Chapter 129: A Thorn in Their Side

""From now on, when you get your monthly wages, you have to give me fifteen yuan. Otherwise, forget it!""

In those days, fifteen yuan was no small sum—it was equivalent to ten days or even half a month's wages for a worker.

Sheng Damei winced. ""Can I at least know how much I'll be making each month?""

Ji Ping replied offhandedly, ""For the first three months, you'll get thirty yuan a month. After that, thirty-five. Whether you get a raise each year depends on the factory's performance.""

Sheng Damei curled her lip. ""So I'll only have fifteen or twenty yuan left for myself every month. That's less than what you used to give me!""

Back when she just stayed home cooking, boiling water, and cleaning, Ji Ping would give her thirty yuan a month for living expenses.

Ji Ping gave her another kick. ""Looks like I've really spoiled you. Fine, then—don't go work at the factory! From now on, I'll only give you five yuan a month, and you’ll have to come out fishing with me.""

Seeing that Ji Ping wasn't joking, Sheng Damei got scared. ""Don't! If I don't go to work, isn't that wasting a job slot?""

Going out to sea to fish was way too hard and exhausting for her—she absolutely couldn't do it.

Ji Ping deliberately said, ""It's not a waste. I can sell the job spot to someone else for at least three thousand yuan, maybe even make a few hundred on top. You think these jobs are easy to get? If I didn't have connections, I couldn't have bought it at all!""

Sheng Damei, always good at playing the victim, started crying. ""I know I was wrong! I'll go to work! I'll listen to you! I'll give you fifteen yuan every month.""

Ji Ping felt a headache coming on. He hated when she cried, but there was nothing he could do. ""Fine! Once you’ve given me a total of three thousand yuan, I won’t ask you for any more of your wages.""

""It's a deal!""

""It's a deal!""

Hearing this, Sheng Damei broke into a smile through her tears and let out a long sigh of relief. Thank goodness she got to keep the job and didn't have to go out to sea—otherwise, she'd get rough hands and skin, and no one would want to marry her.

Ji Ping reminded her, ""Pack your things tonight. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the county.""

""Okay. You still haven't told me which factory it is.""

""The pastry factory.""

""That's great! Does that mean I can have broken pastries every month?""

The pastry factory really did have leftover bits of pastries.

""You have to pay for those!""

""That's fine! I'll have my own wages by then. I’ll buy some for myself, and for you too.""

""No need for that. Just take care of yourself and give me fifteen yuan on time every month.""

""Brother, you’re so good to me. It’s only right I buy you something to eat! That’s settled, then! I’ll go write a guarantee letter right now.""

Sheng Damei dashed into her room, found some paper and a pen, and got ready to write her guarantee.

But she sat there for a long time, unable to start.

Her clothes were only half-new, all bought with money from Ji Ping.

Thinking back on everything she’d done before, she felt deep regret—it really hadn’t been worth it.

Messing around with men hadn’t brought her any real benefit, just ruined her health. In the end, it was still her brother who took care of her.

This time, her brother had spent so much money to buy her a job. If she didn’t straighten up now, she’d really be letting him down.

She only had a junior high diploma, and this was the first time she’d ever written a guarantee letter.

It took her two hours.

When Ji Ping got it, he read it silently.

""I, Sheng Damei, hereby promise that after I start working at the pastry factory, I will give Ji Ping fifteen yuan from my wages every month, until it totals three thousand yuan. In this world, Ji Ping is my only family, and he’s the one who treats me best. From today on, I’ll listen to Ji Ping, work hard, be honest, and never mess around with men again...""

As he read, Ji Ping actually teared up.

He never expected Sheng Damei to reflect so deeply.

He hoped she really would turn over a new leaf, and that his money wouldn’t be wasted.

After ten o’clock that night, Chu Xuan stood at the gate, looking out.

Why hadn’t Mu Chenze come to pick up the grilled fish slices yet?

Did something happen?

She waited another fifteen minutes, but he still didn’t show.

She told her little brother she was heading out, grabbed a flashlight, and was about to go to his house to check.

Just then, Mu Chenze finally arrived, pulling his cart, a bit sheepish.

""Sorry, I overslept.""

Before Chu Xuan could say anything, Chu Feng jumped in, ""Brother Chenze, you were so late! My sister was worried and was about to go to your house to check on you!""

Mu Chenze felt secretly pleased—being a little late could get Chu Xuan to care about him!

Chu Xuan put on a tough front. ""Don’t get the wrong idea. I was just worried my fish slices wouldn’t sell.""

Mu Chenze grinned, ""Your fish slices always sell. Say whatever you want! I’ll go load up the goods.""

""I’ll help,"" Chu Feng said, following him.

In no time, they loaded over two hundred jin of goods onto the cart.

Chu Feng slipped back to his room, leaving the two of them alone.

Mu Chenze was very satisfied—Chu Feng was getting more and more sensible. He made a mental note to bring him more treats in the future.

Chu Xuan pointed at the door. ""I’ll walk you out.""

Mu Chenze stayed put. ""I have something to tell you.""

""Go ahead.""

""Ji Ping spent three thousand yuan to buy Sheng Damei a job at the county pastry factory. She won’t be bothering you anymore.""

""Ji Ping is really good to Sheng Damei. I hope she doesn’t let him down.""

In her previous life, Sheng Damei got married, Li Qin passed away (not murdered), and Ji Ping didn’t look after Sheng Damei.

This time, Li Qin died earlier, and before she passed, she asked Ji Ping to take care of Sheng Damei. Ji Ping took on the responsibility of being her brother.

With Ji Ping watching over her, Sheng Damei probably wouldn’t go down the same path as before.

Chu Xuan had unintentionally changed the fate of some people, and she was confident she could change her own.

She unconsciously clenched her fist, cheering herself on.

In the light from the yard, Mu Chenze saw the determination in Chu Xuan’s eyes and guessed she was thinking about something else.

""What are you thinking about?""

Chu Xuan quickly composed herself and unclenched her fist. She couldn’t tell him her real thoughts, so she said casually, ""I was just thinking about how to make more money. After October, I won’t be running the grilled fish workshop anymore. Should I buy a fishing boat to rent out, or maybe go into business with someone?""

Actually, she had a psychological block about boats, but she knew she had to overcome it.

Mu Chenze gave her a thumbs up. ""You’re ambitious—I support you buying a boat! If you need money, just ask. But good business partners are hard to find. Some people aren’t as honest as they seem. They might say they only caught two hundred jin when they really caught three hundred, or hide the good stuff and sell it through someone else, not giving you a cent. You’re a girl—you might be able to go out fishing for a day or two, but not for a whole year or two.""

Chu Xuan could hear the subtext—he was supporting her on the surface, but really advising her not to buy a boat.

She knew he was right. ""I’ll think about it. I was just talking off the top of my head.""

""You and Uncle Long—""

Before he could finish, Chu Xuan cut him off. ""Whatever agreement I have with Uncle Long, you stay out of it. If you’re not careful, you could drag your family into it. I’m different—I'm already a thorn in Feng Chunhua’s family’s side…""

Mu Chenze couldn’t just do nothing, but he couldn’t say that out loud. He quickly waved his hand. ""I think you’re not their main target. Maybe Xiao Feng is the real thorn in their side. I can stay out of those things, but there’s one thing you have to promise me!""

""What is it?"""