"Wei Deng, shall we go out to eat?"
“I’m not going,” Wei Deng said irritably.
"Why?" My roommate was extremely puzzled. "What's wrong with you lately? I've invited you out several times, but you haven't gone out."
Hearing this, Wei Deng felt even more suffocated. Didn't he want to go out? But a week had passed, and he had called his mother several times, but she kept refusing to give him living expenses, citing that she hadn't found a suitable job and didn't have much money.
He was very frugal with the 500 yuan he had last time, so now he only has a few dozen yuan left. What can he afford to eat out? What if everyone starts teasing him and makes him treat them?
"Are you broke? Oh, even our young master has times when he's broke?" my roommate teased. "I'm treating this time, so just do me a favor."
However, the more provocative he was, the less Weiden wanted to go: "Who says I don't have money? Can't I just lose weight?"
Wei Deng has good facial features and is tall enough, but he is a bit chubby. He wasn't like this when he first started school, but in the past few months, he has had more pocket money and has been drinking, eating meat, and staying up late with his classmates every day, so he has gained a lot of weight without realizing it.
"What, you haven't given up on Mo Ru yet! Want to lose weight before pursuing her?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Deng instantly felt he had found a good excuse for himself, and losing weight wouldn't be a problem as long as he could win her over.
"Well, it's not just about pursuing her. I went to see my mom last time, didn't I? That was at my mom's request. She said if I don't lose weight, she'll control my allowance. So I won't go drinking. I'll go for a run on the track later."
"Okay, we'll call you again once you've lost weight."
His roommates didn't press the matter further, but they glanced suspiciously at Wei Deng's back. In fact, they had long suspected that Wei Deng's family background might not be as good as he appeared. However, this didn't affect them much; it was just a pity that there might be one less person to pay the bill in the future.
Tsk, why bother? Most of the students come from ordinary families, so they don't pretend like Wei Deng. People respect those who are truly honest and have a clear conscience. The more someone pretends, the more they like to tease them.
After everyone left the dormitory, Wei Deng kicked the trash can in frustration, then called Song Xia again. Song Xia waited a long time before answering, her voice filled with joy: "Son, miss Mom? If you miss Mom, come over. Mom checked, there's a direct bus from your school, it only costs two yuan, and you college students can get a discount. Come over and Mom will cook you something delicious."
"What delicious food should I make? I'm almost out of food."
“How could you not have enough to eat? Didn’t I just give you five hundred? I’m here, and I haven’t even used up my one hundred yuan living allowance yet. I didn’t expect that meat and vegetables in the provincial capital are not more expensive than in our hometown county. Some are even much cheaper. The cooked food in the market can be eaten for two meals for just a few yuan. Son, how about I buy you some cooked food? You can just get food at school.”
Hearing these seemingly caring words, Wei Deng felt increasingly agitated: "Why are you buying things instead of finding a job? Can the prices at school be the same as outside? Anyway, I'm already broke. If you don't earn some money for me, I'll starve to death. Do you know how embarrassed I was when my roommate asked me to go out to eat with him?"
Song Xia sighed as she listened: "How come your sister only needed a few hundred yuan a month back then? How much have you spent this month?"
"Mom, do you still want me to be filial to you in the future? My sister is doing student work. If I also do student work, will I still need to study? If I don't study, how will I find a good job after graduation? Am I going to work in a factory like my sister?"
"That's true. You're not as hardworking as your sister, so I'm not sure if I can rely on you in the future."
Wei Deng choked, then retorted forcefully, "If you don't rely on me, who else can you rely on? You only have me as your son. Which family doesn't have a son to carry on the family line and take care of you in your old age? Mom, you're still talking. If I don't even have a little bit of living expenses, how am I supposed to find you a daughter-in-law? If you're not proactive in your freshman year, all the good girls will be snatched up by others."
“A girl who gets chased away over a little living expenses isn’t a good girl. Son, let me tell you, when you’re looking for a wife, you have to find one who loves you wholeheartedly, someone who will do whatever you say, and who will be filial to me. If you cling to her with money and try to win her over, do you think you can treat her like a queen? Do we have the means to support that? When your sister gets married and I’m too old to move, will she even care about your meager salary? Won’t she just abandon the kids and run away?”
"Mom, what discouraging things are you saying! Does my sister think she'll abandon you and me after she gets married?"
Song Xia took a deep breath. This ungrateful son of hers really spoke with such a self-righteous tone!
“They definitely have to come back to visit during holidays, but a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; how can we let her stay at her parents’ home all year round?”
Wei Deng felt extremely annoyed. Why was his mother acting like she couldn't understand him lately?
"Mom, you and Dad worked so hard to raise my sister to go to university. It's only been a few years from graduation to marriage. Can she earn back all the money you and Dad spent raising her all those years?"
"So what if we can't make it back? That's why having a daughter is a money-loser. You and your wife must have a son in the future. Only having a son can give us hope. Wei Deng, once you start working, Mom won't have to work so hard looking for a job like she does now."
Upon hearing this, Wei Deng was startled: "Mom, are you planning to stop working in a few years?"
"Of course!" Song Xia said matter-of-factly. "Mom spent far more money raising you than she did raising your sister. When you find a job, your salary will definitely be several times higher than your sister's. With such a high salary, why would Mom still work? Of course, I'm just waiting to enjoy your blessings!"
Wei Deng was impatient. He knew his own limitations; he might not even earn as much as his sister after graduation! His mother wanted him to support her in her old age, but he knew he might not even be able to support himself.
"Whose child just graduated and the adults are already quitting their jobs? Mom..."
“That’s because other people’s kids aren’t capable, unlike my son who is so outstanding.” Song Xia interrupted him with a proud tone, “Son, Mom believes in you. After you graduate, Mom won’t ask for much living expenses, three or four thousand a month will be enough. Look, Mom is already giving you more than four thousand a month!”
Wei Deng now deeply regrets saying things like he couldn't compare to others. Now his mother believes him, and what if she really doesn't work in the future? Where will he get his subsidies?
Earning three or four thousand a month? You're dreaming! What kind of parent would sponge off their child like this? Instead of saving him some money, they actually want to exploit him?
Anyway, he has no money, so even if we force him to give it to us later, we won't get it. We'll just appease him for now.
"Mom, we can talk about the future later. Do you think I'll let you go hungry? Just transfer me some living expenses first."
Song Xia said hesitantly, "But Mom really doesn't have much money. Can I give you two hundred? Be careful with your money. Mom hasn't found a job yet. Even if I start working today, I won't get paid for another month."
Weiden was plunged into darkness. A month from now? How was he going to survive the next month?
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