Chapter 004: Collecting Money

With the tender chicken and soft rice in his mind, Tang Yuan finally finished the dry and stiff rough rice in front of him.

After putting the rice tray back and going back to the kitchen, someone curiously started talking to her.

"Do you have enough money if you eat in the cafeteria every day?"

Tang Yuan glanced at the other party and thought that he should give Tang Jianguo some credit. He counted on his fingers: "No pot, no bowl, no shovel, no chopsticks..."

"Why is there nothing? How does your father do things?" the other party was angry.

"Well, there's nothing. I need to eat." In order to avoid her accent from showing, she tried to speak as little as possible. "I'll buy it when I get my salary."

"That's true. I thought you were extravagant with your money," the other party said angrily. "After work, I'll take you to talk to your father. When a family divides up, they have to divide up some pots and pans, but he doesn't care about anything. How many days can you eat in the cafeteria with this little salary?"

As he spoke, the man immediately stood up, shouted to the people around him, and told them about Tang Garden in a few words.

This caused anger again: "I was wondering why Xiaoyuan always eats in the cafeteria, and it turns out she doesn't even have a lunch box."

"Tang Jianguo is still a team leader. He still has the money to buy a lunch box. The little girl lives here alone. Do you really think that you can just leave your child to the factory and that's it?"

"This father is so selfish. I thought he was doing a good thing by finding a job and a house for his child. How can you raise a child like this?"

"That's right, there's no such way to raise a child!"

Amid the chatter of condemnation, everyone quickly decided to settle the score with Tang Jianguo.

Tang Yuan stopped adding fuel to the fire and thought that she should just act like a good and silly child.

As expected, everyone became angrier and angrier as they talked. As soon as they got off work, they dragged Tang Yuan out of the boiler room in a hurry and went to the workshop where Tang Jianguo was. It was also the time for people to get off work there. The two sides bumped into each other and started to blame each other with one thing after another.

There were too many words, and Tang Jianguo was completely confused. He had no idea what was going on, and the only three words in his mind were "you are selfish". Finally, he figured out the situation a little and immediately turned his gaze to Tang Yuan.

She lowered her head, looking like a punched bag, and suddenly became very angry.

When she was at home, she was also stupid, but very straightforward. She never considered the consequences of what she did, which made him and his wife very angry. But now that she had come out, she suddenly became speechless and wooden. He didn't believe that there was nothing wrong with her.

"Tang Yuan, tell me clearly, when did I stop caring about you? Didn't I give you money?"

As soon as he said this, the people who came out with Tang Jianguo all looked towards Tang Yuan.

Tang Yuan fumbled in her pocket and took out a stack of banknotes. There were a few cents, a few cents, a few dimes, and all together, less than a dollar. After taking out the money, she felt her pocket again, but found nothing.

The aunties who came with her pulled Tang Yuan's hand and looked at Tang Jianguo angrily: "You gave her money, but it's just a small amount. Where are the tickets? Grain tickets, industrial tickets, meat tickets, you didn't give her any tickets, what can you let her buy? Are you planning to starve her to death?"

"How selfish! I think that's what you're planning."

"What kind of person is this? He didn't even give me a ticket, even though he knew the kid was stupid."

"That's right. If it weren't for what I said today, this kid wouldn't really starve himself if he didn't know where to get the ticket, right?"

"It's possible. This child is very stupid."

…

Tang Yuan twitched her lips. If she hadn't been unable to speak the language well, the dispute with Tang Jianguo would never have reached its current state. What on earth was wrong with her to make these people think that they were stupid?

While she was thinking this, the people beside Tang Jianguo on the opposite side also came back to ask questions.

"You really didn't give me a ticket?"

"Just giving money but no ticket? We need tickets to eat in the factory cafeteria, and you don't even give me a ticket?"

"Old Tang, this is your fault. This kid just came to the factory and her first month's salary hasn't been paid yet. You haven't even given her a receipt. She must have been hungry these days."

"That's really inconsiderate."

"How should I know..." Tang Jianguo gritted his teeth and looked at Tang Yuan, "How have you been living these days?"

"The factory has advanced the salary vouchers," Tang Yuan said truthfully. She couldn't hide it, and she didn't intend to hide it. She stretched out her hands for the other party to see, "These."

Tang Jianguo: "No more tickets?"

"Well," Tang Yuan looked at him straight, stretched out his hands, "Help."

Given her situation, it was not difficult for her to get an advance on her wages and food coupons from the factory. At worst, she still had a batch of cucumbers that were almost grown, and she could find a way to sell them to exchange for some food.

But she was happy as long as Tang Jianguo was unhappy. With such a good opportunity now, she would definitely not let the aunts down. These things were originally owed to the original owner by her scumbag father, and she just wanted to get back things that originally belonged to the original owner.

Under the gazes of people in front, behind, and around him, Tang Jianguo's face turned red, and it was unclear whether he was embarrassed or annoyed. Finally, he shook his hands, said something, and turned away.

"Wait for me here!"

Tang Yuan tightly grasped the change in her hand. Just as she put down her hand, the aunt beside her pulled her back and said, "Let's wait here. Don't ask your father to bring the things to you."

"That's right. You can't be soft-hearted. If he doesn't care about you, you should grab things for yourself."

"You're not leaving too?"

Tang Yuan: “…No.”

She looked at the aunties in front of her with a bit of bewilderment, wondering when did she get the reputation of being soft-hearted?

Before she could figure out the reason, everyone started to brainwash her, telling her to pay more attention to herself and not always think about her father who didn't care about her, and that the more money she had, the better.

Ten minutes later, Tang Jianguo arrived. People around him looked at him strangely.

Tang Yuan looked around and thought that the aunties were really good at brainwashing. If this wave of brainwashing continued, Tang Jianguo's reputation in the factory would be greatly reduced.

Tang Jianguo was accompanied by his current wife, who looked very unhappy.

Walking closer, he forced a smile and said, "It's my fault. I didn't think it through. I didn't realize you didn't have any tickets. That day, Old Tang came back and said he gave you the money. I thought he must have given you the tickets, but he didn't. Come on, take these. We've almost used up all the tickets for this month. These are the only ones left. Let's split them up so we can get by until payday."

Before anyone could say anything, she continued, "As everyone knows, although our machinery factory has an easy life, we have a fixed number of tickets each month. Many tickets are only valid for this month, and once they are used up, they are gone. We have planned how to use them, but you came without even telling us, and many of the tickets have been used up in advance. There is really nothing we can do."

As soon as she said this, many people around nodded, obviously resonating with her words.

Even Tang Yuan thought this was a very reasonable statement.

However, both parties were originally competitors for interests, so she had to stand on her side. She looked at her stepmother, then at her aunt beside her: "Give it to me? Can you accept it?"

The aunt came to her senses and realized the problem in the other person's words. She snatched the ticket from the other person and stuffed it into Tang Yuan's hand: "Take it, take it, take it. Of course you can take it. There is a number of tickets for each month. It clearly shows how many tickets have been spent and how many are left. If you take it, she will record it in her notebook."

"Yes, the head of the family knows how many tickets are left. How come you don't even know whether Old Tang has taken out the tickets? Old Tang wouldn't take out tickets without your knowledge, would he?"

"I can count my family's tickets clearly. Not to mention one ticket is missing, even if there is a half ticket missing or a hole, I will know it. You can't even remember this. I'm afraid Old Tang must have eaten at a state-owned restaurant a few times without your knowledge."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around them burst into laughter, and looked at Tang Jianguo and his wife with a joking look in their eyes.

If you don't want to give it, then don't give it. You make an excuse like "I forgot". You can't forget who has more or less votes. Now you're exposed on the spot. Isn't it funny?

Now both Tang Jianguo and his wife blushed.

Tang Jianguo held his breath and continued, "I really forgot. Hongmei is usually confused, otherwise she wouldn't have forgotten such an important thing. Let's go home and have dinner."

Tang Yuan counted the tickets in his hand and looked at the person next to him happily: "Then can I cook for myself tomorrow?"

The aunt looked over and said, "There are only food coupons, no other coupons..."

"We need to buy things little by little. We don't have everything at home. We'll eat in the cafeteria this month," Tang Jianguo replied immediately. He took out another ten yuan from his wallet, gritted his teeth and took out the second big group payment, a total of twenty yuan, and stuffed it into Tang Yuan's hand. "Wait until you get your salary and receipts, and spend your own money to buy things. Everyone buys things little by little. No one buys everything in one go."

Tang Yuan received the money and his face immediately showed joy.

Her current monthly salary is only 15 yuan, and Tang Jianguo gave her 30 yuan in total, which is equivalent to her two months' salary.

Although this amount of money was not enough to make Tang Jianguo bleed heavily, you could tell from his painful expression that it was not a small amount of money in his hands, and he felt even happier.

It’s the same old saying, as long as Tang Jianguo is unhappy, she will be happy.

After paying the money and giving the tickets, the farce was finally settled and Tang Yuan was dragged back.

People along the way looked at her happy smile and said with emotion: "What a silly child, you are so happy just because you were given 20 yuan. You must have suffered a lot in your hometown before, right?"

"You must have suffered a lot, but luckily, it all paid off. Now you have a job and can save money. Your life will be better in the future. You don't have to rely on your father forever."

"I have to say, he did a really good job on this matter. Even though many people are not willing to take your job now, there will be many people who want it after the limelight passes. They will definitely envy you then."

"Don't always blame your father. When you have time, have a good talk with him. After all, he is your biological father. No matter how bad he is, he is still your father."

"That's right."

Tang Yuan stopped smiling.

She really didn't like this kind of thinking.

But on second thought, if I occasionally build relationships, I might be able to get some money out of my scumbag dad, and make him look bad, and I'll be happy again in an instant.

The old saying is true!