"We didn’t talk about much, just these two new sisters-in-law sharing how things are at home now," Aunt Wu said briskly as she began sorting the ingredients from the bamboo basket.
"Are they being treated like royalty now?" Song Nianchu asked with a smile, glancing at the two women who had joined them later.
The two women’s faces flushed slightly with embarrassment, but their grins were impossible to hide.
"Well, not exactly like royalty, but today at lunch, I accidentally broke a bowl while serving food. I thought my husband would definitely be angry—if not hit me, at least scold me. But guess what? He rushed over right away and asked if my hand was hurt. That’s the first time he’s ever done that since we got married," one of the women said, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Same here! My man used to always eat first whenever we had something good at home, saying he was the breadwinner and needed to eat well. But today, I fried some eggs, and he only took one bite before scooping the rest onto my plate, saying I should eat more because I’ve been working hard," the other woman chimed in with a laugh.
"Honestly, I never imagined living like this before. I thought only wealthy city ladies got to enjoy such treatment."
"The reason is simple," Song Nianchu interjected with a smile. "It’s because you’re earning as much—or even more—work points than them now."
For a moment, all the women in the courtyard turned to look at her.
Song Nianchu felt this was the perfect opportunity and set down her work to say a few words.
"Before, they treated you harshly at home, even disregarding your feelings completely, because they believed your contributions to the family were lesser, that you depended on them to survive."
"But now it’s different. You’re earning full work points every day. Even without them, you could live well—in fact, they might even rely on you now."
"When you become valuable, the people around you will start to respect, understand, and cherish you."
Her words weren’t forceful—they were gentle, even—but each syllable struck deep, resonating in the hearts of every woman present.
When you become valuable, others will respect you? Understand you? Cherish you?
So, women weren’t born to be enslaved by their in-laws?
"Nianchu, I’m going to make myself even more valuable from now on!" Hua, the youngest among them, was the most moved.
Though her in-laws and husband had always treated her well, she’d noticed a change in her man since coming here.
He was more considerate now, more attentive to her feelings, especially at night.
Ever since she started working at Song Nianchu’s workshop, her days had felt sweeter than honey.
It was like she’d gone back to the early days of her marriage.
She hadn’t understood why before, thinking it was just because she and her mother-in-law were earning full work points, making life at home easier, so her husband had softened.
But it wasn’t just that—it was because she herself had become valuable?
Then she would make herself even more valuable. She wanted a better life!
"Yes, we all need to make ourselves more valuable!" the other women echoed enthusiastically.
"Then let’s work hard. You’re all the founding members of this workshop. When it expands into a factory, an enterprise, a corporation, you’ll be the veterans. By then, your families might even treat you like empresses," Song Nianchu said, her heart swelling as she watched their growing awareness.
"Ha! Empresses? Would that mean someone has to hold my hand even when I use the outhouse?" Hua burst out laughing.
"I couldn’t do that—I’d never be able to go if someone was watching!"
"Come on, why are we talking about outhouses? Can’t we imagine something better? Like, no one dares to pick up their chopsticks until I do at meals."
"Exactly! In my family, if my father-in-law isn’t at the table, no one can eat. I never questioned it before, but now I think—why is it that if my mother-in-law isn’t there, we can eat, but not if my father-in-law’s absent?"
"..."
When a sturdy dam is breached, even by a small crack, the trapped water begins to seep through.
Over time, that crack widens, and more water flows out.
Until one day, the dam can no longer hold back the rushing current and collapses entirely.
The awakening of women’s consciousness is the same—slow, subtle, but one day, it will shatter every chain that binds them.
The village workshop was livelier than ever that day, everyone working with renewed determination to prove their worth.
Song Nianchu had expected the day’s tasks to take until evening, but they finished ahead of schedule.
"You’ve all been so diligent today. Go home and rest early," she said warmly.
"Alright, see you tomorrow!" Aunt Wu and the others had grown accustomed to finishing early and heading home to relax.
"See you tomorrow." Song Nianchu waved them off, then carried the processed ingredients home on her back.
But when she arrived, she found Mu Shi'an not at his usual "workstation" but crouched in a corner, absorbed in something.
Curious, she approached—and saw what looked like a handcart in front of him.
"You made a handcart?" she asked, surprised.
"You’re back." Mu Shi'an had been deep in thought and hadn’t noticed her footsteps until she spoke. He looked up at her.
"Yeah." She set down her basket and studied the cart. "This looks different from the ones I’ve seen before."
"I modified it a bit to save more effort, but the balance isn’t perfect yet. The weight distribution needs adjusting," he explained, having just been pondering the issue.
Most of his past work had been data-focused, with little hands-on craftsmanship.
If he’d known this would happen, he would’ve practiced more.
"Can I try it?" she asked eagerly.
"Go ahead." He nodded.
She immediately took hold and pushed it, finding the motion incredibly smooth—far better than the rickety old carts in the village.
Then she had an idea and placed her basket inside the cart.
When she lifted it again, her eyes lit up.
