Not long ago.
The laboratory building of the Hicks Institute of Science and Technology, Piltwoff University.
Jess and his close research partner Victor have shared the same office for several years.
But this morning, when he stepped into the building and returned to the office door facing the rising sun, he was surprised to find that The light in the office is still on, and the door is not closed.
Opening the door, Jess saw Victor.
Victor is sitting quietly at his desk, as if he is thinking about something.
At this time, his hair was messy, his face was dark, and his dark circles around his eyes were also heavy.
But only those eyes were shining brightly. They were full of ferocious red blood, but they still seemed to be burning a flame.
"Victor..." Jess felt his old friend's mental state was not good. "You didn't sleep last night?"
"Hmm." Victor nodded.
"This..." Jess looked worried.
Although it is common for scientists to stay up late, Victor used to do research all night like this.
But after the unpleasant experience last night, Jess knew very well that Victor's research was not about Hicks Technology.
"Are you still thinking about that article?"
"Yes." Victor gently rubbed the note, his eyes focused and firm: "The author is very smart."
"He told us what the world is like and why it is like this, but he didn't tell us what to do or how to do it."
"This is the question he left us, and I..."
"The answer is already looming."
Victor raises his head and looks at Jess deeply.
What Jess saw from his eyes was a kind of enthusiasm, unprecedented enthusiasm.
Somehow, this enthusiasm frightened him. But he is honest and forthright. There is nothing to be afraid of.
"Victor, are you... trapped too deep?"
"That's just an article with extreme opinions." Jess could not help but admonish his old friend, "You can't really go to the extreme. Do you regard us entrepreneurs in Picheng as evil villains?"
"We are all your friends!"
"No, on the contrary." Victor shook his head calmly.
He is enthusiastic, but not fanatical. Even the reason is scary: "After thinking, I realized that the existence of the problem does not depend on your personal morality. Whether you are good or bad, you can not affect the overall situation."
"What do you mean?"
"Jess, can I ask you a few questions?"
"Well... ask."
"A few years ago, when your Talis family was still running a hammer factory, did you employ apprentices?"
"Of course." Jess didn't understand why he asked about it, but he patiently replied.
"How much did you pay them then?"
"Well... about 10 silver wheels a week?"
"Do you think this salary is enough in Picheng?"
"Er..." Jaston was embarrassed.
He has never lived 10 silver wheels a week in his life. How can he know if it is enough.
However, the luxurious breakfast he had today was estimated to be worth several gold coins - one gold coin is worth 20 silver rings, and one silver ring is worth 12 copper rings according to the value of Pirtwaff's currency.
"They usually eat something simple... it should be enough."
Jess hesitated for a long time before he admitted:
"Well, Victor, I know you're accusing my family of paying low salaries for apprentices."
"But this is the market price, and we can't help it."
"Can't you go higher?"
"It can be higher... but it can't be too high."
"Why?"
"If the cost is too high, the business will not continue!"
"Why can't you continue?"
"Talis is not the only workshop that can make hammers. The cost is high and the price is high. Naturally, no one will buy our hammers anymore... We have no choice."
The more Jess said it, the worse it became.
Aren't they rich and powerful entrepreneurs? How can you talk like you have become a slave to something?
"No, no..."
Jess could not accept such a strange idea.
He also refused to tolerate Victor's "ridicule".
So he subconsciously defended himself and his family:
"Victor, what you said was years ago!"
"Now I offer our employees, even the lowest apprentices, a high salary of at least 5 Jinhai dollars per week!"
Jess was proud when he said this.
Because it is impossible to find a boss who is more generous than him in the whole Piltwoff, even in the whole Rune Land.
5 Jinhai coins a week, not to mention Zu'an people dare not think, nor ordinary people in Picheng.
Therefore, the whole world knows that Master Tallis is a caring, benevolent and generous person. If anyone is lucky enough to work in his factory, it will be like smoke from his ancestral graves.
"But why is that?" Victor just asked calmly: "Why did your family only pay apprentices 10 silver rounds a week a few years ago, but now they are willing to pay 5 Jinhai dollars?"
"Is it because you have become more kind, Jess?"
"I..." Jess was tongue tied.
Of course not because he is more kind.
It's because he has more money.
A few years ago, the Talis family could only build hammers, and there were countless competitors competing with them.
A few years later, the business of the Talis family was the core of Hicks technology used to drive the transmission fly gate and large machinery - this was the exclusive scientific research achievement of Jess. There is only one family and no other.
A few years ago, an apprentice forged 100 hammers for his family every week, which only earned a few dozen silver wheels. So he can only offer 10 silver rounds of salary.
A few years later, an apprentice could only manufacture one Hicks technology core for his family even one week. The sale of this one Hicks core can also earn a huge profit of dozens of Jinhai coins.
So Jess certainly dares to pay workers such high salaries and show his generosity and kindness.
It really has something to do with his kindness, but does it really matter?
He just shared a small part of the profits with the employees, which is not painful. In terms of the share ratio, it is even lower than when only hammers were made before.
"I... I..."
Jess burst into a cold sweat unconsciously.
He has always considered himself a good man.
When the workers praised him for his mercy and kindness, and thanked him for his great kindness, he was also proud of himself.
But how can I feel like a hypocrite while chatting?
"Am I... wrong?"
"No, you are right."
Victor stood up and patted his friend on the shoulder in comfort:
"You are really a good man, Jess."
"You are never wrong."
"It is not you who are wrong -"
Victor turned his head again and looked out of the window at the vast sky:
"It's the world."
"......" Jess was shocked and speechless.
He didn't know what Victor meant by that. But he instinctively realized that this old friend might want to do something dangerous.
"Victor, you..." Jess swallowed nervously. "What do you want to do?"
"Don't worry..." Victor just picked up the notebook: "At present, I just want to meet the author."
"The answer I came up with is not perfect. I think he, the author of the question, will be able to solve my confusion."
As he spoke, Victor paced to the window.
The morning sun lit up his face.
He reached out his hand and felt the air flowing through his fingers.
Zu'an people once prayed to Jana and the wind in this way.
Of course Victor is not praying.
He is just feeling the wind, following the wind, and even Leading the wind.
The air flow is weak.
But the wind is blowing.