Some rejoiced, while others felt a pang of envy. The women working in the workshop, who had initially found their monthly wage of fifteen yuan quite decent, earning money close to home, now felt their earnings were like mere fly legs in comparison.
They banded together and went to find Xie Lan, demanding a pay raise. They argued that since they all worked for Xie Sui, why did he pay them so little while others earned so much?
Xie Lan, naturally honest and not good with words, was startled by their aggressive demeanor. However, after listening, she understood their point. "You want a raise?"
"Yes, we must get a raise. Zhang Wenfeng can earn sixty to seventy yuan, what's this little bit we're getting?"
"Even if we're women, we're doing just as much work. We shouldn't be paid so much less!"
"We demand a raise, or we quit. You can do it yourself."
Xie Lan's eyes lit up. "Fine, I'll do it myself. You don't need to come anymore." Su Dan Novel Network
The crowd was stunned, thinking they had misheard. "You're firing us?"
Xie Lan replied, "Didn't you say you were quitting? How is it that I'm firing you?"
Xie Lan knew how unreasonable rural women could be, but she hadn't expected them to be so unreasonable. They became angry instead. "We were just saying that! You can't actually fire us! You, a married woman, hanging around your maiden home all day. Do you want to hog all the benefits for yourself? Let me tell you, I'm Xie Sui's third aunt. Try firing me!"
Xie Lan was speechless. "Then what do you want?"
Cai Jinhua, hiding at the back, felt that pressuring Xie Lan like this wasn't right, but she also wanted a raise. No one hated money.
Seeing that the situation had escalated, she stepped forward and said, "Everyone, calm down. Xie Lan, you can't make the decision either. We're not here to confront you. How about this, you relay a message to Xie Sui and ask for his opinion."
Xie Lan honestly replied, "My brother said this workshop is losing money and he originally didn't want to keep it open. If you want to leave, that's even better. We can save some money."
The women were speechless.
They became even more indignant. So Xie Sui had already planned to get rid of them. Where was his conscience?
"You want to ditch us? Not a chance!"
"Heartless wretch! Are you crossing the bridge and burning it once you've made money? We need to sort this out today, or we're not leaving!"
Xie Lan was a bit flustered. How did it turn into this?
The commotion attracted Xie's elderly parents. Grandma Xie also came over. Listening to their incessant chatter, the old lady understood everything.
"All of you, shut up!"
The old lady's voice was soft, and no one heard her. Father Xie had to tap a basin with a spoon, *duang duang duang*, finally quieting them down.
"Old aunt, please help us make a decision!"
"All of you, shut up!"
Grandma Xie said coldly, "I've listened for a while and I know what's going on. You want me to make a decision? Then I ask you, what does my little Sui owe you? What decision should I make? You're envious of how much he earns, but do you see how hard my grandson and granddaughter-in-law work outside? You only think that if he earns money, it should be given to you, right? You're all so old, how can your faces be so thick? You want to earn money without working, is that decent? Young Zhang boy knows how to drive a tractor, and Accountant Xu knows how to do accounts. They are educated people, skilled workers. You only do half the work, chirping like you're playing, and you're already getting so much money. Now you have the nerve to make a scene. Get lost! Xie Lan, close the door. We're not doing this anymore. Go to the county town with your husband to find your brother!"
The women panicked. "Old aunt, don't! Why are you closing the door just like that? What will we do if you close it?"
The old lady glared. "Are you my sons and daughters? Do whatever you want. Before little Sui opened this workshop, we didn't see you starving to death, did we? Are you clinging to our family? You need to ask me, this old lady, if I agree. All of you, get out! Eldest son, if anyone doesn't leave, use a broom to chase them out!"
Father Xie lacked the old lady's assertiveness and said hesitantly, "Mother, why don't we ask little Sui? We're neighbors, let's not make it too ugly."
Grandma Xie glanced at him, thinking, is this my own son? She wished she could stuff him back into her womb and redo him. She raised her hand and slapped him. "As a father, instead of solving problems for your child, you're creating them. With a father like you, my grandson has it really tough. Fortunately, little Sui isn't like you, otherwise, our whole family would have no hope. I've made my decision. If you don't listen, you get out too!"
Father Xie became obedient. Seeing that they couldn't gain any advantage, the women reluctantly left.
Grandma Xie beckoned Xie Lan. "Lock the door and go to the county town with your husband. You don't need to look after us old folks. Take care of the children. Can outsiders work as carefully as our own people?"
Xie Lan readily agreed. She missed her son too. To move to the city and live like city dwellers was the dream of every rural person. It was realized so quickly. Xie Lan felt a bit dizzy. Were they really going to the city?
The next day, Xie Sui was surprised when his eldest sister and brother-in-law arrived. "Why are you here? Did something happen at home?"
There was no phone in the village, so news traveled slowly. Xie Sui didn't know about the events at home.
After Xie Lan explained, Xie Sui smacked his lips. "As expected of my own grandmother. The old lady is magnificent! That's how it should be. I originally planned to do it after the New Year, but it's not good to make people unemployed halfway. Now it's great, we've saved several months' wages. It's good you're here. I'll arrange positions for you in the factory to start with, and later you can attend night school. You can aim for a management role."
Xie Lan asked, "I still have to study?"
Xie Sui felt sympathetic towards her. "Eldest sister, you've had the hardest time at home. You didn't even finish elementary school. Study hard. If I want to help you, you need to be capable. Uncle Xu can earn so much money because Uncle Xu is educated. I want you to have a good life, but you also need to work hard yourself."
Xie Lan's eyes welled up. She was the first in the family to acknowledge her hardship. Her heart ached with warmth. "Okay, eldest sister will study hard and won't embarrass you."
Xie Sui looked at his brother-in-law. The brother-in-law hesitated. "Little Sui, I'm not good with a pen. I'm okay with a hoe. Don't waste that money. I'll just do odd jobs for you. Just provide meals."
Xie Sui asked, "Eldest sister's husband, do you like driving? How about learning to drive? The factory will buy trucks in the future. How about you drive them?"
The brother-in-law was delighted. Being a truck driver was a very respectable job. In the village, only a handful of people could drive tractors. If he could drive a truck, it would be incredibly glorious. Even the elders would be able to speak with pride.
"I'll learn to drive."
At that time, a driver's license could be bought with money, but Xie Sui, for his brother-in-law's safety, insisted he study hard. This was not a joke. Becoming a good driver required a lot of practice. Xie Sui thought, maybe the tractor could be replaced with a small truck, and later with a large truck. The factory's transportation could be handled in-house, creating more jobs and saving money. That seemed like a good idea too.