Manager Wang And The Storyteller

Chapter 6

Deserved

At the end of the very long but very interesting story that had most of the customers wishing the story teller could continue, Manager Wang had had two cups of tea.

After his last drop of tea, Manager Wang left his seat and walked up to the storyteller, who was straightening out his clothes and taking the coins given to him by some customers that were preparing to head out. When Wang got close to the storyteller, he cleared his throat to get the man's attention. Li turned round and saw Wang right behind him. He raised his eyebrows and c****d his head sideways in an inquiry gesture Manager Wang began by complementing Li's skills in storytelling and asking if he learnt it in school. To Manager Wang's surprise, the man said he learnt it from his mother, who was a well-known storyteller in his village. Manager Wang nodded, then moved closer to Li and held out his hand to Li as he introduced himself. As soon as Li took Wang's hand, Wang placed his left hand on Li's shoulders and started leading him out of the restaurant. When they were safely out of the restaurant, he asked the storyteller if he would like to work in a more classy restaurant with more pay and better working condition as a storyteller? The story teller was quite perplexed but answered none the less, stating that he has been praying for such an opportunity to befall him. Manager Wang nodded and continued. He told Li that he was the current manager of the Chou restaurant in town.

Li was quite impressed and scared, but he stood still to know what such a high-class man wanted with him when he could have gotten more renowned story tellers in town.

Seeing that Li was listening to him, Manager Wang continued by asking him how much Li was being payed. Li honestly answered five pieces of copper coins a day. Manager Wang could not be more shocked than he was at that point in time. For all the business the young man brought to the proprietor, Li was being paid five pieces of copper which could buy nothing other than two good meals a day. It wasn't even enough to save or take care of oneself. Shaking his head, Manager Wang asked the young man in front of him if he would like to come work with him as a storyteller in one of the Chou family restaurant with more money, better and more conducive accommodation and other facilities. Li quickly accepted, but he calmly asked the Manager exactly how much he wished to pay him.

Manager Wang smiled and said that he would be paid him fifteen silver pieces. Li's eyes almost popped out of his head at the amount, he had to take a double look at the Manager in front of him to see if he was serious, when he saw that the man wasn't joking, he asked why he would spend so much on a common story teller, Manager Wang smiled and said that he should not underestimate his work and that as a storyteller he was the soul of the restaurant. Then he gave him a card that had an address and told him to be there at seven the following morning. As Wang left, a highly excited Li and started heading home.

A jovial patron of the Chou restaurant who was the son of an official in the imperial capital caught up with Wang Joshi and said "I saw you talking with the storyteller from the third class restaurant, are you plotting to steal him for the Chou restaurant?" when Wang nodded the man gave Wang a friendly slap on his back saying that it was a good plan and everybody would be happy with it.

Manager Wang went back to the Chuo Dynasty restaurant after that and told the assistant manager Lio to tell the artist working for the Chou Dynasty restaurant to quickly put up an advertisement in front of the restaurant informing customers and prospective customers that a great storyteller would entertain the guest starting from the next day. Wang left for home as the assistant manager Lio went out to seek the artist.