novelAbuy Chapter 338 Grain and Salt Coupons
Chapter 338 Grain and Salt Coupons
After sending some local specialties from Jiangyin to Li Zhuang, Qian Baishi, and others through a messenger, Shao Shuyi boarded a boat and returned to Jiangyin.
On the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, he personally visited the former Changzhou Miscellaneous Workshop craftsmen's settlement, commonly known as "Craftsmen's Village," to distribute holiday gifts to everyone. He entered through the "East Gate," where two strong men dressed in hemp clothing stood, leaning on bamboo spears. Upon seeing Shao Shuyi, they immediately bowed. "Thank you for your hard work. Take two strings of cash back with you later." Shao Shuyi nodded to them and strode into the gate.
The so-called "door" is actually a bit of a misnomer; it's just a small door woven from reeds that wobbles in the wind and has only a symbolic effect.
The walls surrounding the craftsman's village are still bamboo fences, only up to chest height, enough to keep out honest people but not scoundrels.
There was no other way; that was the makeshift team led by Shao. What truly imprisoned these craftsmen was the isolated terrain of Ma Tuo Sha.
Oh, and there's a wooden stake next to the east gate with the three big characters "Miscellaneous Buildings" written on it.
The head of the workshop, Gao Jian, was already waiting to the side, followed by Zhou Chun (Ironwork), Li Sanliu (Carpentry), Cao Zhuan (Leatherworking), Gu Yougong (Finishing), Chen Yifu (Pharmacy), Zhu Man (Weaving and Dyeing), Zhang Wu (Miscellaneous Crafts), Liu Yan (Jade and Metalwork), and other chief craftsmen. Shao Shuyi pointed to the thatched pavilion in front and said, "Go sit down and talk."
After saying this, he ordered the guards to brew tea and serve it to everyone—"To be a guard for Shao the bandit, you need to be versatile. Besides being able to stand guard, you also need to know how to cook, brew tea, and do laundry..."
The pavilion was small. After more than ten people went inside, they each found stools or tree stumps to sit on, and some even sat cross-legged on the reed mats.
"You've been here for several months now, are you settling in well?" Shao Shuyi asked, looking around.
The section chiefs looked at each other, remaining silent.
Gao Jianqing cleared his throat and said, "Shaoshe now has dozens of bamboo and wooden houses, which serve as workshops. In addition to storing tools, they can also be used as living quarters. Five or six new adobe houses have been built, which have been given priority to craftsmen with large families. Others can make do in the workshops."
Shao Shuyi nodded. Most people were still sleeping on the floor inside the "factory," and the conditions were indeed harsh.
"The group of people recruited in Jiangyin will work until the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. More people will come after the 15th of the first lunar month. By next spring at the latest, you will all have houses to live in and will no longer have to squeeze into the workshop." Shao Shuyi said, "Don't worry, I keep my word."
The construction industry is likely to be the most prosperous industry in Ma Tuo Sha in the next few years.
There are never enough houses, there is always a shortage. After building one house, there are two houses missing; after building two houses, there are three houses missing. This is the reality during the period of rapid development. There is no other way but to try our best to recruit people from other places to make up for the shortage of labor in Ma Tuo Sha.
"Any other questions?" Shao Shuyi asked again.
Perhaps it was his kind attitude and willingness to help the craftsmen solve their problems that inspired them to speak up.
Cao Zhuan, the head of the Xiepi Department, said, "Shao She, I have a total of seventeen craftsmen and apprentices under my command. The living conditions are not bad, but it is quite inconvenient to keep them confined and not allow them to go out. It's not that I want to escape, but I really don't want to go to jail."
Shao Shuyi pondered for a moment and said, "It's not that I'm stingy, but Changzhou Road is currently investigating your whereabouts, and the situation is a bit tense. However, if we wait a few months, at the latest by the middle of next year, we will no longer restrict your comings and goings."
Cao Zhuan was slightly disappointed upon hearing this, but since a clear deadline had been given, it was alright; he could just endure it for another six months.
"Shao She," said Li Sanliu, head of the carpentry department, clasping his hands in greeting, "We are indeed well-fed and warmly clothed here, much better than we were at the miscellaneous workshops in Changzhou. This is all thanks to Shao She's kindness. However, the monthly grain coupons we receive are not valid outside, making it inconvenient to ask someone to buy us anything..."
After speaking, he glanced at Zhang Wu, the head of the miscellaneous construction department.
Zhang Wu chuckled sheepishly; the grain and salt coupons in Jiangcun were actually printed by the printing craftsmen under his command.
Shao Shuyi remained silent for a moment upon hearing this.
The wage standard for the craftsmen was set by Gao Jian.
He was literate and found the relevant standards for the treatment of artisans in the government office, and made certain improvements: the artisan himself received five dou of rice and eight liang of salt per month, the eldest member of his family received four dou of rice and four liang of salt per month, the middle member of his family received three dou of rice and two liang of salt per month, and the youngest member of his family, counted as two people, received two dou of rice per month. In total, for five people, the monthly allowance was one shi and six dou of rice and one jin and four liang of salt.
In addition, there were two salted fish and a jar of pickled vegetables every month, but no money.
As for apprentices, who make up about 60-70% of the standard, life is much harder, but at least they are paid on the spot without any deductions, which is enough to make them eat their fill.
As for the distribution method, it was stipulated by Shao Shuyi: rice and salt required coupons to exchange, while other items were distributed from above. This is where Li Sanliu's suggestion came in.
They only had rice, salt, salted fish, and pickles each month, which was enough to meet their basic needs. The problem was that people had other needs, and food coupons and salt coupons were not valuable currency and could not be used outside.
For example, if someone wants to buy eggs, you can use grain coupons and salt coupons to buy them from others. It is possible that others will accept them, but the grain and salt coupons have only been introduced for a short time, and the outside world's acceptance is still very low.
Shao Shuyi thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I'll open a Brother Grain Shop on Yamen Street in Matuosha, which will also sell salt. In the future, if people bring their coupons, they can exchange them for salt and grain. That way, you can use up the salt and grain coupons you don't have."
After saying that, he looked up at Gao Jian and asked, "In that case, should we redo some designs?"
Gao Jian nodded and said, "Perhaps it is necessary."
After saying that, he looked at Zhang Wu and said, "Go and call Wu Bo here quickly. Shao She has something to discuss with him."
Zhang Wu immediately got up and soon brought a middle-aged craftsman with him, along with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
"Quickly, Shao She wants you to draw up designs for grain coupons and salt coupons." Zhang Wu repeated what Shao Shuyi had just said.
Craftsman Wu Bo was not intimidated. He sat cross-legged, ground ink, and picked up his brush. In a short while, he designed a new grain coupon.
Shao Shuyi took a look and saw that there were several lines of writing on it, quite professional, somewhat like a precious paper, but also different.
The top line reads "Shengye Trading Company Grain and Salt Checks" in large characters;
The second line reads, "Today, the monthly wages and meals are paid to (a certain) craftsman in the miscellaneous construction workshop."
The third line is "one shi (or dou, sheng) of glutinous rice";
The fourth line reads "one pound (or two ounces) of good salt";
Fifth line: "With the ticket, go to Brother Grain Shop and Horse Carrying Sand Shop to collect the payment";
The following is: "Go to the right. The person or an unknown person shall take this ticket to the brother's grain shop or horse-drawn sand shop, compare it with the register and the seal across the seam, cut off the corner on the spot, and pay the amount in full."
It may be transferred to others as many times as permitted, but can be withdrawn upon presentation of this ticket.
This ticket is valid for one month only. It will become invalid after the expiry date. Lost tickets are not eligible for replacement.
Finally, there is the date of issue, and the place where the seal and stamp are affixed.
These tickets have a stub, with the Sheng Ye Trading Company's accounting seal stamped between the stub and the main ticket. The stub is kept after being cut or torn apart, and the main ticket must be stamped correctly when redeemed.
The seal on the stamp bears the seal of the Brothers Grain Shop and Horse Carrying Sand Shop.
In this respect, it actually references the usage of paper money.
The Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS) banknotes had stamps on both sides, and even a seal across the top seam, so that the holder could compare the banknotes when exchanging them for silver at various regional treasuries. However, the exchange was later stopped, and this seal across the seam became useless, leading to a proliferation of counterfeit banknotes in the market.
At the bottom of the grain and salt coupons, there was an accounting office signature, which could be signed by hand or stamped. In short, it was quite complicated.
Shao Shuyi carefully read it twice, then flipped it to the back, where there were three more lines of text: "Recognize the ticket, not the person; altered, damaged, or lost tickets will not be replaced," "Forgers will be executed," and "Sharing salt and food."
Upon seeing this, he almost burst out laughing. There were even promotional slogans! This kid is a real talent.
"What if someone forges a ticket?" Shao Shuyi beckoned Wu Bo closer and asked.
Wu Bo stood up and bowed, saying, "When printing the tickets, you can add some inconspicuous dots to the text on the tickets, changing their position every month." "Anything else?" Shao Shuyi asked, "Why aren't they numbered?"
"What does the numbering mean? Is it like the serial numbers A, B, C, and D in official letters?"
"Numbers commonly used by Semu people".
Wu Bo suddenly realized and said, "This isn't difficult."
"Are there any other methods?" Shao Shuyi continued to ask.
"Perhaps we could use some new paper, but I have no idea," Wu Bo said.
Shao Shuyi nodded and said, "That's enough, let's leave it at that for now."
These so-called grain and salt coupons can only be used in Ma Tuo Sha at present, and they have a one-month validity period. With the addition of some anti-counterfeiting measures, they should be fine in the short term, unless there is collusion between insiders and outsiders to make them counterfeit.
The downside is that it's not very versatile and can't be used as real banknotes.
But like I said, let's just make do with what we have in Ma Tuo Sha for now, and figure out a solution later.
Gao Jian secretly observed Shao Shuyi's expression from the side, feeling both pleased and worried.
He wasn't some ignorant fool; he knew what these so-called grain and salt checks were. Since they could be exchanged for rice and salt locally, they already possessed some of the functions of the Zhongtong and Zhiyuan banknotes.
When Gao Jian thought about Shao Shuyi opening up Brother Grain Shops everywhere and setting up some Wu-Yue Grain Guild, he became a little panicked.
This traitor is really different; he has so many tricks up his sleeve.
Before Gao Jian could continue thinking, Shao Shuyi spoke up again, saying, "Now that this matter is settled, let's move on to the next one. Come on, speak freely. I am broad-minded and always happy to hear criticism, so don't worry."