Summary

As Gervaise and Coupeau move into the new shop, things are looking up for the family, despite Coupeau’s increasing struggle with alcohol. The couple begins by redecorating the entire shop, which after attempting to get the landlord to cover, the couple agrees to pay for half the new wallpaper. Although the project was intended to take less than five days, it ends up taking three weeks, and cost them the entire loan of 500 francs given to them by the Goujets.

The shop, decorated quite nicely now, had the whole attention of the neighborhood, most of whom like Gervaise. However, there are also some harsh rumors circulating, such as that Gervaise had slept with Goujet in order to obtain the loan, but she doesn’t let these rumors slow her progress. She hires a staff, and begins her laundry business, which goes quite well...