bookrandom Chapter 152 Hiring or Buying Servants?
Chapter 152 Hiring or Buying Servants?
"Dad, the most pressing problem we're facing right now is a shortage of manpower. We can hire people, just like the restaurant does. The restaurant hires long-term workers, and we can hire short-term workers, which are like part-time jobs. We can get them through introductions from acquaintances, or we can post job postings on the street and wait for people to come and apply. But we must find out about the job seekers in advance to avoid being scammed by hooligans."
Lin Qingchuan, who was having a headache, was slightly taken aback after hearing this. He never expected that his small business could hire workers.
Perhaps Tang'er is right; restaurants can hire long-term workers, and his family can hire short-term workers.
but……
“Tang’er, our small business is different from a restaurant. Restaurants have a lot of people, and if the people they hire are not good enough, they can fire them immediately. Our business is already very urgent, and we have to start working immediately without having a chance to find out the other person’s character. Besides, we only need to hire one person. What if we hire someone rashly and they are not good enough? Wouldn’t that delay our business?”
Yes, in this era, there was no guarantee of a person's character or ability when hiring, unlike nowadays, where not only do you need an ID card but also a resume, and the resume shows your education level that can be verified, as well as your work experience that you can refer to.
The solution wasn't working, and the problem was back to square one. Lin Xiaotang couldn't help but frown.
What other options are there?
Are you suggesting we pay someone to hire a servant?
That's not necessarily a bad thing!
She hurriedly said, "Father, there are two other methods that we can try together."
Lin Qingchuan was a little skeptical. How could his daughter come up with a new idea so quickly? It was true that her little brain was more clever than everyone else's, but could the ideas she came up with so quickly really work?
Seeing that her father was clearly incredulous, Lin Xiaotang stopped keeping him in suspense.
She moved a small stool and sat down in front of her father, saying confidently, "The first way is for us to ask Manager Yao and the waiters in the restaurant if they know anyone who is a decent person and capable, but not someone with much free time who can only work short-term and not long-term."
"Also, let's ask around and see if we can buy a servant to work for us and help with deliveries."
Of course, she could only buy a younger boy, just a little older than her. The most important thing was that he couldn't be around the same age as her parents. After all, her mother was a young woman, and if people started gossiping about them while they were all living under the same roof, what would they do?
Lin Qingchuan pursed his lips and lowered his head to think.
What kind of family are they? They've only just earned some money, and they're already buying a servant to help with chores. If word gets back to the village, that'll be a disaster.
Moreover, it's a novel thing for poor people to buy servants, and who knows how much silver it will cost. If it costs more than the harvest from their several acres of land, they might as well leave the land fallow and not buy any.
He immediately agreed to adopt the first suggestion.
"Father thinks the first method you mentioned is feasible. Let's quickly ask Manager Yao and the waiters in the restaurant. Manager Yao knows a lot of people, he has a good eye and is good at judging people. If he can introduce us, that would be even better."
"Okay, let's go ask right away."
The father and daughter hit it off immediately. After saying goodbye to Liu, they headed out to Yunlai Restaurant.
As soon as they entered Yunlai Restaurant, Manager Yao sat down with a cup of tea, barely having warmed his backside yet.
During this period, when there are no holidays or festivals, business in restaurants has been much quieter. It's afternoon now, and there are very few customers in the restaurant lobby.
Hearing footsteps at the restaurant entrance, Manager Yao and his two waiters hurriedly looked out and saw Qingchuan and his daughter. Their disappointment was mixed with surprise.
Manager Yao put down his teacup and said with a smile, "Qingchuan, Xiaotang, what brings you two here at this hour?"
Lin Qingchuan clasped his hands in a salute to Manager Yao, but he didn't know how to start the conversation, and his face suddenly turned red.
Seeing her father's embarrassment, Lin Xiaotang quickly spoke up for him.
"Manager Yao, the crops in the fields are almost ripe. My mother is pregnant and can't travel, and my father is too busy with the fields to send the crops to the county. So we'd like to hire a temporary worker. Do you know anyone suitable to recommend?"
Hey, so Qingchuan brought his daughter to the restaurant to find him a short-term job.
Given that Qingchuan had given him things several times, he couldn't refuse to help, but he wasn't sure he could help this time.
He thought for a moment and said, “I do know a few capable people who used to work as waiters in our restaurant. They are trustworthy. However, after they left the restaurant, they went home to farm and get married. We all live under the same sky, and the crops ripen around the same time. I’m afraid there will be a conflict in the timing, which is really a bit difficult to handle.”
Lin Qingchuan sighed and said, "Manager Yao is right. Everyone's crops are ripening at about the same time. I'm busy harvesting, and others also have to go to the fields to harvest."
Moreover, he has to go to the fields in advance to keep an eye on things, which takes him longer than others.
Even without finding someone available, the problem remains unresolved.
If none of the methods work, do we really have to find a servant to buy?
Lin Qingchuan was torn. If he were to buy someone, he would definitely have to buy a man. What would happen to his wife and daughter's safety when he wasn't home?
Manager Yao felt somewhat guilty for not being able to help.
"Qingchuan, don't worry, how about I ask around for you?"
Ugh!
The situation has already come to this point, how can we not be anxious?
Lin Xiaotang hurriedly said, "Thank you for your concern, Steward Yao. My father and I will try to think of a solution ourselves first. If that doesn't work, we will ask you for help again."
Manager Yao nodded in agreement, "Alright, if you need any help, you must let me know. Whether I can help or not, it's good to think of a solution together."
"Okay, we've got it."
Even Manager Yao couldn't find anyone to help, let alone the other workers. It's difficult to recruit people at this time of year.
Lin Xiaotang pulled her father out of Yunlai Restaurant and whispered, "Father, if you ask me, we should hurry up and ask around among the servants and buy one as soon as possible. With a contract of indenture in hand, we'll feel more at ease using her, right?"
Lin Qingchuan knew, of course, that buying a servant would give him a contract of servitude, but he was worried that buying a servant would be too expensive, and even more worried that the servant he bought might be of bad character and threaten the safety of his wife and daughter.
He hesitated, "Tang'er, we're only buying one servant. I'm a little worried about leaving him alone when I'm not home."
His daughter is still young, and he can't bring himself to speak or express his worries.
Lin Xiaotang, who was always quick-witted, vaguely guessed her father's concerns.
She had already considered her mother's reputation and the safety of the three of them.
"Dad, don't worry, this is easy to handle. We'll buy an honest, obedient, young girl who can help with chores and come with me to deliver goods. That way, you and Mom won't have to worry about me, a little girl, going to deliver them and it's not safe on the road, right?"
Right!
Why didn't he think of that?
Buying a person doesn't necessarily mean buying a strong, adult man. You can also buy a young boy. He doesn't need to do heavy work on a daily basis. He only needs to lend a hand when there aren't enough people, such as driving the carriage to encourage his daughter. This way, he can feel more at ease.
Lin Qingchuan immediately agreed with the idea, "Alright, let's go home and get the money, and ask around among the locals."
"Alright, since Dad agrees, let's do it this way."
The father and daughter immediately decided to go home, get the money, and go find the servants in town.
Unfortunately, there was only one boy in town, and all the girls being sold were girls, mostly from families that couldn't afford to raise them, or girls sold by families who favored boys over girls, and therefore didn't meet their requirements.
They decided to ask the local people about it when they went to Dushui County to deliver the braised pig's trotters the next day.