Su Tian saw the general's wife's expression change in a second; her soft, gentle, and kind expression suddenly took on a sharp edge.
Perhaps it's true that birds of a feather flock together; how could Yuwen Sheng's wife really be a naive and innocent little rabbit?
Su Tian adjusted his drooping sleeves, and the straight lines of his neck and spine slowly curved downwards, forming a submissive and sincere arc.
He said, "Young Master Zhang has told me about Madam. Whether it is Madam's own abilities, her courage in standing up to defend her husband's family's military power, or even her courage in opening up a new business route despite all difficulties as a woman, I deeply admire Madam's courage to think and act, and her ability to do so."
"I came here voluntarily because I want to take advantage of my still relatively young body to fight for myself and see how far I can go. I am also dissatisfied with my current situation, but the Zhang family, which has already become the largest merchant family in the south, has given me no further opportunity to show my ability to climb higher. So I decided to seize this opportunity."
“The young master Zhang has terminated the contract with me. From now on, Su Tian is no longer a member of the Zhang family. Madam, please rest assured. From now on, I will do my best to assist you in handling some accounting matters. Whenever you need Su Tian or think highly of Su Tian, you can entrust him to me.”
Su Tian was smart enough to guess what Zheng Quchi was trying to hide when he asked those questions, so he directly laid out his thoughts and loyalty.
However, upon closer examination, his "loyalty" is less about Zheng Quchi and more about loyalty to his own inner choices.
If other employers heard that their servants were so independent and unruly, they would probably prefer to have a loyal servant who is a little less intelligent than one day have to worry about whether they have let a wolf into their house.
But Zheng Quchi was different.
First of all, she herself is not educated in the traditional ideology of this world. It is normal for her not to have accepted the exploitation and enslavement of classes. She believes that working is a mutual pursuit between enterprises and employees.
Companies need talent, people who can get things done. But talent comes to companies to build a career and make money, not to offer loyalty or love.
If you can provide enough value to my company, then I will naturally reward you in the same way.
After saying these words, Su Tian was actually a little uneasy. In a moment of impulsiveness, he revealed his true arrogant side. Perhaps it is a common problem among arrogant people. They disdain to hide their unacceptable side. They are actually looking for someone who can accept this side of them.
Even the most open-minded young master Zhang did not fully accept his idea. He knew that the other party introduced him to the general's wife because they thought he could help her, but also probably because they thought he was too difficult to manage and unsuitable for either a high or low position. So they simply passed this problem on to the general's wife.
And what about the general's wife?
Would someone as extraordinary as her, a remarkable woman who dared to challenge societal norms, also demand absolute obedience and subservience from her subordinates?
Zheng Quchi thought for a moment and then said, "I trust Young Master Zhang's character, so I also trust Mr. Su, who was recommended by him. Since you think there is a future in our workshop, then you trust me and my team of craftsmen. In that case, let's work together to achieve a win-win situation. I wish us a pleasant relationship in the future."
Seeing that there was not a trace of gloom in the General's wife's eyes, but only a clear and open expression, Su Tian was unsure whether she had understood his meaning. So he hesitated and bowed, saying, "...Su Tian will do his best."
Zheng Quchi smiled and patted Su Tian's shoulder: "Stand up, Su Tian. Show me your talents here. As you can see, we are all craftsmen who only know how to work hard. If my temple is too small, I will not force you, a great Buddha, to stay. But I believe you will choose to stay because I think you will never meet such an enlightened employer as me in the future."
Su Tian stared blankly at the general's wife.
"lady……"
Zheng Quchi looked at him seriously and said, "I have always admired people who have their own ideas and dare to express them. I'm paying you, so just do your best within your capabilities. If you do well, you'll get a promotion and a raise. We're not in a master-servant relationship, so I won't restrict you in everything. You can raise any opinions or suggestions you have, but there's one thing you must remember: I—" She pointed to herself, her eyes changing in an instant: "I cannot accept betrayal."
Su Tian was not used to the way the general's wife spoke to him, because in his mind, the general's wife should be a more powerful and capable person than the Zhang family. Merchants did not have a high status in Ye Kingdom, and they owned very little except for money.
Yet this lady always communicated with him in an equal manner, without being condescending or disrespectful. She was telling him clearly and explicitly.
I appoint people based on their abilities, without regard to personal preferences or relationships. I will not suppress or prejudice those who dare to speak out or offer dissenting opinions. As long as you are right and can get things done, we can communicate and exchange ideas in an equal manner.
The more Su Tian thought about it, the more unsettled he became. His eyes were bright, and although he had a thousand words to say, he opened his mouth but could only utter four words in the end: "Su Tian understands."
Zheng Quchi chatted with him for a while, discussing their respective perspectives and drawing a line that couldn't be crossed beforehand. Then, she hesitantly asked, "By the way, did your young master tell you that we can't afford to pay monthly salaries right now..."
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