Chapter 15 Asking for a Job

Luo Xingci ate the egg, sighing, “Ugh, if Grandma had woken up earlier, how many eggs would I have saved? Grandma, give me ten yuan. You know I’m all grown up now, I need to buy some new clothes and dress up. Otherwise, people will say that you guys are mistreating me.” In the Luo family, she was like a maid. But what about Luo Fangfang? She wasn’t a blood relative of the Luo family, but they treated her like a young lady. They let her go to school, and when she said she needed money to buy new clothes, Luo Jianmin and Old Lady Luo would give her the money without hesitation. When she came back, she not only had an egg every day, but Old Lady Luo would also cook her a bowl of rice. Even Old Man Luo and the boys in the Luo family didn’t have this treatment, but Luo Fangfang did.

Luo Jiaze looked at the egg in her mouth, so angry he wanted to overturn the table. He was the boy in the family, why was everything so strange today? They had called Luo Xingci back and even let her eat eggs. What was going on? Or was there something he didn’t know about? No, he had to find a chance to ask Grandma and Mom and Dad.

Old Lady Luo put down her bowl and said through gritted teeth, “Xingci, you know the family doesn’t have any money now. Jiaze hasn’t found a girlfriend yet, and Fangfang is still in school. We need money for everything. Why don’t I make you a dress?” Ten yuan! Although she had money, she didn’t want to spend a penny. Besides, did Luo Xingci deserve to wear new clothes?

Luo Xingci knew this was the case. She said with a cold face, “Then let Luo Jiaze become a son-in-law. He’s so old, he hasn’t even found a girlfriend. It’s a disgrace to the Luo family. And Luo Fangfang, what’s the point of a girl going to school for so long? She can’t even take the college entrance exam now. She doesn’t know what she’s doing in school all day. Her grades are at the bottom of the class. Why is she even studying? I don’t care. I want to see twenty yuan today, or I’ll go to Luo Fangfang’s school and make a scene!” Even if she had to throw a tantrum, she would make Old Lady Luo give her twenty yuan willingly, otherwise, she wouldn’t let them off the hook.

Wu Haihua immediately became furious when she heard this. How dare she go to Fangfang’s school? That wouldn’t do. Fangfang had said that there was a wealthy young man in school who had taken a liking to her and was pursuing her. What if Luo Xingci went to school and spread rumors, affecting Fangfang’s reputation? She wouldn’t allow that to happen.

Luo Xingci knew that Wu Haihua and the Luo family valued Luo Fangfang. They would definitely give her the money. Sure enough. Old Lady Luo took a deep breath and said with a smile, “Didn’t you say ten yuan just now? Grandma knows she’s neglected you in the past. Grandma will go get you ten yuan to buy fabric and make you a dress.”

“Grandma, now you’re giving me fifty yuan. Ten yuan was the price just now.” She was so angry, the muscles on Old Lady Luo’s face were twitching. “Grandma will give you twenty yuan.”

“Eighty!”

“Otherwise, I’ll go to school and choose it myself!” Luo Xingci said, picking up all the dishes on the table and putting them in her bowl. Finally, Old Lady Luo gritted her teeth and gave her eighty yuan with tears in her eyes. It was painful!

“Take the money and dress up nicely. Don’t wear those clothes full of patches when guests come over.” Old Lady Luo thought carefully. Maybe if she let the dead girl dress up nicely, the other party would give more dowry money?

Luo Xingci took the money and didn’t cause any more trouble. She put the money in her pocket and then looked at Old Lady Luo. “Grandma, what kind of guests are coming? Are they important?”

Old Lady Luo nodded. She was about to pick up her chopsticks to grab some food when she realized that Luo Xingci had taken all the food and put it in her own bowl. “Well, perform well. It’s the director of the city’s machinery factory.” Old Lady Luo only said this, nothing else. She didn’t intend to explain anything to her.

Luo Xingci thought to herself, when did the Luo family get to know the director of the machinery factory? Who is Old Lady Luo? Not only does someone send her money every month, but now even the director of the machinery factory is coming to visit?

“Grandma, you’re amazing. You even know the factory director. Is he a distant relative of our family?” To find out the truth, Luo Xingci complimented Old Lady Luo.

Old Lady Luo waved her hand but didn’t say anything. This was a secret she had buried deep in her heart. Even her two sons didn’t know. It was a secret she would take to her grave.

Luo Jianmin, however, felt resentful towards Old Lady Luo upon hearing this. She knew the director of the machinery factory, why didn’t she ask him to get him a job? If he had a job, he would be able to eat grain rations and get a house. Then he could live in the city with his wife and children and become a city dweller.

Seeing that Old Lady Luo was unwilling to say more, Luo Xingci didn’t push it. After dinner, she went out.

Luo Jianmin saw that there was no one else in the house, so he knocked on Old Lady Luo’s door. Old Lady Luo, who was counting money inside, was startled by the knock. The money in her hands fell to the ground. She quickly picked it up and hid it under the covers before opening the door. “What do you want?” Old Lady Luo raised her eyelids slightly when she saw it was Luo Jianmin. She didn’t let him in.

“Mother, it’s like this. Do you know the director of the machinery factory? Can you ask him to get me a job? I’ll do anything.” Then he changed his tone and continued, “If I get a foothold in the factory, you and Dad can come with me to enjoy the good life. And our Luo family will soar to new heights. How much money can you earn working in the village? Mother, why don’t you ask if you can get me two jobs?” He thought, one for him and one for Haihua. That way, they would both earn almost one hundred yuan a month. Then they could have more children without any problem. And they could eat meat every day.

Old Lady Luo slapped him on the back of the head. “You’re dreaming. People don’t just give jobs away. You wouldn’t think that they only want Luo Xingci, would you? Two jobs? Why don’t you just fly to the sky?” Although she also wanted the Luo family to eat grain rations, she didn’t want to ruin her eldest son’s future. Out of her three sons, she loved the eldest son, the one she had switched at birth, the most. Her other two sons weren’t as smart as the eldest, nor were they as successful.

Old Lady Luo slammed the door shut. Luo Jianmin looked at the door that had been slammed shut, his eyes filled with resentment. Then he strode away.

His expression was seen by Old Man Luo, who had just come out of the kitchen. He frowned, opened the door, and went inside. He saw Old Lady Luo sitting on the bed, counting money.

Old Lady Luo raised her eyelids and glanced at him. “Jianmin just came to see me. He wants two jobs. Needless to say, they’re for him and Wu Haihua. It’s not me who knows the factory director. What face do I have to ask for a job for him?” She didn’t intend to ask for a job. If they went to work there and found out her secret, seeing how well her eldest son was doing, maybe the secret would be revealed to many people. Then her eldest son wouldn’t be able to stay in that family.