1710 Hiding Money
“These are a gift from them! They give it to us out of their own accord! I didn’t force them to give it to me! Why are you scolding me! Do you know it’s also very difficult for me to take care of a child! I’m at the most charming age in a girl’s life and yet I’m here to look after your child for you! It’s all my elder sister’s fault for dying so early~ All of you bully me~” Miao Le started crying as she held on to Zhuang Zhuang.
Zhuang Zhuang was so frightened by Miao Le that he started crying as well. For a moment, their cries echoed in the corridor. Many people opened the door to take a look at the commotion. Tian Jun hurriedly ran to his front door and closed it after hurriedly saying “sorry” to everyone.
He sat on the sofa dispiritedly. When Miao Le’s elder sister, Miao Ting, died, he was also in great pain. He even had the thought of joining Miao Ting in death. Tian Jun’s parents had passed away a long time ago and he had no family members to worry about. However, the Miao family was full of people whom he needed to take care of. He had to take good care of Miao Ting’s family.
Tian Jun opened all the drawers and cabinets in the house and started looking for money. After rummaging through them, he only found 16 dollars. This was all the money left in the house.
“Go to the county city to withdraw some money later. Send my entire salary for this month to Commander Xia’s family,” Tian Jun said sternly.
“If we give them all the money, then how can I afford to buy food? What about Dad and Mom? If they don’t have money to buy medicine, they’ll die!” Miao Le questioned.
“How do you have the cheek to say such things to me? If not for you, do I have to give them all the money? Will we be in such a situation now?” Tian Jun said angrily.
Miao Le placed Zhuang Zhuang on the sofa and stood up to argue with Tian Jun. “They gave those things to me! It’s a gift! I didn’t ask them for it! Since they are willing to give it to me, then they’re the crass ones! Why are you scolding me! If you give them all your salary, then what about my parents, Second Brother’s family, Third Sister’s family and me! How are we going to survive!”
Tian Jun earned a salary of 90 dollars a month. He would keep 15 dollars for Miao Le and send the rest to her parents and siblings.
Every year, the army base was given a quota to take care of five soldiers who faced difficulties in their lives. For the soldiers on this scheme, the military would subsidize their expenses for the year, pay for their food and give preferential treatment to their families.
When they heard about Tian Jun’s situation, they gave him one of the spots. However, Tian Jun did not appreciate their kindness and even wrote to his superiors, refusing to accept their help. Tian Jun ate in the canteen like everyone else and barely had enough money to get by.
Everyone wanted to help him, but they did not know what to do. Tian Jun had a strong sense of pride and did not accept anyone’s “charity”.
The Miao family’s situation was very complicated. Miao Le’s father was a sick man and needed to rely on medicine to stay alive. Last year, the Miao family’s second son accidentally fell off the roof when he was repairing it. He was paralyzed from the waist down and could not work anymore. The third daughter had mental issues since young. She was sometimes lucid and sometimes crazy and needed someone to take care of her.
This entire family depended on Tian Jun’s salary for their survival! All of them basically latched onto Tian Jun and kept sucking his blood. They would not stop until they squeezed him dry.
Tian Jun set aside 15 dollars a month for Miao Le. By right, if she used the 15 dollars to buy groceries, she and Zhuang Zhuang should be able to get by. He did not know where she spent all the money for Zhuang Zhuang to end up so skinny.
“You must have money on hand,” Tian Jun said confidently.
“I… I don’t!” Miao Le said hesitantly.
“At this point in time, you’re still unwilling to take it out? In the past, I took it like you’re still just a child and I don’t hold anything against you. But now that something like this has happened, I can only send you back to the Miao family to wait upon the old folks,” Tian Jun threatened.
Miao Le was so frightened that she quickly dropped to her knees and hugged Tian Jun’s leg. She cried out, “Brother-in-law, I really don’t have any money! If I have hidden any money away, I’ll die a horrible death! I’ve been taking care of Zhuang Zhuang wholeheartedly. If I leave, then what about Zhuang Zhuang! He can’t go without someone to take care of him!”
Tian Jun had heard such things too many times. In the past, Miao Le only got into minor trouble and there was no need for Tian Jun to be too harsh on her. Now that she had offended someone important, he had to be strict with her.
“It’s useless no matter what you say. You provoked someone you shouldn’t have this time round. There’s nothing I can do,” Tian Jun said coldly.
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