Chapter 91: Sleep peacefully with me here

Zhao Laoer's family has been busy at home recently and has not been to the city, so they didn't know about the recruitment of female workers.

In the afternoon, Zhao Laoer's wife went to pick up their daughter from school. On the way back, they were stopped by two little beggars.

Zhao Laoer's wife thought they were beggars and was about to say that she had no money in her pocket, and if they didn't mind, they could go home with her and she would pack some food for them.

But the two little beggars spoke before her: "Auntie, the toilet paper workshop in the city is recruiting female workers. Anyone who is 16 years old and healthy can sign up. Food and accommodation are provided. The fee is 10 cents a day, and at least one meal is meaty. The more you work, the more money you can earn. There is a lunch break every day and one day off every seven days. If you don't live in the workshop dormitory, you can also get a penny for travel expenses. Such a good job, don't miss it if you pass by!"

Another little beggar said, "The male workers are full, and they don't want children, otherwise I would have signed up. Now there is no one for the female workers. It's first come first served. The registration place is at the toilet paper store in the city. If I miss this opportunity, I don't know when I will have the next one."

The two of them sang in unison and said a lot of things, which made Zhao Laoer's wife dizzy.

Juan'er was the first to react. She said in surprise, "Mom, my two brothers said that the toilet paper workshop is hiring, and you meet the requirements. You can get ten cents a day. Last time, Boss Rong said that the papermaking workshop is a government-owned workshop, and they won't delay wages like those bad bosses."

After the autumn harvest every year, when the fields become idle, the men in the village would go to the city to look for work to supplement their family income.

But without an introduction, not only is it difficult to find a job, but you may also be pressed for wages. There are even cases where you are not paid for the work done. Zhao Laoer had encountered this once before.

But the boss was a city dweller and was acquainted with the constables in the yamen. The villagers dared not fight with them and could only swallow their anger and say forget it.

After Zhao Laoer came back that time, he was exhausted for several days. Juaner remembers it very clearly.

Zhao Laoer's wife understood now: "The government is recruiting workers, so they shouldn't lie, but..."

She looked at the two little beggars and said, "You two kids are not lying, are you? Apart from embroidery workshops and restaurant kitchens where people wash vegetables, I have never heard of any workshop that would hire female workers for manual labor."

The little beggar was anxious, raised his hand and swore: "Auntie, I swear to heaven, if what I said just now is a lie, let the thunder god strike me to death. This job recruitment notice has been out for several days, but it has not been spread to the village. If you don't believe me, you can go to the city to ask, everyone knows about it."

Another person said, "Yes, the news has spread like crazy in the city. If no one signed up, Boss Rong wouldn't have spent money to let us promote it in the village."

"Boss Rong?" Zhao Er's wife grasped the key point, "Were you sent by Boss Rong from the Yunduo Cake Shop?"

The little beggar nodded: "Yes, it's the boss Rong who is as good-looking as a god. He often shares bread with us. I will never mistake him for someone else."

Hearing that it was Rong Yin who asked them to come, Zhao Laoer's wife was skeptical at first, but now she believes it completely.

"I, I have to go home and discuss it with my family." Zhao Laoer's wife's heartbeat quickened, and a vague sense of anticipation rose in her heart.

The two little beggars looked at each other and saw that she was interested in the job opening, so they said, "Auntie, if you want to sign up, can you tell the manager my name? Let the manager know that it was me who told you about the job opening."

"Of course." Zhao Laoer's wife agreed readily, "What's your name?"

One of the little beggars said, "Just call me little monkey."

"Okay, I'll remember that."

"Goodbye, auntie. We are going to tell more people about this. The workshop is only hiring fifty people. If you want to go, you'd better hurry up."

"Okay, go ahead."

After the two little beggars ran away, Zhao Laoer's wife also led her children and ran home eagerly.

When she met a villager on the road, she saw that she looked hurried, so she asked her, "Xiao Cui, why are you in such a hurry? Did something happen to you?"

Tian Xiaocui is the name of Zhao Laoer's wife.

Since it was not a final decision, Tian Xiaocui could not publicize it everywhere, so she had to make up an excuse: "The child is hungry, so I went home early to make dinner for her."

Everyone in the village shook their heads and said, "I think in the whole village, only your family is so accommodating to children."

Tian Xiaocui smiled and said nothing more.

When the mother and son arrived home, Zhao Laoer had just returned from the fields, his grandfather was weaving baskets in the yard, and his grandmother was picking vegetables.

Seeing the family, Tian Xiaocui immediately said, "Master, father-in-law and mother-in-law, I want to discuss something with you."

In the main hall, Tian Xiaocui told her family what the little beggar had said, and then she said, "Boss Rong will not lie to me. I want to sign up to be a female worker."

Juan'er also hurriedly said, "That's ten coins a day, a total of three hundred coins a month. Daddy may not be able to earn that much even if he works for others for a month."

Zhao Laoer's family was considered relatively open-minded in the village. His parents-in-law had never made things difficult for their daughter-in-law. When the young couple said they wanted to send Juan'er to school, the two old people never said a word of objection.

It was because she understood them that Tian Xiaocui dared to think of signing up and spoke out openly.

The villagers have enough food and drink, but it is very difficult to make a penny. They can go to the city to sell vegetables and eggs, but not only are the prices low, but they may not even be able to sell them, so the situation is extremely unstable.

For the villagers, a job that pays ten cents a day is really a good thing that is hard to find even with a lantern.

Grandpa smoked a pipe with a frown on his face. "Old man, I've heard before that there are only male workers in the paper mill. Why are they suddenly recruiting female workers this time? How can a group of women stay with a group of strange men?"

After all, this was the first time he had encountered such a thing. No matter how sensible Grandpa Zhao was, he could not help but be influenced by old ideas.

Juan'er ran over and hugged Grandpa's arm, shaking him, and said coquettishly, "Grandpa, the city is different from our village. I have seen many sisters and aunts in the city working outside. There are many young and beautiful sisters working in Boss Rong's bakery and milk tea shop. They work inside, away from the wind and sun, and they are well dressed and well fed. They look so respectable."

Since going to school, Juan'er, who was originally a bit shy, has become much more cheerful and bold after seeing more of the world in books, and she also speaks more fluently.

Grandma Zhao was touched by her granddaughter's words and said, "We are going to recruit 50 female workers. There are so many people, and they are not just a couple. When we go out on the street, men, women, old and young are mixed together. How come there is no bad news?"

Master Zhao glared at her: "You old woman, how can what you say be the same as what I say?"

Grandma Zhao was angry: "Didn't you hear me? Ten cents a day, free food and lodging, and meat. With such good conditions, what else can you complain about? If you care so much about your reputation, why did you climb over my wall and secretly feed me food when we were not married yet?"

"Tsk, why are you talking about these old things in front of the children?" Grandpa Zhao glanced at the young people shyly, and the three of them turned their heads away, pretending not to hear anything.

Grandma Zhao said, "Which is more important, a bad reputation or having a full stomach? If I were not too old and they did not want me, I would have signed up long ago."

Zhao Laoer, who had been silent the whole time, also spoke up: "Yes, Dad, think about a few years ago, when there were wars everywhere, our family was hiding from place to place, and our only wish was to survive safely. Now our whole family is here, and since we can have a better life, why should we care about those rules and regulations."

Juan'er came to help again: "The two brothers said that after the notice was released, no one in the city would sign up. People in the city have money but don't want to sign up, and we don't have money so we won't sign up either. If the workshop is disappointed, they may not recruit female workers anymore in the future, and it will be useless to regret it then."

The four members of the family all looked at Grandpa Zhao. Grandpa Zhao took a long puff of his cigarette, sighed, and then said, "Forget it. This is not the first time that our Zhao family has done something out of line. Anyway, as long as we can make money, let others say whatever they want."

"Grandpa is so nice! Juan'er likes him the most!" Juan'er excitedly threw herself into Grandpa Zhao's arms.

The other three also smiled happily.

Because it was already very late and the village was quite far from the city, it was too late to rush over, so they decided to go to the city to register early the next morning.

That night, the whole family couldn't sleep. Zhao Laoer hugged his wife and said, "The paper mill belongs to His Majesty. The news was brought by Boss Rong. They are both great benefactors of our family. I trust them."

Tian Xiaocui nodded: "If I can successfully get a job in the paper mill, our family will have another way to save money in the future. You have always wanted to renovate the house, maybe it will come true soon."

The couple thought about the future and fell asleep in a daze.

The next morning, the family of five went out together. In order to get into the city quickly, they even paid to ride a ox cart.

The man driving the ox cart in the village saw that the whole family was going to the city and couldn't help but be curious: "Zhao family, why are you going to the city?"

Grandpa Zhao replied perfunctorily: "I just went to do something."

Seeing that they were unwilling to talk, the man driving the ox cart did not ask any more questions. However, his curious mind got the better of him, and after entering the city, as soon as the Zhao family left, he asked someone to help him watch the ox cart and quickly caught up with the Zhao family.

When the Zhao family arrived at the toilet paper store, they saw a table at the door and a handsome man sitting behind the table. It was Rong Yin.

There were many people gathered at the store entrance to watch the excitement, but no one came forward to sign up. Rong Yin was spinning his brush boredly when he suddenly heard a familiar voice calling, "Boss Rong!"

He looked up and saw Juan'er running towards him, followed by the rest of the Zhao family.

戎音激動地站起身，“你們這是……”

趙爺爺趙奶奶是第一次看見戎音本人，之前只從孩子們嘴裏聽說過他，還吃過他送的點心，知道他是個善良慈愛的人。

田小翠上前，鼓起勇氣道：“戎老板，你們還招女工嗎？我想進紙坊幹活。”

從趙家人擠進去以後，周圍就安靜了下來，都在觀察他們的動靜。

聽見田小翠說她要報名，人群裏傳出一道刻薄的聲音：“還真有女的敢報名，那紙坊裏都是男人，誰知道他們招女人進去是想幹什麽？”

這句話一出，人們紛紛議論起來，田小翠臉色變得很難看，趙老二默默握住了她的手。

戎音當即走出去，看向人群：“剛才那句話是誰說的？”

人們紛紛躲避他的眼神，沒人承認。

戎音嗤笑：“我聽你聲音陰陽怪氣的，也不知你是男是女，但看你敢說不敢認，我就叫你孬種吧。”

“噗。”有人笑出聲，緊接着其他人也跟着哄笑。

戎音繼續道：“孬種，這造紙坊是官家開的，我們招女工，自然是跟招男工一樣，讓她們進去拿錢幹活，跟讓女人和男人一樣下地幹農活沒什麽區別，只不過是換了個地方換了份活計而已，你別自己尿鞋上，自己騷了，看別人也騷。”

戎音這話屬實是尖酸刻薄又好笑，有人一邊笑一邊道：“戎老板，我光明正大站出來問你，我可不是孬種。我就是擔心，男女都在一個紙坊裏幹活，外人進不去也看不見，萬一女工在裏面被欺負了怎麽辦？”

這人話說得委婉，但意思還是那個意思，害怕出現男女問題。

戎音回答道：“好，這位不孬種的大哥，既然你禮貌發問，我也禮貌地解釋，其實你說的這些問題，我們在招人告示裏就已經寫了應對方法，只是你們可能還沒看見。”

戎音伸手，叫人拿來一張招女工的告示，舉起來給衆人看：“末尾就說了，男女工坊分開幹活分開吃飯分開住宿，不願意住宿的可以回家，還有一文錢路費，白天夜晚我們都會有人巡邏，不會讓男工欺負女工的事情發生。”

人群裏有人道：“我之前看過告示，的确就是這麽寫的。”

宗政逍又道：“你們擔心男工欺負女工，所以不讓女子來報名，那萬一有男工欺負男工的情況出現，你們是不是也要讓所有男工回家，不許出來找活幹啊？”

“這不一樣吧。”有人小聲。

“怎麽不一樣了，你說說？”

那人沉默了。

戎音大聲道：“大家，我招女工的目的是想讓需要賺錢的人家能賺到錢，家裏男女都有機會幹活，這不比讓男人一個人賺錢更好嗎？一個人能攢一個銅板，兩個人就是兩個銅板，這經年累月下來，你們想想，有女工的家庭能比沒有的多賺多少錢啊？”

在這個時代講人權平權不适宜，只有從自身利益出發，才能打動他們。

他說完以後，衆人仔細想了想，覺得他說的很是有道理，但還是沒人敢站出來。

這時趙老二卻道：“戎老板，麻煩你先幫我娘子把名字寫上吧，她身體康健，在家裏幹農活也是一把好手，她願意來紙坊幹活，我們一家人都支持她。”

田小翠也道：“我家地不算多，地裏的活我公公婆婆和丈夫就能幹完，我孩子也大了，不需要我再時時刻刻盯着，與其一整年忙忙碌碌只能靠着糧食過活，我更想為我和家裏人謀另一條出路。”

戎音感激地看向夫妻倆，知道他們是想幫他證明他剛才說的話，才開口講出這些的。

“好！”戎音應了一聲，回去坐下，開始給田小翠報名。

“名字。”

“田小翠。”

“住址。”

“我夫家住小溪村。”

“是否選擇住在工坊裏？放心，每七天就放一次假，到時候你可以回去跟家人見面。”

“我家離城裏遠，選住工坊裏吧。”

“告訴你招工消息的人是誰？”

“兩個小乞兒，其中一個說他叫小猴子。”

“好了。”戎音寫完，指着店裏一個角落，道：“去大夫那裏讓他把個脈，确定沒有重大疾病，簽完保密協議，你就能進我們工坊了。”

其實之後還有背景調查和培訓，但現在只是報名階段，戎音就沒提。

田小翠和丈夫一起去找大夫，大夫給她看完，說她沒生病，不耽誤幹活，另外一個人又将保密協議的內容讀給她聽，确認她願意簽署後，知道她不識字，就讓她按了手印。

等她出來，戎音就笑着道：“恭喜你田小翠，成為了衛生紙工坊的第一個女員工。”

娟兒蹦蹦跳跳地歡呼：“太好了，娘以後天天都能賺十文錢，還可以天天吃肉肉了。”

趙家人欣慰地圍着田小翠，臉上都是笑意。

娟兒喊的那句話觸動了不少人的人，有錢又有肉吃，真讓人心動。

戎音看向人堆裏明顯動容的幾人，道：“還有人要報名嗎？只有五十個名額，錯過了就沒機會咯。”

見還是有人猶猶豫豫，好心的趙老二直接下了一劑猛藥：“戎老板，你看除了我娘子，也沒人來報名了，你都給女子機會了，是她們不中用了，連報名都不敢，這樣吧，你把剩下的名額都換成男工，我也報一個名，剛好可以陪我娘子一起進工坊。”

趙老二話剛說完，一個跟田小翠差不多年紀的女人就擠出人堆，大聲道：“誰說女子不中用了，我就來報名，這是官家給咱們女子的名額，憑啥還成你們男的，戎老板，我也要報名。”

有人開了個頭，緊接着勇敢走出來的女子就越來越多了。

“這位大妹子說的極是，我們女人可不是不中用的，我們能和男人一樣下地幹活，也能跟他們一樣進工坊造紙！”

“戎老板，給我報名！”

“我也要我也要！”

“……”

原本冷冷清清的報名桌前頓時擠滿了人，戎音臉上滿是笑意，大聲讓大家不要急，排隊一個一個來。

趙老二和田小翠笑着對視一眼，讓爺爺奶奶把娟兒帶到一邊去，自己則幫戎音維持秩序。

從早上忙到下午，總算是先把這五十個人的名單暫時定了下來，後面背景調查和培訓可能會篩掉一些人，後續再招就行。

等人都走了，戎音才揉着酸痛的手腕，對旁邊的趙家人道：“今天麻煩你們了，讓你們陪我忙到這麽晚，走走走，我請你們吃飯。”

趙家人下意識拒絕：“不用了不用了，這都是我們該做的。”

戎音直接彎腰将娟兒抱了起來，“什麽該做不該做的，你們幫了我是事實，不用跟我客氣，你們要是不答應，我可就不把娟兒還給你們了。”

娟兒配合地道：“爺爺奶奶爹娘，你們別不要我。”

趙家人無奈，只得跟着戎音一起進了最近的一家酒樓。

怕他們不好意思點菜，戎音根據幾人的量，分別要了幾道葷菜和素菜。

菜上來以後，因為有他在，大人們吃得拘謹，戎音就去跟娟兒互動，給她夾菜跟她聊天，不去看幾個大人，他們這才放松許多。

吃過飯，戎音又讓侍衛去自己店裏取幾份面包和奶茶來，送給趙家人，讓他們帶着在路上吃。

趙家人推辭不過，只得收下。

一直跟着趙家人的牛車車夫啃着自己從家裏帶來的沒滋沒味的燒餅，再看看吃得肚兒滾圓的趙家人，眼裏的嫉妒是藏都藏不住。

趙家人本想再坐牛車回去，但等到了老地方，才發現車夫已經走了。

以為車夫是拉滿了人，等不了他們才提前走的，一家人也不介意，自己走路回去。

誰知剛進村，就發現村民看他們的眼神都不對勁了。

回到家以後，田小翠去找熟識的村裏人打聽，這才知道，車夫回來以後到處跟村裏人造謠，說田小翠是報名去紙坊當女工了，以後都要跟着一大群男人一起幹活。

昨天那兩個小乞丐把整個小溪村都跑了個遍，其實村裏不少人都知道招女工的消息，但真正去報名的，只有田小翠一個。

車夫明明也去了城裏，聽見了戎音的解釋，還說出那種暧昧的話，簡直是司馬昭之心路人皆知。

這下子趙家人坐不住了，上到爺爺奶奶下到娟兒，都跑去自己的社交圈，告訴他們之前戎音說過的那些告示內容。

聽見田小翠居然找了一份那麽好的活計，有些人不免眼紅，不過趙家人這時抛出一個大餅，成功解決了這個問題。

“聽紙坊那邊說，以後可能還要招工人，男工女工都會招，我家小翠在工坊裏幹活，消息更靈通，如果她知道招工的消息，我一定讓她第一時間回來告訴大夥兒。”

既然這次已經錯過，那只能等下一次了。

知道現在不能得罪趙家人，衆人無論願不願意，都紛紛收起嫉妒的表情，開始恭維起趙家人來。

Rong Yin was busy all day and was so tired that he fell asleep in the carriage on his way back to the palace.

While he was groggy, he felt himself being picked up. Before he woke up, the familiar smell made him feel at ease.

"Your Majesty..." Rong Yin hummed and subconsciously rubbed against Zong Zheng Xiao.

Zong Zhengxiao was carrying Rong Yin towards the Silver Shark Garden. When he heard the noise, he lowered his head and kissed him on the forehead, saying softly, "Thank you for your hard work, A Yin."

Rong Yin murmured instinctively: "I want to eat hot pot tonight. I'm so sleepy and need to go to sleep."

Zong Zheng Xiao comforted him, "Okay, go to sleep first, I'll eat hot pot with you tonight."

After hearing his words, Rong Yin finally fell asleep peacefully.

At this time, Cui Mansion.

The second young master Cui was sitting in his small study, writing. His servant knocked on the door outside. After getting his permission, he came in and whispered in his ear, "Sir, the eldest young master has gone to that person's yard again."

Hearing this, the corners of Cui Ershao's lips curled up, and an evil smile flashed in his eyes.

"Got it. Keep watching."

"yes."