Care leads to chaos. The textile factory is Tang Dongdong's lifeblood. When she heard that Cai Liuyang wanted to close the factory, she was so confused that she couldn't think of a solution.
It’s also good to listen to Guan Xiaorou’s approach.
Although Guan Xiaorou has never read a book and has never seen much of the world, she is not stupid.
When Xie Xiguang launched an attack, it was Guan Xiaorou who thought of the strategy to break the situation.
It's just that she has too low self-esteem. When Jin Feng and Tang Xiaobei were in the village, she basically wouldn't express her opinions. All she could think about was how to make Jin Feng happy.
Now seeing that Tang Dongdong really had no other choice, he had no choice but to speak.
Even so, he still spoke a little awkwardly: "I don't know if this method will work..."
"It doesn't matter. If it doesn't work, let's think of other ways." Tang Dongdong quickly encouraged: "Come and listen."
"Didn't the Emperor say we can't hire workers? Isn't it okay if we don't hire workers?" Guan Xiaorou said.
When Tang Dongdong and Xiaoyu heard this, they both looked disappointed.
They thought Guan Xiaorou could come up with some good ideas.
"Xiaorou, if we don't hire workers, who will spin the thread, make the soap, and forge the iron?"
Tang Dongdong sighed: "Don't we still have to close the factory?"
"No, that's not what I meant."
Guan Xiaorou said: "Except for building construction sites, our textile factories, soap factories, salt factories, including iron smelting factories, all are basically female workers, and more than 90% of them are unmarried girls. If they are asked to apply for a marriage certificate with the head of the household,
They are the concubines of the family, not workers!"
Ahem!
Tang Dongdong was so shocked by Guan Xiaorou's words that she coughed.
Xiaoyu also widened her eyes.
They really didn't expect that Guan Xiaorou would come up with such a method.
"Xiaorou, I know you have always wanted to take a concubine for Brother Feng, but you can't do this, right?"
Tang Dongdong couldn't laugh or cry: "Do you know how many unmarried girls there are in all the factories now? Are you going to let them all marry Brother Feng?"
"Isn't it possible?" Guan Xiaorou tilted her head and asked, "I remember hearing someone say before that starting from the Supreme Emperor, he can have as many concubines as he wants."
"Then you're too... too crazy, aren't you?"
Tang Dongdong smiled bitterly and said: "The total number of girls in all our factories must exceed 10,000, and we have more than 10,000 concubines at once... This..."
Tang Dongdong didn't even know what to say.
Guan Xiaorou's idea is really weird.
She has read history books, and this is the first time she has heard of someone wanting to take in so many concubines at once.
If he really does this, Jin Feng will definitely be recorded in history.
"But besides this, Dongdong, do you have any other options?" Guan Xiaorou asked.
"I..." Tang Dongdong was choked.
Xiaoyu standing aside also looked thoughtful.
Seeing that both of them stopped talking, Xiaoyu slowly spoke: "Sister Dongdong, I think what my sister-in-law said is a good idea."
When Tang Dongdong heard this, his expression gradually became serious.
Just now she felt that Guan Xiaorou's idea was too weird and outrageous, and she subconsciously wanted to object.
But when Guan Xiaorou asked back, and now Xiaoyu said this again, Tang Dongdong began to think seriously.
After calming down and thinking about it carefully, although Guan Xiaorou's method sounds absurd, it seems feasible.
The most important thing is that this is the only solution the three of them can think of at the moment.
Since the war with the northern barbarians, Dakang's population has dropped sharply.
And those who died in the battle were all men.
Dakang was still in the agricultural era, and men were the main labor force in farming.
When a man is killed on the battlefield, he loses his military pay.
Women can barely support themselves just by farming, let alone paying taxes.
The economy also began to decline.
In order to restore the population, solve the problem of excess women, and restore tax revenue, the emperor no longer restricted the number of concubines the common people had, nor the number of domestic slaves they kept.
As long as you can make a living and pay taxes, you can have as many concubines as you want and as many domestic slaves as you want.
Moreover, the emperor also incorporated this provision into the regulations.
Although the words spoken by the emperors of the past dynasties can be used as laws and regulations, when there is a conflict with the formal laws and regulations, the formal laws and regulations still take precedence.
Unfortunately, the status of merchants during the feudal period was too low. Before Xiaoyu came, he asked the legal affairs department to look through all the information he could find, but he could not find anything to refute the emperor's words about hiring workers.
Tang Dongdong frowned and thought for a long time, then asked: "Xiaorou, female workers can be concubines for Brother Feng, but what about male workers?"
In addition to factories such as textile factories, soap factories, and salt factories that have a large number of female workers, Xihewan also has kilns and construction sites that require a large number of male workers.
These male workers were also within Cai Liuyang's attack range.
"The male workers asked them to sign a contract of sale with the boss and become domestic slaves." Guan Xiaorou replied.
"By the way, you can also sell yourself as a slave." Tang Dongdong nodded: "Then let the female workers become domestic slaves. Having over 10,000 concubines all at once is really...too scary!"
"Dongdong, it's not like you don't know the master's temperament. He hates keeping domestic slaves. If he does this, he will definitely cancel the slave status when he comes back. Cai Liuyang will also use this matter to threaten the master."
Guan Xiaorou said: "If you take a concubine, once the marriage contract is signed, both parties need to agree to terminate it. The procedures are also very troublesome, and the head of the family may accept it."
"But after taking concubines, it will be difficult for these girls to get married in the future." Tang Dongdong said with a frown.
"You can't get married even if you sell yourself as a slave." Guan Xiaorou said, "Rather than doing this, it's better to give them a status."
A slave and a bitch is better than an animal.
The status of Dakang's slaves is too low, their status is similar to that of animals, and they are also the playthings of their male masters.
As long as the slaves are not too ugly, they are almost always forbidden by the male master.
And he doesn’t even have a title.
The most indispensable thing in Dakang today is girls. Even the old girls cannot get married, and it is impossible for anyone to want girls who have sold themselves as slaves.
Therefore, there is basically no difference between taking a concubine and selling yourself into slavery when it comes to marrying someone.
"It's so scary to have over 10,000 concubines at that time. Brother Feng orders one a day and he won't be able to finish all of them in his lifetime."
Tang Dongdong said: "Besides, Brother Feng hates taking slaves and doesn't like taking concubines. If you do this, he will definitely be angry when he comes back."
"Sister-in-law, Sister Dongdong, and Cai Liuyang's people are on the way. You have to make a decision quickly."
Seeing the two of them arguing, Xiaoyu reminded him in a low voice.
"Otherwise, let's stop arguing about Dongdong. Let's go to the factory and tell the female workers about the situation, and then let them make their own choices."
Guan Xiaorou said: "If you are willing to be the concubine of the head of the family, just get a marriage certificate.
Those who are willing to be slaves can apply for slavery.
If you don’t want to, just settle your wages and leave, what do you think?”
"I think this is feasible!" Xiaoyu immediately agreed.
Then they both turned to look at Tang Dongdong, waiting for her answer.