Hot-tempered wife in charge
Mancang was a senior employee at the old factory. He had married Nicola, a hot-tempered woman with a child from her previous marriage. His mother, Lise, often interfered in Nicola's life and subjected her to constant criticism, reflecting the traditional conflict between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. At four in the morning, Lise would deliberately wake the couple up, asserting her authority in the household, refuse to leave breakfast for Nicola, and even forbid her from sitting at the table. One day, Nicola, in a fit of rage, overturned the dining table, a bold act of defiance against her mother-in-law's oppression.
When Lise heard rumors that Nicola had once broken her ex-husband's leg, she became determined to separate the couple. She locked up the food, symbolizing her control over the household, but Nicola broke the lock and confronted her directly.
When Lise, in a moment of anger, hit her grandson, Little Chubby, causing a rift in the family, Nicola refrained from directly confronting her mother-in-law out of respect for traditional family hierarchy. Instead, she reprimanded Mancang, urging him to get to the bottom of things. After uncovering the truth, Nicola gently persuaded Little Chubby to apologize. Lise, reminded of a time when she had nearly harmed a child herself, felt a pang of guilt.
Later, when Lise discovered that the couple planned to use Mancang's savings to start a business, she vehemently opposed the idea. Egged on by Mrs. Lise, she pretended to drink herbicide, a shocking and extreme act often seen in familial disputes in traditional Chinese households, to pressure them. However, things took a turn when Lise overheard Mrs. Lise badmouthing Nicola behind her back. During the ensuing argument, Lise was shoved and fell to the ground. Nicola, armed with a rolling pin—a symbol of household resilience—stood up for her mother-in-law, forcing Mrs. Lise to apologize and pay compensation. Lise, recalling their shared past and valuing old friendships, chose to let the matter rest.
After weathering numerous conflicts, Lise gradually set aside her biases and made a heartfelt decision to embrace harmony within the family. Just as harmony began to settle in, news arrived that Mancang had been promoted.
