Xianjin traveled for five consecutive days, and until night, she walked under a lamp to the Jixi workshop - she would be in seclusion here for the next month, or even two months, with a mule cart behind her carrying several large packages of luggage.

Xianjin was on the mule cart, lying on Zhang Mama's shoulder and dozing for an hour. As soon as the mule cart stopped, he woke up consciously, refreshed, and was a brave man again.

When we arrived at the Jixi workshop, it was already past 11 pm.

The Jixi workshop was brightly lit. Thick-columned white wax lanterns were hung on the four ceilings and sixteen corners. A three-legged brazier was set up every two meters between the ceilings. Strong men in white coats with beads of sweat on their temples were either holding up a bamboo curtain as wide as their arms or carrying a large bamboo basket on their shoulders to burn charcoal for the wall. They walked hurriedly with nervous looks.

More than 20 employees who were transferred from paper companies have all arrived.

There are now seventy-eight people left in the Jixi workshop, including waiters, cooks, accountants, purchasing staff, logistics staff, and cleaners.

It’s a very large team.

The back room of the Jixi workshop was full of four people in one room.

"...Hengji has the most people coming, plus the two assistants who were transferred from the autumn imperial examination, there are now a total of eight people in the Jixi workshop; the second is Liuji, with five people; then Yunji and Sanbao Paper House, both with three people, and the other paper workshops almost all have two people."

Aunt Zhong walked very quickly and took Xianjin to the back room, then casually pushed open a door.

A strong... stench.

The smell of sweat, foot odor, and the sour smell of a jacket that hadn't been washed for ten days mixed together.

The gold is filled with smoke.

Xianjin struggled to open his eyes in the fog and saw three bunk beds neatly arranged, but the wooden shelves, bed boards and tables were all covered with rows of...socks.

"Go hire two more capable women to clean the house and wash the coats for these men every day." Xianjin didn't even frown. "It's almost June, and the weather is going to get hot. We need to make sure there's enough water in every room. We can't supply ice, but at least we need clean, cool water."

Aunt Zhong took the reed pen and wrote it down, then took Xianjin to the back kitchen.

"The meat and vegetables are all fresh. I have contacted the market to deliver them every day. Samples of the meals are kept for future reference. There is meat and eggs every day, and there is enough rice."

Aunt Zhong lifted the basket covered with white gauze, revealing neatly arranged eggs.

"We don't have to worry about water. There are two wells in the yard and Longchuan Creek is next to them. On the first day we came here, I repeatedly emphasized that drinking water must be drawn from the kitchen. Don't drink well water or creek water for the sake of convenience."

Aunt Zhong continued, "We have also contacted the clinic and pharmacy less than a mile away from the Jixi workshop, and they are ready to provide consultation at any time."

Xianjin looked at the neat and tidy kitchen, with four large stoves distributed from north to south and more than a hundred bowls lined up in the cupboard like soldiers. He nodded with satisfaction, "Manager Zhong is very good. He has thought of every detail."

Aunt Zhong smiled shyly, revealing two shallow dimples, "The fifth daughter of the Heng family came here three days ago, and she helped a lot."

Xianjin nodded, "Two days ago, all the merchants arrived. Are there any troublemakers?"

Aunt Zhong shook her head. "They are all capable men selected by each family. When they see that Master Li Sanshun and Master Zhao Dezheng are here to guard, who dares to act rashly?"

But when there are many people, there will always be right and wrong.

"I heard a few guys discussing privately that our Chen family is headed by a young girl, and they doubted that we were not strong enough. If we fail to get the tribute paper in the end, it would be a waste of time and money."

Aunt Zhong spoke very objectively, "I heard the original words, and I thought they were not too harsh, so I did not take any action."

Xianjin nodded slightly, "If I were a little girl, they would doubt that I was not tough enough; if I were a young man, they would doubt that I was not experienced enough; if I were an octogenarian, they would doubt that I was not energetic enough - their doubts have nothing to do with who I am, as long as I am in a high position, I will be questioned."

"For these doubts, if they are well-intentioned, we don't need to care too much; if they are malicious, we must strike hard." Xianjin walked through the kitchen and headed towards the brightly lit ceiling with mist. "Our move is unprecedented in Xuancheng Prefecture. Most of the merchants who dared to sign the list of members of the Chamber of Commerce were pious and passionate about Xuan paper. We must be strict, tolerant, and profitable."

"It is strict to govern. There are many people, they have many opinions, and they are all young and energetic men. Once something happens, it will be a big deal. Not only will you not get the tribute paper, but you will also be sent to the government office;"

"Be tolerant in words and deeds, be tolerant of different opinions, don't be xenophobic, don't let Chenji and Hengji become a tyrant, and the others go their own way, nothing good will come out of this;"

"For the sake of benefiting ourselves, the profits brought by the tribute should be evenly distributed among all participating merchants, and the honor and money brought by making tribute should also be made clear to every member of the association, so that we can slowly settle the accounts."

Xianjin said casually, "Our Chen family is the leader, a participant, and a beneficiary - but Sister Zhong, these great principles can never outweigh our own comfort."

After all, Aunt Zhong is a woman, and a woman of the right age and good looks.

She had a strong enough heart and inner motivation brought from the future, so she had no strange thoughts about hanging out with seventy or eighty young men all day long.

But it is different for Aunt Zhong. When a boss does things, he must respect the objective opinions and subjective considerations of his subordinates.

Is Aunt Zhong willing?

Aunt Zhong was stunned for a moment, then she understood what Xianjin meant and smiled with two dimples, "If I still consider not doing it because there are too many men when I come out to work, then I have lost my skin in vain!"

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!