Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 1052 What a coincidence?

Xiao Hong continued, "If you two old folks go, they won't have to worry about anything at home. They need someone to do the washing, cleaning, and cooking, right? Otherwise, they'll have to hire someone, which costs money. You're enjoying your good fortune here, but you still have to pay to hire someone over there. What's the point?"

The patient in the bed next to her returned; she was also an elderly woman, and the one supporting her was probably her daughter. Seeing the oranges in the little girl's hand, the woman said, "My goodness, this child, how dare she take something so expensive? You took it just because it was given to you? Have you no shame?"

Xiao Hong said, "It's just two oranges, sister, don't talk to the child like that. They're so adorable. Eat them, there are more."

The little girl looked at her mother with pleading eyes, and her mother said, "Alright, alright, eat up. If you ever ask other people for things again, I'll beat you to death."

The little girl happily started peeling the oranges. After peeling two oranges, she held one to her grandmother's mouth: "Grandma, eat one, it will make you better. It's so sweet."

Her grandmother said, "You eat it, Grandma doesn't want any."

The little girl wouldn't have it and insisted that the old lady eat half an orange before she would put a segment in her own mouth and then try to feed her mother. Her mother probably felt embarrassed and didn't eat any, saying, "This child was raised by my mother since she was little, so she's closer to her grandmother."

Xiao Hong said, "You're so adorable, so well-behaved. I'll take you home. Can you come with me? I have everything at home, you can eat whatever you want." She reached out and picked up the little girl.

The little girl, about three or four years old, had an orange in her mouth. Whether she was reluctant to part with it or was shy, she didn't bite it, just moved her lips and pursed them. After looking at Xiao Hong for a while, she whispered, "Is my mom and grandma going?"

Xiao Hong said, "Don't let them go. They're too old to be popular anymore. You go by yourself, and all the good food is yours."

The little girl looked at Xiao Hong, seemed hesitant for a moment, and shook her head: "No."

Xiaohong said, "I'll give your mom money, lots and lots of money, and then you'll come with me, okay? After that, your grandma and your mom will have money. Are you in?"

The little girl seemed to be nodding, yet also shaking her head. She looked at Xiaohong, then at her mother and grandmother, and suddenly tears welled up in her eyes. Xiaohong panicked immediately: "What's wrong? What happened? Don't cry, don't cry, I won't say anything. Don't cry."

The girl's mother came over and took the little girl from her, saying, "She's sad. This girl is thoughtful and remembers what she's said. Yesterday I said we didn't have any money, so maybe we could sell her to get some money for her grandmother's medical treatment, and she remembered that."

The little girl didn't say a word, her little hands tightly wrapped around her mother's neck, tears streaming down her face. She looked so pitiful.

Little Red blushed, feeling extremely embarrassed, and tried to make conversation by asking, "Where do you work, sister?"

The girl's mother took out a handkerchief to wipe her face and said, "There's no real work to be had. Last autumn, she worked at the mountain products company for a while. We were supposed to try working there in Fengtian, but my mother isn't well, and she's too young to leave. So we're just doing this half-hearted job."

Residents of county towns are actually a very special group of people.

They have urban household registration but can't live a city life, and are considered farmers by city dwellers. But even though they're farmers, they don't own land. Finding work is the most awkward situation; how many factories and businesses can a small county town have? How many government positions are available?

Even after the reforms, doing business is still more difficult than in the city. There's a smaller population and fiercer competition. Not only are the costs higher, but there's no guarantee of success. There's not that much room for growth.

Back then, the government would at least organize some small factories to solve this problem. After the reform and opening up and the introduction of the market economy, large and small collective factories in big cities were dissolved in large numbers, not to mention small factories in a small county town.

Liu Liu Lina and Xiao Hong both turned to look at Xiao Wei.

Xiao Hong pointed at Xiao Wei and said, "Go find him. The mountain products company is his, and so is the recruitment office in Fengtian."

The girl's mother was stunned: "Really? You're kidding me, aren't you?"

Xiao Hong said, "Isn't it a coincidence? It's really a coincidence. I'm not kidding you. We just came back from Fengtian today. He went to the county on business, which was about recruiting people."

Xiao Wei said, "I'm still in a daze. How could they sell me off so easily?"

Xiao Hong said, "You're not as cute as that little girl, she's so adorable. I want to have such a well-behaved girl someday, and hold her every day."

The girl's mother asked, "Why did you come all the way from Fengtian to recruit people here?"

Liu Liu said, "They're from around here, from Honeybee. We're from the same village. My family still lives there; we haven't moved yet."

Xiao Wei said, "I trust the people here, and besides, I came from here, so I have to find a way to help them."

The girl's mother nodded and said, "You're all so kind. What do you need someone for? How about me?" Her eyes dimmed. "No, it won't work. My mother isn't feeling well these days, and she's too young."

Xiao Hong asked, "Where's her dad?"

The girl's mother said, "I don't know. She's probably died somewhere out there; we haven't seen her for years."

Xiao Hong asked, "What about her grandparents' house? Don't they care about that either?"

The girl's mother said, "I wouldn't accept it. I guess if it were a boy, maybe they wouldn't want a girl. It's the same, I'm doing just fine."

Xiao Hong glanced at Liu Liu's mother, who was still deep in thought, and sighed, "Really, there are all kinds of families."

The little girl's maternal grandmother sighed, "What a tragedy. Alas."

Xiao Hong looked at Ya Tou's maternal grandmother, and Ya Tou's mother said, "My father passed away early, and now it's just the three of us, my mother and me, in our family."

Xiao Wei licked his lips, frowned slightly, sensing that Xiao Hong was about to take on some responsibility. Given this family's situation, there was really no way to help them. Sure enough, Xiao Hong turned her head and looked at him: "Xiao Wei."

Xiao Wei scratched his head, thought for a moment, and asked the girl's mother, "What's your surname?"

The girl's mother said, "My surname is Wang, Wang Guifang."

Xiao Wei asked, "Sister Wang, what did you do before? What skills did you have?"

Wang Guifang said, "I never had a proper job before. I worked as a temporary worker in the Construction Bureau, doing statistics. I also worked in a grain depot and a county foundry. Back then, it was easy to find a job, but later I gradually just stayed at home. I didn't have any connections."

Grandma Yatou said, "I was doing well at the city construction company, but someone else took my place. We don't have the money to bribe them."

Xiao Wei asked, "So what are your thoughts now? Do you still want to go back to work?"

Wang Guifang shook her head and said, "I don't want to think about it anymore. We have no connections and no money. Even if we go in, we'll just be looked down upon and won't get ahead. It's all for nothing if we can't get a permanent position. I was just thinking that if I could open a small shop, I could just make ends meet. We don't have any capital at home."

Xiao Wei looked at Xiao Hong and said, "Well, if you still want to go back to Chengjian, I can help you find someone. It shouldn't be a problem."

Xiao Hong said, "My dad is the director of the provincial urban construction bureau. It's no trouble at all; it's just a matter of saying a few words."

Xiao Wei said, "No need, Uncle Wang. You have enough face. I just got a few schools to give you a position, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Wang Guifang thought for a moment, gritted her teeth, and said, "I want to join the police force, is it possible to join a police station?"

(End of this chapter)