People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 762 Zhu Youwei's arrival in Songjiang shook the entire city.

Xiao Tao lowered her head and whispered, "That's all thanks to the county magistrate."

Chen Han stood up and said solemnly, "Xiao Tao, Youwei and I both believe in you. The female workers in the workshop also respect you, and there's a reason for that."

Sunlight streamed through the window screen, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor. Xiaotao took a deep breath, and when she looked up, her eyes were much more determined.

"I'll give it a try. If there's anything wrong, please point it out, Princess."

Zhu Youwei smiled with relief. "This is the Xiaotao I know."

After breakfast, Zhu Youwei began packing her belongings. Xiao Tao helped her, occasionally reminding the palace maids around Zhu Youwei not to forget to bring this or that.

"Songjiang is humid, so bring a few extra changes of clothes."

"I've packed up the Longjing tea that the princess loves and put it in this brocade pouch."

"I put the money I need on the road in three different places for safety."

Zhu Youwei listened to her rambling, feeling a warmth in her heart. This little girl had grown up without her even realizing it.

Outside the door, the carriage was already prepared. The female workers in the workshop spontaneously lined up in two rows to see Zhu Youwei off.

"Princess, please return soon." "We will work hard." "Don't worry, Sister Xiaotao, we will listen to her."

Zhu Youwei responded to each of them, her eyes welling up with tears. These sisters she spent every day with had long since become her family.

Chuntao helped her into the carriage and whispered, "Princess, please be careful on the road. Remember to let us know you are safe when you arrive in Songjiang."

……

The area in front of the Songjiang Prefectural Government Office was packed with people, and the windows of teahouses and taverns were all propped up, revealing countless faces eagerly waiting.

Old Li, who sells sugar figurines, set up his stall opposite the government office. While making sugar figurines, he said to Granny Zhang, who sells steamed buns next to him, "I heard that the princess's boat will arrive at the dock at noon. The prefect went there with his men to wait for her before dawn."

Granny Zhang wiped her hands on her apron: "My niece, who works in the workshop in Hangzhou, sent a letter last month saying that the princess is very kind to people and never puts on airs."

On the second floor of the silk shop, Old Master Zhou stood by the window, leaning on his cane, with a dozen or so Songjiang cloth merchants standing behind him. Old Master Zhou's grandson, Zhou Dehai, rubbed his hands and said, "Grandfather, are the gifts we prepared too meager? I heard that the Shen family of Suzhou prepared twenty bolts of Yun brocade."

The old man slammed his cane down heavily: "Foolish! What good things hasn't the princess seen? The important thing is sincerity." He turned to the crowd and said, "Everyone, bring your land deeds. As soon as the princess arrives, take her to see the workshop site we have prepared."

Three streets along the dock had already been cleared, and the yamen runners were sweating profusely as they maintained order. Zhao Mingcheng, the prefect of Songjiang, kept adjusting his official hat and said to his clerk, "Have you prepared the ice basins I asked you to? It's so hot today, don't let the princess get heatstroke."

The clerk jogged over: "Everything is prepared, and as you instructed, plum juice has also been prepared at the tea stalls along the way."

Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, "They're here! They're here!"

A fleet of official boats appeared at the end of the canal, their apricot-yellow flags fluttering in the wind. The shore erupted in chaos as merchants jostled and pushed their way forward, nearly breaking down the defensive line formed by the yamen runners.

Supported by his grandson, Old Master Zhou hurried towards the dock, followed by a jostling crowd of cloth merchants. In the teahouse, Manager Shen anxiously pounded on the railing: "Quick! Get downstairs!"

The official boat slowly approached the shore. As soon as the gangplank was lowered, Prefect Zhao and his officials knelt to welcome it. Zhu Youwei appeared at the bow of the boat in a lake-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with Chen Han standing beside her in his duke's everyday clothes.

"Prefect Zhao Mingcheng of Songjiang respectfully welcomes the Princess and the Duke!"

Zhu Youwei nodded slightly: "Lord Zhao, please rise."

As soon as she stepped onto the dock, Old Master Zhou and the cloth merchants from Songjiang all knelt down. The old master's voice boomed: "I am the head of the Zhou family of Songjiang, and I, along with the sixteen cloth shops of Songjiang, respectfully welcome the Princess!"

Chen Han stepped forward and offered a helping hand: "Elder Zhou, there's no need for such formalities."

Zhu Youwei glanced at everyone and said gently, "Thank you all for coming to greet me. You've worked hard."

Upon hearing this, the merchants immediately became excited. Manager Shen pushed his way to the front, his voice trembling, "It is an immense blessing for us that the Princess has come to Songjiang!"

Prefect Zhao led the crowd toward the government office, with people lining the streets to watch. Several bold girls pushed their way to the front, blushing as they threw their embroidered handkerchiefs onto Zhu Youwei's carriage. Chen Han chuckled at the sight, "It seems you're even more popular in Songjiang than in Hangzhou."

Zhu Youwei smiled and waved towards the window, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

A welcoming banquet had already been prepared in the main hall of the government office. As soon as Zhu Youwei took her seat, Old Master Zhou said impatiently, "Princess, I would like to ask you to take a look at the workshop space we have prepared."

Prefect Zhao frowned: "Old Zhou, the Princess must be tired from her journey."

Zhu Youwei put down her teacup: "It's alright, I was just thinking of seeing what preparations Songjiang has made."

Everyone immediately stood up and crowded around, heading towards the east of the city. Along the way, Zhou Dehai approached Chen Han cautiously and asked, "Lord Duke, I've heard that the looms in Yunnan's workshops are more numerous than those in Hangzhou?"

Chen Han nodded: "Yunnan is a vast country, so we built three large workshops."

Zhou Dehai's eyes lit up, and he turned to give his companions a wink. The cloth merchants immediately beamed with joy and began whispering among themselves.

A brand-new bamboo shed had been erected on the open ground in the east of the city, and a dozen women were practicing spinning inside. Upon seeing the arrival of the distinguished guest, they hurriedly rose to greet her. Zhu Youwei approached for a closer look and discovered that the spinning wheels were all newly made, and the ground was still covered with lint.

Old Master Zhou was somewhat embarrassed: "Time was short."

Zhu Youwei nodded: "You've put your heart into it." She turned to the women, "Did anyone teach you?"

A bold woman replied, "Your Highness, the female official from Hangzhou just arrived the day before yesterday and is teaching us how to identify the thread."

Zhu Youwei smiled with satisfaction. Seeing this, Chen Han said to Old Master Zhou, "Old Master Zhou has made very thorough preparations."

The old man's face immediately lit up with a ruddy glow, and his beard bristled. Manager Shen, in a panic, tugged at Zhou Dehai's sleeve and whispered, "The venue we prepared in Suzhou is much larger than this."

The welcoming banquet lasted until dusk. During the banquet, the merchants vied to toast each other, and Prefect Zhao couldn't stop them. Zhu Youwei substituted tea for wine and listened to each family's preparations.

As the banquet ended, Old Master Zhou and the cloth merchants knelt to see them off. Just before getting into her carriage, Zhu Youwei suddenly turned around and said, "We'll sign the contract at the government office in three days. Remember to bring your guarantors."

These words were like a spark thrown into a pot of boiling oil, instantly igniting an uproar among the merchants. Manager Shen jumped up on the spot, only to be pulled back by Zhou Dehai. The old man said in a trembling voice, "Princess, rest assured, I personally vouch for you!"

On the way back to the inn, Chen Han looked out at the bustling streets and laughed, "These people are even more eager than the merchants from Yunnan."

Zhu Youwei leaned against the carriage wall, her eyes showing weariness: "Jiangnan has a deep-rooted textile industry, and they understand the value of the workshops even better."

There were already people waiting at the entrance of the post station. Chunxing, a lady-in-waiting from Hangzhou, quickly stepped forward: "Princess, the rooms have all been prepared."

As soon as Zhu Youwei entered the room, Chunxing handed her a hot towel: "We've investigated the backgrounds of all sixteen families in Songjiang. The Zhou family is the most honest, and the Shen family is the most shrewd."

Chen Han unfastened his sword: "Tomorrow I will take men to see the dye house they have prepared."

Chunxing then presented another stack of papers: "This is a list of female workers submitted by various companies, totaling 320 people."

Zhu Youwei looked through the notes carefully, then suddenly pointed to one: "Why is this person named Liu Niang noted as 'widow'?"

Chunxing said in a low voice, "Her husband was a weaver, but he died from overwork last year. He left behind two daughters, both just over ten years old." Zhu Youwei was silent for a moment, then circled a name on the roster: "Bring her to see me tomorrow."

In the dead of night, Chen Han noticed Zhu Youwei still sitting under the lamp looking at the roster. He walked over and gently took the roster away: "It's time to rest."

Zhu Youwei rubbed her eyes: "These women have it tough."

Chen Han blew out the candle, and moonlight shone through the window screen. In the distance, the sound of a night watchman could be heard, along with the faint clamor of merchants celebrating in a tavern.

The night in Songjiang Prefecture was made especially lively by their arrival.

……

As dawn broke, Zhu Youwei had already risen and dressed. Soft footsteps could be heard outside the inn; Chunxing, along with several female officials from Hangzhou, were taking stock of the supplies needed for the day.

"Princess, everyone has arrived." Chunxing walked in quietly, holding a stack of names in her hands. "As you instructed, I selected twenty of the most difficult ones."

Zhu Youwei nodded and inserted the last silver hairpin: "Take them to the backyard, and don't disturb anyone else."

In the backyard courtyard, about twenty women stood huddled in a row. They wore patched, coarse cloth clothes, their fingers twisting the hems of their garments, their eyes darting around nervously. The woman named Liu Niang stood at the very edge, holding two small, thin girls in her arms.

When Zhu Youwei walked up to them, one of the timid girls knelt down directly, her forehead pressed against the bluestone slab.

"Get up." Zhu Youwei reached out to help her up. "The workshop doesn't do this."

Liu Niang mustered her courage and looked up, meeting Zhu Youwei's gaze. She hadn't expected this noble lady to be so young, with a touch of childishness in her eyes, but her gaze was so composed that it didn't seem to belong to someone her age.

"I heard you can spin thread?" Zhu Youwei asked.

Liu Niang hurriedly nodded: "I've known this since I was little, my mother taught me."

"And weaving?"

"I know a little," Liu Niang's voice trailed off, "but it's slow."

Zhu Youwei turned to the others: "What about you? Do you have any special skills?"

The women pushed and shoved each other, finally pushing out a sallow-faced woman: "To answer your question, sir, I know how to dye cloth. My father was a dye shop worker and taught me how to mix colors."

Zhu Youwei's eyes lit up: "What color are you best at dyeing?"

“Indigo,” the woman’s voice rose a little, “can be dyed in seven shades using indigo.”

Chunxing took notes beside her, her pen scratching across the paper. Zhu Youwei asked them one by one; some could spin thread, some could embroider, and one girl could even peel cotton seeds cleanly with her bare hands.

After asking the question, Zhu Youwei clapped her hands: "Now let's go to the workshop and try out our skills."

The women exchanged bewildered glances. Liu Niang mustered her courage and asked, "My lord, are you truly capable of using us?"

"We'll only know if we try." Zhu Youwei turned and walked out. "Follow me."

The temporary workshop was set up in a large courtyard in the east of the city. The Zhou family emptied the warehouse of their ancestral home overnight. Ten new looms were neatly arranged, with cotton yarn and dye piled up next to them.

Zhu Youwei stood at the door: "Everyone choose your best skill to show me."

The women dispersed cautiously. Liu Niang, with her two daughters, walked to the spinning wheel, her fingers trembling as she picked up a cotton sliver. She took a deep breath, pressed the pedal, and the spindle slowly began to turn.

Chunxing whispered in Zhu Youwei's ear: "Your technique is correct, but you're too nervous."

Zhu Youwei remained silent, her gaze sweeping across the room. The woman who dyed cloth was staring blankly at the indigo vat, her fingers visibly trembling as she stirred the dye. The girl peeling cotton seeds was efficient, but her forehead was covered in sweat.

Half an hour later, Zhu Youwei called a halt to the group. The women stood before the looms like prisoners awaiting sentencing.

“Liu Niang,” Zhu Youwei suddenly spoke up, “the thread you’ve spun isn’t even.”

Liu Niang's face turned deathly pale, and her two daughters clung tightly to her legs.

“But the fact that you could keep the thread running even when the pedal rhythm was off shows that you have solid skills.” Zhu Youwei took the ball of thread off the spinning wheel. “Chunxing, write this down. Liu Niang will be assigned to the spinning group and paid according to the skilled worker’s rate.”

Liu Niang was stunned, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. She pulled her two daughters to kowtow, but Chunxing stopped her.

"It's for dyeing cloth." Zhu Youwei walked to the large vat. "The color has been darkened."

The sallow-faced woman knelt down, trembling, and cried, "This humble woman deserves to die."

“But you can distinguish the three ratios of Polygonum indicum in such a short time, you’re an expert.” Zhu Youwei turned to Chunxing and said, “Let her learn the new formula from the master from Hangzhou, and pay her according to her skill.”

After reviewing each of them, Zhu Youwei pointed out their shortcomings while also acknowledging their strengths. Finally, she stood on the steps and said in a clear voice, "According to the workshop's rules, you have a three-day trial period. If you pass, you will be retained. I have noted down your performance today. We will see how you improve in three days."

The women, their eyes red-rimmed, responded. Liu Niang, wiping away tears, asked, "Princess, what about my two maids?"

“You can become an apprentice once you turn ten.” Zhu Youwei glanced at the two thin girls. “Room and board are provided, and the monthly salary is five hundred coins.”

On the way back to the inn, Chunxing couldn't help but ask, "Princess, why have these people become so rusty in their cooking?"

"Did you see Liu Niang's fingers?" Zhu Youwei lifted the carriage curtain. "Her knuckles are thick, worn from years of spinning. The woman dyeing cloth still has blue under her fingernails, she must have been dyeing cloth recently."

Chunxing suddenly realized: "They just haven't used the tools in a long time, so they're rusty."

“Give them three days.” Zhu Youwei looked out the window. “The poor know best how to cherish opportunities.”

Three days later, when Zhu Youwei returned to the workshop, the scene had changed. The thread spun by Liu Niang was fine and even, and the dyer had mixed an authentic indigo color. What surprised everyone most was that the girl who was peeling cotton seeds had somehow learned and improved the seed-removing technique without any instruction.

When signing the contract, Liu Niang's hands trembled as she pressed her fingerprint. She suddenly knelt down: "Your Highness, I am so grateful!"

"Working hard is the best way to repay her." Zhu Youwei helped her up. "Remember to bring the maids when you start work the day after tomorrow."

As evening fell, Chen Han returned from the dye house and saw Zhu Youwei looking at the roster under the lamp. He unfastened his sword and placed it on the table: "How many people did you recruit today?"

“Twenty of them, all with their families.” Zhu Youwei rubbed her temples. “The Zhou family sent another fifty people, so we need to find another place to settle them.”

Chen Han poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her: "Prefect Zhao said that the official granary behind the City God Temple can be vacated."

“No, it’s too damp.” Zhu Youwei shook her head. “I looked at the Zhou family’s villa, it’s spacious enough.”

Just then, Chunxing rushed in: "Princess, all sixteen families of Songjiang have sent people here, saying they want to ask you to select the head of the workshop."

Zhu Youwei closed the booklet: "Tell them to bring the candidates to see me at noon tomorrow."

……

(End of this chapter)