If Zeng Xiangping went to university, the job at the cotton mill would become vacant.
Before Zeng Xiangping, there were two choices: one was to keep the position without pay, waiting until graduation to return to the Original Work Unit.
The other was to hand the job over to someone else since after graduating from university, he could be reassigned to a new position.
Zeng Shuyi immediately understood this.
Now, buying a job costs at least six or seven hundred yuan, if not eight hundred.
Zeng Shuyi had taken nine hundred yuan from the Wang family.
Now that the Wang family saw an opportunity for profit, they shamelessly came wagging their tails like Haba Dogs.
Zeng Shuyi mercilessly exposed the petty schemes of Wang Zhigang and his wife. As for how it would end, she didn’t care.
After closing the door, she pressed herself against it to watch the commotion.
Zeng Qingliang and his wife had also discussed Zeng Xiangping’s job but hadn’t yet spoken to their eldest son.
Now, hearing what their daughter said and looking at the eyes of Wang Zhigang and his wife, Zeng Qingliang’s disgust only deepened.
“Wang Zhigang, is that really what you think?” Zeng Qingliang asked.
Having reached this point, Wang Zhigang knew he couldn’t just get the job for free.
He hurriedly explained, “In-laws, don’t misunderstand. I’m not asking for your family’s job for free. I want to buy it.”
Hearing the word “buy,” Zeng Qingliang felt somewhat better, thinking at least Wang Zhigang had some shame.
Everyone sat down again.
Wang Zhigang glanced at Zeng Qingliang and his wife, then looked at his daughter with a flattering smile.
“Xiao Juan, you haven’t been home for a while.
Ah, Mom and Dad know you have your grievances; it’s not your fault.
You don’t know that your brother Wei Bing didn’t get into high school.”
Wang Weibing was seventeen this year and had already repeated a grade before.
If he couldn’t get into high school, there was no way he could get into vocational school.
A half-grown lad without a job, lazing at home all day, taking medicine and causing trouble.
Since Zeng Xiangping got into university, Wang Zhigang and his wife figured they could try to take over Zeng Xiangping’s job.
In fact, Wang Juan knew her brother hadn’t gotten into high school.
Her parents didn’t dare to tell her, and her brother had asked a few times but only got criticized at home.
She just hadn’t expected her parents to come to the Zeng household with an agenda.
She thought they were here to congratulate Xiangping.
It wasn’t purely a congratulation, so Wang Juan couldn’t feel happy.
“Xiao Juan, after Xiangping graduates from university, he can be assigned a job.
Instead of returning to the cotton mill, why not sell his current job?
You can make some money now, and later there won’t be a shortage of jobs,” Wang Zhigang thought his daughter would be pleased this time. He had a plan for her.
Wang Juan asked, “Dad, how much are you planning to offer?”
Wang Zhigang looked at his daughter, then at his in-laws.
“In-laws, you know I owe you nine hundred yuan. We’re really broke now, not many people. Why don’t you say a number first?”
Zeng Qingliang bluntly said, “Jobs outside cost eight hundred. Since we’re family, I’ll give you seven hundred and eighty.”
“In-laws, you…” Wang Zhigang felt a surge of anger, but since he was asking for a favor, he swallowed it quickly. “Let’s talk this through nicely. We’re all family. We should help each other.”
At that moment, Zeng Xiangmin spoke up displeased, “Big brother’s job was given by Mom. Since he will be assigned a job after university, he has to give this job to me.”
No one expected that.
Zeng Xiangping frowned and asked, “Aren’t you apprenticing under carpenter Feng?”
“Big brother, being an apprentice isn’t even considered a temporary worker. Later, if I want to get into the lumber factory, I have to reapply and take exams. But if you give me the job, I become a formal worker immediately. Is that the same?” Zeng Xiangmin looked at his parents. “I’m telling you the truth, working under carpenter Feng is so frustrating I can’t take it anymore. This job has to be mine. You spent so much money supporting big brother to repeat three years, now you won’t even give me a job?”
Of course, Zeng Xiangmin wasn’t really going to work at the cotton mill, but he could sell the job.
Recently, he heard from Zhao Fu that his second sister made a lot of money selling cotton with the Feng Brothers, and he was very tempted.
Lin Jiazhen was speechless.
Both sons were her children; she felt the younger one made a good point.
Zeng Qingliang also pondered.
The younger son still had over a year left as an apprentice and would have to start as a temporary worker again when applying for a position.
It was better to start as a formal worker directly so they wouldn’t have to keep supporting him.
It was a pity for the cigarettes and liquor gifts he gave to carpenter Feng—now giving up felt like wasting those gifts.
Wang Zhigang hadn’t expected a dark horse to appear out of nowhere. “Xiangmin, why are you making such a fuss? You’ve been apprenticing with carpenter Feng for almost a year. Quitting halfway is a shame.”
“Uncle Wang, don’t rush. If you give me the job, you can buy it from me,” Zeng Xiangmin sneered. “Besides, what’s wrong with not wasting time? It’s better to have a job directly, right?”
Being an apprentice didn’t guarantee success. Although apprenticeships were supposed to last two years, some people dragged on for three or five years.
Zeng Xiangmin felt his demand was not unreasonable. They were all sons, yet all the benefits went to big brother?
“Xiangmin, that’s my job,” Zeng Xiangping said unhappily. The job Mom gave him was his, and he didn’t want to give it to his brother.
Whether to sell it or keep it was his decision alone.
“Big brother, don’t you feel guilty saying that?” Zeng Xiangmin was displeased. “The whole family tightened their belts to support your studies. You have your own money and salary but never consider the family’s living expenses, only using it for yourself. You even forced Mom and Dad to pay your tuition, so sister couldn’t repeat her year. You just hog everything at home, don’t you?”
Zeng Xiangping stood up. “Xiangmin, how can you talk like that? I am your big brother.”
“I see right through your little schemes. You’re getting desperate now, huh?” Zeng Xiangmin shouted back.
Seeing the brothers about to fight, Lin Jiazhen hurried to mediate, but she had no authority; her sons ignored her.
Only when Zeng Qingliang slammed his fist on the table did the two stop.
Zeng Qingliang looked at Wang Zhigang and his wife. “If you want to buy the job, don’t talk about one or two hundred yuan. Go home for today. When you’re willing to spend money, come find us.”
He motioned them out. Though unwilling, Wang Zhigang and his wife had to leave.
But they also took their daughter out. Wang Zhigang quietly said, “Xiao Juan, you have to help your brother. If you get bullied at your in-laws’ place in the future, your brothers will be the ones to help you.”
Wang Juan was reluctant. “Mom, Dad, I can’t decide about the job. You know I lost my child, so I have no say at the Zeng house. Xiangping doesn’t listen to me either. He doesn’t even give me his salary anymore; he keeps it all to himself. If you really want Xiangping’s job, just pay for it.”
“Xiao Juan, what’s gotten into you?” Wang Zhigang frowned. “That’s your own brother. If you don’t help, who else can we turn to?”
“But I really can’t decide!” Wang Juan had been treated better by her mother-in-law, and Zeng Shuyi was as usual, but her husband and father-in-law’s attitude was clearly different.
She knew if she caused trouble like before, her in-laws wouldn’t let her live in peace. So she became cautious in front of her husband and let him handle everything.
But Tian Xiaoshi and his wife didn’t believe her. “Xiangping used to listen to you more. Even if not as much as before, he’d still hear you out. Xiao Juan, do you still resent your parents, so you won’t help your brother?”
“I said I don’t! Really don’t!” Wang Juan stomped her feet anxiously. “Mom, Dad, can’t you understand my difficulties? I lost my child and can’t have any more. My father-in-law desperately wants a grandson, so I have a hard time at my in-laws. Why are you still forcing me?”
Wang Zhigang couldn’t hear her out. “Fine, fine, girls who marry out are like spilled water. Xiao Juan, we’ve done everything for you, and now you won’t even help us with something so small. Honey, let’s go!”
He left in a huff. Tian Xiaohua grabbed her daughter’s hand. “Don’t be mad at your dad. He’s angry right now. You know you’re his only daughter, so he really cares about you. Take your time talking to Xiangping. Mom and Dad aren’t asking you to solve it immediately. We’ll cook a meal later; you and Xiangping can come back and eat together.”
Wang Juan watched her parents’ backs, feeling bitter, but she hadn’t entered the room when she heard sounds of a fight inside.
She rushed in and saw her husband and younger brother-in-law wrestling on the floor. She hurried to separate them.