Chapter 25

Lu Yuan didn't know what had happened at home.

At this moment, Lu Yuan was loafing in the Forging Bureau.

The Forging Bureau is a general term; it does not refer solely to the production of a single thing.

Simply put, the Forging Bureau is the place that manufactures everything.

Just like on Earth there are steel factories, kettle factories, etc.

The Forging Bureau ranges from small enamel basins to large artillery factories, sword factories—it has everything.

Small factories have few workers; large factories have many workers.

For example, the kettle factory there has only a few dozen people.

And like the Armor Factory where Lu Yuan works, that is a large factory of three or four thousand people.

If wartime comes, the Armor Factory will draw manpower from other factories and expand to tens of thousands.

However, the era of war and chaos has passed; now the dynasty is thriving, so there's naturally no need for mass production of armor.

The Armor Factory where Lu Yuan works now has about two thousand people.

This work is very tedious; Lu Yuan just arranges and combines the iron plates on armor, grinding away excess, trimming, and smoothing uneven parts.

Lu Yuan realized he really couldn't go on with this shift.

It's damn boring!

I, a fine young man of the 21st century, am here screwing bolts?

Of course, if it weren't for the Three Elders' property, Lu Yuan would just have done it.

This isn't Earth; here screwing bolts is glorious!

But the problem is…… Lu Yuan has money!

Why would someone with money still screw bolts in the factory?

But if one were to simply quit this job…… that wouldn't work either.

I mentioned this before, because the current dynasty places great emphasis on industry and agriculture.

Especially workers, called artisans here, they get free medical care, and family members get half-price; these are the most basic benefits.

In old age there is a pension, plus various other benefits, guaranteeing livelihood regardless of flood or drought, so one never starves.

Moreover, this position can be passed down, to one's son, to one's grandson.

Even if the factory's benefits become poor and it can't continue, and the court wants to disband it, they would still reassign positions or give a large severance.

Most important is the status; having this artisan status means one won't be bullied by local tyrants and gentry.

Otherwise, one could say, 'You dare to oppress your artisan grandfather, right?'

Pick up a stool leg and go ransack the house.

That's fierce.

So, this status cannot be lost.

But how can one not go to work yet still receive pay and status……

Um…… headache……

During the afternoon break, Lu Yuan walked out of the workshop, lit a cigarette, and felt somewhat worried.

"I heard you kid got married, right?"

Then he saw a female worker from the neighboring workshop shouting at Lu Yuan.

The Great Zhou Dynasty indeed has many female workers.

The reason is that earlier warfare caused the dynasty's population to sharply decline; now the dynasty, with many undertakings awaiting revival, needs a large labor force.

So the court also launched the slogan 'Women can hold up half the sky'……

Um…… I always feel this slogan is very familiar.

Of course, that's not important; what matters is that the female workers who can enter the Forging Bureau mostly have family backgrounds.

These women have been pampered since childhood, and with the changing customs, these female workers are quite formidable.

Who would dare offend them?

They'd drag you into an empty workshop and strip you on the spot to watch the spectacle.

Lu Yuan, startled, nodded and said:

"Right, how do you know."

Those few female workers replied with a smug look:

"We certainly know; we also know you snatched the wife of Gao Tingyu, you little rascal!"

Lu Yuan glanced at these people approaching, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and he felt they had ill intentions, wanting to make him a spectacle.

The next second, Lu Yuan put on a solemn expression and said:

"My wife and I fell in love at first sight, it's a free love!!"

Free love is currently the most trendy in the city, very modern.

Especially the women in the city, they long for this the most.

Besides, Lu Yuan and Su Liyan were originally like that.

Sure enough, when Lu Yuan said that, these people's expressions became much friendlier, they slightly frowned and said:

"Really?"

Immediately Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

"Of course, otherwise if they weren't willing, I could really snatch them back to be my wife; I'm not afraid of losing my head."

Upon hearing Lu Yuan say that, they then reluctantly raised their eyebrows.

Watching those people leave, Lu Yuan helplessly exhaled a puff of smoke.

I always feel this bunch has a hint of that feminist tendency.

As Lu Yuan finished his cigarette, preparing to head back to the workshop to continue slacking off.

Lu Yuan then saw a group of people walking over from afar.

All the familiar leaders of Bing Jia Chang gathered beside one person, pointing and gesturing around Bing Jia Chang.

Looks like they're introducing something.

And the person in the middle would from time to time give a solemn nod.

After those people drew nearer, Lu Yuan finally saw that person—more precisely, the color of that person's cuff.

These Imperial Court officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty, besides wearing official robes when attending court or formal occasions, otherwise do not wear official robes.

Because those are long-sleeved and a hassle to wear.

But you can also tell from the collar how high or low an official's rank is.

For the lowest-ranking officials, like the head of Bing Jia Chang or a yamen clerk, the cuff is blue.

And for the level of the head of the Forging Bureau, it's white.

Of course, there are even higher officials whose cuffs are red.

However, ordinary commoners might never see a red-cuffed official in their lifetime; those are truly the big shots.

As for white, it's basically the highest rank ordinary commoners can see.

And that person in the middle has a white cuff.

Those blue-collared ones around are all the leaders of Bing Jia Chang.

This white-cuffed person isn't the bureau chief; Lu Yuan doesn't know who they are, but they're definitely a big leader.

Soon, this group turned a corner and went elsewhere.

What would such a big leader suddenly come down to the workshop for?

Lu Yuan was a bit curious.

Coincidentally, Lu Yuan saw Gao Tingyu returning from that direction.

Lu Yuan and Gao Tingyu work in the same workshop; by seniority, Lu Yuan is actually Gao Tingyu's martial uncle.

"What is that big leader doing?"

At this moment, Gao Tingyu walked up to Lu Yuan, and Lu Yuan grabbed Gao Tingyu and asked.

And at this moment, Gao Tingyu stared at Lu Yuan, gritting his teeth.

"Why should I tell you!!"

Gao Tingyu was about to hate Lu Yuan to death; this morning, the people from the courtyard said that last night there was still some movement in Lu Yuan's house in the latter half of the night.

Upon hearing that, Gao Tingyu's heart almost broke.

And facing Gao Tingyu like that, Lu Yuan lit another cigarette, half-smiling.

"Didn't your aunt say she'd introduce you to a city girl next time? When is she coming?"

Huh???

Upon hearing this, Gao Tingyu looked at Lu Yuan with a wary expression.

"?????"

"You… what are you trying to do!!"

Lu Yuan then exhaled a puff of smoke and grinned.

"Not doing anything, I'm just asking—why, my wife is so pretty, are you worried I'll steal your wife?"

Gao Tingyu certainly isn't afraid of Lu Yuan stealing his wife, but he fears this scoundrel in front of him will ruin his new wife again!

Seeing Lu Yuan's smirking, despicable look, Gao Tingyu was so angry he almost spat blood, but in the end he gritted his teeth and said:

"I just overheard them saying they want to study the Snow Dragon Sunlight Armor!!"

Having said that, Gao Tingyu stormed straight into the workshop.

And Lu Yuan, who was smoking outside, upon hearing those five words 'Snow Dragon Sunlight Armor,' suddenly froze.

Huh??

What a familiar name……

After pondering a moment, Lu Yuan suddenly tossed his cigarette aside, then took out from his storage space the book 'Craftsmanship' that the system had given him last time.

He opened the first page.

"Lo and behold, it was the method for making the Snow Dragon Sunlight Armor!!"

(End of chapter)