Chapter 60: The Reason for Wanting Money

I pointed at Wang Changguang in anger and shouted, "Wang Changguang, you're talking nonsense. We're all bad people, except you're the good one."

Back then, how did you come to hate the countryside?

When you were in Beishan, how did you scold the local villagers?

How much you hated North Mountain Village, you've told me more than once,

Being reborn as a person in Beishan is worse than being born as a dog in the city.

Only city dwellers truly live; villagers are worse off than pigs and dogs.

Your greatest wish is to blow up North Mountain Village.

Have you said these things before?

Now you're pretending to be a good person,

saying you want to preserve the village's history,

and not to demolish the village.

Why didn't you say that back then?

I, Zhaoerhai, am a capitalist—what about you?

You've always followed me to work on the construction site, aiding the wicked.

Humph, over the years Wang Changguang, everything you eat and use is provided by me, Zhaoerhai.

Your house in Niushiling was bought by me, and your house in Lanling County was also bought by me.

Only because you don't worry about food and lodging do you have the leisure to meddle in village history.

Okay, Wang Changguang, if you're capable, from today on don't spend a penny of the Zhao family's money, and don't live in a house bought by the Zhao family.

If you do that, then I'll truly admire you, Wang Changguang."

After I finished speaking,

Wang Changguang directly said to me, "I work for you and earn wages—that's my labor income. The house you bought for your sister isn't a house you bought for me, Wang Changguang."

I am married to your sister,

I have the right to live there together, unless you get your sister to divorce me.

Zhaoerhai, I did say some things in the past,

but over these years I've never stopped thinking, while you've been busy making money.

You earn so much that you're unwilling to spend even the money donated to the museum.

Do you still consider yourself human?

I came to you today for money, out of respect for our relatives.

If I don't ask you for money then, you're finished."

As Wang Changguang's words fell, Xixi came up from downstairs,

seeing me and Wang Changguang arguing,

Xixi hurriedly stood in the middle,

"Dad, Uncle, can't you stop arguing? You're both so old, and your fighting makes even me feel embarrassed. Can't we talk calmly indoors?"

I said to Xixi, "Xixi, you don't know—it's your dad who came to pick a fight. As soon as he walked in, I asked him for money; I owe him, it's due."

Wang Changguang looked at Xixi,

"Xixi, what are you doing here? Aren't you preparing to be a teacher?"

Xixi said, "Uncle asked me to help him. Dad, why are you asking Uncle for money? If you're short on cash, just tell me—I'll give you."

Wang Changguang then sighed and said, "I'm not asking for money for myself; I'm asking for the museum. Da Heng Group donates money to the museum every month,

but this month it suddenly stopped.

Director Jiang had me come ask Da Heng Group why they stopped the donation.

This is your uncle's merit money.

I'm not asking him for it; I'm here to remind him."

Wang Changguang repeatedly mentioned the museum's donation, and I suddenly realized,

The museum is supposed to pay Wang Changguang a salary—could it be that they've stopped his salary?

So I directly asked Wang Changguang, "You came to ask the museum for money—has the museum stopped your salary?

You have nowhere to collect your salary, right?"

When I asked that, Wang Changguang scratched his head,

and cursed, "These bastards stopped my salary. Damn it, if they have the guts let them come ask you for money—forcing me to come ask for money.

I, Wang Changguang, am not the kind of person who would bend over for such a little money.

Zhaoerhai, handle this money as you see fit. Even if they stop my salary, I, Wang Changguang, will still live comfortably."

Sure enough, it's about the salary.

Back then I and the museum's Director Jiang discussed this: we would donate a sum to the museum each month, then use one-tenth of that for Wang Changguang's salary, thereby helping me support Wang Changguang.

Wang Changguang has followed me for so long, which also counts as looking after him.

But I stopped the museum's donation, and they immediately stopped Wang Changguang's salary.

That's why I had Wang Changguang come to ask for money.

"Xixi, your dad wants the museum's donation money—actually it's for his salary. Our Da Heng Group donates to the museum every month, for them to collect and preserve artifacts.

Your dad serves as a volunteer guide at the museum.

To provide for your dad's living, back then I made an agreement with Director Jiang that his salary would come from this donation.

"It's roughly one-tenth of the donation—so donating 100,000 yuan gives your dad a 10,000 yuan salary." I explained to Xixi.

Upon hearing me say that, Wang Changguang

He immediately got anxious,

Zhaoerhai, what do you mean by that? My salary is still paid by you.

I am a formal employee at the museum. I am the museum's best guide. I haven't taken a single cent of your money.

Your donation money has nothing to do with my salary.

I earn my own labor income; the money I earn has nothing to do with your Zhao family, not even a cent.

Zhaoerhai, I have never expected your stinginess.

I, Wang Changguang, live with dignity.

After hearing Wang Changguang's words, I sneered: "Wang Changguang, who do you think you are? You're still a formal employee of the museum."

I just stopped donating to the museum a few days ago, and they immediately stopped your salary.

If you were a formal employee, would they dare to stop your salary?

Wang Changguang, use your stupid brain and think.

How free you are at the museum—you can go if you want, and if you don't want to go, no one asks you.

On what grounds do they not ask you?

On what grounds do they not evaluate you?

If you want to research village history, the museum will immediately give you financial support.

Is Director Jiang a fool,

Have you ever thought about that,

Last year, Director Jiang approached me and proposed increasing our donation fees.

Do you know about these?

Wang Changguang, what should I say? Don't think what you've done is unprecedented and without equal.

Actually, without money you can't accomplish anything.

It's just writing a history for a few villages and doing a survey, right?

Is that considered a great undertaking?

As soon as the museum stopped your salary and expenses, you immediately got anxious and ran to me asking for money.

If you're capable, Wang Changguang, rely on yourself and don't take a single cent from the museum.

Come and accomplish the great undertaking you spoke of.

I, Zhaoerhai, am convinced by you.

After I finished speaking,

Wang Changguang stood there stunned,

He didn't say anything for a while,

After a while, Wang Changguang quietly asked me: "Zhaoerhai, I ask you, did you really agree with Director Jiang that one-tenth of your donation would be used to pay my salary?"

I said: "Brother-in-law, this is no joke; we have an agreement. Xixi, go check the agreement in the records room."

"Xixi will check the agreement, I'll take a look too," Wang Changguang also said.

Xixi looked at me and Wang Changguang, then said: "Uncle, Dad, as long as you stop arguing, I'll look up the agreement for you right away."

After saying that, Xixi went to the records room on the first floor.

At that moment, Shi Yong took out a cigarette,

threw one to Wang Changguang and passed one to me.

Shi Yong said: "Brother-in-law, have a smoke and relax; otherwise, go to the office for a cup of tea."

After Wang Changguang took the cigarette, he shook his head,

then he squatted down by the wall.

He muttered: "I really want to see who's deceiving me."

"Hmph, I, Wang Changguang, am not so easily fooled."