The textile factory now employs over two hundred female workers, so Runniang alone could not possibly manage all the cooking.
Jinfeng thus recruited a few village women from Guanjia Bay to specifically cook for the textile factory’s canteen. Runniang was kept at the small courtyard, becoming the household’s dedicated cook.
This decision was made simply because Jinfeng found Runniang’s cooking to his taste, and she was diligent and clean, always washing vegetables with great care.
When Jinfeng announced this decision, Guan Xiaorou and Tang Dongdong looked at him with teasing expressions, Runniang’s face turned bright red, and only Xiao’e continued eating heartily, oblivious to the moment.
Seeing their expressions, Jinfeng knew they had misunderstood, but he couldn’t be bothered to explain. They could think whatever they liked.
After lunch, Jinfeng took a moment to check on the soap.
After more than ten days of hardening, the soap had fully saponified and formed.
Jinfeng cut the large soap blocks into matchbox-sized pieces and loaded them into baskets.
As he left the blacksmith’s shop, he ran into Tang Dongdong, who was heading to work.
“After dinner tonight, tell the day shift not to rush off. Have them gather in the canteen.”
“Is something happening?” Tang Dongdong asked.
“The soap is ready. We’ll distribute it to everyone tonight,” Jinfeng said, nudging the basket with his foot.
Not only did the men neglect hygiene, with lice crawling in their hair, but many children and some older women were the same.
When Jinfeng visited the textile workshop, he often saw female workers scratching while working.
Fortunately, the workshop was shaded and well-ventilated, so the women didn’t sweat much, and the smell wasn’t too bad.
“Will it cost anything?” Tang Dongdong asked.
“Not this time,” Jinfeng shook his head.
Everyone was so poor that if he charged, he worried the women wouldn’t buy.
The soap only cost two cans of oil and some lye, not worth much, so he decided to give it away for free.
No one naturally enjoys being dirty. They simply lacked the means before. Once they got used to the soap’s cleaning power, Jinfeng believed the women would buy it willingly.
“Got it,” Tang Dongdong nodded and went to work.
The textile factory was built in a hurry and wasn’t fully equipped. There were no tables, just long benches placed on the open ground.
But for the mountain folk who had endured hardship, having enough food was a huge blessing. Who cared about tables?
Many workers didn’t even use the benches, squatting on the ground with their bowls, eating heartily.
The canteen wasn’t large. Normally, the textile factory women and the construction men ate at different times, or it would be too crowded.
But today, everyone gathered together, including the night shift women.
The canteen was packed, with people huddled in small groups, speculating about why Jinfeng had called them.
Jinfeng didn’t keep them waiting long. He and Mancang carried a large basket in from outside.
“What are Feng’ge and Mancang carrying?”
“No idea.”
“It’s soap. I’ve seen Xiaorou use it before. It cleans your face and hair really well.”
“Looks like it. Why’s Feng’ge bringing so much? He’s not giving everyone a piece, is he?”
“You’re dreaming before you’ve even gone to bed!”
The women chattered, guessing why Jinfeng had brought the soap.
The men, though silent, craned their necks, curious.
“Quiet down, everyone,” Jinfeng jumped onto a bench, motioning for silence, and the canteen fell quiet.
“Some of you have probably guessed. This is soap,” Jinfeng said, holding up a piece from the basket. “I’m giving everyone one piece shortly…”
At this, the newly quiet canteen erupted.
Who wouldn’t want something for free?
The women swarmed toward Jinfeng, afraid they’d miss out if they were too slow.
Some men started to move as well.
Seeing this, Zhang Liang led a group of veteran soldiers to block Jinfeng and the basket.
Jinfeng, face darkening, shouted, “Line up properly! Anyone who keeps pushing will be thrown out!”
“Yes!” the soldiers bellowed, drowning out the women’s voices.
Seeing Jinfeng genuinely angry and the soldiers looking fierce, the village women shrank back.
“Everyone gets one. What’s the rush?” Jinfeng said coldly. “Form proper lines.”
With over two hundred workers in the factory, at Jinfeng’s suggestion, Tang Dongdong had appointed workshop directors and team leaders, grouping the women into teams of ten.
Under Tang Dongdong and the directors’ guidance, the women quickly formed neat lines by team.
But the men remained a chaotic mess.
It took the two village heads kicking and shoving to get them into some semblance of order.
“You men always look down on women, thinking they can’t do anything right. And now? A bunch of grown men can’t even form a line!” Jinfeng glared at them. “No discipline, no order. If it’s this chaotic next time, you might as well stay home and look after the kids.”
In Dakang, where male chauvinism ran deep, Jinfeng’s words left many men red-faced, unable to retort.
They had indeed been slower to line up than the women.
Some women smirked at the men’s line, tempted to cheer for Jinfeng.
Finally, someone was speaking up for them after years of being oppressed.
“Don’t get smug,” Jinfeng glanced at the women’s line. “You heard there’s free soap and didn’t even ask why, just rushed to grab it. Are you bandits?”
Many women blushed, lowering their heads.
They finally wondered: why was Jinfeng giving them soap?
“I’m sure many of you know soap cleans hair and clothes well,” Jinfeng said. “I’m giving everyone a piece today. Go home, wash thoroughly. Tomorrow, I’ll send people to check. If anyone still has lice or smells bad, don’t bother coming back!”
“Feng’ge, lice don’t stop us from working. Isn’t this a bit much?” Third Aunt asked, unconvinced.
“I’m in charge here. If you don’t want to wash, Third Aunt, don’t come back,” Jinfeng replied.
These illiterate villagers, with little exposure to the world, wouldn’t understand the importance of hygiene. Jinfeng opted for strict measures.
Don’t want to wash? Then leave.
It was simple but highly effective for the village women.
None wanted to lose their jobs.
It’s just washing, not execution. They’d do it.
