Su Xiaoqi’s question of whether they were capable wasn't solely about whether Xiao Er and Xiao Sanzi could handle the tasks of shop assistants.
It was about whether they could, like Xiao Yi, possess the ability to independently take over a shop and act as its manager.
Zhao Dayou felt a fervent warmth in his heart.
The embers of a once-extinguished flame instantly ignited, burning fiercely.
He looked at Su Xiaoqi, whose appearance was delicate and beautiful but whose gaze was firm, and a sense of ambition welled up within him.
He readily agreed, stating he would thoroughly evaluate them.
If they were suitable, he would teach them as well.
Zhao Dayou's straightforwardness momentarily surprised Su Xiaoqi.
She had expected him to hesitate, or even refuse.
After all, in this era, the saying "teach your apprentice, starve your master" was prevalent.
But he hadn't, at least not outwardly.
Su Xiaoqi was unsure if he would outwardly agree but inwardly withhold information.
However, she wasn't worried; ultimately, the deeper knowledge would still come from her.
"Shopkeeper Zhao's monthly salary will be raised to six taels. Xiao Yi, yours to two taels. If you do well in the future, it can be increased again."
"Ah, that's too much, far too much!" Zhao Dayou quickly declined.
He had been working at his previous grain shop for a monthly wage of two to three taels at most.
But after coming here, Su Xiaoqi had already raised his wages several times.
Furthermore, she also gave them welfare money during festivals.
"Right, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. I'll go to Chen Jinji later to order some mooncakes. The usual welfare must still be distributed properly."
Su Xiaoqi entrusted the task of distributing welfare for both shops to Zhao Dayou.
She encouraged him to teach his apprentices without reservation.
She promised that once he had taught them, he would become the head shopkeeper.
Moreover, she told him that starting from now, if he worked in her shop for ten years and then retired, she would still provide him with a monthly wage.
This was called retirement pay.
Su Xiaoqi's words moved Zhao Dayou to tears.
He repeatedly bowed to Su Xiaoqi.
If Su Xiaoqi hadn't had Xiao Yi firmly hold him back, he would have prostrated himself in gratitude.
He never doubted Su Xiaoqi's words.
Although she appeared young and inexperienced, having worked at the supermarket for so long, he knew her word was always her bond.
If she couldn't do something, she would never say it.
Once she said it, she would do it.
Soon, Su Xiaoqi felt that merely speaking was not enough. She directly drafted an appointment letter, formally hiring Zhao Dayou as her head shopkeeper.
It stipulated Zhao Dayou's scope of work and clearly outlined the benefits and treatment he would receive.
Of course, one point was particularly prominent.
That was that Zhao Dayou must conceal her identity as the owner from everyone.
No matter who asked, he was not to say.
Zhao Dayou had his doubts, and Su Xiaoqi casually explained.
She said she didn't want people to know she was doing business outside.
After all, she was a woman, and her husband was a scholar.
Although the Great Liang Dynasty at present was not as opposed to commerce as the previous dynasty, the status of merchant families was always lower than others.
Su Xiaoqi's reasoning was sound, and Zhao Dayou understood. He repeatedly swore that he would never leak her identity.
Su Xiaoqi also gave Xiao Yi a document with similar welfare benefits.
The confidentiality requirement was also identical.
After the two reviewed and confirmed them, they signed and affixed their fingerprints.
Additionally, Su Xiaoqi had Zhao Dayou make two more copies based on her writing. He then signed the shop assistant contracts for Xiao Er and Xiao Sanzi.
Su Xiaoqi also asked Zhao Dayou to formalize all the shop's rules and welfare benefits according to her instructions.
Each position’s duties and rights were clearly written.
The more Zhao Dayou heard, the brighter his eyes became, and he busied himself with the tasks.
Seeing his eager demeanor, Su Xiaoqi smiled and toured the shop.
She stood in an inconspicuous spot and watched Xiao Er and Xiao Sanzi work for a while.
After a month, both of them had made considerable progress.
They wore identical dark blue shop assistant uniforms, with two large characters, "Supermarket," written on their chests. They worked with professionalism.
One led customers inside, enthusiastically introducing the shop's goods.
The other was restocking empty shelves, both doing their jobs diligently.
Su Xiaoqi watched them with satisfaction and nodded.
These people had previously lived by begging, but precisely because they had lived at the bottom and witnessed the ebb and flow of human relationships, they were more adept at observing people's expressions than anyone else.
They also cherished the opportunities they now had.
Especially with Xiao Yi's experience paving the way, they saw hope for the future.
They believed that as long as they worked diligently and steadily, one day, they too could become shop managers like Brother Xiao Yi.
The more they thought about it, the more committed they became, and the more motivated they were to work.
Su Xiaoqi specifically went to encourage them with a few words.
Turning back, Zhao Dayou handed her the account books for June and July.
She took them and went to the stone bench in the backyard to review them.
The accounts were, as always, meticulously kept, clear, with inflows and outflows, making them easy to understand.
Su Xiaoqi returned them to Zhao Dayou and gave him a thumbs-up.
Zhao Dayou nodded emphatically, moved.
He had thought that after the incident with Xiao Liu, the owner would no longer trust him wholeheartedly.
Therefore, whenever Su Xiaoqi visited, he would proactively hand over the account books and give her the previous month's profits.
As a show of loyalty.
But the owner seemed to have never taken that matter to heart, nor did she resent him because of it. She even increased his salary and allowed him to take on apprentices.
Zhao Dayou was deeply moved and even more determined to follow Su Xiaoqi diligently.
Thinking of the owner's newly purchased shop, Zhao Dayou reminded her, "Has the owner decided what business to run in the new shop?"
Su Xiaoqi replied gently, "To sell rice and grain."
One reason was that her space could produce grain, and the other was that rice and grain were necessities for people; they could never be without them.
Furthermore, next year would bring another catastrophe, and then she would have a justifiable reason to help them.
Su Xiaoqi's thoughts were far-reaching, but Zhao Dayou was unaware of them.
He thought for a moment and then asked, "Where did the owner procure so much rice and grain? What was the price?"
Su Xiaoqi paused. This question had crossed her mind before.
Since she was opening a rice and grain shop, the shop would handle a large quantity of rice and grain daily.
Therefore, people were bound to ask about her source of goods.
In the past, with small-scale operations, it wasn't a problem; a casual excuse could cover it.
But now that she was opening another shop, the daily volume of goods would be even greater.
This matter could no longer be easily explained.
She needed to find a way to acquire more land, to give her space's grain a legitimate source.
Su Xiaoqi explained, "The goods were unloaded at the Mianzhou cargo dock, coming from the land of fish and rice in the southeast.
I've considered that this approach is not sustainable. Long-distance transportation incurs too much difference in price, and the profit is not substantial. It's better to cultivate more land myself."
Owning land was always a profitable venture in any era.
With land, crops could be grown, and with crops, people could be fed and clothed.
Coupled with her space, it was truly a perfect fit.
Su Xiaoqi's mind sparked, and she asked Zhao Dayou, "How much would it cost to buy a manor in this area?"
She had actually been considering this matter for a long time.
However, Mianzhou City was connected by both land and water routes, making it a good location.
Manors and the like were not easy to buy. Well-located ones were snapped up by buyers from the real estate agencies within days.
Anything that remained unsold at the agency was usually not very good.
Therefore, despite having saved some money, Su Xiaoqi had not made a move.
"Ordinary ones are seven to eight hundred taels, mid-range ones are around a thousand taels, and larger ones with fertile land are over two thousand taels."
Seeing Su Xiaoqi's slightly troubled expression, Zhao Dayou thought for a moment and said, "My neighbor, Steward He, has a manor for sale. I wonder if the owner is interested."
"Oh, where is it?" Su Xiaoqi was naturally interested.
Zhao Dayou pointed in the direction of the southern part of the city.
Su Xiaoqi narrowed her eyes. Wasn't this towards Zhao Family Village?
Zhao Dayou seized the opportunity and described the approximate location and situation of the manor.
The manor was in Lijia Village, truly adjacent to Zhao Family Village.
It was positioned exactly between Zhao Family Village and Mianzhou City, five li from both.
It was very close to the city's pier and the main road, making its location truly excellent.
Moreover, it included fertile fields, sandy land, and hills, as well as manor serfs...
It was indeed a good place.
Su Xiaoqi was quite tempted: "It sounds good. Such a fine manor should sell quickly, shouldn't it?"
Zhao Dayou sighed, "Alas, it's also a sin..."
Su Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow. That statement sounded like it had a story behind it.