While Xiao Che, under the identity of "new recruit Xiao Shisan," was experiencing the "undercover" life of cleaning toilets, eating pig feed, and fighting against treacherous officials in the Third Squad's military camp, Lin Wanwan on the other side was not idle either.
Let's rewind to the afternoon of the day Xiao Che enlisted in the army.
After seeing off her Emperor, who was eager to "play on a new account and crush noobs," Lin Wanwan changed back into the brocade dress befitting her status as "Lady Lin, a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan." Accompanied by Madam Meng Wei, a forthright and spirited daughter of a military family, she arrived at the military compound in Zhenbeiguan.
In name, she was a newcomer to the area, a "general's cousin's wife" who had come to visit the military families and neighbors and to strengthen their bonds.
In reality, she was there to conduct "social research".
The military dependents' compound in Zhenbeiguan was far from the neat and orderly place Lin Wanwan had imagined. A row of low, mud-brick houses stood side by side, their walls riddled with cracks from years of weathering. Everywhere in the courtyard, faded, worn-out clothes hung to dry, and the air was thick with an atmosphere of poverty and desolation.
Here, you can't hear the cheerful laughter of the Jiangnan water towns, only the suppressed coughs of women and the faint cries of children from hunger.
"Madam Meng, this place... seems even more... austere than I imagined." Lin Wanwan looked at the scene before her, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and said softly.
Upon hearing this, Madam Meng's cheerful smile faded, replaced by a helpless sigh: "Sister Lin, you don't know. Life at the border is tough. The men risk their lives on the front lines, but the meager military pay allocated by the court is skimmed off layer by layer, leaving them with barely a penny. It's only because my husband, Old Meng, holds a higher rank that we can manage. But these ordinary military wives... sigh, it's so hard."
She pointed to a woman squatting by the doorway not far away, feeding a thin, sallow-faced child porridge with a broken bowl, and said, "See that? That's Li Daniu's family. Her husband served in the army his whole life, and her son died in battle at Heifengkou last month. The compensation should have come long ago, but... not a word has been heard. Look at her child, so thin he's like a monkey; he probably doesn't even have enough to eat."
Lin Wanwan's gaze fell on the woman.
She was the wife of Li Daniu, the veteran Xiao Che had met late at night.
The woman seemed to sense their gazes, and looked up. Her eyes, long since dulled by life, were filled with numbness and wariness. Only when she saw that it was Madam Meng did she manage to force a smile that was more like a grimace, as a greeting.
Lin Wanwan's heart felt as if it had been tugged by an invisible hand, causing a slight pain.
She knew that this was the other side of war, its true face. At the front lay the bloodshed and sacrifice of men, while behind them lay the silent tears and long wait of women.
And now, even these tears and waiting will be trampled on by those damned parasites with poverty and hunger!
“Mrs. Meng,” Lin Wanwan took a deep breath, a resolute glint in her eyes, “I want to talk to my sisters.”
...
Half an hour later, hundreds of military dependents gathered on the largest open space in the military dependents' compound.
Most of them looked pale and ragged, their eyes filled with uncertainty about the future and wariness of the stranger (Lin Wanwan). They had been summoned by Madam Meng, and although they were puzzled, they dared not disobey.
Lin Wanwan stood before them, followed by Madam Meng. Unlike those wealthy ladies, she didn't adopt a haughty attitude, nor did she offer empty words of comfort.
Her gaze slowly swept over everyone present, taking in the sorrow, numbness, and the deepest despair hidden on their faces.
"Sisters."
Lin Wanwan spoke, her voice clear and strong, carrying a strange, comforting power.
“My name is Lin Wanwan, you can call me Madam Lin. My husband is a businessman. This time, he came to Zhenbeiguan with my cousin, General Meng, to see if there is any business to be done.”
She got straight to the point, without uttering a single unnecessary word.
The soldiers' families whispered amongst themselves, discussing the matter. What could a wealthy merchant's wife from Jiangnan possibly want with them, these poor soldiers' families?
One of the bolder women couldn't help but ask, "Madam Lin, you...you've come to see us for something, haven't you?"
"Something's up." Lin Wanwan nodded, looking intently at them. "And it's some really great news."
She paused, then took out a silver note from her bosom and held it high.
"This is one thousand taels of silver."
"Whoosh—!"
The crowd erupted in chaos!
One thousand taels!
For people like them who are struggling to even get enough to eat, this is an astronomical figure! Many of them have never seen so much money in their entire lives!
Everyone's eyes were fixed on that thin piece of paper, their gazes filled with shock and greed.
“My husband has so much money he doesn’t know what to do with it.” Lin Wanwan’s face revealed a smile that was in line with her status as a “wealthy businessman’s wife” and had a touch of “Versailles” about it. “He couldn’t bear to see the sisters living such hard lives. So, he decided to fund the purchase of a batch of the best cotton and dozens of looms to give to everyone.”
Give it away? Give it away to everyone?
The military families were stunned once again. They looked at each other, unable to believe their ears. Could there really be such a good thing?
Li Daniu's wife, the woman whose expression had been numb, couldn't help but raise her head and ask in a hoarse voice, "Madam Lin... what... what do you mean by this? Are you... are you pitying us?"
Although they are poor, they still have their pride. They don't need anyone's charity or pity.
“No, it’s not out of pity.” Lin Wanwan shook her head, her smile becoming sincere and solemn. “I’m here to do business with everyone.”
Looking at the group of women before her, who, though poor, mostly possessed skillful hands, her voice suddenly rose, filled with an inspiring power:
"Sisters! Your men are on the front lines, shedding blood to protect our country! You are the families of heroes!"
"But look at the lives you're living, what kind of lives are you living?!"
"We can't count on the imperial court's supplies!" Her words were pointed, subtly indicating the existence of Qian Canjun and others.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, many military dependents showed expressions of resentment and helplessness.
"Are we just supposed to stay here, shedding tears, waiting for the men to send back that meager amount of military pay, which might even be withheld?"
"Are we just going to stand by and watch our children starve and grow thin and pale?"
"No!" Lin Wanwan's voice was strong and clear, like a war drum, striking heavily on the hearts of every woman!
"We cannot shed tears in the rear! We must rely on ourselves! We must be self-reliant and have enough to eat and wear!"
She opened her arms as if to embrace everyone in front of her.
"I'll provide the money, the cotton, and the looms! I'll establish a 'Zhenbei Textile Workshop'! You provide the manpower and your skillful hands! My husband will buy all the cloth we weave and the clothes we make! We'll buy them at a high price!"
"We don't pay by the day, we pay by the piece! The more you weave, the more you make, the more money you get!"
Piece-rate pay!
This management model, which is already common in modern society, was like a thunderbolt opening the door to a new world for these ancient women who had never heard of it before!
No more egalitarianism! The more you work, the more you get paid!
This means that as long as they work hard enough, they really can earn money with their own hands to support their children!
All the women's breathing became rapid! In their long-dead eyes, a spark of hope was rekindled!
"Sisters!" Seeing their emotions ignited, Lin Wanwan pressed her advantage and made a final plea, "Are you willing to rely on your own hands to earn a living and dignity for yourselves and your children?!"
"willing!"
I don't know who it was, but the first person shouted it out at the top of their lungs!
Then, the second, the third...
"willing!"
"We are willing!"
The long-suppressed cries converged into a torrent, dispelling the gloom that had long shrouded the military family compound!
...
In less than three days.
With Lin Wanwan's strong initiative and Madam Meng's full support, the "Zhenbei Textile Workshop" miraculously opened.
Brand-new looms were moved into several of the largest empty barracks, and piles of snow-white, high-quality cotton brought tears of emotion to the eyes of every military family member who saw them.
The rules for piece-rate wages were clearly written on a wooden board, simple and straightforward, and fair to all, young and old.
Initially, some people were skeptical.
But when the first day ended, and they truly received the heavy, gleaming copper coins and silver coins from Lin Wanwan's steward, according to the amount of cloth they had woven—
The entire military dependents' compound was in complete jubilation!
Li Daniu's wife, her hands trembling, counted the fifty coins she had earned that day. This sum was more than a third of her husband's monthly military pay!
She bought half a pound of brown rice and even splurged on a small piece of meat to cook a fragrant bowl of meat porridge for her child. Watching her child wolf down the entire bowl of porridge and burp contentedly, this strong woman finally couldn't hold back anymore, squatting down and bursting into tears.
Those were tears of joy, tears of hope.
Three days later, when the first, larger sum of wages was paid out.
The soldiers' families looked at "Lady Lin," who was still dressed in brocade and had a gentle smile on her face, and their eyes changed completely.
It was no longer the initial wariness, nor the later gratitude.
It was a kind of heartfelt emotion, a mixture of awe and fervor—
worship!
In their eyes, this "Lady Lin" who fell from the sky was not the wife of some wealthy businessman; she was a living bodhisattva who could lead them out of despair and bring them hope!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com