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Chapter 191: The Workshop Begins Operations
Chen Shi had always been a strong-willed woman.
Growing up in a family with poor conditions and no opportunity to learn a trade, she sought out a widow in the village, helping her daily in exchange for being taught basic needlework skills. The widow, fearing competition for her livelihood, only taught her the basics, but Chen Shi, relying on her own understanding, managed to become proficient.
She could make clothes for people, embroider simple designs, and earn some money to help support her family.
Because of her ability to earn money, her family kept her at home for a few extra years. Finally, realizing she was getting too old to marry, they hastily arranged for a matchmaker, accepted three taels of silver as a bride price, and married her off to Zhang Da Li.
Zhang Da Li had little family and had painstakingly saved up those three taels through manual labor. Though his savings were gone after getting married, both he and Chen Shi were hardworking and united as a couple, managing to scrape by.
Unfortunately, fate wasn’t kind to them.
After giving birth, Chen Shi’s body weakened due to the family’s poor conditions and inadequate postpartum care. A bout of cold left her with chronic health issues. Over the following years, her condition worsened.
Zhang Da Li’s earnings, which had to support their children and pay for Chen Shi’s treatment, were stretched to the breaking point, to the extent they once considered selling their children.
Chen Shi remembered that the day they almost gave away Xiao Hua was only half a year ago.
Yet in just that short time, their family’s circumstances had transformed dramatically.
Chen Shi’s health had improved.
Zhang Da Li was earning more than before.
Even their two daughters had begun earning money.
Chen Shi often feared it was all a dream.
After crying for a moment, she remembered that Ye Xin Ran was still standing there. Wiping away her tears hastily, she said, “Thank you, Madam Ye! You are truly a great benefactor to our family!”
Ye Xin Ran smiled. “Sister-in-law, I’m simply making good use of talent. If you want to thank anyone, thank yourself for having the foresight to send your daughters to school. It’s all working out now!”
A warm feeling welled up in Chen Shi’s heart.
She had only sent her daughters to study because she didn’t want them to suffer in the future. She hadn’t thought too much about it at the time.
Who could have guessed that it would actually pay off?
But thinking further, the school itself only existed because of Ye Xin Ran.
At the root of it all, she still owed her thanks to her.
Similar gratitude was felt by Da Zhu’s mother.
Since marrying into Yun Bian Village, her proudest achievement was having two sons.
But as her sons grew older, she began to worry.
For a son to marry, a dowry was necessary.
Without enough dowry, it was impossible to secure a good bride.
Even if you managed to scrape together the money, if word got out about the family’s poor conditions, no one would agree to the match.
Zhang Da Zhu had always liked Sun Shu Qin from Dong Gou Village.
They had proposed twice, but the Sun family refused.
Later, when Er Zhu went to work for the Xiao family, he earned quite a bit of money.
Da Zhu’s mother used the money to repair their house and purchase some new furniture.
When the Sun family heard about it, they finally agreed to the marriage proposal.
Now that Da Zhu was married and had been selected to work in the workshop, the Sun family viewed the Zhang family with even greater respect. Da Zhu and his wife were living a harmonious and sweet life, all thanks to the Xiao family.
“To be honest, the Xiao family is truly a blessing for our village,” she said to her husband during dinner.
Da Zhu’s father, though not very talkative, nodded in agreement.
“Xiao Huai’an is lucky, but that Ye lady is the real blessing.”
“Exactly,” Da Zhu’s mother agreed.
“When Xiao Huai’an first arrived, our lives didn’t change at all. In fact, we were worried he might bring trouble. All the good changes started after Lady Ye married into the family.
Now, I almost regret having two sons. If I’d had a daughter, it would have been wonderful!”
Da Zhu’s father glanced at her. “What good would a daughter do? Do you think you could raise her to be like Lady Ye?
Our family’s ancestors aren’t that blessed! Now that both boys can earn money, you should be satisfied!”
…
Two days later, the molds and packaging materials Ye Xin Ran had ordered were delivered.
The arrangements with the lard suppliers were also finalized. Every morning, they would deliver lard directly to the village.
Ye Xin Ran also announced that she would be purchasing firewood.
Each bundle would fetch 6 wen.
Those who hadn’t been selected for workshop jobs and were preparing to leave the village for work quickly changed their plans.
At 6 wen per bundle, gathering two bundles of firewood a day could earn 12 wen, which was better than working far from home.
When the first batch of lard arrived, the workshop officially began operations.
The twenty villagers chosen by the village chief arrived early, eager to get started.
However, Ye Xin Ran didn’t rush to begin work. Instead, she brought out twenty employment contracts.
“These are the contracts I’ve written up. Let’s establish the rules and set expectations clearly from the start to avoid any misunderstandings later.
Since not everyone here can read, I’ve asked Uncle Li Zheng to review them with you. If there are no issues, we’ll sign and seal them.”
Uncle Li Zheng had been called in on short notice and was surprised by Ye Xin Ran’s meticulousness.
He quickly reviewed the contracts and nodded approvingly.
“I don’t see any problems with what Xin Ran has outlined here.”
He read aloud, “All workshop employees must strictly guard the formula’s confidentiality. Disclosure or theft of workshop materials will result in a fine of 500 taels of silver.”
“Five hundred taels?!”
A few people exclaimed in shock.
“Even if you sold all of us together, we wouldn’t be worth that much!”
Ye Xin Ran calmly explained, “The contract is designed to protect the secret formula for the facial soap.”
“To ensure our workshop can operate for a long time, we need to protect its interests.
As long as the workshop keeps running, everyone here can continue earning money. It’s a win situation.
Of course, if anyone feels this isn’t reasonable, you’re free to leave now, and I’ll hire someone else,” Ye Xin Ran added.
“Before you sign, let me explain the wages so you can make an informed decision.
Our wages are settled monthly and vary based on the type of work.
For now, men will earn “800 wen per month”, and women will earn “600 wen per month”.
Wages will be distributed on the first day of each month, covering the previous month’s work. You’ll also get two days off each month without any deductions from your pay.”
“What? We even get paid while resting? Staying at home and earning money, there’s such a good deal?”
Everyone looked at each other in surprise.
Da Zhu was the first to step forward.
“I’ll sign. What’s the big deal? As long as I don’t steal from the workshop or share its formula, I won’t have to pay the fine.
Even without this contract, I wouldn’t do something like that.”
“That’s true!”
Er Dan’s mother chimed in, “We’re working for someone, so we should follow their rules. This kind of job is rare to find, even with a lantern in hand. I’ll sign too.”
“Count me in!”
“I’ll sign as well!”
In the end, none of the twenty villagers left.
Everyone signed the contract and pressed their fingerprints onto it.
For those who couldn’t write, Li Zheng personally taught them to write their names on the spot.
Once the signing was complete, Ye Xin Ran assigned the tasks:
On the first day, most people had no work. Only the four assigned to the oil-rendering workshop stayed back.
Soon, Tao Hua and Xiao Hua arrived at the workshop.
Following Ye Xin Ran’s instructions, they weighed the delivered lard, verified the quantity, and recorded everything in the ledger.
Then, the first batch of lard began its rendering process.
Thick smoke rose above the workshop, marking a new chapter for the village, one where livelihoods extended beyond farming.
The villagers only noticed how much firewood was being burned from dawn to dusk.
What they didn’t realize was that their lives, too, were about to change with the launch of this workshop.