Chapter 70 Chapter 70 The river water of Beo/Chengzhi Society, only then...

"Please tell me about your fantastic plan."

In the dim reception room of Chengzhi Society, Isabel and Jieshiya sat facing each other, with their respective companions standing behind them.

However, behind Isabel stood only Audrey, while behind Jeshia stood a group of people led by Theresa.

"This is my project plan. You can take a look at it first." Isabel took out a stack of documents from her bag and handed it over.

Ten minutes later, Jieshiya finished reading carefully, but suddenly fell silent.

Theresa, the impatient red-haired girl, snatched it away and asked, "What's written?"

She glanced at the ten lines and quickly grasped the key information: "You want to build a new route to China? And you plan to hire us as your employees?"

Isabel elegantly took a sip of her coffee, not disdaining the owner's humble porcelain cup. "To be exact, he's an employee of 'Norman Industrial Company.'"

Theresa snapped the plan shut and sneered, "Duchess, do you know what you're saying? Didn't your sisters tell you that we're all pagans who oppose the Holy Light Church? How dare you, a noble, get involved with us?"

"If the pursuit of truth and science is considered paganism, then I believe the future will ultimately be a world of aliens. By then, will aliens still be aliens?" Isabel raised an eyebrow, speaking calmly. "I'm afraid the so-called gods will vanish into the dust of history."

This made the whole audience quiet for a moment.

Yes, this coincides with their philosophy.

They are a group of women who are currently powerless and have never thought of violently resisting the so-called church. It is precisely because of this that they are not seen as a threat and can stay safely in this small house, quietly pursuing the truth they believe in.

Even though they are so low-key, no one dares to express their position loudly in daily life.

Dreams are dreams, reality is reality, and there is a dividing line between them, like a light and dark dividing line. When you open the door of Chengzhi Society, you will have another identity - with another surname, someone's wife, someone's mother, someone's daughter, in short, you are no longer yourself.

Behind Theresa, a kind middle-aged woman suddenly raised her hand.

Audrey recognized her and reminded her sister, "This is Mrs. Smith."

Isabel nodded. "Mrs. Smith, I'm happy to hear your opinion."

Everyone looked at Mrs. Smith, who looked no different from any other middle-aged woman in a family. She mustered up the courage and said nervously, "Duchess, I'd like to ask... How much would I be paid if I joined your company?"

After she finished speaking, she felt ashamed and immediately lowered her head, not daring to look at the people around her.

Theresa narrowed her eyes and said, "Mrs. Smith, I think the monthly subsidy from Chengzhi Society has been paid out. Are you going to compromise with a woman with ulterior motives just for this little money?"

Mrs. Smith's face flushed: "I..."

Jeshia sighed: "Theresa, don't say that."

Theresa snorted coldly, "I feel sorry for you. Since the establishment of the society, almost all the funds have been raised by you. A former marquise has sold all her family property, but still can't buy everyone's unity."

Jeshia frowned, and before she could say anything, Mrs. Smith covered her face and burst into tears: "Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Jeshia, I know I'm sorry. But my child is sick, and my husband can't afford the expenses alone. He wants to give up, but I can't bear it. I am grateful for the subsidy you pay every month, but...but..."

That's not enough.

The crying silenced everyone, and even the coldness on Theresa's face gradually faded.

Another young woman raised her hand. She wore thick glasses and held a plan in her hand. "Duchess, I also want to ask you a question."

Isabel didn't need Audrey's reminder and said naturally, "Ms. Lauren, please go ahead."

Miss Lauren was surprised that the other party knew her name. She was stunned for a few seconds and quickly said, "I want to ask, your plan says that there will be a dedicated laboratory for our research, and all the results will have the opportunity to be put into production and applied in real life. Is this true?"

This question obviously represented the thoughts of more people, and they all looked up at Isabel.

"Miss Lauren, you asked a very good question." Isabel put down her coffee. "I know that before this, Chengzhi Society was a hobby group more inclined towards theoretical research. You are the best women, and the smartest people standing at the top of the pyramid of humanity. People like you all dream of their achievements being put into practice one day."

Audrey nodded silently.

She is the person who can best understand the members' thoughts.

The moment I learned I could own a factory, I was filled with unimaginable joy. If my sister's arrival could help her colleagues realize their dreams, it would be her outstanding contribution to Chengzhi Society.

"I promise you all here. Norman Industries will provide you with sufficient resources for implementation. As for the salary Mrs. Smith just asked about…" Isabel paused, glancing at everyone, "I don't think this question is any less than the others. On the contrary, what Mrs. Smith asked is the key."

"As everyone knows, throughout the Principality of Ceylon, the only jobs women can hold are laundry, cooking, domestic work, and factory work. The best options are tutoring, or working part-time while renting a cramped attic to write. After all, a home won't provide a quiet environment or even a desk."

Isabel said calmly, "Women can never make money as easily as men, nor do they have the opportunity to enter high-end fields and earn a fortune. Unless they are like the so-called young ladies from aristocratic families, who, while university may not allow them a place, can attend various social dances to show off their charm, hoping to sell themselves for a high price and marry a wealthy man."

She calmly and sarcastically spoke, not hiding the fact that she was also one of the people being slandered.

"In this situation, honestly, I think everyone willing to come to Chengzhi Society is a hero." Isabel suddenly took out a check and handed it to Mrs. Smith, meeting her surprised gaze. "So I don't want warriors to succumb to reality. Whatever men earn in this industry, you will have the same or even higher salary."

Jeshia looked at Isabel and suddenly said, "But no matter how many beautiful words you use, you can't hide your true intentions."

She paused; "You just want to use us to make money."

Theresa scoffed and continued, "Duchess, we're not as out of touch with the news as you think. The White family is facing a crisis, and I'm half responsible for Miss Norman's research on the improved machine. So you want to use Chengzhi Society as a tool to fight the church's monopoly and turn defeat into victory."

As soon as the words fell, everyone became alert.

Audrey was about to defend her sister, but Isabel stopped her.

"Yes, that's exactly right." She smiled, her ice-blue eyes calm. "I just want to use you."

Theresa frowned, but was interrupted before she could say anything.

"My sister is pure. She loves science, has ideals, and is your loyal partner," Isabel said calmly. "I'm different. I only care about profit. If you have no value, why should I cooperate with you?"

Jeshia's face was cold.

Isabel looked her in the eye calmly. "I know idealists might find this offensive. But I don't want to use other excuses to explain my purpose."

"Making money is not shameful." She smiled. "The business plan you've seen is to open the first trade route with China. Once realized, wealth and fame will flow in endlessly."

"Miss Smith possesses an exceptional talent for languages. I will teach her to master the Chinese language. She will become a pioneer in trade with China, rather than a wife who worries about her child's illness."

"Miss Lauren is proficient in shipbuilding. I will have you join the technical team so you can truly learn professional and efficient knowledge and be given opportunities to practice. Once you have mastered your skills, you will be the first female ship engineer."

"And you, Theresa." Isabel raised her eyes. "You are a genius. In the near future, I will make you, along with my sisters, become epoch-making symbols."

"Oh." Theresa sneered: "Do you think we care about fame and fortune?"

"Why not?" Isabel said. "I'm very fond of fame and fortune."

She paused, looked at Jieshiya, and said calmly, "The most important thing is that if you want to maintain Chengzhi Society forever, you need fame and fortune."

Jeshia fell silent.

"Passion is valuable, but life can't be lived solely on passion." Isabel stared at her and said slowly, "Mrs. Jeshia, I know you've given everything for Chengzhi Society, and we're struggling financially right now. Not just you, but everyone here is facing the pressures of reality."

Miss Lauren, who asked the question, fell silent.

Yes, they all have their share of real-life pressures, a world beyond Chengzhi Society. They have to be wives and mothers, wash clothes, cook, and clean, clean up after drunken husbands and naughty children, and the pressure of all sorts of household chores weighs heavily on them. Only during their brief time at Chengzhi Society can they find a respite.

If it weren't for the monthly allowance from Mrs. Jeshia to supplement the family income, it would be difficult for them to make ends meet.

Isabel looked around. "Everyone, I'm not trying to bribe you with money or insult your dignity. If you were only interested in money, you wouldn't have come here in the first place.

"I just want to give you the opportunity to go out," she said. "If you just stay in your little room, burning with passion, without realizing your true value, without enough money to live on, and without practice, your energy will eventually run out. The Chengzhi Society you cherish will become stagnant."

"Yes, my plan is shocking. It requires you to go out and show yourselves, becoming one of the few women working in these unfamiliar fields," she said. "But once you take this step, your passion for persistence will pay off."

"Your students in the basement will also know that knowledge can change their lives and destinies. When they grow up, they won't have to linger over a lack of career options. They will become translators, engineers, researchers, just like you... You support your students, and these children will support generations of children." Isabel took a deep breath, looked at Jeshia, and said seriously, "Only in this way can the river of Chengzhi Society truly flow, endlessly."

The room fell into silence, and sunlight poured in through the window, illuminating every pensive face.

Miss Lauren suddenly raised her hand, breaking the silence again.

She moved her lips, and a firm light flashed in her eyes behind the glasses: "Duchess, I am willing to join."