On early May nights, Church Hill Manor, just two miles west of Nottingham Castle, is eerily peaceful. Curiously, staying in the manor, you can't hear much of the looms and the sound of the hired hands continuing to work at night. It turned out that it was the high ground of ancient trees behind the manor that blocked the noise coming from the cottage in the village of Haswell, to the south.

Even though the sunset is still 6 or 7 hours away, the evening breeze mixed with the smell of earth, dung and grass still makes people feel very pleasant. At night when the sun doesn't set, the birds don't return, and the lights don't shine, Isabel Walton, the owner of the manor, has a desire to drink some cold beer.

"Lena, how long has the ale been soaking in water?" Isabel, who sat in the manor's seat in the middle of the parlor, glanced at the housekeeper standing on one side.

"Miss, as soon as you come to the manor, I will have the wine jug put in the bucket." Lena replied, and hurriedly walked up to her and saluted, "I'll go and see it right away." ”

Glancing at the back of the housekeeper leaving, Isabel turned her gaze to the several farm, ranch and handicraft supervisors present, "Gentlemen, please feel free to drink and eat whatever you want." ”

The overseers thanked her and took their seats, and Isabel had the servants bring her a variety of alcoholic beverages, seasonal fresh fruit, jams, cheeses, and bread. She sat alone on the throne and pondered, "George Field's suggestion is right, that the purpose of setting up a handicraft workshop is to make money from sheep. ”

"But do you really want to turn yourself into an insatiable profit-seeking capitalist in order to make money?"

"Why can't I be a philanthropist, a capitalist like John D. Rockefeller?

John D. Rockefeller, an American industrialist and philanthropist, is best known for revolutionizing the oil industry and shaping the corporate structure of modern philanthropy. In 1870, he founded Standard Oil, which monopolized 90% of the oil market in the United States in its heyday, becoming the first billionaire in the United States and the richest man in the world.

At this moment, the housekeeper and a servant carrying a soggy jug of wine came up to Isabel gently, "Mademoiselle, your ale is ready. ”

"Well, pour me a glass." Isabel said mechanically, but the thin face, deep sunken eye sockets, and resolute eyes of the first billionaire of the 19th century came to her mind, "Damn, the patriarch of the Rockefeller family started with oil, and what about me?" But fucking stuck here all day working with wool, peasants, and land. ”

"Well, I'll admit that I'm not as great as the Kefir. But Mr. Rockefeller was right when he said: 'I am my greatest asset!' The only thing I believe in is to believe in myself. ’”

Isabel picked up a glass of ale that the servants had already poured for herself, and took a big sip, "Well, that's good. Ale soaked in cold water tastes a bit like a cold beer. ”

After drinking the iced ale, the idea also became clear. At this moment, she remembered Mr. Rockefeller's words, "People must have foresight, and only by enduring hardships for a long time can they gain for a long time." ”

After drinking the ale in the cup in one gulp, Isabel's mood also became relaxed. Glancing at the former Duke's Court chef who was taking a sip of pear wine, "Mr. Cook, can you elaborate on what costs are the most expensive?" ”

After talking to Matthew Cook, who was in charge of finance, Isabel smiled and turned her gaze to George Field, who oversaw the hire, "Mr. Field, I know you have a lot to say to me, don't you?" ”

George put down the wine glass in his hand, stood up and saluted, and smiled gentlemanly, "Miss, I am very grateful that you did not transfer your hatred for my brother to me. Not only that, but I was hired to take up a supervisory position on your estate. ”

"Hate?" Isabel immediately recalled the embarrassment when she landed at Nottingham Castle six years ago, and smiled indifferently: "George, at that time, your brother was just carrying out His Highness's orders. Okay, now on to the hired man. ”

"Yes, miss." George nodded, and replied earnestly: "Miss, the question raised by Mr. Harder to increase the production of tweed, I think it should be started from the manpower side first. ”

"Uh-huh, go on."

"A large number of employees is very important for a craft workshop. Based on the conditions you have previously put forward for recruiting employees, I think the scope of recruitment can be further expanded. ”

"Lena, I'm not hungry, you can take this plate of fruit pie and eat it." After Isabel whispered to the housekeeper, she looked at George again, "Expand the scope of recruitment?" George, what do you mean... Are the children recruited as well? ”

In George's eyes, Isabel's expression looked a little surprised, "Miss, in fact, both the south and the north of the artisanal factory owners recruit children to become hired laborers. In particular, the children of displaced people will go to work in the factory with their parents. ”

The use of child labor is well known to Isabel. However, in such times and countries, can she talk to these people about human rights and discuss how to protect the personal rights of women and children? Obviously, this is simply not going to happen.

Isabel hesitated to drink the iced ale and slowly spit out a sentence, "George, can the scope of recruitment be limited to men, women and children between the ages of 13 and 60?" ”

"Well, I think it's okay with this range. Miss, I can see from your attitude towards Mr. Cook's daughter that you cannot bear to see your child violated. ”

"Yes, violence was used against Mr. Cook for that reason."

Matthew, who was standing on one side, laughed sheepishly, "Miss, I didn't understand at the time why you were so kind to my daughter Anne. And because you were just one of His Highness's guards at the time, you ......"

"It's okay, it's normal." Isabel shook her head at Matthew, "George, we will recruit people according to this range in the future." Now, do you have any other questions? ”

George took a sip of cider and nodded, "Yes, Miss." There is also the issue of the working hours of the hired workers. ”

Since child labor has been introduced, the working hours of the hired workers will definitely be proposed. Isabel sighed softly, "Well, George, what do you think is the working hours per day?" ”

"Now it can be changed to 15 hours." After George finished speaking, he immediately corrected his statement, "Miss, it should be 16 hours." As long as the employees are guaranteed to have time to sleep, the working hours of the employees can be arranged according to this time. ”