The husband's son-in-law

In Zhaozhou, there were people who sold linen in the past, but most of them were coarse linen clothes or hemp rope wrapped in sackcloth, and they were also used on clothes. However, the people were poor and they didn’t pay much attention to the linen linen. Most of them used flax. The advantage is that it is easy to dye, but there are also many disadvantages. , Not to mention that the fabric is not elastic, it is easier to wrinkle, and it is not easy to recover.

At the investment promotion meeting, when the eight merchants entered the door, they were all beaming and bright--they were invited here by Master Gu and Boss Li, but there were no other merchants, so they couldn't be unhappy.But when he heard the goods to be sold, this big fellow, especially most of the people who came here were in the fabric business, immediately hesitated.

"This linen is worn by poor people, can it be sold?"

"Yeah, nobody pays a fortune for sackcloth."

There were also people who were cheering for Boss Li, and after thinking about it carefully, said: "Actually, there are a lot of hemp varieties, and it doesn't take up any good space. Just put a handful of seeds at any corner, and the weather here will grow gratifyingly without much business."

"It's okay to increase, but it will be troublesome to do it later."

In fact, it's not troublesome. If you sell hemp bags and ropes, it's easy to do. You don't have to worry about it. Even sackcloth can do it. The people outside Zhaozhou City have already practiced it.The troublesome one thinks that no one will buy the linen, it’s not cost-effective, and the process is shipped outside, how much money can you make?

A flower is embroidered on the linen, and it is dressed up in fine detail, that is also linen.

Those rich and noble families in the Central Plains, it is impossible to wear sackcloth and filial piety, and they have to choose good sackcloth?

"Can this be sold?" The topic came back again.

Li Zhouzhou is not in a hurry. The first time is raw and the second time is cooked. The same is true for the investment in coconut products before. After everyone discussed it, he said: "I want to try to make ramie for the first time."

"Ramie is better. The material is white and beautiful, not inferior to cotton. It is also very cool and light. It doesn't take up much space, and it's not afraid of mold and insects. It's just that the handling fee is a little bit. Twelve steps are necessary." Wang Wang said the master.

His family is in the silk business, and the fourth brother came back to ask him about Zhuangzi's cloth business. When it came to ramie, Master Wang thought in his heart that Boss Li's business must have something to do with cloth.

Sure enough, I guessed right.

"...That's sackcloth, too." Someone saw Boss Wang approaching him and said something nice, and immediately poured cold water on his mouth.

No matter how good it is, it is hemp.

The material made from ramie is light and thin, but also a little bit, it is not easy to color, and the color is difficult to be unstable.This is also why, in a box of sample goods sent, most of them use heavy colors, and there is also the problem of uneven dyeing.

Of course, this has to be pondered, and it is also possible to be confused.

"Linen is not easy to sell. What if hemp and silk are blended to make silk and linen?" Li Zhouzhou asked.

The big guy was stunned, confused, is this going to work?

"Boss Wang's silk business, how much is a batch of the lowest quality silk? How much time-consuming?"

"My family's silk is very good, and it is considered expensive in Zhaozhou. The cheapest one costs two taels of silver, and it takes five days for weavers to weave." Boss Wang replied.

Not to mention silk cutting, which is more troublesome than rubbing twine, it is too expensive, and it will be useless at every turn.If Boss Li said so, it would be more convenient and easier to make by mixing silk and hemp and using half less silk.

Boss Wang was beating his heart, thinking that the business could be done?Just don't know what kind of fabric it comes out of?

"Fourth brother, show the bosses a sample." Li Zhouzhou said.

Boss Wang saw that Boss Li valued the fourth brother, so he let the fourth brother participate in this investment promotion meeting. He is the child's father, and he has a bright face, so he is very happy.He knew that the merchants in Zhaozhou City laughed at him behind their backs and sent their children to the current people of Li Mansion.

Now open your dog's eyes and see, what does his fourth brother do?

It's not the servant who brings tea and water, but the trusted confidant of Boss Li.These people, he looked at, were all talkative, envious and jealous. The Li family who didn't look at Ji Ting also sent his brother over here. If it was true as those people said, they would send him to Boss Li's side. It's not a good job, why do you still want to have a brother?

Still he has vision.Boss Wang was happy.

The fourth brother is also up to date, and the business is up to him.

Everyone got the sample material, and they knew that the business could be done at first touch, but they didn't know how to make a profit?They couldn't help but look at Boss Li one by one.

"I don't know either. I'm a layman in the silk and hemp business." Li Zhouzhou said truthfully, and then the topic changed, "I opened a coconut factory with me, and I made coconut products for the first time. I sent them to the Central Plains and set prices. It was all set by me the day before."

Those present couldn't help but think of the one-hundred-pence coconut soap. A coconut is something no one wanted in Jiting, but it turned out to be a hundred-pence worth of it.Everyone was envious and envious.

Now, after listening to what Boss Li said, and looking at the ramie-mixed silk material in his hand, I immediately feel that it is good, so the coconuts that no one wants can be sold at a good price?Ramie is cheap, and if it is mixed with silk and woven into fabric, it should be profitable to sell it outside, right?

"I don't dare to give you any guarantee." Li Zhouzhou saw that the eyes of the eight were fiery, and said: "The coastal areas of Zhejiang and Zhejiang are very rich, and silkworms are raised there and weaving brocade satin is very good. We can't do business with other people's old skills Compared, can't compare."

The heat that everyone had just started suddenly cooled down.

"It's not top-notch. What I think is that ordinary people can wear it at home. The material is light and thin. It can be used as summer clothes, and it is easy to ship. It is easy to go on the road, and the damage is not big. If the price is set, the current batch of samples In terms of labor and cost, a piece of silk linen costs about 320 Wen."

"The most important point is that Mr. Gu figured out some time ago that Yang's spinning machine with sixteen silk threads was spun together—"

"what!"

"Sixteen silk threads spun together?"

"real or fake?"

Mr. Gu smiled at the one who said 'true or fake'.The questioner suddenly shivered, thinking that it might be fake, Boss Li has said so now, it must be true, how can he question Master Gu.

"It's true, you can spin up to eighteen, but sixteen is the fastest and most convenient." Gu Zhao replied with a smile, "Do you have any questions?"

You are shaking your head again and again, there is no problem, but you are shocked in your heart. In the past, the spinning machine can only spin one piece, but now it is naturally different. In this way, the delivery time will not be much faster, and the money will naturally be faster!

In this way, the book costs 320 Wen, and they sell it cheaply, and they can make some money by selling it for [-] Wen.

As long as the profit is half the cost, then the deal is a good deal.But I don't know if it can be sold, has anyone bought it?It should be able to sell, after all, silk is added.

The businessmen held their abacus beads in their stomachs, and soon each of them made up their minds in their eyes and faces-it can be done!

What merchants want is boldness. If they are timid and fearful, what business will they do?How else to make money?Even if this batch of compensation is small, the total of the eight of them will not be able to pay much.

After the deal was finalized, he took the money and asked Boss Li politely and respectfully, how is the share price determined?

The Chen family is rich and generous, but his words are soft, "My family is not afraid, this time there is more, can it take a big advantage? Naturally, Boss Li is the first." It means that Boss Li is second.

"Nowadays, hemp, mulberry, and silkworms are not raised too much. Those who raise silkworms and kill silk are in the two counties of Bolin and Annan. Zhaozhou City is very suitable for planting hemp. Two factories have been opened, one for spinning and one for spinning. It's weaving..."

Li Zhouzhou clarified what he said. It depends on how many people invested in the two factories separately, or they did it together, or the first batch of goods can’t cost so much money now. If the sales are good, the second batch will be given priority to build the factory. .

Before he finished speaking, the eight merchants were in a hurry, and none of them wanted to procrastinate. They were the shareholders of the second batch of factory construction.In case the business gets better, there will be a lot of money in the back, and now Mr. Li, the boss, Mr. Gu, still thinks about the eight of them, and the business will start up in half a year. What if there is a better candidate, what should they do?

The meat should be eaten into the mouth, that is the meat.

If you put it on the front and don't enter your mouth for a long time, then you are hanging, and it has nothing to do with them.

"In my opinion, it's better to build two more factories. The goods are divided into two batches, just like the coconut goods. The first batch is out, and our second batch can catch up. It's just right. Don’t waste time like this, if you look at the sales and then build the factory, wouldn’t that be a waste of time?” Boss Chen is used to speaking with a lot of money and power, and he was about to finish speaking, and then added respectfully at the end, “Boss Li, see?"

Li Zhouzhou actually meant the same thing.

Ramie is different from coconut trees. Coconut trees have to be planted for four or five years to bear fruit, while all kinds of hemp grow fast, and you can see benefits in a year. four or five years.

"Boss Chen is courageous, and I also think it's good." Li Zhouzhou followed suit.

In fact, he also wanted what Boss Chen said, and he directly built the factory to make it bigger. The husband also agreed, and said 'but', so Li Zhouzhou couldn't ask why?

Gu Zhao smiled mischievously, and said Zhou Zhou kissed me as soon as he kissed me.Before Li Zhouzhou could move his mouth, Gu Zhaoxian came over, hugged his wife and kissed him, and then he talked happily without any riddles.

If Zhou Zhou proposed to become bigger and stronger, these eight people would definitely hesitate. They all said that if they don’t see rabbits, they won’t scatter eagles, and they haven’t seen any benefits yet.But if Zhou Zhou said to invest in batches, there must be some people who are afraid of being left behind and hurried on board first.

Now at the China Merchants Conference, it is indeed accurate.

Mr. Gu personally wrote the deed, signed by everyone, in duplicate.

"It's done, all the bosses of Zhaozhou Sima." Gu Zhao joked with a smile.

The eight merchants bowed their hands one after another, their waists were all shortened, and they saluted one after another.

Gu Zhao waved his hand and said: "Don't be so indifferent, you do business with Boss Li, you open a factory and recruit workers, there are more jobs, and the wages also flow into the pockets of the people of Zhaozhou. To live and work in peace and contentment, the people must be rich. "

"As long as it is a business that is beneficial to the prosperity of the people of Zhaozhou, the official will naturally support and support it."

Everyone naturally said that Mr. Gu loves the people like a son, which is the well-being of the people of Zhaozhou.Just listen to this nonsense, Gu Zhaorang opened a bottle of green plum wine, Li Zhouzhou said: "The business is not done yet, let's toast you with thin wine, and when the harvest comes next year, Li will treat you to dinner."

The couple sang together, and a bottle of green plum wine worth more than 30 Wen was exchanged for several thousand taels of silver.Of course, this is money used to build factories and recruit workers for planting.

Li Zhouzhou began to settle accounts, select a site, and then started to build the factory.

"Fortunately, we are in Zhaozhou. If we were in Xiping Village, there would be heavy snow in winter and the soil would be frozen solid. If we want to build a factory, we would have to wait until the next spring when the snow melts and the soil becomes soft." Li Da sighed, Now I feel that Zhaozhou is getting better.

Although there were more rainy days, there was enough rain in those few months.Now in the mansion, the streets outside are all cement roads, and they are not muddy.It's all right.

The factory was built not far from Zhaozhou City, in the direction of Bolin and Annan. Two were built before, and now there are two more to be built. It is located in the southwest direction. The road is built on the side of the main road and connects with various village roads. It is about six or seven miles from the farthest village to the nearest factory.

There are also closer ones.

If it is a village in the south or east, it must be far away.

If there is no way to build a factory, it is naturally built in a place close to the raw materials.

Li Zhouzhou heard from his husband that in the future, the corresponding locations of Jiting, Rongguan, and Minzhang counties will also build factories outside Zhaozhou City, but at different times, villagers in the southeast will also be able to work.

When the money arrived, and during the slack season, the common people heard about the recruitment and construction of factories, and came to sign up one after another.

No matter what else, Mr. Gu has been here for more than a year, building roads and building factories non-stop. First, their people have earned wave after wave of money. In addition, the rice harvest is coming in autumn. This year, the children have long been looking forward to it. , Said to eat meat.

eat!

The industrious family has more wealth in their hands, and promised the children, "Not only eat meat, but also buy chicken, and stew the chicken to eat when the time comes."

The children are drooling greedily, looking forward to the New Year every day.

There are also those lazy people who are lazy and lazy, and the whole family expects their daughter-in-law to go out to work, but the women's strength is weak, and they earn little money, and no one helps to look after the dolls. In the past, the village said that they made fertilizers, and her family had no money to afford them. Now In autumn, the harvest is ready, only her family's land is still the same as before.

It is difficult to fill the stomach.

"Hua Niang, tell me about your man. If this goes on, if you don't talk about anything else, your aunt will starve to death first." The village woman said.

Another person said: "If Hua Niang can say something, why wait until now? Then Lazy San's parents can't control him, and he is dragged to death. What is Hua Niang saying now?"

This is true.

It's reliable that Hua Niang is carrying a house by herself, how can this be done.

"If I were to marry a lazy bastard like Lan San, I'd rather kill myself because I can't survive this day."

"Hey, why are you saying this, Hua Niang, don't listen to your heart, if this dies, your aunt will have to follow her, can it be possible to let Lazy San take care of your aunt? We women are hard-fought. Bar."

"If you want me to say that you still have to have another son, maybe you will be diligent if you are lazy." Someone suggested.

"There is some truth to it. When your aunt gets married, it is the water that was thrown out. Maybe Lazy San is not willing to raise children for her family if she doesn't move now. It is the root of my family to have a male doll to carry on the family. Please work harder, Hua Niang." .”

Someone ridiculed, "It's useless to ask Huaniang to work harder. Look at Huaniang, who is so thin. If she becomes pregnant, you will use eggs and meat to make up for her body? If you give birth to a son, you will be lazy or lazy. Feed the doll."

"What am I raising? Lazy San's baby is not from my family."

Seeing that there was going to be a quarrel, the silent Hua Niang said: "Stop arguing, he is too lazy to touch me, he won't be able to give birth."

"Ah this..."

They were all stunned, I have seen laziness before, I have never seen such laziness, I don't even touch Huaniang, how can I have a baby?The fire that had just started was gone, and everyone was left with pity for Huaniang, but it was useless to pity them. After so many years of pity, Huaniang's life became more and more poor.

"Have you heard? People have built factories in the west, and also in the south. After the new year, they won't be recruiting workers, right?"

"The south side has also been built?" The woman's eyes lit up. They all knew about the factory built on the west side before, but it was far away from their village, and it took a long time to walk. It's dark and prone to accidents.

Every household locked their daughters-in-law, girls, and brothers, and were not allowed to sign up for work.It's not that I don't want to earn wages, but the road is too far away, it's not bright in the morning, and it's only at night when I come back. Is this plausible? What if someone robs or takes away his innocence?

If it takes half an hour and an hour, all the big guys go together, and come back before dark, that is of course the best.

Therefore, the women in Huaniang Village are very envious of opening a factory in the west.

Now a factory is also built in the south?The south side is close to them, but why didn't they hear anything?

"It's in the southwest, and it's still some distance away from us. I've heard that the nearest one will take more than an hour to walk there."

"It's not too far away for more than an hour, and it's almost the same as going into the city."

Somebody has come alive.

"How do you recruit workers? Are you recruiting men or women?"

"How much is it a day? I heard that Ji Ting pays eight cents a day for recruiting women."

"So many! Doesn't it mean that you can eat meat every month?"

Now the crops in the field are good, and rice, taro, and miscellaneous grains are enough to fill my stomach. If I really let go of eating Bawen a day, I can really eat meat every day, which I never dared to think about before.

"I don't know. Anyway, Ji Ting also recruits men."

"Ah, that's it, my mother will definitely not allow me to go." This family is a little richer.

Another person couldn't get used to it, and said, "You still don't want to go? There are so many people who want to go, not to mention our village, those nearby villages, and people in Zhaozhou city. Who doesn't want to go? I'm afraid It's not your turn."

Also picky.

The young girl blushed with anger, but she couldn't refute it.

"It's done, stop arguing, let's inquire later, and sign up to try. Are you going, Hua Niang?"

Hua Niang reacted for a while, and then said: "No one is watching my aunt, if I go, the children will be hungry."

"If you don't expect to be lazy, why don't you spend two pennies to show the aunt next door how much food a young lady can eat in a day? This can also save six pennies."

"It's still early to say, when the time comes to open the factory and recruit workers, I call you, maybe we don't need to travel far away."

Regardless of whether it is in the city or outside the city, they always talk about the factory, and some even ask how the factory is built every day.When are you recruiting?Some people say that the shadows are not seen, and it will take a month to build a house, so why worry.

Unexpectedly, the construction of this factory is so fast, and the other two have already started to recruit workers.The news first spread from the west, and by the time it reached Huaniang Village, it was several days later.

"Only female workers and elder brothers are accepted, five cents a day during the study period."

"What is the study period?"

"It means that you don't know anything when you first enter the factory, and someone will teach you how to work."

"Give me five cents a day for learning skills? Is that good?"

"It's true that it doesn't accept men, but only female workers and brothers?"

"Men are also accepted, but they are doorkeepers and deliver goods. They recruit less and require more female workers. I heard that it is a job with thin hair. Men can't do it, because their hands are too rough."

The women became happy, and some people even laughed in private: "I used to dislike us, but now there are no more men in the factory."

"My grandma's rice has been getting a little thicker for me recently, so God asked me to go and see the factory, and urged me to go."

Who doesn't want to go, this day is worthless.

"I heard that Ji Ting still has New Year's ceremony, two catties of meat and one chicken and half a tael of silver."

Since the factory was built in Zhaozhou City, it was rumored that there was a need to recruit workers. Those who had relatives in Jiting or those who were going to Jiting mostly dragged people to inquire about the situation of the Jiting factory. Now it is reported back to Zhaozhou. The young girl who said her mother wouldn't let her go is now heartbroken.

Working for a few months, this can earn the whole family's expenses for a year.

No matter how good and prosperous the family in the village is, I have never heard of anyone who can spend one or two taels of silver a year for their maid. This is fart.

So everyone was anxiously looking forward to it, and finally arrived at the new factory to recruit workers.

This day, Hua Niang got up when it was still dark. Yesterday, she had already agreed with the aunt next door to help her look after Tian Niang. If she fails, she will come back early in the afternoon.Seeing that Hua Niang is pitiful, Auntie has been able to help all these years, so she immediately agreed and asked Hua Niang to try.

A village of women, girls, brothers and husbands went together in the dark.

When Tiantian Maliang arrived, there were already a lot of people lined up outside the factory. Those who saw through could tell that some were from nearby villages, and some came from Zhaozhou city. Looking around.

Someone registered at the gate of the factory, what name, age and where did the family live, and the queue was long.

Hua Niang was behind, moving back a little bit, thinking of the aunt at home, and thinking that this work must be delicate and delicate, she stretched out her hand, and her ten fingers were cracked, wrinkled, and swollen like radish sticks. Her points, alas.

They were about to reach their village, and a person came out and said, "Go and count the first one hundred. If you get stuck, you won't need it after that. We are almost recruited. Let those who came come back early, and don't queue up."

The man got an order and said: "I'll go to the fourth boss now." Baba ran fast, and shouted loudly at the back: "Don't queue up behind, it's late, I won't recruit, go back quickly."

It happened to pass by the people of Hua Niang's village, so Hua Niang breathed a sigh of relief.

"The one who gave orders just now seems to be a brother? I saw the red mole next to the tip of his nose. It must be a brother. He is young. I didn't expect to speak. The tall man really listened."

The young girl in the village whispered, her eyes were filled with curiosity or envy.

Why is it so majestic.

Another person sighed and said: "I really haven't seen it. One day, my brother will be able to climb on top of a man and take care of him."

"...I think so too." The girl said softly.

The others didn't hear it, but Hua Niang who was standing behind heard it, and thought to herself how could a woman climb on top of a man?

Even if the men in her family failed in everything, they were born to take care of women. Whoever asked them to turn into a man, if he wanted to be a man in charge, and suffered hardships in this life to atone for the sins of the previous life, he might be able to turn into a man in the next life.

She has no hope in this life.

When it was Hua Niang's turn, Hua Niang gave her name dully. Because of her heavy accent, she didn't often talk to people. She stuttered just now, so the villagers answered for her.The one who registered was a little impatient, Hua Niang retreated half a step back.

"Her name is Hua Niang, I understand, but you are only 27 this year?" The fourth brother doesn't think so, his aunt is 31, much younger than this Hua Niang.

But it seems that it cannot be compared like this.The fourth brother thought of what the boss said, this Hua Niang was forced to work hard at the first sight, she was tortured, she was exposed to the wind and the sun all day long to make a living, she can't just look down on people who work hard to live.

The fourth brother corrected his attitude and said, "Go in, work hard and study hard. If you don't study well, you will definitely be brushed away, just don't want it."

"Would you like it?" The surprise at the front.

The fourth brother patiently explained: "Teach you how to do it first. Some people really can't do it and can't learn it. There's nothing we can do about it. We can deliver the goods, but don't worry. During this period of study, you will get five pennies a day. Money, once you join the job, you will receive it every half a month."

"Come in quickly."

Temporary workers felt relieved, it would be nice to get paid for a day of work.When they entered the factory, someone took them, and they dared to ask, "Auntie, who was talking at the door just now?"

"You have to ask me to be the team leader. I will guide and teach you 30 people." The team leader glanced at him and asked, "I will make a report when I speak in the future."

"What is a report?"

The team leader raised his hand and shouted: "Report. Will it be met?"

"Yes."

Unexpectedly, there are such rules when entering the factory to work. Everyone thinks it is very strict and novel.After the team leader had finished teaching, he said, "The person who was standing at the door just now was the fourth steward. We, Boss Li, are the people next to us. Boss Li is the big boss of these four factories."

Boss Li has four factories here! ! !

So powerful.

"Those four masters—" The speaker immediately covered his mouth, raised his hand and typed a report, the team leader agreed, and then asked: "Is the four masters Boss Li's brother?"

Otherwise, if you don't want a man, why do you want a brother to be in charge?

The team leader said: "What nonsense are you talking about? The fourth manager is Boss Wang's child, and our Boss Li is also a husband. The young master is only five years old now. Don't talk about the relationship."

"Yes, I see."

Seeing the serious face of the team leader, everyone didn't dare to gossip anymore, and everyone became obedient.

The people in Zhaozhou city and outside the city started to move. The people outside collected ramie and transported it to the factory. The factory began to teach the big guys how to make pulp, how to get silk, and how to dry...

A series of processes, as well as dyeing.

In addition, Bolin and Annan prefectures will send a batch of silk thread every ten days and a half months.The workers in the textile factory also started to move, first teaching how to weave——

These workers who teach the skills of the family are not taught for nothing. Li Zhouzhou spent a lot of thought and signed a contract with the other party. The one who teaches the workers is the team leader. Sign a long-term contract with him.

five-year round.

If these team leaders did not make mistakes, the factory would not dismiss them.

One tael per month, 12 taels of silver a year, which is a lot of money for these team leaders. Before weaving and spinning at home, they worked so hard that their eyes were almost blind. Two taels of silver, how good it is now, they only teach, and their subordinates manage people, and they don’t have to really suffer every day, not to mention the money from the factory, if you do a good job and teach well, the annual gift is five taels of silver .

Who can't be heartbroken?

If Master Gu threatened the whole family with this skill, what would they do?Not obediently obedient.But Mr. Gu didn't show up, and Boss Li was so kind to him, he was all grateful.

During the Chinese New Year, the factory stopped for a few days and gave out some New Year gifts.

Because these workers come here, the New Year gift is not like the Jiting factory, where each person has a chicken or two catties of meat, not half a tael of silver.But everyone was very happy. Anyone who went to work in the Zhaozhou silk and hemp factory, whether it was a girl or a brother, now had an unusual status in the family.

Even at Hua Niang’s house, there was no meat on the Chinese New Year’s table in the past, but now they can cook chicken drumsticks to taste meat.

Those who didn't go in looked forward to seeing when Boss Li would set up another factory. The more factories he opened, the better.

"Why do you want to open as much as you want? If Boss Li makes some money, he will definitely be able to open the factory again. Now that he doesn't make any money, Boss Li is posting the money. If he loses money, he can't close the factory—"

"Bah, bah, don't talk nonsense, Boss Li will definitely make a lot of money, and the business is booming, and it will last for a long time." The girl who worked in the factory confronted her elder brother hard-tempered for the first time.

This time, the whole family didn't help the elder brother to speak, the parents, grandma and grandpa all scolded the elder brother.

"Eat your food and talk less."

"Those who celebrate Chinese New Year are not allowed to speak unlucky words, and nothing good can come out of a dog's mouth."

"Don't be mad at your sister."

"Er Niang, come and eat more meat, make up for your hard work."

Da Lang pursed his lips, holding the bowl to grill the rice, but he also thought in his heart that it would be great if Boss Li opened a factory to recruit male workers, and he appointed to speak well of Boss Li every day.