The interview process for recruiting embroiderers is different from that for recruiting ordinary workers. Each interviewee has a time limit to embroider a handkerchief, and the selection is based on the quality of their embroidery.
The first day of interviews ended quickly. Yu Lin'er and Lin Daxi looked at the hundreds of handkerchiefs they had handed in, and both of them looked dejected. The imagination was beautiful, but the reality was cruel. Of the hundreds of people who were interviewed, only a dozen or so would be able to become embroidery workers in the embroidery workshop.
Upon seeing this, the old woman serving Yu Lin'er said, "Second Madam, why don't we transfer a few batches of embroiderers from the Yu family's embroidery workshop in the county?"
The housekeeper was Yu Lin'er's dowry maid. She didn't bring many people with her, just this one old woman and two maids.
Yu Lin'er shook her head and said, "If that's the case, then the meaning of my eventual establishment of these embroidery workshops is lost."
"Why do you all look so pale? How about I give you some advice?" Song Anxin walked in with a smile.
She learned of this matter while she was in her own courtyard.
Lin Daxi and Yu Lin'er were delighted to see the exchange between Song Anxin and the other person.
"Second Aunt, do you already have an idea?"
Lin Daxi could tell from her second aunt's words that her aunt must have something on her mind.
"Yes, Mother, do you have a good idea? Tell us quickly."
The two looked anxious.
Song Anxin didn't keep them in suspense and said, "I do have an idea. You can work and learn at the same time. Let Tao Xiuniang teach at the embroidery workshop. These apprentices can be responsible for sewing some simple projects first, and some complicated embroidery work can be handed over to Daxi and some capable embroiderers."
The apprentices' wages don't need to be very high. After completing their apprenticeship, they must work in the embroidery workshop for three years before they can seek other opportunities. This will not only save on workshop costs but also retain the embroiderers. What do you think?
Yu Lin'er's eyes lit up with delight: "Mother, your idea is brilliant! This way, both our embroidery workshop and the workers can profit."
She admired her mother-in-law more and more. How could her mother-in-law have so many good ideas? No wonder her mother-in-law could bestow upon her the title of Lady Huigong.
Da Xi also liked the idea very much: "This is indeed a good method. It's not that the women in the village are bad at embroidery, but that they simply don't have the opportunity to learn. Lin'er, let's do it this way."
The two of them were easily relieved of their difficulties and plunged headlong into the pile of handkerchiefs.
Apprentices are not recruited randomly. They are judged by the handkerchiefs they embroider to see who has potential, and then they are personally interviewed to see if they are eager to learn, willing to study, and able to accept the three-year terms before they are accepted.
Half a month later, the Linjia Village Embroidery Workshop was established. The embroiderers in the workshop were from both the village and other villages, and most of them were apprentices who worked part-time while learning.
Even as apprentices, everyone was very happy to be selected, as they could receive wages and learn a trade at the same time. This was a rare opportunity.
Tao Xiuniang was overjoyed. Finally, she had another opportunity to put her skills to good use. Besides, she loved to explore new things like underwear.
Song Anxin also takes 20% of the profits from the embroidery shop. Yu Lin'er and Da Xi said that since it was her idea, she couldn't be denied a share. Song Anxin's partnership business is expanding more and more.
A few days later, the first batch of underwear appeared in the major fabric shops in the county and town markets.
At first, only a few women who wanted to support the Lin Family Village Embroidery Workshop and liked new things bought the clothes out of curiosity. But then it became an unstoppable trend, and everyone who wore them understood their benefits.
This new style of bellyband underwear has become incredibly popular, especially among wealthy women. Song Anxin and Yu Lin'er have also launched a pajama series together.
With the Yu family's sales channels, underwear and pajamas were sold to various places, and the production of the Lin family village workshop gradually became insufficient to meet the demand, so it was expanded again soon afterward.
Summer arrived just like that. These days, apart from designing some new styles for the embroidery workshop, Song Anxin was truly at ease, because her son and daughter-in-law were both too capable, and she didn't need to get involved in many things.
And so she settled into a comfortable life, enjoying the company of her grandchildren. In her free time, she would sit on the bamboo bed with her children, Xiao Xuan and Xiao Yu, enjoying the breeze from the fan. There was ice in front of the fan, which made it incredibly comfortable. Although ice was expensive, her family was now very wealthy.
Ah, it's so good to have money and free time. Song Anxin couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
This was when Joy suddenly exclaimed:
"Gongren, look! Miss and young master are fighting over the tao drum. Such little ones already know how to fight over things, hehehe... Come, come, Miss and young master, don't fight over it, there's another one here."
Xile handed over another tao drum, but Xiaoxuan and Xiaoyu ignored it and insisted on grabbing the other one, making babbling sounds as if they were arguing.
Song Anxin thought her two little darlings were so adorable that she immediately asked Granny Wei to bring her charcoal pencil and paper and quickly sketched out their current situation.
Of course, she wasn't that skilled; her drawings were simple sketches, like little cartoons. Although they weren't realistic, the expressions were spot on.
"Gongren, your painting is truly unique. The young lady and young master in the painting seem even more interesting," Granny Wei praised upon seeing it.
"Mom, what kind of strange painting is this? Let me see it too."
Lin Fengyao walked in, covered in sweat. The weather was hot now, and the school had given the students a summer break.
"Fourth Master is here. Wuyou, quickly get a handkerchief to wipe his sweat," Granny Wei instructed.
Now that Xiao Xuan'er and Xiao Yu'er are born, the servants have changed their address for the Lin Fengnian brothers to "Eldest Master, Second Master, Third Master, and Fourth Master."
Song An thought to herself, "Luckily, I have the title of 'Gongren' (恭人), otherwise I would be called 'Old Madam' (老夫人), and I would be called old even if I wasn't old."
Lin Fengyao took the handkerchief and hastily wiped the sweat from his forehead. He then scrambled onto the bamboo bed and approached Song Anxin to see the painting in his mother's hand.
With big heads, big eyes, pouting lips, and small bodies, Xiao Xuan'er and Xiao Yu'er were drawn in a very amusing way.
He exclaimed excitedly, "Mom, you can paint like this? It's so much fun!"
"This is a comic, which uses exaggeration to depict the appearance and expression of the characters. Come on, let me draw one for you too."
After explaining it to him, Song Anxin quickly drew a simplified version of Lin Fengyao.
The painting depicts a large head with big, smiling eyes that reveal a row of teeth, giving it a憨憨 (simple and honest) appearance.
"Hehe, Gongren, you look so much like him. Your expression is just like Fourth Master's usual demeanor."
The carefree maid couldn't help but giggle when she saw this.
Everyone in the room burst into laughter. When Xiao Xuan'er and Xiao Yu'er, who were fighting over the tao drum, saw everyone laughing like this, their little heads were stunned for a moment, and then they grinned and laughed along with everyone else.
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