Jiang Yuan Reforms the Workplace

"Old brother, is that really true? Don't go making reckless suggestions."

Liu Mang tugged at Jiang Yuan, shooting him frantic looks.

"Hahaha... Fine. I think we'll go with Old Brother Jiang's idea. Starting next month, the western district of the outer city will be under your management."

Zhu Hu suddenly burst into laughter.

"Thank you for your trust, Hall Master."

"However..."

Zhu Hu changed tack, baring his teeth in a grin. "Old Brother Jiang, our Black Market has its own rules. If you want to alter them on your own, it'll be fine if you produce results. But if you fail to produce results, then the losses..."

Jiang Yuan immediately understood. He gave a slight bow. "Since Hall Master has placed his trust in me, if I fail to produce results, this old man will naturally bear the losses."

"Oh? And how does Old Brother Jiang intend to bear them?"

Zhu Hu's eyes immediately lit up.

Then Zhu Hu promptly realized he had shown too much eagerness. He smiled awkwardly. "Don't blame me, Old Brother Jiang. This matter is of great importance. I'm only worried it might place too much pressure on you. It's better to make everything clear in advance."

Jiang Yuan smiled faintly. "I naturally understand Hall Master's intentions."

He had known Zhu Hu harbored no good intentions.

On the surface, he had called Jiang Yuan here today to seek his advice on running the Black Market. In truth, he wanted to drag him into the mud.

With a few words, White Tiger Hall's last-place performance had become Jiang Yuan's problem alone. And he could not refuse, or else Zhu Hu could accuse him of spouting nonsense!

To put it bluntly, Zhu Hu was still deeply wary of him and deliberately probing his limits at every turn.

If it had been anyone else, they might even have been overwhelmed with gratitude for Zhu Hu's appreciation.

Jiang Yuan continued, "Rest assured, Hall Master. This old man has roamed the martial world for many years and still possesses some wealth. If White Tiger Hall's performance declines, I will make up the shortfall."

"Wonderful!"

Zhu Hu beamed, the smile on his face growing even broader. "With those words from Old Brother Jiang, I can finally rest easy!"

"Old Brother Jiang can change the western district's rules however you please. Change them however you like—I'll bear all the consequences!"

"I'll leave this Deputy Hall Master token in your care, old brother."

As he spoke, Zhu Hu took out a token and looked at Jiang Yuan with a smile.

The meaning behind his words was clear: if Jiang Yuan handled this matter well, he would become White Tiger Hall's true Deputy Hall Master. The temptation was immense.

Another promotion?

Liu Mang and Ding Wu, standing nearby, were both stunned. They had worked under Zhu Hu for so many years and were still only stewards. Old Brother Jiang had only been working for a few months, yet he was about to surpass them?

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Jiang Yuan accepted the token and gave a slight bow.

After leaving Zhu Residence, Liu Mang hesitated for a while before pulling Jiang Yuan aside. "Old brother, are you really confident you can improve White Tiger Hall's performance?"

He understood Zhu Hu's purpose perfectly well. On the surface, Zhu Hu valued Jiang Yuan, but in truth, he simply wanted to set him up. To put it plainly, he was bullying an honest man.

Yet his instincts told him that Jiang Yuan was not someone who could be manipulated so easily.

Jiang Yuan stopped at once and looked at Liu Mang. "What? Little Brother Liu, you don't believe in me?"

"No, no."

Liu Mang waved his hands repeatedly and explained, "It's just... this is a thankless, backbreaking job."

"If you do it well, that's one thing. If you do it poorly, I'm afraid you'll end up covered in filth."

"Oh?"

Jiang Yuan smiled. "What, if I fail, can Hall Master kill me?"

Liu Mang pulled Jiang Yuan closer and lowered his voice. "My old brother, there are a hundred fates in this world worse than death!"

"If you regret this now, with your skills and experience in the martial world, sooner or later you'll achieve something great in the Black Market. But if you insist on meddling in White Tiger Hall's business, I'm afraid..."

What he meant was that if White Tiger Hall continued losing money, Zhu Hu had another massive pit waiting for Jiang Yuan to jump into—a pit deep enough to doom him beyond redemption.

White Tiger Hall's deficit was far greater than it appeared on the surface!

At this point, Liu Mang stopped speaking.

Having warned him this much, he felt he had done everything humanly possible. Jiang Yuan should understand his good intentions.

Jiang Yuan immediately understood and smiled faintly. "Thank you for the reminder, Little Brother Zhang. Don't worry. I definitely won't lose money."

"Ah, fine then." Liu Mang was helpless.

After leaving Zhu Residence, Jiang Yuan went straight to White Tiger Hall's council hall, intending to summon all of White Tiger Hall's stewards for a meeting.

Very soon, all the stewards of White Tiger Hall's western district gathered there.

Jiang Yuan sat in the seat of honor, calmly surveying the many stewards below him. "Is everyone here?"

"Greetings, Master Jiang. Everyone is present!" replied the disciple in charge of roll call.

"Very good!"

"I am Jiang Yuan. Beginning today, I will take full responsibility for managing our western district. This is Hall Master's appointment token!"

As he spoke, Jiang Yuan tossed a token onto the table. It was a Deputy Hall Master token, capable of mobilizing everyone in White Tiger Hall below the Hall Master.

Everyone's expressions changed, and they hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Master Jiang!"

"Mm. Sit down."

Jiang Yuan waved a hand, then took out a sheet of yellow paper from his robes and handed it to Yuan Cong. "These are the new rules for our western district. Read them."

"Right away, Master Jiang."

Yuan Cong took the paper and looked it over. His expression immediately turned extremely strange. "Master Jiang... this..."

"Read."

Jiang Yuan ordered calmly.

Yuan Cong cleared his throat and began, "Brothers, starting today, the new management rules for White Tiger Hall's western district are as follows."

"First, the rent for every street market stall and shop will be cut in half."

"Second, protection fees will be abolished and replaced with membership fees. Registering for a one-month membership will make you an honored guest of White Tiger Hall. Not only will you be free to enter and leave the outer city to conduct business, we will also provide protection for your trade."

"Third, protection efforts will be strengthened. No one will be permitted to oppress those doing business in the Black Market. Violators will be beheaded on the spot!"

"Fourth, dedicated reception staff will be established to fulfill any reasonable request from the people who set up business in the Black Market. Whatever they ask for, we shall answer."

"..."

There were ten rules in total, and every single one made the stewards below tremble with alarm.

Jiang Yuan had formulated these new rules entirely according to the model of a modern shopping mall. The focus was on maximizing service quality and value for money, all to attract foot traffic.

But to the stewards, this was fucking charity!

"Master Jiang, isn't this inappropriate?"

One steward rose to his feet.

"How is it inappropriate?" Jiang Yuan asked calmly.

The steward named Wang Dai said, "Master Jiang, even under the current rules, our performance is already at the bottom. If we lower rent and protection fees like this, how can it work?"

"Besides, these new rules of yours treat those merchants and lowborn peasants like masters. Why should we serve them?"

"That's right, Master Jiang. Why should we?"

The stewards below immediately echoed him.

Jiang Yuan's expression remained calm. "Because you want to take money from their pockets. Don't you understand that the customer is god?"

"This matter was personally approved by Hall Master Zhu. If anyone refuses to accept it, you may go argue with Hall Master."

The moment those words came out, no one dared speak.

Go argue with Hall Master Zhu?

Were they tired of living?

Zhu Hu might appear cordial toward Jiang Yuan, but in the eyes of the other inner disciples, he was a baleful star they feared to avoid. Who would dare go reason with him?

You tried to reason with them, and they talked power and fists.

Though no one spoke, the resentment in their eyes was plain for all to see.

"Good. Since none of you have objections, let us move on to the next matter and discuss your work system."

Jiang Yuan spoke calmly.

"Work system?"

Everyone was stunned again. Their work as stewards consisted of occasionally patrolling the streets, checking the accounts, and seeing whether anyone had violated the Black Market's rules. That was all.

What was there to discuss?

Holding the roster in one hand, Jiang Yuan looked at Wang Dai. "Wang Dai, answer me. Is your daily work to patrol and manage Taiping Street?"

"Yes!"

"Do you patrol every day? How many hours do you patrol?"

"No."

"No?" Jiang Yuan frowned slightly. When he had managed Sishui Street, he had worked diligently every day. Only then could he ensure the entire street remained in perfect order and no one dared cause trouble.

"Master Jiang, it's like this. According to the rules set by Hall Master Zhu, we patrol one day and rest one day. In other words, work one day and rest one day."

"Calling it work is generous. We only go over occasionally to check the accounts, and each patrol lasts no more than two hours."

"At all other times, outer disciples take turns patrolling the streets. As long as no trouble breaks out, that's enough."

"Humph!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan flew into a rage. He slammed the roster heavily onto the table, furious beyond measure!