Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 157 The West Mountain Workshop Shows Initial Success
Xishan Workshop.

In just one month, it has already taken shape.

Workshops were built around the coal mines.

From smokeless coal workshops to glass workshops, and even further afield, there are eyeglass workshops that take advantage of the convenience of glassmaking.

These workshops use uniform standards, materials, and techniques, and all look like they were made from molds.

The refugees didn't understand Zhang Tongzhi's intentions, but they were happy to have a meal and a monthly wage provided by him.

who cares!
Of course, the most crucial moment is when I receive my wages for this month.

Holding the gleaming copper coins in their hands, the refugees felt a sense of unreality.

All previous doubts about Zhang Yunxiu vanished, replaced by gratitude.

Since ancient times, the imperial court has conscripted laborers without paying them wages. Not only were they not paid, but they also had to provide for their own meals.

In comparison, in the eyes of the refugees, Zhang Yunxiu's actions were practically no different from doing good deeds.

It was just past 3:45 PM.

After receiving their monthly wages, every migrant worker was full of energy. They came out in groups from the mines or workshops and flocked to the "canteen" at the foot of West Mountain.

More than 10,000 people were in these mountains, a truly grand procession, yet it did not appear chaotic.

The refugees followed the rules of the military camp, with each "village elder" and "headman" serving as squad leader and flag bearer to maintain order in the ranks.

Zhang Sishu stood on the mountainside with dozens of men, his face showing some anxiety. He kept standing on tiptoe, looking around as if searching for someone.

After the crowd had almost dispersed, he finally encountered two men who looked like lumps of coal.

They walked and laughed all the way, and despite a long day's work, they were still full of energy, even though they were covered in coal dust.

"Hangzi! Gouzi!"

Upon seeing the two men, Zhang Sishu was furious. He took two steps forward and kicked each of them in the buttocks.

"Where have you been? Why are you so reckless?"

Zhang Hangzi and Zhang Gouzi were kicked hard, but they weren't angry.

Zhang Hangzi covered his buttocks and said with a slightly aggrieved expression.

"We'll just stay in the mine a little longer."

"When you're done working, you're done working!"

Zhang Sishu said angrily.

"The magistrate said that when we enter the mine, we must follow the rules set by the magistrates. We cannot stay in the mine for long and must come out after work."

If you lose your life inside, it'll be hard to find anyone to rescue you after work!

This dog was a square-faced man, and he chuckled as he spoke.

"We've learned about the village elders, and we're all anxious to save up enough money to find a wife in the outskirts of Beijing."

"Wife, all you think about is your wife, would you risk your life for her?"

Zhang Sishu grabbed his straw sandals and whipped them hard.

"Elders! We'll never do it again!"

"The village elders are going to beat us to death!"

The two men were shouting very loudly, but in reality, Zhang Sishu's straw sandals didn't hit them at all.

The group ran all the way to the mountainside.

Upon reaching a pavilion halfway up the mountain, the group found a stream in the mountain ravine and quickly washed themselves.

In the villages at the foot of Xishan Mountain, there are special bathhouses. Thanks to the locally produced briquettes, workers from the Xishan workshops can take a bath for only five coins, which is equivalent to the price of a candle, and is already considered cheap.

Even five coins was still a sum that these country folk, accustomed to hardship, couldn't bear to part with.

Every little bit saved counts.

As the weather gets warmer in June, it's a good idea to take a quick wash in the stream to get clean.

After washing away the filth, Zhang Sishu and the others followed the smooth mountain road that had been cleared, all the way to the foot of the mountain.

Seeing the rows of villages and the billowing smoke rising from a huge bungalow, the group was filled with excitement.

Smelling the aroma of cooking fires in the air, Zhang Sishu's eyes even reddened a little.

"Hey~ why is the old man crying?" Zhang Hangzi stood aside, quite surprised.

"I'm so happy! It's been so long since I've had such peaceful and hopeful days."

Zhang Sishu was filled with emotion.

What kind of life did we live in the countryside back then?
They toiled in the fields all day, barely saving any money at the end of the year, and sometimes even went hungry. When natural disasters or man-made calamities struck, things were even worse.

Those who managed to leave and survive were considered lucky; many more starved or died of disease in their villages or on their way to the capital.

Just a month or two ago, how could Zhang Sishu have believed that he could live a life where he had a house to live in, didn't go hungry, and had a stable income?
Zhang Hangzi patted Zhang Sishu's hunched shoulder.

"When good days come, why are the village elders crying? They're much better off than us. They can read and write, and they work as clerks in the workshops, earning much more than we do."

Master Zhang arranged a village for us and even built thatched huts for us. Although they were a bit simple, they were still places to stay.

"Elder, when you have money in the future, expand this thatched hut, and you might even be able to get a wife!"

Zhang Gouzi chimed in, "Yes, yes, let's have another big, fat son."

After saying this, Zhang Hangzi and Zhang Gouzi burst into hearty laughter.

Zhang Sishu's face immediately turned red with embarrassment. He took off his straw sandals and chased after Zhang Sishu, cursing all the way.

"You two scoundrels, you even dare to make fun of an old man like me!"

The other men who followed him all smiled sincerely upon seeing this; it was a smile full of anticipation for the future.

"Halt! Bow immediately!"

Zhang Sishu chased after them for half the distance, then suddenly called out to the two men ahead of him.

With his sharp eyes, he spotted several soldiers in red undershirts and black gauze helmets approaching from afar.

An old scholar was escorting them ahead of them.

Zhang Hangzi and Zhang Gouzi knew their place and understood the "village elder's" usual tone, so they immediately stood up obediently.

The three men stood at attention, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Before the soldiers arrived, Zhang Hangzi couldn't help but ask.

"Old man, who are these soldiers? Their clothes are so impressive."

Zhang Sishu glared and puffed out his beard.

"Why are you asking such a silly question?"

But he still answered.

"They are the Embroidered Uniform Guards from the Thousand Households Office."

Upon hearing the name of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the two immediately fell silent, no longer daring to smile.

However, the Imperial Guards ignored the workers who stood respectfully to the side and instead escorted the old scholar directly toward the Xishan Thousand-Household Garrison.

But then they saw the old scholar acting like a madman, struggling and shouting something all the way.

"Release me! I am the Grand Secretary of the current court! You are utterly audacious!"

"Hahahaha~"

"I am the Grand Secretary, and you are all at my beck and call!"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is nothing!"

"You bunch of soldiers! Why aren't you kneeling down at the sight of the Prime Minister?"

Halfway there, the old scholar suddenly shouted at the workers by the roadside.

Many workers were so frightened that they actually knelt down.

"be honest!"

A burly Imperial Guard stepped forward and kicked him, which finally calmed the old scholar down.

After the group left, Zhang Hangzi looked at Zhang Sishu with a strange expression and asked him a question.

"Old man, where did this man come from? Why is he acting so crazy? He claims to be the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Court."

Damn it! The Grand Secretary is Master Zhang's father, Master Zhang is our benefactor, and the Grand Secretary is our benefactor father-in-law!
He's gone too far!

Zhang Hangzi hadn't read many books, so he just spouted some nonsense.

"You're spouting nonsense again. You'll be ruined by your foul mouth sooner or later!"

Zhang Sishu glared and scolded him.

Then his gaze turned strange as he spoke.

"I don't know who this old scholar is, maybe he's some White Lotus cult bandit, but I have seen that leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard before."

He couldn't help but speak with a touch of respect.

"He is Zhang Tongzhi's older brother, who holds the official position of Assistant Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. People in the capital say that although Zhang Tongzhi's brother is not resourceful, he is brave and can be considered a hero by Zhang Tongzhi's side."

(End of this chapter)