“This is some twenty-year-old Pu’er tea left over from before. It’s still a bit astringent, but it’ll do,” Shan Yu said, taking a sip of his cola. “I just got here, and things aren’t sorted out yet.”
Chen Erhu slurped the tea, savoring it.
From his expression, he probably only tasted bewilderment. San Bing and Lao Si next to him were in similar states, but Chen Erhu, being a boss, couldn’t show bewilderment. He nodded, “It is a bit…”
A bit of what? A bit of what…
Chen Jian was afraid that too much discussion about this expired, possibly even expired green tea, would lead to unnecessary awkwardness, so he interjected.
“Today, Boss Shan has invited you all over, mainly to talk about…” Chen Jian struggled for words in his head. After all, he wasn’t the university student Liu Wu; speaking appropriately in such a high-end meeting was quite difficult. “To discuss… the future… cooperation matters.”
“Oh.” Chen Erhu’s empty response made him seem quite composed.
Perhaps sensing it, Chen Erhu looked at Shan Yu and added, “Then you… then you…”
“Then Boss Shan, you…” Chen Erhu took a sip of the twenty-year-old Pu’er, “You speak.”
“It’s like this,” Shan Yu finished the remaining cola in his glass, crossed his hands, and rested them on the table. “Boss Chen is also a straightforward person, so we won’t beat around the bush. Today, we’ll confirm a few things: work content, scope, cooperation method, fees, and settlement.”
Chen Erhu quickly glanced at Chen Jian’s face.
Chen Jian also glanced at him.
Does this need translation?
“Let’s talk about the work content first,” Chen Jian said.
“The most important thing is security. Boss Chen and…” Shan Yu also hesitated, choosing between “subordinates” and “employees.” “You all have already demonstrated your capabilities.”
Chen Erhu nodded slightly in agreement.
Only San Bing was slightly displeased; they had demonstrated San Bing getting beaten up twice.
“Security requires someone on duty twenty-four hours a day, covering the four internal floors, the courtyard, and the surrounding area, including a five-hundred-meter radius along the path outside the gate,” Shan Yu said. “Ensure no people or animals interfere with or affect the guesthouse’s normal operation.”
“What if someone commits suicide inside the house?” San Bing asked.
It must be said that San Bing was wasted as Chen Erhu’s subordinate; this was a very good question.
“That’s an uncontrollable factor,” Shan Yu said.
“Mm.” Chen Erhu nodded.
“Besides security, there also needs to be… external support work,” Shan Yu said.
“What… is that?” Chen Erhu took two sips of tea.
“Goods transportation, picking up and dropping off tourists,” Shan Yu said, “This requires a driver’s license, preferably a Class B license.”
“Class B?” Chen Erhu was stunned.
“Class C is enough,” Chen Jian glanced at Shan Yu. These guys probably couldn’t even collectively gather two motorcycle licenses, let alone a Class B.
And did the guesthouse even have a car right now, besides a wheelchair?
“Erhu-ge has one,” Lao Si said, pausing before rephrasing, “Our Boss Chen has one.”
“Very good,” Shan Yu nodded. “If there are no objections to the work content, let’s discuss the cooperation method.”
“First, let’s talk about… money,” Chen Erhu tried to gain the upper hand, “Salary.”
For them, coming and going, throwing cards or smashing stones, or being Boss Chen, it was all for money.
Chen Jian knew very well that these guys, who usually looked boisterous, actually had pockets as empty as his, except for Chen Erhu’s family, whose financial situation was decent. San Bing’s parents, on the other hand, were ordinary migrant workers. The reason he could punch San Bing flying was simply because San Bing was too skinny.
“Basic salary of two thousand, includes accommodation,” Shan Yu leaned back in his chair. “Triple pay on holidays, night shift allowance, and work for picking up/dropping off tourists and transporting goods will be paid per instance.”
This price was likely based on Qian Yu’s previous salary. In this small town, this salary was pretty good, though Qian Yu wouldn’t give night shift allowances or triple pay for holidays. He even charged a hundred yuan a month for accommodation.
Chen Erhu had never worked a job, and neither had his followers. When they heard this salary, the three of them exchanged glances, seemingly satisfied. After all, sometimes they couldn’t even afford a pack of cigarettes and had to buy them individually.
“Isn’t this salary… a bit low?” Chen Erhu tried to negotiate for his brothers.
“Not low,” Shan Yu’s confidence was much greater than his, his tone always unhurried. He quickly changed the subject. “And one thing we also need to confirm is the cooperation method. I only need two to three security… security personnel.”
“Two or three?” Chen Erhu was stunned. “Only two or three?”
“Boss Chen, I just opened. You should be clearer than me about the economic situation of the town. We need to consider how to obtain long-term stable cooperation income,” Shan Yu picked up his empty cup and took a sip. “For people like you who have been taking on scattered businesses in town, it’s actually very unstable. Sometimes, for performance, you even need to do some self-guidance…”
Chen Jian truly admired Shan Yu; he actually managed to package Chen Erhu’s gang harassing businesses and collecting protection money into a business.
Chen Erhu was also listening intently. He had never imagined that what he did could be described in such a sophisticated way.
“Our form of cooperation is actually outsourcing,” Shan Yu said. “I’ll outsource the security work to you. You arrange two or three people to come over each month, and I’ll settle their salaries with you. After deducting your commission… for example, one hundred per person, you then pay them.”
This was probably the most serious Chen Erhu had ever listened to someone speak.
To be honest, Chen Jian was also listening very carefully.
It wasn’t until Shan Yu signaled him to refill Boss Chen’s tea that he snapped back to attention. He went over, collected the teacup, and refilled it with hot water. Since the tea didn’t really have much color, he pinched in a little more tea.
“Refill Boss Shan’s too,” Chen Erhu also signaled him.
Chen Jian glanced at him.
You’re even ordering me around now?
Do you know what he’s drinking that you’re telling me to refill it?
But he had to save face. After all, he was the one who had initially elevated Chen Erhu to the position of Boss Chen.
Chen Jian turned and walked in front of Shan Yu, reaching out to take his teacup.
“No need to add tea leaves,” Shan Yu looked at him.
“Mm.” Chen Jian added a cup of hot water for him and put it back on the table.
“Are there any other questions about the above?” Shan Yu’s gaze returned to Chen Erhu. “If there are no questions, we can sign the contract.”
“Ah?” Chen Erhu came back to his senses. “We need to sign a contract?”
“Formal matters should be handled formally,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Erhu looked at San Bing and Lao Si, then nodded: “Alright, sign!”
Shan Yu pulled open a drawer, took out the already printed contract, and placed it on the table: “Chen Jian.”
Chen Jian went over, took the contract, and scanned it. It was actually a real contract. Shan Yu’s part was already signed. He glanced at Shan Yu, then turned and placed the contract in front of Chen Erhu: “Boss Chen, take a look…”
“Where do I sign?” Chen Erhu asked.
“The last page,” Shan Yu said.
“Take a look at the content,” Chen Jian quietly reminded Chen Erhu, not to prevent fraud (Shan Yu would probably find it as easy as shaking a bat to trick Chen Erhu), but mainly to make Chen Erhu seem more professional.
“Look at sh*t,” Chen Erhu also whispered, flipping directly to the last page. “Can’t understand it.”
“Take it back and read it slowly,” Shan Yu said. “If there are any practical operational issues after the cooperation begins, we can discuss them.”
Chen Erhu’s real name was Chen Erhu, and his signature was written stroke by stroke. Both the name itself and the handwriting contrasted sharply with Shan Yu’s elegant signature next to it.
With the contract signed, the cooperation began.
Under Boss Shan’s arrangement, Chen Jian took Boss Chen Erhu on a tour of Zhenxi’s work environment to confirm the scope of work.
“No need to look, we’re more familiar with this place than Shan Yu,” Chen Erhu waved his hand after entering the elevator, then leaned against the car and let out a long sigh, looking at Chen Jian. “This person, how does he feel different from Qian Yu? Is he friends with Qian Yu?”
“I really don’t know,” Chen Jian said. “I just started working here, and it’s not good to ask about such things.”
“Mm,” Chen Erhu nodded. When the elevator doors opened, even though there was only Zhao Fangfang mopping the floor outside, he still puffed out his chest and walked out. “Then, according to the cooperation requirements, once this place is tidied up, I’ll arrange for people to come over.”
“Okay, thank you for your hard work, Boss Chen,” Chen Jian said.
After seeing off Boss Chen’s motorcycle, Chen Jian immediately returned to the fourth floor.
Shan Yu was still in the office, with the door open.
Chen Jian walked over and knocked twice on the door.
“That fast?” Shan Yu was holding a tea canister and looking at it.
“He grew up here,” Chen Jian said. “There’s no place you can name that he doesn’t know. Looking or not looking doesn’t make much difference.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu tapped the tea canister. “I do need to buy some tea. I saw a tea shop at the intersection when I came that day.”
“Don’t you drink cola?” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu laughed, took out a half-finished bottle of cola from the cabinet below, poured it into a cup, and took a sip.
“Can’t you drink it directly?” Chen Jian asked. “Pouring it out like that, half the fizz is gone.”
“Drinking it this way makes it less likely to burp,” Shan Yu said. “Put away the contract.”
“Where did this contract come from?” Chen Jian picked up the contract. “Qian Yu never signed a contract with us. It shouldn’t be his template, right?”
“Mine,” Shan Yu replied simply.
Liu Wu said he used to do business, so maybe it was from then?
“Where should I put it?” Chen Jian asked.
“Find a folder, put it in,” Shan Yu said, “Then put it in the drawer.”
“This contract,” Chen Jian flipped through the contract, feeling a bit of frustration that the words weren’t sinking in. “It won’t trick Chen Erhu, will it?”
“It won’t trick him,” Shan Yu said, “It’s an invalid contract.”
“It’s invalid?” Chen Jian was stunned. “He’s probably savoring it happily back home. What if he finds out?”
“He said it himself, he doesn’t understand it,” Shan Yu said.
“What if he finds someone else to look at it?” Chen Jian asked.
“You’re quite cautious,” Shan Yu clicked his tongue. “The contract has a confidentiality clause. For him, that’s the easiest clause to understand.”
Chen Jian rummaged through the shelves behind him, found an empty, tattered folder, put the contract in, and shoved it into the drawer.
“That settles it,” Shan Yu moved his left leg. “Let’s go for a walk. Tell Zhao Fangfang not to make lunch for us today.”
“Where do we go for a walk?” Chen Jian looked at him.
“The surroundings, mountains, rivers, forests,” Shan Yu said. “I want to see what kind of place this is.”
“Oh,” Chen Jian hesitated, “Wheelchair?”
“I’ll commandeer your motorcycle,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian sighed.
“I’ll give you gas money,” Shan Yu said.
“No,” Chen Jian looked at his leg, “Many roads are hard to travel. You might actually get jolted into paralysis… If you really want to go out, wait for me for a moment.”
“Good,” Shan Yu nodded.
Chen Jian rode his motorcycle out. Shan Yu sat in the courtyard, looking up at the sky.
The scenery here was actually quite nice. Yesterday’s rain didn’t fall, and it didn’t look like it would anytime soon today either. The sky looked quite high, and the wind was very refreshing.
Before long, the sound of a motorcycle came from outside, but it didn’t sound like Chen Jian’s.
Shan Yu looked towards the courtyard gate.
A few seconds later, Chen Jian appeared on the path outside, riding a sidecar motorcycle.
Shan Yu laughed: “Driving this?”
“At least your legs have a place to rest, right?” Chen Jian got off the bike and patted the sidecar. “It’ll be easier for you to supervise from here too.”
“Where did you get it?” Shan Yu stood up and slowly walked over, leaning on his crutches.
“My Rui-ge’s,” Chen Jian said. “The owner of the repair shop, Tang Rui. He has a warehouse here.”
“Interesting,” Shan Yu got into the sidecar. His legs couldn’t straighten, but sitting there was more comfortable than on the back of a motorcycle.
Chen Jian ran back into the house, took out a pillow, and wedged it between Shan Yu’s left leg and the sidecar.
“Is it dirty?” Shan Yu said, “Zhao Fangfang just cleaned it and was preparing to send it for washing.”
“Mm,” Chen Jian responded, straddling the bike. “It’s not like you’re putting it on your face, what are you afraid of? Just pad your brace with it. That thing looks precarious; don’t let it hit anything and poke a hole in your bone.”
“You’re making me want to get off,” Shan Yu laughed.
“Want to?” Chen Jian asked.
“Let’s go,” Shan Yu waved his hand. “First, let’s patrol the five hundred meters of road in front of the door that Chen Erhu is responsible for. Are there still a few businesses inside?”
“Mm,” Chen Jian drove the bike deeper into the path. “There are four more. The one closest to Zhenxi is almost closed. The other two are still there because there are other paths to绕 around.”
“This road needs to be renovated and made sunnier,” Shan Yu said.
“Are you… really planning to keep this going?” Chen Jian asked.
“I don’t know,” Shan Yu said, “What, afraid of losing your job?”
Chen Jian smiled but didn’t speak.
“Not for now, I just hired security guards,” Shan Yu said. “I’ll have to keep it going for a while, at least.”
“You’re paying the security guards two thousand,” Chen Jian suddenly thought of this. “How much for the service staff?”
“Two thousand,” Shan Yu said.
“No,” Chen Jian turned his head. “Service staff have more varied tasks, and security guards get night shift subsidies. Isn’t that a bit unfair?”
“Security guards can also take on some service staff duties,” Shan Yu said.
“Huh?” Chen Jian was stunned.
“We haven’t hired service staff anyway,” Shan Yu said.
“You…” Chen Jian looked at him.
“So dark,” Shan Yu said. “Don’t sigh. You’re not a service staff member. You have a different rate.”
Chen Jian drove the sidecar, taking Shan Yu along the path until its end. The end was a mountain trail leading into the forest, one of the hiking routes, and the scenery was excellent.
“Suitable for living in seclusion,” Shan Yu said.
“Where now?” Chen Jian turned around.
“Nearby camping grounds or villages,” Shan Yu said.
“Villages?” Chen Jian asked, “What villages?”
“Don’t you live in the nearby village?” Shan Yu said, “Let’s go take a look.”
Chen Jian stopped the sidecar in the middle of the road: “Boss Shan, what do you mean?”
“No meaning. Just want to see the village you live in,” Shan Yu said. “Aren’t there several villages nearby?”
“Are you checking up on me?” Chen Jian asked.
“Are you that sensitive?” Shan Yu said.
“Not sensitive,” Chen Jian frowned. “Would you check on other people? Zhao-jie, Chen Erhu, San Bing, Lao Si?”
“Anyone who works for me here, I’ll check,” Shan Yu looked at him, speaking calmly.
This implied that it wasn’t just him. Although Chen Jian still found it a bit strange, he didn’t know what to say to refute it for a moment.
“Especially you,” Shan Yu added.
“You f*ck…” Chen Jian controlled himself from cursing. “Why? If you don’t trust me, I can leave.”
But the money couldn’t be refunded right now, or you could grit your teeth and let me work for two months.
“This place, relying solely on recruitment, won’t find capable people,” Shan Yu said. “You, however, are quite capable of handling things. If most of the matters here are handed over to you in the future, I definitely need to get a clear understanding of your background, for example, why you’re so short on money.”
Chen Jian didn’t speak. Shan Yu’s words, going up and down, made him happy for less than two seconds before he became depressed again.
However, from these words, he still picked up a slight clue, which seemed to align with Liu Wu’s words. He glanced at Shan Yu: “Besides Qian Yu, have you been scammed in business before?”
“Liu Wu’s mouth,” Shan Yu clicked his tongue. “Yes.”
