A country girl moves to the city to work in a factory, crocheting yarn late into the night to sell online and send money home. When a tempting offer promising quick profits forces her to choose whether to sacrifice quality, she has to answer for herself how she wants to earn her living.
The Rented Attic at Midnight
Narrator
夜里十一点，工厂的灯早灭了，小梅却还坐在床边，手里的上下翻飞。
It was eleven at night, and the factory lights had long gone out, yet Xiao Mei was still sitting at the edge of her bed, the crochet hook in her hand darting up and down.
Narrator
她揉了揉发酸的肩膀，把刚钩好的一朵小花放在台灯下，左看右看。
She rubbed her aching shoulders, set the little flower she had just finished under the desk lamp, and turned it over, studying it from every angle.
Roommate
都几点了你还不睡？白天上一天班，晚上又熬，身体哪受得了啊。
It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet? You work all day and then stay up all night too. How is your body supposed to take it?
Xiao Mei
再钩两个就睡。这个月再攒一点，老家屋顶漏雨的事儿就能办了。
Just two more and I'll sleep. If I save a little more this month, I'll be able to fix the leaky roof back home.
Roommate
光靠工资可不行。要不你把这些挂网上卖卖看？我瞧着比店里卖的还精致呢。
You can't get by on wages alone. Why don't you list these online and see if they sell? I think they're even more exquisite than the ones in the shops.
The First Order
Narrator
第一张订单进来的那天，小梅盯着手机看了半天，确认不是看错了，才小声笑出来。
The day the first order came in, Xiao Mei stared at her phone for a long while, and only after making sure she hadn't misread it did she let out a quiet laugh.
Narrator
她把每一根线头都收得干干净净，又在包裹里塞了一张手写的小纸条。
She tucked away every loose thread until it was perfectly neat, then slipped a small handwritten note into the package.
Customer
收到啦，比照片还好看！特别匀，一看就是用心做的，我回头给你介绍朋友。
Got it, and it's even prettier than the photos! The stitches are so even, you can tell it was made with care. I'll recommend you to my friends.
Xiao Mei
线我都挑软的、不的，贵是贵了点，可戴在身上不刺挠，洗了也不变样。
I only pick yarn that's soft and won't fade. It costs a bit more, true, but it doesn't itch when you wear it, and it keeps its shape even after washing.
Narrator
越来越多，小梅的账本上，数字第一次往上爬了。
Repeat customers grew more and more numerous, and in Xiao Mei's ledger, the numbers crept upward for the first time.
The Tempting Offer
The Trader
你这手艺，卖那点钱太亏了。我有路子，材料能便宜一半，你一压，挣的可就了。
With skills like yours, selling for that little is a real loss. I've got connections, the materials can be half the price. Cut your costs and your profits will double.
Xiao Mei
便宜一半的线？我上手摸过那种，发硬，还带一股怪味，戴久了准。
Yarn at half the price? I've handled that kind myself. It's stiff and carries a strange smell. Wear it long enough and you're bound to break out in a rash.
The Trader
隔着屏幕谁摸得出来？买家又看不见，赚到钱才是真的，名声那东西能当饭吃？
Who can feel it through a screen? The buyers can't see anything. Making money is what's real. Can a reputation put food on the table?
Narrator
那天夜里，小梅把那朵换了便宜线试钩的花，和原来的摆在一起，翻来覆去看了很久。
That night, Xiao Mei placed the flower she had test-crocheted with the cheap yarn beside the original one, turning them over again and again and gazing at them for a long time.
Xiao Mei
我妈要是收到这种，会戴吗？我自己都不想戴的东西，凭什么寄给信我的人。
If my mom received something like this, would she even wear it? Why would I send something I wouldn't wear myself to people who trust me?
A Small Class
Narrator
她了那笔生意，照旧一根线一根线地挑。半年后，小店的排起了长队。
She turned down that deal and went on picking her yarn one strand at a time, just as before. Half a year later, the repeat customers of her little shop were lining up in a long queue.
Narrator
订单多到一个人忙不过来，小梅在老家村里租了间空屋，挂了块牌子：免费学钩织。
There were so many orders that she couldn't keep up on her own, so Xiao Mei rented an empty house in her home village and hung up a sign: Free Crochet Lessons.
Neighbor
我这把年纪，手脚都笨了，还学得会吗？别耽误你做正经买卖。
At my age, my hands and feet have grown clumsy. Can I really still learn this? Don't let me hold up your proper business.
Xiao Mei
婶儿，您把花钩好，我按件收，多少都收。在家带着娃就能挣钱，不比啥都强？
Auntie, you just crochet the flowers well, and I'll buy them by the piece, however many you make. You can earn money while watching the kids at home. Isn't that better than anything?
Narrator
灯一盏盏亮到深夜，的声音从这家传到那家，像小梅当年那间小屋一样。
Lamps burned one by one deep into the night, and the sound of crochet hooks passed from house to house, just like in that little room of Xiao Mei's all those years ago.