Chapter Fourteen: The Craftsman Arrives

Upon hearing this, Yan Lu’s eyes lit up. He had been worried that Zhu Cilang might pack up and leave without paying him his finder’s fee, but now that the materials were prepared, wasn’t that a hint that there was money as well?

Moreover, if this rare item could truly please the nobleman and earn goodwill, what did the trivial matter at the Ministry of Revenue matter in comparison?

With this thought, Yan Lu’s smile blossomed instantly. He said repeatedly, “All the craftsmen have been found, just waiting for Young Master Qin’s command. Especially those skilled in making gears—I’ve found eight of them. I just wasn’t sure whether Young Master Qin had returned to the residence, so I haven’t called them here yet!”

“Very good. I’ll notify the young master to prepare; Steward Yan, please bring the craftsmen here at once,” Si En responded promptly.

Seeing how resolute the old servant was, Yan Lu hurried back to fetch the craftsmen.

Not long after, when Yan Lu returned to the Qin residence with the artisans, Zhu Cilang came out holding a sketch in his hand.

Yan Lu, acting like a thoughtful broker, introduced the row of craftsmen—faces pallid, eyes dull—one by one.

“This is Zhang Choulv, skilled in carpentry and capable of making gears.”

“This is Peng Shi, adept at working with copper.”

“And this is Wang Li, especially gifted in stone carving.”

“The rest are their sons and apprentices, here to assist. The front row are all capable of making gears—eight in total.”

Having finished, Yan Lu looked expectantly at Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang nodded to Si En, who—with a reluctant expression—handed over ten taels of silver to Yan Lu. There were eight senior craftsmen, each receiving one tael as introduction fee—eight taels in total. The rest, a dozen or so helpers, were of less value, but Zhu Cilang had ordered two taels for the introduction fee anyway, so the total came to ten taels.

Yan Lu, pleased with the prompt payment, was visibly delighted as he weighed the silver. Only Si En, standing in the corner, silently tallied the growing number of mouths to feed and calculated how much silver remained in the Qin estate’s accounts. When he finished, his heart ached.

After Yan Lu left, Zhu Cilang clapped his hands and summoned the craftsmen.

“I know your circumstances,” he began. “War has ravaged your homeland, leaving you destitute and struggling to survive on the streets. Steward Yan has likely explained my intentions. To those who are true craftsmen, I will offer five taels a month!” Zhu Cilang paused, looking quietly among them.

As expected, at the mention of five taels, the previously dull-eyed, dusty-faced men all showed a spark of life. Those with family exchanged glances, hope rekindled in their eyes. Especially those singled out as master craftsmen—they were so excited, they couldn’t help but exclaim,

“Such generosity from our employer!”

“Our master is truly noble!”

Zhu Cilang raised a hand to stop the flattery and continued, “Of course, I have no use for those who pretend skill but lack true craft. I seek only those who are genuinely capable and willing to work diligently. If you qualify as a master craftsman, you’ll receive five taels a month. If your skills fall short but you’re hardworking and don’t gossip, I’ll still pay you one tael a month.”

At this time, apprentices and helpers were usually only provided with daily meals—nothing more.

Though one tael of silver was worth only about seven hundred yuan in modern terms, in these times, one tael could buy a hundred and twenty catties of rice. A border soldier, if not subject to corruption, earned only one and a half taels a month; a cavalryman received just over two taels. This was generous indeed.

By now, the group of craftsmen was thoroughly excited.

Yet Zhu Cilang, as if still unsatisfied with their morale, raised his voice again: “During your work, if anyone performs exceptionally, I’ll grant a raise. Anyone who offers a suggestion that benefits our project will be rewarded with five taels; if the idea is successfully implemented, ten taels. Whoever is first to complete the object will receive fifty taels! And if you’re concerned that only one person will get the reward for a team effort, know this—I will divide you into three teams. The first team to finish will receive ten taels per person!”

A murmur swept through the crowd.

“Is Young Master Qin truly serious?”

“Our master wouldn’t deceive us, would he?”

“Master, is this really true? Is it?”

As Zhu Cilang finished speaking, the group was thrown into uproar. One by one, they stared in disbelief, unable to accept such good fortune.

A moment later, the noise grew louder as everyone pressed to confirm his words.

At this, Zhu Cilang lifted a hand in the air, and at once, all fell silent—the hall became so quiet, a pin could be heard dropping.

He nodded solemnly. “As long as you are willing to work, I, Qin Xia, will not begrudge gold or silver. My word is my bond!”

“Very well, Master! I pledge my old life to you—just say the word, and I’ll give it everything I have!”

“Please instruct us, Master!”

“With such generosity, we will serve with all our hearts!”

Zhu Cilang smiled and produced his sketch. “Good. I have already purchased the neighboring courtyard. The front and back gates are sealed, with only a passage through to the Qin residence. Now, follow me to see the design, and let us create this object together!”

The craftsmen were all elated, leaving only Si En at the side, counting heads and smiling wryly.

One, two, three… In total, twenty-three craftsmen were now eating at the Qin family’s expense. Eight master craftsmen meant forty taels a month for their wages alone; the fifteen helpers would require another fifteen taels. And from the look of the young prince’s enthusiasm, more craftsmen would soon be hired.

On top of that, the tools purchased for these workers had already cost more than a hundred taels, with household expenses, neighborly banquets, and Yan Lu’s ten-tael fee besides. After all these calculations, there were just over a hundred taels left in the estate’s coffers. Now that a proper household and business were established, with dozens of people to feed and support, the expenses were enormous. In most households, servants were only kept from starving; here, a full stomach was the bare minimum, and slaughtering sheep or pigs for rewards was commonplace. Such thoughtfulness and generosity were unmatched.

For those employed here, whether craftsmen or servants, such a master inspired gratitude and prayers to the gods. But for the master himself, it was a heavy burden. With a quick calculation, Si En knew that even a hundred taels would not last a month…

The young prince had no income; they could not rely on the Ministry of Revenue’s funds—those would not even cover the wages of the eight master craftsmen. Other sources of income were out of the question; knowing the prince’s character, he would never stoop to such things.

Si En mused silently—should he request more silver from the palace? After all, the Empress’s private funds could provide a few hundred more taels.

Yet, thinking of the prince’s stubborn nature, Si En abandoned the idea.

The prince saw appealing to the palace as a form of surrender, and if Si En did so, it would only anger him.

With a sigh, Si En could only try to bolster his not-so-firm confidence in the prince.

As Si En fretted, Zhu Cilang suddenly called out, “Chief Steward, how much is left in the accounts? Set aside enough for a few days’ expenses and bring out the rest—I have great need of it.”