If you dare to pay, I'm not finished with you.

"I……"

"Pay up, we'll pay up!"

Zhao Chengxin came up and covered Zhang Xia's mouth to stop her from speaking, then dragged her into the house. "Mom, wait a minute, Zhang Xia and I will go back and get the money now."

Zhang Xia protested with muffled noises, scratching Zhao Chengxin's hands until they were covered in marks.

Zhao Chengxin winced in pain but didn't dare let go. He went back to his room, slammed the door shut, and told Zhang Xia, "I'm letting go now, but you can't yell."

Seeing Zhang Xia nod, Zhao Chengxin finally let go.

Once free, Zhang Xia immediately said with tears in her eyes, "Zhao Chengxin, your parents are bullying us! How can it cost our family forty yuan a month just to eat a meal! I won't pay this money, and you're not allowed to pay it either. I'd rather rent a place to live than pay this money!"

"Calm down!"

Afraid that Zhang Guiying would hear, Zhao Chengxin lowered his voice and said, "You don't want my mother's job anymore?"

Zhang Xia gritted her teeth and said, "Your mother still has more than a year before retirement. In that year, we've already paid several hundred yuan for living expenses. With those few hundred yuan, I could buy a job myself. Why should I owe her this favor?"

Zhao Chengxin was speechless. "A few hundred yuan for a job in a cotton mill? Do you think this is what we were like when we first returned to the city? Even back then, a regular job cost over a thousand yuan."

"Didn't your parents only pay eight hundred for your job at the steel mill?"

"My dad doesn't spend money on gifts? The steel mill job was sold by a retired coworker of my dad's. He had a good relationship with my dad, and his children all had jobs, so he only accepted a favor price of 800 yuan. Other workers from the same factory offered 1,000 yuan, but he didn't sell it."

He added, "Who doesn't have a relative who's unemployed? If someone wants to sell a job, who wouldn't prioritize their own family and friends? Good jobs simply don't flow out into the outside world; even if you have money, you might not have the chance to buy one."

"Rumors have been circulating since last year that the system of children succeeding their parents in business might be abolished and replaced with a contract system. From last year to this year, the price of jobs has skyrocketed. Now, a permanent position can sell for two or three thousand!"

Zhang Xia was shocked, "So expensive?!"

"What else did you think?"

Zhao Chengxin said irritably, "My mom's temper has been like a firecracker lately, it explodes at the slightest provocation. If you had argued with her just now, she would have kicked us out in a fit of anger. Do you think you'll still get this job when she retires?"

Zhang Xia finally calmed down.

But the thought of having to pay forty every month made her feel extremely distressed.

Zhao Chengxin knew she was worried about money, so he put his arm around her shoulder and said, "A few hundred yuan for living expenses can buy you a stable job. Others would love to do that but don't even have the chance. Once you take over Mom's job, you can earn back the living expenses we pay in a year."

"Mom's job is a secure one, she'll have a steady stream of money coming in. She'll work until retirement, and you'll get a pension too. It's a golden goose, don't lose the big picture for a little bit of money."

"My older brother and sister-in-law have always looked down on us. But once you have a job, we'll both be working, and our monthly salaries might not be less than theirs. Then we can stand up straight and talk to them with our heads held high."

Zhang Xia understands the reasoning.

I just feel upset.

She gripped Zhao Chengxin's arm and said through gritted teeth, "Once I take over your mother's job, we'll move out of this house immediately. I'm never going to have to live under her thumb again."

Zhao Chengxin grinned, "Fine, fine, I'll do whatever you say."

Zhang Xia reluctantly took out forty yuan.

She was still angry and didn't leave the house. Zhao Chengxin handed the money to Zhang Guiying, saying, "Mom, this is for our family's living expenses."

Zhang Guiying accepted it without ceremony, saying, "Don't forget, you're doing housework this week."

"I haven't forgotten, I haven't forgotten. Zhang Xia isn't feeling well, so I'll be washing the dishes and cleaning tonight."

Zhang Guiying sneered.

Is it physical discomfort or mental discomfort?

It doesn't matter.

Anyway, Zhang Guiying only wanted money and couldn't be bothered to expose them.

Back in her room that evening, Zhang Guiying took out ten ten-yuan bills and put them on the bed. "It wasn't easy, but at least we're seeing some return on our investment."

Zhao Binghe brought in a basin of warm water in an enamel basin.

He tossed a towel to Zhang Guiying to wipe her face, and said with emotion, "I never expected that they would pay. Although the third and fifth brothers were reluctant, it wasn't easy for them."

Zhang Guiying wiped her face and said, "Xia Zhi and Qiu Zhi still have a conscience. Zhao Xueyi has some conscience, but not much. The third brother and Zhang Xia are willing to pay money because they have their own plans."

Zhao Binghe took the towel Zhang Guiying had used and wiped his own face, saying, "It's for your work."

"I'd rather quit my job than give it to her!"

Zhao Binghe was unaware that Zhang Guiying was going to sell her job. Hearing this, he was taken aback, threw down the towel, and sat on the edge of the bed. "Your third son's wife has been eyeing this job for years. Aren't you planning to give it to her?"

Zhang Guiying told Zhao Binghe about her plan to sell her job.

"Selling jobs?"

Zhao Binghe was taken aback, and his reaction was the same as Li Meifeng's: "You're only a little over a year away from retirement, why are you thinking of selling your job now?"

Zhang Guiying sat cross-legged on the bed and told Zhao Binghe about her plans.

"Jobs are in high demand now, and they can be sold for three thousand yuan in a short time. How much is my salary for more than a year? Anyway, I'm about to retire, so whether it's a year or a year earlier or later won't have much impact on my pension."

"I'll sell my job now while prices are good. I can make money doing other things over the next year or so."

Zhang Guiying had no intention of selling her job for three thousand.

In three more days, the four policies will be implemented, and her job will be worth at least five thousand.

With five thousand, what couldn't she do?

Zhao Binghe was quickly persuaded and nodded, saying, "Okay, sell it then. Don't think about doing anything else. You've worked hard for most of your life, just stay home and rest."

"Now that the children are paying for their living expenses, the burden on us is lighter, and my salary alone is enough for us to live on."

Zhang Guiying had no intention of taking a break.

The 1980s were a great opportunity to make money, and she couldn't let it slip by.

But he didn't say this to Zhao Binghe.

Once she starts making money from her stall, Zhao Binghe will find out.

The next day, while Zhang Guiying was working at the cotton mill, her eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and she had a feeling that something was about to happen.

That's what I was thinking.

Then the workshop director rushed over and said, "Guiying, your son-in-law just came to the cotton mill. He said your daughter Zhao Chunzhi is giving birth in the hospital and her condition is not good. He wants you to go to the hospital as soon as possible."

……

After sending the message to the cotton mill.

Li Yaozong didn't linger and hurriedly returned to the hospital.

When Li Yaozong arrived at the ward, he was told that Zhao Chunzhi had already gone into the delivery room, so he hurriedly ran to the delivery room.

Wu Ximei saw him and quickly came to greet him. "Where's your mother-in-law? Has she arrived yet? Chunzhi's pregnancy has started. The nurses have come several times already, telling us to pay the bill quickly."

Li Yaozong was getting anxious. "Mom, why are you waiting for my mother-in-law? Go and pay the fees yourself."

Wu Ximei poked his forehead in anger, "Are you stupid! Your mother-in-law is from the city, her family are all workers, and they are much better off than us. Don't they city people always preach that boys and girls are the same? So why can't she contribute money when her daughter has a baby?"

"When your mother-in-law arrives, just plead poverty with her. She'll feel sorry for her daughter and will definitely pay the bill."

She glared at Li Yaozong and warned him, "If you dare pay this money, I'll never forgive you!"