NOVEL NEXT Chapter 196: Angry Retort
The sound from Song Meifeng's phone leaked out, and the workshop director standing nearby heard it. His face couldn't help but change.
She really thought the girl was worried about her own mother, so she missed home and made a call to check in.
Who would have thought there were other things involved?
She couldn't help but curl her lips. The couple, Song Fengmei and her husband, are really something. Instead of supporting their daughter who went to the countryside, sending her some things, they go as far as to lie to her about being sick, asking for a thousand yuan with a wide-open mouth.
Even for people like us, the workers, being able to save up a thousand yuan would take ten years or so. How could they expect to gather such a sum of money?
Their daughter went to the countryside to suffer and work hard, what are this couple doing?
Song Meifeng felt embarrassed.
She wasn't unaware that the sound from the phone could be heard outside. This damned girl was really out to disgrace her!
If the workshop director knows, wouldn't everyone else know too?
When the time comes, what am I supposed to do at the factory?
Wouldn't it be cause others to gossip behind my back?
"Jia Shu, what kind of words are those? You know our family's situation, your second brother is about to get married. Besides bride price, the woman's family is asking for the 'three big items' — a radio, a sewing machine, and a watch. You know what our family's circumstances are.
Your parents' salary is just enough to feed your younger siblings. That's considered good. You are the eldest in the family. If you don't help the family, what do you expect your parents to do—let them die?
I thought you had grown up, understood how to empathize with your parents. Who knew you'd say something like that now.
I want that thousand yuan, not for me and your dad, but since you went to the farm, you haven't sent food or money back to the family. Tell me, what are you doing there? Where is all the money you earn each month going?
Isn't it because you've got some sneaky thoughts now, saving that money for yourself. After all these years raising you, finally you're grown, not only do you not repay us, but you also talk to me like this. Is there a daughter like you who talks to her mother like this? Is this how I teach you?"
Song Meifeng was full-blown with fury, the more she spoke, the more justified she felt.
The workshop director looked stunned at Song Meifeng, how could she say such things?
Even though every family expects the eldest to support the parents and take care of siblings, your daughter went to the countryside!
There, earning work points amounts to settling wages once a year, everyone knows that.
Her family's relatives go through the same thing, the child just got there, how can you expect her to send money back? How can she send money back?
Furthermore, those three provinces there suffered disasters; likely their daughter doesn't even have rations to eat. And yet, the mother doesn't send food over, only complains about her daughter not sending food back.
Could it be that Song Meifeng is deaf or blind?
Hasn't she heard the factory's broadcast every day talking about supporting construction for the disaster-hit three provinces?
Jia Shu was fuming; her mom was always like this, and every time she ends up being the wrong one, while the parents are always right.
"Mom! Let me tell you about my situation here. Now, our area, the three provinces have faced disasters, and our farm is one of them. Don't mention sending you rations, I myself can't even get rations. Our next harvest is in autumn, that's still several months away.
Now it's spring, although I can go up the mountain to pick some wild vegetables and peel some bark. Do you want me to mail you these wild vegetables and barks? This is my food supply, if you want it, I'll save this portion of food for you and send it home.
As for the money you want, I'll tell you this, working here earns points, paid once a year, and I just arrived at the farm last year, worked for just two months, and already sent that little bit of money I earned back to you.
If you're asking for money from me now, you'd essentially be forcing me to death. You deal with it yourself. I've done all I could for the family; other things you want me to do, I don't have the capability. Besides, taking care of siblings is the parents' responsibility.
It's not my responsibility as the eldest sister. If the second brother doesn't have money for the wedding, then work something out with the girl's family. You can't expect his eldest sister to go around borrowing money just like that. You know there are educated youths everywhere on the farm, whom can I borrow money from and would I have to pay it back?"
This was the first time Jia Shu firmly opposed her mom, although her tone of voice was still gentle, at least her words conveyed her stance clearly, and then she hung up the phone.
Not wanting to hear the storm of curses from her mother, of course she knew what her mom was going to say.
After all, every time Song Meifeng talks to her daughter, it's always a round of moral lessons.
Talking about being the eldest, she should take care of the family, she should do this and that.
For her, her life should be about helping parents, otherwise, it's her fault.
Jia Shu didn't want to listen.
Heart weary.
On the other side, after her daughter hung up, Song Meifeng was extremely livid and defeated, completely not expecting her daughter to become so bold out there.
Now, she's not only bold but also gutsy enough to hang up the phone on her own mother.
Telling her to take care of her siblings, how is that not allowed?
Turning her head to meet the workshop director's eyes, she hurried to explain.
Otherwise, rumors would likely spread throughout the entire factory.
"Director, once the child grows up, she doesn't listen to her mother. Look at this kid. She actually got angry at her mother. Isn't it because the family is struggling, you know, we have three grown children.
The eldest went to the countryside; the second and third haven't found work. Isn't life tough? And if this elder sister doesn't help with the family, let us parents, how can we carry on with the family's life?"
The workshop director didn't say a word, thinking, how could it be that you two rely on your eldest daughter to manage your life?
They speak as if without the eldest, they wouldn't live well, although I've seen them living quite comfortably.
Without the eldest, the rations are more abundant.
Noticed recently that they bring lunch boxes containing white bread, just because she's gone, saving quite a bit of rations. As for saying the second and third have no work, have the audacity to speak ill of the second.
When he was working as a temporary worker in the factory, he was constantly loafing about, slick-talking, hanging around several girls, being scolded by the master several times.
Ultimately, they couldn't let him keep working, wasn't it because he wasn't suitable?
Getting work or not is not about being liked by others; many temps got permanent positions, isn't it based on their work ethic?
Which factory doesn't like diligent, hardworking people.
It's the parents always spoiling their sons.
Spoiled so much they lack awareness, and moreover, they're reckless.
"Alright, hurry back to work."
Even though inside she knows what's really going on, it's people's domestic matters, an outsider shouldn't get involved, it's their family business to deal with.