Chapter 123 Preparations before the Shop Opens

Shopkeeper Wu asked, "What's the price?"

"Preserved eggs are six coins each. You can ask Baiweilou, they also charge six coins each. As for bean paste, it's two taels of silver per jar."

Shopkeeper Wu immediately made the decision: "Okay, first send 600 to Zuixianju, and five jars of bean paste."

"Can."

Shopkeeper Wu quickly drafted the contract, and the two of them signed it and settled the bill together at the end of the month.

Li Wanyue also wrote down the methods of processing spring bamboo shoots and finding winter bamboo shoots and gave it to Shopkeeper Wu.

When Shopkeeper Wu saw this, he was stunned: "Wanyue, what are you doing..."

"Uncle Wu, the spring bamboo shoots will soon be out of season. I have other ways to make money now. You and Master Qin have helped me a lot. I'm giving this to you, Master."

Shopkeeper Wu was touched: "Don't worry, I will tell the young master and thank you on his behalf. As for the bamboo shoots, we will accept them whenever your family sends them."

Li Wanyue smiled and continued, "Uncle Wu, I bought a shop at the end of the main street, which is the haunted shop before. I plan to open it the day after tomorrow. I want to borrow someone from you to help me later.

Of course, if you have a suitable person, you can introduce him to me. I want to hire another person in my shop."

She didn't want anyone to know that this was her shop for the time being, but she was afraid that Bai Simian couldn't take care of it alone.

What's more, he is still young and may not be able to handle the difficulties.

So find another person so that the two of you can supervise each other.

Shopkeeper Wu was surprised: "You are very brave. I heard that shop is not very auspicious."

"I have checked it and I am sure there will be no problem."

"That's good, what business do you want to start?"

Li Wanyue took out six bars of soap and two bamboo tubes of shampoo.

"That's it. These are for Uncle Wu. The soap is for washing your face, hands and clothes, and the one in the bamboo tube is for washing your hair. Try it and see if it works."

Shopkeeper Wu took it with a smile and said, "You are such a smart girl, uncle will not be polite with you. If you trust me, I will introduce you to someone. My nephew has studied for two years and worked as a clerk in a shop before. He broke his leg while moving goods three months ago and lost his job.

Now that he has recovered from his injury, he is looking for a job. If you want to see him, I will have someone call him over. He lives in town."

Li Wanyue smiled and said, "The person recommended by Uncle Wu must be right. Please ask him to come over."

"good."

After a stick of incense, the person arrived. He was a handsome young man in his twenties.

Shopkeeper Wu introduced: "Wanyue, this is my nephew Wu You. Wu You, this is Miss Li, her shop is hiring."

Wu You cupped his hands and said, "Miss Li."

Li Wanyue nodded and chatted for a cup of tea. She felt that this man was very smart and good at observing people's expressions. He was a good person.

She said, "Wu You, let me first tell you about the salary for working in my shop. It's a fixed salary of 800 wen per month, plus a bonus. The amount of the bonus depends on your performance. You work six days a week and have one day off."

Wu You thought he had heard wrongly, and asked uncertainly: "After working six days, can we have one day off?"

"right."

Wu You looked at Shopkeeper Wu. It was also the first time that Shopkeeper Wu heard of such a rule.

He said, "What are you looking at me for? Just do whatever Wanyue says."

"Yes, thank you, boss." Wu You looked happy.

Li Wanyue knew that in this dynasty, officials only had two days off every month.

The lower class people don’t have to plant crops in the winter and can rest.

Others don’t have a day off.

She couldn't change anything, but she could give the people she employed in her own shop some time to rest and spend time with their families.

The two signed the contract, and then Li Wanyue and her brother took Wu You to their shop.

Arriving at the shop, Bai Simian opened the door and greeted Li Wanyue excitedly when he saw her: "Boss."

Li Wanyue smiled and said, "Call me Sister Li from now on."

"Yes, Sister Li."

"How are your parents doing?"

Bai Simian said gratefully, "Dad is much better now. The doctor said he will be fine after another month of rest. Mom is in better spirits now too. Thanks to my sister, you are our family's benefactor."

Li Wanyue asked: "Is the money enough?"

"There are still some." Bai Simian's voice was a little weak.

Li Wanyue could sense his guilty conscience.

She took out a few pieces of paper and looked at Bai Simian: "This is our employment contract, and this is the receipt for your advance payment. I guess you don't have much money left, so I allow you to advance another two taels."

"No need, Sister Li, I have made a plan and the money is enough. If it is not enough, I will ask you again." Bai Simian quickly refused.

Five taels of silver was a lot of money. He had to pay for his father's medical treatment, his mother and sister's health, and buy daily necessities. After all that, he really didn't have much left.

But if he received the advance, it would mean that he would not be paid for seven months.

His parents' health was gradually improving, and he planned to copy books after the shop closed. It should be fine if he could save some money.

Seeing his firm attitude, Li Wanyue said nothing more.

Write five taels of silver in the advance payment section of the receipt.

Bai Simian signed his name and put his fingerprints on it.

After the contract was signed, Li Wanyue called Wu You over and introduced the two to each other.

"From now on, you will manage the shop together. If there is anything, please discuss it with each other."

"Yes, Boss."

Li Wanyue first looked at the containers and plaques that were delivered. They were well made and wiped very clean.

The container was already placed where she requested.

After saying that, Li Wanyue gave each of them a piece of paper with what they needed to say written on it.

The two of them looked at it seriously, and after sticking up an incense stick, they started to work.

Li Wanyue asked Bai Simian to hang two strings of firecrackers at the door of the shop, and then paste several yellow talismans on the door and outer wall of the shop.

There was a table at the door, on which was burning sandalwood, incense, candles, and fruits.

There was an iron basin with paper money on it on the table.

Li Wanyue signaled Bai Simian to light the firecrackers.

The crackling sound of firecrackers was deafening in an instant, attracting many people to watch.

Seeing someone coming, Bai Simian immediately squatted in front of the iron basin and burned paper money.

Li Sandong walked in front of the table in a pretentious manner, shaking a bell with his left hand and putting two fingers of his right hand together. He muttered softly as he walked, looking like he was performing a ritual.

This caused the onlookers to talk about it.

"Hey, isn't this the haunted shop?"

"Yes, I heard that it was sold several times, but was returned because it was haunted."

"Now someone else has bought it and is preparing to open for business."

"The owner this time is knowledgeable and has specially performed a ritual to exorcise the evil spirits. Let's see if it works."

Li Sandong muttered for a while, then put down the hand bell, picked up the wooden sword and started swinging it.

He chanted to himself, "Yuqing has given orders. Tell the Three Origins. All the ten directions should come and report the orders. Tianpeng will help you. Li Tian, the great general, use our magic weapons to slay the demons and drive out the monsters. All the demons and ghosts should be punished quickly. As ordered."

After reciting the sutra, he used a wooden sword to poke up the talisman paper on the table and lit it with incense and candles.

The talisman paper and paper money were burned. Li Sandong put away the peach wood sword and walked to Bai Simian and Wu You and said, "The ritual has been done, the evil spirits have been eliminated, and the wronged souls have left. You can open the business with peace of mind."

"Thank you, Taoist Priest."

Li Sandong nodded, turned and left.

The onlookers immediately stepped forward to ask questions.