You are unlucky and I am tough

Chapter 222: Great Achievements for the Benefit of the People

More than a dozen people were added to the soap workshop. Their names were registered yesterday. This morning, these people went to the workshop to report to the Peng brothers for work.

Following the boss's instructions, the Peng brothers divided all the workers into three groups, each with ten people, with the old and the new in charge, who were responsible for the production of three types of soap: unscented soap, shampoo soap, and floral soap.

The important step of adding alcohol and shell powder is done by the two of them personally, and they are the only ones who have the key to the warehouse where these two raw materials are kept.

In every room, workers were working in an orderly manner.

Cheng Shuang suddenly came over. Peng Jiang thought she was here to check on his work, so he hurried over. "The boss is here. Everyone has been arranged. Things are simple and we got started quickly. Do you want to see if there is anything that needs improvement?"

Ever since she started paying them wages, the workers she hired started calling her "boss," saying it was a way to show respect.

Cheng Shuang refused to listen and just let them do as they pleased. It was just a name.

"This is Miss Qin, my soap business partner." Cheng Shuang introduced Qin Suyue beside her. "I brought her here today to see it. It's none of your business. Go ahead and get busy."

Qin Suyue's appearance and demeanor showed that she was either rich or noble. Peng Jiang bowed respectfully to her and stepped back.

Cheng Shuang took Qin Suyue and started from the first room without soap. Ten workers inside were busy in an orderly manner. They stopped when they saw someone coming in.

Cheng Shuang told them to mind their own business and not to bother them, and took Qin Suyue to check out each process one by one.

She was not worried that Qin Suyue would learn the method. Without alcohol and shell powder, it would be impossible to make soap. She bought both of them directly from the mall. Even the Peng brothers who were responsible for adding these two raw materials did not know what they were.

Qin Suyue was amazed. She didn't expect the soap-making process to be so simple. When she walked to the third floral-scented operation room, she looked at the flower-shaped soaps waiting to be demolded, and her hands were itching to help demold a few.

The latest batch of molds were made based on Wei Qinglang's new drawings and were delivered in the past few days. Long strips of wood of suitable thickness were used and flower shapes were carved on them. Each soap weighs about 200 grams and has a handle.

After pouring the soap solution in, hold the handle and knock it with appropriate force to remove it from the mold once it is formed.

After successfully removing the soap from the mold, Qin Suyue happily picked up a red rose-shaped soap and said, "This is so beautiful! This batch of soaps will definitely be snapped up when it goes on sale."

Cheng Shuang also thought it looked good, and reached out to poke it gently, "There are already more than 200 pieces of this new-shaped soap in the warehouse, and they will be delivered to you tomorrow."

Qin Suyue was naturally overjoyed, "It's settled then."

After leaving the soap workshop, the three of them strolled around the village again. The spring planting had just ended and the villagers were relatively idle. Fewer people went to the fields, and each family was visiting each other and chatting. The topic revolved around whether several scholars in the village could pass the imperial examination and how many rich people had come to the old scholar's house today.

Seeing Cheng Shuang walking around the village with a girl, some women looked around curiously, thinking that it was Lu Yinyin again, but when they looked carefully, they found that it was not her.

Aunt Xinghua was sitting at the doorway, holding her eldest grandson and eating melon seeds. She asked curiously, "Cheng Shuang, whose daughter is this you brought?"

"He's my partner in the soap business," Cheng Shuang said. "He heard our village is beautiful, so he came to visit me."

"Our village is beautiful, with mountains, water and flowers." Aunt Xinghua's tone was full of pride.

Ever since the family got the money from selling the mountain, life has become more comfortable. In addition, Cheng Shitou's wife was selected to work in the soap workshop. Aunt Xinghua is no longer as stingy and takes advantage of others as before, and has become much more amiable.

"What a pretty girl! Come and have some wild fruits." An old lady came over with a basket in her hand. In the basket were raspberries picked from the mountain by her children. They had just been washed in the river. She grabbed a handful and gave it to Qin Suyue.

"Thank you, old man." Qin Suyue took it with a smile.

The old lady gave another handful to Cheng Shuang and Wei Xinyi, saying that they were very sweet. There were plenty of them growing on the mountain, and the ones that couldn’t be eaten at home were dried and stored.

The three of them strolled around the village while eating raspberries. Cheng Shuang also took Qin Suyue to see the village's water pressure well, which she exclaimed was amazing.

"I didn't expect that Mr. Wei has such talent." Qin Suyue was very surprised when she knew that the water pressurized well was Wei Qinglang's idea.

"You know, every year in the prefectural city, there are children who accidentally fall into wells and drown. If this pressurized well is promoted, it will be a great benefit to the people. Have you ever thought of reporting it to the county magistrate for promotion?"

"Uh... well."

Cheng Shuang scratched his head. "Actually, he built this water pressure well for no other reason than Xinyi accidentally fell into the well before, and he was so scared that he had a psychological trauma, so he came up with the idea of ​​building a water pressure well to eliminate the hidden danger.

We're still considering reporting this to the county. We're just ordinary people, and we're afraid of dealing with the government."

Cheng Lizheng also talked about this issue and felt that contributing the blueprints to the government for promotion would be a great achievement.

But if I hand in the drawings, I will definitely show off in front of the county and the prefect, which seems a bit too high-profile.

She and Wei Qinglang were both a little undecided, so after getting the drawings back from Manager Chang, they put the matter on hold for the time being.

Wei Xinyi was still terrified when she heard about her fall into the well. She said, "It was so scary the last time I fell into the well. If Brother Xiuwen hadn't jumped in to save me, I would have drowned. I had nightmares for days and never dared to go to the well again. Later, Brother built a pressurized well, and I'm no longer afraid."

"Are you talking about the Zhao Tongsheng just now?" Qin Suyue asked curiously.

Cheng Shuang nodded, and while telling Qin Suyue about Zhao Xiuwen jumping into the well to save people, she led her people towards the peach blossom forest.

After taking a walk in the peach blossom forest, he returned to the old scholar's home.

The courtyard is a place for enjoying the scenery and drinking tea. The banquet was prepared in the front yard at the entrance. After Cheng Shuang and the others returned, the guests had already arrived in the front yard and taken their seats.

There were ten tables set up in the yard, with screens separating men and women. The stage had been set up yesterday, and Master Lan would be performing on that stage soon.

When Wei Qinglang saw Cheng Shuang coming back, he just went over to say a few words and was invited by the old scholar's son to sit at the men's table with Cheng Wanpeng. On his left was Cheng Mingli, and on his right was an unfamiliar scholar.

"Brother, you are so generous. What is your surname? Which family are you from and what does your family do?" The scholar asked with a smile. No matter the size of the banquet, the most important thing is to socialize and develop personal connections.

"My surname is Wei." Wei Qinglang smiled. "I live across the street. My family farms."

The scholar chuckled awkwardly and turned to continue talking to the person next to him.

Cheng Wanpeng on the opposite side was a little unhappy that Wei Qinglang sat at this table, but thinking about the expensive gift he had given, he didn't say anything. He still only talked to other people and ignored Wei Qinglang.

Zhao Xiuwen and Cheng Caijun were at the next table, which was almost entirely occupied by scholars. Cheng Caijun had been admitted to Yunhe Academy, and it was someone from the academy who personally came to the village to deliver the admission letter. The scholars all looked up to him and praised him highly in their words.

Cheng Caijun looked very proud as he answered the questions the scholars asked about Yunhe Academy. In contrast, Zhao Xiuwen was ignored and seemed like an outsider who could not fit in.

"Brother Zhao." Wei Qinglang turned around and called him, "Let's squeeze in. Come over here and sit."

There were eight people sitting at the table, but it wouldn't be too crowded even with one more person. Wei Qinglang moved to the side, leaving a seat between him and Cheng Mingli.

Zhao Xiuwen didn't act pretentiously. It was indeed a bit boring with no one talking at the table, so he pulled a stool and sat over.