People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 776 Following the Imperial Court: A Bright Future Awaits!
The turmoil in Songjiang City dissipated like foam carried away by the river.

Li Chongyi was taken away bound by iron chains, his back view showing a disheveled state.

The Shen family's gate was tightly shut, and the house was deserted.

Those insidious schemes and noisy chatter seemed to have never happened.

The area in front of the Songjiang Prefectural Government Office was packed with people.

A brand new notice gleamed in the winter sun.

Today is the big day for signing the contract.

Old Master Zhou was dressed in brand new clothes, and his beard was neatly combed.

He stood at the very front, behind him were the owners of more than a dozen large textile workshops in Songjiang and Suzhou. Everyone's face was solemn.

The yamen runners carried out a large red lacquered table.

Chen Han and Zhu Youwei walked out side by side, followed by Wen Niang carrying account books and Lin San Niang with sharp eyes.

"Gentlemen," Zhu Youwei's voice was clear and carried far, "what is being signed today is not just a contract."

Her gaze swept across every face in the audience. "This is the foundation of the workshop, the livelihood of the artisans, and also your future prospects."

Old Master Zhou took a deep breath. "I'll sign first!"

He picked up his pen and wrote very slowly and steadily.

The moment I put pen to paper, it felt as if I had let go of something.

With the Zhou family taking the lead, the others no longer hesitated.

One by one, pens wrote names on plain silk.

With three parts hesitation and seven parts determination.

The contract was signed quickly.

The government office gates were wide open, and the workers carried out rows of square tables, on which were neatly arranged brand-new loom parts, including gleaming copper nails and ingeniously designed yarn-separating wheels—all the latest improved components from the workshop.

There were also several thick stacks of booklets, with titles such as "New Laws on Looms," "General Rules for Dyeing Fabrics," and "Workshop Regulations" on the covers. "New loom parts will be distributed to contracted workshops at cost price."

Zhu Youwei said loudly, "New techniques, I'll share them too."

A commotion broke out in the crowd.

The owners exchanged glances, their faces full of surprise.

The cost was much smaller than expected.

Zhang Si Niang led a dozen skilled female workers forward.

They began demonstrating how to use the new loom.

Disassembling and replacing parts, adjusting copper screws. The movements were swift and the explanations were clear.

Wenniang directed the accountants to register and distribute the items one by one, saying, "Once the contract is signed, the rules must be followed!"

Chen Han's voice was exceptionally clear amidst the noise. He stood on high ground, his voice not loud, but every word struck people's hearts: "The size of the cloth, the weight of the bolt, and the percentage of cotton used are all regulated. No cutting corners is allowed."

"The workers weave cloth for four hours a day, with one day off every ten days. Their monthly wages, commission, and pensions are all written in black and white in the contract. If even one tael is missing, it's unacceptable!"

The owners responded respectfully.

The Persian merchant Ali pushed his way forward. Behind him followed several other merchants with high noses and deep-set eyes. "Duke Qian! Princess!"

Ali stared longingly at the new parts. "These...are they going to be sold to us too?"

Chen Han nodded: "Just buy according to the order. However,"

He then changed the subject: "Goods must be sampled and inspected before leaving the port. Those who sell inferior goods as superior ones will never be allowed to buy them again."

Ali quickly patted his chest and said, "God above all, Ali never lies!"

He immediately pulled out a large stack of order vouchers and ordered ten ships.

Other foreign merchants also rushed to buy. The order in front of the government office was quickly restored by the local soldiers.

The workshop workers lined up in an orderly fashion to collect their parts.

Persian and Korean merchants gathered around Wenniang to discuss the details of the order.

The entire area in front of the government office was bustling but orderly, like a giant new loom starting to operate.

Lin San Niang led the guards on a patrol of the surrounding area. Her eyes were sharp, but her tense shoulders relaxed a little.

At the outermost edge of the crowd were a few small businessmen who used to be close to Shen Rong.

They craned their necks to watch the spectacle, watching the brand-new parts being carried away.

Looking at the order coupons that the foreign merchants were showing off.

Looking at the undisguised joy on the faces of those big bosses.

Finally, one person sighed, "I regret it! If only I had known this would happen..." Another whispered, "Is it too late to sign now?"

No one answered.

But they all quietly moved toward the registration table inside the Songjiang Women's Workshop.

Zhang Si Niang was on her rounds. "Listen up, all you newcomers!"

Her voice was loud and clear. "The knots should be tied like this, not by pinching with your fingernails. When weaving gold thread cloth, your fingers should be light and free of burrs."

The new girls were studying very hard.

The girl next to her, Xiao Tao, added, "The government has issued a new rule: weaving hours are fixed, and we must stop when the time is up. The wages will be paid in full."

A round-faced girl asked timidly, "Sister, is it okay if I knit slowly?"

Wenniang happened to come in and said, "The rules about the time are to tell you not to dawdle, but also not to rush. The important thing about weaving is to be steady and good. If anyone is lazy, the supervisor will keep an eye on them."

She patted the booklet in her hand: "See this? The Workshop Regulations."

It's clearly stated above: the government doesn't allow deception, nor does it allow people to deceive the government.

The girls suddenly understood and nodded in agreement.

The canteen was filled with the aroma of meat at midday. A newly recruited female worker held a large, rough porcelain bowl filled with glistening, oily braised pork.

"I can't believe... the food is so good," a girl with a long braid whispered.

An older female worker nearby laughed and said, "This is nothing! The princess said that if we weave good cloth, there will be extra meat at the end of the month!"

The canteen was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.

Shen Rong's workshop outside the city.

The signboard has now been changed, and it has become a newly established branch of the Zhou family.

The brand-new loom had just been installed, and the old weaver, Uncle Wang, touched the smooth wooden frame. "Good! Very good!"

He murmured that Old Master Zhou's grandson was personally supervising the construction.

He instructed, "Uncle Wang, let everyone rest when the time comes."

He pulled out a cloth bag. "These are the new tea cakes issued by the government office, one for each person. Use them to moisten your throat during breaks."

On the official road east of Songjiang City, a large horse-drawn cart carrying cloth got stuck in a mud pit.

The driver was sweating profusely with anxiety.

Just then, a squad of soldiers passed by, and the squad leader waved his hand: "Everyone, lend a hand!"

The soldiers shouted in unison, their shoulders bracing against the cart's side. With a "Heave-ho!" the cart was pushed out of the mud pit.

The driver was extremely grateful.

The squad leader wiped his brow: "Next time, we'll take the newly built dock road. It's a stone-paved road, much safer!"

The driver responded repeatedly.

In a teahouse by the canal, several porters resting were discussing, "Have you heard? The new apprentice at the Zhou family workshop only weaves for four hours a day! How is that possible? How many feet of cloth can he weave in four hours?"

"Hey! They weave so fast! They say it's a new loom that saves effort."

"What about your wages?"

"Wages? Double what they used to be! The government is watching."

The old farmer, puffing on his pipe, said, "This is good. People aren't cattle or horses."

Another person said, "Those big households have all signed contracts. I heard the rules are very strict, so they don't dare to mess around."

In the north of the city, at the old doctor's clinic.

A mother and daughter with cracked hands stood awkwardly in front of the hall.

"Doctor, consultation fee..." The woman's voice trailed off.

The old doctor stroked his beard: "Don't worry. The government provides subsidies for people from the workshop who come to see a doctor. Let's examine their hands first."

The little girl stretched out her hands, which were covered in chilblains. The old doctor examined them carefully. "Don't be afraid, it can be cured."

He opened the medicine box. "When you go into the workshop, you need to use sizing water to protect your hands. The princess specifically instructed that the female workers' hands should also be taken care of."

The woman's eyes reddened, and she thanked him repeatedly.

The sun sets in the west.

Chen Han and Zhu Youwei stood on the Wangjiang Tower.

Smoke curled from chimneys throughout the city, and the hum of looms had subsided, but had not ceased.

As the dock lights began to twinkle, the calls of workers unloading cargo could be faintly heard.

Zhu Youwei said softly, "Finally... it's on the right track."

Chen Han gazed at the stone-paved road stretching into the distance. "This is just the beginning."

A servant hurried upstairs. "Your Excellency, Your Highness, the Goryeo merchant delegation has arrived and requests an audience at the dock."

Zhu Youwei and Chen Han exchanged a glance, seeing the certainty in each other's eyes.

"Please go to the trading post," Chen Han said.

He took Zhu Youwei's hand and said, "Let's go, it's time to let more people see the path we've taken."

The newly built stone-paved road stretches out beneath your feet.

Flat and solid.

The sycamore saplings on both sides stood tall in the wind.

Several oxcarts slowly passed by, with old farmers humming tunes on the carts.

The truck was piled high with newly harvested purple cotton, like a purple cloud.

The old farmer had a few copper coins tucked between his fingers.

He grinned; this was the money he had just received from the cotton station at the workshop. "Clang."

A copper coin was not held properly and fell onto the stone slab.

The sound was crisp, and the old farmer hurriedly bent down to pick it up.

But a little boy picked it up even faster, exclaiming, "Grandpa, here you go!"

The old farmer chuckled, took the copper coin, and carefully wiped away the dust.

He looked up.

On the Wangjiang Tower, Chen Han and Zhu Youwei stood side by side in the twilight.

The old farmer waved the copper coins in his hand, his smile reflecting the last rays of the setting sun.

He knew that if he followed this path, he wouldn't get the money for nothing.

There's hope for the future.

……

The bluestone avenue at the dock outside the city has become the new lifeblood of Songjiang City.

The carriage was no longer stuck in the mud; its wheels rolled over the smooth stone slabs, making a steady and light "clattering" sound.

With increased efficiency in unloading and loading goods, the porters' pockets naturally became fuller.

Old Zhao, a grain merchant, drove his donkey cart into town, which was piled high with new rice, and he hummed a little tune.

As he passed a familiar field, he was surprised to rein in his donkey.

The vast paddy fields in front of me have somehow been replaced with cotton seedlings.
The tender seedlings sway in the spring breeze, looking like a soft green carpet from afar.

"Old Wang's family! Why did you switch to planting cotton on this land?" Old Zhao shouted to the old farmer who was resting on the edge of the field.

Old Wang took off his tattered straw hat, revealing a sweat-drenched smiling face: "Old Zhao! The cotton station in the workshop set a high price and signed a guarantee to buy it! It's much more profitable than selling rice!"

He took a deep drag on his pipe, his joy barely concealed by the swirling smoke. "I heard from Madam Zhang at the weaving workshop that they're going to spin new yarn, and they need a lot of cotton!"

Old Zhao clicked his tongue, calculating his few acres of dry land.

The grain business is highly competitive these days, and the cotton market... I'll have to think about it carefully when I get back.

The changes also reached Old Liu's dyeing shop in the north of the city.

He's run this shop for half his life, but it's always been barely surviving.

In recent days, the stone path in front of the door has become even shinier from the footsteps of visitors.

"Manager Liu, how many kilograms of your indigo roots do you have left? We'll take them all!"

The female manager of the purchasing department of the Women's Workshop walked in with the accountant and got straight to the point.

Old Liu thought he had misheard and stammered, "All...all of it?"

"Yes! The workshop has opened a new dye vat, and orders have increased several times over. From now on, we'll deliver monthly, and the orders will only increase! This is the advance payment." The female manager said, instructing the accountant to place the banknotes on the counter.

The paper money was very light, but it made Old Liu's heart burn.

His son rubbed his hands together excitedly and said, "Dad! I'll go hire a few trucks and quickly bring all the stock from the backyard!"

The stagnant water in Rancaopu has come alive.

The canal docks are busier than ever before, with cargo ships packed more closely together.

The flags of the foreign merchants fluttered high. The deck was lowered, and bundles of Songjiang cloth were carried onto the deck. What was taken off were all kinds of goods—spices from Southeast Asia, timber from Lingnan, and even ingenious mechanical parts transported from the Western Regions.

"Hurry up! 'Songjiang No. 3' is almost full! The Siamese merchant's ship is waiting for its berth!" The dock supervisor's voice boomed.

The laborers loading the cargo shouted loud work chants.

The foreman looked at these familiar faces and nodded in satisfaction.

The dock has been expanding these past few months, so there's plenty of work, good pay, and strict rules.

There are fewer fights and disturbances, and more people are working hard.

"Liu Er! Finish work early tonight and go home!" the foreman shouted to a burly man. "Isn't your wife about to give birth? The foreman said it's a day off in lieu of payment, and you'll still get half your wages! You can collect the maternity allowance at the accounting office tomorrow!"

Liu Er was stunned for a moment, then a huge smile spread across his dark face, and he worked with even more energy.

His companions were also happy, as if they had benefited from the privilege.

Changes also subtly influence people's livelihoods and mindsets.

Old Li, the carpenter, used to make coffins for a coffin shop.

Now, his shop is filled with the clanging and banging of machinery as he makes brand-new loom frames and matching wooden shuttles and reeds.

"Uncle Li! Have the new protective plates for the jacquard loom been made yet? The dye shop needs to pick them up this afternoon!" The workshop's logistics staff member ran up breathlessly.

"Alright, alright! I just applied the tung oil!" Old Li wiped his sweat and pointed to the neatly stacked wooden pieces in the corner. "These protective panels are made of old nanmu wood, sturdy and wear-resistant. I guarantee Zhang Niangzi and the others will find them easy to use!"

He was calculating in his mind that the woodwork he had done for the workshop recently was more than he had earned in the past few years.

Looks like I need to find another apprentice to lend a hand. Making these household items for "living people" makes me feel much better!

The small teahouse in the south of the city has now become a hub for news.

With a clapper strike, the storyteller no longer recounted tales of the past dynasties, but instead told how Songjiang cloth became famous overseas.

"...The Persian merchant waved his hand!" the storyteller exclaimed, spittle flying from his mouth. "Five hundred bolts! Flowing water patterned cloth! Cash! The deposit is this—a bag of gold coins!"

He gestured exaggeratedly.

"Bravo!" The tea drinkers below roared in approval.

Among them were several former junior managers of the Shen family workshop. One of them sighed in a low voice, "Who would have thought? We used to be a local tyrant in Songjiang. Now look at the Zhou family, they get orders fair and square by signing contracts with real skills..."

The other man shook his head and sighed, taking a sip of tea: "I can't keep up. I'll have to learn this from scratch. The workshop is hiring an accountant, shall I give it a try?"

The canteen of the Women's Workshop became one of the liveliest places in the afternoon.

A large pot of stewed cabbage, pork, and glass noodles smelled delicious.

The newly recruited female workers lined up, each holding a brand-new, coarse porcelain bowl.

Round-faced Xiao Cui looked at the large chunks of oily pork and the pile of white rice in the bowl, her eyes a little red.

Next to her were female workers who had come from the original Shen family workshop.

"Sister...this...this is really enough to fill you up?" Xiao Cui asked softly.

The female worker laughed, taking a bite of the fragrant meat: "Silly girl! Eat as much as you want! It's a rule set by the princess that as long as you enter the workshop, every meal will include meat! Work hard, and if you do well at the end of the month, you'll get an extra meat! Here, there's some plum juice over there, go get some yourself!"

Xiao Cui smiled, her lips pursed. For the first time, she felt the rice bowl in her hands was heavy, and her heart felt at ease and warm.

……

(End of this chapter)