Lu Defa certainly isn’t one of those gossiping women; he personally saw how Director Feng was so courteous to both Lu Zhenping and Shen Meng. Especially Shen Meng, with just a few words, she managed to secure a fifteen yuan subsidy for herself and Hongfa from the Soviet every month at the commune. Fifteen yuan! The subsidy was nearly in hand by the end of the month; no one could disrupt his livelihood now.
Another thing, the textile factory wouldn’t even save face for the Director of the commune revolutionary committee, could they give it to Zhou Jiaojiao? This matter isn’t just about sorting things out with the textile factory; the Cooperative Society and the County Committee wouldn’t accept Zhou Jiaojiao either. Right now, only the small, inconsistent orders have somewhat stabilized the workshop and they are still expecting more from the Provincial City or other cities!
These were things that Lu Debang himself couldn’t manage, not even the Revolutionary Committee Director could. It involved such a messy network of relationships, all needing a middleman. And Zhou Jiaojiao, still carrying a child, could the village really let her run about heavily pregnant?
Obviously, it was impossible, let alone her ability to manage such delicate matters.
"Enough, enough, why all this fuss? Zhou Jiaojiao is so capable, let her initially bring in a couple of orders. She hasn’t resolved a single issue and already wants to reap the benefits. Here, Zhenping’s wife runs east to west, helping connect the textile factory, Cooperative Society, and commune, mediating in all their social interactions. Do you guys contribute? Everyone just keeps saying Zhou Jiaojiao; if she’s so powerful, why hasn’t she thought about securing some benefits for our village? Now you’re making money, but turn around and blame Zhenping’s wife. Isn’t this simply a case of eating your fill and then cursing the cook?"
"Village chief, you can’t say that. Jiaojiao is pregnant. If it were not for the baby, wouldn’t she think of the village? Normally she is the most industrious among our commune members."
"That’s right, I heard if it wasn’t for Jiaojiao calling Shen Meng to help, she would’ve never had the chance to meet the boss of the textile factory. If you ask me, this might have been Jiaojiao’s idea, and now Shen Meng, seeing that Jiaojiao was pregnant, just took the credit for herself."
"All this gossip around the village about what kind of reputation Shen Meng or Jiaojiao had before, and now in just a few months, she’s become someone important. If you say there isn’t some trickery involved, I won’t believe it. Village chief, I heard your nephew wants to join the army, and to secure that, you invited Zhenping and his wife to dinner recently, is that true?"
Lu Debang was taken aback; he didn’t expect this matter to be brought up. Just as he was unsure how to respond, Lu Debang’s elder sister-in-law jumped in.
"Stop spewing nonsense like a dung beetle sneezing out filth. Debang and Zhenping, those young guys, all grew up together. Was it just our family who invited them for dinner? People like Hongfa and Chang Hong went too. Besides, which young man doesn’t want to join the army? Director Guo saw your family struggling and called you over to work and here you are gossiping daily. You and Zhou Jiaojiao are close, why don’t you ask her to find you a job instead?"
"My Sister Meng ran around for the workshop, established countless connections, and spent so much effort. You people just slander her so easily; do you have no conscience? When it’s time to praise her to the skies, you do, but now how quickly the tune changes. Did you learn how to turn your face so quickly?"
....
A few people close to Shen Meng and Lu Xiangxiang started countering, and suddenly no one paid attention to Wang Lianhua who was still sobbing on the ground. Xifeng, holding the poor Yaoyao, gently rocked her trying to bring her back to her senses.
The woman who screamed the loudest was left speechless, not knowing what to curse next.
"You....."
"What about you, if you can’t respect Xiao Meng, then don’t work in the workshop anymore. All of you, leave."
"Why should we leave? We are speaking the truth."
Shirley’s hands trembled with anger. Just as she was about to call out for help, Shen Meng grabbed her arm. She turned her head and looked at Shen Meng, who shook her head at her.
"Village chief, since these elder sisters-in-law are so keen on letting Zhou Jiaojiao take charge, let her manage it. I saw just now when they were talking about me, everyone else was silent, which probably means they are unsatisfied with me too. It’s good timing because I have other matters to attend to, and I can’t split myself in two. Starting from today, I will no longer manage the workshop. Elder sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, Xiangxiang, if you want to continue working here, go ahead. If not, feel free to go home. I have other things that I need your help with. Xifeng, you come too, you can lend a hand. But these are minor issues. Uncle Guai, please help to take Xifeng and the others to the clinic. Yaoyao must be frightened, have the doctor take a good look at her."
Shen Meng then took five yuan out of her pocket and placed it in Uncle Guai’s hand. Yaoyao was so pitiful, trembling without response.
"Ah, I understand. Xifeng, quickly carry the child to the car. Daqing, Erqing, you follow Aunt Xiangxiang to our house, and Grandpa Guai will take your sister to the clinic and then come back."
Daqing and Erqing were also badly shaken. Now whatever Uncle Guai said, they obediently listened. Lu Xiangxiang went straight over to pull the two children, coldly snorting at the few smug elder sisters-in-law.
"Sister-in-law Meng, if you’re not managing the workshop anymore, why should I stay here and possibly endure hardships? I’m leaving too."
"That’s right, it all sounds nice, but don’t end up with nothing achieved and then beg Xiao Meng to come back. It won’t be so easy to talk about then."
"Don’t even think about coming back, spit on it, a bunch of heartless people. Xiao Meng isn’t she looking at other villages? Our village just right, your maternal home. Our village chief and secretary are so anxious they’re smoking hot. Who would have thought Lu Family Village understands so well? Just move there tomorrow, our village chief and secretary will definitely listen to you."
...
Lu Debang was hopping mad. What about finding another village chief and secretary? What about moving to another village? He hadn’t agreed to any of this yet! Zhang Hongfa and Director Guo didn’t even know about this yet. If they find out, they’d tear him apart!
"No, Zhenping’s wife, Xiao Shen, Shen Meng, these gossipy old women just don’t want to work anymore, you can’t leave! If you leave, the Soviet Director will definitely come after us. Besides, you’ve always been leading this matter. If you, the leader, leave, what will we do about the following issues? Hongfa and Director Guo and I don’t understand anything."
Shen Meng shook her head and said nothing, pulling along Shirley and the stunned Wu Xianglan as she left, followed closely by Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaomei.
"Leave then, never come back. Our workshop will be supported by Jiaojiao from now on, and it’s sure to develop better and better."
"That’s right, making a headdress only earns so much, yet she doesn’t know how much she’s skimmed from selling through the Cooperative Society which earns 30 to 50 cents each!"
"What nonsense, still telling us to leave? As if we are scared of anyone!"
....
Lu Debang trembled with anger, pointing at the shouting women, "You’re asking for death, you all! Just wait, soon enough, you won’t even have your wages, just wait to die from poverty and starvation!"