A Good Country Wife
Chapter 544 - 538_1

Chapter 544: Chapter 538_1

However, these embroidery works naturally did not require Zhang Qiusheng’s involvement; they only needed to be mounted by the ordinary carpenters in the carpentry workshop. Zhang Qiusheng could now be said to be exclusive to Lin Yue, only taking on tasks of high difficulty or those involving intricate carving. After all, a person’s energy is limited.

Lin Yue also intentionally selected a few talented carpenters to apprentice under Zhang Qiusheng. At first, Zhang Qiusheng was somewhat reluctant, hence he held back certain techniques, unwilling to share his most crucial skills with these few. However, after the Fangcao incident, Zhang Qiusheng’s attitude improved significantly, no longer secretive. He understood that continuing such behavior would truly offend the mistress, especially since it was her idea for these apprentices to follow him. Besides, he had realized that the mistress merely intended to raise everyone’s carpentry skills and had no other motives. Didn’t she also teach the people in the embroidery room her own exclusive double-sided embroidery technique?

"By the way, Musheng’s wife, how are you coming along with the double-sided embroidery technique I showed you? If there’s anything unclear, don’t hesitate to trouble me. Feel free to come and ask me directly, or you can ask Lan Fang and Dong Xue as well. These two girls have been quick learners and have basically mastered it."

Even though Lin Yue taught everyone equally, each individual’s capacity to learn varied. Musheng’s wife was older and learned more slowly, not quite matching up to the likes of Lan Fang and Dong Xue in embroidery skills. Some things needed to be taught several times, but luckily she had a solid foundation in embroidery skills, which allowed her to integrate anything once learned.

"I am clumsy and still don’t understand some parts; I don’t dare to trouble mistress. Mistress has taught me more than once, and I still can’t remember. I’ll ask Lan Fang and Dong Xue later for advice."

Lin Yue was only worried that Musheng’s wife felt too embarrassed to ask her, so she casually offered help. As for what Musheng’s wife wanted to do, Lin Yue couldn’t be bothered to care. "Do whatever you think is best. When you’ve learned it, you’ll be able to teach a few disciples too. You can’t teach others yet since you haven’t mastered it yourself."

"Teach disciples? Does mistress mean I can teach the double-sided embroidery technique to others?" Musheng’s wife asked Lin Yue in surprise, thinking she had misunderstood.

"Yes, why, are you unwilling? If you are reluctant, I won’t force you. Taking disciples is a matter of fate, after all."

Musheng’s wife always felt she was a bit slow-witted, "No, no, I am willing. I just hadn’t imagined mistress would let me pass on the double-sided embroidery technique to others, so I needed to make sure and ask."

"What’s there to wonder about? Since I was willing to teach you, Lan Fang, and Dong Xue, I never had any intention of hoarding this embroidery skill to myself. The only reason I initially selected the three of you was that I found teaching too many people to be troublesome. The future development of this double-sided embroidery technique relies on you. The more people in our household who can do it, the better. However, it’s also important to be selective, one must choose individuals with good character to teach."

"Yes, I will remember mistress’s instructions."

Even Musheng’s wife hadn’t expected the mistress to have chosen two embroiderers for such a reason. She found it somewhat amusing and thought back to how many embroideresses had hoped to learn the art of double-sided embroidery from the mistress. This time, everyone had their chance, as long as they didn’t behave restlessly like Lun Qin. Even if their embroidery skills were lacking, it wasn’t a problem.

As for Lun Qin, she had been acting strange lately, clearly not focused on her work. Musheng’s wife wondered if she should report Lun Qin’s recent behavior to the mistress, but seeing that the mistress preferred to avoid work and let the servants handle things, she decided not to mention it. After all, it would only add to the mistress’s troubles. Besides, Lun Qin was just a minor embroideress—the impact of her actions would be limited. All that was needed was a bit more vigilance.

"Mistress, Manager Liu from the Soap Making Room has come. She seems to have something to discuss with you," Xixi reported as she entered the room. Upon hearing that someone had come to speak with Lin Yue, Musheng’s wife, having finished her business, took her leave, filled with fighting spirit.

Another reason the embroidery room had become so motivated recently, setting up a system of rewards and punishments, was that the mistress was willing to teach her entire embroidery skill set to anyone eager to learn. To gain skills, the embroideresses were willing to work hard, knowing such opportunities weren’t always available. Besides, it was knowledge that was valuable, not temporary favor from the mistress. Learning a craft would benefit them no matter what. Musheng’s wife imagined how much better the embroidery room would become once the news that the mistress was willing to teach double-sided embroidery got out, guaranteeing an even more enthusiastic atmosphere.

"Alright, you may go back. Tomorrow, people from the tooth shop will be bringing another group for selection. Join me in choosing a few suitable ones for the embroidery room," Lin Yue said to Musheng’s wife.

Following Zhao Erhu’s successful return from his sea voyage, Lin Yue began to aggressively expand her workforce. She sent people to the slave market, and whenever new slaves were for sale, they would be brought to her for selection. The requirement was that they sign a lifelong contract, preferably possessing some sort of skill, irrespective of the type. Lin Yue was broad-minded when it came to recruiting talent.

For Lin Yue, having ample hands wasn’t a problem—the more workers, the greater the business. She never worried about selling the products she made. Compared to modern hiring practices, this was truly cheap labor: wages were low and she didn’t have to worry about issues like job-hopping. Servants bonded by a lifelong contract had their fate in her hands. No one dared to betray her; those who did faced death without question. Of course, she usually wasn’t that cruel. Furthermore, these servants could be sold off if they weren’t needed, something only possible in this ancient era without human rights.

Hence, Lin Yue felt that the ancient rules were a double-edged sword, but in business, the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages. She was not so noble as to discuss human rights and autonomy with servants—that was the work of a self-righteous, virtuous persona. At most, she treated her servants well, neither harsh nor excessively strict, and paid them higher than the usual rates of the time. The servants were already very grateful for that.

"Sister Liu, have you come to discuss something with me?" Over in the Soap Making Room, Lin Yue had assigned a woman in her thirties who understood fragrances to manage the place. The details of how the woman had been sold there were left unspoken. She was a capable woman, not only skilled in creating scents but also proficient in various aspects, making her a perfect fit for managing the Soap Making Room.

"Mistress, I’ve had a new idea in the past few days. After examining the essential oil you rewarded me with the other day, I was wondering if we could also incorporate a moderate amount of essential oil into the Fragrant Soap. I specifically tried making a few blocks of soap with essential oil added, and they turned out to have a more lasting fragrance than those made with ordinary spices, which tend to lose their scent after being exposed to the air for a while."