“What?! Shan Shan, what you’re saying… can it really work?” a young woman frowned in doubt. “Shan Shan, our lives are already pretty good right now. If we fail, we’re truly finished.
If we leave Hua Yi Pavilion, who would dare hire us again? My parents are still counting on me to earn money so my younger brother can get married soon. They would never agree to me doing this.”
As she spoke, the girl kept shaking her head, clearly frightened and timid.
Bai Shanshan took a deep breath and said firmly, “A Xue, do you want to keep being exploited by Hua Yi Pavilion forever?
They’re already deducting half our wages. If they push further in the future and keep cutting more and more, what will you do then?”
She continued, “Right now is the perfect opportunity. No matter how unwilling Hua Yi Pavilion is, they’ll have to endure it until we finish this batch of work. Besides, I’ve already asked around—Jinxiu Pavilion is currently short of people.”
“But… will Jinxiu Tower really accept us?”
Before Bai Shanshan could respond, another girl spoke first.
“Why wouldn’t they?”
“We’ve worked as embroiderers in Hua Yi Pavilion for so many years. We have experience. With us, Jinxiu Pavilion would be delighted.”
The girl who spoke was named Feng Chun. She, Bai Shanshan, and Xiang Xue all worked in Hua Yi Pavilion and had long suffered under the shopkeeper’s oppression.
Feng Chun was bold and straightforward.
“Shan Shan is right. This is a good opportunity—we should try.”
Xiang Xue asked cautiously, “But what if…”
“No ‘what if’!” Feng Chun interrupted immediately.
Bai Shanshan added, “A Xue, if you’re too scared, then don’t…”
Before she could finish, Xiang Xue suddenly looked as if she were ready to sacrifice herself.
“I can do it. Shan Shan, A Chun, I believe you!”
Although she was afraid, she also understood the potential benefits of success.
The three of them had worked at Hua Yi Pavilion for many years and were considered experienced.
After three days of persuasion, ninety percent of the embroiderers finally agreed to join the action.
The remaining ten percent were either afraid of the owner’s punishment or hoped to benefit without taking any risk.
Hua Yi Pavilion had fifteen embroiderers in total—only two refused to join.
One day, although it was time to start work, thirteen embroiderers had still not arrived.
The supervisor saw this and immediately sent someone to look for them.
“Where are they? Where the hell did they all go? They’re this late—are they asking to have their wages deducted?!”
He pointed at someone and ordered, “You! Go find them!”
Just then, Bai Shanshan and the other twelve arrived together.
Bai Shanshan’s gaze was sharp as she said directly, “Shopkeeper, if you don’t pay us according to the contract, then we are going on strike.”
The moment those words fell, the shopkeeper scanned them coldly and sneered.
“Strike? You think you can threaten me with that?”
Feng Chun said, “Supervisor, you clearly promised three taels of silver per month at the beginning. But every month, we only receive half—or even less.
You say there are defects, or that the work is substandard, and deduct our wages for vague reasons. That is not what the contract states.”
“Any problem?” the supervisor said indifferently. “You people are careless and damage my goods into defective products. Of course I should deduct your wages.”
Bai Shanshan gritted her teeth. “If you doubt our skills, fine. Then please settle this month’s wages for us. We quit!”
The embroiderers’ hearts were pounding, their eyes uneasy, but they forced themselves to look firm.
The supervisor froze.
“You… what did you say?”
“We quit!”
“We’re not working anymore!”
More than a dozen voices rang out in unison.
The supervisor’s expression stiffened, but he still forced himself to act tough.
“You’re sure? Fine. If you don’t want to work, then leave.
There are plenty of people who want to come to Hua Yi Pavilion. We don’t lack you few.”
Although he said this, panic was already building inside him.
There were urgent orders recently—one from a wealthy patron and another large batch from outside the region.
If so many embroiderers quit now, where would he find skilled replacements?
Even if he did, training and wages would take time and money.
Bai Shanshan said calmly, “Good. Please settle our wages. Once we receive them, we’ll leave immediately.”
The embroiderers stood united, holding their breath.
More than ten pairs of eyes stared straight at the supervisor.
After a long silence, he finally gave in unwillingly.
“Fine! I agree! I agree, alright?!”