Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Otti/From today on, you are not allowed to...

Audrey would take time out every week to visit Chengzhi Society. Here, she and Theresa would discuss plans for improving the machine while also acting as a mentor to the children, teaching them basic knowledge.

It wasn't until the beginning of winter and the first snow in Haddonfield that Audrey and Theresa finally solved the problem of mechanical energy consumption. The subsequent assembly and adjustment would require the materials and laboratory prepared by Hermann.

Audrey had been using Mrs. Moore as an excuse these days, and Greta had grown suspicious. After all, it was strange that her daughter-in-law, who had always been aloof from socializing, was suddenly attending the ladies' tea parties every week.

Fortunately, Herman had been very busy recently and hadn't noticed anything unusual, so Audrey was able to get away with it.

With the Holy Day approaching and having broken through a technical bottleneck, Audrey boarded the carriage for the return journey in a good mood. Suddenly, Jeshia followed her out and warned, "Don't come over for the time being."

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Audrey was stunned.

"I just received a letter from Hersland. The workers there have started a strike and shot a factory owner in the street. Soon, Haddonfield will also be in chaos." Jeshia handed her another Hersland newspaper. There was an inconspicuous report in a small corner, which briefly described the whole process of the union strike.

"What? Shot in the street?"

Audrey looked around and found that quite a few people had gathered on Dawn Street. They hadn't formed a large group yet, but they seemed to be planning something.

“Yes, you can’t ask desperate people to obey the law.”

Jeshia lowered her voice and said, "Christmas Day is approaching. For the many workers in the shantytowns who lack food and clothing, this is not a holiday for reunion. They cannot survive the severe cold and are oppressed to the extreme. Resistance becomes inevitable."

Snow began to fall again from the gray sky. The cold snowflakes fell on her face. Audrey did not feel happy as usual, but felt cold for no reason.

"Will it be useful?"

Jeshia was silent for a moment: "I don't know. I hope it will turn out well."

“I want to provide them with some help.”

Jieshia shook her head. "Your identity is special, so it's best not to show up. Don't forget that terrible news."

Audrey lowered her eyes and thought for a moment: "I understand."

"Be careful and don't come over here again." Jeshia reminded again.

The carriage carried Audrey away, and the cold wind blew on her face like a sharp knife.

The streets, which had been peaceful a few months ago, were suddenly filled with ambiguous gazes.

Audrey deliberately put on her dusty hood, covering her mouth and nose tightly to block out those inquiring gazes.

"Eight hours! Eight hours!"

“Strike! Strike!”

"Eight hours! Eight hours!"

…

As the carriage drove out of Chenxi Street and passed by the factory, we saw many people gathered outside, waving their arms and cheering.

Audrey looked up nervously and found that it was not the White Factory. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The next second, he couldn't help but despise his own subconscious weakness.

There is nothing wrong with workers going on strike to fight for their rights, and we should hope they succeed.

But… She glanced down at the newspaper, worry and fear rising in her heart.

[Workers' demands were unresolved, and the factory owner Josephine was shot dead in the street.]

The white snow fell on the newspaper, soaking the terrible words.

-

The newspaper was thrown on the desk, the pipe tapped the word "shot" emphatically, and Richard Blossom's voice rang out in the study.

"Mr. White, it's time for us to put aside our prejudices and work together. Otherwise, Heslan's today will be our tomorrow."

Behind him, a dozen Kent County businessmen nodded silently. "Yes, there are already signs of trouble in Haddonfield. People are causing trouble in my factory."

"A bunch of bastards are clamoring for an eight-hour workday and medical insurance, and they've written up a bunch of rambling lists that I can't even be bothered to read!" someone shouted angrily, "Who the hell are they? How dare they make demands on us?"

Mr. Moore sighed, "But if we don't agree, what will happen if they keep making such a fuss? Every day we stop working, we lose a day's money, and the church won't listen to our excuses when it comes time to collect taxes."

"Oh! Stop work? If they don't do it, there are plenty of people who will! I want to see who gives up first!"

"Yeah, the worst that can happen is we can just bribe a few of the leaders like before, give them some benefits, and the alliance will naturally collapse."

"I'm afraid this time will be different. Heslan has established a union, and there are wise people behind the scenes directing it." Charles stood aside and listened for a while before speaking. "If they remain united, I'm afraid we will be the ones to compromise in the end."

Mr. Moore stopped talking and glanced at Hermann's face.

Richard held his pipe in his mouth and looked at the silver-haired gentleman who remained silent behind the desk.

"Is that what you mean, Mr. White?" Old Brousson said with a sinister look in his eyes. "Are you really going to compromise with a group of low-level workers?"

"Oh, Mr. Blossom, that's just my opinion, not..."

Charles tried to speak, but was interrupted by the old man: "I'm talking to Mr. White, and it's not the turn of an assistant to interrupt."

Charles's face turned cold.

The businessmen behind Brusen began to chime in: "What? Compromise? How can this be possible?! If we agree once, we'll have to agree twice! How much money will we lose just to meet the conditions of all the workers?!"

"Yes! We compromised with the workers, but the Mechanical Association won't compromise with us! We'll still have to collect the taxes we owe, and we'll be the ones who suffer the consequences! How can that be possible?"

"If you ask me, we should all stick together. As long as no one opens that door, the ones who will ultimately surrender will be these bastards waiting for their turn to eat! After all, we can outlast them!"

"That's right! Unite as one!"

“Unity!”

Several people also imitated the workers in shouting slogans, and as they spoke they began to laugh and turned their eyes to Hermann.

No matter how smoothly they chat, it ultimately depends on the leader's mood.

They followed Brusen to White with the intention of forcing him to agree to this "alliance."

Otherwise, if the largest White factory compromised with the workers first, the persistence of others would be meaningless.

Brousson's patience ran out. He straightened up and squinted his eyes. "Give me your answer, Mr. White."

Hermann tapped the tabletop rhythmically, his face showing an expression that was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry.

"Richard, who are you talking to me?" He looked around. "You think you can threaten me just by having more people? Have you forgotten that I hate being threatened the most?"

"Oh, Mr. White, that's not what Mr. Blossom meant..." someone interrupted.

"I'm talking to Richard, it's not your turn to interrupt, Mr. Beach." Herman had a blank expression on his face, and Charles smiled secretly with his head down.

Beech's face turned blue and red, and he retreated behind Brucen.

"Hermann, you misunderstood." Brusen took a deep breath. "I'm old and no longer have the energy to challenge your authority. But as the new leader, you have the obligation to lead us in solving this problem."

"There's no need to beat around the bush. The Church holds the key to technology. If they want to develop, they have to compromise. If the other side also compromises for the workers, how can we guarantee our own interests?" Bruson stared at Herman. "The only solution now is for everyone to unite and suppress the easier-to-deal-with side."

After saying that, he stood up and went out, holding his pipe.

"I've said what I want to say. If someone betrays the alliance, then..." He paused and sneered, "I don't think he is fit to be the leader."

Everyone followed Brusen out, and soon, Charles was the only one left in the office.

Charles looked at Moore's back, who kept looking back. He lowered his eyes and said, "Mr. White, it seems that what they said is true. Profits are the strongest bond. You have been slow to express your stance on the strike, and now everyone has turned against Brousson. The situation is not good."

Herman remained calm: "What do you think?"

"I suggest agreeing with Brousson's opinion and forming a merchants' alliance to fight the strike. This is in our best interest, isn't it? Once you agree, those fence-sitters will naturally come back."

Herman was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered: "You are right, Charles, this is indeed in our interests, but..."

He paused, set the newspaper on fire, and watched it burn to ashes.

"I hate compromise." His dark grey eyes were calm. "Whether it's with the church, or with those workers, or with those idiots Brousson brought with him."

Charles quickly understood. He thought for a moment and then tentatively said, "But the secret technological research has not made any progress yet, and we can't offend the church yet."

As for the remaining two, if they refused to compromise with the workers, they would be playing along with Brucen, and these fence-sitters would only attribute the success to Brucen, their leader. If they didn't compromise with Brucen, they would have to meet the workers' demands and betray the Merchant Alliance.

From Charles's perspective, he would definitely choose the former option that maximizes his interests, but he knows that his employer is a person who does not play by the rules. Now faced with this unpleasant choice, no one knows what he will do.

Sure enough, a look of anger flashed across Herman's eyes, and he didn't speak for a long time.

Suddenly, the sound of a carriage was heard downstairs. As Audrey arrived home, she met Bruson and others who had just walked out of the door.

Audrey didn't have time to take off her dusty cloak, and when she saw the guests, she had to nod and greet them.

Mr. Moore: "Oh! Mrs. White, where are you coming from?"

The wheels of the carriage that had just left the door were still covered with mud and snow. It was very simple and it was obvious that it was not the White family's carriage.

Audrey was stunned. She had made an excuse that she was going to Mrs. Moore's house, but now Mr. Moore was asking her where she was from...

Her heart tightened and she subconsciously looked for Hermann.

Old Brusen noticed her strange behavior and looked at the muddy soles of her feet, seeming to be thinking about something.

The next moment, he suddenly took a few steps forward, looked up at the study window, and raised his voice, "Mr. White, by the way, let me remind you to control your wife. Don't think that showing kindness to workers under the guise of charity is not violating the alliance."

Without waiting for the people upstairs to speak, old Brusen took his men away.

Audrey frowned when she heard him call White to start.

At the same time, footsteps were heard from the stairwell, and the silver-haired gentleman appeared expressionlessly and walked slowly towards them.

"Where have you been?"

"I……"

Audrey opened her mouth, subconsciously wanting to lie.

But I knew in my heart that the other party had heard the conversation just now.

"These days, you lied about going to Mrs. Moore's house, but actually you went to Haddonfield." Herman walked forward step by step with a calm expression, but for no reason he made people feel oppressed.

"Yes." Audrey lowered her head.

"What for?" Hermann asked again.

Audrey thought about it and followed Brousen's words: "Do charity."

Although she trusted Hermann, she couldn't expose Chengzhishe privately. Of course, she also knew that this answer couldn't fool him.

After all, Audrey has been concentrating on researching machines for some time, so why would she suddenly do charity?

But Herman didn't seem to care whether her words were true or not. He said bluntly, "From today on, you are not allowed to go there again."

The man who had just been indifferent to the news of the shooting in the newspaper suddenly looked cold when he saw the mud under her feet.

Audrey looked up: "But..."

"No buts, Mrs. White." Herman stared at her, his tone as calm as usual. "Haddonfield is very dangerous right now. You just need to stay home. I'll take you there after this winter."

He emphasized that "I" will take "you" there.

Audrey was a little unhappy and was about to speak when an assistant came running in and said anxiously, "Mr. White, there's an accident at the factory! Go and take a look!"

Herman and Charles looked at each other and quickly realized that a storm was coming.

"Arrange a carriage and set off immediately."

Charles spoke quickly: "I'll notify the sheriff first, and then call the bodyguard! I don't want the news in the newspaper to happen again."

The word "newspaper" awakened Audrey, and she immediately thought of the scene where the unyielding Hermann was beaten to death by angry workers.

"Mr. White, I'm going too!"

"You're not allowed to go!" Herman, who had already gotten into the car, suddenly shouted coldly, "Have the bodyguards guard the manor and watch her. She's not allowed to take a single step out until I come back."

Audrey's eyes widened, and before she could say anything, the carriage had already sped away.

The strong bodyguards said politely: "Mrs. White, please go back. The gentleman will be fine."

Will anything be okay?

Audrey frowned, her heart pounding, and she still held the newspaper in her hand.

To some extent, she knew Hermann very well; he was soft-hearted and would not tolerate harsh treatment.

If we take things step by step, some of our demands can be achieved, just like how she devoted herself to improving machines in order to break the church's technological monopoly.

As the church's interests loosened, the workers had room.

For Hermann, all he wanted was to eat meat, and it didn't matter whose mouth it was taken from.

Besides, how could the workers earn as much as the top church? As long as Audrey gave him this opportunity, he would definitely seize it.

But now the workers suddenly started to make trouble. Once they came to blows, this guy was more ruthless than anyone else.

Audrey didn't want to see Herman and them get into a fight.

Thinking of this, she looked at the burly man blocking the door, then looked at Greta who had just come downstairs and didn't know what was going on, and she had an idea in her mind.