Miao Yunwei lowered her eyelids and said seriously, “Mom, it’s not a big deal. Dad has just been exploited by Zhang Xiuqing for too long, so he’s afraid of this and that. Now that I’m working shifts with my brother, there’s already space for our luggage in the baggage compartment. Putting a few small things in there is no trouble at all. As for the problems Dad is worried about, I guarantee they won’t happen.”
Seeing her daughter’s firm assurance, Meng Suling didn’t say anything more. Happily, she opened the bag and took out the sweet potato vines inside. Seeing that the vines were a bit wilted, she went to turn the soil, cover it, and water it overnight.
After Miao Yunwei finished bathing, it was only a little past eight o’clock. She walked out to the backyard to watch Meng Suling work.
The dim yellow light bulb couldn’t reach the base of the wall. From the nearby gravel river came the sounds of frogs croaking and insects chirping. The summer night was lively, with gusts of forest wind blowing through the back door into the rear hall.
Miao Yunwei’s damp hair quickly dried in the breeze.
She sat on the bamboo couch, feeling bored, and chatted idly with Meng Suling, who was working in the yard. “Mom, has there been any progress with Ke Youzhi’s situation? Did he try to extort money from our family?”
Meng Suling swung the hoe while panting, “How could he not try! He really has no shame. He started the fight himself, and when he couldn’t win, he tried to extort money. Fortunately, many people were there at the time, so we stood our ground and didn’t give him a single cent.
I heard from your dad that the passenger transport unit’s leadership gave Ke Youzhi a public reprimand and demoted him. Originally, he had the treatment of a seventh-grade worker, but now he’s been downgraded to a fourth-grade worker. He also has to publicly confess and repent at the unit’s employee meeting. Only if he behaves well can he continue driving.
Having to work in the same unit with someone like him in the future is really unlucky. You need to be more careful and not give him any leverage. That kind of mad dog will definitely keep coming after you!”
Miao Yunwei was taken aback at first, but thinking of Zhang Xiuqing, she let out a long sigh of relief. “What’s there to be afraid of! It’s not like no one can handle him. Besides, it’s not like we’ll be bringing things back every time. In the future, if anyone wants help bringing sweet potatoes, they have to give sugar first. You can keep a small notebook to record it, so when others ask, I can explain it to them.
Just to be safe, I think we should ask Dad to make me a sturdy wooden frame basket separately, matching the height of the baggage compartment. When we organize the passengers’ luggage later, some light and small bags can be placed on the frame. It can both block the view and save space, making it easier for me to operate.”
It took Meng Suling a while to understand what she meant, and her expression turned sour. “You really have no sense! Why help with such things? It’s thankless work!”
Miao Yunwei gave her a look that said, “You don’t understand.” “Mom, you have to cast a long line to catch a big fish. If I openly help the neighbors exchange things now, and we don’t make any profit, the leadership will definitely ask about it. I can just show them the notebook and the items to prove my innocence. Those troublemakers won’t be able to do anything to me. Maybe the leadership will even praise me for being helpful!
In the future, if I come across something good, I can quietly bring it back, and no one will suspect me. I might even be able to exchange for some good stuff or earn a little extra money on the side.”
Her voice unconsciously grew softer.
Meng Suling could only catch the gist of what she said. Suppressing her pounding heart, she grabbed the hoe and ran over, warning, “When did you become so bold, you silly child? I don’t care what you’re thinking, but your job is the most important thing. No matter what you do, you can’t lose your job, understand? If you dare to mess up your job, I’ll skin you alive!”
She wasn’t the kind of rigid, timid person who would overly interfere in her daughter’s affairs. After all, in these times, honest folks simply couldn’t live a good life—they’d only suffer their whole lives. It was a good thing her daughter had guts, but she still needed to give her a little nudge now and then.
Miao Yunwei nodded vigorously, seizing the opportunity to climb the ladder. “Mom, could you put in a good word for me with Dad? I’m absolutely determined to build a reputation for being helpful during this time. Dad can’t hold me back.”
Meng Suling snorted, turning back to her work as if Miao Yunwei’s worries were laughable.
By the time Miao Jianguo and his son returned, Miao Yunwei had already gone back to her room to lie down.
Meng Suling set out the food and glanced at Miao Jianguo. “I’ve thought it over carefully. Our daughter helping the neighbors is a good thing. Back when we were schemed against by the eldest branch, plenty of people in the courtyard were laughing at our family. This is a chance to hold our heads high and give the eldest branch a good stomping.
I know what you’re worried about, but we’re not unreasonable people. From now on, if anyone asks us to buy things for them, we’ll keep a record with their fingerprints. That way, if the unit leaders ask about it later, we won’t have anything to fear. Also, when you have time, build a sturdy rack—one that won’t collapse—to put in the luggage compartment. Light, non-crushable items can go on the rack to save space, so our daughter can bring back more things.”
Miao Jianguo stared in disbelief, his neck stiffening as he retorted, “So after discussing it with the girl for so long, this is the plan you came up with? Suling, this is no small matter. If we get even one complaint, it’ll be hard for our daughter to get a promotion in the future!”
Meng Suling’s expression remained calm, but her gaze was complex as she looked at Miao Jianguo. “Comrade Miao Jianguo, I know you’re capable and absolutely adhere to organizational discipline. In all your years of work, you’ve never done a single thing to benefit yourself.
You’re probably the most disciplined driver in the unit, right? Let me ask you this: Ke Youzhi joined the unit around the same time as you, and he’s already been promoted to a seventh-grade worker. If this incident hadn’t blown up, he might’ve even retired with an eighth-grade worker’s benefits.
You’re applying for early retirement now and you’re still only a sixth-grade worker. Is it because your driving skills are worse than his? Or because you’ve made more mistakes? Neither! I can confidently tell anyone that you’re the steadiest driver out there!
The leaders must know your abilities too, otherwise why would they have you temporarily take over Ke Youzhi’s shift? So where do you think the problem lies?
I’m not questioning you. I just want to say that our daughter knows what she’s doing. As long as she can handle things properly, don’t force her to do things your way. Besides, she’s not stupid. If the wind changes direction, she’ll run faster than anyone.”
Miao Pingkang had been listening quietly and roughly understood Meng Suling’s point. He chimed in, “Dad, Little Sister really is quite reliable. For one thing, during the time you took me along to practice driving, Auntie Zhang never did anything on the bus except check tickets. She didn’t even touch the things in the public storage box.
Every time we finished a run, she’d open the box and take everything home. And she’s not the only one who does that.
This time, Little Sister proactively handed out trash bags to passengers to avoid getting dragged into disputes, and she even got praised by the bus station staff. As for bringing back two hundred pounds of sweet potatoes, she packed and arranged the luggage compartment herself without affecting any passenger’s belongings.
You should trust her abilities.”
Miao Jianguo sat down with his legs spread wide, hands resting on his knees. He let out two long sighs before finally speaking in a low voice, “Alright, you two siblings can decide for yourselves. Just don’t end up ruining your own livelihood.”
There wasn’t much more he could do about it anyway.