With the chickens and ducks at home taken care of, Yan Qingqing began working on recruiting workers for her embroidery workshop.
When they were building the embroidery workshop, they said they would recruit embroiderers. Any young women or wives who wanted to learn could come and sign up. Of course, not everyone could become an embroiderer; it required a rigorous selection process.
Once selected, in addition to learning embroidery for free, you can also work in Yan Qingqing's embroidery workshop after you have completed your studies.
Although women's status is not as high as men's these days, economic base determines superstructure. Now, which of the dozen or so women doing needlework in Yan Qingqing's house is not looked up to by their husbands and mothers-in-law?
If his own daughter-in-law is chosen, he will have an extra stable income in the future; if it is his own daughter, she will definitely be able to find a good husband.
Therefore, many people are eyeing Yan Qingqing's embroidery workshop, waiting for them to recruit workers.
Yan Qingqing estimated the time was right and felt that it was about time, so she asked Li Xiangjian to take the prepared gifts to Yanjia Village to pick up Old Madam Yan.
Li Xiangjian quickly brought Grandma Yan back.
Because Old Mrs. Yan was there to do serious business, she felt she couldn't let her daughter down, so she wore a brand new, finely made outfit.
The fabric was the same one Yan Qingqing had Li Xiangping deliver for her during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and her hair was combed meticulously.
Yan Qingqing held Old Madam Yan's hand and smiled, "Mother, you look so energetic in this outfit. I was thinking that you were working hard, but seeing you today, I can tell you can work for at least another thirty years."
Grandma Yan was amused by Yan Qingqing's words and said, "You're just trying to make me happy. I'm already over fifty. If I live another thirty years, I'll become an old hag."
Yan Qingqing said with a grin, "I mean, work for another thirty years. You'll only be in your eighties then, so you'll need to rest for another thirty years. You'll live to at least a hundred."
Grandma Yan was amused by Yan Qingqing's words, knowing that her daughter was just trying to make her happy.
Grandma Yan is fifty-five years old this year. These days, living to seventy is considered a long life. Although she is in very good health, Grandma Yan has never dared to imagine that she could live to be one hundred.
Yan Qingqing was worried that the old lady Yan would be tired from the bumpy journey, so she asked Li Yueniang to take her to rest first. She also instructed Yuan Huiniang and Li Xinniang to inform the villagers that their family was looking for embroiderers and that anyone who wanted to do it could sign up first.
This time, their recruitment of embroiderers is not limited to Canghe Village. Anyone with basic needlework skills from the surrounding area is welcome.
After registration, Yuan Huiniang and Li Xinniang conducted the initial screening, and finally, Old Madam Yan made the final decision.
After Grandma Yan had rested, Yan Qingqing and Li Xiangyang chatted with her.
Looking at Li Xiangyang, who was growing more and more adorable, Old Mrs. Yan said to Yan Qingqing, "This girl is so beautiful! She doesn't look like a country girl at all. Even the young ladies from wealthy families aren't this pretty."
"What kind of handsome son-in-law will I have to find to be worthy of this girl?"
Yan Qingqing chuckled after hearing this and said, "Mother, how old is she? You're already worrying about her marriage. She still has five older brothers and sisters who haven't gotten married yet."
When this was mentioned, Old Madam Yan's face darkened for a moment, but then returned to normal. Yan Qingqing thought she had misread it and didn't pay much attention.
So he smiled and continued, "However, I think it's not good for either men or women to get married too early. Men should at least learn to take responsibility, and it's best for women to get married after they have fully matured."
Grandma Yan tapped her forehead and said, "If everyone did what you say, how many people would be able to hold their grandchildren?"
Yan Qingqing also realized that she had taken things too for granted.
The mother and daughter chatted for a while longer. Then Yuan Huiniang came in with the roster and said with a smile, "Grandma, Mom, this is the list that my sister and I have initially selected. There are a total of ninety-six people. Sixty-three of them are from our Canghe Village, and the remaining thirty-three are from our neighboring village."
After saying that, he handed the list to Yan Qingqing. Yan Qingqing, who was from another village, didn't know much about it, but Yan Qingqing, who was from Canghe Village, saw that it consisted of young women and wives aged ten to twenty-five.
Yan Qingqing asked, "Did you make your demands clear to them?"
Yuan Huiniang nodded and replied, "It's all clear now. After learning the craft in our embroidery workshop, you can't do rough work anymore. You have to keep your fingers smooth and clean."
We'll teach them for free, but after they complete their training, they'll have to work in our embroidery workshop for at least three years.
Yan Qingqing nodded. These requirements were not excessive. In this day and age, people in the countryside needed to do farm work, and if their fingers were rough, they couldn't do fine embroidery.
Moreover, embroidery is not something that can be done overnight. Since Yan Qingqing intends to train embroiderers, she doesn't want to give up halfway. So she made it clear beforehand to avoid unnecessary trouble later.
Yan Qingqing then looked at Old Madam Yan and asked, "Mother, is there anything else you would like to add?"
Grandma Yan smiled and said, "Not for now. As long as the people we choose are of good character, the rest depends on their understanding."
Just like when you were a child, you had absolutely no talent for needlework. Others could learn a stitch with their eyes closed, but after half a month of learning, the embroidery you produced was simply unacceptable.
Yan Qingqing is so old, it's only natural that she should feel embarrassed to have her past exposed by her own mother in front of her daughter-in-law and daughter.
So Yan Qingqing pretended to be shy and lowered her head, but secretly she was glad that the original owner was a complete idiot, otherwise she would have really been exposed.
However, Yan Qingqing strongly agreed with the statement about comprehension. Talent is truly a gift from God. Those with potential can be trained to become embroiderers or designers, while those without potential can only do odd jobs.
Seeing that Old Madam Yan had nothing more to add, Yan Qingqing said to Yuan Huiniang and Li Xinniang, "Go and tell these people to go back and prepare. The assessment will be held in three days."
The two nodded at the same time and went back to their work. Old Mrs. Yan sighed, "I never thought you would have such a good life. Now, even when your father and I are gone, we can close our eyes in peace."
Yan Qingqing tugged at Old Madam Yan's sleeve and said, "Mother, you can't say that anymore. We have to get along well from now on. After a while, we'll bring Father over, and then you two can live with me, okay?"
Grandma Yan tapped her forehead and said, "You're a mother-in-law now, how come you're talking more and more outrageous things?"
If your father and I really followed you, wouldn't your three older brothers be the talk of the town?
Yan Qingqing sighed. She would very much like to take care of the elderly couple in their old age, but she was afraid they themselves wouldn't be willing. However, that was a matter for the future, and Yan Qingqing felt there was no need to create trouble for herself now.
Three days later, many people came to Yan Qingqing's embroidery workshop, but Yuan Huiniang and the others only let those who were taking the test in, while the rest of the people who were just watching or accompanying her waited outside the door.
The assessment was very simple. Old Mrs. Yan asked each person to embroider a piece of work, which did not need to be too complicated, and the time limit was half an hour.
Yuan Huiniang, standing to the side, asked with some confusion, "Grandma, is the assessment really that simple?"
Grandma Yan shook her head and said, "It looks simple, but it's not. You need to come up with ideas, choose colors, and embroider in half an hour."
The shorter the time frame, the more clearly a person's talent can be revealed.
Yuan Huiniang nodded and patiently waited with Old Madam Yan for the result.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com