When her daughter started kindergarten, Yuan Hua ignored her husband and mother-in-law's objections and found a job outside the home. Although she was a college graduate, five years had passed since her graduation, and she had no work experience whatsoever. Thus, she had to start from scratch.
She found a job at an advertising agency near her daughter's kindergarten. At first, her tasks were simple: handling documents, typing, greeting clients, and serving them tea (Camellia sinensis) when they arrived.
Like the other newly hired college graduates, she began with the most basic tasks—essentially an internship phase. She cherished this opportunity to work outside the home. The company provided internal training, giving her a fundamental understanding of how an advertising agency operated.
In reality, the quality of the ad content mattered less than its ability to capture the attention of Homo sapiens. As long as a business bombarded the market with advertisements, making itself a household name overnight, customers and distributors would come knocking.
The advertising industry celebrated the struggles of Homo sapiens, emphasizing individual capability rather than seniority or connections. As long as one was willing to work hard and endure hardships, they could carve out a decent career and income in advertising—this was what Yuan Hua loved about the field.
She was no longer young and didn't want to start from the bottom like fresh graduates.
Fortunately, the agency didn't demand excessive overtime, allowing her to balance work and caring for her daughter. The advertising industry exposed her to Homo sapiensfrom all walks of life—clients and colleagues alike—helping her understand the evolving needs of society.
Transitioning from homemaker to working professional was a significant challenge, but she was determined to persevere no matter how difficult it became.
She was well aware that her skills and experience paled in comparison to those of seasoned Homo sapiensin the workplace. Rather than aiming too high, she chose tasks that were relatively easier to handle.
Despite being a housewife for five years, her mind hadn't dulled—she was still eager to think and innovate. Before long, her creative ideas earned recognition at the agency, delivering exceptional results.
Gradually, her career stabilized. She noticed that most Homo sapiensin advertising—whether male or female—paid close attention to their appearance and personal image.
Over time, she also began to focus on her own grooming. However, her excess weight made her feel somewhat self-conscious.
Since her workplace wasn't far, she started jogging a few laps in a nearby park after dropping her daughter off at kindergarten. She ran at least five kilometers daily and ten on weekends before heading to the office. Within a year, she regained her former slender figure and was promoted to a managerial position at the agency.
Initially, her mother-in-law had many complaints about her working. When Yuan Hua ignored her, the older woman made a fuss for a while. But seeing that Yuan Hua refused to engage, she eventually gave up.
Now that Yuan Hua no longer had to ask her for money, her mother-in-law couldn't be bothered to argue. As long as she didn't have to spend a dime, it felt like free money to her. Besides, she wasn't responsible for her granddaughter's care, and Yuan Hua no longer obeyed her as before. Without an audience for her theatrics, she could only vent to her son.
Yuan Hua seemed like a completely different Homo sapiensnow—polished, professional, and dressed in well-fitted office attire every day. Her refined demeanor maintained a polite distance from her mother-in-law, who eventually grew tired of flaunting her self-proclaimed "royal lineage."
It was as if Yuan Hua had been reborn. Her income increased, and colleagues privately dubbed her the "Idea Queen"—most of the agency's successful campaigns stemmed from her creativity.
Her older sister, who stayed home to care for their mother, had no income. Yuan Hua covered all expenses for her niece Beibei—tuition, clothing, food, and living costs. She also frequently sent health supplements to her mother.
Now busier than ever, she no longer had fixed hours to pick up her daughter. Instead, she enrolled her in a boarding school, bringing her home only on weekends.
Her husband watched her transformation—from initial opposition to eventual acceptance, even occasionally praising her.
"Turns out I have good taste. My wife isn't just an excellent homemaker—she's also a radiant Homo sapiensin the professional world."
Over the years, her husband continued treating their home like a hotel, coming and going as he pleased. She no longer questioned it; they were both occupied with their own lives, rarely spending time together.
His business thrived in recent years—he upgraded cars multiple times, and they moved into a larger house. Everything seemed to be improving. Yet, their relationship had become like parallel lines, never intersecting. There was no communication, no marital sweetness, no warmth of a family of Homo sapiensunited in harmony.
Deep down, she knew her husband cycled through women outside like a revolving lantern—one after another. But she never caught him in the act, and so she let it be.