In 1992, the once highly profitable cotton mill began to decline and officially declared bankruptcy.
Employees like Lin Jianshe, who had worked at the cotton mill for eight years and were still far from retirement, chose to withdraw their work injury insurance and buy out their years of service.
"Six hundred yuan a year, that seniority is fucking worthless." Lin Jianshe, a man in his thirties with a slightly weathered face, said while smoking.
Tian Mengya glanced at the 9,800 yuan on the table. "What are we going to do now?"
Lin Jianshe frowned and said, "All the state-owned factories here have closed down, and it's difficult to find another job."
Tian Mengya thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you go find your mother? She has more than 20 dumpling shops and two dumpling factories. She is also a well-known female entrepreneur in Beijing. If you go to her, she might be able to arrange a position for you in the factory."
Lin Jianshe shook his head. "Have I not tried to see her all these years? When have I ever seen her? She won't care about me, she won't."
“Then go find your sister,” Tian Mengya said. “Isn’t she a chemist now? Many pharmaceutical companies are vying for the new drugs she develops. I even saw her on TV last time. Go find her, and she can arrange a job for you in those pharmaceutical companies with just one word.”
Lin Jianshe said irritably, "I don't even know where she is! How am I supposed to find her? Just stop thinking about them. They're not from my world anymore, and they won't care about their down-on-their-luck son and second brother!"
"Look, I've been laid off, they'll just laugh at me and say I deserve it."
Tian Mengya also got angry, "This won't work, that won't work, what are we going to do in the future? We're about to start high school, and then college, we need money everywhere, we can't just sit around and do nothing."
Lin Jianshe frowned and said, "With such poor grades every day, what's the point of him going to high school or university? In my opinion, we should just let him graduate from junior high and go work in the south."
"Lin Tian has good grades, so let him study hard and go to university so he can become a scientist!"
This stepson used to be quite obedient and sensible, but the older he gets, the more outrageous he becomes. Not only does he secretly bully Lin Tian, but he also shows increasing disrespect to his stepson.
He didn't want to spend too much money on this child. As his heir, he had already done a great job raising him and providing him with an education.
Tian Mengya's expression changed drastically. "No, Tian Tian must go to high school and take the college entrance exam."
"Is his test score even good?" Lin Jianshe asked, slamming his hand on the table.
Tian Mengya said, "Tian Tian's grades aren't particularly good, but if he gets someone to tutor him, he'll definitely get into high school."
"Tutoring? Tutoring is free, isn't it?" Lin Jianshe frowned.
“Tian Mengya, Lin Tian is our son. You should focus all your attention on our son! Are you so fond of Tian Tian because you prefer your ex-husband?” Lin Jianshe asked.
Tian Mengya: "...What nonsense are you talking about? I've forgotten what Tian Tian's father looks like!"
Lin Jianshe sneered, "I think it's inevitable."
“Construction,” Tian Mengya softened her tone, “Children need to study more to have a bright future. Look at your younger sister, Li Xiao, she studied a lot and is so successful now. I want Tiantian to study more so that he will be successful and we won’t have to worry about him so much in the future.”
"When you married me, you said you would treat Tiantian like your own son. If you're going to treat him like your own son, you should also think about the child's future."
Even though Lin Tian is almost eight years old, after so many years of marriage, Lin Jianshe still hasn't handed over the family money to her to manage. The family's financial power is still in Lin Jianshe's hands.
Lin Jianshe was silent for a moment, then lit another cigarette and took a few puffs before saying, "If he does well on the exam, I will definitely let him study. If he doesn't, then it's his own fault for not working hard enough. He should just go and work honestly."
Tian Mengya looked at him and said, "I will definitely persuade Tiantian to work hard."
Tian Tian leaned against the wall outside, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
Lin Jianshe, who was laid off, searched for a long time but couldn't find a job. Finally, after discussing it with Tian Mengya, they decided to use some of their money to start a business. They rented a shop, bought several thousand yuan worth of goods from a shoe factory, and opened a shoe store.
Because of the good location, the shoe store is doing quite well since it just opened, and the couple stays in the store to look after it.
But later on, things didn't go so well, and Tian Mengya was left to guard the shop alone, while Lin Jianshe spent his days drinking tea and playing cards with others.
The shoe store's business wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. It didn't make a lot of money, but it was enough to support a family.
Because Lin Jianshe didn't work at the store, Tian Mengya also learned to secretly hide money, deducting a portion of the store's earnings and saving it for herself.
In 1994, Tian Tian faced the high school entrance exam. The day after the exam ended, he disappeared, taking more than 2,000 yuan in cash from his family.
Lin Jianshe was so angry that he wanted to call the police, but Tian Mengya stopped him while crying.
Lin Jianshe scolded Tian Tian and Tian Mengya, then felt relieved that he had deposited all the family's money in the bank. The stolen two thousand yuan in cash was only meant for purchasing goods.
Once Tian Tian left, she never came back.
After her son disappeared without a trace, Tian Mengya lost all interest in running the shop, and business deteriorated until it closed down in less than two years.
Lin Jianshe, who hadn't worked a shift in five years, had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask Song Jiarong for a job. Song Jiarong, who was already the factory manager at the time, arranged for him to work as a security guard in the factory.
Lin Jianshe supported his family of three by working as a security guard at the factory and also sent Lin Tian to university.
Lin Jianshe regards Lin Tian as his pride and only hopes that he will find a good job after graduating from university so that he can enjoy a comfortable life.
During his university years, Lin Tian learned a secret: he was neither his mother's biological son nor his father's biological son.
He felt that he wasn't his mother's biological son, and his mother definitely knew that, and even his brother knew that. He had heard his brother say when he was little that he should have a younger sister.
But his father definitely doesn't know that he's not his biological son.
There's only one truth: his mother had a daughter and then switched them.
On the day he returned home after graduating from university, his mother and he celebrated with him, and he chose to confront her.
"Mom, whose child am I?"
While eating, Tian Mengya suddenly dropped her chopsticks and looked up at Lin Tian with a look of horror.
Lin Jianshe patted his son on the shoulder and said, "Silly son, of course you are my and your mother's child. You are your father's pride."
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