Chapter 39 Xiao Yan makes money

The foreman's surname is Liu, and he has a face full of flesh.

This is normal. If you are not fierce enough, you will not be able to control these laborers.

When he saw Xiao Yan, there was obvious surprise in his eyes.

There is no other reason. Xiao Yan is tall, with a straight back, sharp eyes and outstanding temperament, which makes him stand out from the crowd.

Looking at Lu Qiniang who was pulling his sleeve, surprise turned into laughter.

Such a big lump——

How could these two people be together and do such rough work together?

"What are you doing?" Foreman Liu asked ferociously.

Most of these people are local tyrants.

Lu Qiniang couldn't help but pull Xiao Yan's sleeve.

Xiao Yan said calmly, "Foreman, you took on this job and are taking a 20% commission, right?"

"Yes, what? Do you want to steal my job?" Foreman Liu said, holding up the big bowl of tea at hand.

"No, no," Lu Qiniang quickly said with a smile, "My husband didn't mean that."

"Your husband?" Foreman Liu sprayed out the tea in his mouth.

"Yes, my husband."

"You bought it with your own money." Foreman Liu didn't believe it.

"You know all this!" Lu Qiniang gave a thumbs up.

Foreman Liu: “…”

I was just talking nonsense.

If you guess right, it's pure coincidence.

He couldn't help but look at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "My wife has always been very humorous. Foreman Liu, I have found a way for you to make more money. I want to get rich with you."

"Tell me about it." Engineer Liu looked Xiao Yan up and down, and couldn't help but ask, "Did you really sell it to her?"

Xiao Yan nodded.

"What a pity." Foreman Liu said, "She got a great bargain. Tell me—"

Lu Qiniang curled her lips.

She didn't take advantage of Xiao Yan.

Ah Huang is watching!

Xiao Yan asked, "If I help transport the ice from the river, and charge forty coins per block of ice, do you think this is a good deal?"

"What a bargain! You'll lose everything!" Foreman Liu said gruffly. "Even a hundred cents is a loss. Isn't the most tiring part of this job transporting ice?"

"Forty coins are enough," Xiao Yan said. "I'll give you an idea. You can earn the money. I only want five taels of silver—don't be so quick to refuse. Just listen to me first."

"You say." Foreman Liu said, with a probing look in his eyes.

Xiao Yan said, "You have people who can dig a shallow ice track on the river surface, extending it all the way to the dam. Add oil to the ice track, and it will be easy to push the ice. Once it reaches the bottom of the dam, use a winch to crank the ice up and put it directly on the carriage."

"What's a winch?"

"It's like a water wheel," Xiao Yan said calmly. "It only needs a little improvement. Any craftsman can make it."

Foreman Liu's eyes lit up instantly.

But soon, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Xiao Yan again: "Your idea is good, but why don't you make money yourself instead of teaching me?"

"Because this is your territory."

Xiao Yan can do that, but soon someone will follow suit and the price will be pushed down again and again.

When the wealthy families find out, they will also lower the price of ice.

So this matter is difficult to sustain in the long run.

Foreman Liu probably just made some quick money and kept some for himself.

Foreman Liu nodded. "You're quite sensible. But how did you know I would pay you the money instead of refusing to pay?"

"Because I see those old ice workers, they are very familiar with you. Those who can survive for many years rely on their character."

Lu Qin's mother thought to herself, Xiao Yan, you are really good, you even know how to flatter people!

Foreman Liu was indeed delighted by the flattery. "Of course, everyone knows me, Liu Xing. A spit on me is a nail. Fine, you know what's good for you, and I'm also a righteous man. Five taels of silver, I'll give it to you right away!"

After saying that, he ordered the people around him, "Go to my house and ask your sister-in-law to bring five taels of silver. If she asks, just say that I need it urgently and you must give it to me. If you don't, I will go back and deal with her tonight!"

He looks fierce but is actually weak, which reveals his status in the family - he doesn't care about money.

While waiting for the silver to arrive, Foreman Liu asked Xiao Yan again, "What's your name, brother?"

"My last name is Xiao Yan."

"Xiao Yan, Xiao...Xiao Yan?! You——"

This name is well-known.

If it were someone else, Foreman Liu would just think it was a duplicate name.

But seeing Xiao Yan's grace and demeanor, he couldn't help but associate him with the legendary man.

"Are you the former General Xiao Yan?" Foreman Liu asked in a low voice.

Xiao Yan nodded.

Foreman Liu, who had one foot on a chair, looked very proud, but he quickly stood up and said with awe: "So it's you... I heard before that you were bought by a woman, but it turns out it was—"

"Thank you for your concern. I'm fine now." Xiao Yan said, "Thank you, Foreman Liu, for taking my advice today and solving my urgent problem."

Foreman Liu gritted his teeth and said, "Wait a minute, I'll go back and ask my wife for some more money."

Five taels is the maximum amount of money you can ask for when delivering a message.

For more, he has to do it himself.

"No need." Xiao Yan stopped him. "A gentleman loves money, but he gets it in a proper way. Foreman Liu and I have already agreed on five taels of silver. We're talking business, so there's no need to add more."

Lu Qiniang found that she couldn't get a word in at all.

Seeing Xiao Yan's calm response, she suddenly felt that it was not bad to have a man at home.

Xiao Yan is so smart.

It is true that a wolf travels a thousand miles to eat meat, and a dog travels a thousand miles to eat shit.

Even if he is down and out now, as long as he has his brain, he can do anything better than others.

Lu Qiniang thought to herself that when she got home tonight, she would have a good talk with the maids and ask them to learn well while Xiao Yan was still around.

Whatever you learn counts, it’s yours.

Seeing that Foreman Liu and Xiao Yan were chatting happily, Lu Qiniang said, "How about you guys chat first, and I'll go chop the ice? I don't need to transport it, just chopping ice is actually not tiring, I——"

Xiao Yan didn't say anything.

Xiao Yan just stared at her with a pair of bright and sharp eyes.

In his eyes, she was reflected.

Lu Qiniang felt inexplicably guilty and could not continue. She lowered her head and muttered, "I'm not tired."

"What's going on?" Foreman Liu asked curiously when he saw the two interacting.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "My wife is disobedient."

"If a woman doesn't obey, she must be beaten—beating is useless. You have to reason with her. Only rough men beat their wives!"

When Foreman Liu saw the size difference between Xiao Yan and Lu Qinniang, he said something and then changed his words.

He was very polite to Xiao Yan.

Because which man doesn’t have the dream of becoming a general?

Xiao Yan also responded politely, neither humble nor arrogant.

After the five taels of silver were brought, Foreman Liu handed it to Xiao Yan respectfully with both hands.

Xiao Yan thanked him, took the silver and gave it to Lu Qiniang, then reminded Foreman Liu, "This idea can only make a quick buck. Don't be too greedy, otherwise it will bring disaster."

When the benefits are big enough, they will attract the covetousness of those above you.

He only took five taels because, for the time being, this was the amount of money he could get without being coveted by others.

The same goes for Foreman Liu, except that for him, the money might be fifty taels.

Foreman Liu bowed and thanked him: "I'll remember that. See you later."

He specifically asked where Lu Qi's parents lived, as he wanted to visit them in the future.

Xiao Yan nodded to him and said to Lu Qiniang, "Madam, let's go and try out the harpoon I made, and then break the ice and take it home."

"What are we going to do with it? What do we need it for?"