142 5.31 Fasuto Japan KabushikiGaisha: First Japan Corporation Was Born! (1/2)
Hiko-sama produced the receipt for the stamps and I paid him back. To us, business is business, and there was no mix of in-between relationship and friends. Hiko-sama liked my way of doing things, always pays up in full so that Hiko-sama would be handling the monetary part.
He told me the garden furniture would be arriving together with the head of buildings and constructions so we can look forward to having lunch at our newly bought garden furniture.
Hiko-sama desired to have the furniture to be placed slightly in front of the house and more to the left side since it would somewhere in the middle of the new house that would be built.
I looked at the furnishings and finds that the low table, cushions and the rocket stove could be passed. I would opt for a long table and 2 benches instead. This would be placed as a worktable plus hiring of another 2 more female helpers. Surely there would be slaves that could be freed, and the more we are able to free them the better.
I saw the living space to be a bit too big and wanted to add another room. So it's going to be a 3 bedroom house and easily fits 12 occupants. Well... We have to wait for the arrival of the head of buildings and constructions then.
”Sensei, could I ask you a question and a proposal?”
”What is it, kid? You wanted to know more about the house or something else?”
”Actually for the house, I would ask the head of buildings and constructions, but I need to ask you something. Would you like to have your own business trade name? With a business trade, you could even sell your pottery, right? I know you used to make them sell as part of your livelihood before since you do not wish to work for other people.”
”What are you trying to say, kid? You want me to have my own business trade to sell pottery?”
”Not only pottery, Sensei. A business trade name could also be used to sell the Karada Soap to other villages and other parts of Japan. If there is no business trade name, its difficult to enter the business district. Is there such office in Kitakata governmental office?”
”It sounds like a good idea, kid. No... It is a wonderful, idea! I like the way you think. So we both are our own bosses, right? I like your idea, kid. I like it very much! You really make my life a bit better and different. Here, drink with me on this wonderful day!”
Hiko-sama offered me a cup of yumeshu and I gladly accepted and clinked his cup and drank up. He was wondering what is the purpose of clinking the cup for and he just followed me.
”If anyone offers a cup of liquor and we clinked once, there can be several meanings. If between strangers, each of the contents would be sloshed together, right? If one is offered poison, both will die, right? But in terms of friendship, it is a sign of celebration. In other cultures, they would cheer ”Yaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmm Seeeeennnnnnnnggggg!” before they clinked everybody's cup and drink, while others say ”to your health!”
”Ah...I see! It's called, ” Kanpai!” over here in Japan, kid, in case you want to know. We don't serve ourself a drink unless you drink alone like me. I would pour yours and you will pour mine. But in this case, I won't mind pouring for myself and yours. Here, another cup for you.”
”Kanpai!” we both chorused and clinked our cups and we both laughed at ourselves for the silliness.
Soon after a handcart and a wagon came our way and 4 assistants hauled the garden furniture down. The head of buildings and constructions came along with them for the negotiation part. Seeing the two idiots having a drinking session and looked so merry before lunchtime, the head of building and construction could only swallow his saliva as it was not right to be drinking during work hours.
”Good mid-day to you, Samurai-Sam and Young Master. The furniture is here and where do you want to place them?”
Both Hiko-sama and I exchanged pleasantries and said to just refer the head of building and construction as Kayu-San and showed the spot where Hiko-sama wanted the furniture to be placed. Some ladies who walked in front of the house looked at us and bowed, and was kind of delighted seeing their neighbour was having a good time, and also buying new furniture to beautify the place.
”Samurai-san and Young Master, you both smelled very nice. Is that men's perfume that you both are wearing?” asked Kayu-san as he sniffed the air and was delighted with the scent.
”Oh, you like it Kayu-san? Maybe you would be our first customer coming next week once the house is ready. Please get ready 5 pieces of gold for these fine products. You would not be disappointed at all. If you want to buy for your missus or your secret lover, it would cost 5 gold coins each.”
”Oh...money is no problem for me. Is it a perfume that you are using? It is very nice and subtle.” asked Kayu-san as his interest grew more into the product that we both were using.
”Its a mix of two items. Don't worry, we would be sending it to you once it's ready. Just let me know how many batches you require as each batch costs 5 gold coins.”
”Sure... No problem. So could we get down to business then? We can sit here in your newly acquired garden furniture.” Kayu-san gestured to the stools and sat down.
”Ah, finally a formal place to sit and discuss and have supper and more drinks.” thought Hiko-sama as he sat down on one of the stool, and he took out the balance amount to be paid and handed Kayu-san the rest of the gold coins.
I took out the business proposal and decided to forgo the furnishings for the living room except for the tatami mat as I find it unnecessary to have them. I decided to forgo 1 vanity table instead and made another partition for another room and adds 8 more Takamura, 1 wooden chest, 1 large tatami mat. All three rooms would be identically sized.
Kayu-San then strikes off the orders and replaced the ones that I had mentioned. As for the price, it remained the same as it is. I asked for 4 collapsible partitions to be made with a height of 1.6 meters x 50 centimetres x 50 centimetres x 50 centimetres so that it could be folded 3 ways.
”The 250 gold coins for the construction of the house with its furnishings that would be made by 10 carpenters for a duration of 10 days, is agreeable by our young master here?”
”Not really Kayu-san, since its 11 mean including the foreman for the 10 days, we would be providing them mid-morning tea, lunch and mid-afternoon tea for the whole duration, right?”
I made a quick mental note for lunches that would be 1 gold and 5 silvers for 2 people x 6 would be 6 gold and 30 silvers or 9 gold to be exact x 10 days would amount to 90 gold coins. The estimated amount for their mid-morning and mid-afternoon tea break would roughly be 90 gold too for the 10 days. So the total would be an estimated 180 gold on top of the 250 gold for the materials.
”That's right, young master. The host would provide three meals for their whole duration here.” Kayu-san replied and I immediately countered by saying, ”How about this, I agree only to pay for the construction of the house and furnishings within 7 days by 10 men at a cost of 250 gold coins.”
”However, if it is delayed for one day more, then I would only settle it for 200 gold coins. I believe that you already had fabricated materials in your factory and as soon as you finish the job within 7 days, 250 gold coins would be yours.”
”The lesser time you spent, the fewer wages you need to pay to the men, right? That's my final offer and it would stand in that way.”
I purposely held the bundle of gold coins that I had received from Hiko-sama earlier and jiggled it abit in front of him. Body language shows that he was after the money and the building of the house could be also completed within 5 days, he wanted to.
His eyes followed where the money was and he swallowed hard as he thought of the profit he would make. ”Hiko-sama, would you like to break open another jar of sake while our guest here is thinking about his construction and plan?”
I signalled to Hiko-sama and winked at him as we played along and he immediately retrieved another jar and took another cup. He poured one for each of us and placed the jar right in the centre of the table, obscuring the view of the bundle of gold coins in front of Kayu-san.
Kayu-san immediately pushed the jar slightly so that he could feast his eyes on the bundles of gold coins and subsequently he smacked his lips.
”You will receive these 50 gold coins first, but you need to start work immediately tomorrow, then the 50 gold coins would be yours. Any problems with the price and the conditions I had decided?
I used the word 'decided' so it closes the deal instead of using any other term.
”Yes... Yes... Young Master is so talented. I have all the materials ready in my factory. I could deliver the base materials for constructions tomorrow early morning with the 10 men and work on the sewage line first.”