Chapter 242 The Wu Family is About to Prosper
The soap workshop became lively.
Cheng Wanwan and Zhao Ergou separated everyone and led them into different rooms, carefully explaining the work content.
These processes together are quite complex, but when broken down into so many small steps, each step becomes very simple.
Just as she was busy, Zhao Dawang came running over: "Auntie, Wu Xiaochui is here."
Cheng Wanwan washed her hands and followed them out.
Wu Xiaochui, dressed in clean clothes, stood very reservedly in the yard. When he saw Cheng Wanwan coming over, he quickly went up to her and called out, "Auntie."
“Come work for me, I’ll provide food and lodging, and the monthly wage is four hundred coins,” Cheng Wanwan said gently. “I’ll take you to the work area first.”
Wu Xiaochui followed awkwardly behind her.
Cheng Wanwan led him to the warehouse entrance, which was the largest room. Because it was the first day of work, the warehouse was still empty.
The warehouse door was a thick wooden door specially made by Old Man Zhao, with a large lock hanging on it.
"You'll be in charge of guarding the warehouse for now." Cheng Wanwan handed him the keys. "When goods enter the warehouse, you need to check them. When goods leave the warehouse, you need to have a receipt. If there are any losses, you'll be half responsible. If you don't understand anything, just ask me."
Wu Xiaochui hung the key around his neck, straightened up, and said, "Don't worry, Auntie. As long as I'm here, the goods will be here. If the goods are gone, I won't have the face to stay here."
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Everyone is busy right now, and the finished products probably won't be in the warehouse until the afternoon. You should take a break and familiarize yourself with the surroundings."
Wu Xiaochui nodded.
He first took the key and went into the storeroom to take a look. There were more than twenty empty shelves inside, with a few earthenware jars, which looked like honey. He didn't know what they were for. After looking around, he carefully locked the door and then walked around the workshop. There was a wall at the entrance of each room, so people standing outside couldn't see the specific situation inside unless they went in.
After familiarizing himself with the surroundings, he returned to the Zhao family's courtyard. Cheng Wanwan arranged for him to share a room with Afu. The bed in the house was very large, and the two of them could sleep comfortably without feeling cramped.
"Little Hammer, come in."
Wu Huiniang called out.
Wu Xiaochui washed his hands and face before entering his second sister's room.
“You’re fifteen years old this year, you’re an adult now. You must do your best when you work here. If I find you slacking off, I will have your brother-in-law send you back immediately.” Wu Huiniang became serious for once. “Do you know how many people in Dahe Village want to send their children to work with my mother-in-law? My mother-in-law chose you, and that’s your good fortune. If you squander your good fortune, I will never acknowledge you as my brother again.”
These past few days at home, Wu Laoda and Wu Da Niang have been constantly giving him instructions, and the villagers have been giving him all sorts of envious and jealous looks. This has made Wu Xiaochui realize that this is indeed a great thing, and if he is lazy and doesn't do any work, he will be ungrateful!
He didn't sit idle during those seven days; he analyzed in depth why he was selected.
It seemed that his mother complained that he had stood up for a girl he didn't know, and that's when Aunt Zhao's gaze towards him changed.
Aunt Zhao must have been bold because of him.
Guarding the warehouse is a job that requires a lot of courage, isn't it?
Otherwise, anyone could get in, and everything in the warehouse would be stolen. How would Aunt Zhao make money then?
"Second sister, don't worry, I'll definitely work hard!" Wu Xiaochui grinned. "Auntie said she'd give me four hundred coins a month, and I'll save it for you, second sister."
Wu Huiniang chuckled: "Let's see if you can get your wages first."
Wu Xiaochui took a sip of water and went back to the workshop.
In the first room over there, they were rendering lard, and the aroma of the oil wafted everywhere, instantly making his mouth water.
People working in the next room couldn't help but peek out to watch.
"There's nothing to see here, everyone go back to work."
Zhao Ergou said a few words in a low voice, and the group of people quickly returned to their respective work posts.
Zhao Ergou is in charge of controlling the technical processes in the soap workshop. He walks back and forth between several rooms to ensure that each process is standardized and that there are no problems. If one process goes wrong, everything else will go wrong and the product will not meet the standards.
The most crucial step was completed by Zhao Sanniu. The alcohol was purchased directly from the mall by Cheng Wanwan; it was alcohol with a concentration of over 90%. Ancient industry could not produce high-proof alcohol, but the distillation process was actually quite simple. This step was not included for the time being; it would be addressed later when sales increased.
Zhao Ergou and Zhao Sanniu went to the fourth room to blend the alcohol.
After the alcohol had mostly dissolved, the four men took turns stirring it to ensure a thorough chemical reaction...
The smell of lard in the workshop grew stronger and stronger, and many women from the village peeked out from the workshop entrance.
Wu Xiaochui closed the wooden door: "This is a restricted area. No one is allowed to enter. If anything goes missing, you'll be held responsible!"
"That young man is really fierce!" a village woman muttered. "Where did Old Lady Mountain find such a person?"
"I heard he's the younger brother of the woman from the mountains."
"The Wu family's daughter is truly blessed. Before she married into the mountains, everyone thought she would suffer. Who would have thought that she would become the most envied person among all the young wives in the village? And her little daughter has become the most precious little girl in our Dahe Village!"
"The Wu family is going to prosper in the future!"
"You can't have something like this by envying others!"
"There's still a chance. There are three younger brothers at the foot of the mountain. If any family has a good daughter, hurry up and seize the opportunity."
In the crowd, Sun Shuiqin clenched her fingers.
She saw Zhao Ergou from afar, and a hint of resentment welled up in her eyes.
If she had only felt a slight regret before, then after Cheng Wanwan was conferred the title of Lady Sui, the regret in her heart surged up like a tide. She couldn't sleep all night long, and every time she closed her eyes, all she could see in her mind was Zhao Ergou's image.
"Silly Root's wife, what are you doing here?" Cao Yingying walked to the workshop entrance and asked softly, "Are you looking for Zhao Silly Root? I'll go in and call him out for you."
Sun Shuiqin shook her head: "I was just passing by."
She left with a somber expression.
Cao Yingying didn't think much of it. She had a few sheets of paper in her hand that needed to be posted in every room of the workshop. They were mainly fire prevention rules. It didn't matter that the villagers couldn't read; she would teach them a few more times until everyone could recite them.
Zhao Ergou called over those who were temporarily free to gather and recite together. Whoever finished reciting first could go to work.
Wu Xiaochui was also standing in the crowd. He was the youngest of the workers, quick-witted, and most importantly, willing to learn. He memorized everything after reading it only twice, and then continued to wander around the workshop.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw a figure sneaking into the first house.
He quickly followed, peering through the ventilation holes in the wall. He saw a woman grab a handful of pork cracklings and put them in her mouth. Not content with that, she grabbed another large handful and stuffed them into her pocket.
He recognized her; the woman was in charge of rendering lard.
While everyone was reciting fire prevention guidelines, she came to steal pork cracklings.
Wu Xiaochui stroked his chin. Although this matter was outside his job scope, he couldn't ignore it now that he had seen it.
However, there are only the two of them here. If he suddenly rushes in, he might be turned around and accused.
He turned around and immediately went to find Cheng Wanwan.
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