Huang Cuilan was unaware of her father-in-law’s thoughts until she overheard her colleagues discussing the criteria for skilled workers, leaving her mind blank with a resounding thud.
The crowd continued to buzz with various opinions. People had different expressions; so were relieved, so gloating, so ashen-faced, but most were anxious.
This news was like a thunderbolt breaking the usual calm. Every corner of the forr textile factory was abuzz with discussions, even though the list wasn’t finalized yet, everyone knew it was just a matter of ti.
It concerned their future, it concerned a family, no one could stay calm. Many temporary workers communicated with each other, and without anyone leading, waves of people quickly headed to the union.
This scene revealed how many employees there were at the county textile factory, a dense crowd, which also included so who were just there for the spectacle.
Aunt Zuo, being the union president, anticipated this as soon as the docunt was issued, and hurriedly sent for the factory manager and other leaders.
She stepped outside, frowned as she looked at them, and shouted, "Where’s the workshop supervisor?"
Unfortunately, any response was drowned out, or perhaps soone did answer but was overwheld by the noise of the crowd, all she could hear was a series of lantations.
Sympathy? Aunt Zuo definitely sympathized! But she couldn’t show it. She understood more than anyone that there was no room for maneuver, at best she could help everyone negotiate benefits.
The number of employees in a factory had long exceeded its quota, especially during the Great Steelmaking episode when too many temporary workers were hired; now expenditures were exceeding inco, downsizing was inevitable.
Huang Cuilan followed the crowd closely but couldn’t find her sister-in-law Zhang ili at the union. She wanted to ask her sister-in-law if there was any way out. If she lost her job, what would she do?
She fretfully watched those old won sobbing uncontrollably, the pitiful young girls, and the approaching distant leaders.
"... The factory is in hard tis now, when things improve, we’ll still recruit from you first... Everyone disperse now... those who are on the morning shift, go back to work..."
"It’s not just our factory now, if you go to the county and look at the other factories, it’s the sa... Detailed regulations and the specific list... are on the blackboard newspaper..."
"..."
Huang Cuilan withdrew from the crowd, her body shaky, as she stood in deep thought, suddenly thinking of her sisters-in-law Lin Juhua, her eyes lit up as if invigorated, she quickly ran towards the kitchen...
Inside the large canteen, Lin Juhua’s face was dripping with sweat, she wiped it off with a towel hanging around her neck, and continued kneading the large mound of dough in front of her.
"Juhua, your elder sister-in-law is looking for you. Do you want to go out for a while? I think she might have co from the union. How can you be so calm and not go over there to check?"
Lin Juhua smiled, "Taking one day at a ti. If the docunt really cos down, can I refuse to leave? I just can’t bear to leave you all."
An older woman cheerfully praised, "That’s the right mindset. We’ve all discussed it, during the break we plan to plead with the leaders on your behalf."
The aunt washing vegetables chid in, "Yes, don’t worry. Several of the chefs can’t bear to see you go, it should be effective if we go."
Lin Juhua laughed heartily, "Regardless of the outco, I thank you all in advance. Honestly, the kitchen work is the hardest, but with you all here, I truly can’t bear to leave."
"Then don’t leave, we can go together, surely they’ll give us so face?"
Lin Juhua quickly pulled the elder woman, laughing, "Don’t put it that way. My husband said it’s an order from above, don’t make it difficult for the leaders. I appreciate your intentions, rember to keep company later."
"Got it, we know what to do. Quickly wash your hands and see what your sister-in-law has to say."
Lin Juhua looked at the dough, smiled at them, and quickly ran outside, it wasn’t a busy ti. Normally she really couldn’t leave.
"That child is quick at work, it’s a sha if she leaves."
"No kidding, if she leaves, we’ll be busier. It’s hard to find soone who gets along, what a situation is this?"
"With so many people leaving the factory, there are fewer people eating, why so busy..."
Listening to their chatter, Lin Juhua smiled and hurried outside.
"Juhua, why are you only coming out now? The sky is falling and you’re still so busy?"
Lin Juhua rushed over and pulled her to a less crowded spot, "Sis, the sky isn’t falling. Don’t rush, speak slowly."
Huang Cuilan opened her mouth, but truly didn’t know where to start, after a while, she sighed, squatted down, and said in a low voice, "Do you think going to Aunt Zuo and Big Sis will help?"
Lin Juhua squatted with her, replied in a low voice, "Don’t think about finding soone, going to them will just make them uncomfortable. Imagine if you’re the only one left, will the other thousand people agree?"
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Chill!" Lin Juhua said, patting her, "Without this job, we still have grain supplies, we’ll plant coarse grains in the village and city plots, find so handicrafts, it’s not that different."
Huang Cuilan suspiciously sized her up, "You’re not just comforting , are you? Don’t you feel embarrassed letting people in the village laugh at us for not having a job?"
Lin Juhua frowned, "We’re supporting policy, not being fired for wrongdoing. But, I am a bit worried, oh well, if people talk, let them talk, will it take a piece of my flesh?"
Saying that, she sneakily glanced around, whispered, "If it weren’t for wanting more grain, I honestly would prefer not to work. Every day waking up early and staying late at work, not even able to chat properly with my child’s father. I’m making as much as these wages just by sewing clothes for people. See how tiring it is."
Huang Cuilan looked at the hands she held out. It was true! In the kitchen one could eat well, but in the bitter winter, her hands’ frostbite never healed, and in sumr heat rash didn’t fade.
After hearing this, her heart cald considerably. If it weren’t for more grain and wages, she truly didn’t want to exhaust herself every day.
However, thinking about her own husband, her shoulders slumped, she said with a mournful face, "If I don’t work, how can your elder brother support four kids alone?"
Lin Juhua glanced at her bowed head, a hint of sarcasm flickering in her eyes. You still think I don’t know your salary never goes ho? When wasn’t Big Brother the one bearing all expenses alone?
Then she thought of her own family and sisters, silently sighed. Alas... she’s about the sa as her, can’t really laugh at others.
"Juhua, you don’t go to work but still have inco, but I can only rely on your Big Bro. Sigh... he’s in the provincial city, I don’t even have soone to discuss with, I wonder what he’ll think?"
"What’s there to discuss, telling him would just make him worry more out there. See how it goes, few years back we worked in the fields in the village without worries, how can it be worse now?"
"You don’t understand..."
How could Lin Juhua not understand? She knew better than anyone what it’s like for a woman to lose her job, just looking at a man’s face! However, her own husband told her last night, if she doesn’t want to work, then don’t, he’d support the family. So she’s not worried!
Marrying a man, wearing clothes, eating rice, it’s only natural. As long as she doesn’t take things to her natal family, would her man dare not support her? It’d annoy him to death!
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