Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Chapter 517: Chapter 270: The Old Problem Acts Up Again

Meizi had a son, and not long after, Guizhi gave birth to a daughter. That year, a joyful and festive atmosphere filled all of Qingnan Village. Aside from the weddings and births, it was mainly because life had gotten better. Everyone’s spirits were higher; they were busy and bustling, brimming with energy.

The village head, Li Gengtian, was especially proud and full of drive.

He had every reason to be proud. After all, what other village head could boast such remarkable achievements? Plus, the burden on his son Li Changyu’s heart had finally been lifted. Not only was he now engaged to someone from the Gao Family, but his business was also flourishing. And as it happened, that business was directly tied to all of the village’s produce. Consequently, he was completely devoted to village affairs, often discussing matters with young men like Qingmu, Zhang Huai, and Li Changming, and did his utmost to support their reasonable suggestions.

However, as the economy developed, Qingnan Village began to transform. Even Xiatang Market and the surrounding countryside were changing, and inevitably, the people changed with them.

It was an almost unavoidable consequence of economic development; the pursuit of self-interest is human nature.

First, there was the matter of allocating shares for newborns.

Li Gengtian called a meeting to discuss the issue. They ultimately decided that newborns would receive half a share until they came of age, at which point it would become a full share. The total number of shares would be readjusted at the end of each year. After all, the workshops were inseparable from Qingnan Village, and its people had to be the priority.

Second, the question of who was qualified to work in the workshops also drew many opinions. No one dared to contest the skilled labor positions, but when it came to jobs that seemingly anyone could do, people started to think, ’Why can he work there and not me?’

After some deliberation, a rule was established: aside from those with special skills who were specifically recruited, the remaining positions would be limited to one per household. No one was allowed to contest it.

This was when people’s subtle calculations began to surface.

Take Juhua’s family, for instance. Other than Qingmu, no one from her household worked in the workshops—they had so much going on at home they could barely keep up, so why would they compete for a spot? Besides, the Zheng Family wasn’t hurting for money.

But Li Gengtian’s Third Uncle, Li Mingtang, was another story. In order not to waste his household’s spot, he insisted on sending his granddaughter, Jinling, to stuff sausages at the sausage workshop. This was because his daughter-in-law, skilled at making pickles, had been specially recruited by the pickle workshop, leaving their family’s regular allotment open. He and his son had to tend the fields and couldn’t possibly work in the workshops, and his two grandsons counted as separate households since they had moved out after getting married.

Usually, it was the daughters-in-law who took these jobs. Li Gengtian strongly disapproved of his Third Uncle’s decision, but he couldn’t find any grounds to object, so he had no choice but to let it be.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xiaonian’s wife, who had been forced to kneel by her father-in-law as punishment, had been kept at home and away from the workshop for a full year. That winter, she began coaxing her husband to put in a good word with his father so she could go back to work. ”There’s nothing to do in the winter anyway,” she argued. ”If I work, I can at least earn some money. Isn’t that better than being idle at home? I can still do my needlework at night after my shift; it won’t get in the way at all. It’s perfect! We’re just letting our spot go to waste, while other people who want to go can’t even get in.”

Her words swayed Zhou Xiaonian, so he went to discuss the matter with Zhou Baozhu. He argued that his wife was just idle at home, so they might as well let her return to the workshop. She could earn some spending money, and it wouldn’t interfere with her household chores.

In truth, Zhou Baozhu also hated to see the spot go to waste; he was just worried his daughter-in-law would stir up trouble again. After hearing his son out, he thought it over, then called Zhou Xiaonian’s wife over. After giving her a stern lecture, he allowed her to return to work at the workshop.

But this woman was the type who never learned her lesson. The previous incident had terrified her, but after a year, all that remained in her heart was resentment—resentment toward the Zheng Family and the Zhang family. Still, she had to suppress her hatred, no matter how intense. For one, she couldn’t afford to provoke the Zheng Family. For another, her father-in-law was extremely strict. She didn’t dare cause a commotion; otherwise, Zhou Baozhu could truly force a divorce.

Those who are determined can always find an opportunity, for better or for worse.

One day, it was already dark by the time they finished stuffing a batch of sausages. Jinling followed the others to hand in her work and have it weighed—a measure to prevent anyone from smuggling out sausages or meat. Afterward, she left the workshop with the group to go to the latrine.

There was always a queue for the latrine at the end of a shift. And while some people, in the spirit of the saying ”don’t let fertile water flow into others’ fields,” wanted to hold it in and take their business home, that required considerable self-control.

Giggling and chattering, the women finished their business and quickly headed home—they were running later than usual today.

Women are prone to being forgetful. Jinling was already lagging behind the group, and just as she was about to leave the workshop courtyard, she suddenly realized she’d forgotten her small handbag. It was another one of Juhua’s clever inventions, and now nearly every young woman had one. She glanced back and saw a few women still standing by the latrine, so she sprinted back toward the workshop, hoping to grab her bag and walk home with them.