The Female Workers' Concerns

Seven days later.

The textile factory was preparing to officially begin operations!

All the female workers' name lists and specific addresses were stored at the newspaper office.

Under Fang Zheng's arrangements, they began dispatching sanitation team members to notify female workers door-to-door to report for work.

Chen Xiaoman was one of them.

A month ago, she had learned about the Banshan Textile Factory's female worker recruitment through a newspaper reader.

Initially, the neighborhood women discussed this matter with great enthusiasm, but mostly with negative impressions.

Many women felt that constantly showing their faces in public was improper, even though there was a decent wage to be earned.

But if they went to work at the factory, what would the men at home think?

What about taking care of the children?

Some even said the textile factory was actually full of men, just trying to trick women into going there...

Besides, they could weave at home and sell it for money too! Even though they didn't earn much!

Losing face for this money wasn't worth it!

But Chen Xiaoman didn't think this way.

She needed money... and she trusted Banshan Daily. The factory was full of women, so there was no issue about losing face!

Her child was only three years old. At worst, she could carry the child there and bring him back at night! Even if it was tiring, so be it!

The man at home was quite considerate. Since he had participated in Banshan District construction projects, he didn't say much about this matter.

Seeing that her husband didn't object, Chen Xiaoman gritted her teeth, bought a newspaper, and went to the recruitment office despite being completely illiterate.

Only a handful of women showed up to apply for factory work, forming a sparse line.

Fortunately, the interviewer saw that she had all her limbs intact, asked just a couple of simple questions, and told her to go home and wait for news.

After waiting over a month without news, Chen Xiaoman's enthusiasm had long since faded.

During this time, when neighbors learned she wanted to go to the textile factory, they inevitably made sarcastic remarks.

Behind her back, they said unpleasant things about her not following women's virtues and such.

Not staying home to serve her husband, what kind of woman was that?

Chen Xiaoman could only feel bitter and aggrieved in her heart, responding with forced smiles.

Who knew that this afternoon, while she was at home with her child, the door suddenly rang!

Opening the door, she saw an expressionless stranger appear before her eyes.

He said to Chen Xiaoman, "You're Chen Xiaoman, right? Banshan Textile Factory officially begins operations tomorrow. You're notified to report to the textile factory tomorrow."

"This is your work badge." With that, he handed over a wooden plaque with three characters carved on it.

"Wait..." Chen Xiaoman originally wanted to ask something, but before she could speak, the messenger had already hurried away.

Just like that, she sat on the bed holding the work badge.

For a moment, her thoughts were in turmoil...

It wasn't until evening, when a dark-faced, lean man came home hunched over, immediately saying, "I'm hungry. Is dinner ready?"

The work badge had been warmed by Chen Xiaoman's hands. Hearing someone speak, she realized her husband had returned.

In her panic, she said, "Wait a moment, I'll cook now."

The man frowned. "What's going on? Why isn't dinner ready yet? I'm about to starve to death!"

"I left before dawn to work, finished harvesting Master Zhang's fields today and still have to go to Master Liu's."

"Damn! A bunch of animals, always rushing, rushing, rushing! They want to rush people to death!"

"Come home and there's not even a bite of food! What's wrong with you?"

Chen Xiaoman nervously swallowed and slowly walked up to the man, carefully holding up the work badge.

"Husband, the textile factory is opening... I need to report for work tomorrow."

The man paused, took the work badge from Chen Xiaoman's hand.

Staring at the characters on it carefully, then looking back at Chen Xiaoman.

His expression suddenly softened.

He sat on a small stool holding the work badge, thinking about something.

Seeing his silence, Chen Xiaoman tentatively asked, "May I go?"

The man came back to his senses. "Oh... go, go ahead."

"What was husband thinking about just now?" Chen Xiaoman breathed a sigh of relief.

"If you're not home to cook, and I go out to work, those two landlords do give me meals at noon, so eating once is fine. But what about our child?"

"I can cook for you first, then carry the child there."

"Have you thought this through? What if it's like the rumors say? What if you're cheated and they don't pay you?"

"But the newspaper says..." Chen Xiaoman mumbled.

"The newspaper! The newspaper also says our Great Jing Dynasty is powerful and everyone is happy. What does that have to do with us! Don't I still work like an ox or horse in the fields every day?" The man's voice suddenly rose, his tone full of resentment.

"But your back... and father's medicine money isn't enough either... I want to go out and earn some money."

"Banshan Daily is different from other newspapers. Do you agree to let me go or not? If you don't want me to, I won't go!" Chen Xiaoman felt unwilling but wanted to try once more.

The man continued his silence. After a long while, he reluctantly muttered, "I'm worried about you."

"What if it really is a scam? What if they keep you there and won't let you leave, just making you work every day?"

"The child might have to work too..."

Rarely hearing her husband express concern for her, Chen Xiaoman's face showed a hint of a smile.

"Let me go. We have no money at home."

"If it's real, father's medicine won't be a problem, and we can even give the child some meat to eat."

"If there's a problem at the textile factory, I'll definitely run back!"

"Even if I'm detained, doesn't Banshan Daily have free missing person notices? You can place an ad in the paper to find me."

The man grinned. "Fine, you're just a woman, but your courage is bigger than mine!"

Chen Xiaoman gave the man a reproachful look. "It's something the whole city knows about. I don't think it's a scam... I'm also worried about the child. Should I not bring him tomorrow?"

The man shook his head. "How could I take care of a child alone? If he runs wild in the fields, who could watch him!"

"What if he gets kidnapped when left alone at home..."

At this point, Chen Xiaoman also looked worried. "Then I'll bring him along..."

The man sighed. "Bring him! Since you want to go, I won't stop you! If you're cheated, I'll place an ad in the paper to find you. If that doesn't work, I'll report it to the officials!"

Seeing her husband's firm attitude, Chen Xiaoman felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. "Good! I'll do as you say!"

"Once I start working, our family can earn two incomes. Father's medicine will be covered, and maybe we can even save some for the child."

"I heard Master Fang say in the newspaper: Those who dare to fight will win!"

The man smacked his lips disdainfully. "Listen if you want! But the dog officials in court, none of them are any good!"

"All they do all day is talk nonsense! What can I fight with!"

Chen Xiaoman's eyebrows shot up in anger. "That's Master Fang! He's saved countless disaster victims! Now who in the capital doesn't know that people in Banshan District live the best lives?"

"Alright, alright, alright! Stop nagging. I'm hungry, hurry up and cook!"