In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, illuminating the simple floor of the room. Lin Yue stretched and got up to start her day. After a few days of figuring out the housework, she had gradually become familiar with some of the procedures, but each action still required considerable effort.
Today, Lin Yue planned to go to the river to wash some household items. She carried a wooden bucket out the door and walked along the village path towards the river. Along the way, she encountered many villagers who were up early to work. They greeted each other, but their eyes still held curiosity about this city girl.
When she arrived at the riverbank, several women were already washing clothes and vegetables. Lin Yue found an empty spot, squatted down, and began washing the items in her hands. The river water was a bit cold, and her hands quickly turned red from the cold, but she remained focused on her work.
"Chen family daughter-in-law, you're getting better and better at these chores, coming from the city." A voice rang out from the side. Lin Yue looked up and saw it was Sister Zhang from the village. She smiled and replied, "Sister Zhang, I'm just learning slowly. I'm not as skilled as you."
After a few pleasantries, the conversation flowed more freely. Women always have endless topics to discuss when they get together. One of the younger women asked Lin Yue curiously, "Sister-in-law Chen, what do women in the city do? I heard they don't have to farm and are idle all day?"
Lin Yue smiled and began to describe life in the city to them: "Women in the city also have their own jobs. Some work in factories, some are teachers, and some, like me, are doctors in hospitals. Everyone earns money through their own abilities."
"Women can go out and earn money? Who will do the housework? Who will take care of the children?" The women looked at her in surprise, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Lin Yue patiently explained, "In the city, there are specialized ways to handle many tasks. For example, there are washing machines for laundry, rice cookers for cooking, and various tools for cleaning, which saves a lot of time. Moreover, couples share housework and take care of the children together."
"Washing machine? Rice cooker? What are those things? Can they be better than our hands?" Aunt Zhang asked, her face full of doubt.
Lin Yue thought for a moment and tried to explain in a simple and easy-to-understand way: "A washing machine is like a big box. You put your clothes in, pour in the detergent, press the switch, and it will wash your clothes clean by itself. It's so convenient. A rice cooker is the same. You put rice and water in, plug it in, and it will cook fragrant rice."
The women were taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. "Chen family daughter-in-law, you're really joking! There's no such thing as a magical thing. You're just teasing us, aren't you?"
Lin Yue smiled helplessly, knowing that they had little understanding of these modern concepts. The conversation then shifted to marriage.
"Mrs. Chen, how did you and Mr. Chen meet? Your marriage in the city was arranged by your parents, wasn't it?" a woman asked.
Lin Yue shook her head. "No, in our city, we value free love. It means that if a man and a woman like each other, they decide to be together, and their parents usually don't interfere too much."
"Free love? That won't do! Marriage is a big deal, how can you let yourself decide? What if you choose the wrong person? You still have to listen to your parents." The women shook their heads, expressing their disagreement with this idea.
Lin Yue tried to explain further: "Free love isn't something that can be done haphazardly. Two people will get to know each other's personalities and interests first, and only if they are compatible will they get married. Moreover, in the city, if a woman is unhappy in her marriage, she can file for divorce."
"Divorce? How can that be! A woman should follow her husband wherever he goes, no matter how shameful it is!" Sister-in-law Zhang's eyes widened, her voice filled with shock.
Seeing their reactions, Lin Yue knew that her views were too shocking for them. But she didn't want to give up so easily; she felt that these modern ideas might bring some new vitality to this isolated little village.
"Sisters-in-law, sisters, I know you may find this strange, but think about it, if a woman is miserable in her marriage but can't leave, wouldn't her life be ruined? Besides, women also have the right to pursue their own happiness, just like men," Lin Yue said earnestly.
However, the women were not persuaded by her; instead, they started talking amongst themselves.
“Chen family daughter-in-law, you can’t have such thoughts, or you’ll corrupt the girls in the village.”
"That's right, that's how our ancestors have always lived, we can't listen to your nonsense."
Lin Yue was getting anxious. She wanted to continue arguing, but seeing the women's resolute attitude, she knew now was not the time to delve deeper into the topic. She sighed helplessly and continued washing the rubbish in her hands.
Just then, Aunt Liu passed by the river and saw Lin Yue's somewhat awkward situation. She came over to smooth things over: "Oh, everyone's here. What Chen's daughter-in-law said is about the situation in the city, which is different from here. But we can still listen to her; maybe we can learn something from her."
The women listened to Aunt Liu's words, and although they didn't say anything, their expressions clearly showed their disagreement. Lin Yue looked at Aunt Liu gratefully, and Aunt Liu smiled, patted her on the shoulder, and whispered, "Child, don't rush. These ideas are too new for them. We have to take it slowly."
After finishing her work by the river, Lin Yue headed back. On the way, she encountered several children playing by the roadside. When the children saw her, they all gathered around and looked at her curiously.
"Auntie, are you from the city? Is the city fun?" a little boy asked.
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