Chapter 289: As Long As One Is Loyal

Workshop, I'll do something else—maybe not the cosmetics you're familiar with. Are you afraid?

That youth, dressed all in black like ink, stood in the center; though young, he seemed to possess great power.

Not afraid!

We aren't afraid.

As long as we're here, we fear nothing.

No one showed a doubtful expression; no one displayed any unusual emotion.

Although that's the case, I still give you an opportunity.

I'm Kang Yun; this workshop will henceforth be mine. Anyone who wants to leave, I'll give you your indenture contract, settle your wages, and you may go now.

She smiled faintly, looking at the crowd below.

If some things are clarified beforehand, I'm a person with a clean mind; you might not understand these four words, but I'm willing to explain them to you.

My people can only be loyal to me.

If I discover anyone betraying me, death? It won't be that simple.

I have many poisons in my hand, and I also have many means of tormenting people.

Run?

Believe me, anyone who offends me cannot escape in Da Ning.

She laughed softly, so gentle—like a young lord, warm and smooth as jade.

But the killing intent in her eyes was not concealed at all.

I prefer courtesy before force; if you leave now, I'll see you off with a smile.

But… later, wanting to leave will probably not be easy.

Those of you who want to leave, come over shortly to get your indenture contracts.

You've decided—those who aren't leaving, go stand over there in a line; shortly you'll sign new indenture contracts.

Jiang Yunchu looked at these people, wanting to see their inner thoughts by carefully observing their faces.

Her time is limited; if she comes once a month, the travel time alone would take a long while.

Moreover, this workshop is her foundation; whether she can break out of the board, the starting point is here—no one knows what it means to her.

Others hadn't moved yet, but the person in charge went straight to the other side without any hesitation.

He moved, and many others began to move as well.

Afterward…

More people moved.

One side was empty, the other side filled with people.

Jiang Yunchu hadn't expected this outcome; she lightly curled her lips—these people had chosen her, so she would take responsibility for their whole lives.

In her heart, she firmly made a promise.

If that's the case, come one by one to sign the contract. She glanced at Zhuang Wei.

Zhuang Wei immediately nodded, had people move a few tables, then all around were those signing the contract; they didn't even look at the content—those who could write wrote their names and then pressed their handprints.

Those who couldn't write had someone help write their names, then pressed their handprints.

For a moment, the entire courtyard was silent except for the sound of paper turning.

Over two hundred people had all finished signing; Jiang Yunchu finally broke into a smile.

She looked at the circle of people: "Whether you trust the Zhuang Clan or you trust me."

Believe me, I'll lead you out; I'll make your descendants live good lives.

Many of them are already old and no longer care about their own days.

But they care about their descendants' days.

Upon hearing Jiang Yunchu's words, the crowd all smiled as well.

We believe.

They believed Jiang Yunchu because of their trust in the Zhuang Clan.

But essentially, they also believed.

Good!

Jiang Yunchu smiled; the long speech she had prepared seemed utterly trivial before a group of sincere people.

Those drying, continue; those tending plants, continue; those managing the warehouse and finished goods, continue.

Those in charge of lip balm and rouge, come with me.

She looked at the roughly one hundred people who stepped forward and smiled lightly.

Then she looked toward the tree behind her: "My mold."

Here it comes!

One person leapt down from that tall tree, placing a sack of things in front of Jiang Yunchu.

An San…

He has returned.

Because he hasn't seen sunlight for years, a scar like a knife cut has appeared across his pale face, marring his looks—but…

Yet his aura faintly carries a feeling that is hard to suppress.

"You're back, but you won't show yourself?" Jiang Yunchu looked at him, her eyes filled with relieved emotion.

For so long, she dared not ask.

She feared that asking would mean eternal farewell.

How could she not know the dangers of the Dark Hall? How could she not know that the Dark Hall is fraught with peril at every step?

But she cannot decide others' lives; either work hard or be eliminated—that's just how reality is, and no one can achieve lasting success once and for all.

"I know, you felt it."

An San smiled; he had arrived yesterday, and when he first saw her, her body jerked slightly, then it seemed as if nothing had happened, but he knew the Princess Consort had felt it.

Although, she said nothing……

"Well done!"

Jiang Yunchu suddenly reached out and tapped his shoulder.

"If there is light in the heart, it can naturally dispel darkness."

When he was about to die, when he was about to close his eyes, thinking it would be like this, a mouse living in the dark—who would care if it died?

But……

Suddenly a shadow stepped into the light and stood before him.

That cold tone, seeming devoid of any emotion, said, "Stand up."

Only three words let him pull through the darkness, giving him the drive to pursue light.

"Good."

Jiang Yunchu said nothing more, but took that bag of molds, leading over a hundred people straight into the lip balm work area.

"Lustrous Jade Soap, have you heard of it?"

Jiang Yunchu looked at the hundred people in the lip balm and rouge work area—there were a hundred men and women, some looked confused, but some had bright eyes.

"Master, is that the Lustrous Jade Soap from Jingdu?"

During the Zhuang Clan's annual rites, they gave a small piece of Lustrous Jade Soap to those who performed well; it is said that there is none in Jiangnan, that it is a rare treasure only found in Jingdu, and it is extremely precious.

There is a saying that an inch of soap is worth an inch of gold.

Her mother was a maidservant beside Madam Zhuang, and that's how she heard a bit about it.

"That's right, the Lustrous Jade Soap from Jingdu."

Jiang Yunchu nodded, smiling at that girl, and she seemed somewhat kind-faced.

"Today I will teach you how to make Lustrous Jade Soap."

For a moment, the sound of a falling needle could be heard.

The workshop's Person in Charge immediately turned around, closed the doors and windows, and sternly looked at the people inside: "The Master gave us an opportunity; those who want to leave may do so freely."

"Since you have chosen to stay, no matter your reasons, you must be worthy of your conscience."

"The prescription, the method—remember it, and never tell it even in your dreams."

"Remembered?"

The Person in Charge's eyes examined each person one by one, and everyone immediately replied, "Remembered."

Only then did the Person in Charge clasp his hands and say, "Master, the prescription is precious; I have no choice but to ask the Master to punish me!"

He bypassed the Master and lectured him in his presence, which is against the rules.

But the matter is important; if we don't clarify it now, fearing the news will leak out, then we won't be able to explain it clearly.

Jiang Yunchu smiled and said, "You did very well."

"With you here, I can rest easy about the workshop."

She is satisfied with this person.

They had met briefly yesterday; his busy figure, even when seeing Zhuang Yan, only offered a salute.

Today's events, and his choice.

All of this made her feel amazed; she needs such a manager.

"I..."

The Person in Charge had prepared himself to accept punishment, but he did not expect……

He suddenly lifted his head, saw the emotion in Jiang Yunchu's eyes, and her words were completely in agreement.

At this moment, he felt the urge to die for one who knows him.

The workshop is his child; how could he bear to leave it? How could he bear to let it go?

"Work hard; I will never shortchange my own people, and you are no exception."

After Jiang Yunchu finished speaking to the Person in Charge, she also turned to look at the circle of people surrounding her.

"Yes!"

Those people looked at each other, then all broke into smiles.

Lustrous Jade Soap, it seems quite powerful.

Then their workshop, could it make money? Then they wouldn't have to worry about leaving anymore?

For a moment, everyone's thoughts changed; for a moment, every person's fighting spirit rose.