silver this month.”
Jiang Shuqiong stood by the railing on the second floor, slammed the table in front of her, and the fat all over her body shook, "I want you to leave today!"
She glanced around with her red eyes. There were nearly fifty male and female servants standing in the lobby. They all looked tired and did not dare to look at Jiang Shuqiong's fierce eyes.
The lobby was clean, and there was no trace of the sediment accumulated after the flood. In order to open the door before other gambling stalls, Jiang Shuqiong forced everyone to clean it all night last night. It took them all night to clean it up. It was almost impossible to see the damage.
It looks like there are only traces of water level left on the wall panels here and there.
"Everyone worked hard last night, but we can't relax today. Of the seven major gambling stalls in Anqing, only our Baishuntang is open today. We will attract those gamblers to our Baishuntang and let them know the benefits of our Baishuntang. From now on
Instead of going to other places, everyone comes to our place, so that everyone can have a good life."
A female team leader shouted, "Let's listen to Shopkeeper Jiang. Did everyone hear it? Cheer up."
The people below also had red eyes, and there were only a few sporadic responses from dozens of people, looking lifeless.
Jiang Shuqiong raised her fat hand and waited for everyone to focus on her hand before she said loudly, "Everyone was very diligent last night. I am here to promise you that everyone who came to work last night will be paid according to the monthly salary.
If you have extra money, please give me three extra days! I will pay it out after work ends tonight. If you can get the profit from last month at the end of the month, I will ask my boss to give you a special salary!"
The downstairs suddenly became energetic, and Jiang Shuqiong seemed to see a semicircular wave of air blowing out from the crowd.
"We all listen to Shopkeeper Jiang."
"Sister Jiang is doing everything for everyone's benefit."
"Then let's get ready quickly, there are guests waiting for us."
Jiang Shuqiong clapped her hands, "Each family takes care of their own place, the dice, Tianjiu, Pai Gow, roulette and various gambling equipment in the hall, the white pigeon tickets outside the door, the horse general tiles and playing cards on the second floor, the rice soup and tea downstairs,
The drinks and snacks served, the tobacco and fruits sold separately, the food in the back building, the lady in the side building, one last check, we are ready to open the door!"
Everyone downstairs was full of energy and rushed to their workstations. There was no sign of working overtime all night.
Jiang Shuqiong walked downstairs with a serious look on her face. When she reached the last step, she squatted down and looked carefully at the edge of the steps. She spat there twice, then took out her handkerchief and wiped it hard twice. Suddenly there was a sharp sound.
Call.
"Mao girl!"
The hairy girl who followed Tongcheng threw herself beside the steps in a pissed off state, "Sister Jiang, please give me your order."
Jiang Shuqiong grabbed her hair, and Mao Yatou let out an ouch, her head tilted and was pulled down to the steps.
"Show me, what is the nature of such a big ball of mud here? Who swept it away?"
Mao Yatou's face was squeezed into a ball, but she was used to being grabbed by Jiang Shuqiong. She quickly stretched out her hand to hold the roots of her hair to relieve some pain, "The ball on the edge of the steps is so sticky that the mop can't remove it. I thought
When those guests come in, they will be dirty after a while."
"You'll be hungry soon after eating, so why don't you stop eating in the future? It's your duty to stomp on the guests' dirt, and it's your duty to clean it up. Wipe it up quickly, or I'll ask you to lick it clean."
Jiang Shuqiong pushed her head and threw the handkerchief on Mao Yatou's hand. Mao Yatou quickly spit out two mouthfuls of saliva and began to wipe it carefully.
After hearing this, other people checked their positions one after another, and the place was busy.
"Hurry up, are the white pigeon tickets ready? What are you doing here just waiting? When you're ready, go out and give them to the guests. They won't leave after they get the tickets. What's going on with the roulette? What about pitching? I only prepared these few. There are so many new customers today. If it pops up, you have to look for it for a long time to pick it back up. I opened it a few times less. How much money does the boss make less? Do you think you can make more money? Use your brain! You, let me tell you, your clothes are beautiful, go upstairs to help in the private room today, if you do a good job, I will do it on the second floor next month..."
Jiang Shuqiong said as she walked along that everyone was earning money wherever she went, and finally walked to the pawn counter in the corner.
Zhou Yueru also took a rag and was wiping the countertop vigorously. When she saw Jiang Shuqiong coming over, she quickly stopped to say hello.
Jiang Shuqiong took Zhou Yueru's arms without waiting for her to bow, and her serious fat face was instantly filled with a charming smile.
"I said, sister, why are you doing such menial work? You should be sitting in the accounting office. How can you do the work of a servant? People outside said that I am a shopkeeper who is ignorant. I can just find someone to clean it. From now on, You don’t dare let your sister be gossiped about.”
"I, this." Zhou Yueru felt a little uneasy enjoying the enthusiasm of the shopkeeper, "What's the point? Everyone is working, and I'm afraid that others will talk behind my back and say some unpleasant things."
"Bah, let me see who dares to say that." Jiang Shuqiong whispered mysteriously, "Today we have guests to entertain, and the kitchen has cooked delicious food. I asked them to prepare an extra portion. When I rested in the evening, I asked Mao The girl will send you to your room, and you can just eat it by yourself quietly."
Before Zhou Yueru could refuse, Jiang Shuqiong sighed again, "It has been a flood these past two days. No guests have come, and the kitchen has not prepared any extra ingredients. But I have mistreated my sister and she is losing weight from hunger. My sister is heartbroken."
Zhou Yueru hurriedly said, "Sister Jiang has allowed me to stay in the room upstairs during the past few days. I have already done a lot of help to the slave family. I can no longer eat those meals from Gaozao."
"You listen to my sister. It's not from Pang Dong's house. My sister used to be the dishwasher. Those who win money and go to the side building to find my sister are not going to eat. Move some of their meals first. They don’t know anything, so don’t refuse sister’s kindness, she is too thin-skinned.”
Jiang Shuqiong looked like she was about to get angry, Zhou Yueru nodded quickly, and then a smile appeared on her fat face.
Jiang Shuqiong laughed to herself for a moment. When she saw some mud on Zhou Yueru's sleeve, she immediately moved her right hand to touch the handkerchief from the left sleeve. As soon as she touched it, she remembered that she had wiped the mud. She came out with her empty hand and wiped it with Zhou Yueru.
While wiping, she said, "Sister Yueru, I want to ask you a favor. You saw it last night. The whole class was working overtime. My sister also said what she said... If Pang Dong's family asks about it, why don't they? Sister Wangyueru, can you help me by saying a few words, otherwise we won’t get the overtime pay last night, and my sister won’t be able to be the shopkeeper.”
Zhou Yueru said affirmatively, "If Pang Dong's family asks, Nu's family will definitely testify for sister. Originally, everyone did it overnight. However, Nu's family hasn't seen Dong's family for a long time. I wonder if I can help sister."
"I'm just saying that Sister Yueru is still considerate. Don't worry. If my boss doesn't come, it's just because he's busy. He will come to see you whenever he has time." Jiang Shuqiong turned around and roared, "Mao girl!"
Mao Yatou rushed over with a pissed-off look, holding a dirty handkerchief in her hand.
Jiang Shuqiong pointed at the counter and said, "Find a sweeper to clean the counter. Then I will see the accounting clerk doing rough work. I will pluck off one of your ears. Also, prepare snacks and fruits on the second floor for the accounting clerk."
One portion, people use their brains, so why not eat more?"
Mao Yatou didn't dare to say anything more and immediately ran away to find someone. After hearing this, no one else in the hall dared to say anything.
"Sister Yueru, please rest first. I'm going to open the door." Jiang Shuqiong said softly and strode to the door. All her subordinates stood on both sides.
“Open the door to welcome guests!”
The door slowly opened, and eager gamblers poured in.
Jiang Shuqiong bowed with everyone, "Welcome!"
…
When Pang Yu walked into the hall, the floor of Baishun Hall was already a mess. Although Jiang Shuqiong cleaned it very well, the mud on the street outside was still there. The gamblers who came in and out brought the mud in with the soles of their shoes.
The rain had just subsided and other gambling stalls had not yet opened. Gamblers from far and near came in droves, making it even more lively than before the flood.
He was followed by Xu Lengzi and two other guards, all dressed in casual clothes. The guy who ushered in the guests was new, so he thought he was a servant. He guessed that Pang Yu also came from a wealthy family, and he immediately became very enthusiastic.
After entering the lobby, Pang Yu dismissed the waiter and walked around casually in the lobby. There were so many people and noises around him that no one noticed that his boss had come to visit him unannounced.
The most lively booths were the simplest dice booths, where people bet on big or small. Anyone could know how to gamble by looking at it twice. They could buy the banker or the player. With each announcement, the crowd was in an uproar, and they were hysterical no matter whether they won or lost.
Pang Yu squeezed in twice but failed to squeeze in. The guard wanted to help, but Pang Yu stopped him. Seeing that it was the same everywhere else, he turned around and went to the pawn counter. Surprisingly, there were more than ten people surrounding him.
Looking through the gap between the people, Jiang Shuqiong's plump face was smiling, facing a man who looked like a rich man in front of her.
"Don't be angry, Mr. Wang. If you lose all your money, just have a dinner here. It's all given by our hall. I'll keep it, Mr. Wang, and feel comfortable."
"You look down on people. Who the hell cares about your dinner? You don't owe it on credit, right? I want to borrow the money now and go back and kill them all." Prince Wang's face turned red, and he grabbed his square hat angrily and walked away from it.
He took out a house deed and threw it hard on Jiang Shuqiong's face.
Prince Wang pointed at Jiang Shuqiong and cursed, "I have a lot of money. Pawn it for me immediately."
"Deed, deed, get it right away." Jiang Shuqiong took the house deed off her face, still with a charming smile on her face, not angry at all.
After looking at it carefully for a long time, Jiang Shuqiong's smile faded a little, she looked up at Prince Wang and said, "This house outside the city is temporarily unruly. There are notices posted on the door."
"Who the hell made the rules? Call him out. I'll ask him personally, Master. A house outside the city is no longer a house. If you enter an outhouse, you don't have to pay the market price. How can you open the door to do business?
Why don't you give me a code?"
Jiang Shuqiong looked embarrassed and said, "Originally, my boss doesn't allow me to pawn, but Wang Gongzi is a frequent visitor and we are all friends. I don't want to have this face, so I go to my boss to ask for an exception, so I can pawn twenty-five taels."
"
Several gamblers who were watching were talking loudly to each other, and they were all a little surprised by the price.
"That's unreasonable!" Mr. Wang's hair was messy, and he spat Jiang Shuqiong's face with saliva, "You fat bitch, you bought a big house for two years for one hundred and thirty taels, how dare you only pay for twenty-five taels."
Jiang Shuqiong twisted her fat body and turned her face away, "Young master Wang, I don't know now. After the bandits passed, everyone knew that the houses outside the city were not safe and secure. When the bandits came, they would burn them down. Now.
Nowadays, all those who live outside the city have sold their houses and moved to the city. Houses within the city walls have skyrocketed in price. Those who buy houses outside the city are all small families. The house you are a second-timer in cannot afford to buy. Small families cannot afford it, and big families cannot afford it.
I will only buy the ones in the city, and we will give them to you in pawn. If you don’t redeem them, the owner will definitely lose them, and you can only sell them as a hut. Please forgive me, Mr. Wang."
Mr. Wang glared fiercely at Jiang Shuqiong in front of him. Jiang Shuqiong still greeted him with a smile, but had no intention of giving in.
Seeing that the prince didn't want to leave, she twisted around and said, "Last time I heard that the prince's family still has a property in Shengtangdu. If it is there, it can be used as a pawn inside the city wall."
Prince Wang's face turned red and white, and after a while he stomped towards the door.
The gamblers who were watching the excitement dispersed after a few words, with excited expressions on their faces. There were people pawning in the casino every day, and some gamblers especially liked to watch people pawning.
Jiang Shuqiong looked up and saw Pang Yu, and exclaimed, "The boss is here!"
Pang Yu smiled and waved her hand, signaling her to be quiet. Jiang Shuqiong hurriedly came over and said, "I was about to report to the adults. This is what the slave family thought. After the flood, other families were unprepared. Let's open the door early and snatch away all the gamblers."
Come here, I asked everyone to work hard last night, and we must open the door today."
Pang Yu took two steps towards the accounting room, stopped and praised, "Shopkeeper Jiang's plan is very good."
Jiang Shuqiong saw the direction Pang Yu was walking in and immediately stopped reporting, "The slave family asked the Zhou family's sister to prepare all the account books for last month. I was about to send them to the adults for review. It was a coincidence that the adults happened to come over, so the slave family immediately asked the Zhou family's sister to prepare them.
Please explain it to your lord in detail."
Pang Yu nodded, and Jiang Shuqiong dragged her fat body to the front and took several shots on the door of the accounting room. Zhou Yueru opened the door and window and took a look. She was slightly startled when she saw Pang Yu, and then opened the door.
There are also three accounting rooms inside, all of which Liu Ruogu equipped according to Pang Yu's request. Two people have already been transferred to the shipping company. With the opening of the bank, more accounting rooms are needed. At this time, the number of accounting rooms is small and mobile.
After the rogue bandits passed by, the economic ecology around Anqing was destroyed, so some people fled to Anqing, which relieved Pang Yu's anxiety.
Before joining the accounting office, Pang Yu had to meet him in person. When the three people saw Pang Yu coming, they quickly got up to say hello. Jiang Shuqiong did not follow him into the room. The accounting room was also divided into inner and outer rooms. The two people who counted silver were originally in the inner room.
, consciously stood up and went to the front desk.
Zhou Yueru followed silently to the inner room and gave the account book to Pang Yu.
Pang Yu flipped through a few pages casually, then quickly closed the account book and looked at Zhou Yueru after a moment of silence.
"I killed Jiao Guozhao."
Zhou Yueru shook slightly, buried his head and said, "I heard about it. It spread throughout the hall yesterday."
"Everyone has some opinions."
Zhou Yueru raised her head and glanced at Pang Yu, "You are a gambling stall owner, but you killed someone because your subordinates participated in gambling. Who would dare to come to Baishun Hall to die in the future?"
Pang Yu couldn't help but laugh and said, "It makes so much sense. Who said that? I will promote him to the position of leader."
Zhou Yueru smiled and did not answer. Pang Yu stopped smiling and said, "Although I run a gambling stall, I have never participated in gambling since I came to Anqing."
Zhou Yueru sighed deeply and said, "Of course you didn't participate in gambling. In front of the counter of this accounting room, people pawn and sell their property every day, and there are many people who end up with their families ruined. It's also for their own good that you don't allow soldiers and generals to participate in gambling."
"The gambling stall is like this, and it is difficult for you to work here. I came here today to tell you that I am going to transfer you to the bank to work. It is cleaner than the gambling stall."
"Yinzhuang?" Zhou Yueru said in surprise, "You just transferred two people, who are you going to ask to do the accounting in this gambling stall?"
"The accounting books of the gambling stalls will be sent to the bank every month from now on. You still have to review them." Pang Yu rubbed his forehead and said casually, "The monthly silver at the bank is higher. You can get three to two or five yuan per month. Listen.
Say you rented two houses, so the expenses are easy."
"There is a place rented to Lao Gao. He has been a domestic helper for my family for half his life. He has no wife and children. He is also old. After his father dies, he has nowhere to go. What will he do if we don't support him?"
Pang Yu nodded, "It's time to keep him, I've been helping him for half his life, he's like a family member."
Zhou Yueru blinked her eyes a few times, looked at Pang Yu seriously and said, "I haven't thanked you yet for letting me settle in Anqing. I can still get some money. It's much more stable than my life in Tongcheng."
"Anqing has not suffered from banditry, so it will not be so wary of Westerners. You can just work here with peace of mind."
At this time, Jiang Shuqiong's loud voice sounded again at the counter. Zhou Yueru remembered what Jiang Shuqiong said and quickly told Pang Yu.
Pang Yu smiled and said, "She is the shopkeeper, so she can naturally make the decision on this matter. Why do I ask you to tell me?"
Zhou Yueru blushed, and just as she didn't know how to answer, there was another knock on the accounting door. Zhou Yueru quickly opened the door and window, and saw Guo Fengyou waiting outside.
Quickly opening the door to let him in, Guo Fengyou entered the inner room and whispered to Pang Yu, "Sir, the spies sent to Shouzhou have returned news that rogue bandits have entered Henan from Tongguan."
"Who are the leaders and how many are there?"
"The names I heard include Chuang Wang, Ma Shouying, Shangtian Lao, Cao Cao, Man Tianxing, and Sweeping King. It is said that there have been many bandits passing by outside Tongguan for several days."
Pang Yu pondered for a moment, "The majority of the people have arrived, and Henan may not be able to feed them, so we summoned the officers to discuss the matter."
Guo Fengyou immediately turned around and left.
Pang Yu stood up and walked out, stopped at the door and said to Zhou Yueru, "Tell Jiang Shuqiong that I agreed, and let her tell me next time."