People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 755: Yunnan has changed dramatically in just two months
The U-Tsang merchant squatted down and carefully examined the structure of the loom. "Is this wood from Yunnan?"

"Yes, it's made of ironwood from southern Yunnan, which is stronger and more durable than the wood from the south of the Yangtze River." Chun Xing took over the conversation, "Prince Mu's Palace specially transported it from Dali."

Mu Sheng stood aside, his eyes full of praise. He didn't expect that the two women sent by Zhu Youwei were so capable that they managed the workshop in perfect order in just one month.

The Burmese businessman suddenly asked, "Can you weave the patterns we have?"

Aunt Liu nodded readily: "Of course. As long as the guest provides the pattern, we can weave it. There are special painters in the workshop who can convert the pattern into weaving methods."

She led everyone to the sample room, where the walls were covered with all kinds of fabrics, including Jiangnan-style brocade, geometric patterns that U-Tsang liked, and a few pieces of fabrics that were clearly exotic.

"This was ordered by a Burmese merchant a few days ago." Chun Xing pointed to a piece of cloth woven with gold threads. "It uses their traditional pattern, but we added our weaving method, making it more delicate and durable."

The merchants' eyes lit up. In the past, they could only buy a few fixed fabrics, but now they could customize them according to their own needs. This was simply a great thing.

A U-Tsang merchant suddenly asked: "Do you accept apprentices? I want my daughter to learn."

The workshop suddenly fell silent. Aunt Liu and Chun Xing looked at each other and smiled.

"Of course we will." Aunt Liu said in a loud voice, "The workshop is meant to provide women with food. As long as you are willing to learn, we will teach you."

Mu Sheng interrupted at the right time: "The Mu Palace will sponsor ten places, including food and accommodation, and you can work directly in the workshop after you finish your studies."

The merchants were even more interested. They traveled outside all year round, and what they were most worried about was the livelihood of the women at home. Now that there was this workshop, their daughters and wives could learn a skill, which was a great thing.

The Burmese businessman pulled out a roll of blueprints from his bosom and said, "I want to order 500 pieces, according to this pattern. The deposit can be paid now."

Aunt Liu took the blueprint and looked at it carefully. "No problem, delivery within three months. But we need to sign a contract first and pay a 30% deposit."

Chun Xing added: "The rules of the workshop will state in the contract that wages cannot be deducted and female workers cannot be oppressed. If you can accept this, let's sign it now."

The merchant nodded readily: "Of course. I also have a shop in Myanmar, and I hate those who bully craftsmen the most."

At the signing table, Mu Sheng watched Aunt Liu explain the contract terms skillfully while Chun Xing recorded the order details, and he was filled with emotion. These two women were ordinary female workers in a Hangzhou workshop half a year ago, but now they can work independently and chat and laugh with businessmen from all over the world.

After signing the contract, Aunt Liu led everyone to the backyard of the workshop, where the workshop was being expanded and dozens of craftsmen were building a new factory building.

"We will be able to add 30 looms next month." Aunt Liu pointed at the blueprint, "Prince Mu's Mansion said that they want us to become the largest workshop in Yunnan."

The U-Tsang merchant suddenly asked: "Can the women in your workshop really make money?"

Hearing this, Chun Xing pulled out a purse from her sleeve and poured out a few pieces of silver. "This is my salary for last month, four taels of silver. Aunt Wang, who cooks in the workshop, can also get two taels."

The merchants were shocked again. In Yunnan, an average man could not earn more than two taels of silver a month, but these women could earn so much with their own hands.

As the sun sets, the visiting merchants leave one after another. Mu Sheng stands at the door of the workshop, watching Aunt Liu and Chun Xing see off the last guest.

"Thank you for your hard work." Mu Sheng said sincerely, "Today's performance has opened my eyes even for me."

Aunt Liu wiped the sweat from her forehead and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you are too kind. We are just following the rules of the Hangzhou workshop. The princess said that women should be generous and open in their actions, neither humble nor overbearing."

Chun Xing added: "These businessmen are very knowledgeable. If we are a little bit hypocritical, they will see through us immediately. So speaking the truth will make them trust us more."

Mu Sheng nodded: "Yunnan is lucky to have you. I have written to the princess, asking her to send more people. At this rate, the workshop will have to expand again next year."

As night fell, the sound of looms in the workshop gradually died down. The women workers gathered in the canteen, happily discussing today's orders.

A local female worker asked in a low voice: "Aunt Liu, will those foreign merchants really buy our cloth?"

Aunt Liu gave her a piece of bacon and said, "Silly girl, they have already paid the deposit, how can it be fake? You should study hard, and when you have mastered the skills, you will earn more than me."

Chun Xing smiled and interrupted, "Once this batch of goods is delivered, merchants from U-Tsang and Myanmar will surely bring more customers. By then, the reputation of our workshop will probably spread far and wide."

The female workers burst into laughter, and the cafeteria was filled with a cheerful atmosphere. Mu Sheng stood outside the door, listening to the laughter inside, and looked up at the night sky in the east. There, in the direction of Hangzhou, a star was particularly bright.

He knew that from tonight on, the women of Yunnan would no longer have to worry about their livelihood.

This workshop weaves not only cloth, but also a bright future for countless women.

……

The surface of Dianchi Lake reflects the morning sun, with tiny golden rays of light. A long queue has formed in front of the Kunming Jinguo Workshop, and many merchants have been waiting since before dawn. Most of them were originally planning to go to Hangzhou to buy cloth, but when they heard that a branch workshop had been opened in Yunnan, they changed their route and came here to find out what was going on.

When Aunt Liu pushed open the door of the workshop, she was shocked by the scene in front of her. She stroked her temples, cleared her throat and said, "Dear guests, I am sorry for the long wait. The workshop will open at noon. Please enter and visit in order."

A Persian merchant wearing a turban squeezed to the front and asked in stiff official language: "Manager, is the cloth here the same as in Hangzhou?"

Aunt Liu smiled and stepped aside to make way: "You will know for yourself if you see it yourself. The looms, cotton yarn and craftsmanship we use are all shipped from Hangzhou."

Chun Xing led the first group of merchants into the weaving room. Twenty new looms were neatly arranged, and the women workers were deftly weaving the shuttles. The sound of the shuttles flying back and forth was like a lively song.

"This is the latest thirty-six-shuttle loom in Hangzhou." Chun Xing pointed at the machine and introduced it, "Each machine can weave three meters of fine cloth every day, and if it is brocade, it can also produce more than ten meters."

The merchants came closer to observe the texture of the cloth, and some took out crystal lenses to compare carefully. The Persian merchant suddenly exclaimed: "The density of the warp and weft is exactly right! This dark pattern is even finer than that of Songjiang Prefecture!"

Aunt Liu took a piece of sky-blue brocade from the sample rack and said, "This is 'Quanqing cloth' woven according to Hangzhou standards. You can compare it with me."

Several merchants immediately took out the Hangzhou cloth samples they brought with them, and nodded after comparing the two. A Sichuan silk merchant clapped his hands and laughed, "Great! Buying from here can save two months of travel."

Chun Xing handed over the price list at the right time: "The workshop has just opened. In the first three months, each piece is 5 cents cheaper than in Hangzhou. If you order more than 100 pieces, we will give you another 10% discount."

The Persian merchant rolled his eyes and suddenly lowered his voice: "I want to order 500 pieces. Can you give me a lower price?"

Aunt Liu shook her head and said, "It's the workshop's rules. No one is cheated. But..." She pointed to the backyard and said, "If you can introduce Burmese merchants, we will give you half a cent for every Burmese merchant you introduce." This caused the merchants to whisper to each other. The Shu merchant counted with his fingers and suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "I have a cousin who works in the Tea and Horse Department and knows a lot of Tibetan merchants!"

As he was talking, the sound of horse hooves came from outside the door. Mu Sheng came with a few guards and smiled when he saw the situation: "It seems that the workshop will open with great success today."

Aunt Liu hurriedly led everyone to pay their respects. Mu Sheng waved his hand and said, "No need to be so polite. I received a letter from Hangzhou this morning by carrier pigeon. The princess sent another ten looms, which will arrive the day after tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, the Persian merchant immediately took out his banknotes and said, "I'll pay 30% of the deposit first."

Chun Xing took the banknote and examined it carefully. She touched the secret mark on the banknote with her fingertips, and then held the watermark up to the light before nodding: "Sir, please follow me to sign the contract."

The signing table was set up in the main hall, with pens, ink and ink pad on the table. Chun Xing unfolded the contract in duplicate and pointed to the terms and explained them one by one: "The delivery date must not exceed the frost. If the workshop is delayed, one cent will be compensated for each day. If the merchant fails to pick up the goods within the deadline, he must pay a storage fee of five cents per day."

The Shu merchant laughed and said, "The rules here are even more detailed than those in Hangzhou."

Mu Sheng took over the conversation: "Yunnan has a mix of ethnic groups, so the price must be clearly marked. The contract should be written in Chinese, Yi, and Bai to avoid disputes in the future."

After signing, the Persian businessman suddenly asked, "What if I want to order a special pattern?"

Aunt Liu took out a book of patterns from the cabinet: "This is a collection of patterns from Hangzhou. You can choose any one. If you bring your own patterns, you need to pay a design fee."

Merchants passed the album around and exclaimed in amazement. Someone pointed to a page and said, "I've seen this lotus pattern in the Siamese palace. Hangzhou can imitate it so well!"

Mu Sheng smiled meaningfully: "There is a painter in the workshop, who used to work in the weaving bureau of the palace."

As the sun rose higher, the workshop became busier. Female workers carried tea and water to pass around, and the aroma of rice wafted from the kitchen. The Shu merchant sniffed: "This smell is actually similar to the aroma of our Shu Douban."

Chun Xing smiled and said, "Mrs. Zhou, who cooks, is from Chengdu. The sisters in the workshop come from all over the world, so their tastes are naturally more diverse."

As he was talking, a Yi girl in a pleated skirt came over with a wooden tray. On the tray were several side dishes, including bright red spicy chicken and refreshing and delicious cold-mixed zheergen.

"Try our Yunnan style." The girl said generously, "We use the fragrant willow and wild coriander that we grow at home."

The Persian merchant tried to pick up a piece of chicken, and immediately gasped because of the spiciness, but couldn't help but pick up another piece with his chopsticks. The Shu merchant laughed: "This is spicy enough! It's much better than the sweet one in Hangzhou."

In the afternoon, a group of special guests came to the workshop. More than a dozen women wearing various ethnic costumes stood at the door, led by a white-haired old woman leaning on a rattan stick.

"I heard they're hiring female workers here?" the old woman asked in an accented Mandarin, "The girls in our village can all weave linen."

Aunt Liu hurried over. Chun Xing brought a stool and ordered tea. The old woman took out a piece of homespun cloth from her backpack, with geometric patterns embroidered on an indigo background.

"This is an old craft of our Yi people." The old woman's rough fingers stroked the cloth. "I heard that the Han people's looms are fast, so I want to learn it."

Aunt Liu took the cloth and looked at it carefully. Suddenly, her eyes lit up: "This has a dense texture and the dyeing is also strong. If we use our cotton yarn, we will be able to weave good cloth."

Chun Xing had already brought out the registration book: "What is the mother-in-law's name? Is the village far away? Can the girls read?"

The old woman grinned, revealing two golden teeth: "Just call me Ah Guo. The village is at the foot of the west mountain, and it will take two hours to walk there. The girls can't write, but they are good at counting."

Seeing this, Mu Sheng stepped forward and said, "If the journey is far, the workshop can arrange accommodation. We have two days off every month, which is a good time to go home and visit."

Granny Aguo discussed with the girls for a while, and five of them signed up on the spot. Aunt Liu took them to visit the backyard, while Chunxing continued to receive the merchants.

As the sun set, the workshop account office had already filled up seven pages of orders. Before leaving, the Persian merchant ordered another 200 pieces of cloth, saying they would ship them to Samarkand.

Mu Sheng looked at the caravan returning with a full load and said to Aunt Liu, "I have to write a letter to the princess tonight. Judging from the momentum, we will have to add another twenty looms before the end of the year."

Chun Xing was adjusting the beads on the abacus when she suddenly looked up. "Prince, when will the kapok from southern Yunnan arrive? Based on the current order volume, the cotton yarn in stock won't last until the end of the month."

"Ten truckloads of goods will arrive in three days." Mu Sheng was confident, "All the farms owned by Prince Mu in Chelixuan have been converted to growing cotton, exclusively for use in the workshop."

As the night deepened, the workshop was still brightly lit. The newly arrived Yi girls followed the master to learn how to sew threads, and laughed from time to time. After inspecting the weaving room, Aunt Liu went to the kitchen to give instructions on tomorrow's recipe.

Chun Xing was bent over her desk doing accounts when she suddenly heard some noise outside the window. She opened the window and saw Granny Aguo standing alone in the moonlight.

"Why isn't grandma sleeping?"

The old woman touched the plaque "Women's Workshop" on the courtyard wall and said softly, "When I was young, I walked three days on the mountain road to learn how to weave. Now these girls can open the door and touch the best looms in the world."

Chun Xing handed over a coat: "The princess said that good craftsmanship should not be buried. When the cloth in your village is woven, maybe we can sell it to Hangzhou."

Granny Aguo smiled. The fishing lights on Dianchi Lake flickered, complementing the lights of the workshop. In the distance, the sound of bells on the Ancient Tea Horse Road could be faintly heard, as caravans loaded with cloth were heading for a more distant world.

……

The surface of Dianchi Lake reflected the morning sun. Mu Sheng stood under the corridor of the palace, holding the tax bill that had just been delivered. He read the numbers on the paper three times, and his knuckles turned white from the effort.

Wang Yan, the head of the Taxation Department, hunched over, his voice trembling, "My Lord, last month, the commercial tax collected 8,600 strings of treasure notes, which is 30% more than before the workshop opened."

Mu Sheng looked up and saw Wang Yan's face, which had always been sad, was now red. This old official always hunched his neck when he came to file taxes, but today he straightened his back by three points.

"Eight thousand six hundred strings of cash?" Mu Sheng shook the tax bill. "How much was it at this time last year?"

Wang Yan pulled out a small notebook from his sleeve, and turned the pages quickly with his fingers stained with saliva: "Six thousand two hundred strings of cash in the same period last year, of which the tea and horse tax accounted for most. Now the cloth trade alone is equal to all the commercial taxes in previous years!" He laughed as he spoke, "I have been working in the tax department for twenty years, and this is the first time I have seen such a good-looking account."

Several chieftain envoys waiting in the corridor were whispering to each other. They remembered clearly that when Wang Yan came to the palace last month, he complained about the difficulty in collecting commercial taxes, but now he seemed like a different person.

……

(End of this chapter)