Generous Boss Bai

Speaking of last night, this time it wasn't just Bai Yao who didn't want to bring it up. Kong Wu didn't want to mention it again either.

Last night's venison had really put them both through the wringer.

When they got home, since they had watermelon to eat, they simply heated up some of the remaining steamed buns and venison for lunch.

This time, the venison was prepared especially for Bai Yao. Kong Wu didn't want to eat it again anytime soon.

While lunch was being prepared, the two of them had already started on the watermelon, half each.

It had to be said, after spending the night in the well, the watermelon was every bit as cool and refreshing as one from a refrigerator.

In fact, the watermelon tasted even sweeter after being kept in the well.

But after the two lessons he'd learned yesterday, Bai Yao didn't dare wolf down even the watermelon, afraid of chilling his stomach and getting diarrhea again.

"This weather just keeps getting hotter by the day. Who knows when we'll get some rain?"

As Bai Yao spoke, he looked up at the cloudless sky.

From the looks of it, there was no hope of rain anytime soon.

Kong Wu didn't reply. After all, rain wasn't something he could control.

Just then, a sudden knock at the door made them both pause in the middle of eating their watermelon.

Bai Yao sent out his Mental Power to check, as he habitually did.

When he saw that the visitors were the brothers Xiang Qian and Xiang Hou, the corners of his mouth lifted.

The two weren't stupid after all. They had understood the hint he'd deliberately given them yesterday.

Bai Yao put his watermelon on the table and went to answer the door.

He opened it to find the two men looking somewhat uneasy, with two hens in their hands.

Yes, domestic hens, not pheasants.

That was the hint Bai Yao had given them.

At first, he had asked for pheasants and wild rabbits. Later, the two had wanted to follow him, so he had eased their debt repayment terms a little, asking only for chickens or rabbits.

If the two still intended to catch pheasants and wild rabbits, he naturally didn't mind. In any case, he wasn't the one losing time he could have spent making money.

But if they bought chickens or rabbits, they could start making money right away.

"Come in."

With that, Bai Yao stepped aside.

After the two entered carrying the hens, the first thing they saw was Kong Wu, who was repeatedly scanning them with a cold expression.

Although Kong Wu didn't say a word, they couldn't shake the feeling that his eyes were like knives, constantly looking for the easiest place to strike.

The feeling made them a little uneasy.

Bai Yao closed the gate, noticed Kong Wu's gaze, and introduced them with a smile.

"Xiang Qian and Xiang Hou, veteran educated youths from the educated youth compound. They're following me now."

Kong Wu said, "Oh."

With that acknowledgment, Kong Wu picked up the watermelon and left.

Seeing Kong Wu take his half of the watermelon too, Bai Yao immediately called out, "Take these two hens as well. I'll make you cold hand-shredded chicken tonight."

Kong Wu stopped in his tracks, then turned back, took the two hens, and left. By then, though, the air around him was no longer quite so oppressive.

"You two wait a moment. I'll go inside and get something." With that, Bai Yao went into the house.

Although the two brothers were alone there now, without Kong Wu watching them, they weren't as scared anymore and had time to look around the little courtyard.

After a quick look, the brothers had the same thought: someday, they too would live in a house like this and have a home of their own.

Just then, Bai Yao came out of the house with the things.

"Here are the six chi of defective cloth you wanted." As he spoke, Bai Yao handed them a folded piece of cloth.

The brothers accepted it delightedly, but after looking it over, they asked in confusion, "Brother Bai, this isn't defective cloth, is it?"

Compared with the cloth in their hands, they were more certain that the other piece Bai Yao was holding was defective. Its misprinted pattern was plain as day.

"No, they're both defective. The flaw in the piece you two have is just smaller, that's all."

As he spoke, Bai Yao pointed out the flawed part to them.

The brothers' mouths twitched as they looked at the flaw, which was just a white spot in the print.

Good grief, over something so tiny? They'd thought it was part of the normal print, but it turned out to be a defect.

"Brother Bai, this could pass for good cloth," Xiang Qian said.

"It's fine. Keep it. If you can use better cloth, why insist on using something so badly flawed?" As Bai Yao spoke, he laid the other piece of defective cloth in front of them and took out more than a dozen coupons.

Seeing them look at him in confusion, Bai Yao explained.

"Take this piece of defective cloth and these coupons and sell them. This time, no matter how much you sell them for, I'll only charge you cost. Starting next time, though, I'll take twenty percent of the profit."

The first time was a newbie benefit, but starting with the second, taking a twenty-percent share wasn't excessive.

Although it was twenty percent of the profit, the things Bai Yao ordered from the system cost less than market price to begin with, so when all was said and done, he would still make quite a bit.

As for whether doing this was too generous?

Actually, it wasn't, because he had never intended to build the reselling business into something big, so he wouldn't be supplying goods nonstop.

After all, there were still a few years to go before this great storm ended.

So a little small-scale dealing was fine, but if they really stirred things up on a large scale, it could cost them their lives.

Even so, that small-scale dealing would be enough for the brothers to live quite comfortably.

Bai Yao didn't hide any of this from them, lest their appetites grow until they no longer knew satisfaction.

The twins had no objections after hearing him out. They thought it was good too: low-key and safe. The money might be small, but a thin stream could flow forever.

As for the greedy ones, they had seen what happened to them and didn't want to go through that themselves.

At that moment, the two were truly grateful to Bai Yao. Taking only twenty percent of the profit was really taking care of them.

They wanted to say that he was giving them too large a share of the profit, but Bai Yao knew what they meant as soon as they opened their mouths. He replied, "If I'm giving you money, take it. It also includes payment for watching the educated youth settlement for me."

He couldn't make someone do two jobs for one salary. He wasn't Zhou Bapi.

Since they were working for him, he would naturally make sure they had their fill.

"All right, we understand. From now on, whatever you say, I'll listen," Xiang Qian replied.

His expression was so serious that he looked ready to lay down his head and spill his blood for Bai Yao.

In response, Bai Yao simply told the two to take the things and hurry along.

At the same time, he reminded them to be careful and told them that, if they were in a hurry to turn the goods into cash, they could try asking around the village.

After all, the coupons he had brought out were still in very short supply in the village.

Once he'd finished his instructions, Bai Yao watched the two leave.

Only then did Kong Wu come out and call him to lunch.

But they had barely finished eating when the twins came back again.

This time, even under Kong Wu's hostile gaze, their joy helped them withstand the pressure.

"Brother Bai, everything sold. Here's the money."

Bai Yao: ...

Clearly, the two must have sold everything to the villagers.

All the same, Bai Yao was very satisfied with their ability to do business. They had gotten it done in the time it took to eat a meal.

"All right. Kong Wu, go to my room and bring that bolt of defective cloth out for them." After giving the order, Bai Yao looked at the twins and said:

"This bolt is forty meters—your supply for one week. You just need to sell it within the week."

Xiang Hou had some guesses, while Xiang Qian understood and said with a smile, "Got it. We guarantee we'll sell it within a week."

Seeing that Xiang Qian understood, Bai Yao was reassured.

As long as they weren't greedy, that was good.

Only by not being greedy and knowing when to let go could they truly make money safely and steadily, like a thin stream flowing forever.