Li Ying frowned and said, "They were instigated by that Tao Zhi and formed an alliance. But as the saying goes, all men hustle for profit. They got together so hastily. In a few days, their selfish motives will surely surface. We just need to sit back and wait for changes."
"For now, the most urgent thing is to properly handle this batch of fish catches. Otherwise, the fishermen might lose their patience, and we'll surely have trouble at home."
Fearing that she might go back on her word, the fishermen soon sent their wives to Li Ying to inquire about the "standards" for the fish purchase.
The fisherwomen had been getting along with her day and night and knew she was kind - hearted. They all looked ashamed and said, "A Ying, we're really sorry. It's our husbands who were being stupid. How could we let you pay double the silver for these worthless fish and shrimp!"
Li Ying didn't mind. She looked around at the fisherwomen. Seeing that all the familiar faces were there, she cleared her throat and said in a loud voice, "Sisters and aunts, although I'm new here, I've been taken care of by you every day. I've long regarded you as my family."
"Have you ever thought about why the men go fishing on the sea all year round but can't earn much money, and you stay at home taking care of the elderly and children, managing the household, and even going fishing at low - tide and setting up stalls to supplement the family income, but still have to endure humiliation and be at the mercy of others?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. Li blurted out, "Isn't it because every family depends on the men's money from selling fish? We women, who have to ask for living expenses, naturally feel inferior..."
Although a few fisherwomen didn't say a word, they all nodded in agreement with helpless looks on their faces. Obviously, these words hit the nail on the head.
Most of their natal families were in mountain villages in neighboring towns. Even after they got married and learned to go fishing at low - tide, their harvests were inevitably not as good as those of the native fisherwomen.
It was inevitable that their husbands would get drunk, lose their tempers, and even beat them.
In the final analysis, it was all because of poverty!
Thinking of this, everyone had their own thoughts. Mrs. Zhang was so ashamed that she couldn't even raise her head.
Li Ying cleared her throat and said sincerely, "Dear sisters and aunts, since I've said I'll pay double the silver for the fish catches, I'm serious. However, half of this silver is your salary. The purpose is for you to have an income so that you don't have to depend on others and look at people's faces in the future."
"However, we should settle accounts clearly. This salary isn't easy to earn. You have to follow my arrangements and come to work here every day."
Come to work?
The fisherwomen looked at each other in confusion, not understanding this new term.
Li Ying was calm. She divided them into several groups and appointed a few well - known fisherwomen as group leaders. Then she began to explain one by one.
"The types of fish catches are complex. We can't just stew them all together carelessly. The two people in the first group are responsible for sorting out the mud carp and small yellow croakers and scraping off their scales."
"The second - group's task is something you're all used to doing every day. Gut the fish, remove the gills and internal organs, and be careful not to break the gallbladder, which will affect the flavor."
After the third group washes off the blood and the fourth group wipes the fish clean, they'll be handed over to the fifth group. Soak the fish in hot oil and fry them until every tiny fishbone turns golden and crispy.
The sixth group will put the fish into different sauces prepared by Li Ying and stew them. Small yellow croakers are suitable for being braised in sweet - and - sour, salty, or soy sauce. Mud carp is good for stewing with fermented black bean sauce. Sardines should be cooked in the classic tomato - juice flavor. Stew them in a casserole for an hour until every fish is fully soaked in the soup and the bones are softened, then take them out.
The seventh group weighs the crispy fish, divides them into small portions, and packs them into special bamboo tubes one by one. Fill them tightly to ensure there are as few gaps as possible between the fish meat, thus minimizing the growth of bacteria inside the bamboo tubes.
The last step is to carefully seal the bamboo tubes with wax oil and paste labels of "Tomato - juice Sardines", "Fermented Black Bean Mud Carp", and "Braised Small Yellow Croakers" respectively.
The heavy - oil and heavy - sugar seasoning and the wax - sealed bamboo tubes slow down the spoilage of the crispy fish. As long as they're stored in a cool, dry, well - ventilated, and shaded place, these canned bamboo - tube fish can last for seven days.
This whole set of processes is extremely simple. Besides the "basic salary" for purchasing the fish catches, Li Ying also pays different "commissions" per catty according to the difficulty of each step.
Li Ying's "canned - fish factory" was just in its initial operation. The fishing boats in the village returned about once every five days. The female workers on the assembly line worked for two days and rested for five days. On the other days, everything was as usual. Their monthly salary was one tael of silver, which was quite a considerable income.
Mrs. Zhang was meticulous and wanted to do everything herself. She was honest and simple - minded, so she was the most suitable person to train the group leaders for each process.
As long as all the female workers got familiar with the operations, this crispy - fish canning assembly line would run smoothly.
"Ah Ying, although your canned crispy fish is delicious with rice, it's not as tempting as freshly cooked stir - fries... The fishermen are already tired of eating stewed fish on the boat. Even though these canned fish are easy to carry, I'm afraid they won't buy it..."
Although Mrs. Li knew that Li Ying's ideas were always reliable, seeing her planning to turn all the fish catches on the boat into canned fish, she couldn't help but worry for her.
If these hundreds and thousands of canned fish couldn't be sold within seven days, wouldn't they all rot in the bamboo tubes!
Li Ying smiled calmly.
"Sister - in - law Li, I need you to help me find a group of sales talents."
Mrs. Li didn't know what "sales" meant, but after Li Ying's explanation, she understood that what Li Ying wanted were young daughters - in - law whose natal families were in the mountains, within a two - day journey, and who were spicy - tempered and eloquent.
Soon, she brought the suitable candidates in front of Li Ying.
"Sisters, please taste these canned fish and see how they taste?"
The women were confused. They ate three cans of crispy fish doubtfully. Each fish was fried thoroughly. One bite would fill your mouth with rich flavor, and even the bones were softened, leaving a fragrant aftertaste.
"If only my parents could taste such delicious food..."
Someone spoke up first.
The fishermen were out at sea, and most of the women had to take care of their families. They were busy around the kitchen and water tank every day and could hardly go back to their natal families once a year. Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but feel a little sad.
Li Ying smiled and said, "Sisters, don't be sad. I invited you here today because I want you to sell these delicious canned fish to your natal towns!"
Mrs. Li's eyes lit up!
That's right!
People in the mountains rarely get to taste fresh aquatic products. Fish and shrimp are rare items. These canned fish may not be rare in the fishing village, but if they're sold to towns far from the sea, they'll be in great demand!
"Ah Ying surely won't let you make this trip in vain. You're all the sales specialists sent by the canning factory to each town. The probation period is one month with a basic salary of 500 wen. Each can is priced at 7 wen. For every can you sell, you'll get a commission of 1 wen. The more you sell, the more you earn, with no upper limit."
"If you sell more than 2,000 cans a month, you'll become a full - time employee with a basic salary of one tael of silver. According to your sales performance, the factory will also provide you with mule - carts for convenience. What do you sisters think?"
The towns where these women's natal families were located weren't small. There were at least 20,000 people. Selling 2,000 cans wasn't a difficult task.
Once they became full - time employees, they could earn three taels of silver every month. It was really a considerable income!
The fisherwomen were overjoyed. Only Mrs. Li stared at Li Ying in shock with wide - open eyes.
If Ah Ying's plan for the canning factory was really feasible, this remote fishing village might soon become the most famous wealthy village in the neighborhood!