Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

Chapter 228

Hearing this news, another Jinyiwei standing next to Lin Xiaofeng was stunned. He looked at Lin Xiaofeng in disbelief, full of admiration. He actually managed to "sell" someone and get 1,600 taels of silver! This operation method is really too clever!

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help laughing. His laughter was full of sarcasm and ridicule: "The dental office actually gave more money, how interesting."

"Sir, the price we agreed upon before was two taels of silver per person. They didn't expect so many people to sign up, and they hope you will continue to contact them for more people. Now all the major factories are competing to hire these candidates." The Jinyiwei continued, with a smug smile on his face.

"Didn't you tell them that these people wouldn't stay long?" Lin Xiaofeng frowned slightly and asked with some confusion.

"I've already told them. But they said that long-term employers don't care about this little money. The more candidates they hire, the more prestigious they will be. In the future, when the candidates leave, they can publicize themselves to appear capable, making it easier to recruit workers." The Royal Guard explained, his face revealing disdain and ridicule for the nature of businessmen.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded, as if everything was under his control: "Has the script been handed over to Yahang?"

"It has been delivered. The dental office has already notified all the manufacturers and asked them to select smart workers to ensure that everything is foolproof." The Royal Guard replied with a confident smile on his face.

"Very good." Lin Xiaofeng's voice suddenly became serious. "If any manufacturer messes up, they will never be able to survive in Beijing! Send people to notify them one by one, and tell them to act cautiously and strictly follow the script." His eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty and determination, as if the success of this drama was all in his hands.

After a simple arrangement, Lin Xiaofeng stood in the spacious courtyard, the breeze blowing gently, bringing bursts of flower fragrance. He looked around, the antique house looked peaceful and solemn in the sun. "How much did it cost this time?" He asked in a deep voice, revealing his rigor and attention to detail. This is not only his basic responsibility as an organizer, but also a manifestation of his responsibility for every penny.

Jinyiwei walked over quickly, his face filled with excitement and pride that could not be concealed. "Well... the total cost of this activity was less than 600 taels of silver." He said happily, his voice full of a sense of accomplishment.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded slightly, calculating quickly in his mind. Although the rent of the house is not cheap, considering its location and comfort, it is worth it. As for the writing brushes, inkstones, and teaching aids, thanks to the generous support of Beilang University, a lot of expenses were saved. And the cost of food and drink is also very cost-effective thanks to the internal discount of Yangqu County's restaurant industry in Beijing. The clothes of the candidates were purchased at cost price from Beilang Textile Factory, which are of high quality and affordable.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face. "Take out one hundred taels of silver to reward the brothers who are on duty with us. They have worked hard during this period and should get the reward they deserve." His tone was full of generosity and gratitude, as if he had already seen the joyful expressions of those Jinyiwei brothers when they received the reward.

As night fell, the whole house was shrouded in tranquility. Lin Xiaofeng sat alone at the desk, the light stretched his figure out, making him look particularly determined and calm. He continued to work on the piles of documents and materials, working tirelessly for a greater goal.

"Also," he raised his head and said calmly, "report the summary of this period to the palace." His tone revealed a calmness and confidence, as if he had already anticipated the palace's satisfaction and appreciation of this event.

In the warm imperial study, golden sunlight shines through the window lattices, projecting mottled shadows onto the exquisite furnishings and famous calligraphy and paintings. However, the atmosphere at the moment is out of tune with this artistic environment.

Emperor Jingjiang sat on the dragon throne with an unhappy look on his face. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, staring at Li Dexian who was kneeling below. The other ministers stood with their hands down in fear, fearing that they would get into trouble. Li Dexian lowered his head, his face full of shame and fear, like a child who had made a mistake, waiting for his parents to scold him.

Suddenly, Emperor Jingjiang slammed the table and threw the memorial in his hand at Li Dexian. The memorial drew a sharp arc in the air and then fell heavily to the ground. The red ink on the cover was as dazzling as blood.

"The Northwest is suffering from severe drought and the people are living in misery! Have you read the local disaster relief strategies? Why are you scribbling on these strategies!" The voice of Emperor Jingjiang echoed in the imperial study like thunder, shaking everyone's heart.

Li Dexian picked up the memorial with trembling hands, only to see that it was covered with all kinds of strange patterns and mechanical structures. He glanced at Emperor Jingjiang guiltily and explained in a low voice: "Your Majesty, I was too tired yesterday and accidentally fell asleep while reading the memorial. When I woke up, I drew it on the spot as soon as I got inspiration."

"Then what is this thing you drew?" Emperor Jingjiang asked coldly, his eyes as intimidating as ice.

Li Dexian's eyes flashed with excitement. He straightened his back and pointed at the pattern on the memorial and explained enthusiastically: "Your Majesty, this is the trackless train I envisioned! The current disaster relief strategies are all the same old stuff. Transporting food is too troublesome. I was thinking if the train could run directly on the road without tracks, wouldn't it be much more convenient?"

Emperor Jingjiang and other ministers were stunned. They thought this idea was ridiculous. How can a train run without tracks? This is just a fantasy!

"This is absolute nonsense! How can trains run without tracks?" a minister couldn't help but retort.

Li Dexian did not give up and argued: "Hasn't North Corridor University solved the steering problem of the four-wheeled carriage? We can install a steam engine on the carriage and add a structure to control the direction, so we can save the track. I was afraid I would forget it, so I drew it on the memorial."

However, his explanation was not recognized by everyone but attracted more doubts and ridicule. But Li Dexian did not care. His eyes were full of infinite longing and expectation for the future development of science and technology, as if he had seen the magnificent scene of trackless trains running on the vast land. Although his idea seemed so incredible and difficult to achieve to people at that time, his spirit of daring to break the convention and innovate is worthy of our admiration and learning.

At this time, the Jinyiwei came in a hurry to report. Upon hearing this, everyone cast their eyes towards the door, only to see the Jinyiwei wearing bright Feiyu uniforms, with embroidered spring swords on their waists, and looking serious and urgent. Emperor Jingjiang nodded slightly, motioning Wang Jingwen, who had been standing beside him, to go to the door to receive the report. Wang Jingwen walked quickly to the Jinyiwei, took an urgent report, and then quickly returned to Emperor Jingjiang and reported the content of the report in a low voice.

After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang raised his hand and said, "Call him in." His voice revealed an unquestionable majesty. After a while, the Jinyiwei who delivered the message strode into the room, knelt down to salute, and then raised the message above his head and presented it to Emperor Jingjiang.

Wang Jingwen carefully unfolded the report and read it aloud. Everyone listened attentively, with astonishment on their faces. It turned out that Lin Xiaofeng, who had always given them a headache, had actually gathered the troublemakers together, not only making them study courses at Beilang University, but also sending them to work in factories. This news was undoubtedly a huge shock to everyone present.

Emperor Jingjiang came back to his senses, took the report from Wang Jingwen, and read it carefully. He had to admit that the news was true. He pondered for a while, and finally said only four words: "Unbelievable." A complex expression flashed across his face, with both surprise and approval. He didn't expect that Lin Xiaofeng could have such a wonderful idea to eliminate a possible turmoil.

He immediately ordered the Jinyiwei who had delivered the message to come, wanting to learn more about the situation. The Jinyiwei lowered his head and carefully answered the questions of Emperor Jingjiang. When asked how Lin Xiaofeng sent the candidates to the factory, he replied: "Lord Lin said that the factory and Beilang University jointly exploited the workers, and they needed to collect evidence in person. Lord Lin appealed to their emotions and reasoned with them, and as a result, more than 700 people signed up enthusiastically, expressing their willingness to work in the factory so as to personally understand the situation of the workers."

Emperor Jingjiang was silent for a moment, as if he was thinking about something. He had to admit that Lin Xiaofeng was indeed extraordinary. Then he suddenly asked, "What is he going to do next?" There was a hint of expectation and curiosity in his voice.

The Jinyiwei replied: "Lord Lin means to let them see with their own eyes the lives of the people and the changes that the new science has brought to their lives. He said that once these scholars see it with their own eyes, they will no longer object." His tone was full of admiration for Lin Xiaofeng.

After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang couldn't help but sigh: "To make light of a heavy task... This kind of operation, probably only Lin Xiaofeng can think of it." A smile appeared on his face. This Lin Xiaofeng always brought him unexpected surprises.

At this moment, a minister behind him interrupted curiously and asked, "I heard that factories are recruiting very actively recently. Where have all these scholars been assigned?" This question immediately aroused everyone's interest. Everyone wanted to know where these scholars who had caused trouble were now.

Jinyiwei smiled and replied, "Just find a broker. They have connections with many factories that need workers, and it is said that for every candidate sent to a factory, the broker can get two taels of silver." His tone was relaxed and natural, as if he was talking about something very ordinary. However, this news shocked everyone present, and they all whispered and talked about it.

There was an uproar in the room, and everyone was talking about it, expressing admiration for Lin Xiaofeng's methods. They originally thought that dealing with these troublemakers would be a difficult problem, but they didn't expect that Lin Xiaofeng would not only solve it easily, but even let the pawnbroker make money from it. This was really unexpected.

Emperor Jingjiang also showed a surprised expression. He re-examined the report in his hand and expressed his appreciation for Lin Xiaofeng's methods. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then said: "This Lin Xiaofeng is indeed a rare talent. Although his methods are unexpected, they can effectively solve problems. I am looking forward to his performance in the future."

The room fell silent again, leaving only the breathing of the crowd and the occasional chirping of birds outside the window. Emperor Jingjiang and others were deeply shocked by the news, and they began to re-examine this young man named Lin Xiaofeng and everything he had done.

As time went by, the atmosphere in the room gradually became weird. An indescribable silence enveloped the air, and everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

There was a hint of fear and uneasiness in each other's eyes, as if everyone felt an invisible restraint in this depressing atmosphere.

Lin Xiaofeng stood in the shadow of the corner, his eyes deep and sharp, as cold as an ice knife in the winter. He quietly observed everyone present, as if evaluating their reactions. His methods were unexpected, cunning and ruthless, and people had to be on guard. If he suddenly attacked from behind, I'm afraid no one would be able to defend against him. This potential threat made everyone more afraid of him.

After a long while, someone finally dared to break the heavy silence. A minister gritted his teeth and praised: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Now that the situation has developed to this point, it seems that those who caused trouble are probably under the control of Lord Lin. With his iron-blooded methods, I believe they will not be able to cause trouble anymore."

Emperor Jingjiang nodded, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He thought he had mastered the skills of controlling people, but at this moment he felt a little powerless. He glanced at Lin Xiaofeng standing in the corner and couldn't help sighing in his heart. This son-in-law's method was much more clever than he had imagined. He upgraded from controlling people to "trafficking" people. This incredible method made him admire it.

Then, Emperor Jingjiang waved his hand, and the Jinyiwei retreated like ghosts, silently disappearing into the darkness. The room suddenly became empty, with only Emperor Jingjiang and several important officials remaining. He turned to Li Dexian and said, "Go to Lin Xiaofeng and observe his subsequent actions carefully for me. I need to know his every move."

Li Dexian was stunned for a moment, then bowed and replied, "Yes, Father." His voice was trembling, and he was obviously nervous and looking forward to this task. This was both a trust and a test for him, and he had to do his best to complete it.

"You don't need to attend court meetings during this period," Emperor Jingjiang continued, "Come back and report after the matter is over." His tone left no room for doubt, as if he had already made the final decision.

Li Dexian looked up in surprise: "Father, do you really want Lin Xiaofeng to go? Are you kidding?" Although he was a little nervous, there was a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes, as if he was full of longing for the upcoming adventure.

Emperor Jingjiang looked at him seriously and said, "Are you kidding? Does this sound like a joke? Lin Xiaofeng was able to resolve such a big thing invisibly. Who else do you think is more capable than him in the court? Go ahead, learn more and see more. Maybe you can learn something from him." His tone was full of admiration and expectations for Lin Xiaofeng.

Li Dexian was delighted and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Father. I will take my leave now." After that, he turned and left, his heart full of expectations and curiosity about the future. Emperor Jingjiang stood there, looking at his back with deep eyes, as if thinking about something important.

In the quiet study, the warm yellow light shines on the neat desk, reflecting Lin Xiaofeng's surprised eyes. He raised his head and met Li Dexian who suddenly came to visit. He seemed to be a little surprised by his arrival. Li Dexian was tall and slender, with a handsome face and an extraordinary temperament between his eyebrows. He smiled slightly and nodded, and his smile revealed his envy for Lin Xiaofeng.

"The emperor has praised you many times. Even Lin Xiaofeng has some free time to wander outside because of you." Li Dexian's words were full of admiration and envy.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled modestly and said nothing more. He knew Li Dexian's character very well. He was a soul that yearned for freedom and did not like to be bound by trivial matters in the court. His eyes revealed his understanding and resonance with Li Dexian.

"Let's not talk about this for now," Li Dexian suddenly lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Lin Xiaofeng, I thought of a good strategy yesterday. If successful, the effect will far exceed that of the train." As he spoke, he slowly reached into his arms and took out a carefully drawn blueprint.

Lin Xiaofeng took the blueprint curiously, unfolded it and was immediately shocked. Isn't this a car from the future? Although the blueprint was relatively simple, just a box with wheels and a steam engine, he recognized the extraordinary design at a glance with his deep understanding of history and technology. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, the development of this world is really full of infinite possibilities.

"What do you think? Old Lin, isn't Lin Xiaofeng's idea genius? The more Lin Xiaofeng thinks about it, the more reasonable it seems. If Lin Xiaofeng and others have this thing, do they still need to use a carriage?" Li Dexian said proudly, with anticipation and pride in his eyes.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at him deeply, his eyes full of complexity and thought. He folded the blueprint, handed it back to Li Dexian, and sighed, "Your Highness is indeed talented, and this idea is unique in the world. However, I'm afraid that starting the project will waste money and time."

After hearing what Lin Xiaofeng said, Li Dexian's eyes flashed with disappointment. He eagerly defended himself, "Why do you say it's a waste of money? Didn't you say that Lin Xiaofeng's idea is unique in the world?" Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment and said earnestly, "To be honest, Lin Xiaofeng feels that with the current level of technology, it is difficult to successfully manufacture this trackless train. Moreover, even if it succeeds, it may not be more practical than a horse-drawn carriage. Lin Xiaofeng's road conditions are not suitable for this trackless train. Besides, manufacturing this trackless train requires a lot of materials and manpower and material resources. If it cannot be widely used in the end, then all these investments will be in vain."

Li Dexian's face suddenly darkened, and his words revealed sarcasm and dissatisfaction: "People in the court said the same thing. Tsk tsk tsk, Lin Xiaofeng really didn't expect you to be so pedantic and backward in thinking! Lin Xiaofeng is so disappointed!" After he said that, he turned around and was about to leave.

Lin Xiaofeng hurriedly pulled him back and explained, "Your Highness, you misunderstood! Lin Xiaofeng is not against your idea. It's just that our current technical level and actual situation do not allow us to realize this idea. However, we can do it step by step. How about starting with optimizing the carriage? For example, improving the structure and comfort of the carriage, increasing its speed and load capacity, etc."

After hearing what Lin Xiaofeng said, Li Dexian stopped. He looked back at Lin Xiaofeng, his eyes flashing with expectation and doubt: "Do you really think there is hope?"

Lin Xiaofeng nodded firmly: "There is hope! As long as Lin Xiaofeng and others keep working hard, exploring and innovating, this idea will come true one day." As soon as he finished speaking, the fire of hope rekindled in Li Dexian's eyes. The two smiled at each other, as if they had seen a beautiful future...

In the following days, Li Dexian put aside his pride and arrogance. He shuttled between various factories in Kyoto and personally inspected and studied. He not only gained a deep understanding of the entire production process and management model, but also made friends with many craftsmen and technicians. These valuable experiences allowed him to have a deeper understanding of the world and the needs of the people.

At the same time, Li Dexian also began to optimize the design and production process of the carriage. He devoted himself to research, repeated experiments, and continuous improvement. After a period of hard work and practice, he successfully improved the structure and comfort of the carriage, and significantly increased the speed and load capacity of the carriage.

These remarkable improvements were quickly recognized and loved by the general public. As a result, the sales of carriages increased significantly, and Li Dexian's reputation also rose. When his father, the emperor, learned of the good news, he praised and rewarded him.

Li Dexian stood in front of the window, looking at the busy streets and carriages passing by. He was filled with emotion: "It turns out that real knowledge is not in the court, but among the people, in factories, and in the fields." He began to truly understand and practice the concept of "unity of knowledge and action", and was determined to apply what he learned to real life and create more welfare and value for the people.

Lin Xiaofeng is also sincerely happy and proud of Li Dexian's growth and progress. He knows that the world needs more young people like Li Dexian who are talented, responsible and passionate to create a better future. The two stand side by side, looking forward to a future full of infinite possibilities...

The car drove slowly on the bumpy dirt road, and the scenery outside the window gradually became unfamiliar as the pace moved forward. Zhou Xuemao sat in the car with mixed feelings and a bit of confusion. Things seemed to be getting more and more bizarre, far from his original idea. He originally just accepted Zheng Banqiao's invitation impulsively out of curiosity and adventurous mentality and joined this famous factory. But now, he began to realize the unknowns and variables that this decision might bring.

He gently opened the curtains, his eyes lost in the scenery in the distance. Although he was a little confused about the future, he did not regret his choice. He was deeply impressed by Zheng Banqiao's personality charm, and more importantly, he believed that here, he might be able to find out the secrets of North Corridor University and achieve the great things in his heart. However, as the car went deeper into the unfamiliar area, the uneasiness and fear in his heart followed him like a shadow, like a dark cloud that could not be dispelled.

In addition to Zhou Xuemao, there were three other people in the carriage. They were all scholars with similar backgrounds, and they stepped into this unknown field for a common purpose. Along the way, they talked about their curiosity and expectations about this factory. This factory was well-known and specialized in manufacturing various precision parts for trains and railways, which made them feel both mysterious and excited.

However, when the topic turned to future factory life, the atmosphere in the carriage suddenly became dull. Although they had all heard rumors about ordinary people working in factories, these well-dressed scholars knew very little about real factory life. Words such as darkness, slavery, and abuse began to emerge in their minds, as if they saw workers being locked in a dark room, living on only two meals of porridge a day. As the discussion deepened, the fear in their hearts became stronger.

Zhou Xuemao's face gradually turned pale. He glanced at the piles of earth outside the window, and an inexplicable fear surged in his heart. Could these piles of earth be the burial place of the dead workers? He didn't dare to think about it, but the doubts in his heart grew wildly like weeds.

He bent down and tried to make his voice sound calm: "Where are you, Lin Xiaofeng? Why is this factory so far away? Also, these mounds of earth on the roadside, are they graves?" The driver replied without turning his head: "We are almost there! This place used to be called Sujiabaozi. Later, when the railway was built, many people came here to set up factories, and the walls of the castle were demolished. Those are not graves, but some ordinary mounds of earth. Now Yangjiabaozi has also changed its name."

"What's the name?" Zhou Xuemao asked nervously, secretly praying that it would not be a name like the Sweat Village or the Labor Village. The driver pointed ahead and said, "Look at the fork in the road ahead, that's the famous Houchangcun Road. Go a little further and you'll see a lot of college students like you." "Lin Xiaofeng, I see that you are all good students, so you must have been invited to work here, right?" the driver asked curiously.

Hearing the word "college students", Zhou Xuemao felt relieved. As long as it wasn't a grave, he was secretly glad. At the same time, seeing college students also made him feel a little relieved. At least, the people here are all educated and literate, so they should be able to communicate smoothly. He was originally worried that there would be many vulgar people here, but now it seems that his worries were unnecessary.

The car continued to drive for about two quarters of an hour before finally coming to a slow stop. Zhou Xuemao and the other three people jumped out of the car impatiently and looked up at the building in front of them. What they saw was not a series of small dark rooms but a spacious and bright factory building with a few big characters hanging on the door: "Wangcai Parts Factory". This discovery made them swallow their saliva at the same time. The scene in front of them was very different from what they had imagined!
Zhou Xuemao came to his senses and was about to take out his purse from his waist to pay the fare, but the driver waved his hand and said, "Gentlemen, you don't have to pay. Young Master Tang has already paid." Zhou Xuemao secretly praised Brother Tang for being thoughtful and considerate, so he withdrew his hand and nodded to thank the driver. As the driver drove away, the four of them stood in front of the factory and suddenly felt a little at a loss.

However, just as they were hesitating, a man came to the factory door enthusiastically. "Are you here to work? The boss specially sent Lin Xiaofeng to take you in." The man was thin, dark-skinned but neatly dressed, and looked to be in his sixties. He always had a warm smile on his face. His appearance was like a ray of sunshine that dispelled the haze in Zhou Xuemao and others' hearts.

Zhou Xuemao mustered up the courage to step forward and asked, "Yes, Lin Xiaofeng and the others are here to work. May I ask your name?" "Oh, you speak in a very literary way, it seems that you are well-educated! Lin Xiaofeng and the others like people who read books!" The man sighed, "Lin Xiaofeng's name is Su Binzhe and he is from Sujiabaozi. You guys can follow Lin Xiaofeng in."

Su Binzhe, the old man with a ruddy face and vigorous spirit, led Zhou Xuemao and his group through the alleys of Wangcai Parts Factory. As they walked, he enthusiastically introduced the factory to them, his voice full of pride: "Our Wangcai Parts Factory is well-known among the many factories in Houchang Village. It's not easy to get in normally! I see that you guys are unfamiliar, how did you get in? Could it be that you are college students?"

Zhou Xuemao, a gentle-looking young man, pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose and replied, "No, no, we were introduced by a friend." His eyes sparkled with anticipation and curiosity.

"Was it a relative who introduced him?" Su Binzhe asked curiously, frowning slightly, as if wondering which relative had such a great reputation.

"Not really, I'm just a friend I just met not long ago." Zhou Xuemao explained with a slightly awkward smile on his face.

After hearing this, Su Binzhe grinned, showing off his full teeth: "Haha, your friend is pretty good! He must be a reliable person to introduce you here."

"He is indeed a rare good man." Speaking of Brother Tang, Zhou Xuemao's eyes flashed with respect and he admired him sincerely.

While chatting and laughing, they had already walked into the factory. From the outside, the factory looked ordinary, except that the single unit area was relatively large. But once you walked in, the spacious space immediately gave you a visual shock! The towering roof and the wide field, for the scholars who had lived in the house for a long time, it was the first time to see such a grand single unit building! It completely broke their previous imagination of the small dark room in the factory!
Zhou Xuemao and others were shocked. They looked around and saw a group of workers busy at work. They were wearing uniform work clothes, helmets, and holding various tools in their hands, working hard at their respective posts. The entire factory was vaguely divided into several areas, and workers in each area were doing different work.

There were also some huge iron hooks hanging in the air for lifting goods. Zhou Xuemao looked up at the roof along the hooks and found that there were pulleys and slides installed on it, which made the transportation and lifting of goods more convenient and faster.

Seeing that the people were stunned by the scene before them, Su Binzhe smiled and explained, "Is this the first time you have seen such a scene? There are many magical things in here! Look at the wheels on the roof. They use the slide rails to easily lift and transport goods. It is very convenient and fast! This was specially designed by our employer, who asked the people from North Corridor University to do so."

He pointed at the workers who were working and said, "Our factory specializes in providing components for trains. Since you have just arrived here, we will not assign you too difficult work. There are many newly cast parts that need to be polished. This job is relatively simple. You just need to polish according to the standard. I will send someone to teach you, don't worry."

Zhou Xuemao took a deep breath, calmed down his excitement, and asked curiously: "Uncle Su, you will arrange work for us, so what is your position in this factory?"

Su Binzhe puffed out his chest and said, "I am the leader of the second team of our factory, and I am responsible for the polishing work. You will follow me from now on. There are four other brothers in my team. But they are busy at their posts now, so there is no need to rush to see them. I will take you around here first to get a basic understanding of the situation in our factory. Then I will arrange work clothes and accommodation for you, and you can officially start work tomorrow."

Zhou Xuemao nodded in agreement, and then followed Su Binzhe to visit the factory. During the visit, they saw many workers working hard. Although everyone was sweating, their faces were filled with satisfied and proud smiles. This scene was deeply imprinted in the hearts of Zhou Xuemao and others. They have made mental preparations to meet the upcoming work challenges. Although there is the smell of a sweatshop here, there is also the tenacity and pride of the workers.

"Our process is the last step before the components leave the factory," Su Binzhe introduced them as they walked. "After polishing is completed, there will be special quality inspectors to receive and inspect. After acceptance, the task is completed. Your monthly salary is two taels of silver. Of course, if the polished products do not meet the standards, your salary will be deducted."

When they walked to the other end of the factory, Zhou Xuemao couldn't help but ask, "How long do we need to work every day? Seven hours or eight hours?" The other three scholars also looked at Su Binzhe nervously. Obviously, they were very concerned about the working hours, and they were even prepared to desperately collect evidence if the working hours were too long!
However, Su Binzhe was surprised and said, "Seven or eight hours? It's all hard work. Don't you want to die?" He continued, "Our factory strictly follows the regulations. We work five days and rest two days. Moreover, we only work four hours a day. These four hours also include a half-hour lunch break and meal time! Look at the clock hanging on the wall over there."

Zhou Xuemao and the other three looked in the direction of Su Binzhe's finger and saw a large clock hanging on the wall of the factory, with the hour and minute hands ticking. Su Binzhe continued, "You should all know how to read the clock, right? Our working hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and we can go home at 5:00 p.m. Moreover, we have two days of paid sick leave every month. There is a doctor in our factory, so if you are sick, you can go directly to him for treatment, without worrying about medical expenses."

When talking about life after get off work, Su Binzhe was even more excited: "After get off work, you are free! You can do whatever you want. There are many delicious and fun things in Houchangcun. You can go to the night market and try snacks; you can also go to the teahouse to listen to opera and chat; if you like quietness, you can also go to the bookstore to read books and recharge. In short, the time after get off work is yours!"

The next morning, there was a glimmer of dawn in the sky, but it was not yet completely bright. Lin Xiaofeng was awakened by a hurried knock on the door. He learned that Bai Yongyuan had summoned him, so he quickly got ready, walked through the streets and alleys of the capital, and finally came to the mountain path.

Surrounded by lush vegetation, every leaf seemed to be moistened by the morning dew, sparkling with crystal light. The gurgling stream, accompanied by the occasional bird calls from afar, formed a natural symphony. In the hazy morning mist, everything seemed particularly peaceful, like a fairyland on earth.

However, Lin Xiaofeng had no intention of appreciating the beautiful scenery at the moment. He was full of doubts. He had just finished interrogating the prisoner yesterday and had not had time to report to the emperor, but Bai Yongyuan called him to such a remote place early in the morning. What on earth was going on?
The two walked side by side. Bai Yongyuan looked solemn, but he said nothing and just led the way. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't suppress his curiosity and finally asked, "Mr. Bai, what on earth do you want me to do today? Although the emperor did not attend court today, we still have to fulfill our duty. I got some clues from the interrogation of the prisoner yesterday, and I have to report to the emperor."

Bai Yongyuan glanced at him, and a strange light flashed in his deep eyes, but he did not answer directly. Instead, he asked: "What did you find out when you interrogated the prisoner yesterday?"

Lin Xiaofeng replied, "I asked around a bit and found out that the mysterious church's divine punishment weapon was actually made by King Hanjiang. I remember that when I escaped from his ship, I used gunpowder to blow up one of his warships. I didn't expect that he actually remembered the traces of gunpowder and developed gunpowder based on these traces. He is such a genius." At this point, he couldn't help but reveal a bit of admiration.

Bai Yongyuan nodded and praised: "Prince Hanjiang is indeed talented. When he was a child, he was not liked by the previous emperor, and was reprimanded by the court officials just because he was too curious. If he were in the present, with his intelligence and curiosity, he would definitely become a genius, but it's a pity that he was born at the wrong time." He paused and asked, "Do you know anything else?"

Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and said, "King Hanjiang is in good health and is expected to live for another twenty years. I asked him indirectly about the manufacture of firearms, and now I have a rough idea of ​​it. In fact, knowing this is enough, after all, our goal has been achieved."

He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How is the emperor's health these days?"

Bai Yongyuan replied, "The emperor is in good health. The prince will serve him personally today. We don't need to worry too much."

As they were talking, they came to a quiet ancient temple. Although the temple looked a bit shabby, it exuded a sense of tranquility in this remote mountain forest. Lin Xiaofeng was about to ask the reason for coming here, but Bai Yongyuan had already walked into the temple.

Passing through the ancient temple gate, a spacious courtyard comes into view. There are stone tables and stone benches in the courtyard. The surrounding flowers and plants are particularly vibrant under the nourishment of the morning dew, and the occasional bird calls are even more refreshing. When two young monks in gray robes saw Bai Yongyuan, they immediately saluted with their hands together. It is obvious that they are frequent visitors here.

Bai Yongyuan nodded slightly, walked straight to a stone bench and sat down, and invited Lin Xiaofeng to sit down as well. The two sat opposite each other and drank tea. While enjoying the surrounding scenery, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but ask again: "Mr. Bai, what is your intention in bringing me here?"

Bai Yongyuan gently put down the teacup and said slowly: "I heard that you don't like monks?"

Lin Xiaofeng said frankly, "Those are just rumors. Although I was naughty and liked to play tricks on monks when I was a kid, I actually respected Buddhism in my heart. The Buddhist teachings are gentle, tolerate bullying, and emphasize forgiveness, just like an honest person. How dare I provoke people from other religions? If I really provoked them, I'm afraid their followers would have attacked me in groups." He couldn't help but smile a little self-deprecatingly, "Then it will be more difficult to deal with than a dog-skin plaster."

Bai Yongyuan couldn't help laughing after hearing this. He looked around and said with some emotion: "This temple is where I cultivate myself. I have many family and national affairs and my mind is in turmoil, so I come here every month to be alone for a few days to calm myself down."

He suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Many people in the court like to go to temples and Taoist temples to cultivate their minds and cultivate their character. I wonder if the Marquis has this habit?"

Lin Xiaofeng was slightly stunned, then replied: "I prefer to be alone and feel the tranquility and harmony of nature."

(End of this chapter)