Xue Zhi had no money on hand, so she asked Zheng Sanyang for an advance of ten taels of silver.
Seeing her worn clothing, Zheng Sanyang even gifted her a new set of clothes for free. Thus, when Xue Zhi left Jinxiu Tower, she had already changed into fresh garments.
She did not return to the village immediately, intending instead to purchase some necessities.
When she divorced, she had taken nothing with her.
Fu Shiyue rarely came home, and there was no rice, flour, oil, or other staples in the house. Even common furniture and household tools were lacking.
This was the perfect chance to buy what was needed.
Xue Zhi first went to the grain shop to purchase rice and flour, then visited the blacksmith to order a new cooking pot.
Fu Shiyue’s old pot was already rusted. She had no idea how he managed to cook when he was at home.
After spending the whole morning shopping, she finally finished buying everything.
There were too many items, so she simply rented a horse cart and arranged with the driver to return to the village in the afternoon at Shen hour.
Now that she had money, Xue Zhi did not mistreat herself and bought a bowl of wontons to eat.
But just as she finished and was about to leave, a hurried young woman accidentally crashed into her.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I truly didn’t mean to!”
The woman looked flustered, and immediately behind her came a burst of shouting.
“If you’ve got the guts, stop running!”
“Stand still!”
Xue Zhi glanced over, then instinctively grabbed the woman’s arm and pulled her into a nearby alley.
The two of them hid there, panting for breath, while voices echoed outside.
“Where is she?”
“Where did she go? She disappeared the moment we turned!”
“She’s over there!”
When the voices gradually faded, both women let out long breaths of relief.
“Thank you,” the woman said gratefully.
“It’s nothing.”
Xue Zhi waved her hand casually and asked as if by chance,
“Why were those people chasing you?”
“I… I ruined their business…”
“Ruined their business?”
Xue Zhi frowned in confusion.
The woman nodded.
“Yes.
Oh right, my name is Bai Shanshan. And you?”
Hearing the name, shock flashed in Xue Zhi’s eyes.
Bai Shanshan? Bai Shanshan? Why does that sound so familiar?
She searched her memory for a long while before finally remembering.
Bai Shanshan had originally been an ordinary embroiderer.
Her mother had fallen gravely ill, and she had gone to her employer to ask for an advance on her wages.
Not only had they refused, they had even withheld that month’s pay entirely.
When Bai Shanshan argued with them, she was thrown out.
She refused to give up and returned every day demanding her wages.
After several times, the employer grew furious and ordered men to seize her.
They even broke her legs.
After losing both legs, her mother died because there was no money for treatment.
Not long afterward, Bai Shanshan also committed suicide.
The reason Xue Zhi remembered her at all was because of Fu Lin and Ruan Chujin.
In her previous life, shortly after Xue Zhi died, Fu Lin returned with Ruan Chujin.
The county magistrate’s brother-in-law lusted after Ruan Chujin and attempted to seize her in broad daylight.
Fu Lin played the hero and rescued the beauty, then used his identity as a general to thoroughly investigate all the crimes the magistrate’s brother-in-law had committed over the years.
Bai Shanshan’s case had been one of them.
Fu Lin punished evil and upheld justice, distributing the man’s wealth to those he had harmed.
But by then, Bai Shanshan was already dead.
Many sighed and said she had no fortune—if only she had died later, she might have received compensation.
“I’m Xue Zhi,” she said.
“Xue Zhi? What a lovely name!”
Bai Shanshan smiled brightly.
“Miss Xue, thank you so much for helping me just now.
From now on, you’re my friend.
May I call you Zhizhi?”
“Of course you can, Shanshan.”
The two smiled at one another.
“Since we’re friends now… can you tell me what happened?” Xue Zhi asked carefully.
“Mm.”
Bai Shanshan then told her everything in detail—how her employer had deducted her wages and how they had sent people to surround and chase her.
It matched almost exactly what Xue Zhi already knew, though now she learned more specifics.
Bai Shanshan was an embroiderer for Huayi Pavilion.
And Huayi Pavilion’s owner was none other than the county magistrate’s brother-in-law.
No wonder the shop assistant there had been arrogant and disdainful earlier.
They had powerful backing.
“What do you plan to do now?” Xue Zhi asked.
Bai Shanshan hesitated before answering firmly,
“I… I don’t know.
But no matter what, I must get back the wages they owe me.”
Her mother’s illness could not last many more days.
“I have a way.”
Xue Zhi glanced at her, speaking in a tone almost like temptation.
“A way?! You have a way?!”
Bai Shanshan grabbed both of Xue Zhi’s hands excitedly.
“Zhizhi, tell me quickly!”
Xue Zhi pretended to think for a moment, then instead asked:
“You said Huayi Pavilion’s manager often deducts embroiderers’ wages. Besides you, has he done this to others too?”
She vaguely remembered that in her previous life many embroiderers had received compensation.
Clearly, Bai Shanshan was not the only victim.
Just as expected, Bai Shanshan nodded repeatedly.
“Of course.
When new embroiderers first join Huayi Pavilion, the manager and owner claim beginners might damage materials, so they pay no wages for the first two months.”
“Only in the third month do they assign us proper work.
For every finished piece, after deducting cloth and thread costs, half the earnings still go to Huayi Pavilion.
Then the manager constantly finds faults.
By the time wages reach us, it’s nearly half of what was originally promised.”
“Then why do you still work there?” Xue Zhi asked.
Bai Shanshan sighed helplessly.
“We need to survive.
Huayi Pavilion is powerful. If we leave, no other shop dares hire us.”
Hearing that, Xue Zhi remembered Zheng Sanyang’s complaints that Jinxiu Tower had been suppressed by Huayi Pavilion and allied embroidery shops.
Most embroiderers had been poached away.
He had even lamented where to find workers.
It seemed she could solve that problem for him.
“Have you ever thought of joining together and striking?”
“Striking?”
Bai Shanshan blinked in confusion.
“What does that mean?”
“It means if Huayi Pavilion refuses to pay proper wages, then you need not work hard for them either.
Huayi Pavilion mainly sells clothing.
If the goods are poor quality, or if they demand rushed orders, delay them.
Create as many difficulties as possible.
Make it impossible for them to quickly replace you.
Then they’ll be forced to pay.”
“You can do that?!”
Bai Shanshan stared wide-eyed.
“I… I never thought of such a thing.
But… would it really work?
What if the manager doesn’t lack embroiderers?
Or they don’t need rush orders?
There are many women who know needlework. What if they simply don’t care?”
She fired off a string of concerns.
Xue Zhi answered calmly.
“Of course it can work.
But only at the right time.”
“The right time? What counts as the right time?”
Xue Zhi thought briefly.
“Has Huayi Pavilion recently taken any major orders?”
“I heard… the richest man in the county’s daughter is getting married.
Huayi Pavilion accepted the bridal gown order, plus all kinds of decorations.
Does that count?”
“How could it not?”
Then Xue Zhi asked,
“How long until the wedding?”
“Probably less than two months.”
“See? The perfect timing has already arrived.”
One sentence was enough for Bai Shanshan to understand.
“You mean—”
Before she could continue, Xue Zhi interrupted.
“I’m only speaking casually. You may listen casually as well.”
“I understand now! Thank you, Zhizhi!”
Bai Shanshan beamed with joy.
Xue Zhi did not instruct her step by step.
After all, Bai Shanshan had already dared to demand stolen wages from Huayi Pavilion and flee pursuit.
She clearly had courage.
The two women understood one another without words.
Worried about her sick mother and eager to solve the matter, Bai Shanshan hurried away.
Watching her retreating figure, determination gleamed in Xue Zhi’s eyes.
She and Jinxiu Tower were now tied together.
If Jinxiu Tower suffered, she would gain nothing.
Huayi Pavilion was therefore a threat—to Jinxiu Tower, and to her.
Better to remove that obstacle early.
No one would stand in the way of her making money.
The sky was growing late, nearly time for her meeting with the cart driver.
Xue Zhi headed toward the town gate—
Only to run into Fu Shiyue.
“Lady Xue?”
“Scholar Fu!”