Chapter 81: Dirt Poor
Before she could muster the courage to speak, Ling Anxun had already crouched down and started counting the bills one by one.
He folded the bills in half, neatly tucked them into an envelope, and said in a low voice, "This is too much money for a child to be carrying. What if you lose it, or a bad person sees it? That would be so dangerous."
"I’ll save it for you for now. When you go to college, you’ll need it for tuition, books, and rent. I’ll give it back to you then, okay?"
Shanshan’s face went pale and her heart sank. She froze completely.
Before she could even react, Ling Anxun raised an eyebrow.
"What’s wrong? Is it... that you don’t trust me?"
"No, no!"
Shanshan hurriedly shook her head.
"I do trust you! Of course I trust you, Dad!"
She bit her lip, trying to calm herself down, and tentatively asked in a small voice, "But... c-could you maybe, just save half? I could... keep the rest, to buy candy?"
Unfortunately, Ling Anxun had fully expected her to try and wheedle him.
He shook his head gently, his tone still warm.
"No can do, Shanshan. Children just can’t manage money properly. Besides, I’ll buy you anything you want to eat, so you don’t need pocket money."
In just a few sentences, he effortlessly dismantled her little plan.
Finally, after a moment of silence and hesitation, he relented. "How about this? I’ll give you a fixed allowance every month. One hundred yuan. Exactly one hundred. Not a penny more."
Shanshan pouted, her eyes instantly welling up.
But then she remembered how her dad got up at six o’clock every morning to brave the cold wind and bike her to school.
New dresses, a new schoolbag, the little rabbit hair clip...
Her dad would always find a way to get her everything she wanted.
’Sigh...’
’Oh well... I guess adults have their reasons.’
"Okay... Dad’s right."
Ling Anxun stifled a laugh.
He gently ruffled her hair, took her little hand, and led her toward the bathroom.
"Come on, brush your teeth and wash your face. It’s time for the little princess to go to sleep."
「The next morning.」
Ling Zhiwei threw the door open with a BANG.
"Where’s the New Year’s money?"
"You little fool! I told you a million times yesterday, how could you forget?!"
He was truly desperate.
In another year, he’d be a high school senior, and his family was keeping a closer eye on him than his homeroom teacher.
They checked his phone, his homework, and his chat history every single day.
An allowance?
Forget about it.
Prying ten yuan out of his mom’s hands for a cup of instant noodles was already a major victory.
The problem was, he was generous by nature. He always picked up the tab when he was out with friends, which left him constantly broke.
He had planned to use Shanshan as a "middleman" to help him borrow the New Year’s money for a few days to tide him over.
But what happened? Shanshan was so "obedient" that she immediately turned around and handed all the money over to Ling Anxun!
’Just great. Now I’m left empty-handed.’
He didn’t dare encourage Shanshan to go and ask his uncle for it.
’Isn’t that a death wish?’
Ling Anxun was not an easy person to fool.
If the jig was up, not only would he not get the money, he’d probably get his ear pulled and a good scolding!
But what did Shanshan know of such complexities?
She just assumed her fourth brother was so worked up because he felt bad for her.
Ever the considerate one, she patted Ling Zhiwei on the shoulder.
"Don’t worry, Fourth Brother. Dad said he’s giving me a monthly allowance, so I won’t be short on cash at all."
Ling Zhiwei: ...
’You might not be short on cash, but your big brother here is so broke he’s about to start eating dirt!’
A few days after the New Year, the phone at home suddenly started ringing.
Mrs. Ling picked up the phone.
"It’s Yang Dapeng," she said, turning to the rest of the family.
"He says he arrived safely."
Then, a familiar voice came from the other end of the line.
"Shanshan? Your auntie gave birth! You have a new little brother! Don’t you worry, mother and son are both safe and sound. They’re doing great!"
"Really? That’s awesome!"
Shanshan jumped to her feet.
"Is Auntie okay? It must have been so painful and exhausting to give birth!"
"Uncle Dapeng, you have to take good care of her and the baby! Make sure she eats eggs with every meal and drinks chicken soup every day. No slacking off!"
"As soon as I save up enough allowance money, I’ll come see you guys right away!"
With only Yang Dapeng there to help Zhang Yunhua, he spoke for just a few moments before hurriedly hanging up.
Shanshan ran all around the house, humming a little tune she’d made up on the spot.
"To the hospital, to the hospital, to see my auntie and little brother~"
But everyone at home was busy.
Shanshan flopped onto the sofa, propped her chin on a throw pillow, and stared at the ceiling.
She was getting restless, so she marched right into her fourth brother’s room to find Ling Zhiwei, who was still scrambling to finish his homework.
She threw the door open with a BANG.
Ling Zhiwei frowned and glanced up at her.
"I’m not done with my homework. Don’t bother me."
’But deep down, he knew perfectly well.’
Shanshan never bothered anyone without a reason. If she showed up, she needed something.
But he really didn’t want to be distracted. He still had three major problems left on the math worksheet that was due tomorrow.
But Shanshan could be incredibly persistent. She planted herself in front of his desk and stared at him with wide, pleading eyes.
Ling Zhiwei sighed and put his pen down.
"Alright, alright, out with it. I’m listening."
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his aching temples, and looked up at Shanshan.
"Once you’ve said your piece, will you let me get back to my homework in peace?"
Shanshan immediately piped up.
"Fourth Brother, will you take me to the hospital to see Auntie and the baby? Pleeease?~"
Her little round face was all scrunched up in a plea.
Ling Zhiwei couldn’t resist and reached out to pinch her chubby cheeks.
Shanshan didn’t dare move, worried he’d say no. She just stood there and took it.
’If he refused, she’d have to switch tactics immediately.’
As soon as he let go, she pushed her slightly reddened cheek closer to him and repeated her plea.
"Please take me, Fourth Brother!"
She even nuzzled his shoulder for good measure.
Her little hands were secretly clenched into fists.
’If you dare say no, I’m pinching you right back!’
Truth be told, Ling Zhiwei was already sick of his homework. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
"Silly girl, what are you spacing out for? Let’s go."
He was already out of the room, his jacket slung over his arm with the collar all askew.
"Coming!"
Shanshan hopped up and down on the spot.
She spun around, dashed into her room, and grabbed her little backpack, hat, and scarf, hastily throwing them on.
"Fourth Brother, wait up! Wait for me!"
Shanshan scrambled to catch up.
The house cleaner had just arrived for her shift. Seeing them on their way out, she asked casually,
"Where are you two off to?"
But her question made Ling Zhiwei realize something.
They hadn’t told anyone where they were going!
If anything happened, the family would be worried sick.
A chill went down his spine, and he immediately turned and said to Shanshan,
"Wait, we need to leave a note."
He quickly scribbled on a notepad:
"Taking Shanshan to the hospital. Back before dinner."
He then stuck it right in the middle of the refrigerator door.
Only after doing all that did he breathe a sigh of relief and nod to the cleaner.
"We’re heading out."
The two of them took a bus straight to the hospital.
The wind on the winter evening was bone-chilling.
Shanshan huddled next to Ling Zhiwei, clutching her little backpack, her little face flushed red from the cold.
Ling Zhiwei took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
When the bus arrived, he lifted her aboard first, then paid the fare and found them a seat.
The whole way there, Shanshan chattered endlessly.
"What does her little brother look like?"
"Do you think it hurt Auntie a lot?"
"Will I get to hold him?"
Ling Zhiwei answered every single one.
Yang Dapeng never expected them to arrive so soon. When he looked up and saw her, he almost cried.