Dual-Income Workers in the 1980s

Everyone envied Lin Shuwan. She was a college graduate with a dual-income household, a handsome, capable husband who took care of the family and doted on her, and beauty, education, and talent of her own. Then one day, her husband told her, “The factory isn’t a sure thing anymore. I’m going to quit and start a business.” Overnight, an engineer became a self-employed businessman. When the wave of layoffs hit and his coworkers poured into the streets to set up stalls, her husband took her hand and said, “Don’t panic. Let’s go get our graduate degrees.” Years later, while her former coworkers were still haggling over a few cents on the price of vegetables, she was standing at an international forum, helping set the direction for her country’s industry standards. In the end, a true comeback was never about going with the flow. It was about using knowledge to become a bellwether of the times.

The early part follows the everyday life of a dual-income young couple. Later, they pursue graduate degrees and build their careers.