Shen ng clocked out and pulled a large bag of candied haws from her bag, giving two to Shirley when she saw her.
"I bought them at the Cooperative Society on my way, how was your day at work? Did you get along well with your coworkers?"
Shirley didn’t hesitate, taking them and putting them directly into her own bag. Shen ng disliked pretentious people the most, giving the candied haws to her, if she had declined before accepting, she might have been scolded.
"Very pleasant, with Director Cheng backing , everyone in the canteen was quite nice to . The lady cutting the vegetables must have heard sohow that my family is having a hard ti, and when she was leaving, she secretly slipped a small piece of cured at, look."
Shen ng glanced at it, indeed very small, the size of a baby’s fist, but it was definitely a gesture of kindness.
"Wow, it’s really good at. It seems you get along well with this lady, but don’t let others know about this. The hospital supplies are for employees, sotis there are leftovers, and it’s normal for everyone to sneak so ho. But since it’s not much, just hide it well and take it ho. Oh yes, just to be safe, next ti this lady gives you sothing, you can show it to Dr. Cheng at noon and tell her. Dr. Cheng may not want it, but it’s good for her to know."
Shirley understood and nodded, putting the at away. Her first day at work not only brought her so at but also candied haws for her children. She felt hopeful about the future.
Uncle Guai was waiting for them at the main crossroads, with many people already on the bus, most from Lu Family Village. When they saw Shen ng and Shirley approaching, they greeted them warmly.
Nowadays, who didn’t know that Shen ng was the wealth god of Lu Family Village? A couple of Aunties had daughters-in-law working in the workshop, earning five or six mao a day. Everyone was hoping that Shen ng would push harder and get bigger orders, so that their daughters-in-law could earn even more money.
"Throw this on, Zhenping asked to bring it for you, just in case you get cold."
Uncle Guai handed a military coat to Shen ng, who opened it and draped it over her and Shirley’s shoulders. Shirley glanced at her, thinking to herself how lucky she was that Shen ng was a woman!
If it had been a man, she couldn’t have handled it, and would definitely have fallen in love.
The won on the bus looked at Shen ng with envy, and a few calculating Aunties seeing Shirley, a woman with a bad reputation from divorce, now earning a salary, felt very petty and wanted to say a few words.
"Mrs. Daya, how’s the job? How much do you make in a month?"
"That’s right, Mrs. Daya, we helped out when you got divorced. We even visited you when you were discharged from the hospital and brought you dried vegetables, rember? If your workplace needs more people, you have to rember your Sister-in-law, alright!"
"It doesn’t matter if there’s no job, if there’s anything profitable, you can’t just think of yourself, you’ve got to be grateful!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, what are you old wives talking about? What help did you provide when Mrs. Daya got divorced? Wasn’t it just so dried vegetables? She just started working and is still raising two children, barely making ends et, and you’re already eyeing her situation, how is that fair?"
The speaker was Aunt Lu Changhong, Granny Zhang, who lived very close to Shirley’s house. Naturally, she couldn’t stand hearing gossip about Shirley. Since she lived nearby, she knew a bit about Shirley’s household—the grains they had were from last year’s solo labor, barely enough to feed a family of three!
Now, they were just waiting for the end-of-month salary to buy so nice food for the children. This seed fair until soone with a snide deanor ca along, eager for so benefits.
"You think because you live nearby, you can take all the benefits for yourself, huh!"
"Exactly, even Mrs. Daya hasn’t said anything, and you’re already panicking. Are you that worried about us snatching sothing?"
Shirley quickly took Granny Zhang’s hand, "Granny, don’t get upset. It’s quite windy, don’t choke." After saying this, she turned to the other aunts.
"Aunts, I’m just a temp worker. If anything goes wrong, I could be kicked out at any mont. There are no benefits. Working in the back kitchen chopping vegetables, doing all the heavy lifting, I’m just grateful if I can clock out early. A country person working in the county, who would respect you? If they don’t curse right to your face, it’s already not bad."
After saying this, she sniffled, and imdiately, the aunts who were arguing cald down and began to comfort Shirley. She winked at Shen ng, nodding pretentiously.
Shen ng watched this scene coldly, not wanting to speak at all. Initially, when Shirley was in a pitiful state, everyone looked on with sympathy and was willing to help. But now, it was different. A person who previously couldn’t afford als or accommodations transforming into one with a secure job was hard for them to accept.
It’s typical: they despise you when you’re poor, fear when you’re rich, resent when you have, and mock when you haven’t.
When the comfort had nearly settled, Shen ng slowly raised her head, looking at the boastful aunts.
"Mrs. Daya got this job because the Cooperative Society leaders saw how tough her days were and helped her find a position. Her case is typical, with so many battered won in the countryside, very few dare to take their children and divorce directly. It’s clear, the leaders intend to protect the will of our female comrades. The connection made between the Cooperative and the textile factory this ti primarily considers our village’s care for Comrade Shirley, which led them to locate the workshop in Lu Family Village. If any negative news about Comrade Shirley spreads from here, whether so many from Lu Family Village can continue working there might beco uncertain. After all, won from other villages are just as eligible to work here."
Upon hearing this, the faces of the aunts turned pale, realizing the severity through Shen ng’s stern tone. They were just starting to earn so money; causing any trouble could ruin their family’s inco, giving others a chance to make that money instead.
"Ah, my blabbering mouth, just saying things carelessly. Mrs. Daya, please don’t be mad at your aunt, and Sister-in-law Zhang, let’s not take this personally. Since you live close to Mrs. Daya, you could really help her out!"
"That’s right, Mrs. Daya. You are gentle. If anyone at your workplace bullies you, you must tell your aunt. I’ll definitely go and scold them for you. What’s so great about city folks? Are they better than us? It’s all nonsense, we are all the sa, we’re not afraid of them."
"I’ve been telling you how much our village owes to Xiao ng, and you didn’t believe . Look now, was I wrong?"
Shirley looked at Shen ng and smiled, then turned her head away thinking, truly, this lady never stops being charming, always making one’s heart itch.
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