People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 764 Rumors Take Flight!
In a tavern by the canal, several dye workers were drinking.

"Have you heard? Master Zhao from Zhou's Dyehouse quit his job yesterday."

"Why? Because he's the top cloth dyer in Songjiang."

"What else could it be?" the young man said in a low voice. "His daughter went to the Women's Workshop and earns three taels of silver a month, more than he does. The old man was so angry that he smashed bowls at home, but his daughter said that the workshop provides room and board and that he can learn new recipes."

The older man clicked his tongue and said, "If you ask me, it's a good thing that women can earn money. If my husband wants to go, I'll be the first to agree."

The drunken man next to him suddenly interjected, "Pah! If all the women go out to earn money, who will take care of the in-laws? Who will take care of the children?"

"I'll take her!" the older worker exclaimed, his eyes wide. "My mother was raised by my father, so what? If my daughter wants to go to the workshop, I'll cook for her every day!"

The crowd burst into laughter. The drunkard tried to argue, but the bartender came over with a broom: "If you want to argue, go outside! Don't interrupt my business!"

A group of women were looking at a newly posted notice by the bulletin board in front of the prefectural government office.

"It says here that the women's workshop is going to open literacy classes?" Aunt Liu, wearing patched clothes, rubbed her eyes. "Is it true?"

The literate girl next to her read aloud: "The Women's School affiliated with the Women's Workshop holds classes every five days of the month, teaching the Thousand Character Classic and arithmetic, free of charge."

The crowd erupted in excitement. A young woman tugged at her mother-in-law's sleeve: "Mom, I want to go!"

The mother-in-law said sternly, "What are you going to do? Who's going to do the housework?"

"I'll go after I finish my work in the morning, and I'll be back by noon." The wife's voice trailed off. "If you can read, you can teach the children in the future..."

Across from the bulletin board, at the second-floor window of the Zhou family's villa, Old Master Zhou was squinting as he watched this scene.

“Grandfather, if this continues, I’m afraid all the workers in our dye shop will leave,” Zhou Dehai said worriedly.

The old man stroked his white beard and suddenly laughed: "Silly boy, haven't you figured it out yet? This is the inevitable trend." He pointed to the women flowing into the workshops on the street, "From today onwards, the wages of all female workers in the Zhou family's workshops will increase by 50%."

Zhou Dehai's eyes widened: "This..."

"Pass on the message." The old man turned and walked into the house, "All Zhou family girls who are ten years old or older can attend school. The cost of hiring a teacher will be paid from the family funds."

At noon, the workshop canteen was bustling with activity. Liu Niang, carrying a tray, carefully sat down opposite Wen Niang.

"Manager Wen, I...I have something I'd like to ask you."

Wen Niang looked up: "What's wrong?"

Liu Niang twisted the hem of her clothes: "The neighbors all say that women shouldn't go out to work, and my mother-in-law even scolded me yesterday..."

Before he could finish speaking, the woman dyeing cloth at the next table suddenly interrupted, "Why bother with them! My husband initially disagreed too, but when I got my first month's wages, he didn't say a word!"

A burst of laughter filled the canteen. Wen Niang put down her chopsticks, her voice soft but silencing everyone: "Liu Niang, tell me, have you had any meat at home these past two weeks of work?"

Liu Niang's eyes reddened: "We've eaten, and the maids have even made new clothes..."

"As long as the children are fed and clothed, that's the most important thing." Wen Niang looked around. "We earn our living with our skills, we don't steal or rob, what's there to be ashamed of?"

The female workers nodded in agreement. In a corner, a little girl suddenly raised her hand: "Aunt Wen, my father says that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, and he won't let me come to school."

The woman dyeing cloth slammed her hand on the table: "Bullshit! My father said the same thing back then, and I couldn't even read the account books. He sold me out and I was still helping him count the money!"

Another burst of laughter erupted in the dining hall. Once the laughter subsided, Wenniang said seriously, "Tomorrow I'll go talk to that man. The princess said that all women in the workshops must be literate and reasonable; that's an ironclad rule."

As evening fell, a large crowd gathered at the workshop entrance. Some were men picking up their wives and daughters, while others were idlers just there to watch the spectacle.

"Look at that guy in the blue shirt, I heard he can spin three pounds of thread a day!"

"Tsk tsk, that waist, those hands, they don't look like someone who does manual labor..."

Before he could finish speaking, the idler suddenly screamed. Everyone turned around and saw that it was Wang Da Sao, the fishmonger, grabbing his ear: "If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll throw you into the canal to feed the fish!"

The idler begged for mercy repeatedly. The porters who had come to fetch his bride laughed, "Serves you right! How dare you make up stories about women from the workshop?"

As the sun set, Zhu Youwei and Chen Han stood on the watchtower of the workshop, taking in the entire scene.

"The opposition is smaller than I expected," Chen Han said, somewhat surprised.

Zhu Youwei chuckled: "Poor families are the most honest. Women can earn money to support their families, and anyone who tries to stop them is cutting off their livelihood and will naturally be scolded."

In the distance came the sound of the night watchman's clapper, and the night of Songjiang Prefecture gently enveloped the city as it gradually awoke.

Before the morning mist had dissipated, the notice board in front of the Songjiang Prefectural Government was already crowded with people. Li Chongyi, a scholar in a blue robe, gripped his folding fan and stared at the newly posted recruitment notice for the workshops, sneering, "A hen crowing at dawn."

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone around to hear. Several scholars in long gowns exchanged glances, and one of them chimed in, "It's indecent for a woman to show her face like that."

Old Mrs. Zhang, who sells steamed buns, suddenly slammed her rolling pin on the cutting board: "My daughter earns two taels of silver a month at the workshop, and we've built a new tiled house. If this gentleman doesn't like it, why don't you pay off her debts for her first?"

Li Chongyi's face flushed red. Just as he was about to retort, the crowd suddenly parted. Zhu Youwei walked over with Wen Niang and several weavers, their blue work clothes standing out brightly in the morning light.

"Your Highness!" Granny Zhang's voice boomed, "These pedantic scholars are speaking ill of you!"

Zhu Youwei didn't stop walking, only glancing at the notice board as she passed by. Wen Niang understood and turned to Li Chongyi, saying, "Sir, the workshop is recruiting scribes. Those with good handwriting will receive three taels of silver per month."

The scholars immediately stirred. Li Chongyi snapped his folding fan shut: "A scholar will not accept food offered with contempt!"

“It’s a proper job of transcribing accounts,” Wenniang said calmly. “Yesterday, Instructor Liu from the prefectural school introduced three students.”

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Li Chongyi turned to leave, but was stopped by a young scholar in a patched long gown: "Brother Li, my mother is ill..."

Zhu Youwei had already reached the street corner. Chen Han approached from the direction of the dye shop, his official robes stained with indigo dye.

"The master craftsmen at the Zhou family dyehouse are causing trouble?"

Chen Han shook his head: "It's better than expected. Old Zhao brought his apprentices to steal the new recipe, but Wen Niang exposed him on the spot. Instead, he took in ten apprentices as a gift."

As they were talking, several furtive figures slipped into Taibai Tower. In a private room on the second floor, Manager Shen was pouring wine for Zhou Dehai.

“Nephew, the market price of Hangzhou cloth has dropped by 30%.” Manager Shen dipped his finger in wine and drew a line on the table. “If Songjiang cloth is also sold at the workshop price, all of us old brands will have to close down.”

Zhou Dehai stared at the marks left by the liquor: "My grandfather said that the Zhou family will not get involved in this matter."

"Foolish!" Manager Shen slammed his fist on the table. "You think you can win over the princess by donating a few acres of mulberry orchards? Once your workshop's fabrics are spread all over Jiangnan, your Zhou family's 300-year-old reputation will be ruined!"

A figure suddenly appeared on the window paper. Li Chongyi's voice came through the door: "Uncle Shen, I have something important to discuss with you."

That afternoon, a strange scene unfolded at the canal dock. A dozen scholars surrounded and questioned the canal workers transporting cloth, while an accountant in a silk robe hid behind them taking notes. "Brother, how much cotton yarn does the workshop use each day?"

How much indigo is needed to dye one bolt of cloth?

Wang Laowu, a canal worker carrying a cloth bag, became impatient when asked questions: "I'm only responsible for carrying goods. If you want to know, go ask at the workshop yourself!"

The scholars were about to continue their argument when suddenly the sound of horses' hooves was heard. Chen Han arrived at full speed with his personal guards, his whip cracking in the air.

"Prefect Zhao has ordered that the canal wharf be taken over by the garrison immediately." He glanced at the few people dressed as accountants, "No unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach."

Inside the Taibai Tower, the storyteller struck his gavel: "Speaking of the Women's Workshop, there's something interesting happening lately! Yesterday, more than twenty scholars rushed to sign up as scribes..."

The door to the private room on the second floor was slammed open. Li Chongyi rushed downstairs with a livid face, followed by a flustered steward from the Shen family.

As dusk deepened, Zhu Youwei encountered an unexpected visitor in the workshop's backyard. Old Master Zhou stood under a mulberry tree, leaning on his cane, with two servants carrying a mahogany chest behind him.

"I have come here to beg for forgiveness." The old man bowed deeply. "That wretched boy Dehai was misled and actually conspired with the Shen family..."

Zhu Youwei helped the old man up: "Old Zhou, you're too kind. Your grandson came to the workshop this morning to apologize, and he even brought ten new looms."

The old man's beard trembled, and he suddenly turned around and kicked open the wooden box. The box full of account books scattered with a clatter, revealing dense annotations in vermilion ink inside.

"All the dyeing formulas of the Zhou family over the past three hundred years are offered to the workshop today!" The old man's voice was loud and clear. "I only ask that the princess leave a way out for the cloth merchants of Songjiang."

Zhu Youwei picked up a yellowed booklet. In the moonlight, the words "Third Year of Hongwu" could be clearly seen on it.

"At 1-3 PM three days from now, please have Elder Zhou bring all the shopkeepers to the workshop." She closed the booklet. "Songjiang should have a place in the Jiangnan textile industry."

That night, Chen Han was polishing his sword in the courtyard of the post station. Chunxing rushed over: "Lord Duke, we just intercepted the carrier pigeon that the Shen family was sending to Hangzhou."

The note was unfolded under the lamp and contained only eight characters: "The matter has been exposed. Destroy the Songjiang account books immediately."

Zhu Youwei chuckled softly and brought the note closer to the candlelight. The moment the flame flickered, the distant sound of the night watchman's clapper could be heard.

Three days later, a long table was set up in the main hall of the workshop. The managers of the sixteen families of Songjiang sat on either side, each with their account book laid out in front of them. Zhu Youwei asked Wenniang to bring out a carved wooden box.

"This is a complete record of all the materials used by the Hangzhou workshop over the past three years." She opened the box. "You can compare them."

Old Master Zhou was the first to stand up. His rough fingers traced the pages, then suddenly stopped at a certain spot: "How can the workshop weave 30% more cloth from the same cotton yarn?"

“The new looms save materials,” Wen Niang explained. “The dyeing formula has also been improved, saving 20% ​​of indigo.”

Manager Shen suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "If that's the case, why didn't the princess say so earlier? It's caused us so much trouble..."

"Brother Shen!" Old Master Zhou slammed his cane heavily on the ground. "You were the one who instigated Dehai to collude with the scholars to cause trouble, and now you're turning around and blaming me?"

Once the commotion subsided, Zhu Youwei and the others gently tapped the table: "I've invited you all here today to establish some rules. The workshop is willing to provide new looms at cost price, with each family paying in installments over the years."

The hall fell silent instantly. Manager Shen, trembling, held up one finger: "One...one year?"

“Three years is fine too.” Chen Han stood by the window with his arms crossed. “But during these three years, Songjiang cloth must be sold at the price set by the workshop.”

Zhou Dehai suddenly rushed out and knelt down: "Your Highness is so kind! Our Zhou family is willing to be the first to sign the contract!"

As the sun set, Zhu Youwei stood alone by the canal. Wenniang rushed over, handing her a letter: "Just arrived from Hangzhou, saying someone in the capital has impeached you..."

The letter rustled in the wind. After reading it, Zhu Youwei casually tossed it into the river.

"The princess?"

"It's alright." She turned and walked towards the workshop. "Tomorrow, take some people to the Shen family's dye shop and teach them the new formula."

Wen Niang hurried forward two steps: "But the Shen family hasn't signed anything today..."

"He will sign it." Zhu Youwei looked towards Taibai Tower. At the second-floor window, Manager Shen was staring intently at the letter drifting away on the canal.

As night deepened, the lights of Songjiang Prefecture lit up one by one. The laughter of the workshop women mingled with the sound of their looms, drifting gently along the canal. The night watchman's clapper echoed through the streets and alleys, startling a few sparrows that had been roosting there.

……

The teahouses along the street were already full. Several cloth merchants sat in a corner, talking in hushed tones and glancing out the window every now and then.

"Have you heard? The fabric from the Women's Workshop has already been sold to Suzhou, and the price is 30% lower than ours." A tall, thin silk merchant lowered his voice, his fingers tapping nervously on the table.

"Thirty percent?" The old man wearing a melon-shaped hat suddenly slammed down his teacup. "Isn't this trying to kill us?"

"More than that!" the tall, thin merchant sneered. "I heard they're planning to open two more workshops in Songjiang. Then their fabrics will be everywhere. Who will buy ours then?"

The atmosphere in the teahouse suddenly became heavy. Several cloth merchants who had originally just come to drink tea also gathered around, their expressions uncertain.

"This isn't doing business! This is cutting off our livelihood!" someone said angrily.

“Isn’t that right?” The tall, thin merchant narrowed his eyes. “I heard that this workshop is backed by the Duke and the Princess, and the government is on their side. How can our small businesses compete with them?”

"We can't just sit here and wait to die!" The old man in the melon-shaped hat slammed his hand on the table. "We have to think of a way!"

……

In a private room on the second floor of Taibai Tower, Manager Shen and Li Chongyi were drinking together. Manager Shen's face was gloomy, and his fingers kept rubbing his wine cup.

"Master Li, you are a learned man with broad knowledge," Manager Shen said in a low voice. "Given the current situation, what do you think we should do?"

Li Chongyi slowly picked up a piece of perch sashimi with his chopsticks and said calmly, "Manager Shen, what do you think the people of Songjiang believe in the most?"

Shopkeeper Shen was taken aback: "Of course, we believe in the government and the books of sages."

Li Chongyi shook his head: "You're wrong. What the people trust most is 'rules'."

He put down his chopsticks, his voice soft yet tinged with coldness: "For thousands of years, women have been expected to be good wives and mothers, while weaving and supporting the family has been a man's job. Now, the workshops are making women show their faces in public, even taking away men's jobs. This is against the rules."

Manager Shen's eyes lit up: "You mean..."

Li Chongyi smiled slightly: "A rumor can become the truth as long as someone believes it."

……

(End of this chapter)