People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 763 The Women of Songjiang Prefecture
Night deepened, and the fishing lights on the canal gradually thinned out. Zhu Youwei opened the window, and the night breeze, carrying moisture, brushed against her face. Chen Han stood behind her, gently pressing her shoulder.

"are you tired?"

Zhu Youwei shook her head, her gaze still fixed on the distance: "These women, given a chance, could live a decent life."

Chen Han followed her gaze and could vaguely make out the outline of the East City Workshop. It was about to illuminate the lives of countless people, just as the Hangzhou Workshop had done before.

The next day at noon, the sixteen candidates gathered at the government office.

Zhu Youwei questioned each of them, and finally chose a widow named Wen Niang.

This woman was originally the manager of the Zhou family's embroidery workshop, but she was kicked out after her husband died.

"Why did you choose her?" Old Master Zhou asked privately.

Zhu Youwei looked at Wen Niang, who was arranging the female workers' tasks: "She remembers the name of every female worker."

On the day the work began, Liu Niang arrived at the workshop early with her daughters.

She touched the brand-new spinning wheel, tears falling onto the wooden board.

Not far away, Wenniang was teaching the little girls how to connect wires.

Zhu Youwei stood at the door, watching the workshop gradually become lively, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

Chunxing brought over the account book: "Princess, the first batch of goods will be ready today."

“Keep a clear record of everyone’s workload,” Zhu Youwei said softly. “They deserve a transparent accounting.”

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating the gradually relaxing brows of the female workers. The sound of the shuttle flying back and forth was like a newly composed ballad.

……

In the busiest Taibai Tower in Songjiang Prefecture, the storyteller slammed his gavel down heavily.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the exciting news I have to share today is the grand opening of our Songjiang Women's Workshop!"

The tea drinkers put down their teacups, and even the windows of the private rooms on the second floor were opened. The Zhou family steward, dressed in silk robes, poked his head in and asked, "Is this the matter of the Princess personally selecting people?"

The storyteller stroked his goatee: "Indeed! Do you all know who the princess chose as her head steward? It's none other than Wen Niang, who was kicked out of the Zhou family's embroidery workshop!"

A commotion immediately erupted in the teahouse. A vendor selling melon seeds seized the opportunity to weave through the crowd: "Melon seeds, five coins a bag!"

In the corner, Li, a cloth merchant from Songjiang, trembled slightly as he held his teacup. He turned to his accountant and whispered, "I even laughed at Wenniang when she was driven away. Now she's become a favorite of the princess. What are we going to do?"

The accountant leaned closer and whispered, "Don't panic, boss. I've heard that Wenniang is a very kind and generous person. Yesterday, she even went to the slums in the south of the city to recruit more than a dozen embroiderers."

In a private room on the second floor, the young mistress of the Shen family was listening to a storyteller with her maid. Upon hearing Wen Niang's name, the fan in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

"It was her?" The young mistress's expression changed. "Last year, I even said in public that she was a jinx to husbands..."

The maid quickly picked up the fan: "Grandma, don't worry. I heard that Wenniang never speaks ill of others in the workshop."

Outside the teahouse, several women were huddled together looking at a newly posted notice on the bulletin board. Suddenly, Aunt Liu, dressed in coarse cloth, slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Oh my! My daughter's name is on this!"

Aunt Zhang, who was selling fish nearby, hurriedly asked, "Really? Didn't you say the workshop only needed skilled craftsmen?"

Aunt Liu pointed to the bottom line of the notice, her fingers trembling: "See that? Liu Xiaotao, assigned to the spinning group! My daughter has barely even touched a spinning wheel, yet the Princess has taken her in!"

The crowd erupted in excitement. Old Wang, the pancake vendor, squeezed through the crowd: "Old lady, your daughter must have some extraordinary talent. I've heard that the Princess is extremely fair in choosing men, and even Old Master Zhou couldn't utter a single word of dissent."

In a tavern by the canal, several porters were surrounding Wu Lao Er, who had just returned from the workshop.

"You really give me two taels of silver a month?" The young porter's eyes widened in surprise.

Wu Lao Er took a swig of wine, wiped his mouth, and said, "My wife said it herself! She'll provide three meals a day, with meat at every meal. Yesterday she even gave us blue work clothes, the material of which is more presentable than what we wore for the New Year."

The bartender chimed in, "I heard the dyehouse is even more impressive. Women who know how to mix colors can get three taels directly, which is equivalent to the salary of a clerk in the government office."

A cold snort suddenly came from the corner. Everyone turned around and saw Master Zhao from the Zhou family dyehouse. The old man slammed his wine bowl down: "What do women know about dyeing cloth! This is my family's ancestral craft..."

"Come on, Lao Zhao!" Wu Lao Er laughed heartily. "Your apprentice Chunni has gone to the workshop, and I heard that the indigo she mixes is even more perfect than yours!"

Master Zhao's face flushed red, and he grabbed the wine jug and headed for the door. Just as he reached the door, he bumped into a silk shop assistant who was rushing over.

"Something terrible has happened!" the shop assistant shouted, panting. "The Shen family from Suzhou has taken 300,000 taels of silver notes to Hangzhou, saying they want to open a branch in partnership with the Women's Workshop!"

The tavern fell silent instantly. Master Zhao's wine jug crashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.

In the back courtyard of the prefectural government office, Zhao Mingcheng was listening to his clerk's report.

"My lord, seven families have come to inquire about the girls' school today. As instructed by the princess, I have recorded them all in the register."

Zhao Mingcheng stroked his beard and nodded: "Have the teaching staff been secured?"

The clerk opened another booklet: "Liu Hanlin, a retired scholar, is willing to teach 'Admonitions for Women,' and Chen Xiucai's wife has volunteered to teach mathematics. This is the school grounds..."

“Make room in the west wing of the City God Temple,” Zhao Mingcheng decided. “The princess is right; it’s a good thing for women to be literate and reasonable.”

Just then, the gatekeeper came to report: "Old Master Zhou requests an audience."

Just as Zhao Mingcheng got up to greet him, Old Master Zhou, leaning on his cane, strode in. The old man was in excellent spirits today, even his white hair was neatly combed.

"Lord Zhao! I've come to deliver the land deeds!" Old Master Zhou pulled a stack of documents from his sleeve. "The Zhou family is willing to donate twenty acres of mulberry orchards for the education of the children of the workshop's female workers!"

The clerk's hand trembled, and ink splattered on the paper. Zhao Mingcheng quickly took the land deed: "Old Master Zhou is so kind! I will certainly inform the Princess."

Old Master Zhou waved his hand, then suddenly lowered his voice: "I've heard about the Shen family of Suzhou..."

“That is indeed the case.” Zhao Mingcheng understood. “However, the princess said that Songjiang Workshop will always be given priority.”

The old man's face immediately lit up with a smile. He even threw away his cane and strode out with great speed. Just as he reached the door, he turned back and instructed, "At the opening ceremony tomorrow, please make sure the princess tastes our Songjiang perch sashimi!"

As dusk settled, the sound of looms in the workshop gradually subsided. Wenniang was checking the day's output in the accounting room when she suddenly heard a soft knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Liu Niang stood outside with her two daughters in tow. The woman was dressed in clean blue clothes today, and her hair was neatly combed.

“Manager Wen…” Liu Niang’s voice trembled slightly, “I…I want to thank you.”

Wenniang put down the account book and said gently, "It is the princess who should be thanked."

Liu Niang shook her head and took out a cloth bag from her bosom: "This is the thread I spun today, two ounces more than yesterday. These two girls have also learned how to splice threads..."

She suddenly knelt down as she spoke, pleading, "Please tell the princess to let the three of us stay!"

Wenniang quickly helped her up and found three copper coins wrapped in the cloth bag.

Her heart warmed, and she said softly, "Nonsense, the workshop has taken you in, there's no reason for them to kick you out. Keep this money and use it to buy candy for the girls."

Liu Niang's tears fell onto Wen Niang's hand, burning hot.

Meanwhile, Zhu Youwei was looking at a map of Songjiang under the lamp in the inn. Chen Han pushed open the door and came in, bringing with him the scent of night dew.

"Have you reached an agreement?" Zhu Youwei asked without looking up.

Chen Han unfastened his sword and hung it on the rack: "The Shen family is willing to give up the most prosperous shop in Suzhou, in exchange for 30% profit."

Zhu Youwei chuckled and drew a circle on the map: "Tomorrow you're taking people to see the Zhou family's mulberry orchard. I have a feeling..."

Before they could finish speaking, a song suddenly drifted in from outside the window. The couple went to the window and saw fishing lights twinkling on the canal.

You can faintly hear the laughter and chatter of female workers heading home after work, mixed with the sound of flowing water, which has a bit of the flavor of Hangzhou.

Chen Han suddenly grasped his wife's hand: "Are you tired?"

Zhu Youwei shook her head, the moonlight tracing her slender silhouette. The distant sound of the night watchman's clapper drifted through the air; the night in Songjiang Prefecture was unbelievably gentle.

……

In the early morning in Songjiang Prefecture, before the mist had dissipated, cargo boats were already traveling back and forth on the canal.

Zhu Youwei and Chen Han walked side by side on the stone-paved street, followed by Wen Niang and several weavers. They were dressed in matching blue work clothes, with bronze badges of the Women's Workshop hanging from their waists. Although they looked reserved, their eyes shone brightly.

In a teahouse by the street, several cloth merchants were sitting around discussing something.

"Look! The Princess really brought the Weaver Girl out!"

"How strange! Who travels with a weaver?"

"What do you know? The female workers in the Hangzhou workshops earn more per month than the clerks in the government offices!"

Hearing the discussion, Wen Niang paused slightly and subconsciously lowered her head. Zhu Youwei turned back and smiled at her: "Wen Niang, the Songjiang cloth at that silk shop up ahead is the most famous. Let's go take a look."

Chen Han casually bought a bag of roasted chestnuts from a roadside stall and handed them to the weavers: "Try them, the chestnuts from Songjiang are sweet."

The weavers exchanged glances, hesitant to accept the gift. Wenniang hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it, whispering, "Thank you, Duke."

The sweet aroma of chestnuts melted in their palms, and the weavers' tense shoulders gradually relaxed.

The silk shop owner had already received the news and personally greeted her at the door. He first bowed to Zhu Youwei, but his gaze couldn't help but drift towards Wen Niang.

"Your Highness, please take a look at the new Songjiang fine cloth that has just arrived at our shop."

Zhu Youwei didn't take it, but turned to Wenniang and said, "Come and see, how is this cloth woven?"

Wen Niang was taken aback, then stepped forward and gently stroked the fabric with her fingers. She twirled a loose thread, then examined it closely against the light, her expression gradually becoming focused.

"The grain is even, but if the starch is applied too heavily, it will harden after a few washes."

The shopkeeper's expression changed: "This lady has a good eye! This batch of cloth was indeed rushed..."

Chen Han raised an eyebrow: "Isn't Songjiang cloth known for its softness?"

The shopkeeper wiped his sweat: "We've had a lot of orders lately, so it's inevitable..."

Zhu Youwei shook her head: "Quality is more important than quantity. Wenniang, if our workshop's fabric is like this, would you accept it?"

Wen Niang replied firmly, "I won't accept it."

The shopkeeper blushed, while the surrounding vendors who were watching the commotion erupted in excitement.

"Did you hear that? The princess asked the weaver to take the eye!"

"Isn't that Wen Niang a widow who was kicked out of the Zhou family? How come she has such a respectable appearance now..."

After leaving the silk shop, the group strolled along the canal. Willow branches gently brushed the water's surface, and fishermen's songs drifted from afar.

Wen Niang suddenly stopped and pointed to a small stall by the river: "Princess, that stall has excellent indigo dye. I used to..." She stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence.

Zhu Youwei understood: "Let's go take a look."

The dye shop owner was a lame old man. When he saw the distinguished guests stop, he hurriedly tried to kneel down. Chen Han helped him up, saying, "Sir, there's no need for such formalities. We're just here to buy dye."

The old man stammered as he explained, but Wenniang squatted down and picked up a pinch of indigo powder to examine it closely.

"It's mixed with lime, so the color isn't right."

The old man waved his hand anxiously: "My lady, please be wise! This is top-quality indigo from Yunnan, absolutely no adulteration!"

Wen Niang remained silent, took some water to mix the dye, and rubbed a small amount onto the handkerchief with her fingertips. The handkerchief gradually revealed a translucent blue, completely different from the other fabrics on the table.

Zhu Youwei smiled and said, "Father-in-law, we'll take all of this dye."

On the return journey, the weavers were a bit bolder. Young Xiao Tao pointed eagerly at the sugar figurine stall, so Zhu Youwei let each of them choose one. Wen Niang, holding a butterfly-shaped sugar figurine, had tears welling in her eyes.

"When I took my child to the market before, he always clamored for a sugar figurine..."

Chen Han said gently, "Now all the children in the workshop have candy to eat, and you deserve a lot of credit for that."

Just then, a disheveled woman suddenly rushed out from the street corner and knelt down in front of Wen Niang.

"Lady Wen! Please, please speak to the princess and ask her to take my maid in!"

Wen Niang was at a loss. Zhu Youwei helped the woman up: "Tell me slowly."

The woman wiped away her tears: "My daughter is twelve years old. She's very hardworking, but... but she has a birthmark on her face, and no one wants to hire her..."

Wen Niang looked at Zhu Youwei with earnest eyes. Zhu Youwei nodded: "I'll bring her to the workshop tomorrow."

As the sun set, the canal was bathed in a golden glow. Zhou Dehai, sitting in the teahouse, stared at this scene, his hand gripping the teacup tightly.

"Grandfather, Wenniang is now..."

Old Master Zhou squinted and gazed into the distance: "Her kind heart is a good thing. Pass down the word: any member of the Zhou family who dares to cause trouble for the workshop will be punished according to family rules!"

As night deepened, Zhu Youwei and Chen Han sat facing each other, sipping tea in the courtyard of the inn.

“Wen Niang is very confident today,” Chen Han said with a smile.

Zhu Youwei looked out the window at the lights: "She has the ability, she just lacks the opportunity."

The laughter of weavers drifted from afar, mingling with the sound of the canal water, and gently spread.

……

Early morning in Songjiang Prefecture, the teahouses along the canal were bustling with activity. Several cloth merchants sat around a table, steam rising from their teacups.

"I heard that the Princess really allowed those weavers to show their faces in public?" a merchant in a silk shirt asked in a low voice.

An old man wearing a melon-shaped hat snorted, "What kind of behavior is it for a woman not to stay at home to take care of her husband and raise her children?"

Old Mrs. Zhang, who sells steamed buns, happened to be passing by and stopped when she heard this: "What are you saying, sir? My daughter earns two taels of silver a month in the workshop, and we have meat to eat at home every meal. How is that improper?"

The teahouse fell silent for a moment.

In the corner, a young scholar suddenly slammed his hand on the table: "Well said! The Book of Rites says, 'Women weave silk and hemp to make clothes,' so it is only natural for women to weave cloth. Now that they can support their families with their skills, what's wrong with that?"

The cloth merchants exchanged bewildered glances. The silk merchant said awkwardly, "But they're sharing a room with men..."

"Bullshit!" came an angry shout from the doorway. Everyone turned around and saw Old Wu, the porter who had just returned from the workshop. He still had a towel draped over his shoulder and strode in, pointing at the merchant: "The workshop has separate work areas for men and women, even the latrines are separate. You, who have never been to a workshop, should stop gossiping!"

The teahouse owner quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Please calm down, everyone, and try our newly arrived Longjing tea..."

……

(End of this chapter)