Chapter 338 Touched
The next day, Xu Zhichun asked Liang Xiaoman to lead the farmhands and tenants to transplant the cotton seedlings, and took Manager Mao, Nanny Qin Qing and others into the city to visit the He family.
While strolling around the city yesterday, she overheard people talking about the He family, whose escort agency was on the verge of going bankrupt. Out of curiosity, she casually asked Nanny Qin Qing a few questions.
After all, the existence of escort agencies still arouses the curiosity of modern people.
Unexpectedly, Nanny Qin Qing actually knew something, so she told her everything.
Xu Zhichun was going to deliver the escort to the He Family Escort Agency today.
Half a year ago, an escort mission went wrong at the hands of He Cong, the eldest son of escort leader He. Not only was the dart destroyed, but five or six escorts were also injured.
Most of the He family’s assets were lost as a result.
As a result of this blow, the reputation of the escort agency was greatly affected, and it was unable to receive any escorts for a long time afterwards.
In the past six months, I have only taken on three small escort missions, and the little money I earned is a drop in the bucket. I can hardly even pay the monthly wages to the escorts and workers.
More than half of the escorts had left one after another, and the workers had nothing to do, so they had to be fired.
According to the current situation, if the He Family Escort Agency does not receive a big escort contract in the next two or three months, it will be closed down.
He Biaotou had even made plans.
He sold the large house and bought a smaller one, allowing his eldest son and his wife to stay in the city and start a small business. With the remaining money, he took his wife, youngest son, daughter, and grandchildren back to his hometown in the countryside to renovate the house, buy a few acres of land or reclaim wasteland, and plan to farm the land with his family.
When he heard that Madam Xu was visiting, He Biaotou subconsciously thought of Madam Shanci whom he had heard of recently. He couldn't help laughing at himself. He was so bold to think that it might be Madam Shanci who came.
How could this be possible? Madam Shanci wasn't from this county either, so it was impossible for her to be here.
Even if he shows up, he can't come to my house.
This is our own escort agency.
I heard that Madam Shanci was a widow at home, doing some small business in Qingshan County, which had nothing to do with the escort agency.
He Biaotou was familiar with some of the famous families in the county, but he didn't remember anyone with the surname Xu.
In other words, the Mrs. Xu who came to visit should be from a wealthy family with some money. Even if she was commissioned to escort someone, it would not be a big one.
But Captain He still hurriedly asked someone to invite Madam Xu in.
He would take any dart no matter how small it was, as the He Family Escort Agency couldn't afford to be picky now.
"Madam Xu, this is our Escort Captain He, Escort Captain He, Madam Xu is here."
He Biaotou's face was full of smiles. "Mrs. Xu, please take a seat. Please! Xiao Cui, bring the tea."
"Captain He, you're too polite."
A stranger must have something to ask of the escort agency, so He Biaotou said without further ado, "Madam Xu, is this you? What kind of dart would you like us to deliver? What are your requirements? Madam Xu, rest assured, our He Family Escort Agency has always had a great reputation and would never do anything against our conscience."
In the past, He Biaotou could still say a few words like "We are strong" in a sonorous and powerful manner, but now it seems as if his spine has been broken and he can no longer say such words.
Fortunately, Mrs. Xu opposite didn't seem to care about this, and He Biaotou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Zhichun: "I have long heard of the great name of Escort Master He and the He Family Escort Agency. Escort Master He is responsible and capable, so I came to you. I trust Escort Master He."
"Thank you, Mrs. Xu."
He Biaotou felt warm in his heart and his eyes were almost hot.
Ever since the incident at the escort agency, Mrs. Xu was the first one to praise their escort agency firmly and frankly. Just because of this word "responsible", he decided to take the job no matter how much money Mrs. Xu made from this escort trip.
And, it must be completed smoothly.
As Xu Zhichun spoke, he gave Madam Qin Qing a look: "What I'm asking for is a long story. Captain He, please be patient and listen to me."
Nanny Qin Qing knelt slightly and accepted the order. "Our Madam's family is not in Qingyang County, but in Qingshan County. I believe that Captain He has also heard of our Madam. Our Madam is none other than Madam Shanci."
He Biaotou suddenly raised his head and said softly, "Ah?"
This, this, this Madam Xu is actually that Madam Xu! Is their escort agency about to have a turn for the better and land a big order?
He Biaotou was greatly encouraged. "It turns out to be Madam Shanci. My apologies!"
Nanny Qin Qing continued, "Our Madam bought the farm in Hekou Town, on the edge of the county town, that originally belonged to the Zhen family. In addition to growing over 600 acres of rice, this year Madam planted over 300 acres of cotton, 40 acres of tomatoes, and over 20 acres of chili peppers. She also brought some sweet potatoes from home for the steward, the farmhands, and the tenants to grow for their own consumption."
"Cotton, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes are all good things, especially cotton. Once grown, it's very profitable. Our wife isn't from here and doesn't come here often. If someone were to damage the cotton fields, the loss would be huge. So, after much deliberation, our wife wants to invite Captain He to live with his family at our farm. We can also mobilize our farmhands to take care of the cotton fields on a daily basis, especially when the cotton flowers and ripens. They need to pay special attention to them."
Xu Zhichun said, "The price is easy to negotiate. Captain He will receive four taels of silver per month, and the other escorts will receive three taels each. We will provide food and accommodation on our farm, and we will ensure that there is meat for lunch and dinner every day. The portions will be guaranteed without any cuts. After the cotton is successfully harvested and stored, I will pay Captain He an additional one hundred taels of silver as a reward."
"I wonder if Captain He would be willing to take on this rather unusual-sounding dart of mine?"
He Biaotou was caught off guard.
Their escort agency actually also worked as security guards for wealthy families and bodyguards for traveling young masters, ladies and wives.
But the time is relatively short.
At most, it will not last more than two months.
Although he didn't know the growth cycle of cotton, he knew the growth patterns of crops. Spring plowing and autumn harvest, it would take at least half a year.
More than half a year.
You know what, although it takes a bit of time, the treatment is really tempting.
Each person can earn at least three taels of silver per month. They don't have to worry about food and accommodation, and they don't have to sleep in the open air. The farmhands can also be assigned tasks and arrangements, and there will be another hundred taels of silver after the work is done.
"I wonder how many people Madam Xu needs?"
"How many people can Biaotou He provide?"
"This—including me, my two sons, and six escorts, a total of nine people."
"Then let's all go."
"ah?"
"Does Captain He have any other plans?"
"Ah? No, no, that's not the case. I just think Madam Xu doesn't need to spend so much money. After all, there are farmhands on the farm who can be used. Besides, the cotton seedlings must have been planted not long ago, right? There shouldn't be any problems. There really is no need for so many people."
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