Wild Ambition Bloom Episode 14 Recap
> Wild Ambition Bloom Recap
Plagued by profound grief after burying her daughter Xuanxuan by the river, Chu Shaohua recalled Xuanxuan's vibrant voice singing English songs, telling her mother not to overwork, professing love, and fiercely protecting her. Overwhelmed, Chu Shaohua fainted by the grave. When she came to, she plunged into the river to wash away the blood, then boarded a train bound for Shanghai.
On the journey, a young girl named Yin Amei initiated a conversation, revealing she too was heading to Shanghai to find her cousin, Luo Cuiying. Upon arriving in Shanghai, Chu Shaohua parted ways with Yin Amei, who excitedly declared Shanghai "so lively."
Chu Shaohua first sought out her younger sister, Kang Erniu, following an address from a letter four years prior, but was informed by the current occupant that Kang Erniu no longer lived at that Number 89 residence and they had only moved in last year. With nowhere else to go, Chu Shaohua sat by a wall, exhausted.
A man, Wen Zhiqiu, on his way to breakfast, mistook her for a beggar and tossed her some silver dollars, which she promptly returned. Recalling Yin Amei's earlier suggestion, Chu Shaohua decided to look for her at the Baoxing Cotton Mill. Fortuitously, the Baoxing Cotton Mill on Yangshupu Road was hiring. Yin Amei met Chu Shaohua, telling her she arrived at just the right time, as the factory was "hiring a lot these days."
She advised Chu Shaohua to remain silent during the interview and follow her lead, especially about age, as workers over 40 were not accepted. With Yin Amei's cousin, Luo Cuiying, vouching for her and claiming she was eighteen with previous experience in a drawing frame workshop at a cotton mill in Qingdao, Chu Shaohua secured a job in the drawing frame workshop under the assumed name Zhu Sha.
Luo Cuiying explained the deception was to avoid the arduous raw silk workshop, where older or younger workers were sent to reel cocoons, standing all day, and that skilled workers like Zhu Sha was claimed to be, could start immediately with better pay. Despite Zhu Sha's inexperience with drawing frame work, Cuiying promised to teach her. Working conditions were brutal.
Luo Cuiying warned Zhu Sha that the factory clock governed their lives, and any delay, even for a restroom break, could result in a beating or docked wages. When Zhu Sha asked if this was common, Cuiying simply said, "You'll get used to it." The foreman, Old Zhong, frequently harassed the female workers, physically assaulting a woman named Lian for taking a ten-minute restroom break despite her pleas about her menstrual pains.
Qing Gang thugs, including Lu Agui, Jiang Dachang, and Mao Wangcai, regularly entered the canteen to torment the women. Lu Agui singled out Zhu Sha, calling her "Slim Waist" and offering her "something better" than the factory food. Luo Cuiying cautioned Zhu Sha against confronting them, reminding her, "They're with the Qing Gang. We can't afford to mess with them." Later, Zhu Sha observed a young boy, Cheng Hui, covertly adjusting the factory clock.
Old Zhong spotted him and gave chase, vowing to "make you pay today." Zhu Sha quickly misdirected Old Zhong, allowing Cheng Hui to escape. In the women's dormitory, Zhu Sha found a dilapidated building with broken doors and windows, questioning how the women could tolerate such conditions. Luo Cuiying insisted it was "better than sleeping on the street" and advised her, "You'll get used to it." But Zhu Sha refused to accept it, arguing, "Why would I?
We can do something about this." She passionately articulated their grievances: excessive working hours, arbitrary beatings, wage deductions, and sexual harassment from male workers. While some workers dismissed her concerns, saying, "That's just how life is. Everyone's going through the same thing," Zhu Sha countered, "We're human, aren't we? Not animals," pointing out that even livestock received better treatment. She urged them to "stand together, like strands in a rope, thinking the same, pushing as one," to demand better conditions.
However, the women remained hesitant. A month later, Lu Agui, Jiang Dachang, and Mao Wangcai stormed the dormitory at night, attempting to assault the female workers. Zhu Sha grabbed a stick and bravely confronted them. Although she was quickly surrounded and beaten, Cheng Hui rushed in to help, fighting the thugs. Inspired, the other female workers joined the fray, collectively fighting back and driving the thugs out. Old Zhong soon arrived, furious.
He accused Zhu Sha of "flirting" with Lu Agui and summarily docked half a month's wages for all workers in "Workshop 12." Undeterred, Zhu Sha rallied the women, reminding them that their collective action had made Lu Agui "pay" and proved that "if we stand united, no one can push us around!" She then proposed a strike starting the next day.
Though workers feared being fired, Zhu Sha reassured them, revealing that the factory had an urgent "rush order from Britain" that couldn't be delayed. Firing them now would mean losing skilled workers and incurring penalties. She cited successful strikes at other cotton mills, where workers' perseverance led to their demands being met. Emboldened, over a thousand female workers agreed to strike. The following morning, no one reported for work.
Old Zhong confronted them, but Zhu Sha, acting as the strike representative for "1056 female workers," boldly presented five conditions for their return: retraction of the previous night's punishment and no wage deductions; immediate firing of Lu Agui, Jiang Dachang, and Mao Wangcai; a strict 12-hour workday limit; an end to all physical and verbal abuse; and improved living conditions, including dormitory safety, better food quality, and the right to restroom breaks and sick leave. Old Zhong flatly refused.
The workers, united, chanted, "No work without justice!" Old Zhong then returned with a group of men, intending to intimidate the striking workers. But Zhu Sha stood firm, declaring that while he had "about 20 people," they had "over 1,000." She warned him that if his men initiated violence, they would face severe consequences. Faced with the determined women, Old Zhong and his men retreated.
The factory director, informed of the strike, furiously threatened Old Zhong with dismissal if the urgent "British order" was not completed on time. Desperate, Old Zhong attempted to bribe the workers with an offer of plentiful shredded pork, pork slices, and pork soup with white rice. However, Zhu Sha exhorted her fellow workers not to be swayed by "this one meal of meat," promising them "meat with every meal from now on" if they held out.
The workers rejected Old Zhong's offer, repeating their chant. Zhu Sha added a stern warning: "If you don't agree to our demands, we won't just take away your job. We'll make sure you're out of a job for good." Manager Huang then intervened, apologizing for Lu Agui's actions and promising punishment. He tried to persuade the workers to resume work while he negotiated with the boss.
Zhu Sha, however, insisted on discussing the terms in front of all the workers, rejecting his invitation to his office. When Manager Huang claimed the boss was absent and offered his personal guarantee, Zhu Sha countered with her own resolve, supported by the renewed chants of "No deal, no work." Faced with such unwavering solidarity, the factory director finally conceded to all five of their demands. The workers celebrated their victory with a communal meal, enjoying the improved food.
They offered Zhu Sha the first piece of meat, praising her as a "hero" for their success. Zhu Sha gracefully declined, encouraging everyone to enjoy the meal. Shortly after, Manager Huang summoned Zhu Sha to his office, abruptly informing her that she was "no longer employed" due to "failing the evaluation." Zhu Sha saw through the pretense, stating, "Don't think that firing me will solve all your problems. The female workers already know how to protect themselves.
And your old methods won't work anymore." As she left, Manager Huang offered a patronizing piece of advice about avoiding trouble. Zhu Sha responded with a poignant parting remark: "If you want your business to flourish, then be a little kinder to the female workers." Outside, the workers expressed their dismay, knowing Zhu Sha was the best worker. They offered to strike again to keep her, but Zhu Sha urged them against it.
She revealed that the urgent British order was now "complete," and without deadline pressure, another strike would only lead to them being fired and replaced. She bid her friends farewell, urging Luo Cuiying to "never get used to this" but to "make changes," reminding her that with unity, "there's nothing to be afraid of." Zhu Sha expressed her belief that she would find a new place and that her "future will be brighter."
As Zhu Sha walked away, Cheng Hui was waiting for her, announcing, "You quit, and so did I." He confessed he had left his job because he feared Lu Agui and his thugs would continue to harass her, and he wanted to protect her. He, despite being only nine years old, had found her a place to stay: his friend Azu's room, who had recently found a job at a cigarette factory that included lodging.
Although the new dwelling was in a slum, Cheng Hui described Azu's place as a "mansion around here." As Zhu Sha began to count her remaining silver dollars, worrying about how they would manage, Cheng Hui firmly told her, "I don't want you supporting me."
