After Zhao Aiguo left, Li Qiuxiang stared at his retreating figure, shook her head, and said, "It's true what they say, comparisons are odious. If you were born into that family, even a pig could fly to the sky. Poor me, with my miserable fate! Mountains crumble, rivers dry up, and even my parents died young. I can only rely on myself!"
That evening, Zhao Aiguo announced at the dinner table, "Grandpa, I've made up my mind. I'm going to go to work!"
Mr. Zhao nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go find someone and see which unit."
Mother Zhao nodded and said, "We can just run around in Beijing, but we can't go outside!"
After taking a bite of his food, Zhao's father said, "You say that's driving a big truck, but it's different. Aiguo's health has never been good since he was a child; he's better suited to driving a small car!"
Seeing that they had finalized Zhao Aiguo's marriage, Wei Shuqing's dream of her son becoming a dragon was completely shattered, and she was extremely depressed.
Zhao Dahu saw everything but didn't say anything. After they finished eating and cleared the table, the couple went back to their room. Zhao Dahu closed the door and whispered, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
Wei Shuqing sat down and said in a low voice, "It's one thing for the child not to go to university, but not even to go to high school! What kind of situation is this?!"
Zhao Dahu chuckled and said, "Shuqing, are you still dreaming? What can our child do after graduating from high school? Tell me!"
Wei Shuqing opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything. Zhao Dahu hugged her and said, "Wife, look! Even if he goes to high school and can take the college entrance exam after graduating from high school, can our Aiguo get into college? You can take any junior high school question, any book, and ask him if he can answer it!"
Wei Shuqing shoved him angrily, her eyes reddening. Zhao Aiguo was allergic to studying, but that didn't dampen his enthusiasm for school. He was a good student, the kind who got better and better the more he studied! Thinking of this, she started crying again.
Zhao Dahu quickly hugged his wife and gently coaxed her, "Honey, don't cry. Listen to me. See if this is true: Dad hasn't retired yet and has some connections. Hurry up and arrange things for Aiguo. Otherwise, by the time he finishes high school, Dad will be retired. What will he be able to do then? My best skill is arranging for the cafeteria to cook. Can I do better than Dad?"
Wei Shuqing choked up as she said, "I just wanted him to go to school properly and get an education..."
Zhao Dahu quickly reassured him, "It's okay. If you don't agree to let Aiguo go to work, I'll talk to him. It's just letting Aiguo go to school, what's the big deal! As long as he can go, he can keep going. And if things don't work out, there's always the factory canteen. They cook there..."
"Shut up……"
"Alright! So, are we still going or not?" Zhao Dahu looked at Wei Shuqing, as if he would go immediately if she said no. This put Wei Shuqing in a dilemma; she wanted her child to go to school, but she also wanted him to have a good job.
"Let me think about it!" She thought about it for several days. Zhao Dahu didn't say anything. After so many years of marriage, based on his understanding of Wei Shuqing, he knew she couldn't come up with any conclusion. To be honest, she had only done two things right in her life: divorced Qi Zhijun and obeyed her husband after marriage.
That day, after everyone had returned from get off work, Zhao's mother set out the meal. As soon as they sat down, Zhao's father announced some good news: "Aiguo's job has been decided. He'll be driving for the leaders at the Party School. He'll go through the onboarding process next month, and then the company will send him to learn to drive. Aiguo, do your best!"
Zhao Aiguo gave a nonchalant "Oh." Zhao Dahu nodded repeatedly, "Grandpa, this was handled beautifully. This company is good. Is there a salary during driving lessons?"
Mr. Zhao nodded with a smile, “Yes, it’s paid training, 28.5 a month! It’s for regular employees, and the pay will be more after you start working. If you perform well, there will be opportunities for further learning and advancement. I’ve also inquired about it, and there’s usually not much to do. It’s just taking the leaders out to meetings or inspections, and sometimes taking them home if it’s too late. Oh, by the way, wife, take Aiguo to buy some clothes today, and buy two pairs of leather shoes to alternate wearing.”
Zhao's mother nodded happily and said with emotion, "Back then, he was such a tiny little thing, always following me around calling 'Grandma, Grandma,' and he couldn't even speak clearly. Now he's all grown up and has to go to work."
"Of course! Time waits for no one!"
Zhao Aiguo said with a smile, "No matter how old I am, I'm still your grandson, grandpa, grandma. You can't bother me like you bother my dad, right?"
Father Zhao scoffed, "How can it be compared?"
Zhao Dahu quickly surrendered, "Yes, yes, you two have a great relationship, you two have the best relationship. Hurry up and eat, and study driving properly."
On this day, Wang Hong received her first month's salary. She exchanged it with someone for a ticket and went to a store to buy Li Qiuxiang a pair of leather shoes. Her salary wasn't even enough, and she had to add the money she secretly made for shoe soles and the money she had left over from previous expenses to barely buy a pair.
She happily took the shoes and went home, just in time to run into Li Qiuxiang feeding her child. Not seeing Wang Dong, Wang Hong asked, "Sister-in-law, where's my brother?"
Li Qiuxiang said, "You've been working overtime. Why are you back so late? There's rice in the pot, help yourself."
Wang Hong came over and handed Li Qiuxiang 17 yuan, saying, "Sister-in-law, I got paid today."
Li Qiuxiang happily accepted it, saying, "Okay! Be more conscientious about paying next time! Let's eat!"
Wang Hong took out the shoe box again and handed it to Li Qiuxiang, who was stunned. "For me?"
"Yes, this is for you. See if you like it!" Wang Hong looked at Li Qiuxiang excitedly.
When Li Qiuxiang opened the box, she was stunned. "You're not going to live with us? This wasteful thing, why did you buy this?" She said this, but the surprise on her face was obvious!
Wang Hong was relieved to see that she really liked it and said, "It's good that you like it, sister-in-law."
Li Qiuxiang closed the shoebox, her face stern, and said, "Don't think that just because you bought me a pair of leather shoes you won't have to pay next month! That won't do!"
Wang Hong smiled and said, "Don't worry! It won't be less!" Then she scooped out a bowl of rice and ate it with celery stir-fried with shredded pork and green pepper stir-fried with tofu.
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