章 12: 012
Yi Feng and Wang Tie went their separate ways, each heading home.
As soon as Yi Feng entered the house, he saw his parents waiting by the dining table, both looking stern.
"Son, where have you been playing? Why have you only come back now? And soaked like this!" Meng Xiaoyun, seeing Yi Feng drenched, couldn't help but reprimand him.
Yi Feng scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed for making his parents worry, "Mom, I was doing something with Wang Tie, and we got delayed because of the heavy rain."
Meng Xiaoyun stood up, grabbed a towel, and helped him dry his wet hair, saying concernedly, "Really, never mind, go take a shower first and change into dry clothes. Don't catch a cold."
"Okay, Mom."
Yi Feng responded, took his clothes, and went to the bathroom for a hot shower, changing into clean clothes before coming out.
"Achoo!"
Just out of the bathroom, a chill made Yi Feng sneeze uncontrollably.
"I'll make you some ginger tea to ward off the cold," Meng Xiaoyun said with concern.
"Hehe, Mom, I'm fine."
"Achoo~" Yi Feng had barely finished speaking when he sneezed again, his nose running clear.
It seemed he really had caught a cold.
His body was indeed weak!
Yi Feng couldn't help but mock himself internally.
It seemed he needed to improve his nutrition and exercise more in the future.
"Still saying you're fine, come on, eat. I'm going to make ginger tea, you silly boy," Meng Xiaoyun shook her head, wiped her hands, and went back to the kitchen.
Yi Feng sat at the dining table, looking at tonight's dishes, stir-fried loofah with pork, and stir-fried sweet potato leaves.
The little meat that was there had been picked out and placed in front of him.
"Son, how's your studying going lately?" Yi Jianjun took out a pack of Hongmei cigarettes, intending to light one but put it back seeing Yi Feng beside him.
"It's okay, I'm confident about English and math, but I need to review the other subjects more," Yi Feng honestly replied.
"Huh? Really? Your English and math used to be your weakest points, are you sure you didn't mix that up?" Yi Jianjun was surprised.
"Dad, don't worry, I'll definitely score well in the college entrance exams," Yi Feng confidently stated.
Yi Jianjun nodded, "It's good you have this confidence. You should stay home more as the exams approach, come home early to revise."
"Your mom was worried sick about you not coming home because of the rain. She hardly had an appetite for dinner."
"If you have anything, remember to call your Uncle Gu first; they have a landline at home. Don't make us worry too much."
Yi Feng smiled apologetically, "I know, Dad. I'll remember that."
His father and son chatted casually. After Yi Feng finished eating, Meng Xiaoyun brought out the ginger tea.
"Here, son, drink this bowl of ginger tea to warm up your body."
Yi Feng took the ginger tea, blew on it, and a strong scent of ginger wafted up.
He took a small sip, and his whole body immediately felt warm.
And so did his heart.
"Son, where did you and Wang Tie go today? You're not allowed to come back this late again," Meng Xiaoyun said sternly.
Though her words were a reprimand, they were filled with concern and worry.
Yi Feng put down the bowl and said, "Wang Tie and I went to earn some extra money."
He took out a waterproof plastic bag from his pocket, containing three hundred yuan.
He had spent a hundred on gifts, given a hundred to Wang Tie, kept a hundred for his own expenses, and planned to give the remaining three hundred to his mother to improve their meals and help with household expenses.
He took out the money and handed it to Meng Xiaoyun, "Mom, keep these three hundred yuan for now, use it to buy some more dishes or whatever."
Meng Xiaoyun and Yi Jianjun saw the three hundred yuan in his hand, both stunned.
Three hundred yuan!
That was not a small amount, it was half a month's salary for Yi Jianjun.
"Son, where did you get this money? You didn't do anything bad, did you?"
"Son, we may be poor, but we can't do anything disgraceful!" Meng Xiaoyun didn't take the money, asking nervously.
Where could a high school student get so much money?
Yi Jianjun frowned deeply, scolding, "Speak, where did the money come from? You didn't get mixed up in something shady, did you?"
Under their stern gaze, Yi Feng hurriedly explained the situation.
He told them that it was earned through his labor repairing computers, and that the money was earned cleanly.
After hearing Yi Feng's explanation, their expressions finally softened.
Meng Xiaoyun took the money, hugged Yi Feng tightly, and kissed him twice on the forehead.
"Oh, my dear son, we wronged you just now!"
"You really are capable, Mom is so happy!"
Meng Xiaoyun's face beamed with joy.
Yi Jianjun also looked relieved, "I always knew my son was smart, haha!"
Yi Feng: "Uh…"
Why does that sound a bit off?
"Mom, Dad, now that I can earn money, we don't have to be so frugal anymore. Let's add some more meat and another dish to our meals. You also need to eat some meat."
He had seen his parents not eating meat, leaving all the meat for him. How could that be right?
Not eating meat for a long time could cause health problems.
Meng Xiaoyun counted the three hundred yuan, not looking up, "We don't need to grow anymore, it doesn't matter if we eat meat or not."
"We'll save this money for your college expenses."
Yi Jianjun sighed, "Yes, son, our Rolling Mill has been going downhill these past few years."
"The mill has been spreading rumors that, due to economic transformation or something, the city might shut down the Rolling Mill, and then the mill's three thousand workers might have to be laid off."
"We should save this money, we might have to be even more frugal in the future."
Yi Feng was taken aback, suddenly remembering that his father indeed was laid off in 2001.
During the national economic transformation, many inefficient state-owned enterprises were closed or downsized and merged, leading to a wave of layoffs.
At that time, the laid-off workers became the bottom of society, struggling to survive, and many families were torn apart.
"Really? No way? Won't the authorities just watch us lose our jobs?" Meng Xiaoyun's face changed.
Yi Jianjun rubbed his temples, frowned, and said, "It's all over the mill, I… I guess it's more or less true, we really can't do anything."
"The mill can't do anything either."
"These past few years, the mill has been operating at a loss, I heard that only because the city allocated funds could they pay the workers' salaries."
"If the mill doesn't make money, being shut down is probably just a matter of time."
This news was undoubtedly a huge blow to the entire family.
Meng Xiaoyun was especially worried.
Her modest income from selling vegetables could only supplement the household, with the family's financial burden entirely on Yi Jianjun's shoulders.
If Yi Jianjun were to be laid off, the family's financial pillar would be destroyed.
For a while, the three of them at the dining table fell silent, the atmosphere somber and oppressive.
"Dad, Mom, don't worry, I can earn money now, we'll definitely get through this!" Yi Feng suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence.
Meng Xiaoyun looked at Yi Feng's determined expression, her face showing relief, gently hugged him, and patted his head.
"Our son has grown up, Mom is very happy, but your primary mission is to do well in the college entrance exam and get into a good university."
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