Normally, their performance was tied to benefits, and since the canned food factory was doing well, Su Weihua, as a senior worker, could earn twenty yuan a month in performance bonuses. Combined with the grain coupons, rice, flour, oil, and various miscellaneous items like bath tickets, his total income amounted to over seventy yuan.
But this month, he only received forty-five yuan, which meant their family’s entire food expenses were gone!
The joy from yesterday over their daughter earning money instantly vanished. Lin Yun’s voice trembled: “Why would they deduct your performance bonus for no reason? You didn’t miss a single day of work this month!”
Su Weihua was an honest, straightforward man. He squatted by the door, wanting to smoke a cigarette, but remembered he had forced himself to quit to save money for his son’s medical treatment. Frustrated, he scratched his head: “The team leader said the pass rate for my production line wasn’t up to standard, but there were no issues during the daily quality inspections.”
Lin Yun tore off her apron: “I’m going to ask the factory director for an explanation! How can they bully people like this?”
Twenty yuan—yesterday, Lele had only brought back that much!
But Su Weihua grabbed her and shook his head: “Forget it, they’re the bosses.”
Su Jinle was also furious: “Dad, we… we need to ask for an explanation!”
Su Weihua forced a smile: “Don’t worry about it. Tomorrow, I’ll ask the team leader what’s going on. No one from the quality inspection department is willing to speak up for me, so maybe I really did make a mistake at work.”
Su Yi’an’s expression darkened. He glanced at his still-unsteady leg, and his self-loathing deepened.
The meal yesterday had been filled with joy, but today’s atmosphere was oppressive. Even the usually gentle Lin Yun remained silent. She was in charge of the household finances, and with little money left and now twenty yuan less in income, they would have to cut back on food.
But Yi’an was weak, and Lele was still young—how could she bear to skimp on their meals?
During the meal, Su Jinle noticed her mother hadn’t eaten a single bite of food, only drinking a bowl of plain porridge. Her heart ached: “Tomorrow, I’ll go… sell clothes again! Mom, I’ll earn money.”
Lin Yun smiled: “Good girl, Mom just isn’t hungry. I ate too much at the small restaurant at noon.”
She had always been like this, only breaking her habit yesterday because Su Jinle had earned money, allowing her to eat vegetables and steamed buns.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was Old Zhou from the canned food factory’s quality inspection department. He and Su Weihua had known each other since they were young and had always been on good terms.
After coming in, he sighed: “Old Su, don’t pursue today’s matter. Just take it as a loss and swallow your pride, or you’ll have a hard time at the factory in the future.”
Su Weihua was stunned: “What do you mean?”
Old Zhou lowered his voice: “Did you offend someone higher up? I checked the quality inspection department’s records—there’s nothing wrong with your production line. But our team leader said this was arranged from above, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
Su Weihua was furious: “Isn’t this just bullying?”
Old Zhou sighed helplessly: “What can we small workers do? If you can’t swallow this and really go make a scene at the factory director’s office, what good will it do even if they give you the money back? Think about it—they’re the bosses. If they want to make things hard for you, it’s easy. They can just find any excuse, and your days at the factory will be miserable.”
Su Weihua fell silent: “I don’t know who I offended.”
He had always been honest and dutiful, never getting into conflicts with anyone. Having worked at the canned food factory his entire life, how could he have offended a high-ranking leader?
Beside him, Su Jinle dug her fingernails into her palms. She suddenly remembered Yang Muqing’s words from yesterday: “Su Jinle, I’d like to see how much your pride is worth. You’ll regret it!”
Her father hadn’t offended anyone. The one who had offended the high-ranking leader was her, all because she refused to sell the dress to Yang Muqing…
Old Zhou quietly reminded him, “Don’t go looking for trouble either. Making a scene won’t do you any good. Think about your family.”
Su Weihua forced a bitter smile. “How would I dare make a scene? I just want to understand what I did wrong. I’ve worked at the factory my whole life and never received any disciplinary action. This performance deduction is unclear and unjust. I just feel uneasy inside.”
Old Zhou knew he was struggling and pulled five yuan from his pocket, handing it over. “Take this money for now. Don’t let my wife know.”
Su Weihua quickly waved his hands. “No, no, we can manage.”
Fortunately, Lele had earned so much money yesterday; otherwise, the family would have been left with nothing this month. It was just that their plan to save up for Su Yi’an’s leg treatment at a major hospital would have to be postponed again.
Old Zhou had no choice but to say, “If you run into difficulties, let me know. We’re old comrades, after all.”
Su Weihua and Lin Yun quickly stood up to see him off. When they returned, they saw their daughter with reddened eyes, silently shedding tears.
Su Weihua was startled and immediately tried to comfort her. “It’s alright, Lele. It’s just twenty yuan deducted. They’re targeting me this month, but next month I’ll work more carefully and meticulously. They definitely won’t find any fault with me.”
Su Jinle shook her head as she cried. “It’s me. I offended… offended someone.”
Ten minutes later.
Su Yi’an patted her head. “Lele, I’ll make this right for you. You didn’t do anything wrong. The ones in the wrong are them. Your brother will seek justice for you.”
He had originally wanted to avoid troubling others, but his sister was his weakness. If he backed down this time, who knew how Yang Muqing would bully Lele in the future!
Lin Yun sighed, her heart aching for her daughter yet worried for her son. “Yi’an, let it go.”
Twenty yuan—she could scrimp and save, and eventually make up for it…
Su Yi’an remained resolute. “This matter cannot be let go.”
Su Weihua kept his head down and said nothing more. He didn’t blame his daughter; he only blamed himself for being incapable. As a grown man, he couldn’t even stand up for his daughter or provide properly for the family.
That night, Su Jinle lay in her room, unable to sleep. With reddened eyes, she got up and continued sewing clothes. The desire to earn money had never been so strong—not just for her brother’s leg treatment.
In her previous life, she had lived in a false world, never realizing how difficult life at home truly was. Someone high and mighty could bend a person’s spine with just a single word.
Early the next morning, Su Jinle woke up much later than usual.
She remembered she still had to sell clothes today. The two dresses had only been finished late last night and hadn’t been ironed yet. She slipped on her shoes and hurried outside, only to bump straight into someone’s chest.
The hard muscles nearly made her nose bleed.
Song Shixu frowned, his tone stern. “Why are you running?”
Su Jinle covered her nose. “This… this is my home.”
Why is this person scolding her like a child? This is her own home—why can’t she run? Even if he’s her brother’s friend, he shouldn’t be so rude…
Though she was angry, her anger held little intimidation, instead coming off soft and whiny, like a spoiled complaint.
Song Shixu’s frown deepened. “Flailing around like a limp noodle—no wonder people pick on you. Your brother came from the Jingying Budui. Hasn’t he ever thought about training you?”
Su Jinle was stunned. She looked up, forgetting even to stammer. “My brother train me?”
She wasn’t one of his subordinates…