BDSMST -Chapter 40 Gu Xuan’s “Private Money”

As the farm expanded rapidly, Jiang Suisui’s original simple points system had started to feel insufficient.

With more farmers arriving and newly cultivated land and construction projects needing closer oversight, a more sophisticated management system became necessary.

That evening, after dinner, Jiang Suisui gathered everyone in the courtyard again. She brought out a new wooden board, on which Gu Xuan had neatly written the “Farm Salary Management Regulations (Trial Version).”

This new system had been carefully discussed and finalized by her and Gu Xuan over several days.

The core idea was to formally upgrade the old “points” system into “work points”, and to link these work points directly to actual copper currency.

“Starting tomorrow, our estate will officially implement a salary system,” Jiang Suisui announced clearly, standing in front of the board.

“All labor will be recorded as work points. For example: one point for plowing, ten points for fertilizing one acre, five points for constructing a meter of trench… The exact work point standards will be jointly evaluated by Chief Manager Gu Xuan and each team leader.”

At this, Wei Ziqian and another young master named Zhao Lin both straightened their chests instinctively. To the new farmers under them, they were now the “little supervisors,” and they felt quite important.

“Work points have two purposes,” Jiang Suisui said, holding up two fingers.

“First, to exchange for daily meals and lodging. This is the same as the old points system, with different meal levels consuming different work points.”

“Second,” she emphasized, “any remaining work points can be accumulated. At the end of each month, they will be converted to money at the rate of one point per one wen, and everyone will receive a monthly allowance!”

“A monthly allowance?!”

At these words, everyone in the courtyard froze, especially the new farmers.

They had been sent from their respective households and already had their monthly wages. They had assumed that working here was just a change of scenery for their duties, but now they realized there was extra pay on top of that!

“Mistress, you mean… we actually get paid extra for working here?” asked a cautious-looking farmer.

“Of course,” Jiang Suisui nodded. “Here, the more you work, the more you earn; the less you work, the less you earn; no work, no pay. You put in labor, you should be rewarded. This money is issued personally by me—it doesn’t interfere with the monthly wages you receive from your own households.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the farmers erupted in a cheer they could hardly contain.

As for Wei Ziqian and the other young masters, their reactions were more complicated.

Money?

They were the wealthiest young men in the capital. The silver they casually gave as tips to servants far exceeded the “one point, one wen” rate of this system.

At first, they dismissed the idea of a “monthly allowance” as trivial.

“Hmph, who cares about a few copper coins,” Li Rui muttered under his breath.

But Qian Duoduo did some quick calculations, counting on his fingers: “Wait a minute. If we work hard for a day, earning twenty work points isn’t a problem. In a month, that’s six hundred points. Six hundred points—that’s six hundred wen! That’s enough to have a proper meal at the best inn in town!”

Once he did the math, everyone realized the significance.

Yes, they weren’t lacking in money, but earning something with their own hands, more than half a tael of silver a month, carried an entirely different meaning!

It was a brand-new sense of accomplishment they had never experienced before.

As the Chief Manager, Gu Xuan was naturally the biggest beneficiary of this system. In addition to earning work points for his own labor in the fields, he also gained extra points for “management” and “technical guidance.” According to Jiang Suisui, his points for the month would convert to at least one to two taels of silver.

Just the thought of soon becoming someone who owned “a small fortune of one tael of silver” made Gu Xuan’s little heart race with excitement. This was far more thrilling than begging his grandmother for a reward!

The new salary system acted like a powerful catalyst, sending the farm’s productivity to its peak.

Everyone worked as if they had been injected with pure adrenaline. Farmers labored with extra zeal for that extra income, while the young masters pushed themselves to prove their worth—and to save up enough for a lavish outing in town at the end of the month.

As the Chief Manager, Gu Xuan was busier than ever. Every day, he carried a small notebook, moving between the fields and construction sites, recording everyone’s workload and evaluating the quality of their work. Imitating Jiang Suisui’s style, he enforced rewards and penalties fairly and consistently, quickly earning respect even from the newly arrived farmers.

At the end of the month, payday arrived.

This was the most important event on the farm.

Jiang Suisui had Chunxing carry out two large baskets filled with copper coins, and she and Gu Xuan sat behind a table, personally handing out the wages.

“Zhang San, your total work points this month are 785. Deducting 310 for meals and lodging, you have 475 points remaining. This is your monthly allowance—475 wen. Count them carefully.”

The farmer named Zhang San accepted the heavy string of copper coins with trembling hands, his face flushed with excitement. This was more than he earned in a whole month at the Duke’s estate!

“Thank you, Mistress! Thank you, Young Master!” He bowed deeply to Jiang Suisui and Gu Xuan.

One by one, everyone received the reward for a month’s hard labor. The courtyard rang with the clinking of copper coins and the satisfied laughter of the workers.

Then it was the young masters’ turn.

“Wei Ziqian, total work points this month: 923. Deducting 600 for deluxe meals, remaining: 323 points.”

Wei Ziqian weighed the 300+ wen in his hand, a complex smile crossing his face—part pride, part awkwardness.

Finally, it was Gu Xuan’s turn.

Jiang Suisui personally placed a bulging money pouch in front of him.

“Gu Xuan, Chief Manager. This month, personal labor points: 530, management points: 600, technical innovation points: 200. Total: 1,330 points. Deducting meals and lodging, your remaining balance: 1,030 wen. That is one tael of silver, plus 30 wen.”

Gu Xuan held the heavy pouch, his palms sweating.

He opened it and stared at the small silver ingot and the string of copper coins inside, his eyes sparkling.

This was the first money he had ever earned entirely on his own.

He carefully tied the pouch, then clutched it to his chest as if it were a priceless treasure.

That night, lying on his small wooden bed, he couldn’t sleep.

Secretly, he pulled the pouch from his chest, stroking it over and over.

In his mind, a little secret plan was forming.

He remembered the worried look on his grandmother’s face when Uncle Fu returned to the capital, and the always furrowed brows of his grandfather.

He decided that once he had saved enough, he would buy his grandmother the most beautiful hairpin. For his grandfather, he would buy the finest medicinal wine in the capital to cure his leg pain.

No, medicinal wine wasn’t right—Jiang Suisui had said alcohol was harmful. Then… he would buy his grandfather the warmest, coziest knee pads instead.

Clutching the copper coins, Gu Xuan plotted his little secret plan. Unknowingly, he drifted into sleep, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth—so faint that even he barely noticed it.