After Ye Li left, Zhuang Shihong sent Ye Mei to cook. She fried some shredded cabbage, made four bowls of porridge, and heated up some cold steamed buns.
Ye Chunwang ate two bites and couldn't eat any more. He spat out, "It's the same thing every day. My face is already pale! There's not even any oil in the food!"
Zhuang Shihong glanced at him and said, "Be patient for two days. Once Ye Li's marriage is finalized, you will have meat to eat."
"When will it be finalized?"
Zhuang Shihong put down his chopsticks and said with a smile: "This time next week, the Jiang family will come with the betrothal gift!"
"The Jiang family has agreed to the bride price? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Ye Chunwang's eyes widened when he heard that there was a bride price.
"Yeah!" Zhuang Shihong laughed, "What else can you do if you don't agree? That unjust guy is going to bleed a lot this time!"
Fortunately, she had a good idea. She thought that Ye Li was good-looking, and even if she couldn't get married, she could find a rich man to marry her off in the future.
That's why she asked for such a high bride price.
...
...
"That's great! It's really great!" Ye Chunwang was overjoyed. "Let Ye Li get married quickly. After giving her money, I will find a job and get married."
Ye Mei took the opportunity to say, "She's married now, so let me take over her job."
"Let's talk later."
Ye Chunwang picked up the chopsticks again, took two bites of food, and rubbed his aching cheeks: "I don't want to eat anymore. My face hurts... It hurts every time I chew."
Zhuang Shihong looked at him distressedly: "You are a grown man, but you can't even beat your sister."
Ye Chunwang was very puzzled: "Why did Ye Li suddenly become so powerful? She was not so powerful before... and she was very abnormal today. She even dared to talk back to you... Is she possessed by a demon?"
Zhuang Shihong was also very puzzled: "It's indeed not right... I don't know what's wrong with this girl. She doesn't want a betrothal gift."
Ye Jinshan said: "She has her own plans! She doesn't want a dowry when she marries Jiang Xun. Won't all the money be hers in the future?"
"You wish." Zhuang Shihong snorted, "The Jiang family has three sons! How can it be her turn to spend that money?"
"It would be better to give it to us." Ye Chunwang said.
"Who said it wasn't?" Ye Mei also nodded in agreement.
"Go away, this money has nothing to do with you." Ye Chunwang shouted, "This is for me to marry a wife."
Zhuang Shihong smiled: "Yes, yes, they are all prepared for you."
Just after lunch, Zhuang Shihong was about to lie down for a nap when he heard Second Aunt and Aunt Li talking in the yard.
"Auntie Li, where are you going in such a hurry to go in the middle of the day?"
"Eggs just arrived at the grocery store, and now everyone is lining up to grab them! Let me get a few tickets and go buy some eggs. I'll also buy two taels of meat so I can make dumplings tonight."
When Ye Chunwang heard that people wanted to eat meat dumplings, he smacked his lips and said, "Mom, we haven't eaten meat for half a year. Let's have a meal today."
"Where would I get that kind of spare money? I have to save it for you to find a job and a wife..." Zhuang Shihong was reluctant to give it to you.
"Mom, isn't today the day to pay salaries? Ye Li is paying salaries today!" Ye Mei suddenly remembered.
Zhuang Shihong slapped his head and said, "Yes, look at my head! Ye Mei, you wash the dishes, I'll go and get in line! Let's get some meat today to improve our lives."
Ye Jinshan originally asked for leave to accompany his daughter Ye Mei to look for a job. When he heard that the salary would be paid today, he said, "I'll go back to the factory and pay the salary first."
…
Weaving factory.
There was a long line outside the accounting department, and everyone who received their salary had a happy face.
It was Ye Li's turn. The cashier swished the beads on his abacus for a while, pulled out a wad of money from the drawer, spat on his hands, and counted them: "Here, Ye Li, twenty-six dollars and fifty cents! Count them, and sign if they are right."
After returning to the office, Ye Li saw that no one was around, so he put the change into his pocket, added the remaining twenty yuan into the notebook, and locked it in the drawer.
She worked as an officer in the propaganda department of a weaving factory and was lucky to have her own desk where she could hide some things.
You can’t take this money home, otherwise, you won’t have a penny left.
After work, Ye Li returned to the compound. It was bustling inside, with everyone discussing the issue of salary.
In that era, wages were transparent and people received wages according to their level of work. It was not like later, when wages became a part of privacy.
"Ye Li is back! You got your salary today, but why didn't you buy some good things to improve your life?" The nosy Second Aunt talked to Ye Li while picking leeks.
Zhuang Shihong was chopping stuffing in the house. When she heard Ye Li coming back, she threw the kitchen knife on the chopping board, wiped her hands with her apron and came out: "Did you get paid?"
"Yes, it's done." Ye Li agreed and turned on the faucet in the yard to wash his hands.
"Don't let it leak. Hand it over." Zhuang Shihong stretched out his hand to her.
Ye Li shook the water off his hands and said, "I won't pay this month's salary."
Zhuang Shihong's face changed: "What? Say it to me again!"
Ye Li repeated, "I said I won't pay this month's salary. In the past few years of working, I have handed in my salary every month and never kept a penny for myself! Seeing that the weather is getting hot, I want to buy myself two decent clothes and a few pairs of shoes this year."
"Why are you dressing up so nicely?" Zhuang Shihong said with a straight face, "You know the situation at home. If you don't pay, what will everyone eat? Stop talking nonsense and bring the money over!"
After saying that, she started to search Ye Li's pocket.
After searching for a long time, I didn't find a penny.
Zhuang Shihong jumped up angrily: "Where's the money?"
"I didn't take it back. Mom, don't worry about the money. Let's talk about it next month."
Zhuang Shihong was so angry that his face turned blue. He pointed at Ye Li's nose and cursed: "You have grown up and become powerful. You dare to go against me!"
It was time for people to get off work, and people in the compound came back one after another. When they saw Aunt Zhuang scolding Ye Li, some stopped to say a few words to her.
"Aunt Zhuang, Ye Li has had a hard time too, please at least leave some money for him."
"In the old society, there was Zhou Baopi, and now in the new society, there is Zhuang Baopi! Aunt Zhuang, it's almost the same..."
Seeing that everyone stopped to say something nice to Ye Li, she said gloomily, "Stop pretending to be a good person! It's none of your family's business anyway!"
"Thank you, uncles and aunties. I've gotten used to it after so many years." Ye Li smiled and said, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you all about my family's affairs."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Zhuang Shihong dragged Ye Li into the house. "Let me tell you something, the money must be returned tomorrow! If you don't pay, you won't be able to eat a single bite of food or drink a single sip of water at home."
Ye Li was eager to escape from this suffocating life as soon as possible.
"You don't have to eat tonight. You can eat when you pay." Zhuang Shihong said these two words harshly and turned to go to the kitchen to make dumplings.
"If you don't want to eat, then don't eat." Ye Li also turned around and left the house.
She came out of the compound and when she passed the public toilet, she lifted up the brick on the wall. Inside was the six yuan and fifty cents she had hidden before entering the yard.
If she is not allowed to eat at home, then she should go out to a restaurant.
In the past, she was reluctant to spend money on food and clothing, and all the money she had was given to support her parents' family.
This time she finally figured it out: life should be lived to the fullest!
Ye Li took the money and went to the state-owned restaurant, ordered a bowl of shredded pork noodles and a stir-fried dish, then sat down to eat.
The body is the capital of revolution. You have to keep your body in good condition so that you can stay healthy and live a long and healthy life.
Ye Li slurped the white noodles, feeling very satisfied.
At this time, Zhuang Shihong had also finished wrapping the dumplings. There was no vinegar at home, so she asked Ye Chunwang to come out and get some vinegar.
The grocery store at the entrance of the alley was closed, so he walked out onto the street. When he passed by the entrance of the state-owned restaurant, he happened to see Ye Li eating in the restaurant. His eyes widened.
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