"You, this is exactly what a rich lady thinks. The factory is barely making any money now and is struggling to survive, but it pays them wages on time every month, which is the most benevolent thing. You will know if you ask around, many factories are even
Even this is impossible, some of them are owed wages for several months." Aunt Sheng said with a bitter smile.
Aunt Sheng also told her that although the food and housing of these female workers were poorer, they were still better than those above and more than below, and they could receive a salary of five yuan on time every month.
Some of the female workers' families have to support their elderly parents, and some have to raise underage children. This five yuan is enough to survive for the family.
Du Juan suddenly thought that Lu Ming had spent 10,000 yuan to redeem her life. A female worker could not earn this kind of money after working hard all her life.
Five yuan to feed a family? What kind of life are they living like this? I dare not even think about it.
She actually has no concept of money. When she was a child, her family was poor and she might not even be able to spare five yuan. But at that time, she was still young and didn't care about money at all. Later, when she went out to live with her godmother, she didn't need to think about money at all.
thing.
Du Juan chatted with Aunt Sheng for a long time, and then she realized that Aunt Sheng's real name was Sheng Yi, so everyone in the factory called her Aunt Sheng. Aunt Sheng Yi and Sheng sometimes couldn't tell the difference, and only the manager called her Sister Sheng.
"Du Xiangli, this is the situation in the factory. It's very simple to say the least." Sheng Yi said with a smile.
She still hasn't figured out why Du Juan came to work in the spinning mill. She has been making insinuations for a long time, but still has no answer.
It's not that Du Juan didn't say anything, but Du Juan thought that she was just here to study. It was very simple. She didn't hide anything and told the truth. But Sheng Yi didn't believe it. The expression on her face was clearly: I'm just letting go of the good life, but I have to come.
Only if you endure hardship will the devil believe you.
Du Juan learned that not all female workers in the factory were recruited from other places, but many were local women in Shanghai.
According to Shanghai's living standards, a girl earning five yuan a month is not a small amount. After all, many men can only earn about ten yuan a month.
Most of these local girls come from nearby civilian families or from the suburbs, so they can only live in dormitories in the factory.
Just before dinner, something unexpected happened.
"What, there's not a single room left? How could this happen? How did you do things?" Sheng Yi said angrily to a middle-aged man.
"Director Sheng, it's not my fault. There have been too many female workers in the factory recently, and the apartment we share has long been full." The middle-aged man bent over and said with a cold sweat on his face.
In a factory, what most people fear most is not the manager, but Sheng Yi.
Taking advantage of her status as a distant relative of the president, she fully demonstrated the acrimony that a woman can have. She was very picky and calculating in her treatment of workers and subordinates, leaving no gaps.
If she is in a bad mood, someone is definitely in trouble and will probably be kicked out of the factory.
"Then try to find a room for Du Xiangli. A better room with a window facing the sun." Sheng Yi said arrogantly even though he knew it was full.
"Director Sheng, let alone the better ones, even the worst ones can't be vacated. The people living there are all well-known. Who has no background? Who should be kicked out? I can't afford to offend anyone."
The middle-aged man complained bitterly.
Sheng Yi calmed down and thought about it. Getting angry wouldn't solve the problem, so he had to think about what he could do first.
Of course she knew who lived in the apartment. How could someone with no background live in that apartment? Not only was it free of charge, the water and electricity were also paid for by the factory, and there were people who boiled tea.
"Then what do you think we should do? Let Du Xiangli live on the street? She is the person arranged by the president personally. The general manager came to visit at noon and personally told me to take good care of her. I also promised her, what should I do now?"
Sheng Yi had a headache and she didn't know what to do. She couldn't give up her room.
"I also know that this matter is difficult to handle, so I found a room in a nearby alley. I think it is quite suitable. How about you go and have a look?" The man was quite smart and had a backup plan.
"Alley? Which alley?"
The middle-aged man mentioned a place, and Sheng Yi was so angry that he choked and almost smashed the teacup in his face.
"That's a slum. You let the distinguished Du Xiangli live in that slum!"
"It's actually a civilian area. The place where ordinary people live is some distance away from the slums of Gundilong (simple shanties built by poor people made of thatch)." The man explained.
"That's not okay. If the general manager knew about placing Du Xiangli in that kind of place, we would just wait to be fired. Neither you nor I can run away." Sheng Yi said angrily.
"Although the place is a civilian area, the room for rent is really good. I have seen it myself. It is clean and refreshing."
Du Juan, who had been listening outside for a while, walked in and said with a smile: "Aunt Sheng, don't worry so much about me. Since there is a house nearby, let's go and have a look. I don't care if the location is good or not, as long as the room is clean."
"Du Xiangli, I can guarantee that the room is clean. I'm really sorry. You can stay here for a few days, and I will find a good house for you as quickly as possible." The middle-aged man bent down and said.
.
Seeing this, Sheng Yi had no choice but to agree to go there after dinner. If that didn't work, he would have to book a hotel with Du Juan.
Dinner was still eaten in the small canteen. It was as simple and delicious as lunch, with four dishes and one soup. Of course, it was completely free.
After dinner, it was already dark.
The middle-aged man took Sheng Yi and Du Juan to the nearby alley. It was indeed very close, and it was only a five-minute walk from the factory.
"Du Xiangli, it's very close and convenient here. The room I found for you is also the best one around here." The middle-aged man said with a flattering smile.
This middle-aged man is the manager of a small apartment shared by a factory. He is very familiar with the fangs (people who negotiated real estate sales or rentals in the old days). This room is indeed the best rental house in the neighborhood.
As soon as she walked into the alley, a sour smell hit her face. Sheng Yi covered her nose and didn't want to go any further.
This alley is a typical urban area of old Shanghai, where people from the bottom of the society live, but it is still somewhat different from the poor people who live in Gedilong.
Common people may fall into abject poverty if they are not careful, but at least they live in a brick house that can protect them from wind and rain, and they can still fill their stomachs with three meals a day.
There are low-rise houses on both sides of the narrow street. Judging from the structure of the house, it turned out to be a good property, but it has fallen into disrepair, has become seriously aged, and has become dilapidated.
There are shallow gutters on both sides of the street, and all kinds of dirty water poured out by nearby residents flow in them, exuding a fishy smell and the smell of rotten vegetable leaves.
"Du Xiangli, go back. You can't live here. I'll book a hotel for you first." Sheng Yi felt her face getting hot. If Du Juan lives here, once Sheng Di finds out, he won't be fired.
He will also be scolded to death.
"It's quite nice here. Let's go check out the room." Du Juan looked around and said with a smile.
Sheng Yi and the man exchanged a surprised look, trying to confirm whether she was being sarcastic, but the smile on Du Juan's face was innocent and sincere, and there was no other meaning.
They were barely certain that the little girl in front of them was not that deep into the city.
Du Juan was indeed not mocking them, but walking in here, something in her began to awaken.
Although the hometown in her memory did not have such narrow streets, it still had such low and dilapidated houses. When she was a child, her family only lived in two adobe houses, which were much worse than here.
She suddenly had a feeling that this was where she should stay. Entering here she felt as if she had truly stepped on the ground, feeling as comfortable as returning to the human world.
It turns out that life is unreal, as if it is floating in the clouds.