Lu Yunfeng squeezed out of the store to stand in front, but Qin Xiaozhou stopped him.
Qin Xiaozhou wiped the saliva off her face, pretending to be disgusted, and looked up at the people talking incessantly. In front of her were scholars, dressed neatly and holding books of sages, and merchants carrying chickens and ducks to make a living. At this moment, these people all had the same goal.
Destroy her!
Qin Xiaozhou bowed gracefully, her expression composed.
The scholars, who had been so impassioned just moments before, were all taken aback and slowly shut their mouths.
Seeing that the scholars had fallen silent, the vulgar men who had started the trouble stood awkwardly still. But the battle had already begun, and they had no intention of giving up so easily. So they shouted and laughed, "Is this young lady going to go from being a clothing store owner to a street performer?"
These words were extremely insulting, but Qin Xiaozhou remained indifferent to them, though he did not show it on his face. "Brother, you are mistaken. I bowed only because there are people here who have studied the classics, and I respect them."
Upon hearing the words "reading the classics," the scholars' faces slowly turned red. They were ashamed and at a loss for what to do. How could dignified scholars be behaving like commoners and peddlers, attacking a woman? It was simply beneath their dignity and an insult to themselves!
However, some people still believe that their actions today are upright, honest, and incorruptible, and that they are setting a good example. They say, "Boss, it is because we have read the books of sages and know that diligence, frugality, and integrity are the keys to longevity, good governance, peace and stability, and a lasting empire that we have come to advise you against arrogance, extravagance, and debauchery."
With just a few words, they once again stood on the moral high ground.
Qin Xiaozhou wasn't buying it. She only knew that people cared most about their own interests. To break this situation, she had to make these people conflict and oppose each other. "Frugality is certainly good, and I dare not be extravagant. As for other principles, I, as a woman, don't understand them. I just think that you scholars are good and have a hard life. Therefore, I want to use this shop to build a brothel in Fenggu County and recruit the women from your scholar families to work there first. The wages and treatment will be better than others. After all, if you pass the imperial examination in the future, it will be the face of our entire Fenggu County. I will be honored to do so."
The scholars had strange expressions, neither happy nor annoyed. Many of them came from poor rural families, and one person's education was a burden on the whole family. They had to cut back on food and clothing for months to afford a single book. If the women in their families could work in the embroidery workshop and earn wages, it would be a lifesaver.
However, they were not easily bribed. The leader cleared his throat and said, "Miss, don't try to bribe us with such a paltry sum. We are all scholars and will not be bothered by such mundane matters."
Qin Xiaozhou was not in a hurry. "Gentlemen of the rank of scholar and official are of noble character, and my embroidery pavilion is naturally also strictly regulated, just like the Smooth Sailing Pavilion. It only admits women and does not allow men to enter. You do not need to worry about the great barrier between men and women. Besides, it is fine if the women in your families do not know how to embroider. As long as the older women are clean, they can come to the embroidery pavilion to cook and wash vegetables. Their monthly wages are thirty coins. Young girls can come to the embroidery pavilion to learn embroidery for free. Room and board are provided. After they learn, they can work in the embroidery pavilion for fifty coins a month."
"With no worries about their families, you can all focus on studying the classics and passing the imperial examinations, right? As for the others, they naturally don't have this privilege."
Scholars and everyone else were instantly treated differently. Because of this difference, they could not stand on the same side and could never unite against a common enemy.
The scholars were lifted high, their faces beaming with pride, and their attitudes naturally changed. However, out of consideration for the dignity of scholars and their usual self-righteousness, they suppressed their restless hearts, afraid that speaking first would make them lose face in front of their classmates.
"This, so much!" Wang Xiucai couldn't hold back any longer. Thirty coins for washing vegetables and cooking was more than all the porters at the dock! He also had a seven-year-old sister. His mother had been planning to sell her a few days ago to buy him books. Although he couldn't bear to see his sister sold, he also wanted books and had been worried sick these past few days. Now, things were much better. His mother could wash vegetables and cook, and his sister could be sent to work as an apprentice embroiderer. This saved the family a meal!
His family was poor, and if things continued like this, they wouldn't be able to afford to go to school. He didn't care about principles or face; having money to study was the most important thing.
"Okay! I'll sign up for my mom and little sister first!"
"Me, me, me too!"
Working as an embroiderer in a brothel is far more respectable than earning money by washing clothes for others in private. Who wouldn't be happy with such a great opportunity!
Lu Yunfeng quickly set up the table and chairs, took out his brush, ink, paper and inkstone, and began registering names.
The other peddlers and laborers were dumbfounded. "Pah, opportunists."
Wang Xiucai had already registered his mother and younger sister's names and was currently immersed in joy. He wanted to squeeze through the crowd to share the good news with his family. He had secured a decent job for his family by virtue of his status as a scholar, which made him look good. Upon hearing the insults, he immediately became displeased. "What do you, a mere merchant, know! This is called being pragmatic. Besides, although Manager Qin is a woman, she is righteous and generous. What happened just now must have been a misunderstanding."
Another scholar was initially too ashamed to admit that his family was struggling financially and he had to work as an embroiderer to make a living. However, if his two younger sisters really did become embroiderers, his mother wouldn't have to subtly persuade him to give up his studies when he came home. It would be a one-time solution. So, he covered half of his face with a book and squeezed in front of Lu Yunfeng.
Even families without educated members couldn't sit still any longer and squeezed forward, saying, "Shopkeeper Qin, my daughter is very good at embroidery. Do you want her? We only ask for twenty coins!"
"My family is good too, and they're beautiful. I don't need wages, just a meal will do!"
"Why don't you want your wages?!"
“We are poor. Our child is nine years old. We can’t afford to raise her, and we can’t bear to sell her. We just want her to live and stay with her father and me. We don’t expect anything else.”
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