Chapter Seventeen: Inquire Less

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For an entire month, Wei Yao devoted every moment outside of work and childcare to reading and studying. Her efforts paid off. At the beginning of January, Lu Guangyao brought her good news: she could enter the photography studio as an apprentice. First, however, she would have to take an examination, and the studio’s director would also need to interview her.

Wei Yao was so delighted that she repeatedly thanked Lu Guangyao and even bowed several times. Frightened, Lu Guangyao hopped aside twice.

“Comrade Wei Yao, there’s no need for this. Tomorrow, just take this note and go to the interview. If you run into any difficulties in the future, come find me.”

“Yes, yes, Comrade Lu. When will you and your wife have some free time? I’d like to treat you both to a meal. I’m truly sorry about last time. I had only just moved here, and before that I hadn’t met any of Mingrui’s friends or colleagues. It was just me and the children at home, and I was a little frightened.”

“No need, no need. We’ll talk about it after Song Mingrui comes back. We’ll be seeing plenty of one another, so there will be lots of time!”

Wei Yao still felt embarrassed. After all, he had helped her with such an important matter; she ought to show her gratitude somehow. She asked Lu Guangyao to wait a moment, then turned and went back inside. She packed three large lunch boxes with ready-made pickled vegetables and sauerkraut, along with some date cakes and rice candy.

They were all homemade. Seeing how eager she was to give them to him, Lu Guangyao knew that refusing would only make things awkward. After thanking her, he took the gifts and left.

Her month of study had not been wasted. The director who interviewed her had initially regarded her with disdain, but gradually began asking her questions with full attention. Later, he even started chatting with her.

Wei Yao understood then that the apprenticeship was as good as hers.

The director took her on a tour of the photography studio and introduced her to Master Qi, who was in the middle of taking photographs. After they exchanged greetings, he told her to report for work after the New Year and wrote her a note. If she had time before the holiday, she could come by to study.

Wei Yao thanked him profusely. Ever since she had broken away from the Song family, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Not only had both children grown much healthier under her care, but she had also encountered benefactors everywhere in her working life.

“Director, who is she? Why did you personally show her around our workplace? And why are you asking me to train her in the future?”

The director shook his head. “It doesn’t matter who she is. From now on, she’s an employee of our photography studio. Whatever benefits a permanent worker receives, she’ll receive as well. Her salary will be fifty yuan a month. She’s capable. During the interview, she demonstrated considerable knowledge of photography and showed that she’s willing to work hard. As for her family background, don’t pry.”

Master Qi had worked at the photography studio for several years. What sort of person had he not seen? Since the director had told him not to ask questions, he naturally would not. He simply had not expected her salary to be so high—it was practically the highest wage an apprentice could receive.

Wei Yao was overjoyed. That evening, she used the coal stove to make a hot pot of mutton soup, and she even took a children’s meal from her storage space for Song Yang.

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Looking at the table laden with food, Song Yang swallowed audibly.

“Mom, it isn’t New Year yet. Why are we eating so well today?”

Wei Yao lifted a lamb rib from the hot pot and placed it in Song Yang’s bowl, then ladled him a bowl of clear broth.

“Son, something wonderful happened. I went to the photography studio today and passed the examination. After the New Year, I’ll be able to work there. I’ll earn fifty yuan a month, and that doesn’t even include the various benefits they give out from time to time. From now on, the three of us are going to live well.”

“Mom, you’re amazing! You’re really amazing! If Dad comes back and finds out how capable you are, he’ll be so happy. Mom, do you think Dad can come home for the New Year?”

Wei Yao’s smile faltered. Looking at the hope in her son’s eyes, she could not bear to tell him that the father he thought about day and night might already be dead by now.

As for Song Mingrui, it would be a lie to say she did not resent him.

When they had married, he had promised to cherish and care for her as though she were held in the palm of his hand. At the time, she had only just been sent down to the countryside, and everything about the future was unknown and frightening. Though she had appeared calm on the surface, her heart had long been in turmoil.

Contributing to the nation and going to the countryside were good things, but one also needed to meet decent villagers. Only through mutual help could everyone make progress together. Unfortunately, she had been unlucky enough to offend someone by accident. If she had not met Song Mingrui, she did not know whether she could have survived in the village.

Afterward, they had enjoyed a period of happiness, but good times never lasted. Ever since he had been transferred to the transport team, he had spent most of the year away from home.

It was strange. Leaving aside the fact that he was always gone, he worked so hard and yet earned so little. She truly did not know what to say.

Wei Yao thought that if Song Mingrui really was dead, she would simply raise the two children and live a good life. If he returned safely, perhaps it would be heaven granting her a chance—a chance to propose a dignified divorce and finally free herself from the Song family.

“Hurry up and eat. If your father can come back, then let him come back. If he can’t, so be it. The three of us can still have a good New Year.”

Nearby, Song Hui watched her mother and brother eating with such relish. She stretched her little hands toward them as hard as she could, her tiny brows knitted together, and cried out repeatedly, “Ah, ah, ah,” as though voicing her protest.

Wei Yao mixed some steamed potato with mashed pork liver powder and fed it to her little by little with a small spoon. After eating something delicious, the baby was overjoyed. She grinned with her toothless mouth and laughed gleefully.

In mid-January, the cotton mill announced the holiday schedule. Wei Yao often found herself distracted as she thought about her new job. When Yang Yonglian noticed, she assumed Wei Yao must have encountered some trouble and went over to speak with her during a quiet moment.

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“What’s wrong, Sis? You’ve seemed distracted these past few days. Is something the matter?”

Wei Yao took a bite of her steamed bun before replying. “After the New Year, I’m going to work at the photography studio. I’m planning to sell my job at the canteen, but after spending all this time with you, I really can’t bear to leave.”

Yang Yonglian’s eyes widened with envy.

“What’s there to be reluctant about, Sis? We all live nearby. Come visit whenever you miss us. As for the job, ask Auntie Guan. Her son is about to be sent down to the countryside, and she’s worried about finding a suitable job. If you sell yours to her, she’ll be so happy she’ll probably jump for joy.”

“All right. I’ll ask Auntie Guan later. If she’s willing to buy it, I’ll give her a slightly lower price.”

Yang Yonglian shook her head. “Don’t lower it. No family’s money comes blowing in with the wind. You don’t need to ask her yourself—I’ll bring it up. If you go eagerly offering it, Auntie Guan might actually try to drive down the price!”

People could be kind, but when money was involved—a particularly sensitive matter—everyone was bound to have their own calculations.

When Auntie Guan heard that Wei Yao was selling her job, she became so excited that the aluminum lunch box in her hand nearly slipped from her grasp. After confirming it several times, she slapped her thigh and declared that she wanted it.

That very day, she took leave and went to get the money.

Wei Yao had originally asked for seven hundred yuan, but after thinking it over, she settled for six hundred and fifty. She spent ten yuan on snacks and treats for her coworkers at the canteen.

During the holiday, she used all the remaining money to go to the countryside and buy chickens, ducks, and geese. She also asked Feng Hai to obtain two piglets, three sheep, and a cow for her. In the end, she had only three hundred and ten yuan left.

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