A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 12: Boss Cao

"Well, don't worry."

Song Xuan said while drinking the cold drink:
"Lema Town is still too small. A small Beggar Gang can affect everyone's business. Besides, Mr. Lei is not a short-sighted person. His core business is not in this small Lema Town."

Tao Hong heard Song Xuan's words and thought that after he finished studying, he would not develop in Lema Town for a long time, but would go to Ningling County to make a living?
After all, that's where business is developed.

Well, who wants to stay in the countryside all their life!

"Twelfth Brother, I'll check the accounts more in the next few days and return the money that's due."

"Yeah." Song Xuan nodded and said casually:

"Arrange for someone to buy some mutton, and we'll skewer it in the yard and eat it."

"Here."

The start-up capital for Song Xuan to open a store.

It was "tricked" out from a local fellow villager, Mr. Lei.

In return, Mr. Lei will get 30% of the shares.

Mr. Lei’s business was quite big, and he had long since left Lema Town.

Song Xuan was fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, leaning back on a recliner and eating lamb skewers.

On the contrary, Tao Hong and others were very excited about "team building".

That means the young master treats everyone to dinner in various ways. What a great treatment!
No shop assistant in Lema Town has ever experienced this.

What's more, this is a snack.

Who can easily eat three meals a day, let alone the best mutton?

After Song Xuan had eaten and drunk his fill, he brushed his teeth, took a shower, waited for his hair to dry, and slowly fell asleep.

Although it is easier to do business on the street, there is one thing.

That is, businessmen get up very early.

There were some breakfast vendors shouting on the street.

Song Xuan opened his eyes, washed up, and then asked someone to buy a bowl of noodle tea to dry.

He took this time to practice Ba Duan Jin. I heard that many people in Tokyo practiced it.

But it's very fashionable.

Hu La Tang hasn't appeared yet, but you can try it when you go to Tokyo.

A bowl of spicy soup in the morning is worth it, even a god wouldn’t deserve it!

As for fried dough sticks, they have to be fried after Qin Hui died. Now there is a substitute called ring cake.

Song Xuan ate the ring cake with noodle tea, washed his hands, and picked up the Spring and Autumn Annals to continue reviewing.

If you want to take the imperial examination, you have to read more books.

After watching for a long time, Cui Er came in and bent over:

"Shi Er Lang, Gang Leader Cao has agreed, let's go."

"Boss Cao, are you inviting me alone, or are you inviting a few representatives to go together?"

"It's mainly to prevent the neighbors from saying we're in cahoots. After all, I still have to make a living on this street."

Although Song Xuan is not welcome in his own family, the Song family is still a big family after all.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many people studying in private schools.

"In reply to Shi Er Lang's words, Gang Leader Cao said that Shi Er Lang can bring as many people as he wants."

Song Xuan nodded, sent someone to call for help, and followed Cui Er.

In matters like this, relying on the power of the government would ultimately cost more money than what was given to the Beggars' Sect.

Most of the time, the matter is resolved privately without reporting it to the police.

Townships and villages are in a state of high autonomy. Even in the Ming Dynasty, when imperial power was more centralized, the imperial power did not extend to the countryside, not to mention the more liberal Song Dynasty.

Several people followed Song Xuan, hoping to resolve the matter without spending any money.

Boss Cao didn't live in any big compound, but in a mountain temple outside Lema Town.

There are quite a few beggars around.

"Boss Cao."

Song Xuan saluted with his arms crossed.

Old Cao lay on his tattered bed, and it was hard to tell if he was ill or not. Gang Leader Cao perked up and looked at the newcomer.

He narrowed his eyes and smiled. Song Xuan, the kid, taught him how to cook beggar's chicken.

"Shi Er Lang is here, please sit down."

A beggar brought a tattered bench in front of him.

Song Xuan didn't mind and simply sat down:

"I heard Cui Er say they're going to charge an extra cleaning fee. The neighbors all think that's not Boss Cao's style, so we came together to ask."

"The harvest was poor this year, and a few more brothers have arrived. At least the Beggars' Sect won't starve to death. I can only hope for a raise. There's nothing I can do about it. I'm sorry to have laughed at you all."

After Boss Cao finished speaking, he coughed a few times.

Song Xuan nodded, although the natural disasters in the Song Dynasty could not be compared with those in the Ming Dynasty.

However, after Song Renzong came to power, natural disasters occurred frequently, causing many social problems.

“It’s not easy for everyone to make a living.”

Shopkeeper Zhou saluted and said, "Boss Cao, please understand us. Please don't double the cleaning fee all at once. It's too much for us to bear."

"Yes."

Several people spoke up one after another, but Song Xuan was not in a hurry to speak.

He is planning to sell a shop soon and move to Nanjing Shangqiu City (Songzhou) to develop.

He doesn't care how much the cleaning fee increases, he's here to talk about it today.

"Shi Er Lang, what do you think?"

Hearing Boss Cao's question, Song Xuan smiled:

"I'm fine with it. Boss Cao and all the neighbors, please take good care of me. Don't let money ruin the relationship. After all, we all have to make a living together in this area."

"Then, to give Twelve Lang some face, let's increase the cleaning fee by 30%. I hope you all will go back and discuss this. If we really want to bury the body, we need to go further."

After Boss Cao spoke, Shopkeeper Zhou and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

Three makes three percent.

It's much better than doubling the price.

When everyone had left, only the two of them were left.

Song Xuan stepped forward and took Boss Cao's pulse:

"you are sick."

Only then did Boss Cao turn over:
"I'm old after all. I can no longer go out and steal chickens and dogs like I used to. My brothers also want to support the new gang leader."

Song Xuan nodded.

I understand that although the salary increase was not initiated by Boss Cao, it will still be counted on him.

For the long-term development of the Beggars' Sect, Leader Cao, the head of the sect who is about to become terminally ill, cannot let his successor down in the face.

At this time, he still has to consider the next generation's mood.

"That's a disaster. I was thinking of exploring other places while I'm still young, and maybe visiting Tokyo someday. It's a pity you're old."

Gang Leader Cao listened to Song Xuan's words, feeling deeply moved, and then he spoke again:
"It's good to go out more while you're young, but Tokyo is a place where people are eaten without leaving any bones. You'd better be careful."

"Yes, I have long understood that if you want to be the best, you have to eat people."

Song Xuan took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands:
"Besides, Gang Leader Cao, you worry too much."

Gang Leader Cao looked at Song Xuan seriously. This boy had become more handsome, grown up, and more ambitious.

The boy was so cunning back then, and he tricked me into giving him half a beggar's chicken.

A young master from a wealthy family cheated food from beggars.

No one would believe it if I told them!

The beggar wanted to take him away, but Song Xuan sold him to a pawnbroker instead.

From then on, Gang Leader Cao looked at Song Xuan with a higher opinion. He thought that the boy was a talented person who could join the Beggars' Sect, but it was a pity that he didn't do this job.

I was indeed worrying too much.

Thinking of this, Gang Leader Cao smiled:

"Shi Er Lang, do you think my illness can be cured?"

(End of this chapter)