Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 13

After Xu Jing’an and Zhao Xiaofang shared their situations with each other, their relationship visibly improved.

“What did you mean earlier by saying it doesn’t cost money?”

“To make a long story short, I have a job in the steel plant’s finance office. If sold, it’s worth at least 800 yuan.”

Zhao Xiaofang nodded.

“Since you don’t have money right now, you could trade your dowry for the job with me. That way, you can move into that room.”

Xu Jing’an continued to look at Zhao Xiaofang, “The job requires a watch and a bicycle. You can use those. Just give me the rest, as long as you don’t mind.”

“There’s no reason to mind. Why keep things for my stepmother to covet? It’s just that these things aren’t worth as much as the job.”

“I also want you to help me get a diploma in advance.”

“Aren’t you continuing your studies?”

“I’ll keep studying, but I want to get the diploma early. If there’s a job opening, I can go directly if I have the diploma. Otherwise, without it, I can’t get the job and will just be making clothes for others.”

“Alright, when should we handle the paperwork?”

“I’ll come to find you the day after tomorrow afternoon. We’ll go to the steel plant together to change the name. That way, your name will be directly on the job notice, which saves time.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you at the school! It’s almost noon, shall we have lunch together?”

“No, I have something else. I need to go to the provincial capital for a competition and won’t be back until the day after tomorrow. I’m leaving this afternoon.”

They both felt a bit reluctant to part ways now.

“Xiaofang, what are your plans for the job your mother left behind?”

“I haven’t decided yet. Maybe I’ll sell it for money. Anyway, my stepmother won’t get a single hair from it!”

“Don’t just sell it. See if you can find someone to exchange it for a house, mainly to move your household registration out.”

“Why?”

“Have you noticed anything?”

“What?” Zhao Xiaofang asked in surprise.

“Down to the Countryside!”

“Ah—are you saying they might sign me up to go?”

“Who can say for sure? You’re currently in your third year of high school, but you’re still only seventeen, just a year away from adulthood. If they decide to scheme against you, they might just sign you up for the countryside without your consent. What will you do then?”

Zhao Xiaofang took a deep breath. “They could really do something like that!”

“That’s why you need to keep your household registration under your own control. This way, they can’t easily manipulate you. You can stay home, save your monthly wages at the bank, and keep your passbook safe—only then will the things you have truly belong to you. With your brother getting married soon, there will only be more kids. Having a house will give you a fallback.”

“Finally, there’s your marriage,” Xu Jing’an said, looking at Zhao Xiaofang. “I don’t believe your mother didn’t have a backup plan.”

Zhao Xiaofang smiled. “Don’t worry about that. My mom made arrangements.”

“Then it’s just tough for a few years. We’ll all get better.”

When the school bell rang, they parted ways. However, Zhao Xiaofang’s expression was noticeably more at ease, no longer showing any trace of irritation.

After lunch at the cafeteria, Zhao Xiaofang and the teachers, along with her classmates, set off to the provincial capital by train.

By the time they arrived at the guesthouse that evening, it was already dark.

The next morning there was a preliminary round, and in the afternoon, the finals. As participants kept decreasing, the competition ended around 5 PM. There were no more trains for the day, so they could only take the 10 AM train back the following morning.

Early the next day, one of the teachers went to buy tickets. The remaining two teachers stayed at the guesthouse with the students, making sure they didn’t wander around.

Xu Jing’an also got up early, handed in the leave note signed by her parents, and left amidst the envious gazes of the other students.

The department store in the provincial capital had indeed more complete and varied items compared to the city. Xu Jing’an bought what her mother requested and took the opportunity to use up the tickets in her space before they expired.

She bought a ladies’ watch, and two sets of clothes (top and pants), as her current clothes were patched and couldn’t withstand much washing. She got a pair of black leather shoes, a pair of white sports shoes, and two pairs of liberation shoes, as her current shoes were patched and frayed. With just two pounds of cotton tickets, she managed to make two thick cotton outfits, as her current cotton clothing was all lumped up. She bought industrial tickets, and a flashlight with two batteries. She also picked up some fabric not on the ticket list: three colors, six feet each. She got various snacks and food items without using tickets.

In one word, her current mood was— satisfying!

She wrapped the cotton in two clean old newspapers and tied it with string, discarded the shoebox, and wrapped the four pounds of snacks in two more layers of newspaper to avoid any oil seeping and staining the clothes. She put the batteries into the flashlight, and tested it to ensure it was bright, so she wouldn’t have to walk in the dark anymore.

She packed the items her mother asked for into a bag and secretly stored the rest in the space, which was now completely stuffed.

Xu Jing’an didn’t dare to linger any longer and rushed back to the guesthouse to avoid missing the train.

—

Zhao Xiaofang had a rare good sleep. The next day, when there were fewer people in class, she went to the principal’s office.

“Come in,” Principal Liang said as Zhao Xiaofang entered. “Xiaofang, what brings you here?”

“Is there a problem?”

When the landlord fled to avoid being criticized, he only took away valuables and jewelry. Feng Chuncao, on the other hand, secretly packed several baskets of books from the study.

Many servants went to grab food, furniture, and clothes… She had already left with books and personal items, taking a donkey cart.

At that time, when the new China was just established, Feng Chuncao donated all the books to the school. The then-young Principal Liang personally signed for them.

Before she passed away, Feng Chuncao met Principal Liang again while paying for her daughter. She hoped that Principal Liang would take special care of her daughter.

Principal Liang did offer some help.

Teachers of that era were mostly enthusiastic, selfless, and responsible for their students.

But Feng Chuncao couldn’t leave her daughter’s care to the whims and moods of others.

Most importantly, she couldn’t let her daughter Zhao Xiaofang bear any debts of gratitude. Whether it was favors or benefits, they were her own to manage.

Her daughter Zhao Xiaofang owed nothing to anyone. She only had to decide whether to accept it or not!

“Uncle Principal, I would like to ask for a favor,” Zhao Xiaofang said directly, without trying to curry favor or play the victim.

“What is it?”

“I would like to ask if you could help me get a graduation certificate in advance.”

“Are you sure?”

Zhao Xiaofang nodded. She was about to graduate, and her interactions with the school would soon decrease.

When should a favor be used if not now?

The favor left by her mother—useless for big matters and not worth much for small ones. This was the perfect time!

No one likes to be indebted or controlled by others.

Except, of course, those without a conscience!

Twenty minutes later, Zhao Xiaofang walked out of the office with the documents.