People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 767 Improving Workers' Welfare and Benefits

In a private room on the second floor of Taibai Tower, Manager Shen held a teacup, his expression shifting between light and dark.

"The Duke's move is to seize control of all the cloth workshops in Songjiang..."

Li Chongyi across from him sneered: "Shopkeeper Shen, are you really willing to accept this?"

Manager Shen gritted his teeth: "What can we do if we're not willing? Songjiang cloth has already made a name for itself. If we don't follow suit, we'll be squeezed out sooner or later."

Li Chongyi narrowed his eyes: "But if we follow suit, the price of Songjiang cloth will be entirely up to the Duke."

Manager Shen remained silent for a long time before finally slamming his teacup down: "Follow! Not only do we follow, but we're the first to sign!"

……

In the main hall of the Women's Workshop, Chen Han sat behind a long table, with contracts and documents spread out in front of him. Wen Niang stood to the side, holding a pen and ink in her hands.

Old Master Zhou was the first to walk in, followed by Zhou Dehai and two accountants.

"Lord Duke, the Zhou family is willing to join us." The old man cupped his hands, his voice booming.

Chen Han nodded and pushed the contract over: "Please take a look, Mr. Zhou. The terms are all on it."

The old man took it, read it carefully, and without hesitation signed his name and pressed his fingerprint on it.

"From today onwards, the manager of Zhou Family Dyehouse will be appointed by the Women's Workshop."

Chen Han smiled: "Old Zhou is straightforward."

……

In the following days, owners of various cloth workshops in Songjiang came one after another to sign contracts. Some hesitated for a long time before finally gritting their teeth and signing; others pressed their seals without saying a word.

Wenniang, accompanied by several managers, visited each of the franchise workshops to inspect the looms, teach new techniques, and establish rules.

Liu Niang was sent to a small dye house in the south of the city. The female workers there were initially wary of her, but seeing how skillful she was and how brightly she dyed the fabric, they gradually became convinced.

"Manager Wen said that as long as we follow the methods of Jin Guo Fang, we can earn at least five more taels of silver per bolt of cloth!" Liu Niang said to the female worker beside her while mixing dyes.

The female workers' eyes lit up, and they worked even more carefully.

……

A month later, new fabrics from various workshops began to appear on the market in Songjiang. The lower right corner of each fabric was uniformly embroidered with the characters "Songjiang" in small seal script, along with the workshop's mark.

"Look, this is the Zhou family's cloth, it's dyed so brightly!"

"This belongs to the Shen family; it's woven very tightly!"

Fabric merchants rushed to buy, but prices remained more stable than ever before.

The storyteller at Taibai Tower struck his gavel: "Ladies and gentlemen, do you know why Songjiang cloth is so sought after these days? It's all thanks to the Duke's brilliant 'participation' plan! With all the workshops working together, the cloth is of the highest quality and at a fair price!"

The tea drinkers nodded in agreement, with one exclaiming, "This is what it truly means to make money together!"

……

As dusk fell, Zhu Youwei stood on the watchtower of the workshop, looking down at the canal boats laden with cloth.

Chen Han walked to her side and said softly, "The output of the first batch of sixteen workshops has already doubled."

Zhu Youwei smiled slightly: "And then?"

"Next, it's time to let all the cloth merchants in Jiangnan see the capabilities of Songjiang cloth."

In the distance, the watchman's clapper sounded softly, mingling with the laughter of the weavers as they finished their work, gently spreading through the night of Songjiang Prefecture.

As dusk settled, a crowd still lingered around the notice board in front of the Songjiang Prefectural Government Office. The newly posted franchise regulations glowed yellow in the lantern light, and several cloth shop owners huddled together, discussing them in hushed tones.

Old Master Zhou, leaning on his cane, stood in the front row, squinting as he read the regulations three times from beginning to end. He suddenly turned to Zhou Dehai behind him and said, "Tomorrow morning, bring the account books for our three dye houses to the Women's Workshop."

Zhou Dehai rubbed his hands: "Grandfather, are we really going to follow this plan? Just increasing the food allowance for the weavers will cost an extra twenty taels of silver per month."

The old man slammed his cane heavily on the ground, startling a few sparrows into flight. "You shallow-minded fools! Didn't you see it written in the regulations? Anyone who follows the rules of the Women's Workshop will get an extra three coins for each bolt of dyed cloth!"

Hearing this, the steward of the Shen family, who was standing nearby, quickly squeezed over and bowed, asking, "Old Zhou, is this franchise really worth it?"

The old man snorted and pointed to the last line of the regulations: "It's written in black and white that franchised workshops can have priority access to the new looms. If Manager Shen doesn't believe it, he can wait and see for a few more days."

As Steward Shen awkwardly backed away, he bumped into Chen Han, who was coming out of the government office. He quickly bowed and said, "Lord Duke, our boss sent me to inquire about the selection of the workshop manager after we join the company."

Chen Han untied the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to his attendant, saying without looking up, "Proceed according to the regulations. The original managers of each household will remain in their positions, and the Women's Workshop will be assigned a new supervisor. Sign the contracts at Taibai Tower in three days. No waiting will be allowed after that time."

After he finished speaking, he strode towards the carriage parked at the street corner, leaving Steward Shen standing there wiping his sweat. When the carriage curtain was lifted, Zhu Youwei's face was partially revealed, and she was still clutching the letter she had just received from Hangzhou in her hand.

"Is there any movement in Suzhou?" Chen Han stepped onto the car using a footstool.

Zhu Youwei folded the letter and stuffed it back into her sleeve: "Shen Wansan's nephew is inquiring about joining the franchise. It seems he's been lured in by our offer to buy it at a higher price."

The carriage slowly moved along the stone-paved road, the sound of the wheels startling a stray cat that was dozing on the wall. Chen Han looked at the lights flashing past the window and suddenly said, "Starting tomorrow, you will take Wen Niang and the others to visit the various workshops."

Which company should we start with?

“The Zhou family.” Chen Han tapped the window frame lightly with his fingers. “The old master is highly respected in the Songjiang business community. If he takes the lead in reform, no one else will dare to disobey.”

The next morning, as the workers at Zhou's dye shop began their shift, they saw the carriage of the Women's Workshop parked at the gate. When Zhu Youwei led Wenniang and Liuniang into the courtyard, more than twenty dyers were squatting by the well, eating coarse grain cakes.

Zhou Dehai jogged up to greet them: "Your Highness arrived early, I'll call them right away."

"No need," Zhu Youwei raised her hand to stop them, taking a few white steamed buns from the food box Liu Niang was carrying. "Let the workers eat their fill first." The dye workers stared blankly at the snow-white buns, none of them daring to reach out. A bold young man was about to take one when the foreman glared at him and pulled him back.

Wenniang shoved the steamed bun into the old dyer's hand: "Eat up, this will be your breakfast every day from now on." She turned to Zhou Dehai and said, "We need to build a shade structure next to the dye vat. With such a scorching sun, how can people work if they get sunburned?"

Zhou Dehai opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Zhu Youwei interrupted him: "Take us to see the dormitory."

Pushing open the wooden door to the side room in the backyard, a musty smell hit her. Blackened cotton wadding was piled on the large communal bed, and cobwebs clung to the corners. Liu Niang couldn't help but cough: "How...how can anyone live like this?"

Zhu Youwei took out a booklet from her sleeve and made a few notes: "Within three days, all the shared beds will be replaced with single wooden beds. New soapberries will be issued every ten days, and bedding will be changed every half month." She looked up at Zhou Dehai, "This money will be deducted from the franchise advance payment."

Zhou Dehai's forehead was beaded with sweat: "But it's not written in the articles of association."

“Write it now.” Chen Han’s voice suddenly came from outside the door. Behind him were two craftsmen, holding newly drawn dormitory blueprints. “According to the rules of the Women’s Workshop, the better the workers live, the fewer mistakes they will make.”

The dyers gathered in the courtyard, whispering amongst themselves. The old dyer, clutching a half-eaten steamed bun, suddenly knelt before Zhu Youwei: "Princess, could this old man ask for another bun? My little grandson is at home."

Zhu Youwei bent down to help the old man up, then turned to Zhou Dehai and said, "From now on, children under six years old in the families of workers will receive half a jin of rice every day." She paused, "It will be drawn from my account."

The news spread like wildfire, reaching both banks of the canal by noon. Just after noon, the manager of the Shen family dyehouse, along with his workers, blocked the entrance to the women's workshop, clamoring to see Wenniang.

"We want to change our dormitories too!" The lead weaver waved his tattered straw hat. "Manager Shen said that unless the Women's Workshop is willing to give us an advance, there's no point in talking about it!"

Wenniang stood on the steps and sneered, "Tell Manager Shen that Article 3 of the regulations clearly states—reform first, then pay the money." She pointed to the new cloth drying in the distance, "Look at the Zhou family, they renovated their bedroom yesterday, and this morning they've already woven top-quality cloth!"

A commotion suddenly arose from the back of the crowd. Lin Sanniang, leading her female soldiers, brought three carriages laden with brand-new wooden beds and bedding. She jumped off one of the carriages and announced loudly, "As instructed by the Duke, the affiliated workshops can purchase bedding on credit, deducted from their cloth payments in the autumn!"

The Shen family steward slunk away, but even more workers from the workshops came knocking. By the time the evening drum sounded, the threshold of the Women's Workshop was practically worn down by the crowds.

Zhu Youwei stood in the accounting room, listening to the noise outside, her pen scribbling on the franchise list. Chen Han pushed open the door and came in, still smelling of sawdust.

"Is the new loom ready?"

Chen Han nodded and spread a roll of blueprints on the table: "We've added a spinning wheel, so even female workers can operate it." He pointed to the circled names on the list, "Are these companies the tough nuts to crack?"

"More than that." Zhu Youwei dipped her brush in ink. "The manager of the Li family workshop said that he would rather close down than pay the workers more."

Suddenly, the sound of orderly footsteps came from outside the window. Lin San Niang said through the door, "Princess, the women's army from Hangzhou has arrived. Shall we go to the Li family now?"

Zhu Youwei and Chen Han exchanged a glance and stood up at the same time. She grabbed the cloak hanging on the screen: "Tell Manager Li that tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), the Women's Workshop wants to inspect the progress of his reforms."

What if he refuses?

Chen Han tightened the jade belt around his waist and said calmly, "Then treat it as a breach of contract and forfeit the franchise deposit."

Old Master Zhou's cane slammed heavily on the bluestone slab, making the abacus beads in the accounting room rattle. He stared at the ledger spread out in front of him, his withered fingers repeatedly stroking the "wages for workers and food" column.

"Add three taels of silver for food expenses each month," the old man suddenly said, startling Zhou Dehai so much that he almost knocked over the teacup in his hand.

Zhou Dehai hurriedly put down his teacup: "Grandfather, this is already the third time they've added money. If they add another one, our dye shop might be facing serious financial difficulties this year."

"Shut up!" The old man grabbed the inkstone and slammed it onto the ledger, splashing ink far away. "Didn't you see the notice from the Women's Workshop? The workers in the affiliated workshops must be paid the same standards as them!"

The sounds of weavers chatting and laughing drifted in from outside the window. Several women finishing their early work were walking home with baskets filled with white flour buns distributed by the women's workshop. The old man squinted, then suddenly grabbed a brush and wrote a string of numbers on a piece of paper.

“Starting tomorrow, breakfast will include two eggs, and lunch will include meat. A shed will be built next to the dye vat, and everyone will receive two pairs of new cloth shoes every month.” After writing this, he patted the paper on Zhou Dehai’s chest. “Go to the storeroom to get the money, and change the bedding tonight.”

Zhou Dehai unfolded the note and his hands trembled as he read it: "This...this costs eighty taels of silver!"

The old man was already walking out with his cane when he heard this. He turned back and sneered, "Reluctant to part with the money? Then burn the franchise agreement as soon as possible!" He pointed in the direction of the Women's Workshop in the distance, "Manager Wen is coming to inspect tomorrow. If he sees our workers still sleeping on straw mats, the Zhou family can forget about ever establishing themselves in Songjiang Cloth Market again!"

The backyard of the dyehouse was instantly bustling with activity. Five workers carried newly made wooden beds inside, the cook counted the freshly delivered pork by the stove, and Old Liu, the warehouse manager, led his men to measure the feet of each worker. Dyeer Wang Er squatted in the corner, staring blankly at his straw sandals that exposed his toes.

"Brother Wang, try on these new shoes." Zhou Dehai personally brought over a pair of cloth shoes with a thousand-layer sole, the uppers of which were embroidered with the mark of the Zhou family dyehouse.

Wang Er wiped his hands on his trouser leg seven or eight times before daring to accept it, his voice trembling: "Master, is this really for me?"

"Change into these right away." Zhou Dehai forced back his pain. "From now on, you'll need two pairs a month. Replace them when they wear out."

The dyers gathered around, marveling at the newly issued bedding. The youngest, Xiaozhu, suddenly burst into tears, burying his face in the new cotton and refusing to look up. His master, Old Zhao, with red eyes, explained, "Ever since this child came to the dye shop, he's always been huddled together with others for warmth in the winter."

As dusk fell, Wenniang came to inspect the work, carrying a lantern. She lifted the newly changed linen sheet, ran her fingers through the cracks in the bed frame, and then went to the kitchen to taste the saltiness of the stewed meat. Finally, she stood by the well, watching the workers line up to receive their new shoes.

“One more thing is missing,” Wen Niang suddenly said.

Zhou Dehai wrung his hands anxiously: "Manager Wen has made it clear, we'll change it immediately!"

Wenniang took out a booklet from her sleeve: "According to the rules of the Women's Workshop, the children of the workers can attend free school when they are six years old. The Zhou family dye shop currently has seven children of school age. The school must be ready by Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow."

Old Master Zhou, who had appeared under the moon gate at some point, immediately replied upon hearing this, "Use my old library! Dehai, go and find the Thousand Character Classic and the Hundred Family Surnames!"

That night, for the first time ever, the Zhou family dyehouse kept its lights on all night. The old master personally supervised the craftsmen in renovating the library, even bringing out his treasured huanghuali desk to serve as a school desk for the children. As the third watchman's drum struck, the old dyers were still hanging "An Illustrated Guide to Cotton" on the wall, a book the old master had bought from Yingtian Prefecture for ten taels of silver when he was young.

The next day, just as the rooster crowed, the dyers arrived with their children. Little Zhuzi led his six-year-old sister, who was carrying a new schoolbag that had been hastily made overnight. When Wenniang entered with the female teacher from the Women's Workshop, the children all knelt down to pay their respects, and the teacher helped them up one by one.

“In our workshop, we only bow, not kowtow.” The female teacher handed out copies of the Three Character Classic to each child, saying, “Study hard, so you can keep accounts for your parents in the future.”

The dyers peered out the window, some secretly wiping away tears. Wang Er's wife, clutching her husband's arm, cried out, "Husband, can our daughter really read now?"

Standing under the eaves watching this scene, Zhou Dehai suddenly felt that the eighty taels of silver he had spent last night were well worth it. He turned to go to the dye vat, but saw the old man squatting in the corner of the drying yard, wiping an old plaque with a handkerchief.

"Grandfather, this is..."

The old man hung the plaque that read "Generous and Benevolent" back in the main hall and said softly, "In the third year of Hongwu's reign, there was a great plague in Songjiang. The Zhou family opened their granaries to distribute grain and received this imperial plaque." He looked at the children running around in the courtyard and said, "I never imagined that twenty years later, it would be hung up again because of the meat given to the workers."

……

(End of this chapter)