Chapter 21 Zhao Dunzi's Request
After seeing them off, Xie Shuangbai was thinking that he couldn't just sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor, he had to do something.
There was a call at the door.
"Xie Xiaoxiucai, it's me, Zhao Dunzi, are you home?"
Xie Chunmiao, who was cleaning the yard, heard it and ran to open the door.
"Brother Zhao, why are you here?"
"Is your brother here?"
Xie Chunmiao nodded: "In the main hall."
"Okay, I have something to ask your brother."
"Come in quickly."
Zhao Dunzi looked at the tidied yard and thought it was really nice.
He walked straight to the main room and saw Xie Shuangbai sitting there thinking about something.
Zhao Dunzi smiled and said, "Thank you, young scholar, for coming here without telling me. I hope I didn't disturb you."
Xie Shuangbai saw him, smiled, stood up, and poured a glass of water: "Brother Zhao, please sit down."
"I haven't even thanked you for helping me build such a satisfying house yet, why are you bothering me? I even said I'd come to thank you another day!"
"Well, that's what we do. Repairing your house is really a great experience for me."
He took a sip of water and said, "I wanted to ask you last time, why is your water so sweet?"
Zhao Dunzi was curious because the water in his home didn't have that taste.
"If it's sweet, drink more. We don't have much of anything at home, just plenty of water. I guarantee you'll be full after drinking it."
Xie Shuangbai joked.
"Hey, that would be great."
"Brother Zhao, you can just call me Xiao Xie. Xiao Xiucai, Xiao Xiucai sounds a bit awkward."
Zhao Dunzi hesitated: "This... isn't good."
Xie Shuangbai smiled and said, "What's the big deal? We are friends."
Zhao Dunzi then smiled and said:
"Haha, yes, yes, Xiao Xie, Xie brother, how about I call you little brother from now on."
"Brother Zhao, please come whenever it's convenient for you." Xie Shuangbai said.
Zhao Dunzi now liked Xie Shuangbai even more. Scholars were somewhat aloof and looked down on peasants like them. He had a very good impression of him when he was repairing the house a few days ago, and today he could feel even more that he did not look down on them from the bottom of his heart.
Xie Shuangbai asked, "Brother Zhao, what do you want to talk to me about today?"
Zhao Dunzi was also straightforward: "Then I'll just say it straight."
"I want to work with you. Last time I renovated your house, many of your ideas were new and I had never seen them before.
To be honest with you, I am not the only one building houses in Rongcheng. Although I have gathered dozens of people with my skills, it is not easy. My subordinates also need to eat. If I want to stay here for a long time, I need new things.
Your kang bed is a great thing. Although the winter here is not as cold as in Fenzhou, people still freeze to death every year. With this kang, people in the surrounding villages will no longer freeze to death. I can also always have work to do, and my people can only eat well if they follow me."
Xie Shuangbai liked his directness. He wanted to make money and feed his employees, and what he said was very realistic.
"From what Brother Zhao said, there are no kang beds in the North?"
Xie Shuangbai took a sip of water and asked in confusion.
"Of course not. This is my first time seeing you here too. They say people who read books are smart."
Zhao Dunzi smiled and flattered him a little.
Xie Shuangbai said, "Okay, Brother Zhao, take the blueprint and use it."
Zhao Dunzi didn't expect that he would agree so easily. He had thought of a lot of words of persuasion, but now they were all useless.
"You agreed? Without asking for conditions?"
Xie Shuangbai thought for a moment and said, "The condition is that the labor cost for making a kang bed for an ordinary family cannot exceed 30 wen."
Zhao Dunzi was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood his intention. His voice trembled unconsciously as he stood up and bowed, "On behalf of the people of the Northern Territory, I thank you for your kindness, little brother."
Xie Shuangbai quickly grabbed him and said, "Brother Zhao, what are you doing? I'm not as... nice as you think. As for the wealthy, you can take them as you please, as long as you can bargain for the right price!"
Xie Shuangbai looked at him and smiled.
Zhao Dunzi understood and laughed, "Little brother, you are amazing!"
Xie Shuangbai joked, "Maybe in the future your business will expand to the entire northern region, leaving you with more work than you can handle!"
Xie Shuangbai guessed that the kang bed would be popular, but he didn't expect it to be so popular that the inconspicuous Zhao Dunzi would become the number one kang bed craftsman in Dayin, and later the number one real estate developer in Dayin.
Zhao Dunzi shook his head: "I dare not even think about the whole northern region. I will be satisfied if I can complete Rongcheng first."
Xie Shuangbai is now in Xiaoshi Village, Luoshui Town, Rongcheng County, and Rongcheng is the county seat.
"I also made a rough blueprint of the kang bed. You and the craftsmen worked it out together that day. I'll give it to you."
When Xie Shuangbai took out the blueprint, he was not afraid of him learning it. He also wanted to repay Zhao Dunzi for helping him when he had nothing.
I didn't expect Zhao Dunzi to take it without asking, which shows that he is a person worth making friends with.
It may also be related to the general environment of this era. People have a stronger sense of morality, but not everyone will remain unshakable in the face of interests. In the end, it all depends on character.
Zhao Dunzi disagreed: "How can that be! You don't have a job right now? The blueprints are yours, I'll do the work, and we'll split it fifty-fifty."
Xie Shuangbai smiled: "Brother Zhao, are you sure you won't lose money doing business like this?"
Zhao Dunzi said with an expression that said, "How can you be the same? If you don't want money, I can't use your skills."
Xie Shuangbai knew his character and thought:
"Okay, then it's 20/80, I'll take 20 and you'll take 80."
Zhao Dunzi: "No, I'll take 4 and you'll take 6."
Xie Shuangbai waved his hand: "Alright, I'll accept 37 at most. I feel uneasy taking more."
Zhao Dunzi continued, "Without your blueprints, there would be no kang, just like there would be no eggs without a hen."
Xie Shuangbai didn't know how to refute for a moment, and insisted: "Anyway, I want three, I don't want more."
Seeing his stubbornness, Zhao Dunzi thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll pay for the renovations. I've learned a lot from doing this for you, so consider it a thank you. If you refuse, you're not treating me as a friend anymore!"
Xie Shuangbai couldn't refuse and could only nod.
After the two of them reached an agreement, Xie Shuangbai made some more suggestions.
For example, if a wealthy family has a toilet, they can install a flush toilet. The cost is high but the effect is better.
There is also a shower bathroom, which is a great investment if it is well done.
Kang beds can be made into versions for the rich and versions for the common people. If you want to charge a high price, you have to make people see its value. The rich are not stupid.
He also talked about some modern decoration concepts.
In my previous life, I always dreamed of owning a house and did a lot of research.
After Xie Shuangbai finished speaking, Zhao Dunzi's face turned red with excitement. He kept saying that he was taking advantage and insisted on a 50-50 split, which made Xie Shuangbai want to laugh.
In fact, Xie Shuangbai wanted to say that there was a kind of stove that was also suitable, but he didn't say it in the end.
This stove requires a large amount of iron. In this era, iron control is very strict, so the kang is still the most convenient way to do it.
"The kang bed can also be made into some integrated cabinets to store small items. I will discuss it with Carpenter Zhang and make a set myself as a sample. You can take a look at it when the time comes."
Zhao Dunzi directly took out three taels of silver and asked: "Is this money enough to build a cabinet?"
Xie Shuangbai was puzzled: "Why?"
"Aren't you making cabinets? Let's work together. You make the samples and I'll have to pay for it."
Xie Shuangbai smiled: "You keep the money. I will use the cabinet for my own needs."
"You take it. You're short on money right now, and I want you to figure it out quickly. Time waits for no one."
Xie Shuangbai understood, "Brother Zhao, there's really no need. I still have money."
Seeing him refuse, Zhao Dunzi hesitated for a moment and put the money back.
Xie Shuangbai saw that Zhao Dunzi had no concept of money, so he bought tiles for him and repaired his house before, and now he wanted to give him money again today.
He said, "Brother Zhao, I suggest you find another accountant, otherwise the money will be messy when the business grows."
Zhao Dunzi also knew that he had no idea about money, so he listened to the advice and nodded in agreement.
He glanced at Xie Shuangbai, his eyes lighting up: "Why don't you do it? Aren't you okay now?"
"I have other plans."
He raised an eyebrow at him and asked, "We're working together and you let me keep the accounts. Aren't you afraid that I might cheat?"
Zhao Dunzi shook his head: "How could you?"
"We must be on guard against others. The accountant and cashier should keep separate records. Brother Zhao, every time you spend money, including yours, must be clearly recorded."
Zhao Dunzi scratched his head, knowing that this was a reminder: "You are still thoughtful."
He changed the subject and asked, "So what do you want to do?"
"I'll tell you when I've thought it through. Maybe I'll need your help!"
"Okay, what are you having for lunch?"
The topic changed so quickly that Xie Shuangbai didn't react.
"Hey! Didn't your sister-in-law go back to her parents' home the day before yesterday? There's no one to cook.
"Were you having a fight?"
"No, I went back to help my brother and his wife when they had a baby."
"Then you can eat here for the next few days!"
Zhao Dunzi smiled: "From now on you will be my real brother."
Xie Shuangbai casually asked, "Brother, how many brothers do you have?"
Zhao Dunzi seemed to have a switch pressed. He was smiling a moment ago, but his expression instantly turned sad and sorrowful.
Xie Shuangbai also noticed something was wrong: "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, I just feel a little sad thinking about home.
He seemed lost in memories. "Actually, I'm not from Xiaoshi Village. My hometown is in Fencheng. I'm the third child in my family. After my two older brothers died in the war, my parents couldn't bear the blow and also passed away. Later, I came to Rongcheng to make a living and finally settled down in Xiaoshi Village."
Xie Shuangbai didn't expect that the cheerful Zhao Dunzi had such a sad past. He patted him gently and said:
"Brother Zhao, it's all in the past. Now you still have us."
Zhao Dunzi also jumped out of his sad mood and said with a smile: "Yes, it's good to be alive. Besides, I have a wife and a child now, so I can be considered worthy of my father."
"Bring my nephew to play some other day."
"Okay, he's very naughty. He went back to his parents' home with your sister-in-law. I'll bring him back for you to take a look at someday."
"Yes, I like children."
"Hey, why don't you get married quickly?"
Xie Shuangbai spread his hands: "I am poor, I have three younger sisters, and I am not in good health. Let's talk about it later."
Zhao Dunzi also knew his situation. In fact, the first two points were not important. The woman would not mind if he had no money. They were all poor and could earn money together. Having three younger sisters was not a problem either. They would get married eventually.
The key is that he's too weak. Seeing that he can't even beat a strong woman, it's really...
Every woman is afraid of being a widow.
But Zhao Dunzi couldn't say this.
He could only comfort her: "With your physique, it's not impossible to train hard."
Xie Shuangbai: "..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
