"That's good. You have been in Ning'an for many years and are the owner of a dyeing workshop. What do you think of the dyeing workshop?" Fang Yun asked.
"What do you think of the dyeing factory?" asked Master Liang cautiously.
Fang Yun laughed and said, "It is precisely because I have no opinion about the dyeing workshop that I asked you to speak. First, tell me about the future direction of the dyeing workshop, then talk about the shortcomings of the dyeing workshop, and finally talk about why the county-owned workshops are not as profitable as private workshops and why they are constantly forced to sell."
Master Liang asked doubtfully, "Do you... really want to hear this?"
"Then what do you think I want to hear?" Fang Yun smiled.
Master Liang did not answer immediately. In his opinion, Fang Yun's sudden arrest of a large number of masters was probably to eliminate dissidents, target Ji Zhibai, and even target Liu Shan.
Even the dumbest people in Ning'an City know that no matter whether it is a county-owned workshop or a royal workshop, they are all money houses where the powerful and wealthy can withdraw money at will, and the backgrounds of these workshop owners are too complicated.
Liang Fangzhu thought for a moment and said, "I have been in charge of the dyeing workshop for two years, so let me tell you something. The situation of the dyeing workshop is much better than before. Now the annual profit is almost five times that before I took over! Of course, this is mainly due to the king, the queen mother and the cabinet..."
"I want to hear the truth!" The smile on Fang Yun's face disappeared.
Liang was shocked and gritted his teeth, saying, "Since the county magistrate said so, I can only tell you the truth. What is the future of a dyeing house? A dyeing house needs not only machinery but also dyes. It seems simple but is actually very difficult, but it can make a lot of money. I am old and will soon step down as the owner of the dyeing house. Within three years, the dyeing house will be sold at a low price due to insufficient profits."
"Yeah." Fang Yun had no expression on his face.
Ao Huang was puzzled. The dyeing factory was obviously very profitable, so why would problems arise as soon as Liang Fangzhu stepped down? Why was it sold at a low price? Although Ao Huang couldn't figure out the key, he realized that the word "sold at a low price" was very profound.
"As for the defects of the dyeing factory, I think it is not in the mechanism, but in the dyes and dyeing techniques..."
Next, Master Liang seemed to have completely forgotten his previous thoughts and talked incessantly about matters related to the dyeing workshop. In the end, even Manager Zhao had to wait outside when he came.
Fang Yun listened carefully, occasionally interrupting to ask for explanations from Master Liang, and gained a better understanding of the dyeing workshop.
The two chatted for an hour. Fang Yun nodded and said, "It seems that Master Liang is indeed skilled in weaving and dyeing and loyal to his duties. As for arranging relatives and friends to the dyeing workshop and the process of getting the master, it is not a big deal."
Master Liang's body trembled, with panic in his eyes, realizing that the other party was a cruel official who could arrest even the Juren at will. Was there any deeper meaning behind this sentence
Fang Yun then said, "I've been busy lately. Some arrangements may have to be delayed. However, within a month, I will ask someone from the Ministry of Industry to arrange your affairs. Do you like being an official, or would you rather be a rich man?"
Liang Fangzhu was stunned, but he didn't dare to hide anything. He said subconsciously: "I am old, and there is no future for me even if I become an official. It is better to be a rich man."
"Very good. Then I will ask the Ministry of Industry to draft a ten-year employment agreement with you. Not only will you continue to be the owner of the dyeing workshop, but you will also be given a certain amount of bonus. Currently, it is tentatively decided to give you a bonus of 10% of the dyeing workshop's profit every year."
"Ah?" Master Liang couldn't help but exclaim.
"Ah?" Ao Huang also shouted.
As for the yamen runners around and the people waiting for the interview outside, they were all dumbfounded. How could an old student without much real power, who was supposed to be replaced, suddenly get 10% of the dyeing factory's bonus
The dyeing workshop that Liang Fang is in charge of is not small. Adding the previous wages, Liang Fangzhu’s annual income will be at least two hundred taels of silver, which is equivalent to the income of a small workshop in half a year!
Fang Yun smiled and said, "Since Master Liang has made great contributions in managing the dyeing factory, but the reward has not been forthcoming, this county will reward Master Liang with 300 taels of silver. We will also apply to the Ministry of Rites for a title."
Everyone inside and outside the county government office was even more surprised.
The reward of three hundred taels of silver was already horrifying enough, and applying for a title from the Ministry of Rites was even more unimaginable!
Although Zhao Yong also had the lowest level of title of a countryman, that was because his grandfather, father and he, three generations, had served King Qingyang, and King Qingyang had always treated his loyal subordinates well, so he had the title of a countryman.
To ordinary students or even scholars, Zhao Yong is a master of all trades!
But Liang Fangzhu was just an ordinary student. The reason he was able to become Fangzhu was because he was experienced in dealing with things, had known the county magistrate Tao Dingnian for many years, and had given him some money. Lian Fangyun had hinted that he knew this before.
Previously, the dyeing workshop was not a profitable one, so Liang could have been the owner. However, his ability to turn waste into treasure naturally aroused the envy of others, and he was soon transferred away.
But at the last moment, Fang Yun not only allowed him to continue to be the abbot, not only increased his salary, but also petitioned for a title for him
Even if he is the lowest country boy, he has a title, which is a great event that brings honor to the family!
Everyone suddenly realized that Fang Yun, like King Qingyang, also had a bright future! And it was a bright future with unlimited potential!
“How could I have the honor to do this… How could I have the honor to do this…” Master Liang was so excited that he was speechless, and the sixty-year-old man even had tears in his eyes.
"Your virtue and ability deserve this reward. Well, our meeting with you is over. Now those monasteries who are being held in the county government office may be a little out of control. You can take my command arrow and go around to appease them." Fang Yun said, ordering the officer to hand the command arrow to Monastery Master Liang.
Master Liang naturally understood Fang Yun’s intention, and immediately held his head high and said, "I obey your order!" After that, the old man turned and left the hall with undisguised pride on his face.
Some officers outside quietly left to inform the officials who had not come, because this matter was too important!
In the chief clerk's office, Shen Ming put the teacup aside, looked at the yamen runner in front of him, frowned and asked: "Fang Yun already knew that Liang Fangzhu had taken Tao Dingnian's connections and sent his relatives to the dyeing workshop, but he did not pursue the matter, but instead rewarded him and even... promoted him?"
"Yes."
"But he wants to put Zhao Yong or the young prince to death?"
"It looks like he doesn't want to let it go easily."
"This idiot! He actually gave the benefit to the powerless old student, and offended King Qingyang! Although King Qingyang is close to King Kang, he is a royal relative and a member of the Zhao family after all. If Fang Yun dares to touch King Qingyang, it will surely anger the kings of the Zhao family! You go down."
"yes."
After the officers left, Shen Ming immediately sent a letter to Ji Zhibai.
"Master Ji, I apologize to you again. This time I will not say anything extra. I will only tell you what happened in detail. This is what happened..."
Not long after, Ji Zhibai sent a letter asking, "Are you really not lying this time?"
"No deception, no deception!"
"good."
"Master Ji, Fang Yun is so arrogant that he has touched the interests of the aristocratic families, the royal family, and a large number of officials. Why haven't we heard of anyone causing trouble in the capital?"
"It was expected that the Legalists, the Medicalists, and others would help Fang Yun, but for some reason, the Gongs also came forward, which made the noble families afraid to act rashly. If the noble families did not move, who among the royal relatives and officials would dare to speak? At most, those playboys would say something abusive to Fang Yun."
"Oh, this is really strange. It could have made Fang Yun fall flat on his face..." (To be continued)