"Are you done talking?"
"Um."
When Zhou Chen came out of the office, he was slightly taken aback to see Xu Laoqi waiting for him, and then nodded.
"Go to the accountant's office quickly and collect your money for yesterday's groceries. Also, don't forget to ask the accountant to give you back the month and a half's salary that they've been withholding. If you don't go now, they'll be closing for the day."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen realized that his master had been waiting for him all along to remind him of this matter.
"Master, I'll go first, please wait for me a moment."
Zhou Chen glanced at the time, and without saying anything more, hurriedly ran to the other side.
At this moment, in the temporary office,
Sun Liancheng continued working for a while, then suddenly stopped writing.
He sat up straight, his brows slightly furrowed.
Zhou Chen's words echoed in his mind.
Is that land possibly to be requisitioned by the government?
Is this news really reliable?
Sun Liancheng fell into deep thought. In fact, he didn't care about Zhou Chen's reminder. Although he gave the canteen business to Zhou Chen, it was only because he saw his former self in Zhou Chen. The two had similar family backgrounds. As the eldest brother, he supported the whole family and dropped out of school to work.
Therefore, after learning that Zhou Chen had worked at his construction site for three years and was now returning to school to take over the cafeteria, they gave Zhou Chen this opportunity to earn some money.
That's all.
However, to everyone's surprise, Zhou Chen, a mere young man who was at most a slightly mature high school student, actually came to give him advice. It was laughable if word got out.
But for some reason, after Zhou Chen left, Sun Liancheng felt uneasy, as if a voice was telling him, what if this is true?
That would have a huge impact on him, and could even affect the course of his life for the rest of his days.
He didn't really agree with selling the land, but the leadership in his department almost unanimously supported selling it and putting the funds into the new project.
Now, all that's left is for him to make the final decision.
If he objects, he will not only face pressure, but also find it difficult to explain to his superiors.
"I must be overthinking it. There's no need to take what a young man who's only just entered the workforce can say seriously."
He shook his head.
Sun Liancheng didn't want to think about it anymore. Selling it now was in everyone's best interest, including his own.
Picking up his pen again, Sun Liancheng planned to approve various reports.
A few minutes later, he stopped again.
immediately,
I stood up and went to the county town construction map hanging on the wall.
He raised his hand and drew a line with a pen, placing the point of the land in the center. Staring at this line, Sun Liancheng's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
Could it be...?
——
“Master, here’s the money back. I’m a little better off now, and it’s more than enough for me.”
After receiving the back wages and yesterday's workers' food allowance, Zhou Chen took out a wad of cash and handed it to Xu Laoqi.
"Is it really enough?"
“Don’t be so polite with your master, kid. Your three siblings are in need of money right now. If you’re having trouble, don’t try to tough it out. Unlike you, I don’t have that much pressure. If you’re full, the whole family isn’t hungry.”
Xu Laoqi didn't accept it immediately, but said with a smile.
Zhou Chen knew that Xu Laoqi was all alone and treated his apprentice like his own child. But right now, he was not short of money. The construction site canteen brought in several hundred yuan every day, which was more than enough for him.
“Master, please take it. I really have enough. As for my three siblings, we have separated now and they can take care of themselves.”
To reassure Xu Laoqi that he would accept the money, Zhou Chen briefly explained the matter of dividing the family property.
"Separate the family?" Xu Laoqi was taken aback for a moment, then laughed loudly, "Separate the family is good. The three of them are all adults and should have separated the family long ago and supported themselves. You, as the eldest brother, stopped your studies for three years for them and worked yourself to death to support their schooling. But in those three years, I have never seen any of them come to the construction site to see you."
Master, if I may say something inappropriate, please don't be angry, but your three younger sisters and brothers are truly not as loyal and devoted as you are. You think of them so much, and I'm really afraid that in the end, you'll have raised a bunch of ungrateful wretches.
Zhou Chen inadvertently let slip during a meal that the three siblings were not related to him by blood. Therefore, whenever Xu Laoqi saw him working so hard, he couldn't help but feel sorry for him and worry that the siblings who were not related by blood were not worth so much effort.
As it turns out, Master Xu Laoqi's judgment was accurate. Even though he had hardly ever interacted with those three ungrateful wretches, he still correctly judged their character.
“Master, from the day I decided to go back to school to continue my studies, I wanted to live for myself.”
“They’ve grown up and should learn to take care of themselves instead of relying on me all the time.”
“I have no obligation to raise them indefinitely.”
Zhou Chen said in a deep voice.
Xu Laoqi smiled and nodded, "You did the right thing. Everyone only lives once. Sometimes you should think more about yourself instead of always sacrificing. Even if you do sacrifice, you should sacrifice for someone who is worthy of it."
Yes, we should dedicate ourselves to those who deserve it.
In his previous life, he was too foolish and realized things too late.
In this life, he will live up to his youth and live up to himself.
"By the way, Master, aren't you curious about what I talked about with President Sun?"
Zhou Chen took the initiative to change the subject, not wanting to talk about those three ungrateful siblings anymore.
Xu Laoqi shook his head. "You looked so serious earlier, rushing to find President Sun. You must have something important to say. I won't get involved or ask any questions. If I can help, you'll naturally tell me."
“Master, I really envy you. You live life with such clarity.”
Zhou Chen flattered him, but he said it from the bottom of his heart. Although his master, Xu Laoqi, had no achievements and little education and had been a migrant worker all his life, Xu Laoqi was one of the very few people he had ever met who was easygoing and had almost no worries. As long as he had a little wine to drink, he was content and was a very easy person to please.
"Stop flattering me. Alright, it's getting late, you should head back now."
Xu Laoqi stroked his chin, then waved his hand impatiently. After speaking, he lit a cigarette and walked towards the staff dormitory while smoking it.
It is both elegant and desolate.
Zhou Chen said goodbye to his master and returned to the construction site canteen with a smile.
When reviewing the knowledge points of each subject at home in the evening,
Zhou Chen suddenly received a call from an unknown number.
But after the call connected, he found the voice on the other end was familiar; it was Zhou Ling, the lovestruck third sister who made his heart burn with desire whenever she heard her voice.
I thought things would calm down for a day.
Zhou Ling started harassing him by calling him.
It's like a piece of chewing gum; you can't shake it off no matter how hard you try.
"Brother, I'm pregnant."
"You're going to be an uncle! You have a nephew now!"
On the other end of the phone, Zhou Ling spoke excitedly, as if nothing unpleasant had happened.
...
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