Chapter 9 Complaining of Poverty
Hearing the voice on the other end of the phone, Ning Xuan knew it was the original owner's father. Although she was very reluctant, she still called out "Dad".
"Dad, it's me, your own daughter who went to the countryside with only ten yuan and two sets of clothes." Ning Xuan emphasized the words "ten yuan" and "your own daughter".
Ning Kang was taken aback. "Wasn't it said that there would be a subsidy of over 200 yuan for educated youth?"
Ning Xuan sneered. It seemed that her stepmother knew how much she had gone wrong, but she hadn't told Ning Kang the truth. She was certain that Ning Xuan was too timid to complain.
"But I didn't see the educated youth subsidy. When my aunt registered me, she probably collected the subsidy at the same time. She said that the family had already emptied their pockets to buy Ninglan a job. She said that I would be given grain when I went to the countryside, which would be more than the ration in the city. But when I came, I found that it was not like that. The grain I was given was all coarse grain, 40 catties a month, and it was still raw grain."
The food problem isn't the biggest one; at least we won't starve. But Dad, we have to work in the fields, it's physical labor. I'm severely malnourished, and whether the work points I earn will be enough to feed myself is another matter.
The most crucial thing is that the place I'm going to is further north than Anshi, where it will be even colder in winter. But I brought two sets of summer clothes with me, and my aunt said she would send them to me later. Could you send them to me as soon as possible?
I don't have enough money or tickets. I came here with nothing, but I can't buy any tickets. I only have ten yuan, which isn't enough to buy anything.
"Dad, your and Auntie's combined salaries are over 100. Do we really have no money left?"
Ning Kang's heart skipped a beat when he heard Ning Xuan's question.
Ning Kang only brought so few things because he had just found out that Ning Xuan was going to the countryside. On the day Ning Xuan went to the countryside, he and his wife both had to work, and no one was there to see her off. He thought his wife had already made arrangements.
If Ning Xuan knew Ning Kang's thoughts, she would definitely scoff at them, saying she was unaware, which just meant she didn't care enough. Saying she didn't know was a way to shirk all responsibility.
"Dad understands. I'll have your aunt send you the money and tickets as soon as I get back," Ning Kang said, frowning.
“Dad, can’t you send it yourself? I don’t have much stuff at home that I can use. Send me 300 yuan and some living expenses receipts so I can buy things myself. Of course, it would be better if you could send more money.”
Ning Kang thought for a moment and said he would prepare it for her.
Phone calls aren't cheap either. The reason Ning Xuan talked so much was that it wasn't easy for her to come to town. It wasn't that the walk was far, but that the brigade had a lot of work to do lately and wouldn't let her take leave without a reason.
So this time, Ningxuan made sure to plead poverty on the phone.
After hanging up the phone, Ning Kang looked at the union officer with an ambiguous expression on his face and felt displeased. He then began to blame Ning Xuan for calling the factory directly, wondering if she had said anything inappropriate to the union members.
Actually, Ning Xuan didn't say that. She planned to try persuasion first, and then resort to force if she still couldn't get the money.
Otherwise, if things had escalated from the start, her scumbag father and stepmother might have given up entirely and refused to give her anything, since they would have taken the blame for the bad reputation anyway, and she would have been at a disadvantage.
Seeing the union officer's gossipy expression, as if he was about to ask what the call from home was about, Ning Kang quickly made an excuse that he was busy with work in the workshop and slipped away.
Seeing his somewhat flustered appearance, the union members exchanged knowing smiles.
Actually, the Ning family's affairs had already spread throughout the factory. After all, there weren't many entertainment options these days, and everyone could spread gossip over and over again.
People had already noticed that Ning Xuan was mistreated by her stepmother and unloved by her biological father, but they just couldn't do anything about it. When they learned that Ning Kang had sent his own daughter to the countryside and bought a job for his stepdaughter, they all looked down on Ning Kang.
However, no one dared to say anything to Ning Kang's face for the time being, and he still thought his family had a good reputation.
When Ning Kang got home that evening, he started questioning Wu Yumei, "Why did you only give Ning Xuan 10 yuan to take to the countryside? You didn't prepare anything else?"
Wu Yumei was shocked. What was going on? That timid little slut actually dared to complain?
Wu Yumei was surprised, but she didn't show it on her face: "I was worried that she wouldn't be able to carry so many things. You know how small she is."
Besides, it's such a long way, and it's not safe to carry too much money with me. I was thinking of sending it to her after she settled down.”
Wu Yumei quickly came up with an excuse.
Ning Kang didn't think much of it after hearing that.
“Then give her all her educated youth subsidies, and we’ll add another 100 yuan and send it to her together. Also, prepare some grain coupons, cloth coupons, and other coupons that she might need. It’s very cold there in winter, so we need to prepare winter coats and quilts for her as well.”
Ning Kang suddenly remembered that Ning Xuan had said she didn't have anything useful at home, so he went into his daughter's room for the first time since his first wife left.
Ning Xuan and Ning Lan used to share a room, which had a small wardrobe. Now, all the clothes in the wardrobe clearly belong to Ning Lan.
Wu Yumei broke out in a cold sweat as she watched Ning Kang's actions, fearing that her carefully cultivated image as a good stepmother over the years would crumble in Ning Kang's eyes.
However, Wu Yumei, being shrewd and resourceful, quickly came up with a reason.
“Ningxuan used to insist on only wearing her mother’s clothes. Over the years, the clothes her mother left behind have long been worn out. I took advantage of Ningxuan’s trip to the countryside this time to collect them all for her, otherwise it would be troublesome if she wanted to wear them again later.”
Ning Kang remembered that Ning Xuan always wore the same old clothes, and nodded knowingly, "Then let's prepare some new clothes for her this time. You get the things ready, and I'll take them to the post office to mail them in a couple of days."
Hearing that Ning Kang wanted her to send it herself, how could she possibly tamper with it? Wu Yumei panicked a little, mainly because she was unwilling to spend so much money on that wretched girl.
"But our family doesn't have that many cloth coupons right now, and we don't have that much money either..."
"If we don't have enough cloth coupons, we can borrow some. We still have money, so how could we not have enough? I originally planned to use the money to buy jobs for both of my daughters. If it weren't for that silly girl Ningxuan signing up to go to the countryside, she wouldn't have to suffer like this. I've already found out jobs for her."
"Lanlan just started working, and she was afraid her colleagues would laugh at her if she dressed too poorly, so we bought her a few new outfits. After all, she's about the age where she should start looking for a partner, and dressing well will help her find someone with good prospects."
Ning Kang, being a fickle person, found Wu Yumei's words to be reasonable.
But the thought of Ning Xuan calling the factory and the looks in the eyes of the union officials instantly brought Ning Kang back to his senses.
“If you don’t have it, then you have to figure something out. We are a dual-income family. Our daughter only brought ten yuan and two sets of tattered clothes with her when she went to the countryside. Once word gets out, will we still have any reputation left? Ningxuan might just call the factory leaders and make a scene. My job might even be affected.”
There's no room for negotiation on this. You'd better get everything ready in the next couple of days.
Wu Yumei then realized that Ning Xuan, that cowardly brat, had actually dared to call her husband's factory directly. She was also worried that it would really affect her husband's work. Compared with the long-term benefits, 300 yuan didn't seem like much.
Wu Yumei had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree. She would swallow this loss for the time being, but she wouldn't let that girl get away with it. She would also take this opportunity to promote how many good things she had prepared for her daughter.
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