Just as the tension was at a deadlock, Liu Sanjin walked in with the support of a crutch, stamped her foot in front of Zhou Jiaojiao, then looked at Shen Meng with grievance.
"Elder daughter-in-law, mother knows that Lao Si’s wife has helped manage the workshop for two days, and you are upset about it. But now, everyone has come to ask for your forgiveness. Please, for the sake of this gesture, calm your anger. If you still feel resentful towards Lao Si and his wife, mother will apologize to you. Should I kneel and kowtow to you? I’ll kneel right now, right this moment."
As she was speaking, she threw away her crutch and was about to kneel on the ground with a bend of her knees, which gave everyone a shock. How could a mother-in-law kneel to her daughter-in-law? If she did kneel, how could Shen Meng ever go out again?
Liu Sanjin naturally knew she shouldn’t kneel. She tilted her hips to one side and was on the verge of kneeling when Lu Zhenping suddenly lifted her up, placed a stool on the ground, and pressed her to sit on it.
"This is an issue of the workshop, between Zhou Jiaojiao and Shen Meng, and it doesn’t concern any of us. I advise you not to go through with this act. If Shen Meng were persuaded by this manipulation, she would have agreed yesterday when Lao Si and his wife said they wanted to kneel to let the matter pass. Moral coercion and spreading rumors to force her to take over this mess won’t work, it will only cool my wife’s heart even more. Just stand straight and take the punishment if you’ve made a mistake. What’s the need for all these tricks?"
Lu Zhenping had been watching Liu Sanjin the moment she came in, waiting for this. After so many years, he knew the old lady very well; she was bound to repeat her old ways, and indeed, she didn’t disappoint him.
Liu Sanjin’s face turned somewhat white; his words stripped some people of their dignity, causing many to stand aside looking embarrassed, without daring to utter a single word.
Lu Debang said rather sheepishly, "What... what Zhenping said is right. If you make a mistake, you must stand up and take the punishment. Xiao Meng, let me be the first to state my position; I apologize to you. I’m sorry for not standing up to protect you during the quarrel that day. It was my negligence as the village chief. I have reflected on it in this period, and from now on, you will have full control over the workshop, and I won’t interfere. However, if there is anything in the workshop that could still use me, just say the word and I’ll do whatever you ask."
"The village chief is right. I share the same sentiment. From now on, you, Shen Meng, will have full control over the affairs of the workshop, and I won’t inquire about it anymore. Just call on me for anything you might need help with."
"It’s my turn now. It was me who selected those people to enter the workshop. I should bear the primary responsibility. Xiao Meng, I’m sorry for not being a good role model. So here’s what we’ll do: from now on, you decide how to run the workshop, and I won’t interfere. Before leaving the workshop, those few who led the troublemaking must also leave. Otherwise, the workshop cannot continue operations."
Aunt Hua and the others had been standing at the back, thinking that with many people on their side, Shen Meng would surely return to the workshop. They thought that a sincere apology would suffice, and they could continue working in the workshop as usual.
Now, hearing what Guo Xiuqin said, their faces instantly turned pale. If they couldn’t work there anymore, how would they manage their lives at home!
"Director Guo, we can’t do this, we really can’t. We apologize, isn’t that enough? It’s all our fault, all our fault. We accept punishment and are willing to make amends, but you can’t strip us of our workshop jobs!"
"Shen Meng, we were wrong. We shouldn’t have been foul-mouthed, shouldn’t have said those things. I apologize to you; hit me, scold me, whatever you want. Please, I’m begging you, just give us one chance, just once, and from now on, we’ll work properly and not speak recklessly ever again. Without the workshop, we’ll have no good days ahead, Shen Meng."
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"
"If you won’t hit me, I’ll slap myself. Shen Meng, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have spoken out of line, shouldn’t have listened to Zhou Jiaojiao’s words, thinking that helping her climb up would earn us a few more bucks. But after all this time, we’ve got nothing, not even a fart. Please, Shen Meng, my child is still young, and I was just trying to earn a little more money. I was stupid to be used by others. From now on, I’ll do whatever you say. Please, I’m really begging you."
A sister-in-law started hitting her own face, while the other two aunts also gave themselves a couple of thumps, not caring about face, or bowing their heads, they just wanted Shen Meng to keep running the workshop so they could continue working there. Compared to earning money, such things mean nothing.
Aunt Hua was stunned for a long moment and upon looking up at Shen Meng’s smile that wasn’t quite a smile, she felt a shiver in her heart, and her hand that had been raised couldn’t come down.
Zhou Jiaojiao, hearing the slap sounds from the other sister-in-laws, swayed, barely able to stand, each slap sound felt as if it was on her own face. These were the same people who had previously insisted on her becoming a manager. Now, Shen Meng making them slap themselves in front of her was to shame her, wasn’t it?
"Alright, stop hitting yourselves. It makes it seem like I’m purposely bullying you. I didn’t take to heart the words you said before. When I started the workshop, I just wanted to improve everyone’s lives. My husband Zhenping is a soldier, guarding the border through hardships, to ensure that the people can live and work in peace. As his wife, after getting a formal job, I also wanted to do something for everyone. Even if it’s a modest contribution, we both feel it’s worthwhile."
"Xiao Meng, does that mean..."
"Village chief, please wait a moment, there are some things I’ve been keeping inside and haven’t said. Now that everyone is here, I have something to say from my heart. During the New Year, I bought new clothes for my kids. When my son Ming Kai came back, he said, ’Mom, lots of kids in the village are envious; they don’t have new clothes. Some are even wearing shoes that let their toes stick out. In such cold winter, it’s heart-wrenching just to think about it.’ After having the idea for the workshop, I went to see Director Guo. She said it was a good idea, ’Xiao Meng, go ahead, I will find people for you. There are many women in the village who are good at needlework. No matter how little, it will help improve their household’s lives.’ She also mentioned a few people, talking about how some women are either beaten by their husbands or tormented by their mothers-in-law at home, saying she wanted to empower them. I thought she was right. As for recruiting workers, I didn’t get involved; I left it all to her. You all know this. But later, when things turned ugly, I was drained and didn’t want to deal with it anymore. However, my desire for the commune members to have a better life has not changed, which is why I set up a food processing workshop in Shenji."
Who doesn’t want their children to be well-fed and well-clothed? They all envied Shen Meng’s better life previously, seeing her children dressed up nicely, who wouldn’t want the same for their own kids. It’s just that others have ambitious husbands who can secure a good future for the entire family. But look at their own men, only good at flexing their muscles on women, not even able to earn full work points.
Now, as they listened to Shen Meng talk about her original intentions for starting the workshop, they felt even more resentful towards those who had caused trouble.