In the Ming Dynasty, as long as the money was in place, things got done quickly.
Empress Wang had not only money, but power as well. So after Pan Yun found a suitable location and drew up the designs, a textile workshop was established in the eastern outskirts of the Capital City in less than a month.
Palace maids who had been released from the palace but had nowhere to go and did not wish to marry could choose to work at the workshop, earning anywhere from eight qian to five taels a month.
Other than the palace maids who had some savings, the vast majority chose to go.
"I asked around. The workshop provides food and lodging, and there are two days off every ten days, just like Imperial Court officials."
"Will we actually get all our wages?"
"I asked about that too. They said the workshop is personally overseen by the two Empresses, so the managers would not dare make trouble. We should be able to receive it all."
Palace maids also received salaries, but it was difficult for them to save any money because there were too many rules in the palace.
Some palaces required them to offer up a portion after receiving their money; others deducted a share before handing it out.
Moreover, their daily needs required extra expenses, and falling ill cost money. Palace maids who received little in rewards could not save more than a few coins in their entire lives.
If the workshop paid in actual silver, then it would not be worse than staying in the palace.
"Besides us, the workshop has posted notices to recruit more spinners and weavers outside. I think they will be even less likely to withhold wages."
"Then... they will not pay us in Treasure Notes, will