Chapter 360: Fortunately, the Answer Didn’t Disappoint Her

"Teacher Fu, what kind of job?" Song Zhaodi asked nervously.

Her heart was pounding.

"A data monitor at First Auto Factory. The hours are 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Wages are calculated daily at two yuan a day. You’re paid for every day you work. If you’re willing, I’ll take you there after school this afternoon. If you’re not—"

Before she could finish, Song Zhaodi was already nodding eagerly. "Teacher Fu, I’m willing! I’m very willing."

Although she loved her studies and never wasted a moment at school, working hard to absorb all the knowledge she could,

she also understood with profound clarity—right now, she had to survive.

She desperately needed money.

Besides, two yuan a day added up to sixty yuan a month.

To her, that was a huge sum of money.

Others working in factories only made thirty or forty yuan a month.

Seeing her excitement, Fu Mingxue could tell she was genuinely willing.

So, she said, "Since you’re willing, go work there for a while. If you feel it’s getting in the way of your studies, you can just tell them you’re quitting."

"Thank you, Teacher Fu!" Song Zhaodi’s eyes reddened.

She hadn’t expected Teacher Fu to be so kind.

She had even arranged a job for her.

"Don’t mention it. By the way, Student Song, may I ask a personal question? The financial aid the school gives you is more than just twelve yuan, isn’t it? How much do you give to your family? Of course, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to."

In reality, the school’s first-tier financial aid was nineteen and a half yuan.

Fu Mingxue was baffled as to how Song Zhaodi’s grades hadn’t qualified her.

Even if she didn’t make first-tier, surely she would have qualified for third-tier, right?

She really didn’t understand this part.

Furthermore, the school also had a special grant for students in extreme hardship.

Wasn’t Song Zhaodi on that list? The school had also distributed some meal vouchers.

It made no sense that she was eating so little, to the point where she was afraid to ask for more dishes.

"I... I’m not unwilling. I—" Song Zhaodi struggled to get the words out, ashamed. "My financial aid totals twenty-five yuan. But I have to give them twenty."

"Wasn’t it eight yuan?" Fu Mingxue asked, puzzled.

She remembered Senior Yan saying it was eight yuan.

Song Zhaodi shook her head, her eyes red, and said in a bitter voice:

"It was eight yuan at first. But then they demanded more and raised it to twenty. They said that if I give them twenty yuan a month for ten years, or a one-time payment of two thousand yuan, they will formally cut ties with me and never bother me again."

Fu Mingxue was flabbergasted. "So, you agreed?"

Song Zhaodi nodded. "Yes. I... I even signed a paper."

Fu Mingxue: ...?

’This naive girl... Is she not afraid they’ll just go back on their word?’

’Besides, she’s giving them this money continuously. Twenty yuan is a lot now, but what will it be worth in a few years? Would those bloodsuckers really let go of the cash cow in their hands so easily?’

"Teacher Fu, I know this isn’t good, but... they’re very difficult to deal with. I had no other choice—"

Fu Mingxue truly didn’t know what to say.

"Then let me ask you another question—if this sixty yuan in wages ends up in your hands, will you give it to your parents? If you start working, your family will probably find out very quickly. I suspect they’ll come to you for more money. What will you do then?"

"Will you give them the money?"

She asked calmly.

Song Zhaodi immediately shook her head. "I won’t. I will only give them the twenty yuan a month as written on that paper. I won’t give them a single cent more. Even when I’m earning my own salary and have money in the future, I will never give them any of my extra money."