Chapter 23

What else could Officer Zeng say? She had said it all.
Yet the deeper implications of her words nagged at him and made him overthink.
Was she really testing his ability to execute and lead? It felt like an illusion.
Yes, it must be an illusion. How could that be true?
Mu Wanqing blinked. "By the way, gather all the healthy convicts to do the work so they don’t get bored and cause trouble. Feed them three meals a day. What do you think?"
Her words were casual; her true thoughts weren’t ready to be revealed.
Officer Zeng’s eyes shone, free labor, of course he’d put them to work.
"Your mind is too sharp," he admitted; he’d never thought of it.
Mu Wanqing smiled faintly. Perfect, events were unfolding exactly as she’d orchestrated.
She made a list, and Officer Zeng set about the arrangements.
All the convicts who weren’t ill were called together, bewildered, and began asking questions.
Officer Zeng announced loudly, "You’re all here to do some work. We’ll provide three meals a day: meat buns and bone soup."
He added, "The men will have their shackles removed for the day." Otherwise, they couldn’t work.
A stir ran through the crowd; the convicts were ecstatic.
Food and drink, and a temporary release from the shackles, even for one day, that was a blessing.
The head of the Fang family didn’t let the surprise get to his head; instead he looked concerned. "Sir, what do you want us to do?"
Officer Zeng’s mouth curved in an odd, faint smile. "Ask Third Miss Mu to make the arrangements."
Everyone froze. What’s going on? Third Miss Mu?
Mu Wanqing looked up in disbelief. I, we didn’t agree to this, how did he suddenly push me forward? I’m not prepared!
He’d blindsided her, thrown her off balance. The man was a little sly.
No matter. Who was she afraid of? She always faced challenges head-on.
It was also an opportunity.
Meeting the crowd’s many gazes, she stepped forward with composure, her expression calm and resolute. "Are you wondering why I’m standing here? It’s simple, it was my idea."
A murmur swept the room.
Mu Wanqing ignored it and produced two bars of soap. "Do you know what these are? They’re my new formula, designed for cleaning and removing stains. That’s all you need to know. What we need to do now is mass production: the more we make, the better."
She gave a brief explanation but didn’t go into technical detail, emphasizing that she was the inventor.
Then she started issuing orders. "There are 182 of you in total. Split into four teams. Head of the Fang family, you lead a team of men to prepare lye; Second Master Mu will supervise the technique."
She spoke calmly and confidently, as though everything was under her control.
"Fang Yuying and Fang Yulian, you two lead a women’s team to gather wild chrysanthemums and press them for juice; Second Master’s wife will supervise the technique."
The two legitimate Fang daughters were stunned and couldn’t believe it.
Lead a team? Had they heard correctly? And how did she even know their names?
Mu Wanqing’s gaze swept to two other girls. "Mu Jinyao and Mu Rongxue, you lead a women’s team to produce the alkali solution; Mu Zicheng will supervise the technique."
"Mu Zhongrui and Sixth Uncle, you lead a men’s team to handle saponification; Mu Ziang will supervise the technique."
Sixth Uncle was the husband of the sixth aunt; he had four sons and was roughly honest and dependable.
She issued each instruction in turn, orderly and unhesitating, radiating the authority of someone above the rest and dominating the room.
"Does everyone understand?"
Everyone stared at her in dumbfounded silence, utterly baffled.
The few named looked petrified. Second Master Mu was a little stunned too, he didn’t know the craft; he’d only helped his daughter the night before, following her every instruction.
But he had to back his daughter.
A man shouted loudly, “Let a woman lead? What kind of propriety is that? What do they know, long hair, little sense…”
Mu Wanqing glanced coldly in his direction; the man was one of Mu Hai’s kinsmen, called Mu Tao.
She set her pretty face like iron, her presence commanding. “I’m informing you of the plan, not asking for your permission.”
She knew she was young and a woman, and that she wouldn’t command automatic respect.
No matter, what mattered was strength. Might makes right.
“If anyone disobeys my orders or deliberately causes trouble… the entire team will fast for a day. Comrades should stand together, share sweetness and hardship.”
The rest of the team would hate whoever caused that. When it comes to one’s own survival, who could remain lofty?
They were stunned. This girl was unexpectedly ruthless.
Mu Wanqing paid no mind to their thoughts and bluntly split them into groups. It didn’t matter whose family they were from, she simply picked forty people per team, and whoever was left over would handle final product packaging.
Mu Tao swallowed his pride and stepped forward. “Officer Zeng, do you support her decision?”
Officer Zeng ignored him and looked instead at Mu Wanqing. “Third Miss Mu, what about us?”
Without hesitation she replied, “You’ll be in charge of procuring raw materials and overseeing the process. Any objections?”
Officer Zeng studied her intently. “None.”
He had meant to test her and temper her sharpness, to make sure she wouldn’t overshadow him.
But in so short a time she’d allocated everyone with absolute clarity; every step was painstakingly thought out, as if she’d planned it for days.
Such commanding organizational skill and quick adaptability were a rare sight in his life.
Mu Wanqing knew the test was deliberate and didn’t take offense, this fitting-in was, after all, a mutual probing.
In human affairs one person must prevail; it’s either one wind pressing the other down or vice versa. It’s all about who is stronger and more capable.
Only one voice gets to speak.
And she wanted that voice.
“Very well. Take your positions and perform your duties.”
Officer Zeng’s stance was clear, he showed his support for Mu Wanqing in action.
Mu Tao couldn’t swallow his resentment and blurted, “What will you be responsible for?”
“Overall coordination and chief technical advisor.” Mu Wanqing shot him a cool glance. “This work is beyond you.”
The tone was flat but carried a sovereign contempt.
Mu Tao: …
The team leaders were brought before Mu Wanqing. She explained the procedures in detail and wrote them down; they merely had to follow her instructions.
“If you don’t understand something, ask.”
Fang Yuying pressed her lips together, nervous. “Third Miss Mu, my sister and I may not be up to such a heavy responsibility. Perhaps my uncle, he’s a man, could take over…”
She had been raised to believe a woman belongs with her father until marriage, then with her husband, and after his death with her son, dependent on others to live.
“Because this is a women’s group, we specifically chose women to lead it. If you think you can’t do it, then replace you with another woman.” Mu Wanqing had deliberately carved out a sliver of opportunity for the girls.
On an exile road, it was usually the weak women and children who died most often.
“I’ve given you a chance. Whether you seize it is up to you. I won’t force anyone.”
Mu Jinyao, eager, brightened. “Third sister, I’d be happy to lead. Teach me what I don’t know.”
She was famed as one of the capital’s two celebrated beauties; under that reputation there was real ability and a sharp mind.
Mu Wanqing inclined her head slightly. “On a road where every step risks life, you never know what hardships you’ll meet. Only those who are capable can keep themselves safe. When danger comes, the first to be abandoned is always the most useless in the group.”
“Life is hard; being a woman makes it harder. I don’t want to see you wither on the road. Live, because as long as you live, there is hope.”
Her words struck everyone deeply; they were profoundly moved.
Fang Yuying felt a tremendous jolt inside, no one had ever spoken to her like that.
The head of the Fang family bowed deeply to the ground. “Thank you for Third Miss Mu’s favor. My daughter and niece will do their best. We beseech your guidance.”
“You’re too polite.” Mu Wanqing recognized the man as the former junior official of the Ministry of War, Fang Yukun, shrewd and competent, a pity he had offended the imperial household and had his clan’s property confiscated and family exiled.
But those details didn’t matter; she only needed them to follow her arrangements.
With the support of the officials, Mu Wanqing organized the work in an orderly, assembly-line fashion, each group responsible for one part.
She demonstrated personally, explained carefully, and positioned her father and brothers at the side to assist. Each group had four constables to keep order.
Everyone was bewildered. What was all this nonsense, lime water, lard, how could such things produce such beautiful, delicate finished pieces?
In front of the officials, no one dared complain and instead bent their heads to work, though not everyone was willing.
Some grumbled bitterly, cursing Mu Wanqing for making a fuss and wasting their time.
Couldn’t they at least have one day’s rest?
Show off all you like, but don’t drag the rest of us down with you.
The third young master of the Fang family had never done such hard work. In no time he was exhausted and sullen. “Father, why is Third Miss Mu acting like this? Flattering the officials is one thing, but she’s running us ragged…”
“Silence.” The head of the Fang family scolded softly. “Third Miss Mu’s intelligence and breadth of vision are beyond ordinary. You wouldn’t understand.”
The third young master was scolded into sulking, Father, who do you think is your real child?
The head of the Fang family watched his son’s foolishness, then glanced at Mu Wanqing masterfully directing everything with composed intelligence and couldn’t help but sigh.
People are really very different.
Time flew by; after a long day of work everyone finally got to eat steaming bone broth and meat buns, feeling delighted and utterly satisfied.
"Was this cooked by the village women? It tastes pretty good."
"I heard Third Miss Mu cooks especially well, I hope one day I can taste a meal she made herself."
Today was no different, Mu Wanqing was the busiest, going wherever she was needed.
Meanwhile the officials stared at the rows of formed soap bars, eyes shining.
"How should we sell them? Take them to the nearest town?"
Mu Wanqing had a plan. "I've already asked the village head. Tomorrow is the ten-day market, a big fair where villagers from ten miles around gather at a place called Ten-Li Slope. We'll take them there to sell."
The officials blinked. "Sell them to villagers? They don't have money, do they?"
Mu Wanqing smiled lightly, confident and flamboyant. "I'll go myself tomorrow and show you what a marketing genius looks like."
Officials: ...