Shen Xiuzhen glared at Song Dajiang. “Stop the nonsense and go pack your things, or don’t ever call me your mother again!”
It was the first time in his life Song Dajiang had seen his mother so furious, and he felt quite intimidated. He shrank his neck and cautiously said:
“If we leave now, I won’t get my wages.”
“Then so be it.”
Shen Xiuzhen had originally wanted to say, “Your life is more important than wages.”
But after thinking it over, it didn’t seem right for her eldest son to work so hard for so many days without getting paid. So she changed her tone:
“Let’s go, we’re going to see your foreman.”
Song Dajiang opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but Shen Xiuzhen shot him a sharp look, and he quickly shut up. He obediently led his parents to the foreman’s office.
Ten minutes later, the three of them arrived at the door of the foreman’s office.
“Dad, Mom, what if I finish this month before resigning?”
Song Dajiang made a last-ditch effort, but Song Shulin pushed him aside and knocked on the door.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
“Come in!”
A steady male voice sounded, and Song Shulin pushed the door open and walked into the office, with Shen Xiuzhen following closely behind.
Song Dajiang hesitated at the door, unsure whether to enter or not.
“Who are you?”
A middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit sat at the desk, curiously looking at Song Shulin and Shen Xiuzhen.
“Foreman Cao, hello, we are Song Dajiang’s parents,” Song Shulin introduced himself.
Song Dajiang was honest and hardworking, and Cao Bin had a very good impression of him. He immediately put on a smile.
“You’re Dajiang’s parents! Please, have a seat. What brings you here?”
Song Shulin, unlike his usual timid demeanor when meeting high-ranking officials, walked confidently to the sofa and sat down.
“Foreman Cao, we’re here today to resign on behalf of Dajiang.”
“Resign?” Cao Bin frowned, puzzled.
Although the job of a miner was extremely tough and risky, it came with good benefits and treatment. Many people fought tooth and nail to work in the mines.
Song Dajiang had finally secured an iron rice bowl, and it hadn’t been long since he started. For him to resign now was truly hard to understand.
“Yes, yesterday, my wife heard from others that there was an accident in a coal mine in Shan Province not long ago, and many people died. After hearing that, she was so worried she couldn’t sleep all night. This morning, she insisted that our son not continue working in the mine anymore. I couldn’t stand her nagging, so I had to bring her here to take our son back.”
This excuse was something Song Shulin and Shen Xiuzhen had agreed upon on the way here, with the intention of reminding Cao Bin to take precautions and avoid the tragedy of their previous life.
The mining accident in Shan Province wasn’t something they made up either—it was something villagers had mentioned after their eldest son’s death in their previous life.
“Comrades, I’ve heard about that incident too, but the accident in Shan Province was caused by illegal mining. Rest assured, our mining operations are absolutely legal and compliant. I guarantee nothing like the Shan Province accident will happen here.”
To keep Song Dajiang, Cao Bin immediately made a promise.
Song Shulin frowned and reminded him again:
“Foreman Cao, even if the mining is legal and compliant, other safety issues can still arise during the process.
For instance, gas explosions, cave-ins, and the like. I suggest you send someone to thoroughly inspect the safety issues in the mine. If there are any hidden dangers, they can be dealt with promptly.
In all matters, it’s not the ten thousand we fear, but the one in ten thousand. We all have families, wives, and children.
If something were to happen in the mining area, you, as the foreman, would certainly be held accountable. Without you as the backbone, who would take care of your wife and children at home?”
In their past life, after the mining disaster occurred, as the primary person responsible, this Foreman Cao was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Even so, the families of the victims did not spare his family.
His wife and two sons were reported, collectively lost their jobs and were laid off, ultimately forced to return to their rural hometown to make a living by farming.
His daughter, who worked at the Agricultural Science Institute, managed to keep her job but was first raped and then killed by the brother of one of the victims.
Upon hearing the tragic news, Cao Bin’s wife, overwhelmed with grief, threw herself into a river and drowned.
Seven years later, when Cao Bin was released from prison and learned of the brutal deaths of his wife and daughter, he went mad and eventually became a beggar.
At that time, they were still reeling from the successive losses of their own sons and had no energy to spare for others’ affairs, only occasionally hearing about them from people around them.
If it hadn’t been for Song Dajiang constantly praising Foreman Cao in front of Song Shulin and Shen Xiuzhen just now, the couple wouldn’t have remembered these events.
Perhaps in their past life, everyone was a victim of fate. The couple suddenly felt sympathy and wanted to help the Cao family change their destiny in this life.
Song Shulin’s words struck a chord with Cao Bin.
Thinking of his wife and children at home, his expression turned serious. He stood up and walked over to Song Shulin, extending his right hand.
“Comrade Song, thank you for the reminder.”
Song Shulin stood up and shook his hand.
“Foreman Cao, I should be thanking you. Dajiang has told us how much you’ve looked after him these days.”
“It’s only right, only right.” Cao Bin said with a smile, “Dajiang is a good kid, just a bit too honest. Those old miners love to pick on a blockhead like him. Whenever I see it, I give them a talking-to.”
Song·the blockhead·Dajiang scratched his head sheepishly, “Foreman Cao, they weren’t really bullying me, just joking around.”
Cao Bin and Song Shulin exchanged a glance, both amused and exasperated by Song Dajiang’s simple-minded demeanor.
“Comrade Song, since you’re not comfortable with your child staying on at the mine, take him back with you.
If you ever regret it, you’re welcome to send him back anytime.”
With that, Cao Bin immediately called for the accountant to settle Song Dajiang’s wages.
Song Dajiang had worked a total of twenty days this month. Cao Bin generously counted it as a full month’s pay, plus various allowances, totaling one hundred and twenty yuan exactly.
If he had worked the full month, he could have earned an additional thirty-yuan bonus.
Song Dajiang felt both heartache and regret.
Even after leaving the mining area, he kept muttering about his thirty yuan.
Shen Xiuzhen couldn’t take it anymore, “Song Dajiang, which is more important, your damn life or thirty yuan?”
“Of course my damn… life is more important.”
Song Dajiang felt his mother had changed, become fiercer, not as gentle as before.
Shen Xiuzhen spoke earnestly, “Then that settles it. Money lost can be earned again, but if you lose your life, you truly have nothing left.”
“I don’t expect you to achieve great things or earn a lot of money. I just hope you can live safely and healthily—that’s enough.”
Song Shulin pushed his bicycle as he walked, saying:
“Your mother is right. As for earning money, that’s for me and your mother to handle. From now on, you just stay at home quietly.
In a while, when we divide the family property, I’ll find you a job.”
Song Dajiang suddenly had a moment of clarity, keenly grasping the key point in his father’s words. With a look of shock, he said:
“What? Dad, you want to divide the family property?”