Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

"Five taels? That won't do, sir. This is our cost price. Any lower will mean a loss." Ah Fu still had a smile on his face, but his tone was very firm. He knew that although these wealthy businessmen were wealthy, they were also helpless at this critical moment.

In the crowd, a burly businessman caught Ah Fu's attention. His name was Zhang Qiang, and he was a famous railway businessman in Jingjiang. At this time, he was wearing a black robe, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he could see through everything. He glanced at the quilt and fried rice in Ah Fu's hand, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but he soon regained his composure.

"Give me a set of quilts and two servings of fried rice." Zhang Qiang's voice was deep and powerful, revealing an unquestionable firmness. He reached out from his pocket and took out a banknote and handed it to Ah Fu.

Ah Fu was delighted when he saw this, and quickly took down a new quilt from the carriage, and handed two steaming lotus leaf bags to Zhang Qiang. "Brother Qiang, enjoy your meal." His words were full of respect and gratitude, as if he felt honored to serve this big businessman.

Zhang Qiang took the quilt and fried rice and nodded gently, as a response to Ah Fu's gratitude. He opened the lotus leaf bag, and the aroma of rice filled his nose, making him swallow his saliva. He couldn't wait to take a bite of the fried rice, and found it delicious and memorable. He nodded with satisfaction, wrapped the rest of the fried rice and put it aside, then covered himself with a quilt, leaned against the wall and closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing this, the wealthy businessmen around began to waver. They looked at Zhang Qiang's satisfied expression and comfortable appearance, and they couldn't help but feel envious and eager. They knew that although the price was high, it was nothing to them; and it was also a very rare thing to be able to enjoy such warmth and delicious food at this critical moment.

"Give me one too!" Finally someone couldn't help but speak, his voice revealed eagerness and anticipation. With this opening, the people behind him began to rush to buy quilts and fried rice, fearing that they would miss this opportunity. Before long, the goods on the carriage were snapped up. Most people wrapped themselves in quilts and ate fried rice with their stomachs bulging against the wall, enjoying this rare warmth and deliciousness.

Those who didn't get the tickets could only watch others enjoying the food with envy and disappointment in their hearts. But they didn't give up and still stood in line firmly waiting for tomorrow's opening, hoping to successfully buy Jingjiang Railway's stocks and realize their dream of getting rich.

At this moment, a group of people suddenly came running down the street with torches in their hands. The light of the torches danced in the twilight, like a winding fire dragon. The light of the torches illuminated every corner of the street and also reflected the red faces of the people. There was a commotion in the crowd, and people turned their heads to see this sudden change.

The leader was a burly minor official, wearing an official uniform and a hat, with an arrogant look on his face. He strode to the front of the crowd, with his hands on his hips, his eyes revealing an unquestionable majesty. He said proudly: "We have received a report that someone is gathering here and trying to cause trouble!"

As soon as these words came out, the people in the queue suddenly fell into confusion. They looked at each other, at a loss. Some timid stockholders began to whisper, fearing that they would be involved in this unwarranted dispute. And the brave ones glared at the official, wanting to ask for an explanation for the unreasonable behavior of the petty official.

The face of a businessman who was closest to the clerk turned pale instantly. He was holding a stock he had just bought in his hand, and he looked at the clerk with horror. He felt a strong sense of helplessness and despair, as if the whole world had collapsed. He burst into tears, and the fried rice in his mouth spurted out, crying and shouting: "Oh my God! Aren't you trying to kill me?!"

His cries echoed in the streets, attracting more people's attention. People gathered around to see what happened. However, the clerk was unmoved. He glanced at everyone coldly, then shouted loudly: "The military department has issued an order! You are ordered to go home immediately! Otherwise, you will be taken to prison immediately and released the next day!"

Hearing this, the commotion in the crowd became more intense. Some people began to pack up their things in a panic, preparing to leave this place of trouble. Others stood there unwillingly, wanting to seek justice for the unreasonable behavior of the petty official. However, the petty official did not give them any chance, and waved his hand to signal his men to start the action.

For a moment, the streets were in chaos. The light of the torches danced in the crowd, illuminating the panicked faces. People fled everywhere, trying to escape from this dangerous place. However, the petty officials' subordinates were as hard-hearted as stone. They waved their weapons and drove away those who refused to leave one by one.

In the elegant and quiet study room of the inn, Emperor Jingjiang was sitting at the desk in a dignified manner. He was wearing a dragon robe and a golden crown, and he exuded a majestic and solemn temperament. He was concentrating on reading the booklet handed to him by Lin Xiaofeng, which detailed the full set of operating procedures for the listing of Jingjiang Railway and the key points discussed with the officials of the Ministry of Revenue. His eyes were shining with deep thoughts and expectations for the future of the country.

Lin Xiaofeng sat quietly beside him, thinking quickly in his heart. He knew the importance of the railway listing to the country, and he also understood the importance that Emperor Jingjiang attached to this matter. However, he was more worried about the hidden dangers behind this financial game. He was worried that it would affect the stability of the people, and he was even more worried that Emperor Jingjiang would ignore the long-term interests because of the temporary prosperity.

Lin Xiaofeng looked up at Emperor Jingjiang, only to see that his brows were furrowed, and he was obviously troubled by this problem. He decided to take this opportunity to make suggestions to Emperor Jingjiang. He stood up, walked in front of Emperor Jingjiang, bowed respectfully, and then said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Emperor Jingjiang raised his head, looked at him and said, "What do you think, Mr. Lin? Feel free to speak up."

Lin Xiaofeng took a deep breath and then slowly said, "Your Majesty, I think that although the listing of the railway can bring temporary prosperity and wealth to the country, the hidden dangers behind it cannot be ignored. The charm of financial games has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, and many people want to make huge profits from it. However, such huge profits are often accompanied by huge risks. Once the stock market collapses, it will bring immeasurable losses to the country. Therefore, I suggest that Your Majesty should strengthen supervision and risk prevention while promoting the listing of the railway."

Emperor Jingjiang was silent for a moment after hearing his words. Then he nodded and said, "Mr. Lin is right. I have also been troubled by this problem. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Lin Xiaofeng was delighted, knowing that his words had attracted the attention of Emperor Jingjiang. He thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty can set up a special regulatory agency to supervise the stock market and prevent risks. At the same time, you can also strengthen publicity and education on the stock market so that more people can understand the risks and rules of the stock market."

The four candidates looked at each other, their eyes filled with doubt and uneasiness. This treatment seemed too good, as if it was a carefully laid trap, waiting for them to fall into it.

They had just arrived, and logically, no one should have known about their arrival. Could it be that the factory had deliberately hidden its ugly side in order to recruit workers, intending to slowly reveal its hideous true face in the future? Or, at the beginning of recruiting, every factory would try to show its beautiful side to attract workers and prevent them from being scared away?

The four of them thought about it secretly and seemed to have found a reasonable explanation. At this time, Su Binzhe came over and enthusiastically took them to visit the factory. His smile made people let down their guard.

Su Binzhe led them out of the factory. After a few steps, several buildings with different architectural styles came into view. Compared with the factory, these buildings looked small and exquisite. He pointed to a house on the left and introduced: "This is our canteen. As long as you are in the factory, food and accommodation are free. There is a hearty meal at noon and in the evening. There are more than 20 dishes for you to choose from. If you don't have enough rice, you can serve yourself. It's a pity that it's not meal time now, otherwise I will definitely take you in to taste it."

He spoke with pride, as if the factory cafeteria was some remarkable place. Then he pointed to the building behind the cafeteria and said, "That's the bathhouse. Bathing is free there. It opens every three days. You can use the hot water as you like."

In front of another building next to the cafeteria, Su Binzhe continued to introduce: "This is the lounge. You can rest here during lunch break, after get off work or on vacation. There are many books in it. You can read them in your spare time to enrich yourself."

Hearing the word "book", Zhou Xuemao couldn't help but frown. Why are there so many books in the factory? And this lounge clearly looks newly built. He was full of doubts and couldn't help but blurt out: "Why does the factory prepare so many books? And this lounge looks newly built, right?"

Su Binzhe's face flushed slightly, but because his skin was too dark, Zhou Xuemao and the others didn't notice it. He quickly adjusted his mood, laughed and said, "There are not many people in our factory who can read, and there are not many people like me. After this lounge was built, no one has come here. However, our boss hopes that the people below can learn more, so he specially prepared these books. If you are interested, you can read them at will."

Although his explanation was a bit far-fetched, it was reasonable. Zhou Xuemao's brows gradually relaxed, and the doubts in his heart also dissipated a lot.

Led by Su Binzhe, they continued to visit other facilities in the factory. When they passed the small football field behind the lounge, Su Binzhe smiled proudly and said, "Sometimes our factory will play football with other factories! There will be one this month. If you can play, you can try it! There will be prize money if you win!"

Zhou Xuemao smiled faintly, shook his head and said, "No need, we don't know how to play." He had no interest in this kind of entertainment activity, he just wanted to understand the real situation of the factory as soon as possible.

Next, Su Binzhe took them to the dormitory. As soon as they opened the door, a faint strange smell hit their noses. There were eight beds in the dormitory, and the design of upper and lower bunks made full use of the space. Four of the beds were messy, obviously someone was living there; while the other four beds were neatly placed with bedding and work clothes.

Su Binzhe patted the bed frame and said, "You four will live next to each other from now on! These clothes are all about the same size, so you can wear them for now, and we will arrange suitable clothes for you later." He paused and continued, "These are basically the things you need in the factory, including food, clothing, and daily necessities. If you don't understand anything, just ask your coworkers! I will personally take you to work tomorrow, and the boss will inspect you on the first day! Remember to behave well!"

After saying this, he suddenly changed the subject and said, "By the way! Please leave me a copy of your birth dates." As he said that, he took out a small notebook and a charcoal pencil from his chest and handed them to Zhou Xuemao and others.

This action immediately alerted Zhou Xuemao and others. They looked at each other and asked in unison: "Why do you want our birth dates?" This question made them feel very confused and alert at the same time.

Su Binzhe, however, looked careless, "Oh! This is a good thing! You will know it later! Write it, write it! What's the big deal? Everyone who enters the factory has to write their birth dates!" Seeing that Zhou Xuemao did not take the paper and pen, he handed it to another person.

The candidate took the paper and pen without hesitation and wrote down his birth date and handed it back; the other two also finished quickly and it was Zhou Xuemao's turn again. Zhou Xuemao picked up the pen and wrote it down - but he wrote a fake time and it was ten days later. This factory was a bit weird and he wanted to see what was going on!
After Su Binzhe collected the birth dates of the four people, he said, "Okay, okay! We're basically done for today! Tomorrow we'll officially start working! You guys should go to bed early, haha!" After saying that, he turned and left, leaving the four people standing there looking at each other.

Zhou Xuemao let out a long sigh and sat down on the bed; the other three also sat side by side and began to exchange their thoughts, "Brother Zhou, do you feel that something is wrong here?" "This doesn't look like a black factory. If it's fake, then it's too good, right?" Zhou Xuemao shook his head and said, "Let's wait and see. Let's not do anything for now and just work honestly. It won't be long before they reveal their true colors!"
Two hours passed. Zhou Xuemao and the three candidates had already divided their beds and were lying on the beds, chatting casually. Suddenly, the door was pushed open and four workers in work clothes came in. With them came a strong smell of sweat. The leading worker raised his hand and greeted the new workers. However, Zhou Xuemao's eyes twitched twice and he barely pulled the corners of his mouth in response. The other three candidates behaved in the same way - they really couldn't speak! Because the four new workers were dirty and smelled, and they looked very inferior!
They all used to be romantic scholars, and they were famous in the circle. Although they are now risking their lives to join the factory, they came with great goals. When the scholars saw these specific workers, their sympathy seemed to disappear at this moment. The disgust that could not be concealed in their eyes was clearly seen by the four workers. The workers walked to their beds without looking back, and fell on the bed with a bang without taking off their clothes. Then a snoring sound like thunder sounded. Zhou Xuemao was a little mentally collapsed by the lingering smell in his nose and the noisy noise in his ears-this is no longer a problem of the black factory; it’s that he can’t accept the workers in these black factories! Can he hold on later?
After a sleepless night, Zhou Xuemao and his three companions were awakened by Su Binzhe with dark circles under their eyes. They tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep. Although the odor in the room gradually dissipated as time went by, the gap between the nobility in their hearts and the reality made them feel depressed. The snoring that came one after another was more like a ruthless mockery, torturing them both mentally and physically.

However, when they saw Su Binzhe's usual enthusiastic smile, their resentment was slightly relieved. They changed into work clothes and followed Su Binzhe into the busy factory again.

Inside the factory, machines roared and workers were busy moving around. Su Binzhe took them to a work area where workpieces of various sizes were scattered on the ground. At this time, a taciturn man in his thirties came over. He was Zhang Dali, and the workers affectionately called him Lao Zhang.

Su Binzhe enthusiastically introduced Lao Zhang and told him to teach the new workers carefully. After finishing his instructions, Su Binzhe left in a hurry and devoted himself to his work.

Without saying much, Lao Zhang picked up the caliper on the ground and began to carefully explain the essentials of the work to Zhou Xuemao and others. Although this work seemed extremely simple to them, just grinding the burrs or irregular parts of the workpiece, it still took some time for them to adapt to it as they were doing it for the first time.

Soon, they were immersed in the intense work. Working with them were four other workers including Lao Zhang. However, after only half an hour, Zhou Xuemao and others felt unprecedented fatigue. The noise in the factory, the boredom of repeated grinding, and the fatigue of standing all destroyed their bodies and minds.

They usually moved in and out of the upper class society, so when had they ever suffered such pain? But seeing that Lao Zhang and others were working as usual, they could only grit their teeth and persevere.

Time passed quickly, and three hours passed in the blink of an eye. Zhou Xuemao felt sore in his arms, waist, and feet. Although the movements were not large, he was already sweating profusely, and his clothes were soaked and stuck to his body. The other three candidates also groaned and complained, and their movements were obviously much slower.

At this moment, a clear whistle sounded, saving their bodies and minds from collapse. Lao Zhang patted Zhou Xuemao on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Brother, it's time to eat." Zhou Xuemao breathed a sigh of relief. They all stood up and ran out, eager to escape from this depressing working environment.

The workers who were originally busy in the factory also stood up and rushed out, followed by Zhou Xuemao and others. They were puzzled, why were the workers rushing to the cafeteria so eagerly? Is there something special about the food in the cafeteria?
When they arrived at the cafeteria, they were stunned to see that the huge cafeteria was crowded with people, and the line for food was very long. They sighed helplessly and could only wait at the end of the line.

Finally, it was their turn to get food. Zhou Xuemao was stunned by the delicious dishes in front of him. These dishes looked greasy and had a lot of meat slices. They were not the bland soup they imagined. He looked at these dishes in confusion and became more curious about this factory.

They found a place with few people and squatted down to enjoy this sumptuous lunch. Although the environment was a bit simple, the delicious food made them forget their fatigue and discomfort for a while. After the meal, Zhou Xuemao and others decided to go to the lounge. They pushed open the door of the lounge and saw two rows of bookshelves filled with books and newspapers. These books and newspapers seemed to be leisure books, but in fact they covered knowledge and information in various fields.

Zhou Xuemao walked to the pile of newspapers, picked up a few and looked at the dates, and found that they were all old newspapers. He did not find any valuable information in the newspapers, so he turned his attention to the books on the bookshelf. He picked up a book and started reading it, and gradually he was attracted by the content of the book. Other candidates also picked up books and started reading, and the lounge fell into a quiet atmosphere.

Time flies, and dozens of minutes have passed without them noticing. Seeing that it is almost time to go to work, they put down the books in their hands and prepare to return to the factory to continue working. Before leaving the lounge, Zhou Xuemao quietly put two books into his arms, intending to continue reading after returning to the dormitory at night.

The afternoon work was monotonous and tiring as usual. Nothing special happened except that the boss came to inspect. The boss was a wealthy man with a naive look. He smiled at everyone and made people feel very friendly. He simply inspected the factory and left without asking too much about the new workers. Zhou Xuemao quietly looked at him several times, trying to find something unusual about him, but finally gave up observing him.

At 5:00 p.m., the whistle for the end of get off work sounded again, which was like the sound of nature to Zhou Xuemao and others who were already exhausted. They dragged their heavy bodies to the canteen, wolfed down their dinner, and then returned to the dormitory to rest. The experience of this day made them deeply realize the hardships and difficulties of the workers, and made them cherish the life and study opportunities in front of them.

Lying on the familiar bed in the dormitory, Zhou Xuemao stared at the ceiling blankly, his eyes empty and absent-minded. He used to be neat and tidy, but now he lay directly on the bed without taking off his clothes. The book he got from the lounge was still stuffed in his chest, and he was too lazy to take it out. The physical fatigue and mental sleepiness intertwined together, making him feel sleepy and tired, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

The environment in the dormitory was dim and quiet. The other three candidates had fallen into a deep sleep, snoring one after another. In sharp contrast, the other four workers seemed particularly energetic today. They set up a small table in the room, on which were placed peanuts, melon seeds, and two pots of fragrant wine. It was obvious that they were going to have a drink tonight.

One of the workers, who had a rough face, caught a glimpse of Zhou Xuemao lying on the bed with his eyes open, and took the initiative to invite him: "Brother, let's have a drink together." This voice broke the silence of the dormitory and awakened Zhou Xuemao's thoughts.

Hearing the invitation, Zhou Xuemao forced himself to sit up from the bed. He knew in his heart that this was a good opportunity to get closer to his fellow workers and get some information. So he responded and walked to the table. The worker enthusiastically handed him a bowl of wine and said generously, "Is this your first time in the factory? It's like this on the first day. You're exhausted like a dead dog. You'll get used to it in two days! Come on, have a drink."

Zhou Xuemao took the wine bowl and took a sip. The wine was strong and spicy, stimulating his taste buds, and his face gradually distorted. The workers looked at his reaction and laughed: "Haha, it seems that you can't drink!"

Zhou Xuemao blushed, gritted his teeth, and drank the rest of the wine in the bowl. A hot and burning feeling flowed down his throat, and the fatigue seemed to be diluted a lot by this strong wine.

"Great! That's great!" The workers cheered loudly and expressed their appreciation for Zhou Xuemao's generosity.

Zhou Xuemao smiled and gently placed the wine bowl on the table. Someone immediately filled his bowl with another and encouraged him, "You are a man, have more!" He drank it all again, and soon he felt a little dizzy.

The workers looked at each other with mysterious smiles on their faces. The leading worker said, "We have been drinking together, so we are friends. If you have any questions in the factory, just ask us."

Zhou Xuemao, under the influence of alcohol, asked, "You are too polite. I am new here, and I do have a question to ask. Are the treatments in the factories in Houchang Village the same as ours?"

"Well, it's more or less! But our factory is still pretty good." A worker replied.

"Before I came to the factory, I heard about the existence of illegal factories..." Zhou Xuemao asked tentatively.

"It's not easy to get into a factory. There is no such thing as an illegal factory. You're overthinking it, brother." The worker interrupted him.

Zhou Xuemao stopped talking immediately after hearing this, but a sense of inexplicable loss surged in his heart. While he was thinking, he felt a little uncomfortable in his chest, so he reached out and touched his chest, took out the two books and placed them on the table.

"Wow! Brother, you can read!" The workers were all surprised when they saw the book.

Zhou Xuemao smiled proudly: "I recognize some, but it's not worth mentioning." A sense of pride surged in his heart. After all, in this era, there were not many people who could read.

"That's great, brother! Can you tell us what's in the book? I heard that as long as you know enough, you can be admitted to North Corridor University even if you are illiterate. If you are willing to teach us, I will pay for your drinking in the future!" Four workers came up together, their eyes shining with excitement.

Zhou Xuemao was stunned by the workers' enthusiasm for knowledge. He never expected that these peasants would show such a strong desire for knowledge. He wanted to refuse, but looking at those pairs of eager eyes, he couldn't say anything.

"This... this is a small matter, naturally it's not a problem!" Zhou Xuemao agreed hesitantly. He decided to take this opportunity to get closer to his fellow workers so as to better understand this strange world.

In the following days, Zhou Xuemao began his "teaching career" in this era. He worked hard during the day and gave lectures to his fellow workers during his rest time at night. Although it was hard work, he felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction when he saw his fellow workers listening attentively.

As time went by, Zhou Xuemao gradually adapted to life here. He began to find that although this world was strange, it was also full of warmth and fun. His relationship with his fellow workers became more and more harmonious, and he even began to integrate into the group.

However, he did not forget his original intention - to find clues about the black factory. He always remained vigilant and paid attention to everything around him.

On this day, Zhou Xuemao was giving a lecture to his coworkers when he suddenly felt someone tap his shoulder. He looked back and saw that it was a coworker who shared the same dormitory with him.

"Brother Zhou, the boss is here, be serious." A co-worker reminded him in a low voice.

Zhou Xuemao looked up and saw the fat boss walking in with a few young people with a flattering look on his face. Those young people had serious expressions, and some of them were looking down and recording something.

"Who are those people around the boss?" Zhou Xuemao asked curiously.

"You don't even know this? You've been working in the factory for so many days in vain. Those people are from Beilang University!" the worker said mysteriously.

As soon as Zhou Xuemao heard the name "Beilang University", he immediately became alert. He had waited for so long, and finally some changes had come. He was no longer just a teacher, but had the opportunity to get in touch with more information about the world.

"What are the people from North Corridor University doing here?" he asked anxiously.

"Hey, a lot of our factory's technology and tools are provided by North Corridor University, so they naturally want to take a look." The worker recounted in detail, "Didn't you ask me about the illegal factories before? There were indeed quite a few illegal factories in Houchang Village in the past."

"Oh?" Zhou Xuemao's heart began to beat wildly. He finally got a clue about the illegal factory. He widened his eyes and waited for his co-workers to say something. He knew that the opportunity he had been looking for had finally come. The other three candidates also cast excited and curious glances at him. They were also looking forward to the next story.

"The black factories worked their workers to death, worse than animals." The worker continued, "Later, some factories were more flexible and asked people from North Corridor University to help them design and build factories, and provide some tools for work. In this way, once the new factories were established, the efficiency was much higher than before with the same number of people."

Hearing this, Zhou Xuemao couldn't help but frown. He felt an inexplicable sense of oppression surge in his heart, as if he saw the helpless eyes of those oppressed workers.

The worker didn't seem to notice his change of mood and continued, "But, there's no end to this exploitation of people. Factory owners want to be as efficient as possible. With the help of North Corridor University, they are even more motivated to exploit people."

Zhou Xuemao's heart began to beat wildly. He felt that he was getting closer and closer to the truth. He suppressed his inner excitement and asked anxiously: "Go on, tell me carefully!"

"Later, when North Corridor University learned about this, they sent a special inspection team to investigate the situation in the illegal factories." The worker continued, "They stipulated that all factories must work according to reasonable hours. Once they found that the illegal factories were exploiting our workers, they would immediately withdraw all the technical and tool support from North Corridor University."

"We can also file a complaint with North Corridor University." The worker smiled proudly, "Think about it, if those factory owners don't have the right tools and the technical support of North Corridor University, how can they compete with others? Besides, most of the factories in Houchang Village rely on railway transportation. The railway is in the hands of North Corridor University. If they cancel the order, the factory will be finished!"

"So, now no one dares to do this kind of thing. The illegal factories have disappeared just like that." The worker concluded with a satisfied smile on his face.

However, Zhou Xuemao fell into deep thought. He originally thought that the existence of black factories was the sadness and helplessness of this era. But now it seems that North Corridor University is already working hard to change this situation. He felt an inexplicable sense of relief and respect. He already had a new idea in his mind about what to do next.

In this factory area full of industrial atmosphere, the reality of no illegal factories made Zhou Xuemao feel an indescribable loss. He once firmly believed that he was fighting against darkness, but at this moment, he felt an unprecedented emptiness.

The scenery in the factory was the same as when he first arrived. The tall chimney still emitted white smoke, and the busy figures of workers swayed before his eyes. But at this moment, these scenes lost their color in his eyes. He seemed to see the scene of himself walking into this factory with passion, and his face was full of determination and determination.

Zhou Xuemao stood there in despair, with an indescribable sadness in his heart. He looked back at the three companions beside him, their faces were also full of disappointment and confusion. In the past few days, they have been busy in this dilapidated factory area. In order to expose the truth of the black factory, they even put aside their status as scholars and lived and worked with the workers. But now, everything seems to have become meaningless.

At this time, the boss came over with the Dongda inspection team. Zhou Xuemao and others stood there in a daze, at a loss. The young man from the inspection team glanced at them and asked coldly: "What's wrong with these people? Did your factory trick idiots and mentally retarded people into working for free?" The fat boss was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly squatted down and poked Zhou Xuemao, saying anxiously: "What are you doing! Is there something wrong at home? Or are you having difficulties in life? Tell me, let's get things done first and then come to work!"

Zhou Xuemao looked at the inspection team and his face twitched twice. He felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation. He used to be such a proud scholar, but now he has ended up in such a situation. He looked at Fat Dongjia again, and saw that he was looking at him with concern. Zhou Xuemao felt mixed emotions and didn't know what to say.

"Are you feeling unwell? If you are, go back and rest. Don't force yourself to work. I will give you a paid vacation." The fat boss' words were full of concern. Zhou Xuemao nodded in a daze and said woodenly, "It's okay. Thank you, boss."

Seeing the fat boss's arrogant and respectful appearance, Zhou Xuemao's heart had fallen to the bottom. He finally realized that all his previous efforts had come to nothing. Beilang University not only did not encourage the behavior of black factories, but also vigorously cracked down on them, which completely shattered his fantasy.

Zhou Xuemao felt an unprecedented sense of frustration. He even began to doubt the meaning and value of his existence. Was he really useless in this world? He looked at the other three companions, who all lowered their heads in shame and dared not look at him. The embarrassment and loss in their hearts at this moment could not be described in words.

At lunch time, the four of them gathered in the cafeteria in an extremely strange atmosphere. They were no longer as keen on discussing plans to fight against the black factory or looking forward to future victory as before. Instead, they ate in silence, occasionally exchanging a few words on irrelevant topics. Zhou Xuemao nibbled on his steamed bun in small bites and finally couldn't help but said, "I'm ready to go." The others also expressed their agreement. They could no longer stay in this place.

As soon as the conversation started, the others immediately agreed. The arrival of the inspection team today really dealt a heavy psychological blow to them. Before they came, they could still comfort themselves by saying that the factory was well disguised, but now that they saw it with their own eyes, what could be the problem? They began to discuss how to resign from the employer and how to get back the wages they deserved. Although the wages were nothing in their eyes, they were unwilling to give up easily when they thought that they were the result of their hard work during this period. After careful consideration, they decided to resign from the employer and ask for payment of the wages they deserved. After lunch, they began to pack their luggage and prepare to leave this place that once filled them with expectations and disappointments. Before leaving, Zhou Xuemao put on the short shirt again. He took a look at the clothes on his body. He hadn't worn the elegant and chic white silk robe for a long time. During this period, he wore this short shirt every day and had become accustomed to this simple and plain lifestyle. He even began to like the feeling of getting along with the workers.

The moment he left the dormitory, he looked back at the place where he had lived for a while, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart. He didn't know what his future would be like, nor did he know whether he could regain his confidence and face life again, but he knew that this experience would become an unforgettable page in his life.

When they submitted their resignation to their employer, the employer did not make things difficult for them. He readily agreed to their request and paid the wages they deserved. The moment they left the factory, Zhou Xuemao looked back at the towering chimney, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart. He didn't know whether he would return to this place again in the future, but he knew that this factory and his experiences here would become an unforgettable part of his life. On the way home, the four of them were silent, each immersed in their own thoughts. They didn't know how to face the future life or how to regain their confidence, but they knew that this experience would make them stronger and more mature.

After a long silence, Zhou Xuemao finally broke the silence. He looked at the other three and said, "Although we failed, we also learned a lot. The experience during this period will make us cherish our future life more and make us work harder to pursue our dreams." The other three nodded in agreement. They knew that this experience would become a precious asset in their lives and the driving force and source of their future struggles. Although they had failed, been confused, and lost, they also drew strength and courage from it. In the days to come, they will pursue their dreams more firmly and face the challenges and difficulties of life bravely.

As night fell, the lights in the dormitory dimmed. After the four of them had discussed the matter, they lay down on their beds with heavy hearts. They returned to the dormitory early and had no appetite to eat. In the dormitory, the other workers had not returned yet, and the air was filled with a different kind of silence.

Zhou Xuemao, a seemingly ordinary but ambitious young man, was tossing and turning in bed. There was a gleam of thought in his eyes, as if he was struggling violently deep in his heart. As time passed, he suddenly felt something was wrong, and this feeling made him alert instantly.

He patted the bed frame, waking up his companion on the upper bunk. The man leaned down and asked sleepily, "What's wrong?" Zhou Xuemao asked in confusion, "Why are there only a few of us in the room today? Where did everyone else go?" The companion on the upper bunk shook his head in confusion, "I don't know." This answer made Zhou Xuemao even more confused. He propped himself up, his mind full of questions.

Normally at this time, the dormitory was always bustling with people bringing food to listen to their lectures. But today, no one was seen, as if everyone had disappeared. Zhou Xuemao couldn't help but start to wonder if there was some activity that they hadn't been notified of?

Seeing how anxious he was, his roommate on the upper bunk comforted him, "Hey, why are you worrying about that? We'll leave tomorrow. Just wait for them to come back and say goodbye. Just take a rest." Zhou Xuemao thought about it and thought it made sense, so he turned over and lay down, trying to calm himself down.

However, time passed by little by little, and it was completely dark. The room was still dark, and no one turned on the lights. In the darkness, Zhou Xuemao opened his eyes, and the uneasiness in his heart became stronger and stronger. He finally couldn't help but speak again: "Are you asleep? Why haven't they come back yet? Did something happen? How about we go out and take a look?" The other three agreed in unison, and they became more and more anxious.

At this moment, a loud noise was heard and the door was suddenly pushed open. The sudden noise frightened Zhou Xuemao and others, and the oil lamp fell to the ground. However, a ball of fire appeared in front of them, reflecting a group of gloomy faces. Zhou Xuemao looked at those faces palely and screamed, "Su Binzhe? Lao Tian?"

The wrinkles on Su Binzhe's face looked even deeper in the light of the fire. He smiled grimly and said to Zhou Xuemao, "Xiao Zhou, have you changed into new clothes?" A group of people stood behind him, and rows of teeth were faintly visible in the light of the fire. Zhou Xuemao and others were frightened and stepped back. He stretched out his hand and pointed at Su Binzhe tremblingly: "What...what do you want to do?" He couldn't help but suspect that this was a conspiracy of the black factory to prevent them from leaving.

However, Su Binzhe straightened his back, looked around and said, "Oh, why is this room so dark? Who can light the lamp?" As soon as he finished speaking, someone went to find an oil lamp. As several oil lamps were lit, the room gradually became brighter. At this time, Zhou Xuemao could see Lao Tian and the dozen people behind him. They were all familiar faces who often came to visit, some from the same dormitory, and many workers from other dormitories.

Old Tian was holding a strange cake with two candles on it. Zhou Xuemao asked in shock: "Old Tian, ​​what do you want to do?" Old Tian was also stunned: "What? Isn't it your birthday today? Our factory is celebrating your birthday, this is a welfare of the factory." Zhou Xuemao was in a trance for a moment, then he remembered that he had left a fake birth date when he entered the factory, and it seemed to be today.

Su Binzhe put the cake on the table and said with a proud smile: "You haven't seen this before? This is a good thing, called a cake! It is made from a secret recipe passed down from the Jianye Marquis' Mansion. Look, there are words written for you on it." Zhou Xuemao came closer and saw the eight big characters "福如东海，寿比南山" written on the cake. Although these words were written crookedly, they were obviously written by these illiterate workers. He couldn't help but feel touched by the thoughtfulness.

He stood up, bowed respectfully, and asked, "Who paid for this cake? How much did it cost?" Su Binzhe waved his hand and said, "Oh, these are trivial matters. You can eat first." However, Zhou Xuemao insisted on knowing the price of the cake. He was shocked when he learned that the cake cost two taels of silver. Two taels of silver is a worker's monthly salary!

At the urging of everyone, he blew out the candles and cut the first piece of cake and put it in his mouth. The sweet and smooth taste spread in his mouth and he couldn't help but exclaim that it was delicious. Looking at the expectant eyes around him, he pushed the cake to everyone and said, "Eat it all." At this moment, he felt the sincere friendship and care of his co-workers, and his nose was sore and his eyes were red. Everyone came forward to taste the cake and exclaimed in admiration. The dormitory was filled with laughter and a warm atmosphere.

Zhou Xuemao was surrounded by the enthusiastic praises of his fellow workers, and he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. This was not the kind of flattery and pretentiousness among the literati he was familiar with in the past, but the sincere expression of emotion from the group of simple workers around him.

He never expected that he would spend his birthday in such a different environment. In the past, he always spent his birthday with a group of self-important scholars and writers, drinking poetry and pretending to be elegant. But today, he was among a group of workers in work clothes. They might not understand those elegant poems, but they shared the best food in their hands with him in their most sincere way.

Looking around, Zhou Xuemao could feel the envious eyes of the three fellow candidates beside him. At this moment, he seemed to have become a hero among these workers, and their eyes were full of respect and admiration. The workers sat together, squinting their eyes and savoring the cakes in their hands, which were delicious things they could hardly taste on weekdays. Su Binzhe, a worker who looked rough on weekdays, seemed particularly delicate at this moment. He sucked his fingers seriously twice, then looked at Zhou Xuemao, with expectation in his eyes.

"We've all eaten, so please say something! You are educated, and everyone likes to listen to you." Su Binzhe's words were full of respect and expectation. Everyone's eyes were focused on Zhou Xuemao again, and he felt unprecedented pressure and expectations.

Zhou Xuemao wanted to say something to respond to this expectation, but the words suddenly got stuck. He realized that he was about to leave this place, and these workers were still looking forward to his teaching and guidance. If he said he was leaving at this moment, he would be ashamed to face these sincere people.

"Say something, say something!" The workers began to make noises, expecting Zhou Xuemao to speak. However, Zhou Xuemao felt like something was stuck in his throat, and his lips moved a few times, but no sound came out. Finally, he said in a hoarse voice: "I'm sorry, everyone... I'm leaving tomorrow to take the imperial examination."

The room suddenly fell silent, as if the air had frozen. Zhou Xuemao lowered his head, feeling ashamed to face everyone. He knew that his departure at this moment was a betrayal to these workers, but he could not refuse the temptation of the imperial examination and the expectations of his family.

However, at this moment, Su Binzhe spoke up: "Our brother Zhou is an educated man with great abilities. He will take the imperial examination in the future. He can't work hard in a factory like us. It's his birthday, everyone should be happy. It's a good thing that he's gone."

Zhou Xuemao suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with shame and unwillingness: "It's not like that..." He wanted to explain that his departure was not a betrayal, but was interrupted by Su Binzhe who patted him gently on the shoulder.

"Oh, just leave, it's no big deal. It's an honor for everyone to know someone like you." Su Binzhe said nonchalantly, as if Zhou Xuemao's departure was not a big deal. "If I had your ability, I wouldn't stay in the factory."

Other workers also spoke up to comfort him: "Leave early and save yourself the trouble. Don't be like me, who has no future after staying in the factory. There are only a few people around you all day long, and they will talk about you for the rest of your life..."

Listening to the workers' comfort and guidance, Zhou Xuemao's guilt and anxiety gradually dissipated. He forced a smile, thanking the workers for their understanding and support, although the smile revealed some helplessness and bitterness.

Su Binzhe started to mutter again: "Oh, studying is good! Aren't we working in the factory so that our descendants can go to college? My son will go to Beilang University, and after he finishes his studies, he will earn money to support my grandson to take the imperial examination. Then my life will be complete."

Zhou Xuemao asked in surprise: "Why do you still need to take the imperial examination if you have been admitted to Beilang University?" In his opinion, Beilang University is already an institution that many people dream of, so why should you pursue the imperial examination?

Su Binzhe laughed and explained, "What you said is true! The imperial examination is the right way! Who would want to apply to Beilang University when they can take the imperial examination? Being an official is so glorious! Beilang University is a way to make money."

Zhou Xuemao's eyes flashed with confusion: "This... is going to Beilang University for the imperial examination?" He began to re-examine his choice and future path. He had always believed that the imperial examination and Beilang University were two completely different paths, but at this moment he realized that there might be some connection between the two.

"What else?" Su Binzhe looked at him with strange eyes, "Don't we ordinary people think so? After being admitted to Beilang University, we can make money and then take the imperial examination. Otherwise, how many families can afford to support a scholar to take the imperial examination directly? Just think about it, you can't even afford to buy pens, ink, paper and inkstone! Beilang University is much cheaper!"

Su Binzhe's words were like a wake-up call, which made Zhou Xuemao wake up instantly. It turned out that his thoughts had been wrong all along! Beilang University is not a substitute for the imperial examination official career, but a springboard to the imperial examination official career! The two complement each other and bring out the best in each other!

Zhou Xuemao was filled with fear and relief. Fortunately, he didn't make a big fuss among the people. Otherwise, he would not only fail to win a good reputation, but would become the public enemy of the people! If that happened, he would not even be able to go home, right? !
At this moment, he no longer felt any regret or reluctance, but was instead filled with expectations and longings for the future. He looked at his fellow workers with gratitude, for they helped him to re-understand himself and his future path.

The next morning, Zhou Xuemao and his three companions appeared at the factory gate with their bags on their backs. The boss was very kind and gave them the wages they deserved, and even came out to see them off. Su Binzhe and his roommates also came with them, and their eyes were filled with reluctance and blessings.

Zhou Xuemao solemnly clasped his fists to express his gratitude to them, and looked up at the big words on the factory building and smiled. Although life in the factory was a little difficult at the beginning, this pure and warm human touch was indeed a rare experience that allowed him to find his direction and original intention again.

When he boarded the carriage, he looked back at the group of lovely co-workers, his heart full of gratitude and respect. He knew that this experience would become one of the most precious treasures in his life, inspiring him to keep moving forward and pursuing his dreams and goals. After they left, Fat Dongjia showed a proud smile on his face, as if he had finally seen off these "big Buddhas". However, Su Binzhe and other workers watched the carriage disappear from their sight with reluctance, their hearts full of regret and blessings, looking forward to having the opportunity to meet again in the future.

Leaving the busy factory, Zhou Xuemao and the others rode in a spacious carriage and hurried to the Tang family's mansion. The afternoon sun shone through the car window, dappling on their faces, bringing a bit of warmth and laziness.

The carriage bumped on the stone road, Zhou Xuemao and others smiled at each other, their hearts full of anticipation. They had already agreed that after saying goodbye to Zheng Banqiao, they would return to their normal lives and enjoy the happiness in the ordinary.

It was past noon when the carriage slowly drove to the gate of the Tang family mansion. The Tang family mansion looked magnificent under the sunlight, and the tall stone lions at the gate seemed to welcome their arrival.

However, when they got off the carriage, they saw three carriages parked at the gate of the Tang family mansion, and people were busy moving things. This scene made them feel a little surprised, and an inexplicable uneasiness surged in their hearts.

The Tang family's housekeeper was standing at the door, looking around anxiously. When he saw Zhou Xuemao and the others, he hurried over to greet them.

"Excuse me, is Brother Tang at home now?" Zhou Xuemao stepped forward and asked, making a nine-one gesture with his fingers.

The housekeeper also replied with a look of great joy on his face: "Oh, you are finally back! Our master is not here now."

"What do you mean? Someone came back first?" Zhou Xuemao and others looked at each other.

"Well, several hundred people have returned." The housekeeper sighed, "But the situation is not good."

"Where is Brother Tang? What's the situation with these people at the door?" Zhou Xuemao asked.

When the topic was brought up, the housekeeper showed a sad look on his face. He looked up at the sky, then lowered his head and sighed, "Oh, don't mention it. In the past few days, people have come here one after another and found the master and said they wanted to quit the Xingsheng Society. The master couldn't bear the blow, so he decided to disband the Xingsheng Society and return to his hometown."

Zhou Xuemao and others were shocked. They couldn't imagine that Brother Tang would make such a decision.

"Well, he was afraid that someone would come looking for him, so he left me here to notify them, in case someone came back and couldn't find him." The housekeeper continued, "During this period, the master sold the ancestral home for your convenience. I didn't expect that it would end up like this."

Zhou Xuemao and others followed the housekeeper's gaze and saw workers busy at the door moving things. The buyer was moving in, and all this made them feel extremely distressed.

"How could Brother Tang do this..." Zhou Xuemao muttered to himself, with a hint of determination in his eyes, "We must find him!"

"Where is his hometown? I want to go home and send him some money." A scholar said, "The one who carries firewood to put out a fire should not be frozen to death in the snow! When Brother Tang receives the money, he will redeem the ancestral home in the future."

The housekeeper looked embarrassed, and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to the others to read: "Well... this is my master's address. You can just send the money here."

Zhou Xuemao took the note and read it carefully. Although he was a little confused, he still chose to trust the housekeeper. They turned and left. The worker who was carrying the goods at the door looked at their backs and shouted, "Hey, uncle! How long will it take for us to move these broken boxes back and forth in and out of the house?"

The housekeeper turned around and walked into the house, glancing at him. "Just move it if I tell you to! If you're tired, just take a break and move again when someone else comes!"

In the study, Lin Xiaofeng folded his legs on the table and kept shaking, holding a delicate snack in his hand and chewing it slowly, sighing that the years were quiet and good. When the housekeeper came in, he immediately bowed with a serious expression and said, "The master is here again!"

Lin Xiaofeng nodded slightly and said slowly, "Alas... scholars are really immature. I carefully arranged a lot of scripts for them, but no one lasted more than half a month." A sly smile flashed across his face, as if everything was under his control. "How can we give bonuses to Jinyiwei at the end of the year when we can't even hand in much salary?"

The housekeeper laughed and said, "Sir, you are really good at this trick. You can cheat hundreds of candidates out of ten thousand taels..."

"This is tuition fee, pay attention to the wording." Lin Xiaofeng interrupted the housekeeper dissatisfiedly. He seemed not to care about the money but only cared about whether his plan was successful.

At this moment, in the Tang family mansion, sunlight shines through the window lattice onto the floor of the study, creating mottled light and shadows. Lin Xiaofeng leans back in his chair and closes his eyes to rest, but his heart is full of expectations and calculations. What he doesn't know is that Zhou Xuemao and others have already embarked on a journey to find Brother Tang, and this search will also lead to more stories and disputes.

At the same time, on the other side of the city, Li Dexian rushed into a luxurious mansion. His face was full of anger, and he shouted as soon as he entered the door: "I am so angry! Old Lin! I am so angry that my heart aches!"

Lin Xiaofeng sat up straight, looked at Li Dexian and asked, "What's wrong, Your Highness?" There was a trace of concern on his face, as if he was surprised by Li Dexian's anger.

"Didn't I go to visit the factory? It's the same as yesterday. Once those scholars left and your people dispersed, they stopped performing and turned it back into a black factory." Li Dexian said angrily, "In order to make up for the previous shortfall in working hours and workload, they generally let workers work fourteen or fifteen hours a day. Isn't this pushing people to death? Their lives are worse than corvée labor."

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng sneered and said disdainfully: "Don't compare it with corvee labor. The black factory is much more humane than corvee labor." There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone, as if he did not understand Li Dexian's anger.

Li Dexian was stunned for a moment, then retorted: "We have regulations for corvée labor in Jingjiang, a maximum of six hours a day!" There was a hint of determination on his face, as if he wanted to fight for better treatment for the workers.

However, Lin Xiaofeng just curled his lips in disdain. He has always been dismissive of such arguments. He knows that the rules are rules, but the actual situation is often not the case. Workers under the corvée system are often abused to the point of living a life worse than death. Although the factory has serious overtime, the workers at least have room for choice.

Seeing Li Dexian's still furious expression, Lin Xiaofeng decided to comfort him. "Your Highness, calm down." He said, "You should look at things from multiple angles and learn to look at things dialectically. Working overtime in the illegal factory is hateful, but it is not without benefits."

Li Dexian looked at him with a frown: "What's the benefit of working overtime?" There was a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction in his tone.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled and explained, "Think about it, if a worker is required to work fourteen or fifteen hours a day, and he persists, what does that mean?" He paused and continued, "It means that they have good physical strength and are hardworking. More importantly, this may make them cherish their time and life more and work harder to pursue a better life."

Although Li Dexian was not completely satisfied with Lin Xiaofeng's explanation, he also realized that he was a little too emotional. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. "Okay." He said, "Maybe you are right. But we should still fight for better treatment and rights for the workers."

Lin Xiaofeng nodded, agreeing with Li Dexian's point of view. "Yes," he said, "we should work hard to improve the working environment and treatment of workers. However, this takes time and effort. I hope we can work together to create a better future for the workers."

"Do you think you are humorous?" Li Dexian's eyes were a little dull, as if he was immersed in some profound thought.

The afterglow of the setting sun fills this spacious study, and the golden light forms a beautiful picture with the deep wooden decorations in the house. In the garden outside the study, the breeze blows, bringing a light floral fragrance, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.

Lin Xiaofeng, who was sitting opposite, glanced out the window, then retracted his gaze and looked at Li Dexian. He said calmly: "Old Lin, I'm not kidding you. This labor intensity is really not something a person can bear. I did those rough jobs when I was in the environmental protection team. If you continue like this, I tell you, sooner or later there will be problems."

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng raised his eyebrows indifferently: "Then what solution does Your Highness have? Just raising the question is far from enough."

Li Dexian took a deep breath, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes: "On the way here, I actually thought of some solutions."

He paused and continued, "I have visited more than a dozen factories these days and recorded their production conditions in detail. I found that when the candidates came to the factories to cooperate with the performances and shortened working hours, the production efficiency did not drop significantly, only about 20%, and some even only dropped by 10%. Compared with the data at the end of the month, there was almost no decrease."

Li Dexian's eyes sparkled, as if he had seen the dawn of victory: "What does this show? This shows that management methods have a huge impact on efficiency. Simply forcing workers to work does not necessarily maximize profits. When workers are well rested and in a good mood, their efficiency will be higher."

He looked at Lin Xiaofeng, his eyes full of expectation: "I think we can collect more data, or try to change the production process to find a balance point, which will not affect the production capacity or the workers' rest."

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes flashed with surprise: "Did you think of all this yourself?"

Li Dexian nodded: "What else? I have been thinking a lot recently. In fact, this was not the method I thought of at first."

"Oh? What was your highness's initial thought?" Lin Xiaofeng asked curiously.

Li Dexian recalled: "I thought, since North Corridor University controls the lifeline of many factories, why not directly make regulations so that they can give workers generous treatment?"

He smiled bitterly: "But over time, I found that this is not realistic. Many newly established factories seem to be large in scale, but in fact they are funded by borrowing money. There is no profit in the short term, and the pressure is heavy. If we force regulations, it may affect the efficiency of the factory, and may even allow those black factories that we cannot supervise to take advantage of the opportunity to rise."

Li Dexian sighed, "On the other hand, I am also worried that the workers will ask for too much after knowing that the court fully supports them. The factory director and the workers should be close friends. If they are in opposition and regard each other as enemies, it will only end up hurting both sides."

He looked out the window and took a deep breath of fresh air: "So, after thinking it over, I think we should start with management methods."

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but applaud and exclaimed: "Your Highness, you really impressed me. This is already a great wisdom."

Li Dexian was a little embarrassed by the praise: "I feel a little embarrassed that you suddenly praised me like this."

Lin Xiaofeng took out a stack of information from the drawer and put it on the table: "Take a look, Your Highness. My subordinates have been busy recently."

Li Dexian picked up the information and looked through it carefully one by one. His expression gradually became surprised: "This... This coincides with my idea! Lao Lin, you thought of it a long time ago!?"

The data contains detailed records of the production of all factories, as well as data comparisons after the students enter the factory.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded: "Yes, Beilang University has long been aware of the situation of illegal factories. Many factories even began to employ child labor in order to reduce costs. This time, the candidates entered the factory, and I found an excuse to conduct a large-scale investigation."

Li Dexian frowned: "Why didn't you intervene earlier? Those black factories that are desperately exploiting are all industries that rely on the railway for survival."

Lin Xiaofeng sighed softly: "Your Highness, we represent the court and need to stand in the center of the scale. Whether it is the factory director who invested in setting up the factory or the common people who work there, there is no difference in my eyes. Although the workers are tired, their income is relatively stable. Moreover, you can see new clothes hanging on the street outside in many places, which shows that their lives are improving."

He continued: "Humans are actually very adaptable animals. Although they are working very hard now, they are very adaptable. Moreover, humans are actually more likely to survive than any other animals. If you change an animal and it eats the wrong food, it may die soon."

Li Dexian's face fell a little: "Is this human language? If so, why did you change your mind now?"

Lin Xiaofeng explained: "On the one hand, the collective disturbances of the candidates have already revealed a bad sign, and this momentum must not be expanded. On the other hand, if we do not intervene, the competition will become more intense, and those black factories will do more and more excessive things. When those honest people want to fight for their own interests, they will have to wait."

Li Dexian continued to look through the information in his hand and asked without raising his head: "So, now that you have done such a thorough investigation, do you already have a complete solution?"

Lin Xiaofeng shook his head: "It is not easy to find a unified and feasible solution to change the methods and processes of many factories. It requires a deep understanding of various factors, such as people's hearts, technology, environment, etc. These data alone are far from enough."

Li Dexian was a little disappointed: "That means you don't have a solution either?"

Lin Xiaofeng raised his hand and said, "No. I already have some quick and feasible solutions."

Li Dexian immediately became alert: "What's the plan?"

Lin Xiaofeng asked with a smile: "Your Highness, do you know who sets the workers' wages?"

Li Dexian replied: "Of course it was decided by the factory managers and employers."

"Wrong." Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and said, "The workers' wages are actually set by themselves. If a factory manager pays two taels of silver to recruit ten positions a month, and only one person applies, that's two taels of silver. But if a hundred people apply, then the factory manager might cut the price in half and still be able to recruit qualified workers. So, if only one person applies for two taels of silver a month, what would you do?"

Li Dexian answered without hesitation: "Increase the salary."

His eyes suddenly lit up. "You mean, we can use propaganda to unite the workers and work together to improve their wages?"

Lin Xiaofeng rejected this idea: "The job market is in short supply right now, so this approach is not realistic. Moreover, although the workers are of the same status, they are better at fighting among themselves than uniting."

Li Dexian was a little puzzled: "But, from what I've observed, the workers in those factories are very honest and simple."

Lin Xiaofeng said calmly: "That's because you are well dressed and have servants with you. Try changing your clothes and their attitude will change immediately."

He paused and continued, "They look honest, but they are actually no different from the evil bosses they call them. Everyone has their own calculations and interests. How can they truly unite unless they are forced to do so?"

The sun gradually set, and the study fell into a brief silence. Li Dexian fell into deep thought, while Lin Xiaofeng looked at him quietly, waiting for his response.

Li Dexian frowned, thinking about the current predicament. His eyes were full of doubt and confusion, as if he was in a thick fog and couldn't find the direction to move forward.

"If you say so, I am really confused. What is your solution?" He couldn't help but ask, with a bit of urgency in his voice.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled, revealing a calm and wise smile. He pointed to the busy construction site outside the window and said, "Competition among workers will lead to lower wages, which is an inevitable result of market competition. However, if we allow factory managers to compete with each other, the situation will be completely different."

Li Dexian frowned and said doubtfully: "The salary will indeed increase, but the problem is that they are not short of workers now!"

"That's true," Lin Xiaofeng nodded in agreement, "so we need to introduce some new elements, such as culture."

"Culture?" Li Dexian couldn't help laughing. "What kind of culture do you need to do manual labor?"

Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and said seriously: "Culture does not only refer to book knowledge, but also a spiritual force. For running a factory, culture is the key factor to increase cohesion, improve coordination ability, and improve efficiency. Just like a restaurant needs to manage many servants, running a factory also needs an effective management culture."

He paused and continued, "Those factory managers who are able to enthusiastically set up factories are undoubtedly smart people in the business world. They are adventurous and smart, and they must have a preliminary understanding of management culture, but they lack a complete theory to guide them."

Li Dexian listened attentively and nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng continued, "The best example right now is our Beilang Newspaper. Over the years, we have formed a unique management culture and methods. I plan to invite these factory managers to visit the newspaper and learn from them. I believe they will be inspired by it."

Li Dexian smiled bitterly and shook his head, "I think what they are most likely to learn is our overtime culture."

"That can't be compared," Lin Xiaofeng said seriously, "They are sweatshops, and we are talking about selfless dedication. Our newspaper is fundamentally different from them."

Li Dexian sighed and said, "Although your idea makes some sense, it is a bit too much."

"This is just the first step," Lin Xiaofeng explained. "After they come to the newspaper, I have a second plan. During this period, we have collected information about the factories in the suburbs of Beijing, and are preparing to organize professionals from Beilang University and the newspaper to customize a scoring form for them. This form will cover all aspects such as canteens, accommodation, and salary and benefits."

A gleam of brilliance flashed in his eyes. "In the end, we will give a comprehensive score and rank all the well-known large factories in the newspaper every quarter for the reference of the people. In this way, those businessmen who value reputation will compete for the ranking. Although there is no shortage of workers applying for jobs in the market, there are also good and bad workers. As competition intensifies, excellent workers will gather at the top, and those factory managers who want to maintain their competitiveness will take the initiative to think about how to improve their rankings."

Li Dexian's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands in applause: "This is a good idea! In this way, those factory managers who run illegal factories will be exposed to the world. How can they face people in the future?"

Lin Xiaofeng smiled and nodded: "That's right. But we also have to strike a balance. We have to protect the rights of workers, but we can't force the factory managers to death. After all, we still need to encourage them to set up factories and recruit workers so that more people can benefit."

At this point, he sighed and said, "I think these methods are only temporary solutions. If we want to really change the status quo, we need to make those people realize that there are better management methods."

Li Dexian smirked, put his hands on his hips and said, "So, my method is the best solution? I guess I just didn't spend enough time researching. If I were to run the factory myself, with money and manpower, I might be able to figure out an effective management method in a year or two."

He continued proudly, "Ever since I started studying train building, I have deeply realized the importance of strict standards and process management. In fact, I don't think there is much difference between managing a factory and building trains."

Lin Xiaofeng was shocked when he heard him mumbling. He suddenly had an idea: "Your Highness is really talented! Since you have talent and interest in this area, why don't I support you in exploring management with money and manpower. This is Fukuzawa's career for future generations!"

Li Dexian was inspired when he heard this: "Do you really think I can run a factory? But the palace..."

"I'll try to fool the palace," Lin Xiaofeng said, "Your Majesty doesn't have the energy to keep an eye on you every day."

"That's right." Li Dexian stroked his chin and thought, "Then what kind of factory do you think I should run?"

Lin Xiaofeng also started thinking. After a long while, he suddenly clapped his hands and said, "Let's not open a factory! Let's open a fast food restaurant! That thing is convenient, fast and affordable!" (End of this chapter)