Chapter 91 If you give me territory
Each time the middle of the month came, it would be an exciting time for the Frestech Chamber of Commerce workers.
The reason was very simple, it was because the middle of the month was their payday.
After working hard for a month, when they received their pay, everyone would be much happier than normal.
Adding in the fact that early in the morning, Heinz and Camby had announced a good piece of news to the workers of both factories.
Not only did they not need to work overtime today, the company would also host a large banquet for both workshops and all the workers could participate for free.
Not only did the banquet have plenty of food, it even had good wine!
When hearing that the wind was actually from the Sachi Manor, not only did the household magic machine workshop’s workers explode with cheers, the dwarves of the magic machine workshop almost blew up their workshop with their cheers.
Being supported by this exciting mood, the productivity of both workshops had increased by 20% today. They finished all the work they should have finished during overtime during their normal shifts.
When it was close to dinner, Heinz and Camby announced that work was over half an hour early and they gathered everyone to give out their pay.
Because the Frestech Chamber of Commerce received large amounts of orders, there was quite a bit of overtime for both workshops last month. So when they gave out wages, adding in the pay for the overtime, each worker’s salary was quite a bit higher than normal.
The dwarves of the magic machine workshop had a set salary of eight gold coins per month, but now even the person with the smallest wage had at least twelve gold coins. There were many of them that received even more than fourteen gold coins.
This wage could be considered quite good in Banta City. Even many of the old workers in the large companies couldn’t receive this kind of wage.
To the dwarves that had lived impoverished lives before, this was a giant amount.
Other than that, because the Frestech Chamber of Commerce took care of their meals and lodgings, this was equal to helping them save money.
If this was in the dwarf tribe, because humans raised prices when doing business with dwarves, it seemed like dwarves didn’t consume a lot each month, but it was still quite a lot when it was converted into gold coins.
Adding it all up, the dwarves received over twenty gold coins per month in salary.
Compared to this, the workers of the household magic machine workshop didn’t have wages as high as the dwarves. The lowest received over ten gold coins and the highest received close to thirteen gold coins.
Other than that, because the workers in the household magic machine workshop were all human, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce didn’t have many scruples in giving them benefits. So other than their wages, the human workers in the magic machine workshop could also receive many material benefits.
For example, condiments for their daily cooking, rice and flower, fruits that the workers normally couldn’t bear to buy, and other things…...
Although these things weren’t expensive, they were all things the workers needed. Many times, the effect they had wasn’t worse than paying them their wages.
If there was still a part of the human workers that still wasn’t too assured about this new company yet, after working for the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s factory for over two months, these human workers no longer had any suspicion towards the Frestech Chamber of Commerce.
Not only was there was a stable wage here, there were all kinds of benefits they had never imagined before. The work here was even more much more relaxed compared to other places and the boss didn’t beat or scold them. To many of the human workers, this place was simply like heaven.
Not mentioning having any doubts about the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, if Xu Yi were to come here and fire and worker, that person would immediately break out in tears and definitely refuse to leave.
Of the three hundred workers in the household magic machine workshop, there were a hundred workers who were rather special.
Seeing the other human workers pick up their wages in high spirits, these hundred workers moved to the side. Although their expressions were filled with envy, they didn’t have any hope in their hearts at all.
These hundred human workers were naturally the hundred slaves Viscount Leslie had given Xu Yi.
After they knew that Viscount Leslie had given them to Xu Yi, the hearts of these hundred slaves were filled with happiness.
This was because they were clear that following a master like Xu Yi was definitely better than being under Viscount Leslie.
Of course, they still remembered their slave status and didn’t dare have any expectations towards receiving wages.
They belonged to Xu Yi, so it was natural that they worked for him. It was pretty good that he was feeding them, so how could he still give them money?
Therefore when a slave heard Sebas who was handing out wages call his name and found that Sebas gave him not some daily necessities, but actually a purse when he arrived in front of him, he was completely stunned.
“This…...This is for me?” Bazac carefully pointed at the purse, speaking with a look of disbelief on his face.
“Yes, it’s yours, quickly take it. Next……” Sebas threw the purse to Bazac and called out the next slave in a loud voice.
Bazac walked back to the slaves holding the purse in a daze. The other slaves couldn’t suppress the curiosity in their hearts and urged him to open the purse.
Bazac’s trembling hands took a while to open up the purse and instantly a dazzling golden glow came out of the purse.
Lying in the purse, if it wasn’t dazzling gold coins, what else could it be!
The surrounding slaves stretched their heads out, looking into the purse and they couldn’t hold back their gasps of shock.
The youngest slave was still over twenty and even with how old they were, they had never seen a gold coin before, especially one that belonged to them!
“One…..Two…...Three…...Seven…...Eight, eight gold coins!” Bazac slowly finished counting the coins in the purse and he couldn’t help roaring out in excitement.
Gods above! He, Bazac could actually own eight gold coins!
This must be a gift from the gods! No, this was Lord Xu Yi’s grace!
Bazac quickly ran over to Xu Yi who was standing beside Sebas looking over the monthly accounts. He fell down with a putong and kept bowing his head.
Xu Yi was surprised and quickly pulled him up. Seeing Bazac’s bloody forehead, he asked in shock, “What are you doing?”
“I…..I…..I wanted to thank Lord Xu! You must be a great god descended to the world!”
Xu Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He never thought that giving someone the wages they deserved could actually make them this excited.
He waved his hand to stop the other slaves who wanted to do the same. Xu Yi shook his head and was too lazy to explain anything to Bazac as he called for two slaves to take him away to stop his bleeding. Then he waved as Sebas to let him continue giving out the wages.
Heinz on the side suddenly knit his brows. He came beside Xu Yi and said in a low voice, “Xu Yi, I already said it before, it’s best if you don’t give the slaves wages. This will be bad if you keep doing this, I’m afraid you’ll attract resentment from the nobles of the kingdom.”
Xu Yi looked at him and revealed a relaxed smile, “Relax, didn’t I tell you last time? I am not a noble now, I am only doing things as a merchant. Those lord nobles will not care about what a small merchant like me does, it isn’t related to them anyway.”
“Then you don’t want to become a noble?” Heinz then asked.
Xu Yi closed the book of accounts and after thinking for a bit, he said with a serious face, “I do and I want to be one very much, I wish I could already become a noble. On the continent, the status of a noble makes handling many things much more convenient. At least I can have a piece of land that belongs to me, so I can do whatever I want. But it isn’t like that right now, just expanding the workshop has already tied up our hands.”
Heinz looked over out the window to look at the construction site for the new workshop.
According to Xu Yi’s real intentions, when he wanted to construct this new factory, he wanted replan this large piece of land to lay the foundation for further expansion.
But Heinz had reminded him that they land they were currently using belonged to Viscount Leslie. If Viscount Leslie ever changed his mind, the land that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce worked so hard to develop would be gone.
So Xu Yi was helpless, he could only first build a new workshop and suppress the idea of building an industrial district back down into his heart.
Xu Yi’s eyes looked over the construction site with Heinz and he said with a soft sigh, “If I had a piece of land, I am certain that I could build a complete and beautiful industrial district on that land. It’ll be much better than this current mess.”
Heinz said with a bitter smile, “It’s a pity that you’re not a noble.”
Xu Yi thought for a bit before giving Heinz a smile, “I’m not now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be in the future. Perhaps when I come back from Anvilmar, you’ll find that I’ve already become a noble.”
Heinz was stunned. Looking at Xu Yi’s mysterious expression, he was a bit surprised.
He had heard Xu Yi say that when he goes to Anvilmar to participate in the Magicians Guild’s certification exam, the king would also summon him. Could it be he received some inside information?
But Xu Yi didn’t explain at all as he watched Sebas hand out the rest of the wages. He called Alex to let the workers gather and prepare for the banquet before calling Heinz, Camby, and Sebas to follow him to the office.
Chapter 92 Raising efficiency
“I think the three of you already know, but I’ll be leaving this place tomorrow and I’ll be heading to Anvilmar.” When the four of them sat down, Xu Yi directly said this.
Heinz, Camby, and Sebas looked at each other before they all nodded.
“This is different compared to going to the dwarf tribe. If it is a round trip, it will take at least ten days and if some unexpected delays come up, it is likely it will take more than half a month. Because my time away is a bit long, all the work related to the company during this time needs to be planned ahead of time.” Xu Yi nodded to Sebas, “Sebas, first give us a summary of the company’s financial situation during this time.”
“Yes, sir chairman.” After being together for some time, Sebas was no longer only respectful on the surface to Xu Yi like before, rather he began to treat him like his boss. After giving a response, he opened the accounting books in his hands and looked over them before saying, “Because our company has received large amounts of orders for magic machines lately and adding in the fact that our production line has been smooth, our income has been very stable. The financial situation of the company is very good right now. Just based on the data from last month, our profit has reached eleven thousand four hundred and twenty three gold coins. Although the data for this month isn’t out yet, with our current trend, the profit of our company will keep making breakthroughs at least in the next three months.”
Although Heinz and Camby were high level managers in the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, they only had some approximate knowledge towards their financial situation, they didn’t know the exact numbers. Hearing Sebas give them a number that was over ten thousand gold coins, they immediately revealed wide smiles.
Especially Heinz who had a 20% share in the Frestech Chamber of Commerce. If these profits were distributed, it meant that he would have an income of two thousand gold coins in just a single month!
When he was still running his general store, this kind of huge digit only existed in his mind, he never thought that it would become a reality one day.
Of course, after being with Xu Yi for a long time, his eyes were no longer looking at just the present. Of course he wouldn’t hope that these profits would be distributed right now.
“Of course, other than profits, the expenses of the company are also quite big.” Sebas paused before saying, “The largest is the wages for the workers, with this month totaling five thousand seven hundred and sixty one gold coins. Adding in the additional benefits, we have spent a total of six thousand three hundred and forty seven gold coins on our workers.”
“That much?” Hearing this number, Heinz and Camby were stunned at the same time.
One really know the costs if they didn’t manage the house. Although the two of them knew that the workers wages should have cost them a lot, but hearing this large number come out of Sebas’ mouth, the two of them were shocked.
“It’s just that much.” Xu Yi looked at them before saying with a nod, “So you two need to think of a way to increase your worker efficiency, making them produce more quality products in the same amount of time.”
Camby and Heinz looked at each other before revealing difficult looks.
“This…...The workers are already working very hard, so if you want to increase the worker efficiency…...I’m afraid the gains will not match the losses.” Heinz thought about it before saying this.
“My meaning is not forcing them to be more efficient, rather to use other methods to increase efficiency.” Xu Yi said, “To give an example, Heinz, do you remember the suggestion I gave you last time?”
Heinz thought about it, “You’re talking about how you had me move the magic production machines for the screw to behind the people putting them all together?”
“Right. Although this was a small action, it allowed the workers putting the things together to use the screw right after the small Magic Thread Rolling Machine finished making it. This was a small increase in efficiency. Based on this example, you should be able to find even more methods to increase worker efficiency.”
Heinz and Camby gave thoughtful nods.
Xu Yi then said, “Of course, raising efficiency isn’t all about the workers. I have been researching a new generation of production magic machines with Great Magician Camilla and if we can successfully develop it, the new generation’s magic machines will be several times more efficient than the ones we use now. This can also greatly increase production efficiency. At the same time, I will also research some magic machine tools with Still and the others. Using them will make it easier for the workers to complete their jobs. For example, Still and the others are researching a small Magic Drill. If this can be made, the workers responsible to drilling in the screws can use it and they no longer need to slowly twist it in, increasing their speed by several folds.”
Heinz and Camby looked at Xu Yi in shock, “Why didn’t you tell us before?”
Although Sebas didn’t ask, he also looked at Xu Yi.
As Viscount Leslie’s representative in the Frestecch Chamber of Commerce, he needed to understand the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s current actions to properly report to Viscount Leslie.
He suddenly heard Xu Yi say that he was researching all these new things that he had never heard of before.
If Viscount Leslie knew about this, he definitely wouldn’t be happy.
Xu Yi waved his hand and said with a smile, “Because these things were only thoughts before, so there was no use in mentioning them. Now with all these magic machines and Magic Arrays as foundations, we’ve already built a basic framework. When I come back from Anvilmar, I believe Great Magician Camilla and Still’s group will give a satisfactory answer. I’ll come find you for the final experimental tests and then it’ll be complete. You just need to wait patiently.”
Heinz and Camby nodded, showing they agreed.
After being with Xu Yi for a few months, they were used to Xu Yi making decisions and them implementing those decisions.
Sebas thought about it before tentatively asking, “Sir chairman, as for the new production magic machines and small Magic Drill you mentioned, should these be reported to the Lord Viscount?”
Xu Yi revealed a smile, “You don’t need to tell him. I’ll be going to Anvilmar with the Lord Viscount tomorrow, I’ll find some time to tell him on the way.”
The three were stunned again.
Xu YI was actually traveling with Viscount Leslie, this was a bit unexpected to them.
“The Lord Viscount hasn’t been home in a while, so he’s using this chance to go with me to Anvilmar. He will go back to see his family while also bringing me along as a guest.” Xu Yi explained.
Camby didn’t have any special reactions, but the expressions on Heinz and Sebas’ faces couldn’t help changing.
Xu Yi had said it lightly, but the two understood. Viscount Leslie’s actions clearly meant that he had truly accepted Xu Yi, planning to introduce Xu Yi to his family.
If nothing unexpected happened, this meant that Xu Yi would join the sphere of influence of the family behind Viscount Leslie.
Sebas’ gaze towards Xu Yi became more kind because if nothing unexpected happened, they would all be on the same side.
Heinz slightly knit his brows before relaxing them again.
Although he felt that it was a pity that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce would be a dependent of a large family, this was a matter they were helpless on.
On the Sines Continent, if one didn’t have the support of a large noble family, normal merchants and companies wouldn’t have a proper foothold.
Since Xu Yi had chosen Viscount Leslie back then, it was best if he didn’t change his path. Otherwise, if he chased away everyone, the final ending would definitely be ugly.
Xu Yi noticed the changes of their expression and revealed a faint smile.
It wasn’t hard to guess their thoughts, but Xu Yi wasn’t completely like what they imagined, he wasn’t completely giving himself up to the family behind Viscount Leslie.
Of course, he definitely had to obtain their support, but Xu Yi insisted on maintaining a bit of independence.
As for reaching this middle balance, that was a problem Xu Yi had to face.
“Sebas, your report isn’t over yet, continue.” Xu Yi said to Sebas.
“Yes, chairman.” Perhaps it was because he already considered Xu Yi on his side, but Sebas was much more respectful to Xu Yi now. He gave a loud response before looking down at his accounts. After a slight pause, he said with a clear hesitation, “Other than the spending on the workers, the biggest costs are the various investments sir chairman has made. This includes the fixed five hundred gold coins given to the dwarves and the not fixed material investment currently set at two hundred gold coins. Other than that, there is the investment of a thousand gold coins given to Great Magician Camilla each year, coming to an average of eighty three gold coins per month. Then there is the investment to the three member research lab of Miss Still’s, which added up comes to a total of fifty seven gold coins last month. Then there’s the student aid fund sir chairman signed with the Baron Rickto Magic Academy a few days ago, which by my estimates would cost around a hundred gold coins per month. Adding this all up, there is no specific number for the investment’s sir chairman has made, but it should be around a thousand gold coins per month.”
“Too much!”
“Too little!”
Heinz looked at Xu Yi in a daze, “You find a thousand gold coins a month too little? Xu Yi, our company only earns over ten thousand gold coins each month and we have less than six thousand gold coins left after paying our workers’ wages. If you take off another thousand gold coins, that is only five thousand gold coins left!”
“What? You think that five thousand gold coins of pure profit is small?” Xu Yi looked at Heinz, “Actually, I really feel that one thousand gold coins is just too little. If I had the choice, I would even invest all of the company’s income into research.”
“Are you crazy? What would we even earn?” Heinz couldn’t help raising his voice.
As a major shareholder of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, he could accept Xu Yi investing a bit of the profits into research, but he definitely would not accept Xu Yi’s idea of investing all their income into research.
Xu Yi shrugged his shoulders. He already knew that Heinz’s vision was not far, so it wasn’t a surprise that he had this kind of reaction.
“What ideas do Viscount Leslie have?” Xu Yi asked Sebas.
Sebas hesitated a bit before looking at Heinz and saying with a forced smile, “The Lord Viscount said that he has already promised sir chairman that he wouldn’t participate in decisions for the company. You can do what you want, he won’t have any objections.”
“Is that so?” Xu Yi revealed a smile and spread his arms to Heinz. His meaning was self evident.
Heinz gave a cold snort, but said nothing else.
Xu Yi looked at Heinz before suddenly revealing a mysterious smile and waving his hands at the three of them.
“Actually I have an idea that will definitely earn the company a lot of money. Do you want to hear it?”
Heinz was shocked. He was very clear on Xu Yi’s abilities and since Xu Yi said this, it meant that he really did have a feasible plan.
So Heinz immediately perked up and went over to seriously listen to Xu Yi.