Chapter 153 The Silk Farm (2)

“But we made a long-term contract with you, the shortest term is two years. Are you sure you want to work for us?” Su Shuilian smiled and asked. She didn’t intend to trouble them. However, if they wanted to work at the private mansion, they had to receive a one-month training by Chun Lan before their manager arranged tasks suitable with their abilities. Their tasks would be changed every quarter. After one year, they would be assigned to a fixed job which their specialty fit.

“Yes,” Xiao Mei puffed out her chest. However, her shy expression showed that she was just a thirteen-year-old teenager, who was still timid.

When Aunt Wang heard Su Shuilian’s question, she had already guessed it would be possible. She smiled, and wiped her hands on her apron. “Madam, it’s almost lunch time. We don’t have exotic or delicious foods, but if you don’t mind, would you want to have lunch with us before you leave?”

“No need. Aunt Wang, I still need to visit the silk workshop. If Xiao Mei wants to work for us and you two also agree, I’m willing to accept her. Around 6 a.m. tomorrow, you come and see Chun Lan. She will help you with the procedure. About your salary, it won’t be much for the first year. Two hundred coins each month, and we’ll take care of your meals and accommodation. It is also possible if you want to return home after your shift. However, you have to stay during your rotation.” Su Shuilian briefed them about the salary of the newly recruited maids so as the family would understand. They would have one more night to carefully consider it.

“Yes yes yes, Xiao Mei will go. Madam, don’t worry. We will not embarrass you.” When Aunt Wang heard that her daughter would receive two hundred coins every month, which was around two ingots a year! Her daily meals and accommodation were also taken care of as well… Such a good opportunity, why hadn’t they thought about it before?

Su Shuilian nodded and smiled at Xiao Mei when she noticed the family were firm on their decision. Bidding farewell to the Wang family, she got in Xin Zhi’s horse carriage and made her way to the silk farm.

These days, as she had been busy preparing for the Dragon Boat Festival, she hadn’t had a chance to visit the silk farm. Lin Si Yao went to the city to find a new headquarters for Feng Yao Court very early this morning, so she had free time to go and check the silk workshop. It would save her from A Yao’s nagging that she didn’t rest enough and always kept herself busy. However, if she stayed at home all day and watched him busy, she would feel distressed for him. As she was not a store owner like Jing Zhi or Ying Yun, at least, she should be able to visit her business sometimes. Moreover, it was her suggestion to build the silk workshop since she wanted the people here to be able to wear silk clothes.

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“Madam, why did you come here? Did you have lunch?” Aunt Luo – the chef and also the manager of the silk workshop – just finished cooking lunch. She was surprised when she saw Su Shuilian and Xin Zhi.

When they heard Manager Luo’s voice, people working in the workshop, who were about to have lunch, happily ran out from the workshop.

“I didn’t visit you during the Dragon Boat Festival yesterday. Have you all eaten the zongzi?” Su Shuilian smiled and greeted the people in front of her.

“We did. We ate all the flavors and the other good foods. We also drank a bottle of Osmanthus flower wine. We were so full…” The chief craftsman scratched his head and smiled.

“Then that’s good. Here’s some snacks. They are the desserts from Si Tuo and Ying Yun’s wedding. As well as wedding candies, please enjoy!” Su Shuilian signaled Xin Zhi to deliver the boxes of snacks on the horse carriage to the workers.

“Madam and miss haven’t had lunch, right? Would you want to join us?” Manager Luo received the wedding cakes, actively inviting.

“Alright, we’re here to ask you for a meal, manager. Afterward, I want to see the silk. Old Ying, is everything okay?” Su Shuilian nodded, smiling and asking the chief craftsman about the silk workshop’s situation.

“Everything is well! The first batch of silkworm cocoons can be used. These days, we’ve been soaking and softening the cocoons as per the instructions from the previous experiment. The effect is quite good. Qi Luo and Wen Hui have been extracting threads from the very first soaked and softened silkworm cocoons. Although we haven’t woven and dyed the fabric, it already looks very promising. After we produce the finished product and debut it in the market, I’m sure it’ll cause a sensation in all of Da Hui!” Old Ying explained with gleaming eyes. Everybody laughed while looking at his face full of anticipation.

“Good! Then work hard everyone! We will try our best to produce the first batch of plain woven products with “He Yuan” Brand before the Lunar New Year.” Su Shuilian couldn’t hold her bright smile. She had interviewed and recruited those workers personally. They all had great interest and expectation of the silk fabric she had mentioned. They believed that in the near future, Da Hui would have a new, praiseworthy fabric that was comfortable and fitted people’s bodies – natural silk. Currently, the weaving process was simple and they only produced ‘georgette’, which she had replicated through trial and error. Of course, once with her and the experts’ current experience and eventual improvement, Su Shuilian believed that the silk workshop will be able to have better quality fabrics produced in the near future. At that time, she would expand the silk workshop into a factory that could do all steps from extracting threads to sewing ready-to-wear pieces for the common people… and not just enjoyed by only the rich.

Ying Yun and her sister also said that if Su Shuilian wanted to expand the silk workshop, their Yue Yun Embroidery House would become the first shop that joined this shop chain. The house she had deeply attached to was the house she and A Yao had joined hands to develop, also the house she had built together with her friends.