Chapter 175 Indicating attitude
Because the Lampuri Kingdom was in the southwest, the city that was closest to the south, Banta City welcomed summer earlier than the other cities of the kingdom.
Xu Yi had arrived in Banta City in June two years ago, back then Banta City was as hot as the middle of the summer already.
Now that Banta City was entering June, the weather was slowly becoming warmer.
But this special climate that the other cities didn’t have created a special environment in Banta City.
When June came, the large patch of summer fruit plants near Koror Village had matured and it was harvest season.
Just like past years, the beginning of June was a good time to harvest sand pears and star fruits. The villagers of Koror Village were the same as past years, they were busy in their orchards, making use of this time to harvest the fruits.
But different from previous years, where the harvested fruits were immediately sent to Banta City or the nearby cities like Karma City or Saltan City to sell, the sand pears and star fruits that the Koror Village villagers harvested this year were sent to the canned fruit factory built near the village and they were exported at all.
This was because when the canned fruit factory was built, all the fruits in Koror Village were bought by the Frestech Chamber of Commerce using last year’s market price. They would all be turned into canned fruit.
After the sand pears and star fruits were sent to the factory, they were first boiled. After they were boiled, they were packed into glass jars that were sealed with iron lids.
As fruit kept being sent to the factory, the sweet fragrance of fruit being boiled drifted out and there was an enticing sweet smell that covered the entire Koror Village.
Still took a deep breath of this sweet air and couldn’t help saying with praise, “This smell is just too good, I even want to live here.”
Xu Yi revealed a faint smile, “It’s not a problem to smell it for a bit, but if you smell it all day, do you believe that you would feel disgusted after seeing fruit not long after?”
“Is it that exaggerated?” Still doubtfully looked at Xu Yi. She took a deep breath when they approached the factory and had an infatuated look, “Such a sweet smell, how could I get tired of it?”
Xu Yi laughed as he teased, “Then do you want to stay here and work for a week to see if you’ll get tired or not?”
Still scrunched up her little nose and didn’t seem convinced. A chubby middle aged man wearing a white work uniform said with a smile, “Sir chairman is right. Madame Still, if you stay here, no matter how nice this smell is, it will become a bit disgusting. Look, all the workers are wearing masks. First, it is because of sir chairman’s strict health regulations and secondly, it’s to block out the smell even if it’s just a little bit.”
“Really?” Still looked at the workers boiling the fruit in the factory and she saw that there were large masks on the faces of all the workers. She curiously took a mask and began sniffing all around.
Seeing that Still was interested in a tour, Xu Yi couldn’t help smiling. He didn’t go with her and asked the middle aged man who had just spoke, “Factory head Will, the factory has been operating for half a month now, is it going smoothly?”
Factory head Will responded with loud laughter, “Because we weren’t experienced at first, there were quite a few problems, but with sir chairman’s guidance, it wasn’t that troublesome. Now the factory is running very smoothly and the workers are very enthusiastic.”
“It’s good that it’s smooth. Then do you think you can complete the Walmart Chamber of Commerce’s first batch within the month?” Xu Yi asked.
Hearing this question, factory head Will hesitated a bit.
“This…..Right now we can only produce less than two thousand cans of fruit each day, but the Walmart Chamber of Commerce’s first batch is for a hundred thousand cans…..I’m afraid this is a bit difficult……”
“You have to think of a way to overcome if there is difficulty.” Xu Yi said without any courtesy, “This is the Walmart Chamber of Commerce’s first batch of orders. If there are problems with the first batch, it will affect our future deals. So factory head Will, you have to properly think of a way to increase the efficiency of our workers.”
“Definitely, definitely.” Factory manager Will kept nodding, “Since it’s the order of sir chairman, I will definitely do my best to achieve it.”
“It isn’t related to if it’s my order or not.” Xu Yi shook his head, “Although this canned fruit factory is a factory under our Frestech Chamber of Commerce, the workers in the facoory are all villagers of Koror, Kambia, and Mexilan Villages, using the fruit harvested from Koror Village. If this factory’s efficiency is good, the ones who benefit the most are these three villages, especially the villagers of Koror Village. So no matter what, just based on the benefits to you villagers and your villages, you have to do well.”
“Understood!” Factory head Will gave a strong nod, “Sir chairman, I will definitely do my best to properly handle this factory!”
“Alright, I believe you.” Xu Yi revealed a faint smile as he patted factory head Will’s shoulder before reminding him, “Of course, before raising efficiency, you have to ensure quality. You know that this factory is making edible things and if it isn’t done safely, it might take someone’s life.”
Seeing how serious Xu Yi was, factory head Will firmly agreed.
After saying a few more things, Xu Yi and Still went around the canned fruit factory being led by factory head Will before leaving Koror Village. Their carriage headed down the Falling Rain Road, heading towards the Falling Rain Valley.
Still turned back to look at Koror Village disappearing into the distance before asking Xu Yi, “Why did you go to this canned fruit factory in the middle of nowhere? If I had to say something, this canned fruit factory should be the most unrelated place to magic machines under the company right now.”
“It’s because it’s unrelated to magic machines that I chose to come here.” Xu Yi replied with a smile, “Since I announced that I wanted to give up completely and no longer manage the company, then I have to show it. But if I completely ignore everything and run off on a honeymoon with you, the people of the company will feel worried.”
“Humph, what is there to worry about? Could it be that only they are allowed to take a vacation and you’re not?” Still said with pouty lips.
“This is not a problem of taking a vacation, it is related to confidence. If I don’t care about anything, certain people will feel that I’m really planning to give up. Then I’m certain that many people in the company will lose trust in the company and large problems will occur.” Xu Yi said.
“I couldn’t tell, but you’re quite narcissistic.” Still poked Xu Yi’s cheek, “Chairman Xu, based on your words, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce can’t keep going without you? Aren’t you too arrogant?” 𝐛𝗲𝗱𝐧𝗼𝐯𝗲𝗹．𝐧𝐞𝘁
“I am this arrogant.” Xu Yi laughed, “Do you dare deny that my words aren’t facts?”
Still wanted to refute Xu Yi, but she found that she couldn’t do it.
This was because Xu Yi’s words were facts.
The Frestech Chamber of Commerce could lack anyone, it couldn’t lack him as the chairman.
It wasn’t exaggerated to say that Xu Yi was equal to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce.
The reason why this company that was established two years ago could expand this quickly, becoming a pivotal company in Banta City in this short period of time, even having a certain influence on the entire Lampuri Kingdom was all because of Xu Yi.
If they lacked anyone else, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce could keep operating, but without Xu Yi, there would be large problems that occurred like Xu Yi said.
Seeing Still’s speechless appearance, Xu Yi laughed. He pinched Still’s face and said, “So, I want to make my attitude clear to everyone. It makes it easier for Kennard to take care of managing the company and it lets people understand that I am still the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s chairman. It is very hard to assure people, but thinking about it, I found that this canned fruit factory is a very good choice. Because the canned fruit factory isn’t related to the main business of my company, if I come to inspect this place, it won’t affect Kennard taking care of the main business. Moreover, did you not notice? When I was talking to factory head Will, not a single word as related to how the factory was managed.”
Still tilted her head to think and found that Xu Yi was completely right.
But thinking about it, Still couldn’t help knitting her brows and saying with a soft sigh, “Why are you going through all this trouble? Everyone understands that you are the only chairman of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, no matter what you do, it is impossible to reduce your standing in everyone’s mind. Thinking this much about it, aren’t you tired?”
Xu YI gave a shrug, “It’s because I’m tired that I have to do everything I can to increase Kennard’s authority. Only then can I let Kennard take care of management for me and I can have the time to do other things. Look, if this was before, how could I have a whole day to spend with you? Aren’t you happy?”
Still revealed a sweet smile and kissed Xu Yi before saying in a gentle voice, “Of course I’m very happy. If you can be more relaxed and don’t have to worry about all kinds of things like before, how could I not be happy.”
Xu Yi kissed her back before revealing a smile. He looked out the carriage and he gave a sigh in his heart.
Although on the surface, he could withdraw from managing the company, having more time and effort.
But in reality, as the Frestech Chamber of Commerce kept developing, there were more and complicated things that he had to take care of as the chairman.
Moreover, these things involved many variables. If one thing was done wrong, it could create a large problem.
Compared to before, he actually wasn’t that much more relaxed.
Chapter 176 Other race agent
The horse carriage slowly entered the Falling Rain Valley. Xu Yi didn’t go inspect the various factories like before and directly went looking for chief Siluka and chief Monto.
The two dwarven chiefs were contacted by Xu Yi ahead of time and when they saw him coming over with Still, they immediately understood his intention.
“Sir chairman, I don’t feel like there is a need.” Siluka looked over the document that Still had handed him for a while before saying with knitted brows, “You and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce are trusted by all the dwarves. Since we have already signed a contract with you, why do we need to go through all the trouble of signing another contract with young miss Still?”
“In other words, isn’t this just troublesome?” Chief Monto on the side also said, “We dwarves keep our promises and since we believe in sir chairman, there isn’t even a need to sign a contract. Not to mention that going through all these procedures just makes my head swell.”
Xu Yi looked at chief Monto’s head that was bigger than his and he couldn’t help smiling as he said, “It is my honour that you two choose to believe me, I’m very happy. If it was just you cooperating with me, there is indeed no need for a contract. But you can’t guarantee that all the dwarven brothers trust me like you do, right? Moreover, even I can’t guarantee that I won’t change in the future, even changing the things that I promised you. So that means that my taking care of everything, it will be a safeguard for the benefits of the dwarven brothers.”
“Xu Yi is right.” Still took over, “You can’t completely believe in oral agreements. There is also another important problem, it’s that the contract that you and the other dwarven brothers signed with the Frestech Chamber of Commerce before doesn’t conform with the kingdom’s laws, so it isn’t protected by the laws. That means that if the Frestech Chamber of Commerce wants to go against the contract and fire any dwarves, you won’t be able to resist.”
“I believe in the chairman, he won’t do this.” Chief Siluka said in a certain voice.
“My too.” Chief Monto also said.
“It isn’t a matter of believing in Xu Yi or not, the validity of the contract is another thing.” Still said, “Two chiefs, could it be that you’re not worried that Xu Yi will change his mind in the future?”
Siluka looked at Still before asking in a confused voice, “Young miss Still, you’ve just gotten married to the chairman, so why does it feel like you trust him less than us? You keep saying bad things about him?”
“That’s right, young miss Still, it can’t be that a problem has occurred between you and the chairman, right…..” Chief Monto asked with a puzzled look.
Still was speechless from what they said and she suddenly turned to hit Xu Yi’s arm. She said in an angry voice, “It’s all your fault, you had to have me take care of this matter. Now the two chiefs are doubting our relationship!”
Xu Yi laughed as he quickly explained to the two chiefs, “The two of you mustn’t misunderstand, Still didn’t want to do this, but I forced her. Still is right, this matter will ensure the benefits of the dwarven brothers, it isn’t about whether you trust me or not. As the chiefs of the Angola and Norma Tribes, you should first think about your clansmen first and then the benefit of the dwarf race itself, so I advise you to seriously consider this and it’s best if you sign this contract.”
Chief Siluka and chief Monto looked at each other before giving helpless nods, “Since the chairman is insisting on us doing this, then we’ll agree.”
Seeing that chief Sikuka and chief Monto were signing the delegated authority contract that Still took out, Xu Yi gave a nod. Then he had Still take out another series of contracts which he had chief Siluka and chief Monto sign.
Just like Still had said, although the dwarves had signed a contract before working for the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, because the Lampuri Kingdom didn’t have a law about other races working in human companies, the contract wasn’t protected by the kingdom’s laws.
This meant that in theory, as long as the Frestech Chamber of Commerce wanted it, they could dismiss dwarven workers without giving any reasons and they wouldn’t shoulder any responsibilities.
Although this was only in theory and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce didn’t want to give up any dwarven workers that had strong techniques and knew how to work hard, Xu Yi was someone who transmigrated from earth and he placed importance in this kind of safeguard. That was why after he convinced the kingdom’s government to give labour cards to other race workers, he also proposed a set of laws related to other race workers to Seveni.
A while ago, when Seveni came to see Xu Yi, she told him that the Royal Parliament had already passed the other race worker laws that he had proposed before.
According to these laws, when human companies of the Lampuri Kingdom hired other race workers, they had to apply for labour cards for them first. Then they had to undergo a series of identity registration and security checks before they could become a recognized worker of a human company, being treated the same as a normal human worker.
But this procedure was a bit complicated and to let the Lampuri Kingdom that had a human society, as well as no experience hiring other race workers before, it really was forcing them out of their element.
If they allowed the companies who hired the other race workers to do this, although it was theoretically possible, it would be too tedious since the government would have to check with every human company. Therefore, the Royal Parliament had rejected this.
In the end, Seveni proposed Xu Yi’s idea to the Royal Parliament, which was authorizing a special organization to conduct these procedures according to the situation.
This organization’s current full title was the Lampuri Kingdom’s other race hiring management department, it was mainly responsible for taking care of related matters when human companies hired other race workers.
This department didn’t directly talk to the other race workers, rather the human agents of those other race workers.
In other words, if other races wanted to work for human companies, they had to find a human agent, who would take care of all the related procedures for them. Otherwise, the government wouldn’t acknowledge them.
Because the agent can’t be from the company that hired the other race worker, after consulting with Xu Yi and Seveni, Still created a company in the end that specializes in representing other races for money, helping the other race workers enter human companies.
Xu Yi was currently the most trusted human by other races in the Lampuri Kingdom and Still was his wife, so she had a natural talent in obtaining the trust of other races.
For example, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s dwarf and elf workers, if they knew that Still was to be their agent, they definitely wouldn’t have any problems.
From what chief Siluka and chief Monto could see, this actually was completely unnecessary.
They had complete trust in Xu Yi. When Xu Yi represented the Frestech Chamber of Commerce to sign a contract with them before, they were very disdainful, confused, and even angry, feeling that Xu Yi didn’t believe in them.
Now that this was becoming even more complicated, naturally they were a bit unwilling.
But with Xu Yi and Still’s patient explanation, the two dwarven chiefs understood. Human society was different from dwarven society, the dwarves found these procedures to be complicated, but since they were choosing to work in human companies, they should follow the human customs.
But when Still took out the contracts to explain to the two chiefs, the two of them directly rejected her. They took the pen and signed their names on the contracts.
Seeing the actions of the two chiefs, Xu Yi couldn’t help saying with a smile, “Chief Siluka, chief Monto, you’re signing without even reading the contracts, aren’t you afraid of me selling you?”
Chief Siluka laughed, “I believe in the chairman, what is there to fear.”
“That’s right. Even if you do sell us, do we really have to follow it? At worst we’ll bring our brothers back to the mountains and we can just live like before.” Chief Monto said.
Xu Yi helplessly shook his head, “It’s different compared to before. Two chiefs, you have to admit, the lives of the dwarven brothers are much better now. Could it be that you want them to abandon this kind of life and return to a life where they couldn’t even drink any wine?”
Chief Siluka and chief Monto looked at each other before shaking their heads with bitter smiles.
“That’s right, since the brothers started working for the company, their lives are much better than before. To let the brothers live the same bitter lives as before, they wouldn’t be willing at all.” Chief Siluka said in an emotional voice before asking, “But how is it related to us signing these contracts? After being with the chairman for close to two years, even if we dwarves don’t understand humans, we still know that the chairman is trustworthy. So as long as you are here, there are no problems at all.”
“But what if I’m no longer here?” Xu Yi asked back, “First let’s not mention the possibility that I might no longer be the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s chairman, this is a question that you can’t evade. I am a human in the end, I will die eventually. The lifespan of us humans is at most a hundred years, it’s far from being able to compare to you dwarves and elves with your hundreds of years. When I die, I think most of the dwarven brothers will still be living. Do you think that there will be another human you can trust as much as me?”
Hearing Xu Yi keep mentioning “dying”, Still on the side couldn’t help reaching her hand out to tightly grab Xu Yi’s and leaned in closer to him.
The two chiefs were also stunned. After looking at Xu Yi for a bit, they scratched their heads, “This is indeed a problem.”
When Xu Yi was about to explain his real intentions to the two chiefs, there was a voice that suddenly sounded from beside the three of them.
“Since chairman Xu is worried that your lifespan is too short, you can just increase it.”