Chapter 90: Unwavering Loyalty

"No kneeling!" Qin Zhen roared. "I am not worthy of your bows!"

Clear sunlight slipped through the eaves and fell across his face like the radiance of a deity.

When everyone had risen, Qin Zhen went on.

"To put it simply, men are not only needed for sales, but also for transporting goods and carrying loads. It is a bit harder work, so men will receive ten copper coins a day, and women eight, with two meals provided."

At these words, the crowd erupted once more.

It had already been said that an ordinary commoner earned no more than one tael of silver in a year, that is, one thousand copper coins.

Broken down, that came to only about three copper coins a day.

Qin Zhen's wages were clearly far above average.

"Also, since this is sales, performance has to be counted."

Faced with the crowd, now dazzled by the daily pay, Qin Zhen wore a friendly smile.

"For ordinary clothes, the kind you're wearing now, twenty copper coins a piece, you'll get an extra two coins in reward for every item sold. In a few days, another batch of specially made silk will arrive in our village. The starting price should be one hundred coins, and each item sold will earn a ten-coin bonus."

"As for the finest qipao, they start at ten taels of silver. If any one of you can sell a single piece, you'll get a full tael as a bonus! The more you sell, the greater your bonus, and the more you earn!"

It exploded.

It utterly exploded.

In this world, harsher than bonded labor and overrun by slaves, the sales model Qin Zhen described was nothing short of a brand-new, astonishing idea.

He did not preach any empty nonsense about the equality of all men. He simply used money to tell everyone that if they followed him and worked hard, they would surely be rewarded.

"Really? Savior, you mustn't lie to us!"

"Is there truly such a good thing in this world?"

Even Little Daiyu was looking at him in utter disbelief.

Her face seemed to say: I am not well read, so don't fool me.

"What is there to doubt?" said Li Han at once, before Qin Zhen could speak. "Everyone working under Zhen in our village gets bonuses! And for us armed village guards, not only are the bonuses higher, but there are people looking after the women and relatives at home! The children can even go to the village school for free! As long as you follow Zhen, I guarantee you'll eat well and live well!"

The people of the fishing village all laughed.

They loved seeing others look so unworldly.

"Father!"

Many cried out to the sky.

What sort of savior was this, anyway?

He was clearly their long-lost wild father, their sworn patron! Otherwise, why would Qin Zhen treat them so well?

"Can I join your village guard?" someone sprang to his feet, his face flushed with fervor.

No wonder these people obeyed Qin Zhen without question!

With such treatment, let alone drawing a blade against Master Chen, even if Qin Zhen told them to rebel, they would not so much as lift an eyelid!

"You'd have to get registered in the fishing village first," Qin Zhen said with a smile. "Only after you become one of my people can you join the village guard."

Little Daiyu was likewise deeply shaken at this point.

When she looked at Qin Zhen, there was plainly more reverence and admiration in her eyes.

Little Qingwen was still young and did not yet understand what Qin Zhen's words meant, but she could clearly feel the reverence and fervor the people around them held for him.

It was a kind of devotion from the heart, a pursuit of beauty itself.

Watching the nearly crazed crowd outside, Chen Shu, gnawing on a bun in the inn, let a trace of a smile appear at the corner of his mouth.

He suddenly began to understand why Qin Zhen had insisted on buying people from the mines.

Did Qin Zhen lack workers?

Clearly not.

What he lacked was loyal followers.

First establish authority, then win hearts, and finally lure them with great profit.

What could be easier to win over than slaves with nothing at all, struggling in despair?

In all his many years, Chen Shu had seen such methods and such a mind in only one person.

And that man had been the former commander of the Flying Fish Camp, Zhong Xuguo.

He drained the wine in his bowl in one gulp.

In his heart, he had already made a decision.

After simply dividing the crowd into teams, Qin Zhen led them in a mighty procession toward the market.

After several days of buildup, the reputation of the fishing village brand clothing had spread far and wide and was much beloved by the common people.

Sturdy, durable, inexpensive, comfortable, and easy to wash: those three great virtues nearly caused the twenty-coin jacket robes to sell out. By comparison, the Huang family's cloth shop sold clothes that were outdated, ugly, and overpriced, daring to charge fifty coins for what was little more than a rag.

Before the fishing village brand appeared, the Huang family had monopolized cloth prices, and the people had no choice but to pinch their noses and accept it.

But now the old was being replaced by the new. After trying the fishing village brand and discovering how good it was, who could still look twice at the Huang family's shabby wares?

Qin Zhen's stall was now thronged with people, while the Huang family's cloth shops a few streets away were desolate beyond belief.

"Young Master... all our customers have been stolen by that damned Qin Zhen! Now everyone is going to Qin Zhen to sign up, buying those so-called fishing fans, and no one is coming to our shop anymore!" The Huang steward wore a face of misery. "Several old patrons have even sent word asking whether we can stock some fishing village brand clothes and fabrics..."

"This is a Huang family shop! How could we sell things from the fishing village?!" Huang Dalang was furious.

Looking at the bustling stall in the distance, he ground his teeth with hatred, yet there was nothing he could do.

By comparison, Qin Zhen's side was naturally far more lively.

He had specially ordered a signboard to be erected in a conspicuous place, with bold characters announcing that a shopping festival was approaching and that the grand opening would come with lavish promotions. The crowd gathered thickly around it.

"Young Master Qin, what is a shopping festival?" A cool, curious voice drifted over unexpectedly.

Miss Ying'er approached slowly under the protection of her attendants.

Qin Zhen hastily bowed.

"Forgive me for not welcoming you properly, Miss Ying'er."

"Tell me first: what is a shopping festival?" Miss Ying'er fixed her gaze on him.

Taking the chance, Qin Zhen raised his voice as much as possible so more people could hear, and explained, "It will be like a poetry gathering! This commoner has already discussed it with the Fang family, and a section of the city center will be set aside and decorated for the occasion. There will not only be lantern riddles, snacks, and performances, but also many specialty products from my fishing village. Our fishing village cloth shop will open then as well, and all kinds of silk fabrics and new dresses will be put on sale."

"If Miss Ying'er is free then, you are welcome to come and enjoy yourself."

"That does sound rather good." Miss Ying'er was clearly interested. "I will certainly come."

She stared at the words on the signboard, then pointed to the latter half and asked, "And what is this grand opening promotion?"

"Does Miss Ying'er know what a fishing fan is?" Qin Zhen asked.

"The members of your fishing village, of course! I've heard of that." Miss Ying'er smiled. "You just pay a fee and become one, and then clothes cost much less when you buy them here." As she spoke, she glanced over the clothes on display. She did not seem interested in them at all; even those exquisite qipao set out for show were far less stunning than the one Qin Zhen had given her at the Baiyang Tower.

Noticing her gaze, Qin Zhen's heart moved, and he explained, "Since we're about to open, a batch of high-end garments made from snow silkworm silk will arrive soon. And for all our fishing village 'fishing fan' members, every item of clothing and fabric in the shop during the shopping festival will start at half price! Beautiful gifts will be given freely, and you'll also have priority access to the final showcase garments!"