Shirley came back to her senses, smiled at Shen Meng, and nodded. The families living nearby got along quite well. Whenever she had something nice, she would always think to share a bit with them. But after all, she was a divorced woman and now had a job; she was different from the farming households, and naturally, this change affected some people's attitudes.
A single woman with a child, with no man to rely on, and now often harassed by her ex-husband, she needed help from neighbors. Over time, some unpleasant words started circulating. Two sisters-in-law were worried their men might get involved with her. Now, whenever she visited, their faces were as dark as charcoal; the previous warmth had gone, even though she was on good terms with Shen Meng, and even though those sisters-in-law also wanted to work at the Head Flower Factory, they still didn't welcome her.
