Chapter 14: Governing Subordinates

Chapter 14: Managing Subordinates

Su Qingwan took Lüzhu to the Xie Family Trading House. The Xie family was the third-largest tea merchant in Jiangnan. The private sale of tea had been legalized for decades; Huainan was rich in tea, and even before the legalization, merchants had been smuggling it. After the Xie family established their own firm and the trade was opened up, they leveraged their connections in Huainan to develop rapidly, becoming a prominent generation of tea merchants. Their foundation was primarily in the south. In the capital, where various sectors were carved up by the powerful and influential, the Xie family’s business was more scattered, though the variety was vast. Beyond tea, they dealt in silks, satins, ready-to-wear clothing, brewing, and three large restaurants. The Xie family’s main office was on North-South Street. The manager’s surname was Xie, and he was a distant relative of the main family. The shopkeepers would come to the trading house every month to reconcile accounts and hold meetings.

When Su Qingwan arrived, Xie Min was not particularly shocked. The news of the Lu family’s eldest daughter-in-law returning from the dead had spread throughout the capital, and given the massive stir caused by Lu Feng’s grand wedding, those in business—who were always well-informed—naturally knew. Xie Min had known the mistress would eventually come to the trading house.

There were twelve shopkeepers, large and small, for the Xie family in the capital. Su Qingwan had sent word last night that everyone was to be present today. Aside from Xie Min, only four shopkeepers had arrived, one of whom was a woman who managed the restaurants.

Xie Min was over forty, thin and small, with a pair of very bright eyes. In the words of the other shopkeepers, he was "short but sharp." The head of the Xie family had visited the capital only a handful of times, so Xie Min made all the decisions regarding the affairs of the capital’s trading house.

After Su Qingwan greeted him, she entered the inner hall. The few shopkeepers stood up to pay their respects, their gazes probing and curious. All dozen or so shopkeepers had attended Xie Zhaolan’s funeral, and the Xie family had even issued an obituary. Seeing her alive and well, it was inevitable that they would be astonished.

Su Qingwan said, "Why haven't the other shopkeepers arrived yet?"

Xie Min smiled and said, "Perhaps they were held up by some business and couldn't get away. If the Eldest Miss has any instructions, just let me know, and I will pass them down."

If one or two people were absent or held up, that was one thing, but for the majority to be missing—that was not so simple.

Su Qingwan’s expression was indifferent. "I gathered everyone today to announce one thing: from now on, when members of the Lu family come to make purchases, they are to pay the full price. We are in business, and we treat everyone equally. It is cash on delivery, and there is no need to offer 'tribute silver' to the Lin woman."

Xie Min and the shopkeepers were shocked. Most of the shops in the capital were Xie Zhaolan’s dowry. Ever since she married Lu Feng, the Lu family had used her name whenever they came to shop. The Lin woman was even more greedy, having pressured Xie Zhaolan several times. Xie Zhaolan had wanted to spend money to avoid trouble, so she ordered the shopkeepers to keep a tab, which she would settle herself at the middle of the month.

This rule had continued until Xie Zhaolan’s passing. In the year since her death, the Lin woman had practically occupied all the shops, spending money without even needing to keep a tab. The Xie family’s assets in the capital had almost entirely fallen into the hands of the Lu family.

The shopkeepers looked at each other in dismay, and Xie Min even showed a hint of impatience. Su Qingwan sipped her tea, her eyes slightly lowered, her heart as clear as a mirror.

"Eldest Miss, we know you suffered grievances in the Lu family and want to cut off their funds. But business has its rules. Our support of the Lu family is, in fact, a form of 'ice and charcoal tribute.' Capital merchants seeking the protection of capital officials must offer tribute; by spending money to settle matters, the Lu family can protect us from harassment. You have never concerned yourself with business matters, Eldest Miss, and this move is ill-considered. In my opinion, it is better to continue providing the funds."

Xie Zhaolan had been raised by the Xie family as their eldest daughter. She had been immersed in business from a young age, knew how to read ledgers, and understood the ways of commerce. After marrying into the Lu family, she managed the household affairs and was busy day and night with Lu family matters, leaving her no energy to manage the capital business, which she had entrusted entirely to Xie Min.

Xie Min, relying on his status as an elder, often lectured Xie Zhaolan, telling her to be a filial daughter-in-law and a submissive wife, and not to show her face in public to manage business.

How could Su Qingwan not hear the condescension and belittlement in his words? She frowned slightly and asked, "Xie Min, is the Xie family trading house yours, or is it mine?"

"Naturally, it is yours!" Xie Min said with a chuckle.

"Since I am the owner, when did it become your turn to teach me how to do things?" Su Qingwan’s face darkened.

Xie Min’s smile stiffened, and he put on a stern face. "Eldest Miss, you are the owner, but without us shopkeepers working hard and managing the details, could the business in the capital be this prosperous? You wear silks and satins, eat delicacies, enjoy life at home, and sit there counting silver, while we are the ones traveling north and south, braving the wind and sun. Now, because of a moment of anger, you want to destroy your own foundation. How can I watch you court disaster?"

"Do you really take me for a little girl who knows nothing and can be easily deceived? The Xie family trading house has been established in the capital for many years; when did it ever need the Lu family’s protection? Is that 'ice and charcoal tribute' really for the Lu family? Now that there is an extra portion of tribute, and the largest one at that, tell me, why?" Su Qingwan asked in a low voice. "Could it be that you are profiting from this? That is why everyone is covering it up and protecting each other?"

Xie Min’s face turned awkward, then he became angry from embarrassment. "Eldest Miss, stop making baseless accusations! You were the one who kept the tabs for the Lu family back then, and you didn't stop them when they demanded silver. Now it’s all our fault?"

"I made a mistake, and I admit it. For these years, I have also been using private accounts to cover the holes in the trading house. Now, I don't want to give it, and this is an order," Su Qingwan said calmly. "Can you do it?"

Having been the head manager for so many years, Xie Min thought highly of himself and was very concerned with his reputation. How could he allow Su Qingwan to challenge his authority? "Eldest Miss, for three years you have raised a greedy snake, and its appetite has grown. Now that you want to cut off its food, how could it be willing? We are open for business and cannot afford to be tossed about. By spending money to avoid trouble, why must you bring this suffering upon yourself?"

"If something happens, I will bear it!" Su Qingwan said firmly. "I may not understand business, but I know better than anyone else who I do and do not want to spend my money on. Someone, notify all the shopkeepers: within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, everyone must come to North-South Street. Whoever doesn't show up need not be a shopkeeper anymore. The Xie family temple is too small to house such big Buddhas."

Su Qingwan was the owner, after all, and her words carried weight. Soon, people were sent to find the shopkeepers.

Xie Min sneered mockingly, "A girl from a boudoir, can you even read a ledger? Do you know how a trading house operates? Without us shopkeepers, the business in the capital will collapse in less than half a month."

Su Qingwan looked at him calmly. "Xie Min, do you think you are very capable, and that the prosperity of the capital business over these years is all your credit?"

Xie Min looked arrogant, wearing the expression of someone who prides himself on his achievements, yet he hypocritically said, "It is the credit of all the shopkeepers."

"You shopkeepers have traveled far and wide, running about and socializing; it is indeed very hard work. But do not forget, when the Xie family trading house was founded, you were not yet born, and when the Xie family trading house became a household name, you were still young. You came when the trading house was at its peak, possessing the experience of your predecessors and the connections of the Xie family. Anyone else could have done just as well." Su Qingwan’s tone was steady and powerful, a carrot and a stick. "You married, started families, and had children; the Xie family has never treated you unfairly."

In other words, it was the Xie family that gave them the best platform to exercise their talents, not their talents that brought the Xie family its prosperity. And for all these years, the Xie family had never treated these shopkeepers poorly.