Quantum Leap - Vol. 6 Kingdom Building Garnering Wealth

C026 Showing And Leading The Way

There are no interbanking facilities yet in those eras, so stop thinking of how hard it is to transfer money. Luckily, the author made some adjustments to the treasury policy so that non-transferable cheques, had a time capsule of 96 hours after being issued, that would be null and void if not deposited on time within the time and date issued.

"As branch managers, you would earn a higher salary than being a samurai and a yearly bonus which would be met out by Harune. Also, you would each get a luxury timepiece so that you would not wait for time but make time for your own improvements."

The proposal of getting higher monthly returns and getting a pocket watch that could be hung on the neck as an accessory delights them.

"I know you would be leaving this hometown but we would meet here each every ten days so we could discuss have dinner, drinks and have supper as well as share ideas on any products or innovations that you think could improve the lives of others, provide employment and at the same time bring profit for the corporation."

Hiko-sama made them realise that it is not all just for profit but giving back to the community. It takes money to make the whole world turn around. The guys understood this that this corporation does not deal with any shady business and holds a virtue within its standings.

"Harune had a projection that every month we need to hit a sales target of a combined 50,000 good coins just for this village alone and with a combined 4 more branches, we would be able to hit a 90,000 to 120,000 gold coins gross income that would be rolled back into the corporation in terms of wages cost of manufacturing and other variable and fixed costs."

The guys were totally shocked beyond words that their jaw hung open at the vision of me reaching a target of that much wealth!

They soon realised that it takes money to make money so they understood that the amount was just a general figure while the profit may just be a 5% of the gross income from the 5 regions and would generally cover just 600 gold coins of nett income for a projected 120,000 gold gross.

"Gentleman, from this day forth, Harune would address all of you as Seniors and you shall address him as CFO-san as I would be the CEO-san. We all work in one big family once again."

"Yes, CEO-san, thank you CFO-san. We seniors would obey any instructions and help to develop growth in sales and prosperity for this corporation."

The guys stood up, stood at attention and places their right arm over their chest as a form of salute and bowed deeply before returning to their seats.

"Seniors, I would be drafting a simple structural plan on how you would need to embark on the journey to expand our corporation. In this Edo period, we had long practising isolationism thus we were unable to import ideas in, so it would not stop us to export our ideas instead."

"Seniors, your roles are very crucial in the development and growth of this corporation, and please feel free to discuss your difficulties and voice out your dissatisfaction in any manner so that we could strive to improve it in any manner we can."

The guys nodded in agreement and can't wait for me to draft them structural plans with effect from tomorrow. The girls had come back from the marketing and waved at us as they entered their house and prepared their own dinners.

Sellers pushing their yatai soon came and it was time to dig into the hot, fresh and steamy foods that the samurai had longed for since the had started the expedition. I took my coin pouch and placed on the table, indicating that supper and dinner would be borne by their CFO.

"Seniors, don't be shy and go ahead and order anything you like. I would be footing the bills and delivery of 6 jars of sake will soon arrive. Have our fills, wash your weary away with sake and be merry as today after hours we are one big family and let me remind you that business is business and does not mix whether we are friends or family."

"Understood CFO-san." they chorus and proceeded to crowd over the sellers to see what they were selling and ordered their foods and the sellers, after sending the orders were paid dutifully by me. They had understood how the system works so they would tell the price and receive the payment.

After dinner, the orders of sake arrived and I settled the payment. Once again, seeing a kid settling the payments for their dinners and drinks and I do not even bat an eyelid at the prices made them realise that money is not meant to be kept but to spend in order to live and survive.

In short, it is generally termed as "Eat To Live, Live To Eat" where survivability is of great importance and reap the rewards that had been sown.

When we were having our first round of supper, the girls came over and asked if they could join in and all of us invited them over. They sat cross-legged on the floor and began to ask general questions of who the men were and how long they had been friends.

Upon hearing that they were from an expedition team, the girls asked if they had chanced any slave traders or even slaves during their journey and the men explained that they had not chanced upon any of them.

"Girls, why don't you introduce yourself to the new family members of this corporation," I said as I gestured to the left-most girl and they stood up, bowed and began to introduce themselves, one at a time, about their past and also what they would be hoping for in the future.

Soon, the 12 of us were enjoying supper and we talk casually on what the girls would be doing tomorrow as Hiko-sama would be bringing the girls to buy their clothes and other niceties as promised. I told them that a shipment of wrapping papers and some batches of the Karada Soap would soon arrive and they need to package them neatly for the marketing, promotion and sales very soon.

They would need to make 29 types of samples for Hiko-sama so that he can patent them first for the corporation and start to promote from the cosmetics department soon.

I explain that each product has their unique way of distribution so, certain things can move by itself while some would move as a package like the STM, Detergent powder and Hangers.

Hiko-sama planned to look for the local pottery business that could be contracted to supply the corporation with the hae shanpu clay bottles and reduce the cost by making a similar prodder to make a permanent imprint on the bottles. I agree to his idea as it would be generally mass-produced and can be stored in crates in the warehouse later for distribution. A stamp would be made to differentiate the scent of the hae shanpu.

This was noted in the sketchpad for future references.

Hiko-sama looked at the to-do-list and told me he will mark those that would be done tomorrow and at the same time he handed the Karada Soap samples to the girls and they find it a joy for each and every scent.

Hiko-sama asked which one they liked and since they had so many samples and did not know which one to choose, Hiko-sama took a knife and halved the lilac one and passed to them to use it for the shower.

The girls thanked Hiko-sama and one of them went back to their house and places it in the bathroom. I asked how they had their dinner very fast, and told me that they had 3 rocket stoves. No wonder the girls can whip up meals like a breeze!

The girls then excused themselves and said they would like to take a shower. Later I learnt they had only weekly showers and had the opportunity to wash their faces only. I told them that the Karada shampoo can be used on their heads as well and said they would try.

All the girls formed a line and headed back to the house. I whispered to Hiko-sama that I would bring up all the Kurin Laundry Detergent papers and made the girls to turn them into bags and stacked them together in a stack of '50s. Hiko-sama said he will monitor the first few times they make and then he would run his tasks afterwards.

After the last yatai had passed our districts, the men stayed a while longer before excusing themselves to go back to their own homes.

They asked for a sample of the Karada Soap to try and Hiko-sama reluctantly had to part with a quarter cube of each scent for his managers to try.

Soon they bade farewell and told Hiko-sama that they would proceed back here tomorrow to see if they could help in anything. Hiko-sama told them to come after lunch so as to give ample time for me to enter the Realm of Mind and Hiko-sama to perform his remaining task.

Soon after, we head back to our house to perform our daily tasks while I entered the Realm of Mind and brought up the whole stack of printed paper for the Kurin Laundry Detergent.

I showed Hiko-sama how to fold and glue it, and showed an approximate gauge on where the contents reach upon filling. Since the first process is to make these into bags, it would be tied into 50s for an easy count.

We conked off after we had our shower.

=*=

The next morning I woke up fresh and saw the girls had already been up and about, some returning with firewood on their hands as they made breakfast, I presumed. I call them out from my window and saw them wave back excitedly and asked them how was the house, their showers and their sleep.

They replied that the condition of house was the best thing they had ever experienced, and they barely able to sleep after the shower because they had not taken a shower for quite some time and after the shower they felt very refreshed and invigorated that they stayed up all night engaging in small talk.

I said that's good and they offered to prepare breakfast for us and I told them to help themselves with the yam, sweet potatoes, sweet corn and bananas that I had placed at the side of the house.

I asked a favour from them to make extras for 11 workers for today tea breaks in the morning and afternoon. They replied affirmatively and began to bring a basket to place the items and I told them to prepare 2 varieties for each day.

I closed the window and went for my shower and prepared the water for Hiko-sama as well. Today I changed into a gi and hung the pocket watch on my neck. Hiko-sama stood at his doorway and I told him that the girls were preparing breakfast and tea breaks for the workers and was delighted that they had taken the initiative to do so.

I told Hiko-sama that I had taken my shower and would be asking the girls to carry the papers I had set aside at the main door to bring back to their house. In that manner, their movement would be restricted at our main door only.

When the girls served breakfast at the garden, I asked them to carry the papers back to the house. Later I would demonstrate how to glue and fold them and they all would try first before perfecting it.

After they had practised with a few papers bags and I find it quite satisfactory, I told them to get ready to follow Hiko-sama to get some clothes for themselves and they were overjoyed at hearing it and finally they could fit into fresh and new clothes.