Volume One, Chapter Five: This Person Is No Longer Needed at the Factory!

Startled, I quickly peeked over. My cousin’s wife lay on the bed, as if haunted by a terrible nightmare, her face etched with pure terror. Watching her, my heart felt as though it was breaking. I had no idea what nightmare had frightened her so deeply. I longed to hold her, to comfort her, to tell her that even if the sky fell, I would bear it for her. But I couldn’t. She was my cousin’s wife—how could I possibly embrace her?

Thankfully, she murmured a few words, and her expression gradually softened into calm. This gave me a small measure of relief. Yet, hearing my cousin snore beside me reignited my anger. What a shameless man—to dare to sleep so soundly! How could my cousin’s wife have even looked at him? Wasn’t I far better than him?

At that moment, she muttered again. Instinctively, I glanced at her. Perhaps the quilt was too hot; she kicked it away. She lay on her side, one leg curled up, her skirt riding above her knees. I caught a glimpse and my mind buzzed, my heart pounding wildly. She was breathtakingly beautiful—I wished I could look at her forever.

Then reality hit me. She was my cousin’s wife. I must not look. I quickly turned my head away, lying still, squeezing my eyes shut, fighting off every wandering thought. But my mind betrayed me, replaying that image relentlessly. I knew I shouldn’t think it, let alone look. Gritting my teeth, I struggled to suppress the urge to turn and glance at her again.

Hours passed, and finally dawn broke. That night’s sleep left me more exhausted than if I’d stayed awake. My cousin and his wife woke up one after the other. After freshening up and changing, my cousin invited us to join him at the factory.

We took a bus for nearly an hour before arriving at Zhenglong Garment Factory. I recalled my cousin mentioning that both he and his wife worked there. He had been there for two years, she for over one. Both were seasoned employees; after greeting Manager Liu, who handled recruitment, their jobs were secured.

My cousin worked in quality inspection, and his wife handled sample making. As for me, I had no prior work experience nor could I operate a sewing machine—I was assigned as a general laborer. From what I gathered, general labor involved packing, ironing, and moving goods—work that demanded effort but little skill.

I didn’t care much what kind of work I got; I just wanted to earn money. Speaking of money, my cousin’s pride swelled, his chin lifted high. “General laborers here make two hundred yuan a month,” he said. “Also, since the factory recruited many workers this year, the dorms are full. If you don’t stay in the dorm, they give you an extra twenty yuan allowance.” He added, “I told Manager Liu you wouldn’t stay in the dorm. After you finish, my wife and I will rent a place, and you’ll live with us.”

“Alright,” I replied, a mix of disappointment and happiness stirring inside me. Two hundred yuan was more than farming earned, but far less than I had imagined. Still, living with my cousin’s wife brought me joy.

Besides, my cousin and his wife earned much more. She made three hundred and fifty yuan a month, plus a thirty-yuan housing allowance—nearly twice what I would earn. My cousin’s salary was even higher: four hundred and sixty yuan plus a forty-yuan housing allowance, totaling five hundred yuan monthly. Moreover, they earned piece-rate bonuses, and if they worked hard, their monthly income could exceed a thousand yuan.

When my cousin spoke of this, his smile stretched ear to ear, pride radiating from him. Honestly, I was envious—deeply envious. A thousand yuan a month was more than my parents and I could save from a whole year of farming in the village. If I could earn that much, life at home would be so much easier.

My envy grew, prompting me to ask if general laborers also received piece-rate bonuses. “Are you dreaming?” my cousin laughed, mocking me. “Who would give piece-rate to a laborer like you? Anyone could do that work.” He added, “If it weren’t for Manager Liu cutting me some slack because I’m a senior employee, they might not even want you.”

His smug, self-satisfied expression disgusted me. I wanted to curse him, but thinking about finally earning money at the factory, I held back. No matter what, I couldn’t refuse two hundred yuan a month. For now, I had to endure his arrogance.

Seeing my silence, my cousin’s pride only swelled. He was no longer the pushover bullied by ruffians, but a man who held his head high as if everything was under his control. Then my cousin’s wife reminded him that since we wouldn’t be staying in the dorm, we needed to find a place to rent. Only then did he stop grinning, leaving me at the factory gate to guard the luggage while he and his wife went looking for a room.

I stood there, watching the comings and goings of people. Most were young women, dressed fashionably and quite pretty—though none as beautiful as my cousin’s wife. After a while, feeling tired, I sat on the luggage bag. Having not slept all night, I was truly drowsy. With work settled, my heart relaxed, and I drifted into a light doze.

Suddenly, I was jolted awake by the sound of a horn beeping rapidly. Opening my eyes, I saw a motorcycle hurtling toward me, no more than ten meters away. Damn! Startled, I instinctively leapt aside.

The motorcycle screeched to a halt just a meter from my luggage. A girl hopped off, pointing at me and laughing so hard she could barely stand straight. Her carefree demeanor starkly contrasted with my own disheveled state.

“Oh my god! This is hilarious!” she chuckled, “You’re so jumpy, you jumped so far it’s embarrassing! Are you even a man?”

Damn it! I realized then she had deliberately tried to scare me. Bullying! I could tolerate my cousin’s bragging, but outsiders? Not a chance—even if she was a girl.

I stood up and strode over to her, scolding, “Are you out of your mind?”

Her expression instantly hardened, glaring at me in fury. “What did you say? Say that again and see what happens!”

“I said you’re out of your mind. What about it?” I stood my ground. Hell, she tried to run me down with her bike and had the nerve to act righteous?

“Fine, don’t say I didn’t warn you!” She sized me up, then turned to shout, “Lao Liu, this guy’s no good for the factory. Get rid of him!”

“Alright, alright!” I heard a voice respond. Looking toward the source, I recognized it as Manager Liu, the one in charge of recruitment.