Chapter 146 The Steel Rose and "Her" Power The Loom's "..."
The clatter of looms rose and fell, as hundreds of female workers sat in front of brand-new looms, their hands flying as shuttles moved between the warp and weft.
Since the "Hopeful Splendor" collection became an instant hit in Blackrock City, orders for the textile factory have been pouring in. Their original production capacity was already stretched thin, and Aunt Leah had to hire several batches of new workers, but demand still far exceeded supply.
Aunt Leah stood in the center of the workshop, holding a newly woven jacquard brocade in her hand, examining it closely against the sunlight. This was their latest fabric creation, incorporating a metal wire weaving technique learned from the dwarves into the existing gradient dyeing process. This little trick used in dwarven forging to decorate the edges of armor had an unexpected effect on fabric, giving it a soft, shimmering sheen in the light.
"It's done." She nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Lin Yue behind her and said, "Mayor, no, Lord, I always call you Mayor. You see, the quality of this batch of brocade is probably even better than the textile workshops in the capital."
"Haha, you can call me whatever you want, it's all me."
Lin Yue took the brocade and rubbed it between his fingers. Sure enough, it felt delicate and smooth, with intricate and complex patterns, and shimmered with a faint golden luster in the sunlight.
"Auntie Leah, your skills are so good that they're going to make those noble gentlemen cry with envy."
"Not at all," Aunt Leah said modestly, but her face couldn't hide her pride. "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching. Those flying shuttles and jacquard weaving techniques were all based on your designs. Now, with the guidance of the dwarves, we've been able to reach even greater heights."
“Having the technology alone isn’t enough,” Lin Yue shook his head. “The key is that you can integrate these technologies and manage such a large workshop in an orderly manner. Not everyone has that ability.”
Aunt Leah was a little embarrassed by the praise and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, Mayor, there is something I would like to discuss with you."
"Oh? Tell me about it."
"As you can see, our orders are piling up. The Hopeful Splendor series alone is already booked for three months from now, not to mention the Clover Merchant Guild is still pressing for more stock," Aunt Leah sighed. "But our production capacity here simply can't keep up. I'm thinking, should we build another branch factory?"
Lin Yue nodded; this was exactly what he had always wanted to do.
“Furthermore,” Aunt Leah continued, “I want to elevate the positioning of the new factory. The existing workshops mainly produce mass-market fabrics and ordinary ready-to-wear clothing, while the new factory will specialize in finer crafts, such as jacquard brocade, embroidered dresses, and bespoke clothing. By separating the product lines and offering a mix of high-end and low-end options, we can satisfy the needs of ordinary people while also capturing the wallets of the wealthy.”
"That's a good idea," Lin Yue praised. "High-end products have higher profit margins and can support more workers; ordinary products can be sold in large quantities so that more people can wear nice clothes. Walking on two legs is a steady approach."
“There’s one more thing,” Aunt Leah said in a low voice. “Mayor, as you know, many women in town and city want to work in the workshop, but they all have children to take care of at home and can’t leave. Could you please set aside a room next to the new factory specifically for taking care of these children? They can bring their children here during the day, and there will be someone to look after them, so the mothers can work with peace of mind, and then pick them up together in the evening.”
Lin Yue's eyes lit up: "A daycare center?"
"Trust...trust what?"
“It’s the place you mentioned, a place specifically for taking care of children.” Lin Yue clapped his hands excitedly. “Auntie Leah, your idea is brilliant. Not just the textile factory, but all our workshops and factories can be equipped with such a place in the future.”
"Really?" Aunt Leah was a little surprised. She had thought that this suggestion would be considered a waste of manpower and resources.
“Of course it’s true,” Lin Yue said earnestly. “When women have worries, they are bound to be distracted while working. If we can relieve their worries, they will not only work with more peace of mind, but their output will also be higher. Besides, the children can learn to read and do math together, which is better than them playing alone at home.”
"In that case, you should draft a charter, clearly listing how many people, how many buildings, and what supplies are needed. The new factory and nursery should also be arranged at the same time. I will have someone allocate the funds and materials as soon as possible."
"Okay!" Aunt Leah replied readily.
“Oh, right,” Lin Yue remembered something else, “Regarding the high-end ready-to-wear section of the Second Factory, didn’t you say before that some of the Silent Sisters have excellent embroidery skills? Let’s recruit them as well, to be in charge of those dresses and custom-made clothes that require exquisite embroidery.”
"You mean... Ella and the others?"
“Yes, Ella and her group are incredibly skilled.” Lin Yue nodded. “We have good fabrics and excellent craftsmanship, so we should make the best things. We can sell them to the nobles and big merchants from the capital, and one piece can be worth dozens of ordinary clothes.”
Aunt Leah gasped, then a shrewd glint flashed in her eyes: "Mayor, how come your mind works so fast?"
“Not at all,” Lin Yue laughed, “I’m just standing on the shoulders of giants.”
"What giant?"
"It's nothing," Lin Yue waved his hand. "In short, the textile business will be entirely in your hands from now on. If you do a good job, I'll give you the credit."
Aunt Leah nodded emphatically, her eyes full of enthusiasm.
...
Half a month later, in Blackrock City, at the City Lord's Mansion Square.
Today is a job fair jointly held by Blackstone City and Hope Town. The square is packed with people and bustling with activity.
Various workshops, shops, transport teams, and guard teams set up stalls in the square to accept registrations.
Lin Yue stood on the steps of the city lord's mansion, looking at the crowd of people thronging below, feeling quite emotional.
Not long ago, these people were struggling to find food. Now, they are no longer fighting for food, but for job opportunities.
“Mayor,” Ah Hu walked up to him and said in a low voice, “the registration statistics for each place have been compiled. The No. 2 Textile Factory has the most registrations, followed by the food processing workshop, and then the construction team.”
"Where is the transport team?"
"Quite a few people have signed up for the transport team, but... there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
"explain."
"A woman came to register for the heavy equipment logistics transportation team. The person in charge of registration didn't know what to do, so they came to ask for instructions."
Lin Yue raised an eyebrow: "A woman? Why can't she register?"
"This... sir, the heavy transport team does manual labor involving moving heavy objects; it's traditionally a man's job. Although that woman looks strong and robust, she is... after all, a woman..."
"Let's go take a look."
Lin Yue stepped down the steps and walked straight toward the heavy equipment transport team's booth.
Sure enough, a crowd had gathered in front of the stall, watching the excitement.
In the center of the crowd stood a tall, slender young woman. She wore a neat short-sleeved outfit, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her strong, muscular forearms. Her long, jet-black hair was tied back with a cloth, revealing a spirited and handsome face.
“I said I want to sign up,” the woman said firmly. “Your notice didn’t say it only accepts men.”
The clerk in charge of registration looked troubled: "Young lady, the work of a heavy transport team is not something ordinary people can do. Those stones and iron ingots, each weighs over a hundred pounds, even a strong man can't carry them more than a few times, and you're a woman..."
"Who says women can't carry it?" the woman sneered. "Does your Blackrock City rule only consider gender, not ability?"
The crowd immediately began to discuss the matter.
"This woman has quite the arrogant tone..."
"That's true, their notice didn't say they didn't accept women..."
"But the job of a heavy-duty transport team is no joke..."
Lin Yue parted the crowd and walked to the stall.
"What happened?"
"Lord Lin... Lord Lin!" The clerk bowed hastily upon seeing Lin Yue in person. "This young lady insists on enrolling in the heavy transport team. I don't know what to do and was just about to ask for instructions..."
Lin Yue looked at the young woman.
The woman was also sizing him up, her gaze open and honest, without the slightest fear.
"What's your name?" Lin Yue asked.
"Red maple".
“Red Maple…” Lin Yue repeated the name, “I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before.”
“If you’ve heard of it, sir, it must have been during the Red Scorpion Army’s siege of the city.” A sharp glint of resentment flashed in Red Maple’s eyes. “In that battle, my family was destroyed and I was left all alone. I took a kitchen knife and killed two Red Scorpion Army soldiers who broke into my house.”
The surrounding crowd immediately erupted in an uproar.
"So it was her."
"I remember now, the story of a woman who single-handedly killed bandits spread throughout Blackrock City..."
"No wonder he's so fierce..."
Lin Yue nodded; he had indeed heard of this incident. When the Red Scorpion Army ravaged Blackstone City, most civilians were helpless and at their mercy, but a young woman rose up in resistance, fighting two soldiers single-handedly and killing them who had broken into a civilian's home. This event was considered a legendary tale at the time and gave many people the courage to persevere.
"Why do you want to join the heavy transport team?" Lin Yue asked.
Hongfeng paused for a moment: "My father was a porter, specializing in carrying goods for people. I followed him since I was a child, carrying packages, moving stones, doing all kinds of heavy work. Later, the Red Scorpion Army came, and my father was beaten to death for protecting me."
Her voice was a little hoarse, but she quickly regained her composure: "I don't have any other skills, just a lot of strength. Since the adults are recruiting, I'd like to give it a try. It's better to earn a living with my own hands than to beg on the streets."
"Okay, give her a chance."
"But sir..."
"What," Lin Yue glanced at him indifferently, "my words have no effect?"
The clerk quickly lowered his head: "This subordinate wouldn't dare. However… according to the transport team's rules, applicants must pass a strength test. If it were her…"
“Then let her take the test.” Lin Yue interrupted him. “Everyone is equal before the test. If she passes, she will be hired. If she fails, she will be eliminated.”
He looked at Hongfeng: "Are you willing?"
Hongfeng smiled slightly: "I couldn't ask for more."
The test was very simple: lifting a stone weight.
The stone weights used by the heavy transport team weighed as much as 80 kilograms. Even a strong man would have to grit his teeth and exert all his strength to lift them, let alone lift them ten times in a row.
The clerk had someone bring over a stone lock and place it in front of Hongfeng.
“The rules are like this,” he said, “lift this stone lock above your head, put it down, then lift it up again, repeat this ten times, and you’ve passed. You cannot stop or use any leverage in between. Do you understand?”
Hongfeng nodded and walked to the stone lock.
She took a deep breath, bent down and gripped the handle of the stone lock, her legs slightly bent and her back straight.
"rise!"
With a low shout, she steadily lifted the eighty-pound stone lock above her head.
A gasp went up from the crowd.
Hongfeng remained unfazed, putting down the stone lock, then lifting it again, then putting it down again…
His movements were clean and efficient, his rhythm steady, and he showed no signs of strain whatsoever.
"Five times...six times...seven times..."
Someone started counting.
"Eight times...nine times...ten times!"
When Hongfeng lifted the stone lock above her head for the tenth time, she exclaimed, "It's done!"
"This woman is truly remarkable!"
"I've seen several strong men who can't even get it up eight times, but she actually..."
Hongfeng carefully placed the stone lock down, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, her breathing becoming somewhat rapid, but her eyes remained bright.
She looked at the document: "How did it go? Did I pass?"
The clerk was speechless for a long time.
Lin Yue laughed loudly: "Alright, from today onwards, you are a member of the heavy equipment transport team."
He turned to face the crowd and raised his voice:
"Listen up, everyone. From now on, in Hope Town and Blackstone City, all positions will be filled based solely on ability, regardless of gender. As long as you have the skills, you will have a place."
A cheer erupted from the crowd.
But some people muttered under their breath, "What... what kind of behavior is this? Women showing their faces in public, competing with men for work..."
"Exactly, women shouldn't be at home taking care of their husbands and children; what are they doing out here doing work..."
Lin Yue heard these comments but ignored them. Changing one's mindset isn't something that happens overnight.
...
After the recruitment fair concluded, another piece of good news arrived.
During the recruitment assessment for the Blue Vests, three women successfully passed all the tests and officially joined the guard team.
One of them was named Qingluo, the daughter of a hunter's family in Hope Town. She had been hunting in the forest with her father since she was a child, and was skilled in archery and agile. She even defeated several male candidates in the combat test.
The other two were sisters, both orphans from Blackrock City who survived by scavenging during their most difficult times. They were later taken in by the Hope Merchant Guild and worked as general laborers in the Hope Canteen. Hearing that the Blue Vests were hiring, they applied on a whim and were surprised to be accepted.
Gray personally handed them three brand-new blue vest uniforms.
"From today onwards, you are members of the Blue Vests. The Blue Vests only recognize ability, nothing else. Since you have passed the test, it proves that you are qualified. From now on, train as usual and perform your duties as usual. There will be no difference because you are women."
"Understood!" the three replied in unison.
“Okay.” Gray nodded. “Go get your equipment.”
Watching the three figures disappear into the distance, Fei Ye suddenly remembered something and turned to Gray beside her, saying, "Do you think there will be more and more women in our Blue Vests group in the future?"
Gray looked up: "Why not? As long as they can fight and withstand attacks."
“That’s true.” Fei Ye nodded. “However… I’m afraid we’ll have to make other arrangements for changing clothes and accommodation.”
"Let Mia and the others worry about this."
"We just need to focus on training our troops."
Several days later, at the city lord's mansion.
Lin Yue summoned a group of officials and announced several important personnel appointments.
“First, Mia,” he said, looking at the once timid young woman who had now blossomed into a capable and composed woman, “you are officially appointed as the Chief of Supply Allocation for Blackrock City, responsible for coordinating the flow of supplies between Hope Town and Blackrock City. All warehousing, transportation, and allocation will be under your management.”
Mia paused for a moment, then stepped forward and bowed solemnly: "Your subordinate obeys."
“Secondly, Aunt Tana,” Lin Yue said, looking at an elderly woman with gray hair and a kind face. She was a long-time resident of Blackrock City and knew almost every household in the city. “From today onwards, you will serve as the Civil Affairs Officer of Blackrock City, specifically responsible for household registration, mediating neighborhood disputes, and reporting the hardships of the people. If you encounter any difficulties, come directly to me.”
Aunt Tana said somewhat fearfully, "Lord Lin, this old woman is barely literate, I'm afraid..."
“You can learn to read,” Lin Yue said with a smile, “but your understanding of Blackrock City and your familiarity with the neighborhood can’t be learned. Blackrock City needs someone like you who knows the place inside and out and is highly respected.”
Aunt Tana's eyes reddened, and she bowed deeply, saying, "This old woman will do her best to live up to your trust, sir."
“Third, Ella,” Lin Yue said, looking at the gentle and quiet woman, “you will be appointed as the Director of Ceramics Technology in Blackrock City and Hope Town, overseeing the technology research and development and quality control of the ceramic workshops, effective immediately.”
Ella took a deep breath, raised her head, and said with clear and firm eyes, "I obey."
After announcing the appointments, Lin Yue looked around and said loudly:
"Gentlemen, I know some of you may have doubts. Why appoint so many women to important positions? Are they up to the task?"
He paused, his tone becoming serious:
“My answer is: they not only do it, but they do it better than many men. I have seen Mia’s arithmetic and planning skills with my own eyes. Aunt Tana’s understanding of the people is unmatched. Ella’s craftsmanship is evident to all.”
"In Hope Town and Blackrock City, I don't care if you're male or female; I only care if you can get things done. The capable rise, the mediocre fall—that's my philosophy of employing people."
"If anyone disagrees, they are welcome to demonstrate their true abilities. If they cannot win, they should simply shut up and get back to work."
The crowd looked at each other, and no one dared to object.
Mia left the city lord's mansion and walked home along the wide cement road.
Her steps were light and quick, and a brand-new bronze identification tag hung from her waist, engraved with the words "Chief Officer of Material Allocation." With each step, the tag swayed gently, making a soft clinking sound.
"Mia!"
She heard a familiar voice behind her, and when she turned around, she saw her husband, Amu.
Amu jogged after him, panting, "Why didn't you wait for me?"
"How would I know where you are?" Mia rolled her eyes at him. "I have a lot to do today, and I still need to go back and organize some documents."
"Documents?" Amu scratched his head. "What documents?"
“The documents for the allocation of supplies,” Mia sighed. “Lord Lin entrusted me with the management of supplies for both cities. It’s a great responsibility, and I need to sort them out carefully.”
“Oh…” Amu responded, his gaze falling on the bronze plaque at Mia’s waist, his expression somewhat complicated.
The two walked side by side in silence.
“Amu,” Mia suddenly spoke up, “don’t you think… I shouldn’t have taken this job?”
"No," Amu quickly shook his head.
"Then why do you have that expression?"
Amu was silent for a moment, then smiled sheepishly: "I was just thinking... now that we both work in the City Lord's Mansion, you are the Chief of Supply Allocation, and I am just a small team leader... in the future, when I see you, will I still have to bow and call you 'Sir'?"
Mia paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud: "What are you thinking, you blockhead?"
"I'm just... a little unaccustomed to it," Amu said, scratching his head. "Before, I was the one who went out to work to support the family, while you took care of things from home. Now, it's like you're a higher-ranking official than me..."
"What, you're not happy?" Mia glanced at him sideways.
"Of course, of course, I'd love to!" Amu quickly replied. "You're so capable, I'm overjoyed. But..."
"Just what?"
"But when I go home in the future, will I still have to listen to you?"
Mia chuckled and gently pinched Amu's arm: "Outside, I'm the commander-in-chief, but at home, I'm still your wife. We're husband and wife, not superior and subordinate, so why all the formalities?"
Amu breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled, "That's good, that's good."
As the two were talking, several clerks from the city lord's mansion walked by. Seeing them, they all joked:
"Hey, Amu, going off duty with your wife?"
"Amu, you must listen to your sister-in-law from now on. She is a high-ranking official."
"That's right, that's right. You can't disobey your sister-in-law."
Amu blushed from the teasing and was about to defend himself when Mia laughed heartily:
"Don't worry, he always listens to me at home. He's just bringing that rule out to the outside world."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Amu scratched his head and laughed along. To be honest, he felt a little uneasy, but mostly proud.
My wife is so capable and valued by the town mayor; that's a good thing. As for who has a higher or lower official position, what does it matter? Husband and wife are one; if she is well, I am well, and if I am well, she is well too.
“Let’s go,” Mia said, linking her arm with Amu’s. “Let’s go home and cook. I’ll cook you a nice meal tonight.”
"Great!" Amu beamed.
...
Meanwhile, on another street in Blackrock City, a minor disturbance was unfolding in the courtyard of a house.
"Say that again!" A middle-aged man, reeking of alcohol, pointed at the woman in front of him and cursed, his face flushed. "You filthy woman, how dare you talk back to me? I'm your man, I'll support you."
The woman stood opposite him, hands on her hips, unyielding: "You support me? Tell me, how many copper coins have you earned in the past few months? You're drunk all the time, you can't even hold a bowl or chopsticks properly, and you still have the nerve to say you support me?"
"You...you..." The man trembled with rage. "I'm a man, and I'm the boss in this house!"
"A man?" the woman sneered. "What kind of man are you? I work in a textile workshop and earn eighty copper coins a month. And you? How many have you earned?"
She pulled a small cloth bag from her bosom and threw it on the table: "This is my wages for this month. If you can come up with more than this, this family will listen to you. If you can't, then you'd better stay put, drink less, and avoid causing trouble."
The man was speechless, staring at the heavy bag of copper coins on the table, unable to utter a word for a moment.
Outside the courtyard, several neighbors were peeking out to watch the commotion.
"Tsk tsk, the old laborer's wife is quite the tough guy these days."
"That's right. They work in the workshop and have income every month, so they naturally have a lot of confidence."
"Sigh, thinking back to the past, her husband would beat and verbally abuse her when he was drunk, and she could only endure it. Now the situation is different, and it's her turn to hold her head high."
"This is all thanks to Lord Lin. If he hadn't opened so many workshops and hired so many female workers, these women wouldn't be where they are today."
...
As night fell, Lin Yue stood on the pavilion of the city lord's mansion, looking down at the brightly lit streets.
The streets were bustling with people, including many women dressed in smart uniforms with identification tags hanging from their waists. Some were factory workers, some were shop managers, some were officials from the city lord's mansion, and some were female guards in blue vests.
They walked down the street with their heads held high, their eyes bright, their steps firm, just like the men.
Lin Yue's lips curled up slightly.
Change has only just begun. Those deeply ingrained beliefs won't disappear overnight. But as more women step forward and prove their worth with their abilities, those outdated prejudices will gradually crumble.
They are no longer appendages of men, no longer weaklings who can only stay at home and do housework.
They are the steel roses that are indispensable to the operation of this city.
That night, Lin Yue wrote furiously in his study, drafting a new decree, the "Equal Employment Decree".
The content of the law is very simple:
In Hope Town and Blackrock City, all workshops, shops, government offices, guard units, and other institutions must not refuse applicants based on gender when recruiting personnel. The hiring standard for all positions shall be based solely on ability; those who pass the assessment will be hired, regardless of gender.
Equal pay for equal work. Those who do the same work should receive the same pay, without discrimination based on gender.
No one may obstruct another person's employment, study, or participation in public affairs based on gender. Violators will be subject to fines or detention, depending on the severity of the offense.
After the decree was read at the morning assembly the following day, it was quickly posted on various bulletin boards.
Some people applauded, some shook their heads and sighed, some whispered among themselves, and some watched coldly.
But regardless of their reaction, the decree has already taken effect.
And those women who were once ignored, belittled, and restricted now have the confidence to step out of their homes with dignity and earn their living through their own abilities.
This is their strength.
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