313

"Danhui! Do you know what happened with the porcelain kiln? How come my wife is the one in charge?! Where is the gang leader? How could this happen!"

Disturbed by the unexpected news, Shi Yifei rushed straight to the meeting hall of Donglin Town after finishing the matters at hand. When he didn't find Cheng Xi, he grabbed Tian Yu and wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Tian Yu was somewhat prepared and advised, "The gang leader just returned from Yuhang and is still on the island. I'm afraid he doesn't have time to deal with this trivial matter."

"How did this become a trivial matter?" Shi Yifei was furious. "That's my wife, why should she take over the porcelain kiln? There are no craftsmen or merchants in the Red Flag Gang, why should a woman be given such an important task..."

Before he finished speaking, Tian Yu frowned and said, "Brother Shi, be careful with your words. The gang leader is also a womanizer."

Shi Yifei choked at these words, his anger becoming somewhat incoherent. However, he refused to back down and insisted, "How can my wife compare with the gang leader? She's just a housewife. She might be able to teach other women, but how could she possibly be in charge of a workshop? Danhui, tell me the truth. Is there someone trying to harm me and find a weakness in me?"

Tian Yu was helpless and sighed, "Brother Shi, what are you talking about? The appointment was made by the gang leader himself, and the porcelain kiln is also a gang property. How could she act on impulse?"

Appointed by the gang leader, Shi Yifei was completely bewildered. Having been with the Red Flag Gang for so long, he'd witnessed Cheng Xi's abilities and skills. He didn't believe Cheng Xi was irrational or reckless. So why did they choose his wife as the manager? Was it to win him over?

When Tian Yu saw the guy's frown, he knew he had strayed from his thoughts again, and couldn't help but say, "Brother Shi, you also know that the gang leader is not particular about the details when it comes to hiring people. Otherwise, a cripple like me wouldn't be able to handle such confidential matters. She's a woman, so he must want to employ some women, and they can't just do some calculations and clerical work. Letting your wife take charge must have been a matter of consideration."

"What considerations? Could it be that by fulfilling her great cause, my wife will be able to be seen in public?" Shi Yifei felt a deep sense of suffocation, even starting to feel annoyed that he had entrusted the wrong person. It was clearly agreed that I was going to teach, so how could it be just a errand in the end? Isn't this too much?

Seeing that he was still angry, Tian Yu hesitated for a moment and suddenly said, "Since this is the arrangement, your wife should have agreed to it. Brother Shi, why don't you go home and ask her what she thinks?"

Shi Yifei was startled, then suddenly realized how his wife could be completely unaware of such a major event. Yet, despite being together day and night, she had never mentioned it. Was there something hidden?

Without further hesitation, Shi Yifei turned and walked out. Watching the hurried figure, Tian Yu sighed again. It seemed the gang leader had been overthinking things. If Shi Yifei was alienated just because of a manager position, it wouldn't be a good thing. However, thinking of the figure standing alone in front of everyone, Tian Yu felt really helpless to persuade him. He could only hope that Madam Feng was really as talented as Cheng Xi had expected, capable of handling the situation.

After leaving the government hall, Shi Yifei rushed home without stopping. In a hurry, he didn't wait until the court was dismissed today and returned much earlier than usual. However, when he entered the house, his wife still had a smile on her face. She stood in the same place as usual, handed him a handkerchief, and asked with concern, "Why are you back so early?"

That smile was as gentle as ever, which made Shi Yifei's breath catch. His beloved wife was obviously sensible and behaved properly, so how could she deceive him about such an important matter?

Thinking of this, Shi Yifei could no longer bear it and grabbed his wife's hand: "Side, I heard that you are going to be the manager of the porcelain kiln, is this true?"

This unexpected question didn't seem to make Feng Jingjing nervous. She just nodded and said, "Yes, I did. I've accepted the job."

"Ridiculous!" Shi Yifei's face turned pale. "Why didn't you discuss this important matter with me?"

Feng Jingjing looked at her husband's anxious and heartbroken expression and whispered, "Because I'm afraid you'll call me 'absurd' and say I shouldn't be like this."

Shi Yifei was speechless after just two sentences. Wasn't what he just said exactly what the other party was worried about? But this shouldn't be the case. This was the manager of the porcelain kiln. How could she just take it in her hands so casually? What if she was deceived and her job was ruined? How would she deal with it?

He couldn't help but tighten his grip on the hand, and Shi Yifei was almost incoherent. "This is the Red Flag Gang's property. The porcelain they produce is exported, and it costs a lot of money every year. If one thing goes wrong, it will ruin everything. You've only been teaching for a month or so. How can you take on such a heavy responsibility?"

"These past few days, I've met the kiln's master craftsmen, learned about the porcelain-making process, visited various porcelain houses on the market, and discussed this with the gang leader for a long time." Feng Jingjing endured the pain in her hand and gently shook her husband's hand. "I understand the seriousness of this matter better than anyone else, and I'm determined to do it well."

The woman before him had a resolute expression, her voice unflinching, and she argued with him with such force. This was something Shi Yifei had never seen before, and it made him completely confused. Could she have been drugged by the gang leader? Could such a big thing be accomplished just by wanting it?

Before he could say anything else, Feng Jingjing spoke up, "I understand your concerns, but when I was a boudoir student, I was taught how to manage household chores. How to get along with my sisters-in-law, how to manage the household finances, how to maintain decorum in social interactions, and even how to socialize with other ladies. Yet, none of this has ever been put to any use."

As if she had thought of something, she smiled gently. "I know you don't want to be involved in those official circles, and I also know how rare it is to be a gentleman. Then I won't do it. I won't make things difficult for you. You can just focus on your family. However, the Red Flag Gang is different from the officialdom, and the gang leader is different from your superiors. She wants to do something, and I happen to be able to do it and give you some help, so why not do it?"

Listening to his wife's earnest voice, Shi Yifei's heart seemed to be tightened: "Side, you don't have to do this for me..."

Unexpectedly, Feng Jingjing shook her head and said, "It is because I have lost my moral integrity that I want to give it a try."

The word "immoral" made Shi Yifei feel confused, but the next moment, he felt the wetness and stickiness on the back of his hand. He didn't know when his wife's palm was sweating, but she still held his hand, full of expectation and a hint of pleading.

Should he let her try, even if the filth would hurt her, embarrass her, and make her never again like herself?

After a long silence, Shi Yifei took his wife's hand, walked to the table, and slowly sat down. "Why did you agree to this, Boss Cheng? Does this porcelain kiln really have to be run by a woman?"

Pulled to sit down together, Feng Jingjing straightened her body even though they were very close, and answered seriously, "The most important thing for this porcelain kiln is innovation. Molding the porcelain body and painting the patterns are the key. The gang leader wants to recruit a group of women to fire the porcelain with a precision even greater than embroidery, and make sure to produce exquisite works that are rarely seen by others."

Shi Yifei was startled: "You are not the only woman in the porcelain kiln?"

Feng Jingjing nodded: "Not only that, it's precisely because there will be other women that the gang leader wants to choose me as the manager."

This reason could not convince him. Shi Yifei frowned again: "If we hire female workers, do we have to have women in charge? The weaving workshop is still managed by men."

"It's not necessary, but it's better to be a woman. Otherwise, I'm afraid I can't stay in a place like a porcelain kiln." Feng Jingjing answered calmly.

Shi Yifei immediately thought of the environment during the kiln firing. He wanted to say something, but swallowed it back. So what if the kiln was fired? There were still female soldiers in the Red Flag Gang. I heard that the three Dongning families were also trained by the gang leader. Why would she care about these things?

If his wife were to go there, she'd at least be in charge, and wouldn't have to stay at the kiln forever... Shi Yifei's thoughts wandered for a moment, then quickly returned to their original position. "Even so, this is still the manager of a whole block, a prestigious position coveted by countless people. Have you ever considered how many people would look down on you, envy you, set obstacles in your way, or even harm your reputation if a woman like you took on such an important responsibility?"

This is also what Shi Yifei least wants to see. It is the fundamental reason why he doesn't want his wife to take on the job rashly. She has never experienced these things, so how could she know the dangers outside?

Unexpectedly, Feng Jingjing just smiled and said, "This is the Red Flag Gang. I'm the manager appointed by the gang leader. Naturally, there will be people who want to find fault with me, but I also have to consider the gang leader. I'm just discussing the matter at hand. I'm not afraid of other people's criticism."

That's a pretty accurate assessment. While there are certainly people who might be secretly trying to sabotage someone, going too far in the Red Flag Gang could be seen as challenging the leader's authority. Cheng Xi is no ordinary woman. She's a powerful figure who controls the South China Sea and is known for her decisiveness. Killing dissidents is as easy as eating or drinking. Perhaps this arrangement is designed to lure out those with ill intentions. Wouldn't those clever people have guessed this?

Thinking of this, Shi Yifei became nervous: "Who knows, the gang leader might want to use you to purge the rogues. If you get involved, it might be disadvantageous to you..."

Feng Jingjing looked at her nervous husband and suddenly asked, "Husband, have you ever considered that a woman's life could be in danger at home?"

"Ah?" Shi Yifei looked confused and had no idea what this meant.

Feng Jingjing just kept talking to herself, "When you marry, you have to act according to your husband's wishes. You have to serve your mother-in-law, take care of your sisters-in-law, and maybe even compete for his favor with concubines and prostitutes. My husband is a good man, but he has also been entrusted with the wrong person. He is abused by his mother-in-law, harmed by his concubines, and even unable to protect his child after he was born. And now he is trapped in the backyard, unable to escape, feeling depressed and tortured to death at any time. Everyone says that getting married is a rebirth of life, but how can an ordinary man know the dangers?"

These words were spoken calmly, but the hidden undercurrent in them made Shi Yifei open his eyes wide involuntarily.

Feng Jingjing didn't stop, but chuckled softly, "Every woman in the world has accepted such an unpredictable fate. Now I'm just leaving home and becoming a manager. What's so scary about that? The gang leader may seem reckless, but she has given women a way to survive. So, I know what I will face, but I've never been afraid."

There were already faint lines under her eyes, but her smile now shone brightly, unrestrained and captivating, bringing back memories of their time together. He had always known he'd married a woman of wisdom and kindness, a woman whose intelligence and gentleness could soothe his inner anger. Even when it came to such a major matter as traveling to Dongning to join the Red Flag Gang, she'd only inquired about it once before leaving, dragging her child along behind him. And now, she told him she wanted to embark on a new path without fear. How could words express the shock she felt?

It was not until this moment that Shi Yifei finally understood the origin of the word "immoral". Wasn't everything she said and did now contrary to the virtues of a woman and contrary to her own little name? However, holding that sweaty little hand and looking at the smile that bloomed from the bottom of her heart, he couldn't utter a word.

The two sat in silence for a long time. Finally, Shi Yifei said, "If you encounter any problems in the future, you can tell me first. You don't have to keep everything in your heart."

These words made Feng Jingjing's heart tremble suddenly, and tears welled up in her eyes. She knew the virtue and character of the man beside her, and because of this, she dared to accept this task. She also knew that persuading him would not be easy, and she carefully prepared her words, but she didn't expect that a single heartfelt word would make him agree. At this moment, an unbearable shame welled up in her heart, and she whispered, "Husband, don't worry, I will not cause you any trouble, and I will not tarnish your reputation..."

Shi Yifei sighed deeply and hugged his wife in his arms: "What nonsense are you talking about? How can a little girl like you ruin my reputation?"

The complaining tone in his voice and his chest, which had become thinner due to overwork, made Feng Jingjing unable to bear it any longer and buried her head in his chest. She always knew that she had married a good man, a gentleman, and a great man who stood tall and upright.