Like the master, the butler couldn't bear to see his beloved daughter, whom he had cherished since childhood, suffer any injustice. Now, hearing her speak like this, he couldn't care less about anything else and had no choice but to tell her everything:
“Our embroidery workshop and the Wei family’s cloth shop have always cooperated. In previous years, the Wei family’s cloth shop would send a few bolts of new cloth to our embroidery workshop, where the embroiderers would cut them into garments, embroider patterns on them, and then sell them in the cloth shop. But recently, the Wei family’s cloth shop wanted to terminate their cooperation with us. Today, the master and the Wei family’s master negotiated for most of the day about this matter, but in the end, they still refused to budge.”
The Zhu family's embroidery workshop was already struggling, and if they lost business with the Wei family's cloth shop, they would likely face even greater difficulties in the future.
Zhu Jiayu poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him: "Uncle Fu, don't worry, there will be a way. Have you heard anything about why Wei's Cloth Company wants to terminate its cooperation with us?"
This is not a secret.
The steward sighed heavily: "It's all because the Li and Zhai families' embroidery workshops have brought in a few embroiderers who are said to be from the south. Their needlework skills, while not exactly masterful, are still exquisite and delicate, especially their innovative patterns. On the other hand, our embroidery workshop... sigh!"
He waved his hand: "You'll know when you go to the embroidery shop tomorrow."
Zhu Jiayu pondered for a while but couldn't come up with a solution, but she wasn't in a hurry. With Uncle Fu's words as a backup, she planned to go to the embroidery workshop tomorrow to find out.
The next morning, Qingxing Street was deserted, but the Zhu family embroidery workshop was already bustling with activity.
"I heard the young lady of the main family is coming to the embroidery workshop? Can such a delicate girl really stay in the embroidery workshop?"
"I'm afraid she's just having a bit of fun. How could she possibly imagine that our embroidery workshop isn't some kind of amusement park?"
The embroiderers sat on the benches, chatting amongst themselves, but not a single stitch had yet been made on the brocade cloth in front of them.
Seeing their appearance, Manager Liao shook his head, said nothing, and turned to wait at the entrance of the embroidery workshop.
About fifteen minutes later, Zhu Jiayu's carriage slowly approached. Liao Puxin looked up and saw a beautiful young girl lift the curtain, raise the hem of her skirt, and gracefully leap down from the carriage.
"I hope the young lady won't be so angry that she cries later..." Liao Puxin thought of the sharp-tongued and sarcastic embroiderers in the workshop, and a sense of worry rose in his heart.
Zhu Jiayu had no idea what he was thinking. After getting off the carriage, she went to Liao Puxin, gave him a slight bow, and said, "Manager Liao, I'll be in your hands now. Please show me around the embroidery shop so I can get familiar with it."
“Of course,” Liao Puxin quickly replied, turning to lead the way for her. “Please follow me, Miss.”
After showing Zhu Jiayu around the embroidery workshop, Liao Puxin led her to the Weirui Hall where the embroiderers lived.
Zhu Jiayu looked around the hall and suddenly stopped in front of an embroiderer: "How long has this lady been working for my family?"
The embroiderer had a smug look on her face: "Replying to Miss, I have been working in the embroidery workshop since the beginning of the third year of Chongwen, and it has been nine years now."
"What time do you start work each day?" Zhu Jiayu asked again.
“The embroidery workshop has a rule that work begins at dawn, and even the humblest person cannot slack off.”
"Today too?"
"Today is no exception." The embroiderer nodded slightly.
Zhu Jiayu stared at her for a long time, then suddenly pushed over the embroidery frame in front of her, laughed coldly, and said angrily:
"You've worked for an hour and only embroidered one peach blossom. At this rate, the Zhu family doesn't seem like a hired hand, but rather like they're keeping a young lady! Even the renowned Lady Hanzhi, when she was humble and employed, wouldn't have dared to waste her time like this. You don't need to come anymore starting tomorrow! Considering you've worked for the Zhu family for nine years, I'll allow the accountant to give you an extra month's pay. Pack your things and get out!"
"No!" The embroiderer's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at her, then turned to the shopkeeper. "I'm a veteran of the embroidery workshop! How dare you, a mere girl, treat me like this?!"
Zhu Jiayu turned her head, her beautiful eyebrows and eyes calm and composed. Just when everyone thought she was guilty, she suddenly raised her hand and slapped the embroiderer hard, making the embroiderer's hair disheveled and her mouth and eyes crooked!
"This slap is to teach you what it means to respect the hierarchy. You are employed by the Zhu family, and I am a young lady of the Zhu family. This is why I respect you."
As soon as he finished speaking, another slap landed.
"This slap is a lesson for your disloyalty in your position. The Zhu family has raised you for nine years, yet you have accomplished nothing. If this were wartime, you would be the first person to be executed."
After saying that, she raised her hand. The embroiderer thought she was going to hit her again, so she quickly shrank back, but she bumped into something and suddenly fell to the ground.
Zhu Jiayu chuckled softly, took out a handkerchief to wipe her fingers, then threw it on the ground. No longer looking at her, she turned and surveyed the crowd.
"People strive for higher positions. I understand that you feel the Zhu family embroidery workshop is declining and you don't want to waste your time there. If that's the case, then so be it. Let's part amicably and call each other old friends when we meet again in the future."
"But it's not human to take money from the Zhu family while slacking off. How about this, since it's such a good day, those of you who don't want to stay can all go to the accounting office with this sister, collect your monthly wages, and leave. Regardless of your length of service, you can all receive two months' wages."
After she finished speaking, the Wei Rui Hall fell silent, and no one dared to utter a word.
Zhu Jiayu was not in a hurry. She slowly sat down on the bench, her gentle gaze sweeping over each of the embroiderers surrounding her.
Manager Liao wanted to say something, but after thinking for a long time, he felt that since the young lady was speaking, he had no choice but to watch anxiously from the side.
After waiting for a while, Zhu Jiayu spoke slowly: "What are you all standing there for? Aren't you going to leave?"
She smiled, her voice becoming even softer:
"Since you're not planning to leave, then stay and behave properly. Otherwise, next time, I won't just give you a slap. Article 38 of the Da Ye Laws states that all workers must not harm the interests of their employers. Violators will be handed over to the authorities and punished according to the severity of the offense."
"Although I am a magnanimous person, I am also a law-abiding citizen. I am giving you a chance today, but if you do not seize it, it will not look good if you go to the yamen again because of this kind of thing in the future. What do you all think?"
After she finished speaking, a few people slowly stepped out from the crowd to say goodbye to Manager Liao.
In an instant, half of the embroiderers in Weirui Hall disappeared.
Zhu Jiayu stood up with satisfaction: "I have made my point clear. I believe the sisters who stayed behind will understand my good intentions. In that case, I will not disturb you any longer. I hope that everyone will work together to help the embroidery workshop to change its appearance and take on a new look."
"We will follow Miss's teachings," everyone said in unison.
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