Chapter 83 First Revision

Chapter 83 First Revision

Zhou Pingan refused to reveal who the other person was, so Shen Moer had to let it go for the time being. She then subtly probed, alternating between coaxing and threats, and finally managed to extract some information from Zhou Pingan. The two were discussing a transaction.

If it was just profiteering, Shen Moer wasn't particularly interested. After all, although it was unclear why this world prohibited people from engaging in trade, doing business in Great Liang was quite normal. The flow of goods between the north and south couldn't be maintained by the government alone; merchants were essential. The "government" here managed things quite well, but as an "outsider," Shen Moer still didn't understand the purpose of such restrictions.

She initially thought Zhou Pingan might report the two, but after observing him for a while, she intuitively felt that the boy wasn't the type to do such a thing.

Zhou Pingan looked wary: "I, I, I've told you everything I can!"

Which meant he couldn't reveal what he didn't say.

Like who the other person was.

Or what they were trading.

Shen Moer nodded: "Let's go."

Though the weather was warming up, it wasn't hot enough to justify soaking in cold water all day. Doing so repeatedly would surely lead to illness.

The two walked back to the residential compound in single file. As Shen Moer approached her door, she heard Liu Guizhi next door scream, "How did you end up like this again?" Shen Moer inserted her key into the keyhole, pricking up her ears to listen. She thought, let's see what excuse you'll use this time. But then she heard Zhou Pingan calmly respond, "I'm going to take a shower."

Typical.

If he couldn't explain, he just didn't bother.

In the afternoon, back at school, Shen Moer couldn't help but glance at Teacher Fei Lin as soon as she entered the office. Teacher Fei Lin was at his desk, tuning his erhu. Luo Maoshi chuckled beside him: "Oh, the students are in for a treat this afternoon with music class."

Fei Lin smiled gently: "Teacher Luo, you're joking. I'm just winging it."

Shen Moer walked into the office and said with a smile, "Teacher Fei, you're being modest. I've heard your erhu in the next classroom, and it really is quite beautiful."

Shen Moer wasn't exaggerating. She had heard many people play music, and Fei Lin's erhu was indeed quite good. It wasn't masterful, but it was certainly professional.

Shen Moer asked curiously, "Teacher Fei, who did you learn the erhu from?"

Fei Lin paused while tuning the strings, then replied nonchalantly, "I learned it from a seasoned master. It was just a hobby I picked up. I can't compare to Teacher Cui."

Fei Lin smoothly changed the subject: "I often notice Teacher Shen drawing in the office. Those diagrams look quite complex. Are they embroidery patterns? Few people can draw such patterns nowadays. Many designs have been lost. Teacher Shen's talent is truly impressive. No wonder it caught the attention of the Embroidery Factory's golden phoenix."

Shen Moer sat down at her desk and sighed with a smile, "Indeed. When I was learning, I thought they were merely decorative patterns. It wasn't until I met the Embroidery Factory representatives in the provincial city that I realized the value of these patterns."

She then casually remarked, "I didn't expect Teacher Fei to know about embroidery patterns too?"

Fei Lin smiled, "I wouldn't call it knowledge. The old master I learned the erhu from had someone in his family who did embroidery. I picked up a thing or two from him."

Kong Meijuan, while organizing her teaching materials, joked, "It seems I've fallen short on the task Principal Kong gave me. I didn't even know Teacher Fei had an understanding of embroidery patterns. I guess I need to work harder."

The others burst into laughter: "Oh, you secret agent among us, please give us a break!"

In the afternoon, Shen Moer happened to have a class with Zhou Pingan's group. During the lesson, Zhou Pingan was as attentive as ever. After school, he headed straight home without incident. Shen Moer concluded that nothing unusual would happen today.

The following days were uneventful. However, the construction of the ninth workshop was finally completed. The Embroidery Factory, in collaboration with Liuqiao Commune, held a grand ceremony for the workshop's completion and inauguration. Not only did several leaders from the Embroidery Factory attend, but many city and county officials were also present.

Mao Jianxin and Jin Caifei were bustling around the venue, at one moment introducing the workshop's design plan, at another recounting the various difficulties encountered during construction. They then vividly described how they overcame these challenges under pressure, completing the workshop construction half a month ahead of schedule.

Deputy Director Qin of the South Province Embroidery Factory, in charge of the ninth workshop, commended Mao Jianxin and Jin Caifei for their dedication and resilience. Then, turning to Shen Moer, he asked, "What does Deputy Director Shen think?"

Among the many leaders present, Shen Moer naturally stood on the sidelines, but she wasn’t bothered. She had witnessed many grand occasions before, and apart from her uncle, the emperor, she had never seen anyone who could always stand in the center.

Although the Ninth Workshop was established based on her suggestion, her original intention was simply to find a job close to home with less pressure, where she could work a little and then relax. Now that her goal had been successfully achieved, what could she possibly be dissatisfied with?

She found it quite entertaining to watch, thinking that no matter how much the world changes, people themselves don’t change much.

The eagerness of Mao Jianxin and Jin Caifei to report to the leaders endlessly was something she had often seen in certain court officials in the past.

Shen Moer was enjoying the scene when Deputy Director Qin called on her. She quickly took the hint and continued with praise: "Director Mao and Deputy Director Jin have indeed done a lot of work, hands-on and committed. The workshop is excellently constructed, with a very reasonable layout and design. With such dedicated colleagues, I believe the Ninth Workshop will develop very well in the future. Let’s give Director Mao and Deputy Director Jin a round of applause."

After saying this, she took the lead in clapping. The leaders were momentarily surprised but quickly joined in the applause.

Later, during the informal tour, Chen Jiahua, who had come with the leaders, smiled and said to Shen Moer: "Your strategy of taking the lead and proposing applause was quite clever."

Chen Jiahua had originally wanted to establish a branch factory in Jiangbei County, but when the factory decided to set up a workshop, she naturally couldn’t be involved.

Chen Jiahua had thought the factory would appoint Shen Moer as the workshop director, but instead, the factory directly sent down a workshop director.

Moreover, she had recommended several candidates to the factory, either key personnel or those with rich workshop management experience. However, after various internal negotiations within the factory, these candidates were all rejected, and finally, Mao Jianxin and Jin Caifei were sent down.

These two have work abilities, but they are not outstanding. Their real "strengths" lie elsewhere.

Chen Jiahua, who came up through the business side, was very dissatisfied with the factory’s nepotism and interest transfer practices but had no way to change it, so she held little regard for Mao Jianxin and Jin Caifei.

Certainly, workshop construction is very important, but they are an embroidery factory, not a construction company. No matter how well the workshop is built, it ultimately depends on production performance.

Mao Jianxin and Jin Caifei clearly wanted to marginalize Shen Moer, which Chen Jiahua considered very unwise. After all, when it comes to the factory’s production, can you really overlook Shen Moer?

Shen Moer blinked, indicating she didn’t quite understand: "Was there something wrong with my proposal to applaud? They did a good job and deserved the applause."

Chen Jiahua was momentarily speechless. After observing for a while, she realized Shen Moer wasn’t joking; she genuinely seemed to believe so.

However, Chen Jiahua’s expression was complex, thinking to herself, but didn’t you feel that your tone at the time was very much like their superior? Didn’t you see how Mao Jianxin and Jin Caifei’s smiles froze on their faces?

Shen Moer didn’t think so, as she always spoke that way.

What level of humility could you expect from a princess of a feudal dynasty?

Shen Moer’s mindset was, since you like to do it, then do it well, and at most, I’ll praise you a few words when you do well.

As for her reflecting on whether her work was lacking, that was out of the question.

Besides, Shen Moer was justified; she had certainly contributed her share.

At the organizational work meeting chaired by Deputy Director Qin in the afternoon, Shen Moer presented the results of her recent work—

a production plan carefully refined by Fu Zhiqing.

Shen Moer had drafted it, but after Fu Mingze reviewed it, he found her language quite formal, even somewhat archaic, so he quickly revised it to be more concise and in line with the current environment.

For example, Fu Mingze discovered that although his wife had high awareness, she was very pragmatic when writing, not even including the highest directives or citing the leader’s insights.

The production plan polished by Fu Zhiqing received high praise from Deputy Director Qin.

Especially after hearing that Shen Moer had already organized a group of embroiderers for nearly half a year of technical training, initially cultivated and identified a group of painters, and even used her spare time to compile and draw ten exquisite embroidery patterns, Deputy Director Qin repeatedly praised and smiled: "It seems Deputy Director Shen already has a clear plan. Good, we look forward to seeing Deputy Director Shen lead the Ninth Workshop to soar."

He initiated the applause, and the attendees promptly joined in.

Mao Jianxin’s smile was almost unsustainable, and Jin Caifei’s face was also stiff.

If Shen Moer is leading the ninth Workshop to success, what does that leave for them?

The unveiling ceremony and organizational meeting ended in a seemingly harmonious but tense atmosphere. A new wooden plaque inscribed with "South Province Embroidery Factory Ninth Workshop" was hung beside the entrance of the newly built factory building, attracting many residents of Liuqiao Commune to come and see the novelty.

This plaque outshone those of the Liuqiao Commune Kiln and Textile Factory. It starts with "South Province"!

This is rare—even the county doesn’t have something like this.

After the plaque was hung, Shen Moer immediately became extremely busy. She borrowed two clerks from the commune and, with their help, began recruiting.

First, all pre-selected embroiderers had to take a skills test.

Shen Moer had already spread the word through each brigade that anyone with relevant skills or who felt they could handle the embroidery work, even if they hadn’t participated in the pre-selection or hadn’t passed it but now felt their skills had improved, could sign up.

So, by the time of the formal assessment on Sunday, a total of seventy-six people showed up, including three men!

"Wang Laowu, are you serious? You can embroider?" A fellow brigade member couldn’t believe it. "I’d sooner believe you could fight a tiger than embroider. Look at your burly figure!"

Wang Laowu scratched his head and laughed sheepishly, "I can’t embroider, but I thought our Workshop can’t just recruit embroiderers, right? We need security guards, movers, janitors, cooks. Surely we can use one or two men?"

Shen Moer: "..."

So, they were here to apply for other jobs.

She waved her hand, "Comrade Wang is right, our Workshop does need to recruit for other positions, but not today. We will notify each brigade separately when we start recruiting for those positions. The enthusiasm of the three men is commendable. You can leave your names and addresses with Xiao Zhang (Little Zhang), and we will definitely notify your brigade leaders when we start recruiting for other positions."

Wang Laowu and another man awkwardly walked away.

The remaining slender man pressed his lips together and insisted, "I can do it. I want to take the assessment."

Shen Moer glanced at him a few times and nodded, "Alright, since you can, stay and take the assessment."

She didn’t believe any job was strictly for men or women. Previous selections were all women since sewing and mending are typically women’s tasks.

But when the results were in, Bai Junwen, the male participant, had actually passed.