The old man recognized Xing Zhaozhao at a glance—after all, her attire was quite uncommon these days.
“Well, little girl, it’s you again! What a coincidence running into you once more,” the old man said, then asked curiously, “Didn’t you say you were going to the Zhaohong Hotel construction site to find work? Why didn’t you go?”
Xing Zhaozhao smiled and raised the items in her hand to show him. “I already went and came back. Otherwise, where would I get the money to buy these things?”
The old man’s jaw dropped in astonishment, rendered speechless for a long moment. “N-no, I remember meeting you just two hours ago, right? You finished working and earned money that quickly?”
Xing Zhaozhao nodded nonchalantly. “It’s all manual labor—couldn’t be easier. I helped them finish everything in less than two hours.”
The old man: “…”
The old man gave her a thumbs-up. “You’re impressive.”
Xing Zhaozhao’s eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. She quickly carried her bags over, squatted beside the old man, rummaged through her sack for a while, and pulled out an apple to offer him. “The construction site doesn’t have any work for now. Do you know any other ways to make money, old uncle? Could you introduce me to some?”
The old man glanced at her bag—she had bought quite a lot, clearly having earned a decent amount.
He handed the apple back. “My teeth aren’t good, old man that I am. Get me something softer.”
Xing Zhaozhao: “…”
Reluctantly, Xing Zhaozhao broke off a banana and handed it to him.
Her Da Fei and Xiao Yuma hadn’t even tasted these yet.
Seeing her stingy expression, the old man couldn’t help but chuckle. He unceremoniously accepted the banana, peeled it, took a big bite, and asked, “You’re exceptionally strong, right?”
“Yes, yes!” Xing Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him.
“My daughter works as a nurse at Zhaohong Sanatorium. I heard they’re currently hiring nursing assistants. You could give it a try. Not only are the wages and benefits good there, but many people are scrambling to get in,” the old man said.
Hearing the familiar name “Zhaohong,” Xing Zhaozhao exclaimed in surprise, “Zhaohong again! Their family seems really impressive. Their name is everywhere around here.”
“Of course,” the old man said, puffing out his chest with pride. “Zhaohong Group is the richest company in our country and the pride of our Lanyuan. The founder, President Gao, apparently endured many hardships as a child and has disabilities, but he persevered and single-handedly established Zhaohong Group. After succeeding, he never forgot his hometown and developed our Lanyuan into a famous tourist destination, well-known nationwide.”
When the old man mentioned Zhaohong’s President Gao, Xing Zhaozhao couldn’t help but think of her own eldest son. Her Da Fei was also disabled, with a lame leg. She wondered what had happened to him in his previous life after she died.
Thinking of her son, Xing Zhaozhao’s eyes reddened.
Noticing this, the old man asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xing Zhaozhao sniffled and said, “It’s nothing. I just think that President Gao had a really tough time.”
“Indeed,” the old man sighed in agreement.
Xing Zhaozhao quickly composed herself and looked at the old man. “By the way, old uncle, about that nursing assistant job—does it require a long-term commitment?”
The old man nodded. “That’s for sure. They’re strict there and don’t hire temporary workers.”
Xing Zhaozhao said regretfully, “Then I’m afraid it won’t work. I have three children at home to take care of, and the youngest has just turned one month old. I can’t be away for too long right now.”
“Isn’t there anyone at home to help look after them?” the old man asked.
Xing Zhaozhao shook her head.
“That really is difficult,” the old man sighed helplessly. After thinking for a moment, he looked at Xing Zhaozhao and suggested, “Since you can’t leave the children at home, there’s no need to insist on finding work outside. Don’t you live in the mountains? You could sell the wild goods you usually gather. City folks are really into that these days. As long as it’s wild, it sells for a high price. For example, wild mushrooms can sell for over a hundred yuan per jin.”
Xing Zhaozhao’s eyes immediately lit up.
This could work. She made a mental note.
This old man really had good ideas.
Just as Xing Zhaozhao was about to ask him for more advice, a quarrel suddenly broke out not far ahead.
“Zhang Peng, you shameless bastard! How dare you come back to see Auntie?”
“I’m my mother’s own son. I came to see my mother and be filial to her. It’s none of your damn business.”
“Filial, my foot! You only came because you found out Auntie has some demolition compensation now, and you’re eyeing it.”
“What do you mean, eyeing it? That’s such an ugly thing to say. My mother only has me, her son. Her money is naturally mine.”
“Get lost! Auntie doesn’t have a son like you. Don’t forget, it was you who cut ties with Auntie back then and left with that ungrateful Zhang Wenming.”
“I regret it, okay? Besides, what do you mean, cut ties? Can blood ties be so easily severed?”
“I…”
Xing Zhaozhao looked up and saw two men, both around fifty years old, punching and grappling with each other not far away. Beside them, an elderly woman around seventy years old with graying hair, hunched over, was trying to pull them apart.
“Stop fighting, stop fighting, Qiangzi!”
Unfortunately, no one paid her any attention.
Soon, a crowd gathered around to watch the spectacle.
The old men beside Xing Zhaozhao shook their heads and said, “What a sin.”
“What’s going on?” Xing Zhaozhao asked curiously.
“It’s all because of the demolition compensation,” the old man explained.
“Demolition compensation?” Xing Zhaozhao hadn’t heard of it.
The old man nodded. “Back then, Zhaohong Group relocated several villages to build a scenic area and gave out a lot of demolition compensation. It was enough for them to buy new houses and still have plenty left to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. But with more money in hand, conflicts arose. That older sister over there is one such case.”
“I heard she married an educated youth when she was young. Later, the educated youth’s family found him a formal job in the city. He abandoned his wife and child, left, and never returned. It wasn’t until after the political movements ended that he sent a divorce agreement, completely severing ties.”
“That older sister had long given up hope and planned to live the rest of her life with her son. But who would have thought that, a few years later, that ungrateful man would come looking for them again. Maybe heaven couldn’t stand the injustice and punished him—he couldn’t have children. So he came to take the son he left behind in the countryside.”
“No wonder the old saying goes, like father, like son. The father is an ingrate, and so is the son. I heard when his dad came to take him to the city, he left without a second thought, just packed up and went, abandoning the mother who worked tirelessly to raise him, even cutting off ties completely. If it weren’t for a good nephew helping out, who knows how she would have managed.”
“After cutting ties, a few years ago that little ingrate somehow found out that the old family home was demolished and his mother had received a substantial demolition compensation, so he came crawling back. He’s made a scene several times already.”
“That really is too much,” Xing Zhaozhao remarked.
However, this matter had nothing to do with her, so she didn’t dwell on it. Her mind was instead drawn to the demolition issue the old man had just mentioned, and she felt a stir of interest.
“By the way, uncle, you know about Xiao Gao Village in the west that was submerged by the reservoir, right?” Xing Zhaozhao asked the old man.