Business is a problem when it doesn’t go well, but it’s also a problem when it does.
“When the business grows, you need more people to manage it.”
“That’s right. Although we’ve left the management of the inn to the franchise owners, I need to keep an eye on training the delivery personnel, raising the carrier pigeons, and delivering supplies. It’s quite a handful!”
As the scale of the business expanded, the number of employees increased. With an increase in employees, mid-level management became necessary.
With more delivery personnel, instructors had to be created to oversee them, and the carrier pigeons were raised by the retired courtesans who bought miracles from Miss Im Ha-yeon. At least food management was easier with Innkeeper A on board.
I showed them directly how I assigned the necessary personnel.
“You’ve laid out the personnel wisely. However, I can’t help but think you’ve focused too much on external expansion.”
It’s not just haphazard, but it seems to have grown in size. But isn’t the crucial backbone being supported solely by Kang Yoon-ho? Jeon Woon-yeop glanced over the documents in the main office while subtly sharing his inspection feedback.
That’s a sharp observation.
Tea Bookstore Wuhan and Yichang branches, the main inn, Jeon Gil-san’s operation, and the Joseon Person fraternity franchise all faced unavoidable problems as the business thrived day by day.
‘My workload is increasing too much.’
Expenses, ledgers, client management, taxes, etc. The tasks related to money, especially, were problematic. I had no one I could trust to hand over the responsibilities.
It was manageable when Miss Im Ha-yeon and Miss Zhuge shared the tasks.
Is this how Liu Bei felt after losing Pang Tong among the talented duo? With Pang Tong gone, Zhuge Liang was at risk of overworking himself to death.
I wanted to yell at the president to guarantee the employees a day off! “Take that 16-hour work week and shove it!” but I’m the boss.
Of course, after the busy period passes, it may get better. Still, problems remain.
‘Moving forward, I still have to write novels.’
I need to get famous by writing novels. To do so, I must earn money to expand the Tea Bookstore in the Central Plains. But while trying to make money with the business, I have no time to write novels.
It’s a vicious cycle.
“It’s true that while I expanded outward, I didn’t solidify my foundation.”
I nodded in agreement, affirming Jeon Woon-yeop’s comment.
“I know it’s difficult to easily hand over tasks related to money to others. But…”
“That’s why I said I have something to show you today.”
How to solve the personnel shortage? There was no need to worry.
I had already come up with a solution.
——
I need someone to take care of the various tasks of the business.
Since I need to handle money, they must be good with numbers. They also need to be trained professionals to handle documents.
They must be impeccable in character and can be satisfied with the salary I give them, showing loyalty even better.
It’s easy to say.
Do you think the reason I studied hard was to work under some barbarian? It’s a crazy world. Is there any way to find a trustworthy person?
Of course, there was an answer.
“Club leader! I’m talking about the three fellows I mentioned earlier.”
I can freely choose talents because of the Joseon Person Fraternity.
Innkeeper A respectfully introduced three Joseon individuals to me in front of the club leader.
“We greet the Club Leader!!!”
They bowed straight. Polite!
“Alright, you need jobs, huh?”
“We’ve neither learned martial arts nor have the skills to showcase in the Central Plains, and it’s hard to make a living. Please, we ask for your help.”
Most Joseon people in Wuhan are lower-class citizens.
Even if foreign workers receive university education back home, when they go abroad, they end up as laborers, majority working as manual laborers.
Surely, there must be someone among the fraternity members who is educated yet struggling now.
My guess was spot-on.
“I can create jobs.”
I wanted to escape overtime quickly, but I held on. I looked at the three with a slight grimace.
“Really?!”
“However, there’s only one position.”
“One position?!”
Starting with instilling a sense of urgency. Among the visitors today, only one person would get a job. The faces of the three that were bright with hope turned tense.
“Chun-sam, let me see. You’re good at calculations, right?”
“Yes! My father, who was a foreign envoy, taught me mathematics since I was young! I’m also good with the abacus, I practically have one in my head!”
“Okay, um… Deok-bae, what are you good at?”
“While I’m not as fast with mental calculations as Chun-sam, I manage well with the abacus too. I used to work as a clerk for a merchant and organized records and documents.”
“And Man-sik?”
“I worked as a steward in Joseon. As a son of a concubine, I managed estates as well. My numerical skills might differ from the two, but I can handle the behind-the-scenes tasks better than anyone!”
“Fine.”
Perhaps because there was only one spot, everyone was good at promoting their strengths.
Definitely, the fraternity picked A-class talents. But I wasn’t planning on hiring immediately.
I needed to shake their hearts. I kept my expression indifferent and looked at the three.
“Club Leader! I know it’s an unreasonable request. But if things continue like this, I might end up homeless with my family. Please, help us!”
“Club Leader! I want to provide for my wife and children. If you could give me at least a job where I could get something to eat, I will never forget your kindness.”
Did I mistakenly think they were begging because I had a grumpy face? The three of them knelt down and pleaded with desperation.
I maintained silence without answering them.
I glanced back and forth between their personal information papers. Every time my gaze fell on one of them, the one not chosen would flinch.
If they leave like this, they’ll starve their families. Perhaps all three of them might be eliminated.
No matter who it would be, once they could read the room…
“You all start work at the main inn tomorrow.”
I smiled slyly.
“Really?!”
All three looked at me with disbelief.
“Why does everyone seem to not want to work?”
“Ah, no! It’s just that you mentioned only one position…”
If I raised the sense of urgency sufficiently, now it’s time to explain why I’m helping them.
“You all need help; you don’t seem incapable.”
“……!”
“Prove to me that my decision wasn’t wrong.”
I’m going out of my way to give all three of you a chance. I affirm the three who will become subordinates while simultaneously elevating myself. It’s a way to boost their loyalty with just a few words.
“Club Leader!”
Don’t cry. Why are all you men trying to cry?
“You three are now my secretaries. You’ll have a LOT of work to do for me from now on.”
“I will serve you with all my heart.”
“I will pledge my loyalty!”
“Club Leader! Please accept me!”
Shall we wrap this up?
I stood up and took out a purse.
“This amount should suffice. Buy each of you a neat set of clothes. I heard you all live in shantytowns. Innkeeper A will prepare a room in the mansion for you. Move in with your families and eat something good, then start work tomorrow.”
Without even a hint of hesitation, I handed my wallet to them.
‘The Club Leader is so worried about us that he generously handed over his entire purse!’ Isn’t that a touching sight?
“Th-thank you!”
It didn’t take long for all three to shed tears of gratitude.
Truthfully, I prepared the purse just for this performance, but there was no need to mention that.
———
“These individuals will be managing Master Kang’s assets. Are you sure you’re not rushing this decision?”
One thing wraps up, and here comes the next.
Isn’t it a fact that just having the ability doesn’t mean immediate employment? Jeon Woon-yeop spoke with a hint of skepticism after the Joseon individuals left.
“Chun-sam is excellent at calculations, but his conviction is weak, so he always struggled to take his fair share. If you pay his salary on time, he shouldn’t cause any trouble.”
“Really?”
“Man-sik’s mother is from the Jurchen tribe. Throughout his early years, he faced scorn because he wasn’t seen as a Joseon or a beast. That might be why he desperately seeks recognition.”
I flipped to the next document and said.
“Deok-bae has one child born with a disability. He also has two daughters and an elderly mother. He works hard to support the family and is well-regarded for not coveting others’ possessions.”
“That’s…”
I looked at a bewildered Jeon Woon-yeop with a smile.
“It took time. I asked the Joseon individuals in Wuhan to recommend trustworthy and talented people. They were looking for someone to help me. So, they searched high and low for it.”
Finding people had been an ongoing process for quite some time. It just took a while to find the right candidates.
“Interesting.”
“Their reputations are quite remarkable. I told Innkeeper A to keep it under wraps, but I actually intended to hire them all.”
“You already made your decision, so why did you insist on maintaining silence?”
Jeon Woon-yeop carefully inquired about my intentions.
Right. I could have just sent people to report to work tomorrow. But that wouldn’t have been right.
“People never forget those who lend a hand in hard times.”
I’m not looking to just hire employees; I wish to gain real allies.
Relationships bound by money often become meaningless when one is well-fed, but those who have recognized you are bound to come to mind at some point in life.
For the sake of my past self, who lived deprived of light and justice, the Club Leader must reach out, even if it means pushing boundaries.
Today, I orchestrated the stage.
“Interesting.”
“I showed a shameful side today. I hope you’ll overlook that I used a little trick to gain allies rather than just simple employment.”
“There’s nothing wrong with extending a hand to those in need.”
“Thank you.”
As long as they respond positively, I’m good.
“I’m starting to see why the Joseon people respect you so much.”
“It’s just because I’m a guy living in Wuhan without a worry for three meals a day.”
You won’t find anything useful to marvel at.
“Today, while inspecting with Master Kang, I saw many Joseon people. It wasn’t just a look of admiration sent toward a wealthy man, but rather it was a mixture of genuine reverence and respect as they looked at Master Kang.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
“There’s only one person near me who receives such gazes daily.”
“What?”
Jeon Woon-yeop wore a peculiar smile as he continued.
“Never mind. I need to convey a message from Man Geum-jeon.”
“What is it?”
Is there something else aside from the inspection?
“He said a person should be coming to visit once they’re all patched up. That’s it.”
Oh, right. I had agreed to visit after the Hao-mun incident wraps up.
“I will go tomorrow.”
Good. I should make them handle the menial tasks for the new employees before heading over.
“It’s been a while.”
How does it feel to face a teacher after failing to finish your summer homework?
The next day. I had to confront someone I didn’t really want to meet, but ultimately had to.
“You must have been very ill.”
Man Geum-jeon stared unblinkingly at the work report handed in beforehand, throwing a pointed remark.
“With so many people relying on my shoulders, I fell and couldn’t get back up immediately.”
It’s not that I didn’t go because I didn’t want to meet them; I had to tidy up the chaotic surroundings.
But if I’m honest, I actually didn’t want to meet them.
“Merchants should always take great care of their health.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Why is he nodding as if he understands? I thought he’d have more harsh words to say.
“Alright, the business sounds like it’s thriving.”
Did he approve? Man Geum-jeon raised one corner of his mouth.
“Since fair winds are blowing, we just need to set the sails.”
“Hah. So you’ve prepared the boat and are blaming the wind. But it seems you were not completely foolish.”
Is it because I finally secured the right staff to solidify the foundation? He gazed at me with a somewhat reproachful look.
It could have originally been manageable if we divided the work. It was a money issue, and I couldn’t afford to assign it to just anyone. An excuse flitted through my mind, but the answer emerged clearly.
“I wasn’t looking for someone to hire with money; I needed someone to get their hands dirty.”
Man Geum-jeon was the friend of the late Baekgajang-ju, who shared the principle that business is about the people that remain.
I am the fiancé of Hwa Rin, as well as the grandson-in-law of Baekgajang-ju, so I carry that lesson in my heart.
‘It’s a concept, but…’
The reference to Baekgajang-ju was quite effective. Seeing that Man Geum-jeon wore a somewhat impressed expression was quite pleasing.
“I hear you’re doing well with the granddaughter.”
“We get along well; we trust and rely on each other.”
I nodded readily. It’s been a few months now. It would be silly to deny my relationship with Miss Zhuge.
“Alright. This should suffice.”
Man Geum-jeon appeared satisfied as he uttered something.
“Am I going to pass?”
Finally, the debt relief is at hand?
“You’re not going to find it embarrassing to speak about it to anyone else, I’d say.”
However, the words that came from Man Geum-jeon were totally unexpected.
“I’m talking about your qualifications to become my successor.”
……What?
