Enjoyment: I listen to Manman for everything.
The batch of old sewing machines was priced at eight yuan each, with a total of thirteen machines. Su Xiaoman discussed it with Xie Mingtu, estimating they could successfully modify five or six of them. This meant an expense of about 104 yuan, plus a few dozen yuan for parts, totalling just over 150 yuan to create five or six functional machines.
A brand-new sewing machine typically cost 200–300 yuan, sometimes more, and required industrial vouchers. Without needing vouchers, they could spend the equivalent of one machine’s cost to create five or six usable ones. This was undoubtedly a good deal.
Su Xiaoman told Wang Fengshan they would take the batch and had Xie Mingtu get to work repairing and modifying them. In the end, they successfully assembled six machines, plus their original one, making a total of seven functioning sewing machines. After accounting for parts expenses, the total cost came to 153.20 yuan.
If Su Xiaoman were to pay for it herself, it would almost completely deplete her savings. However, she had no intention of footing the bill alone.
Su Xiaoman reached out to her uncle, Liu Zhaoqiang, and proposed an idea: the village cooperative could purchase the machines as a group and establish a sewing room for public use.
When Liu Zhaoqiang heard the details, he was both surprised and delighted. “Thirty yuan for a functioning sewing machine? Is there really such a deal in this world?”
Su Xiaoman nodded. “These are small industrial sewing machines, which are actually better than household ones. While a few of them are not as efficient, some work even better than new machines.”
“That’s fine! As long as they work. Families here have been dreaming of owning a sewing machine, and these don’t even require vouchers!” Liu Zhaoqiang was visibly excited.
“I suggest the cooperative purchases the machines under the village’s name,” Su Xiaoman continued. “We can set up a sewing room, manage the machines centrally, and allow villagers to use them by trading work points. For example, a certain number of points could cover mending clothes or sewing patches. Or, points could be exchanged for time using the machine. The specifics can be worked out by the team.”
Her plan was practical. Selling the machines privately could lead to accusations of profiteering, and it would be impossible to satisfy everyone with such limited supply. By centralizing ownership under the cooperative, they could earn a modest fee for Xie Mingtu’s labour while also benefiting the village as a whole.
This approach would help the villagers, give her uncle credit for implementing a beneficial project, and allow her and Xie Mingtu to earn some income. It was a win-win-win situation.
“Xiaoman, you’re such a clever girl! This is a fantastic idea!” Liu Zhaoqiang exclaimed, increasingly enthusiastic. “We even have an unused granary that could be converted into a sewing room. This will make life so much easier for everyone—especially those aunties who’ve been squinting under dim lights, sewing all night to patch their kids’ clothes. You wouldn’t believe how quickly these boys wear out their pants!”
“I’ve seen enough of those little rascals’ torn pants to last a lifetime,” he added with a laugh.
Su Xiaoman couldn’t help but chuckle. She had thought of this idea after talking to a strong, cheerful woman from the village named Aunt He. Aunt He had six or seven children and often complained about how quickly her boys tore their clothes, leaving her constantly stitching and patching. A sewing machine would save them all so much time and effort.
—
The proposal moved quickly, and the cooperative decided to buy the machines. However, neighbouring villages caught wind of the deal and asked for a share. After some negotiation and intervention by the local secretary, they agreed to split the batch. The neighbouring village received two machines, leaving Xiaoman’s village with three fewer than planned.
Even so, Liu Zhaoqiang was elated. Not only had he gained an advantage over a rival village leader, but he also anticipated the sewing machines increasing their cooperative’s productivity next year.
—
Su Xiaoman and Xie Mingtu moved their personal sewing machine into their little room at the Xie family home. Xie Mingtu rearranged the cabinets to give the machine a prime spot with the best lighting.
When they brought the machine home, it quickly became a topic of gossip.
“Did you guys buy a sewing machine? What brand is it? It doesn’t look familiar.”
“Is it second-hand?”
“It looks worn. Did you buy it from someone selling old machines?”
Su Xiaoman explained, “Mingtu helped out at a garment factory, and they sold us a few old machines at a low price. He fixed them up, and now they work fine. The rest went to the village for a public sewing room.”
The mention of the sewing room immediately shifted attention away from her machine.
“A sewing room? What’s that?”
“Are the machines for everyone to use?”
“How does it work?”
“You’ll need work points to use it.”
“Well, that’s still a great deal! Spending a few work points is nothing compared to the time we’ll save. Those machines sew so quickly!”
—
The addition of a sewing machine to their household was a major event in the Xie family. Even the sisters-in-law who usually showed little interest were envious.
“Put the machine in the second son’s room. It’s bigger there,” Sun Mei ordered imperiously.
Su Xiaoman immediately refused. “This is something I paid for. It stays in our room.”
If she moved it, the machine would quickly be claimed as communal property by the Xie family.
Second Sister-in-law, Xu Yanlan, chimed in, “Didn’t they say it was Mingtu’s effort that got the machine? If not for him, you wouldn’t have it.”
Su Xiaoman replied firmly, “It belongs to Mingtu and me. Why don’t you ask him what he thinks?”
Sun Mei glared at Xie Mingtu. “What do you say, Lao Wu?”
Lowering his head like an obedient son, Xie Mingtu muttered, “I’ll do whatever Manman says.”
His loyalty to his wife was unmistakable, and it silenced any further objections. Even in disputes between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Xie Mingtu always sided with Su Xiaoman, which was entirely reasonable given Sun Mei’s notorious favouritism.
Now married, Xie Mingtu had chosen his side—and that side was entirely Su Xiaoman’s.
As a result, Xie Mingtu’s reputation as a good husband—tall, handsome, obedient, and skilled at driving tractors—won him the admiration of many women in the village. Such a son-in-law was rare and highly desirable.
Meanwhile, Sun Mei let out a long, cold breath.
She finally realized that forcing Su Xiaoman to marry Xie Mingtu had been the worst decision she had ever made.
Her other daughters-in-law—married to the eldest, second, and third sons—were all docile and obedient, treating their husbands like gods. Sun Mei had grown used to this dynamic, believing any new daughter-in-law would also fall into line.
But Su Xiaoman was different. Instead of listening to her husband, she made Xie Mingtu listen to her.
“You all better stop thinking about my sewing machine,” Su Xiaoman declared. “The village is about to open a public sewing room. If you need to mend something, use the machines there. This one is my treasure, and it’s staying with me.”
“Bah!” Second Sister-in-law Xu Yanlan scoffed. “Who’d envy a junky machine like yours?”
“You’re right—it’s old and used. If you want something better, Second Sister-in-law, why don’t you buy yourself a brand-new one?”
Returning to her room, Xu Yanlan fumed. The sight of Su Xiaoman’s smug expression and her sewing machine, along with the crowd that had gathered to watch, left her feeling deeply unsettled.
“It’s just an old, broken sewing machine. What’s so impressive about it?” she muttered angrily.
For years, Xu Yanlan had been the centre of attention in the Xie family. As the prettiest of the daughters-in-law and married to the favoured second son, she basked in the envy of others.
Even though Sun Mei clearly doted on her family, things had changed. Now, all the attention was on Su Xiaoman.
In just a short time, the village’s perception of Su Xiaoman had shifted dramatically. Once ridiculed for chasing after the educated youth Jiang Yantang, she was now praised for her achievements—organizing silkworm farming and fish pond construction, acquiring sewing machines, and proposing the idea of a public sewing room.
Her name was now spoken with respect and admiration rather than mockery.
When Xu Yanlan’s husband, Xie Weiqiang, entered the room, he immediately noticed her sour expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Weiqiang, we need to buy a sewing machine,” Xu Yanlan said, unable to suppress her frustration. She wanted to buy a brand-new machine to outshine Su Xiaoman.
“What do we need a sewing machine for? Isn’t there already one in Lao Wu’s room?” Xie Weiqiang retorted.
“If we buy a new one, we’ll be the centre of attention! Haven’t you noticed how everyone is talking about Lao Wu lately? They all admire him now, calling him capable and hardworking.”
The mention of Xie Mingtu’s newfound reputation struck a nerve with Xie Weiqiang. He had indeed been irked by how his younger brother’s image had transformed from a dishevelled outcast into a praised and admired young man.
Still, he grumbled, “There’s no point wasting money on a sewing machine. Once the sewing room opens, everyone will have access to one. Why bother?”
Xu Yanlan bit her lip, refusing to give up. “Fine. Then let’s buy a radio. How many households have a radio? We could listen to programs and broadcasts…”
Xie Weiqiang hesitated. The idea tempted him. “Radios are expensive, and we don’t have enough money.”
“Then ask Mom for help.”
“She won’t agree to buy something so unnecessary.”
—
Over the next few days, Xie Mingtu successfully repaired the six sewing machines. Su Xiaoman tested each one to ensure they worked perfectly. If any issues arose in the future, they had a repair expert in-house.
Hearing about Xie Mingtu’s skills, families from a neighbouring village brought their broken sewing machines to him. He repaired them and earned a few yuan in fees.
When Sun Mei found out about this, she demanded the money. But Su Xiaoman refused, using it instead to buy fruit candies, which she distributed to Chunjuan, Tiedan, and the other children. She even set aside some for her family, ensuring her father and brothers had a little to keep in their pockets as emergency snacks.
Su Xiaoman had a history of low blood sugar, so she always carried sweets with her. She even slipped a few pieces into Xie Mingtu’s pocket.
When Sun Mei tried to reprimand her, the other family members—led by the eldest and third sisters-in-law—defended Su Xiaoman. Even Xu Yanlan’s son, Xie Yaozu, chimed in after enjoying some of the candies.
“It’s just a few candies. What’s the big deal? Everyone gets a taste.”
“That’s right. Xiaoman didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Little Auntie is the best!”
“Lao Wu’s wife is amazing,” added Chunjuan and Tiedan.
The children’s affection for Su Xiaoman warmed Qin Xiuying’s heart. For years, she had endured Sun Mei’s favouritism toward Xu Yanlan and her son, Xie Yaozu. But now, with Su Xiaoman in the house, things felt different.
Though Su Xiaoman didn’t contribute much to household chores, her kind treatment of the children won Qin Xiuying over. She even felt proud of her decision to encourage Sun Mei to let Xie Mingtu marry Su Xiaoman.
With the contrast so stark, Qin Xiuying and Third Sister-in-law Zhou Xiaohui firmly sided with Su Xiaoman. They frequently spoke up for her, and her reputation in the village continued to improve—thanks in no small part to their efforts.
—
Meanwhile, Old Xie, the patriarch of the family, sat smoking his pipe, often lost in thought.
Watching Sun Mei clash with Su Xiaoman, he rarely intervened, sometimes even subtly urging Sun Mei to back off.
Guilt weighed heavily on him. He knew the truth. If he revealed it, Xie Mingtu would be reunited with his biological parents, who were cadre members in a privileged courtyard.
But what would happen to Jiang Yantang—his biological son?
Old Xie had secretly visited Jiang Yantang and was struck by the resemblance. The boy looked so much like the Xie family, especially Xie Weiqiang.
He sighed deeply, torn between the truth and the life they had all built.
What Sun Mei said was true.
He couldn’t reveal the truth. Otherwise, his precious youngest son would go from being a cadre’s child to the offspring of a poor peasant—a change that would ruin his future prospects.
To protect his son’s future, he had to keep the secret.
—
Meanwhile, Liu Zhaoqiang organized the villagers to thoroughly clean an abandoned warehouse. They repaired its damaged areas and set up the three refurbished sewing machines neatly inside.
The next day, the village sewing room officially opened.
Many villagers brought their torn clothes and worn-out pants, spending one or two work points to have their items repaired or patched up, giving them a fresh new look.
Aunt He, who had several children, brought a pile of pants with holes in the seat. She immediately patched them up using the sewing machines and had the kids wear them.
“Having a sewing machine makes things so much easier. Before this, I spent every evening stitching up these brats’ clothes. It was exhausting!”
“Just one pass on the machine, and it’s done. Look how neat the stitching is. I could never sew like this by hand.”
The children were equally delighted.
Not every mother in the village was skilled at mending clothes. Some women’s handiwork was so poor that their children became the laughingstock of their peers, with poorly stitched pants that ripped easily.
“Your pants tore again! So embarrassing!”
“Your butt is showing!”
And when they returned home after being mocked, their less-than-skilled mothers would scold them harshly:
“How did you tear your pants again?”
“Waaah! It’s because you stitched them so badly!”
Now, with a sewing machine, children no longer had to wear poorly mended pants. Some even earned a few work points themselves to fix their clothes.
For those who couldn’t operate the sewing machine, it was no problem—they could trade work points to have someone else mend or sew their clothes for them.
“This sewing machine will make it so much easier to make clothes from now on.”
“Exactly!”
“Our village women will have it much easier.”
—
Since the sewing room was Su Xiaoman’s idea and made possible by the contribution of her and Xie Mingtu’s machines, Liu Zhaoqiang asked her how the sewing room should be managed. Su Xiaoman suggested appointing Sun Xiaoqiao as the manager. Sun Xiaoqiao had some schooling and could handle the task of recording work points.
“Let’s go with Sun Xiaoqiao then,” Liu Zhaoqiang agreed, and no one else raised any objections.
They also decided to enlist a few women skilled in using the sewing machines to take turns working there, earning work points for their labour.
Spending a day in the sewing room earned five to six work points. Although it wasn’t much, it was a light and easy job compared to working in the fields.
When Sun Xiaoqiao heard about the arrangement, she was deeply grateful to Su Xiaoman. “Xiaoman, you’re so kind.”
The sewing room job was easy, close to her home, and allowed her to take care of her sick father—a true lifesaver for her.
Her family’s hardship was another reason why no one objected to her appointment.
“No need to thank me. Just do your best,” Su Xiaoman said with a wink, feeling a sense of comfort after helping Sun Xiaoqiao. “And as for the dress I promised you, give me a few more days to finish it.”
“Our days will get better!”
With tears in her eyes, Sun Xiaoqiao nodded.
“That’s right! I can see our village thriving more and more,” an aunt nearby chimed in, smiling brightly as she operated the sewing machine. The rhythmic *da-da-da* sound filled the room. The sewing machine might even help her earn a few easy work points in the future.
For many women, owning a sewing machine was a dream. While they couldn’t afford one for their homes, having access to one in the sewing room was already a blessing.
What’s more, they could even earn work points by operating the sewing machines. Was this still considered work? It felt more like a privilege!
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