Volume 1 Chapter 64 (1/2)

Negotiations

Even though there were only three people, this banquet in the City Lord Manor lasted an hour before it finally finished.

After they finished eating, Xu Yi and Viscount Leslie went into a hall that wasn’t big under the invitation of Count Sean. After chatting about a few things, Count Sean quickly changed the topic to Xu Yi.

“Chairman Xu, since you had this kid Leslie use his face to find me, you can’t be silent like you were at the dinner table after getting to see me, right?”

Viscount Leslie looked at Xu Yi after hearing this and Xu Yi nodded. He organized his thoughts and said with a faint smile, “Lord City Lord, this is my first time being honoured by your presence, so I was a bit nervous and couldn’t help being a bit silent.”

Count Sean waved his hand, “When this kid Leslie introduced you to me, he didn’t say it like this. He said that you were a person with many ideas and based on your Frestech Chamber of Commerce, I believe his judgement. You say that you are nervous meeting me? I can’t see it though?”

Xu Yi laughed and decided to abandon this method. After thinking about it, he continued, “Alright, it doesn’t matter if I’m nervous or not, I can only be not nervous right now. Lord City Lord, I asked the Lord Viscount to arrange this meeting, so naturally I have something that I need your help with.”

“It’s right that you have something. If you didn’t need anything, why would you see an old man like me? I am not some kind of beauty.” Count Sean said with a nod, “Speak, just what do you need? If it is like this kid Leslie and you want me to help you advertise your company’s products, I can’t do that. There are many companies in Banta City, I can be biased towards any of them.”

Xu Yi couldn’t help smiling as he thought that this Count Sean’s manner of speech was quite charming.

This was also good. If he was a stubborn old noble, the matters he wanted to talk about today would be hard to approve.

“Of course not. As the Banta City City Lord, if it was just to ask you to help me advertise, that would be too much of a waste.”

“Oh? Does that mean I have a bigger use?” Count Sean felt interested as he looked at Xu Yi.

“Hei…..Lord City Lord, I think you should have some understanding of the farmer support plan our company has introduced lately, right?” Xu Yi asked.

Count Sean nodded, “Not only do I have some understanding, I have properly investigated it. I have to say, the plan proposed by your company is quite excellent. If it can be implemented smoothly, I think it will greatly improve the lives of our Banta City peasants.”

“Improving the lives of the peasants is just a preliminary goal.” Xu Yi continued, “The most important reason our company is promoting this plan is to improve the commercial power of the farmers with these agricultural magic machines. By increasing the planting power of the farmers, they will be able to open more farms and increase their food production. While changing their lives, they will be liberated from their farms and they have more time to engage in different forms of work.”

“For example, working in your company’s factory?” Count Sean asked with a raised brow.

Xu Yi laughed, “Lord City Lord, working in our company’s factory is quite good. I think that if those farmers had the choice, they would definitely agree.”

Count Sean gave a slight nod, “I already know a bit about that. I’ve heard that a normal worker in your factory can earn at minimum six gold coins each month, this is quite a bit in our Banta City.”

“Actually, if I speak honestly, this salary is still low. I rather give these workers greater wages so they will work in our company’s factory for a long time. You might not know this, but Saltan City’s Leo Chamber of Commerce has been stealing many of our company’s workers with higher wages. It has caused us to recruit even more workers and train them, causing our production speed to slow down quite a bit.”

“Saltan City’s company?” Count Sean knit his brows, “There are actually companies from other cities coming here to steal our Banta City’s workers? You just let them steal them away?”

Xu Yi spread his hands and looked helpless, “There was no other way, the Leo Chamber of Commerce was offering a high price of ten gold coins per month. Many workers couldn’t resist this temptation and were stolen away.”

Count Sean gave a soft snort, “Ten gold coins? They really were willing to put in money. But why is this Leo Chamber of Commerce stealing your workers?”

“This is because the Leo Chamber of Commerce also produces magic machines like us.” Xu Yi explained.

“So it’s like this…...Then what methods do you have to counter this? Why haven’t you raised the wages for your workers?” Count Sean asked.