In the cannery, performance pay was tied to factory profits. Business had been good lately. As a senior worker, Su Weihua usually received twenty yuan in performance pay each month. Added to that were grain coupons, rice, oil, bath tickets, and various other allowances — altogether over seventy yuan.
But this month, only forty-five yuan had been issued.
That meant the family’s food expenses were practically gone.
The joy from their daughter earning money yesterday vanished instantly. Lin Yun’s voice trembled. “Why would they deduct your performance pay? You didn’t miss a single day this month!”
Su Weihua, an honest man, squatted by the doorway. He wanted to light a cigarette, then remembered he had quit to save money for his son’s treatment. Irritated, he scratched his hair instead.
“The team leader said the pass rate on my production line wasn’t high enough. But every day during inspection there were no issues.”
Lin Yun tore off her apron. “I’m going to ask the factory director what’s going on! How can they bully people like this?”
Twenty yuan — that was as much as Lele had earned yesterday!
But Su Weihua grabbed her and shook his head. “Forget it. They’re leaders.”
Su Jinle was furious too. “Dad… we have to ask clearly!”
He forced a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll ask the team leader again tomorrow. No one in Quality Control was willing to speak for me. Maybe I really made a mistake.”
Su Yian’s expression darkened. He glanced at his still-unrecovered leg, and self-loathing surged.
Yesterday’s dinner had been full of laughter. Today it felt suffocating. Even gentle Lin Yun fell silent. She managed the household money. There had been little left to begin with. Now twenty yuan gone meant cutting food expenses.
But Yian was weak, and Lele was still young. How could she bear to reduce their meals?
During dinner, Su Jinle noticed her mother didn’t touch a single dish — only drank a bowl of plain porridge. Her heart ached.
“Tomorrow… I’ll go again. Sell clothes! Mom, I’ll earn money.”
Lin Yun smiled. “Good girl. I’m not hungry. I ate too much at lunch.”
That was her usual excuse. Only yesterday, because Lele earned money, had she unusually eaten vegetables and buns.
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
It was Old Zhou from the Quality Inspection Department — an old acquaintance of Su Weihua’s.
He entered with a sigh. “Old Su, don’t go asking about today’s matter. Just swallow it. Otherwise it’ll be hard for you in the factory.”
Su Weihua froze. “What do you mean?”
Old Zhou lowered his voice. “You must’ve offended someone high up. I checked the QC records — your line has no problems. But our team leader said this was arranged from above. No one can do anything.”
Su Weihua flared up. “Isn’t that abusing power?”
Old Zhou sighed helplessly. “We’re just small workers. If you make trouble at the director’s office and they return the money, what then? Leaders can find any excuse to make your life difficult. Think of your family.”
“I don’t even know who I offended,” Su Weihua muttered.
He had always been honest and avoided conflict. After working in the cannery for a lifetime, how could he have angered a big leader?
At the side, Su Jinle’s nails dug into her palm.
She suddenly remembered Yang Muqing’s words from yesterday:
Su Jinle, let’s see how much your backbone is worth. You’ll regret this.
Her father hadn’t offended anyone.
She had.
All because she refused to sell that dress.
Old Zhou added quietly, “Don’t go asking. It won’t help.”
Su Weihua gave a bitter smile. “I wouldn’t dare make trouble. I just want to know what I did wrong. I’ve worked here my whole life without a single disciplinary mark. This deduction feels unjust.”
Knowing his hardship, Old Zhou pulled out five yuan and tried to press it into his hand. “Take this. Don’t let my wife know.”
Su Weihua waved him off. “No need. We’ll manage.”
Thankfully, Lele had earned money yesterday. Otherwise this month they’d truly be starving. And the plan to save for Yian’s leg treatment would have to be postponed again.
After Old Zhou left, Su Weihua and Lin Yun returned inside — only to see their daughter silently crying, eyes red.
He panicked. “It’s fine, Lele. Just twenty yuan. This month they targeted me. Next month I’ll be more careful.”
She shook her head, crying. “It’s me… I offended someone.”
Ten minutes later—
Su Yian stroked her hair gently. “Lele, I’ll get justice for you. You did nothing wrong. The wrong ones are them. Your brother will handle it.”
He hadn’t wanted to trouble anyone. But his sister was his weak spot. If they bowed this time, who knew how Yang Muqing would bully her next?
Lin Yun sighed. “Yian, forget it.”
Twenty yuan — she could scrape it together somehow.
But Su Yian was firm. “This cannot be forgotten.”
Su Weihua lowered his head silently. He didn’t blame his daughter — only himself, for being incapable. A grown man who couldn’t defend his child or even comfortably support his family.
That night, Su Jinle lay awake. Eventually she got up with red eyes and continued sewing.
Her desire to earn money had never been stronger — not only for her brother’s leg.
In her previous life, she had lived in a false world, never realizing how hard things were at home. Someone high above could bend a person’s spine with a single sentence.
The next morning, she woke late.
Remembering she had to sell the dresses, she hurried out without ironing them first.
She ran straight into someone’s chest.
Hard muscle — her nose nearly bled from the impact.
Song Shixu frowned, voice stern. “Why are you running?”
She covered her nose. “Th-this… is my home.”
Why was he scolding her like a child? This was her own house — why couldn’t she run? Even if he was her brother’s friend, that was rude…
She was angry, but even anger made her look soft, almost like she was pouting.
Song Shixu frowned deeper. “You’re as soft as noodles. Of course people bully you. Your brother came from an elite unit — didn’t he ever think to train you?”
Su Jinle stared at him, so shocked she forgot to stutter.
“Train… me?”
She wasn’t one of his subordinates…