Liang Xiao sidled up to Liang Yun and whispered, "Your only flaw is that you always rush to speak."
Liang Yun paused. Deciding to tolerate him for the sake of potential "dividends," he chose not to argue.
Liang Xiao then approached the crowd and announced, "Esteemed sirs and madams, the steward has likely informed you that I am here to hire you as laborers."
The crowd responded with murmurs of "Understood!"
An elder asked hesitantly, "Benefactor, many among us are old bones; our strength is not like that of the young. Do you still find us useful...?"
After asking everyone to remain seated, Liang Xiao began to explain.
"The focus will be on the able-bodied young and middle-aged, including women. I intend to hire you. As for the elderly, children, and the infirm, you will not be required to work. Instead, you will receive proper care. In other words, if the young and able-bodied represent your families and work for me, your entire household can be sustained."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a stir of excitement below, but more so, a wave of disbelief.
Could such a good thing truly exist in this world?
However, out of gratitude towards Liang Xiao, and heeding the steward's prior instruction not to cause a disturbance, they patiently listened on.
"The workload will be moderate, and I will pay you at market rates. Furthermore, you and your families will be provided with food, lodging, and medical care. If our performance is satisfactory in the future, I may even increase your wages."
This time, even the able-bodied young and middle-aged were moved. Many's eyes lit up, their faces filled with eagerness, wishing they could start immediately.
They had endured such hardship and displacement for so long; having food and shelter would have been a blessing.
This Second Young Master Liang was even planning to employ them with pay, and cover their families' medical expenses?
Even the emperor could not be so benevolent!
It was truly unheard of!
"But this comes at a price!"
Liang Xiao finally reached the crux of the matter and announced, "To prevent the leakage of technology, for a considerable period from now on, the workshops will be overseen by guards. Without my permission, none of you will be allowed to leave, nor wander freely within the workshops. Even if granted permission to leave, you must be accompanied by a guard."
"Technology?" Liang Yun blinked, his spirit immediately piqued.
He knew that Liang Xiao had recently recruited Zhang Yang, and everyone in the manor was aware of it. It was rumored that Zhang Yang had even received support from the Ministry of Works!
The common folk below were astonished, whispering amongst themselves, "We can't go out?"
Liang Xiao nodded. "Precisely! That is to say, during the period I ensure the safety of the technology, your work and benefits will be at the cost of your entire family's freedom!"
As soon as Liang Xiao finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the surroundings.
After a moment, the crowd erupted into cheers of excitement.
Liang Xiao blinked, then suddenly remembered something and smiled enigmatically.
A burly middle-aged man pounded his chest and said earnestly, "Benefactor! What is mere freedom compared to this? We were all refugees before!"
"Indeed! We are already immensely grateful that Benefactor can provide us with food. And now you plan to arrange housing for us, and even treat our illnesses! This is truly the act of a saint!" An old man, tears streaming down his face, moved to kneel and kowtow again but was helped up by a guard.
"Even if Benefactor offered no wages, we would gladly work for you, only asking for a place to settle our families and no longer face ruin!"
Everyone voiced their commitment, and a chorus of weeping ensued.
This was the first time they had encountered such a benevolent benefactor; they felt as though they were dreaming.
Liang Xiao looked at the people, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He had, in fact, attempted to treat these refugees with the mindset of a modern person from that other world.
But it was evident that such welfare was a groundbreaking initiative here.
In this world, people do not suffer from scarcity, but from inequality!
For these homeless individuals, such welfare seemed almost like an overwhelming burden.
"Second Brother, are you unwell?" Liang Yun grumbled from the side, but he had, without realizing it, acknowledged Liang Xiao as his brother.
Six hundred people, and to pay them wages, that was a substantial expenditure!
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment, then smiled, "Wages will still be paid. However, the initial wage standard will be the same as outside. Depending on profitability, it will be increased further. After all, you do not need to work for me and my descendants for eternity; there will always be opportunities to resign or change professions."
"No, no, no! We will never resign! As long as you need workers, we will not leave, even if we die!" The crowd was filled with trepidation, their hands clasped together, praying and worshipping Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao smiled with satisfaction. "Rest assured, you will not be casually dismissed. As the industries grow, I will even recruit more workers. For now, please rest in this manor for a few days. I will then arrange foremen to train you in your tasks."
After appeasing these more than a hundred households of refugees, Liang Xiao left with Liang Yun.
"Second Brother, what exactly are you planning to do? Produce that new farming tool to sell for money?" Liang Yun couldn't help but ask.
"Brewing wine," Liang Xiao replied calmly.
"Brewing wine??" Liang Yun gasped, then slapped his forehead. "You really are insane! The cheapest wine on the market is only tens of copper coins per jin, and the most expensive is no more than tens of taels per jin. How can brewing wine be profitable...?"
Liang Xiao smiled. "Have you ever drunk wine?"
Liang Yun said with a heartbroken tone, "Of course I have! Don't tell me Grandpa is funding this madness of yours? No, I must tell Grandpa; this sort of thing has no future!"
Liang Xiao patted Liang Yun's shoulder and handed him a hundred-tael silver note.
"Rest assured, I am spending my own earned money. As for you, you will be responsible for overseeing the workshop process. I will pay you one hundred taels per month; this is an advance payment. You will receive ten percent of the net profit from the wine in the future."
Liang Yun blinked, pocketed the silver note, and immediately fell silent.
Fine, as long as there was money involved.
As for what net profit was, he understood vaguely, but as long as he didn't have to pay out of his own pocket, that was enough.
Liang Yun dutifully followed Liang Xiao back to the courtyard and sat by the stone table, waiting.
Liang Xiao retrieved a small wine jar from the room and placed it on the table.
A faint aroma of wine wafted over, and Liang Yun's throat moved. He exclaimed in surprise, "The wine you're brewing is this kind?"
Liang Xiao nodded and casually opened the tightly sealed lid.
The wine fragrance rushed forth, seemingly endless, filling Liang Yun's nostrils.
Liang Yun was momentarily stunned, and unknowingly, drool trickled down his chin. He gasped in amazement, "What a fine wine!"
He had to admit, he had never smelled such an astonishing wine aroma before, endlessly profound, as if it would pierce straight through to the heavens!
"The wine everyone usually drinks is probably no different from plain water," Liang Xiao said with a smile, re-covering the lid. Yet, the aroma of wine lingered.
The wines of the Great Qian Dynasty, to Liang Xiao, were akin to beer, perhaps even less palatable than beer!
Liang Yun merely nodded dumbly, his eyes fixed on the wine jar, continuously swallowing.
"I say, with just this one jar, I can drive its price up to a thousand taels. Do you believe me?" Liang Xiao asked.
Liang Yun nodded like a pecking chick, no longer listening to Liang Xiao's words.
His mind was entirely occupied with how Liang Xiao would give him this jar of wine.
Liang Xiao observed this and couldn't help but shake his head, pushing the wine jar towards Liang Yun.
"Have a taste."