The soap factory has been one of the pillar industries under Jin Feng’s command ever since it was established.
Although the money it earned later was not as much as that from Black Blade and Shuiyu, the prices of Black Blade and Shuiyu were too high. Only a limited number of people in the entire Great Kang could afford them, so they could not remain wildly popular forever.
In particular, as time passed, the value of Shuiyu pearls would surely decline gradually.
Soap, however, was different.
Soap is a daily consumable, and even small landlords and small merchants can afford it. Combined with the huge market of brothels, it can provide Jin Feng with a steady and continuous stream of stable income.
Moreover, Guan Xiaorou and Wanshi Niang are still continuously developing new products. In the future, they will launch items such as shampoo, laundry powder, perfume, and others. The potential for growth is enormous.
That is why Jin Feng has always attached great importance to Iron Can Mountain.
In addition, since it is not far from West River Bend, Jin Feng and Guan Xiaorou often come here.
The female workers on Iron Can Mountain are all pitiful women. Because of their work, they cannot easily leave the mountain. Jin Feng was worried that staying on the mountain for too long would drive them mad with boredom. After holding a sports meeting at the textile mill, he asked Zuo Feifei to organise one on Iron Can Mountain as well.
The female workers in the soap factory usually have very few ways to entertain themselves, so their enthusiasm was even higher than that of the textile mill workers. Afterwards, they even asked Jin Feng to hold a league competition so they could go to West River Bend and compete against the textile mill women.
At the time, Jin Feng was surrounded and teased by a group of female workers. To escape quickly, he casually agreed to let them go to the village for a match next spring.
He had only said it offhand, but the female workers on Iron Can Mountain took it very seriously. Recently, they have been training extremely hard.
Because Iron Can Mountain is very close to West River Bend, the number of escorts stationed there is much smaller than at Double Camel Peak or Black Water Ditch.
Yet Zuo Feifei has never once asked Guan Xiaorou for reinforcements.
First, the terrain of Iron Can Mountain is indeed easy to defend and hard to attack. Second, the female workers on Iron Can Mountain can fight.
In the previous few bandit attacks, it was precisely because the female workers assisted that the escorts were able to repel the enemies so easily.
The female workers in the soap factory are all unfortunate souls. It was Jin Feng who pulled them out of the fire.
The women have always felt deep gratitude towards Jin Feng.
When it comes to loyalty alone, among all the factories under Jin Feng, the female workers in the soap factory are the most loyal to him.
Even the Zhenyuan Escort Agency cannot compare.
This morning, when they heard that bandits were besieging West River Bend, many female workers took the initiative to find Zuo Feifei and asked to go and reinforce West River Bend.
But before Zuo Feifei could decide whether to agree, they received news that the bandits had been driven out of the village by the combined efforts of the Tiger Hunting Team and the textile mill female workers.
Only then did the women feel relieved.
Not long afterwards, however, Zuo Feifei received the news from Guazi Gully.
This time, she did not spread the word. Instead, she sat alone in the courtyard, thinking about countermeasures.
Iron Can Mountain has enough stored grain to last a very long time, and the terrain is easy to defend and hard to attack. If they simply held out stubbornly, Zuo Feifei was confident they could persist until next year.
But right now, a large number of bandits have already gathered outside West River Bend. If this group from Guazi Gully also heads there, West River Bend might very well fall.
She clearly has the chance to stop this group of bandits, yet if she sits idly by and allows them to break through West River Bend, how could she explain it to Jin Feng when he returns?
However, so many bandits have gathered in Guazi Gully, which clearly means someone is organising them from behind the scenes. If she sends people down the mountain to intercept them, the casualties could be extremely heavy.
Should she help or not?
Zuo Feifei did not dare make the decision lightly.
Zuo Zhangshi noticed that Zuo Feifei had been sitting motionless in the courtyard for half an hour. She walked over and asked, “Feifei, what is wrong?”
“Mother, what do you think I should do?”
Zuo Feifei truly did not know how to choose, so she explained the entire situation to Zuo Zhangshi.
After listening, Zuo Zhangshi thought for a moment and then said, “Feifei, if you really do not know what to do, would you be willing to listen to your mother’s opinion?”
Zuo Feifei looked up in surprise at Zuo Zhangshi.
Zuo Zhangshi is a very traditional feudal woman. She has never interfered in Zuo Feifei’s work matters.
Earlier, when Zuo Feifei spoke at length, she had not expected Zuo Zhangshi to offer advice. She had only wanted to confide in someone she could trust.
Yet unexpectedly, Zuo Zhangshi acted completely out of character and took the initiative to suggest something.
Zuo Feifei pondered for a moment and finally nodded. “Mother, please speak.”
“I think you should intercept this group of bandits!” Zuo Zhangshi said.
“Why?”
“Because Mister Jin has shown great kindness to us, to every girl on the entire Iron Can Mountain. If you conceal the matter or refuse to let the girls go and help, afterwards you will not only be unable to explain yourself to Mister Jin, but the other girls will also resent you. How will you manage the factory in the future?”
Zuo Zhangshi continued, “So your mother believes you should do as Guan Xiaorou did. Explain the situation clearly and openly, then let the girls decide for themselves. Those who are willing to go and stop the bandits can sign up voluntarily. That way, no one can blame you.”
Zuo Feifei nodded slightly upon hearing this. “That is actually a good approach…”
“Feifei, the distance from Guazi Gully to Iron Can Mountain is not far. If you have decided, you must act quickly. Otherwise, it will be too late.”
Zuo Zhangshi reminded her again.
“Alright, we will do as Mother says!”
Zuo Feifei clenched her fist and stood up.
“Feifei, you are the factory director. In battle, you are the general. Your duty is to command the fight. You must not charge forward yourself, do you understand?”
Zuo Zhangshi held her daughter’s sleeve and instructed her.
“I know!” Zuo Feifei patted her mother’s arm. “Mother, do not worry. I will definitely come back safely!”
Only then did Zuo Zhangshi let go of Zuo Feifei.
Zuo Feifei smiled, turned, and left.
Zuo Zhangshi watched her daughter’s departing figure, a glint of anticipation in her eyes.
“Feifei, whether you can rise in status depends on this moment.”
When Guan Xiaorou sent someone to Iron Can Mountain to ask the female workers whether they wanted to become concubines or household servants, Zuo Feifei felt shy and wanted to choose household servant. But Zuo Zhangshi forced her to choose concubine instead.
When the other female workers saw Zuo Feifei take the lead in choosing concubine, almost all the young girls followed suit, except for a few older ones like Zuo Zhangshi.
Besides the reasons Zuo Zhangshi had already mentioned, the most important reason she urged Zuo Feifei to intercept the bandits was that she still hoped to bring Zuo Feifei and Jin Feng together.
If Zuo Feifei helped West River Bend by stopping the bandits, regardless of victory or defeat, Guan Xiaorou would feel grateful.
When Jin Feng returns and learns of this, he will surely look at Zuo Feifei with new respect.
As factory director, Zuo Feifei does not need to charge into the front lines in battle. There is no danger to her life, yet she can leave a good impression in Jin Feng’s heart. Why would she not do it?
How could Zuo Feifei know that there was such a hidden motive behind her mother’s suggestion?
After leaving the courtyard, she immediately ordered someone to sound the bronze gong.
For the past two days, the female workers had remained on high alert. Hearing the gong, they quickly gathered on the open ground.
“Sisters, you all know the situation at West River Bend. I have just received news…”
Zuo Feifei raised the tin megaphone, explained the entire matter, and then asked, “Sisters who are willing to go and intercept the bandits, please raise your hands now!”
As soon as she finished speaking, more than a dozen female workers raised their arms.
Then dozens more.
The number of raised hands grew and grew.
In the end, almost every female worker had her hand raised.
Zuo Feifei was somewhat surprised, but she quickly calmed herself and reminded them, “Sisters, think carefully. Once you go down the mountain, there is no guarantee you will come back alive!”
“Factory Head Zuo, without Mister, I would have died long ago!”
“Ah Juan, we are all concubines of the Jin family now. Why are you still calling him Mister? You should call him Master!”
“Exactly! We live as his people and die as his ghosts. While Master is away, West River Bend is our home. We cannot let bandits ravage it!”
“The women at the textile mill dared to fight bandits. We on Iron Can Mountain cannot lose to them!”
