Chapter 781 - 780: Business Mutual Promotion
The hunters pressed their handprints with joy in their hearts. Although it had only just passed the Qingming festival, they were already looking forward to the Spring Festival.
Those who did not wish to learn a craft could leave after pressing their handprints, while those who wanted to learn the tea-frying skill were kept back to sign a separate contract.
This contract stipulated that Hengchang Commercial Firm could select one person from each family to learn the tea-frying technique. During the apprenticeship, in addition to food and clothing, each person would be paid ten wen per month.
After completing the training, they must serve the tea business of Hengchang Commercial Firm for ten years, receiving a monthly wage like the other tea masters.
After ten years, these people had the choice to leave or to stay.
This condition was considered quite favorable. In these times, it was terribly difficult for children from poor families, especially those from the mountains, to learn a trade.
Many families, wishing to have their children learn a craft, not only had to present tribute to the master, such as grains, meat, and alcohol, but also had to send their children to live with the master as long-term laborers, serving the master and his family like servants.
During the holidays, they also had to prepare generous gifts for the master’s household, and nothing could be overlooked.
They had to be cautious and humble to win the master’s favor before he would teach them anything. Moreover, the teaching was often accompanied by beating or scolding; the slightest disobedience was considered disrespectful to the master’s ancestors.
If they were fortunate to find a kind-hearted master who would teach them more, they could, after careful study, manage to make enough to maintain a household.
If they encountered a cruel master, they might be worked like a long-term laborer for years without being taught anything of value, and be insulted as fools who couldn’t learn—an unfortunate situation with no recourse.