Chapter 576: Something Like This Actually Happened
Chengcheng County.
Outside the walls of Chengcheng County, a massive integrated factory for spinning, weaving, dyeing, tailoring, and embroidery had been erected. The factory was simply too large; the entirety of Chengcheng County, with a total area of less than two square kilometers, couldn't possibly house such a behemoth, so it was built outside the county town.
The factory was enclosed by handsome concrete walls, and surprisingly, watchtowers stood at its four corners, guarded by robust women militia members armed with bows and arrows, making it look exactly like a new, small county town itself.
The factory was entirely staffed by women!
Initially, when the factory was first built, it did employ male workers, primarily in the tailoring department. However, the few male tailors were quickly recruited away by the newly established "Chengcheng Technical Workers School," where they were upgraded to "tailoring instructors."
From then on, there wasn't a single man left in the factory, effectively turning it into a "Daughter Kingdom" spanning a square kilometer.
The factory manager was none other than Chun Hong, one of the four secretaries.
She wasn't rigid in character, possessing a playful spirit. Hearing the chatter outside, she simply named the factory "Daughter Kingdom Textile Factory."
It was early morning, and the Daughter Kingdom Textile Factory was just beginning to stir with activity.
"Hey, have you heard? Things are heating up in Xi'an."
"Oh? Where did you hear that? I haven't."
"I heard it from Elder Brother Li, the cargo hauler. The Prince of Qin's Residence snatched the Celestial Fertilizer from the government's fertilizer store. Imperial Censor Wu Shen is threatening to write a memorial to impeach the Prince of Qin's Residence for it."
"Shi Kefa is still a Jinyiwei, and even he's being bullied by the Prince of Qin's Residence, heheh."
"They're absolutely lawless!"
"In Xi'an, the Prince of Qin's Residence *is* the law, *is* heaven. How can there be lawlessness then?"
"Only men are interested in such things. What I *really* want to know is how Elder Brother Li, the cargo hauler, told you this news. Outsiders aren't allowed in our factory, you know. Did you secretly sneak out to meet him?"
"Exactly!" A single remark jolted them awake, and the nearby female workers suddenly understood: "This Yaya, she must have been secretly meeting Elder Brother Li!"
"Yaya, when is Elder Brother Li going to marry you?"
"Didn't he say last time that he'd marry you once he made money from a trip to Xi'an? Don't tell me it fell through again?"
And so, the affairs of Xi'an Prefecture were instantly cast to the farthest reaches of their minds. Everyone much preferred listening to Yaya and Elder Brother Li's gossip.
Just as they were happily gossiping, a girl's head suddenly popped out from beside them: "Wow, it sounds like you're talking about something really interesting. Tell me too!"
The female workers looked closely, and to their great surprise, the newcomer was none other than the Saintess, Gao Yiye. They instantly gasped: "Oh my! Saintess!"
Gao Yiye giggled merrily: "I've come to the Daughter Kingdom to see Chun Hong."
The female workers replied: "Factory Manager Chun is in the innermost building; that's the dormitory reserved for factory leadership."
As Gao Yiye walked towards the small building where the factory's leadership resided, she smiled and waved to the workers: "On the day Yaya and Elder Brother Li get married, call for me! I'll come to celebrate."
Yaya was overjoyed. If the Saintess herself came to celebrate her wedding, it would be a tremendous honor. She quickly shouted: "Thank you, Saintess! I will certainly inform you then!"
"Me too!"
The cotton thread Heavenly Lord embroidery on Yaya's chest suddenly spoke: "You must also inform me to attend."
The female workers were startled, leaping in fright: "Greetings, Heavenly Lord!"
The cotton thread Heavenly Lord grinned twice, then the threads outlining its mouth slackened, returning to their original state, as Gao Yiye and her large retinue of guards walked further away.
Only then did the female workers let out a collective sigh of relief. "With the Saintess here, and the Heavenly Lord also making an appearance, it's just so nerve-wracking."
"Did you notice? Some of the men in the Saintess's guard escort are really handsome."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me to look just now?"
"You had your head down, cowering like a quail. How was I supposed to tell you?"
"Aren't you scared?"
"The Heavenly Lord and the Saintess are both very benevolent. They're not like those corrupt officials who love to put on airs. As long as you haven't done anything wrong, there's nothing to fear."
"Well then, let's follow them! Go see those handsome soldier boys."
With a joyful cheer, a group of female workers surged forward, following after them.
Gao Yiye walked ahead, with Padi Tu and Zheng Gouzi following behind.
Padi Tu kept his gaze straight ahead, unswerving, while Zheng Gouzi's eyes darted constantly. Every few steps, he would nudge Padi Tu and whisper: "Look at that girl over there, she's absolutely radiant."
Padi Tu scoffed: "Hmph! Fair faces bring ruin."
After a couple more steps, Zheng Gouzi whispered: "Quick, look! That girl is truly beautiful, and she's even smiling at us."
Padi Tu snorted: "Hmph! Beneath painted skin, a skeleton lies."
Zheng Gouzi: "Wow, that girl is waving at us!"
Padi Tu: "Women only slow down my sword draw."
Zheng Gouzi erupted: "Damn it! Rabbit, are you even a man?"
Padi Tu: "Of course not. I'm a male rabbit."
Zheng Gouzi was speechless.
Padi Tu hummed: "I walk this world not for romance or sentimentality. I came to perform heroic deeds, to save the common people under heaven. While the world is still in chaos, how can one settle down? Don't let women disturb my resolve."
Zheng Gouzi retorted: "Damn idiot, talking to you wastes my time looking at women."
As the two spoke, Gao Yiye reached the small building where Chun Hong lived. Chun Hong, having also received the news, delightedly ran down from the attic, excitedly grasping Gao Yiye's hand: "Saintess, what brings you here?"
Gao Yiye smiled: "I missed you, so I came to visit! I don't need to relay messages for the Heavenly Lord as much these days, so I have more free time. I thought I'd travel around, see things, and spend more time with my sisters. How are things here for you?"
Chun Hong replied: "Everything is wonderful here. The factory is up and running, and everything is going smoothly. Our fabrics are beautifully woven, and Chengcheng embroidery is becoming increasingly exquisite. We're selling huge quantities to Xi'an and earning a significant amount of silver."
Gao Yiye giggled: "That's great! We should definitely make money from those rich people in Xi'an, empty their coffers, and distribute the silver to our workers."
Hearing this, Chun Hong sighed, lowering her voice: "You can't empty them! The rich people's coffers are bottomless. They can use their dirty tricks and effortlessly pull the silver right back out of the poor people's hands and into their own pockets."
Gao Yiye was silent.
Chun Hong whispered: "Saintess, have you heard? In Xi'an... the Prince of Qin's Residence even dares to bully Wu Shen and Shi Kefa. They forcefully seized the Celestial Fertilizer they bought in Chengcheng County. If they treat government-run businesses like this, what about the common people's livelihoods...? Tsk, tsk..."
Gao Yiye exclaimed: "What? Something like this actually happened?"
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