Li Ping was suddenly too nervous to say anything. She didn't expect that Huang Yilan would be admitted directly because she could read and write. Suddenly, I felt a little ashamed of myself. I was blind and couldn't recognize a single big word.
"This is my sister-in-law. Her family and my husband belong to the same family. They are both corps commanders."
Li Ping quickly introduced. She didn't expect that she would be selected so easily. She sincerely hopes that Zhao's sister-in-law can also be selected.
"Oh, he is also a member of the military. That meets the requirements. Sister, what do you know about? You can introduce yourself."
"I, I can't read, I..." Li Ping's nervous palms were sweaty and her mouth was dry. I don’t even know what to say.
Shuangxi smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, just treat it like a conversation at home. Don't think of us as Shangguan."
Li Ping felt better now and muttered: "My mother's family is a tofu maker. My father and brothers are making tofu at home. When I am not out of the government, I help at home, grinding mills, washing beans, and picking beans."
Lin Xiangdong nodded and looked at Li Ping. Although she is dark and thin, she is obviously very strong. Unlike Huang Yilan, who is weak and frail, she looks like she has done heavy physical work.
"There are three tired things in the world: punting, blacksmithing, and making tofu. Sister, since you have made tofu, you must be strong." Lin Xiangdong said.
"I have strength, I have strength. My family is poor and can't afford a donkey. My father is in poor health and my mother is old. My brother is still young. At that time, I was the one grinding. I worked from dark to midnight every day." Li Ping said with some pride.
Shuangxi was in awe when he heard this, as grinding was a job that most people couldn't bear. This eldest sister is not only a filial woman, but also has good physical strength.
Lin Xiangdong thought for a while and said: "Sister, I have a job of cleaning wool. I don't know if you are willing to do it. This job is dirty and tiring, but you can make a lot of money. The basic salary is two dollars a month. There is also a piece-rate wage, and there is a piece-rate wage of one or two silver for every ton of wool washed.”
Because I was very satisfied with Huang Yilan, I also took care of Li Ping. In fact, there are many people like Li Ping who can contribute.
Li Ping was stunned for a moment. One tael of silver, so much. Although she didn't know how much wool there was in a ton.
"I do, I do. I'm not afraid of getting dirty or tired. I work hard and don't mess around. I will wash the wool cleanly," Li Ping said, patting her chest.
Shuangxi nodded. This one's name is Li Ping. She looks big in frame and strong in person. She looks very powerful at first glance. It's perfect for washing wool. Although this job smells like mutton and smells like sheep, it is also very labor-intensive. Poor working environment. But as long as you really work hard, you will definitely make money.
"Well, after fifteen, you two can come to work."
On the way back, Li Ping kept crying. Huang Yilan advised her on the side, "This is a good thing. Sister-in-law, why are you still crying?"
"I never dreamed that I could find such a good job by working hard. Our family is grateful to you, thank you brother Xiaoping."
"Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? I am the head of the family, and your husband is in the army. We are brothers fighting tigers on the battlefield, and we are father and son soldiers in the battle. There are many times when we help each other, why are you so polite."
When he returned home, he saw Zhao Yongtang and his mother waiting for him at the door.
"How was the interview? Are you hopeful?"
Li Ping blushed and whispered like a mosquito: "I'm wanted in the workshop. I'll go to work after fifteen. It's said that the basic salary is two silver coins per month, and for every ton of wool washed, there is also a piece rate of one or two silver coins. .”
"What, it's so good. Is the work tiring? Is it dangerous?" Zhao Yongtang was happy for his wife, but also a little worried.
"It's not dangerous, it just smells. I heard it stinks. It's just physical work. No matter how tired you are, can it be more tiring than working at my parents' house?"
In the blink of an eye, a few days passed. The sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Yin hour (three o'clock in the morning). The whole family got up. The old lady cooked. Li Ping packed Zhao Yongtang's luggage.
Today, Zhao Yongtang is going to the military camp to return to the army. He is expected to leave in the next two days. Li Ping also has to report to the factory. From today on, she is no longer a housewife. But a female textile worker.
"Master, when you join the team and go to the battlefield, you must be careful. My mother, I, and the children are relying on you."
"Don't worry, Uncle Dingyuan said, the more afraid you are, the more likely things will happen on the battlefield. As long as you listen to your superiors and follow the orders and prohibitions, you can protect yourself to the maximum extent."
Nanyuan is far away. Zhao Yongtang has to walk to Yongding Gate, and then walk another ten miles to Dahongmen. The army is not like an ordinary yamen. Military discipline is strict. The generals beat drums to gather generals. Those who fail to drum up three times will be directly beheaded.
Zhao Yongtang had to leave immediately, after all, it would take a while before the Chongwen Gate would open.
He took the bowl of millet porridge that his mother handed him, and Xili drank it in a few breaths. I wiped my mouth, picked up my backpack, and walked out the door.
His wife and wife wiped their tears and looked at him before disappearing into the alley.
Because they were afraid of the baby crying, they didn't wake them up.
Li Ping and her mother-in-law had something to eat. Li Ping prepared lunch in advance and went out to work.
Li Ping came to the gate of the workshop and found that many people were already waiting here.
After a while, a strong woman with a voluptuous face came out, also wearing that kind of double-breasted clothes.
"Everyone, my name is Huang Siya. I am the security section chief of our factory. I come from Uncle Dingyuan's Mansion. Everyone is here to work today. Let me talk about today's arrangements first."
"First of all, there will be managers from various departments who will take a roll call. Those who hear it will gather at her place. Then go through the formalities for entering the factory. First, you have to sign a three-year labor contract. Those who can write will sign, and those who cannot write will have their thumbprints .Don’t even understand.”
"I understand." The eldest girl and young daughter-in-law below shouted loudly. Many people were still laughing.
"Stop laughing and be serious. If this is a military camp. If anyone dares to make noise, I will beat you with a military stick."
The people below laughed even harder, and even hit us with military sticks, bang! What a big deal, really interesting.
"Chief Huang, what should we do next?"
"Chief Huang, when will we start working? We are all waiting to make money."
Most jobs in this factory are paid on a piece-rate basis. Therefore, the earlier you start work, the earlier you make money. Everyone is here for the money.
"It's not that easy to make money. Look how dirty you are. You're covered in lice and fleas. You haven't bathed for a long time, and you've got half a pound of dirt on your body. If you're like this, your boss won't even want to touch you. The first thing you do when you enter the factory is to take a bath in the bathtub and make everything clean for me. Otherwise, if you come in with a disease, who does it belong to you?"
When I heard that on the first day of work, the factory actually made everyone strip naked and take a shower. Suddenly, these eldest girls and young wives were blushing with embarrassment. One by one, they covered their faces and stamped their feet.
"Okay, don't be embarrassed. They are all girls, no one has seen each other before. After cleaning, the factory will distribute clothes. From the inside to the outside, underwear, autumn clothes and long trousers, and outer work clothes. All new ones. , two sets per person. You will all have to wear work clothes to work from now on."
