lcionline Chapter 243 Mr. Halbs
Chapter 243 Mr. Halbs
Jiang Yu sat in the reception room, flipping through some documents about business and trade, while Fan Qingyin sat next to him, looking down at the revenue and reports of pearl harvesting in the county.
Today, Jiang Yu kept Fan Qingyin behind instead of letting him go to the shrine. She had arranged to meet with Mrs. Harbus and that gentleman to discuss matters related to the long-term trade that the county was about to organize. Jiang Yu hoped that Fan Qingyin could accompany her.
"Why didn't Qingyin look at any of the documents I have this time? Is she really that trusting of me?" Jiang Yu joked.
You know, Fan Qingyin used to do everything himself, afraid of tiring her out, and always handled everything by himself. This time, it was obvious that he had no interest in getting involved.
“Xiaoyu’s abilities are obvious to all. As her husband, there’s no need to hide your brilliance. If it’s something you want to do, just go for it. I’ll be your assistant.” Fan Qingyin smiled gently and waved the documents in her hand.
"As for the things that are already on track, let me help you share the burden."
“I’ve never handled something this big on my own before.” Jiang Yu pouted, resting her chin on her hand. “When I was thinking about it, it seemed like everything would fall into place, but when I actually started implementing it, I realized there were a lot of problems and a lot of resistance. Sigh, I don’t even know if I can do it well.”
"Have some confidence in yourself." Looking at his wife's adorable appearance, Fan Qingyin couldn't help but reach out and touch her cheek. "The usual way to comfort you would be to say it's okay if you don't do well, since you're the lord, just consider it a try. But I don't want to comfort you like that."
"Because you're just so good at it!"
"Wow~ Qingyin, you're so good at comforting people, I'm so happy!" Jiang Yu's eyes sparkled as she rubbed her cheek against Fan Qingyin's hand. What an amazing husband! His emotional value is off the charts!
Qingyin had once explained to her that the world would inevitably be destroyed in the end. She understood what he meant. Would such painstaking management take up her time for enjoyment? Perhaps it was not very meaningful, or perhaps she could do it without doing it.
But she had once seen a movie, and a brilliant film review said: "All things are born and die, the future is filled with unbearable sorrow. I foresee all the sadness, yet I am still willing to go."
Lin Yi also guards the border to maintain the peace of the empire, and Qingyin will pray again and again for divine glory to empower the people.
So even if the abyss is right in front of you, you still have to live each day to the fullest. Whether you lie down and do nothing, it's still a day; whether you live it better or worse, it's still a day.
Therefore, Qingyin understood her.
"My lord, sir." The servant pushed open the door to the reception room and introduced the two people behind him, "Mr. and Mrs. Halbus."
"Honorable lord and divine messenger, we are honored."
Mrs. Halbs wore a dark brown dress embroidered with gold thread today, and a simple, matching hat was worn at an angle on her high bun. The black velvet handbag and the black feathers on the hat complemented each other, giving her an air of both understated elegance and aristocratic luxury.
She was the first to curtsy, and the slightly overweight middle-aged man beside her followed suit, greeting her and bowing as well.
"Mr. Halbus and Madam, please have a seat." Jiang Yu greeted them with a smile, and Fan Qingyin sat up straight and nodded slightly in return.
“I heard of Lord Jiangyu’s name on my journey home. It is a great honor to be chosen by the lord to share your burdens.” Mr. Halbus seemed kind and benevolent, and his plump figure made him appear very peaceful.
"Thank you, sister-in-law. If it weren't for Mrs. Harbour's introduction, I would have missed out on a talent like you," Jiang Yu said formally after the servants had served tea and left.
"I rarely go out, and all I can observe are the royal city and Hollandpur. I have read a lot of documents and materials and have a general understanding of the current business models in the world, but what I have learned from books is not enough. I still need someone like you who has personally experienced and seen it to give me a detailed interpretation and analysis."
"Rest assured, my lord, I will answer all your questions to the best of my ability. Please feel free to ask if there is anything I can do to help you."
"What are your thoughts on my plan to establish a long-term trading post in the county for out-of-town merchants?" Jiang Yu asked Mr. Halbus earnestly.
"That's right, lord. Actually, some merchant guilds have organized and even held trade fairs of this kind before. All three empires have them. However, because these merchant guilds are all private forces, they cannot guarantee many benefits to the merchants."
Halbus pondered for a moment and said, "Merchants originally had stable businesses and incomes in their own territories. Responding to the call of the Chamber of Commerce, they traveled long distances to do business in relatively unfamiliar territories. Firstly, they were not familiar with the business model, and secondly, they had no guarantees."
"The Chamber of Commerce meant well, but the promised subsidies couldn't even cover the round-trip travel expenses. If they made a profit, the Chamber of Commerce would take a cut; if they didn't, it was like you were spending your own money for nothing. So the trade fairs that the Chamber of Commerce organized later didn't make much of a splash and eventually fizzled out."
Jiang Yu scribbled a few notes and nodded in satisfaction. He smiled at Mrs. Halbus, who was sitting beside him, and said, "You've really found me a capable assistant."
Mrs. Halbus laughed until her eyes disappeared, waving her hands repeatedly.
“Well then, Mr. Halbus. I’ve already begun laying the groundwork for some necessary steps, but now I’d like to hand this over entirely to you. Let’s start with writing the proposal and see what you’re capable of.”
"Ah, this..." The chubby gentleman blushed with excitement. He had been ridiculed for being idle since he was young, and now that he had lived most of his life, he had indeed accomplished nothing. But who would willingly live their whole life bearing such cold stares?
"After all, to get things going smoothly, I need a chief steward. There are many affairs in the county, and as the lord, I can't fully devote myself to this matter. I need someone who can help me control the overall situation and report everything to me at any time."
“This person cannot be a commoner. The Halbus family behind you is the best endorsement. Now it seems that no one is more suitable than you, isn’t it?” Jiang Yu looked at Halbus sincerely, his eyes filled with expectation and scrutiny.
Halbus was taken aback, then immediately stood up, respectfully expressing his loyalty and making a solemn pledge: "Lord, please rest assured, I will do my utmost to earn your trust and appreciation, and I will certainly not let my family down, nor will I bring shame upon them."
"That's wonderful. I'll look forward to your good news. Please feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything or have any questions." Jiang Yu smiled with satisfaction.
After they left, Fan Qingyin handed over a file, saying, "So Xiaoyu had already sent someone to investigate. That's very thorough."
The dossier contained a detailed biographical record, detailing every major event in the life of the portly Mr. Halbus from birth.
“Even with family backing, it cannot guarantee the character of every individual. I cannot use people who commit crimes.”
"Thankfully, he's innocent." Jiang Yu leaned back in her chair and asked Fan Qingyin about something else: "How are Mr. Peter and his...?"