Embroidery workshop establishes self-recommendation positions
Li Lai'er chose to stay overnight.
Fengnian led her away and found her a room to stay in.
“Hongdou, what could she possibly have to do with Li Zeli? I bet she knew he wasn’t here and was just using this as an excuse to stay here instead of going back. I imagine she’s having a hard time back home,” Wu Linglong said discontentedly.
"Now that she's stayed, we'll find out what she's up to sooner or later. Alright, stop thinking about her. Second Brother's back; absence makes the heart grow fonder. Are you going to pick him up?" An Hongdou teased.
“He must be very busy since he just got back. Even if he comes home, his mind won’t be here. Why should I keep him around and get in the way? I sent someone to tell him not to rush back. Let him spend a few days with me after he’s done with his work before he goes on his long trip,” Wu Linglong replied.
“Then will you come with me tonight? We can discuss the establishment of the embroidery workshop. Li Lai’er probably won’t tell us her secrets tonight. Whatever her purpose is, we’ll just wait and see. This is our territory, let’s see what she can do,” An Hongdou said.
The sisters had a long talk late into the night.
A few days later, a plaque inscribed with "Jinxiufang" was delivered to their door.
"Girls, I know you're all a little nervous, worried that you'll learn a trade here but won't be able to find business after you graduate." An Hongdou said to the girls embroidering in the courtyard, "Today I have some good news to announce: Jinxiuge Embroidery Workshop has been officially established, and we are in dire need of embroiderers. We will give priority to those trained in the apprenticeship program and hire the best ones."
These words elicited varying reactions from the girls in the courtyard.
Those with good skills were overjoyed, those with average skills secretly resolved to improve, and those who felt they lacked talent looked dejected.
An Hongdou took it all in, cleared her throat, and continued, "Of course, this embroidery workshop is newly established, and besides the embroiderers, there are also vacancies for the various managerial positions. Those who wish to stay can recommend themselves, and after passing the test, they will be assigned to suitable positions. Although you won't become rich and powerful, working in the embroidery workshop will ensure you have enough to eat and wear. Anything beyond that depends on your management skills, ladies."
As soon as he finished speaking, the girls cheered and started whispering among themselves.
Seeing this, An Hongdou and Wu Linglong smiled knowingly.
The two had already agreed that, in order to motivate everyone and enable the women to support themselves, once the embroidery workshop became profitable, they would only take 20% of the profits each year, and the remaining 80% would be distributed to everyone according to their work, after deducting the necessary operating expenses of the embroidery workshop.
The two have already drafted the rules for connecting the embroidery workshop and the apprenticeship class, which are just waiting to be adjusted based on the practice of the first batch of apprentices.
Once a mature system is established, it can be handed over to the selected managers for execution. At that time, the two can focus all their efforts on marketing and revenue generation.
“Reading ten thousand books is not enough; one must also travel ten thousand miles. Hongdou, your Zeli goes without saying. My Zeren, because of the escort agency, has also started traveling all over the country. This time, after hearing his stories of what he saw and heard on the road, I felt a longing to go.” That day, Wu Linglong suddenly mentioned, “He also had the idea of taking me with him on his escort missions.”
“If you want to go, then come with me. Don’t worry about me. Although Zeli isn’t here, I still have some influence in Qingyin County, so I won’t be bullied. The apprenticeship program and the embroidery workshop are on track, and with Fengnian and Miss Li’s help, I can manage,” An Hongdou replied.
“I’m not going with him. We’ll be eating and sleeping in the open along the way, and it’ll be a miserable experience. Hongdou, although you seem much more mature than me, I’ve known since childhood that you’re just as playful as I am. I don’t believe you don’t yearn for the beautiful landscapes!” Wu Linglong pulled An Hongdou’s hand and said seriously, “I want to go with you to see it. I know you’ll definitely have a way.”
These words resonated deep within An Hongdou's heart like a tolling bell. Looking at Wu Linglong's expectant eyes, An Hongdou pondered for a moment before speaking, "If we travel together, we must first earn enough for our journey. The embroidery workshop was originally established to help pitiful women; now, it seems it can also provide us with travel funds. It's a kind of karmic retribution, isn't it?"
"Besides, on our trip, we can learn about the market demands of different places and promote the embroidery workshop, which is a win-win situation." An Hongdou's thoughts became clearer as she spoke.
"Good job, Red Bean! I knew you had a way!" Wu Linglong said happily.
“If you two leave, how can we feel at ease leaving the house unattended? Why don’t we leave this job to me?” Li Lai’er’s voice suddenly came.
"Why are you everywhere?" Wu Linglong said angrily, "What are you dreaming about! You won't get your hands on even a fraction of this embroidery shop. Don't think that just because you're the Li family's stepdaughter, you're nothing more than their biological daughter. This is my and Hongdou's family business, and it has nothing to do with the Li family. Even if Li Zeren were to speak here, it wouldn't count!"
"Sister Wu, don't be angry! There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. Although we have some disagreements, we don't have any deep-seated hatred!" Li Lai'er's tone remained unchanged: "I just came to recommend myself! Come to think of it, I'm a pitiful woman abandoned by my husband's family, with a child, and I urgently need to make a living, so I also meet your relief criteria!"
"Besides, I've at least lived in the Xie family before, so I've been exposed to how to treat people and things. I'm definitely better at managing things than those girls," Li Lai'er boasted.
“We are all ordinary people, and this embroidery workshop will probably never come into contact with any wealthy or powerful people in the future. You are wasting your talents here. Besides, there is no need to look down on others. Those girls dared to come here to try to make a living on their own, which is enough to show their courage. In addition, they grew up in the city and most of them have lived under the roof of others. They have their own way of recognizing people and dealing with things. They may not be unable to support the embroidery workshop.” An Hongdou stared at her and said.
“Sister An, don’t rush to refuse me. I know that people without value have no bargaining chips. I’m just staying here idly anyway, so why not give me a chance? Maybe I can help you make a profit sooner, which would be better than you relying on your dowries every day. Although you two sisters are quite well-off, you can’t afford to spend all your money in the long run. Women should keep some real money for themselves.” Li Lai’er didn’t give up.
An Hongdou frowned. After not seeing her for several years, Li Lai'er had matured a lot. If it were back then, she would have left long ago to save face.
As if seeing through her thoughts, Li Lai'er continued, "I don't want your share. If I'm really capable, you can pay me the same wages as everyone else."
"What are you trying to achieve? What about your young child? Are you really willing to leave him alone in your hometown?" An Hongdou asked, puzzled.
"What's the point? It's to earn a living on my own! You don't believe me? If it weren't for the Xie family, I wouldn't believe it either." Li Lai'er said earnestly, "The women of the Xie family all have their own shops, land, and houses. These things that can continuously generate money are the most valuable in their dowries. In the Xie family, I learned that some women don't rely on their husbands' families to live; their confidence comes from their families. When I first entered the family, I resented the unfairness of the world and was very jealous of these women from good backgrounds. Later, I discovered that these women, relying on their families, were also controlled by their families and didn't even have the freedom to marry, so I stopped envying them. At least the man I married was one I chose myself."
“The truly remarkable women are those who can balance their husband’s family and their own clan, profiting in the process and building up a fortune that belongs solely to them. In this world, it’s not that women have no way to survive, but rather that women without support have little chance of survival. I had resigned myself to my fate, thinking I’d just find someone willing to support me and my son, and that would be how I lived my life. But I never expected to see new possibilities here, so naturally I had to fight for myself. As for the child, I sent him to Li Pan’er. I’m paying him well, and her husband is very happy with him. If he stayed with me, he’d probably be gossiped about and called a bastard. This arrangement is better for both of us,” Li Lai’er said.
Hearing this, An Hongdou was somewhat moved, guessing that Wu Linglong felt the same way. Even so, the two still couldn't fully trust Li Lai'er.
"You said you came for Zeli? What is it about?" An Hongdou asked.
"It's just an excuse. Seeing that my second brother's escort agency is doing well and my third brother has become a county magistrate, I thought I'd come along to see if I could find a place to settle down again. After all, I still have to live and raise my children," Li Lai'er said self-deprecatingly.
“I knew you and Zeli could have any connection. You know your reputation is ruined back home!” Wu Linglong said with an expression that said, “I knew it.”
“Yes, yes, I was shameless. But now I’ve changed my mind? I wonder if you two sisters would be willing to give me a chance and guide me onto the right path?” Li Lai’er interrupted Wu Linglong.
This nonchalance prevented Wu Linglong from uttering any insults. The one being insulted didn't care at all, so why should the one who was insulting defile themselves further?
“You don’t need to use our sympathy to blackmail us. If we don’t give you a chance today, it’s your own fault. Bad character makes it hard to gain people’s trust,” An Hongdou said.
“This is not a threat. I am certainly not a good person, but in this male-dominated era, can a woman make a name for herself solely through kindness? She has to rely on her own methods. I can do things that you are too ashamed to do, and I understand the conspiracies you have never seen. You will need me. This is mutually beneficial, not pity.” An Hongdou sensed a sense of neither servility nor arrogance in Li Lai’er’s words.
“Your words are indeed moving, so we will give you a chance. Right now, we urgently need to make a profit. If you have the ability to make the embroidery workshop earn enough to cover the daily expenses of the apprentice class, you will be the head manager of the embroidery workshop,” An Hongdou said after careful consideration.
After Li Lai'er left, Wu Linglong asked, "If she wins, are you really going to let her manage the embroidery workshop?"
"If she really has that ability, why not?"
"But I don't trust her."
"We'll assign someone we trust to manage the accounts when the time comes. Apart from her, they're all people we've trained, so there's no need to worry too much."
“I’m not afraid she’ll steal our work; I’m worried she’ll tarnish our embroidery workshop’s reputation. These days, women’s reputations are treated harshly, and most of the women here are young, unmarried girls. I’m afraid that Li Lai’er alone will ruin our reputation.”
An Hongdou thought for a moment and said, “Linglong, I know you have concerns. These days, when women go out to do things, there will inevitably be gossip. It seems that Li Lai’er really cares about her reputation. Although what she did is not worth promoting, with her around, she can indeed lead by example for the girls and boost their morale.”
“Our competitors won’t care about the girls. If we care about our reputation, that will be a weakness they can exploit. We should prepare early and help the girls get ready.”
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