Tang Dongdong still felt the idea was utterly absurd, yet she could not think of a better solution, so she could only nod helplessly.
“Then let us try it this way.”
Finding concubines for Jin Feng had always been one of Guan Xiaorou’s obsessions. When she heard Tang Dongdong agree, she shed her usual self-doubt and timidity for the first time and became decisive.
“Since we have decided, Dongdong, hurry back to the textile factory and make arrangements. Xiao Yu, go and inform the village head, Third Grandpa, and Old Zhao. Explain the situation to them.”
Guan Xiaorou continued, “Also, send someone to think of a way to delay the county magistrate’s men for a bit.”
“Understood!” Xiao Yu nodded, then turned and ran off quickly.
Tang Dongdong also returned to the textile factory.
West River Bay now had no idle people. The adults were either farming or working at their jobs, and the children were all studying in school.
The village appeared bustling and lively, yet everything was orderly.
But as the news spread, chaos suddenly erupted.
Female workers on the night shift were woken up and rushed towards the textile factory.
Male workers from the construction sites, kiln factory, cement factory, and other places stopped what they were doing and ran towards the threshing ground.
The textile factory had Tang Dongdong in charge, so Guan Xiaorou did not need to worry about it. Instead, she took the three village heads and headed straight to the threshing ground.
“Have you heard? The new county magistrate is coming to West River Bay to seal up our factories!”
“We have not stolen anything or robbed anyone. On what grounds can he seal our factories?”
“I heard the gentleman has achieved great military merit in western Sichuan. It must be that the county magistrate is jealous of the gentleman and deliberately came to pick a fight!”
“Achieving merit is the gentleman’s own ability. On what grounds should they be jealous?”
“You have served in the army before, have you not? Do you not know the filthy things that go on in the military?”
“Those damned high officials are all cowards when it comes to fighting, but when it comes to stealing credit, they are the fiercest of all!”
“A few days ago, some escort brothers came back from western Sichuan. I heard them say that the situation there was extremely dangerous at the time, but neither the gentleman nor the Ninth Princess retreated even a single step. The Ninth Princess beat the war drums at the front, and the gentleman personally took command on the battlefield. Half of Big Liu’s personal guard team died!”
“The gentleman and the escort brothers earned that merit with their lives. On what grounds can they come and steal it?”
“It is fine. The gentleman now has not only Marquis Qing but also the Ninth Princess supporting him. Whatever merit belongs to him, they cannot take it away. That is why they sent the county magistrate to find fault!”
“Damn those dog officials! When he comes to the village, I swear I will stab him to death!”
“Do not do anything reckless. If you kill the county magistrate, the entire village will be finished, and the gentleman will be implicated too!”
“Old Zhao is right. Old Cao, you must not act rashly!”
“Do not worry yourselves needlessly. I just ran into Xiao Yu earlier. She said it is not the county magistrate coming, but one of his lackeys. If Old Cao wants to kill the county magistrate, he would have to go to the county yamen.”
“We cannot kill the county magistrate’s lackey either. That would only hand a knife to those high officials and let them stab the gentleman!”
“Exactly. Those high officials must be desperate for any handle they can use against the gentleman. If one of the county magistrate’s men dies in our village, they will cling to it and never let go.”
“Do not worry. I am not a fool. I am just venting my anger by cursing a few times. I will not actually kill anyone.”
“Old Zhang, you said you ran into Xiao Yu earlier. What did she say? How exactly is the county magistrate planning to find fault?”
“The county magistrate dug up a statement from more than a hundred years ago, something said by the Supreme Emperor…”
The man who was asked repeated the news he had heard from Xiao Yu to the people around him.
“If that is the case, then the county magistrate really can seal up our factories!”
“Without the factories, what will so many of us eat?”
“Exactly. Is this not forcing people to their deaths?”
“Old Zhang, did Xiao Yu say what we are going to do?”
“Xiao Yu said that Madam Xiaorou came up with a solution.”
“What solution?”
“Madam Xiaorou said…”
The man who was asked then explained Guan Xiaorou’s plan once again.
Xiao Yu had been in control of the Zhong Ming team for some time now, and she handled things with increasing thoroughness.
To give the villagers advance warning and allow them time to think, after leaving Guan Xiaorou’s house, Xiao Yu had not kept it secret at all. Instead, she had deliberately sent people to spread the full story throughout the village.
Because of this, not only here but in other parts of the threshing ground, people were discussing the matter.
“Is not Madam Xiaorou just forcing us to become the gentleman’s household slaves?”
“Who said Madam Xiaorou is forcing you? Did she not say clearly that anyone unwilling can settle their wages today and go do whatever they want?”
“The land at my house is low-lying and still flooded with water. If I do not work in the kiln factory, I will starve to death if I leave!”
“Then what are you complaining about? Just hand over your tally token obediently.”
“But once I do that, I will become a household slave…”
Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants were the four classes of the feudal era.
In fact, beneath scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, there was yet another stratum.
That was the lowly class: household slaves, women in brothels, pimps, actors in opera houses, and so on.
They all belonged to the base register, with extremely low status.
Farmers, though they worked hard, were free people.
Household slaves were the property of their masters. Not only did they have no freedom, but even the children they bore did not belong to them.
Therefore, unless absolutely forced by circumstances, no one was willing to become a servant.
“What is wrong with becoming a household slave for the gentleman? If it were not forced by the situation, do you think the gentleman would even accept you?”
“Exactly. As if the gentleman would be happy to take you.”
“Old Yuan, just relax. The household slaves the gentleman bought from the tooth row, he spent money to free them from servitude. He is not like those black-hearted masters who mistreat people.”
“I do not care what you all think. I, for one, am not leaving the factory.”
“My family has only just started living a good life. I am not leaving either!”
“Oh no, my tally token is at home! I am going back to get it right now! Old Zhou, help me tell Madam Xiaorou that I am willing to become the gentleman’s household slave!”
…
Before coming here, Guan Xiaorou had already prepared a draft in her mind, planning to earnestly persuade the villagers.
But who could have known that before she even had a chance to speak, the villagers below the platform were already raising their tally tokens one after another, voluntarily asking to become Jin Feng’s household slaves.
Clang clang clang!
Guan Xiaorou signalled to the old village head to strike the bronze gong. Once the crowd below quieted down, she quietly wiped her hands on her clothes.
This was the first time she had spoken in front of so many people, and her palms were sweating from nervousness.
But when she thought of the consequences of the factories being sealed, Guan Xiaorou still gathered her courage and raised the tin megaphone.
“Uncles, brothers, aunts, and sisters, I believe you already know what has happened, so I will not say much more.”
Guan Xiaorou said loudly, “I will only guarantee one thing. Whether it is the sisters who marry the master as concubines or those who become the master’s household slaves, neither I nor the master will make things difficult for anyone. You can continue working just as before.
Once this crisis passes, if anyone no longer wishes to be a household slave, or wishes to separate, you can come to me at any time, and I will help arrange it for you.”
When the villagers present heard Guan Xiaorou say this, they felt even more reassured.
“Brothers who are willing to become the master’s household slaves, please hand your tally tokens up and place them in the basket in the middle. Those who are unwilling can go to the accountant to collect your wages.
Unmarried sisters who are willing to marry the master as concubines, place your tally tokens in the basket on the left.
Those willing to become household slaves, place your tally tokens in the basket on the right.
Anyone unwilling to become a household slave and unwilling to marry the master can go to the accountant.”
