Overalls

The female workers' treatment naturally needed no elaboration.

It was much better than the reporters' starting conditions!

Considering that those female workers would work overtime, he specifically gave them six days of rest time each month.

Free room and board, childcare, sick leave, maternity leave... Fang Zheng even considered finding some teachers to teach those female workers reading and writing once the textile factory was running stably. This was simply a beacon of Great Jing civilization!

Even the Sanhe Great Gods would come running with buckets in hand!

This wasn't because Fang Zheng particularly liked taking care of women; the concept of gender equality had long been ingrained in his bones!

In the early years of Taoyuan County's construction, manpower was extremely scarce, and his sense of crisis was very strong.

Fang Zheng led by example, using men like beasts of burden, women like men, and even five or six-year-old children with nothing to do had to go out carrying two baskets of dirt.

When you catch a toad, you squeeze out its urine. Do you care whether it is male or female?

The reason for providing such generous benefits was still because social attitudes were too poor!

At the slightest disturbance, if the textile factory's reputation went wrong, the female workers would definitely flee en masse with their baskets, and subsequent recruitment would become much more difficult.

Overall, although the benefits given to female workers were substantial, it was still much more cost-effective than hiring men.

Moreover, female workers were better at sewing and other delicate work, with gentle temperaments. Men were different, being relatively harder to manage. Whether they could do this kind of work was one thing, but even if they could, they wouldn't be meticulous enough. In addition, there were issues of pride, which made recruitment even more difficult.

So it was necessary to first make the textile factory into work that other women would envy.

Then spread the word through the female workers themselves. Even if the men behind the female workers were dissatisfied, they would shut up when they saw real money.

After Xiao Tao finished explaining all the matters, Fang Zheng turned and walked from the corner to face everyone.

By now, the female workers had completely immersed themselves in fantasies of a beautiful future life.

Fang Zheng clapped his hands and called out loudly, "Good! Everyone should understand the basic situation."

"Now let me say a few more words to everyone!"

Xiao Tao mechanically applauded, and seeing this, everyone else followed with applause!

After the applause ended, Fang Zheng continued, "You are the first batch of female workers at Banshan Textile Factory. This is extraordinarily significant with unlimited prospects. Perhaps you earn a little less now..."

"...The more you compare benefits, the narrower your heart becomes. The more you speak of dedication, the higher your level!..."

An hour passed.

Li Yuanzhao looked at the endlessly chattering Fang Zheng with a miserable expression.

It was too boring and really hard to endure. When would this ever end?

You've stolen all the spotlight, and yet you have so much nonsense to say, with absolutely no intention of stopping.

Who knew Old Fang had this kind of ability...

Fang Zheng licked his dry lips and said with lingering satisfaction, "That's all for today. Everyone must be tired."

"Soon someone will assign dormitories to you. The person assigning your dormitories is your supervisor. You can report any problems to her. This official is leaving now. Study well!"

With that, Fang Zheng left the textile factory with the drowsy Crown Prince, Xiao Tao, and others.

Chen Xiaoman held her child, watching Fang Zheng's retreating figure with eyes full of gratitude.

Now all her worries were gone!

Not only did the textile factory have no problems, it was even far better than she had imagined.

As long as she worked enough overtime, she could even get a model worker award, which would mean earning more than her husband.

This way, the family's medicine expenses would be covered, their life could improve, and the child could even get an education!

Planning for the future in her heart, listening to the joyful conversations around her, Chen Xiaoman couldn't help but be gradually infected and showed a smile.

Soon supervisors began arranging dormitory assignments for the female workers present.

These supervisors were all skilled workers that Fang Zheng had brought from Taoyuan County in advance.

Soon Chen Xiaoman, along with seven other roommates, was assigned to a dormitory.

Upon entering the dormitory, Chen Xiaoman looked at the furnishings inside with surprise.

This assigned dormitory was actually larger than her own home!

Eight people's bunk beds, but the beds were not of ordinary size. They were large enough to accommodate two petite people lying side by side.

When initially making the beds, Fang Zheng had considered this issue.

Some female workers might need to sleep with their children, so he specifically ordered the beds to be made larger.

Not only were there beds, but clean bedding was already laid out on the bed boards.

Against the wall were storage lockers and similar facilities.

Seeing that they had all chosen their positions, the supervisor instructed, "You few will be roommates from now on. It's best to select a room leader before tonight. If there are any issues, the room leader will come find me."

"Every day someone will inspect the dormitory hygiene. If trash is found on the floor, wages will be deducted."

"Master Fang said this is also for your own good. Developing good habits will allow you to work well in the production area and prevent accidents."

Then the supervisor walked to the storage lockers, randomly opened a compartment, and introduced, "These are storage lockers. Each of you pick a spot."

"Inside are soap pods, towels, wash basins, sanitary pads, a set of work clothes, and an attendance card!"

Speaking, the supervisor picked up the sanitary pads. "This is what replaces menstrual cloths. When they get dirty, you can simply throw them away. The factory will provide them for free."

"With these, you can work normally without being affected by anything!"

"This attendance card will be punched by someone responsible each day before you go to work at the factory. It will also serve as the basis for calculating wages at the end of the month, so make sure to keep it safe!"

"And this set of work clothes has been prepared for you in advance. If it's particularly ill-fitting, you can apply for an exchange."

Chen Xiaoman looked at the work clothes in disbelief. Were they giving out new clothes too?

But the style of this work uniform was somewhat strange.

The supervisor shook out the clothes and said, "These are your work uniforms. The top is just an ordinary top, but these pants are not ordinary pants. They are called overalls!"

"The first product our textile factory will officially begin producing is these overalls."

"These overalls have many advantages. Without a belt, they can still prevent the pants from sliding down. Running and jumping won't affect your movements!"

"You can wear them first to get a feel, and also study their stitching in advance."

"Also, if you want to go home tonight, you can go back once. After coming tomorrow, you can only leave during holidays. Understand?"

"Understood!" the eight replied in unison.

"Good, then rest. I'll leave first."

After the supervisor left, no one in the dormitory spoke. Instead, they first found their bunks and sat on their beds carefully organizing their belongings.

Chen Xiaoman's spot was good, a lower bunk.

She gently touched the brand-new bedding with her hand, feeling warmth in her heart.

Her family's bedding had been used for who knows how many years, patched and mended, long since becoming thin and yellowed.

Who would have thought that just entering the factory, she'd be assigned a new set of bedding and clothes.

Looking at her other roommates' reactions, they were all similar, filled with gratitude and happiness.

After organizing their belongings, several people put on their work uniforms and stood up, twisting left and jumping right.

Although they looked somewhat odd, these overalls were indeed comfortable. Someone was even so happy she hummed a tune and jumped in circles...

After the excitement wore off, several people lay on their respective beds and naturally began telling their own stories.

Anyone who could come here had shown some courage.

They all came with hopes of improving their impoverished lives, so naturally their conversations were quite compatible.

Everyone chatted like this until evening began to fall and some started heading home...