Ever since Zhang Qiang's incident, Su Yuzhen has become a different person. She stays cooped up in her room all day and avoids him whenever she sees him.
Is the sun rising in the west today?
"Uh... okay."
Su Jianguo hesitantly took the palm-leaf fan and looked at his daughter suspiciously.
Su Yuzhen was wearing a light blue polyester shirt, her braids were neatly combed, and she had a rare smile on her face.
She diligently helped Su Jianguo remove the cloth bag from the handlebars and then went to the well to fetch a basin of cool water.
"Dad, wash your face and cool off."
Su Jianguo felt increasingly uneasy, but the fatigue from the long bike ride prevented him from thinking about it for the time being.
He washed his face and sat on a stone bench under the grape trellis to rest. Su Yuzhen then brought him a bowl of mung bean soup.
"Did you cook this?"
Su Jianguo took the bowl, even more puzzled.
"Yes, I cooked it especially because it's hot."
Su Yuzhen lowered her head and spoke softly.
"Father, please enjoy your meal. I'll go help Mother with the cooking."
Watching their daughter's retreating figure as she hurried towards the kitchen, Su Jianguo and Wang Xiulan exchanged a glance.
"What's wrong with this girl today?"
Su Jianguo asked in a low voice.
Wang Xiulan shook her head.
"I don't know either. She's been acting strange since this morning. She cleaned the house inside and out, and even offered to learn how to cook."
Su Jianguo frowned, feeling that something was amiss.
But he has more important things to do right now.
I need to go back to Sujiatun early tomorrow morning to check on the greenhouses.
He finished his mung bean soup in a few gulps, then got up to pack the things he needed to take tomorrow.
During dinner, Su Yuzhen's behavior became even more unusual.
She not only set the table herself, but also served rice to everyone, and even unusually, she picked up a scrambled egg for Su Jianguo.
"Dad, please eat more. You've lost weight lately from working so hard."
Su Jianguo stared at the eggs in the bowl, then looked at his daughter's ingratiating smile, and his doubts deepened.
This girl definitely wants something from me, and it's no small matter.
Sure enough, halfway through the meal, Su Yuzhen cleared her throat and spoke.
"Father, Mother, there's something I want to discuss with you."
"She's here!" Su Jianguo put down his chopsticks and looked at his daughter with Wang Xiulan.
"I...I want to go out and work."
Su Yuzhen lowered her head, her voice growing softer and softer.
"I'm all grown up now, and I'm not in school anymore. I can't just stay at home and do nothing all the time..."
Su Jianguo raised an eyebrow.
Since the Zhang Qiang incident, Su Yuzhen has dropped out of school and stayed at home, feeling depressed all the time.
It's a good thing that she suddenly wants to work, but considering her unusual behavior today...
What kind of job do you want to do?
Su Jianguo asked cautiously.
Su Yuzhen's eyes lit up, and she looked up.
"My classmate Wang Fang's older sister works at the supply and marketing cooperative. She said they're short of a temporary worker right now, and all it takes is... just three hundred yuan to 'grease the wheels' and I can get in."
Three hundred yuan!
Su Jianguo almost choked on his food.
My youngest daughter really dares to speak up.
His son no longer dares to ask him for money; he's asking his daughter instead.
"Three hundred yuan for a temporary worker?"
Su Jianguo's voice unconsciously rose.
Do you know how much you can buy with 300 yuan?
"father!"
Su Yuzhen explained eagerly.
"The supply and marketing cooperative is a secure job! Although it's a temporary position, if you do well, you can become a permanent employee. With monthly salary and benefits, you'll recoup your investment in a year!"
Wang Xiulan looked at her husband, then at her daughter, and hesitated.
"Honey, if it really works out, it won't be such a bad loss..."
"What do you know!"
Su Jianguo waved his hand.
What era are we living in? Is a supply and marketing cooperative still a secure job?
In his past life memories, the early 1980s was the period when the supply and marketing cooperative system began a major reform, and a large number of employees were laid off and reassigned.
At that time, not to mention temporary workers, even permanent employees will likely lose their jobs.
Spending 300 yuan to buy a soon-to-disappear "iron rice bowl" is like jumping into a fire pit.
"father!"
Su Yuzhen was so anxious that tears were about to fall.
Please help me! I can't just stay at home doing nothing!
Su Jianguo took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly.
“Yuzhen, it’s not that your father doesn’t want to help you. But working at the supply and marketing cooperative really has no future. How about this, you learn a trade? Tailoring, hairdressing, even just flipping a ladle will do, and you can open your own shop in the future…”
"No way!"
Su Yuzhen suddenly raised her voice.
“Those are all jobs that require serving others, dirty and tiring! I want a respectable job, sitting behind the counter, protected from the wind and rain…”
"Decent?"
Su Jianguo sneered.
"Once the supply and marketing cooperative goes bankrupt, let's see where you'll go with any dignity!"
"Master!"
Wang Xiulan quickly interrupted him.
"Don't scare the child."
Su Yuzhen had already started crying.
"Dad, you're just reluctant to spend money! I know you're rich now, and greenhouse vegetables will soon make you a fortune. What's three hundred yuan to you?"
Su Jianguo's temples throbbed with anger.
Why does he work so hard to earn money?
Isn't it all for the sake of giving my family a better life?
Now look what's happened! Not only does his daughter not understand, she's also eyeing the money he hasn't even received yet!
"I earned this money penny by penny, and I decide how to spend it!"
Su Jianguo slammed his fist on the table.
"No money, if you want a job, find one yourself!"
Su Yuzhen burst into tears, threw down her bowl and chopsticks, and ran back to her room.
Wang Xiulan wanted to chase after her, but Su Jianguo stopped her.
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