Chapter 1683: Pay Up

Ye Yaodong was busy until nightfall before returning; the whole family had already eaten, and his meal had been set aside.

Lin Lin Xiuqing went to meet him and asked, "Did you handle the household registration smoothly?"

"There were some hiccups, but it's done."

"What hiccups?"

"We rural household registrations can't be converted to non-agricultural ones; even with connections, we remain rural, just moving from our rural area to this one. Fortunately, Pudong's rural areas also have small courtyards."

"No wonder you were gone so long; handling household registration shouldn't take this long, yet you only returned after nightfall."

"Anyway, as long as it's resolved, that's what matters."

"Then can we register tomorrow?"

"Yes, register tomorrow and pay the temporary study fee. After registration, we'll see; if nothing major comes up, I'll go to the driving school and sign Dad up for the driving school too."

Ye's father, watching TV, turned back and said, "I'm not in a hurry; finish Chenghu's matters first."

"You're not in a hurry, but I am. I'll be very busy next, maybe not free; I can only squeeze things in when I have time. If I'm free, I'll handle it quickly; if not, it'll have to be postponed."

"Then we'll wait until you're free; no problem."

"Let's see; tomorrow morning, we'll register Ye Chenghu first."

The old lady interjected, "Eat first; don't talk nonstop the moment you return. The food has gone cold. Fortunately, it's summer, so it doesn't need to be piping hot."

"I've already eaten; I ate outside. To thank friends for helping with the transfer, I treated them to a meal right after the household registration was done."

Communications weren't advanced back then; otherwise, a single phone call could have given advance notice, saving them from waiting for him to eat or setting aside his meal.

Ye Chenghu was a bit excited; sitting cross-legged on the sofa, he stood up and climbed over the backrest, "Then I'll register tomorrow? I'll really be studying here?"

"Nonsense; if I weren't studying here, why would I go to all this trouble? I brought you here; it would be easier to just dump you on a boat and have you work at sea."

"Okay, okay, okay. Then Dad, buy me a bicycle; I can't rely solely on my two legs to walk. The school shouldn't be far, right?"

"Register first; after registration, I'll take you to buy daily necessities and school supplies."

"Great."

After speaking, he chuckled and gestured with his thumb and index and middle fingers toward his father.

"Dad, how much living allowance should I get per month?"

"How much do you want?"

"Can I have whatever amount I want?"

"What do you think?"

"Hehe, how about you discuss it with Mom?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing said, "Didn't your father say you just collected your wages yesterday?"

Ye Chenghu widened his eyes and said nervously, "Wages are wages, living allowance is living allowance; they can't be mixed. Wages are what I earned through hard work and should be at my own free disposal."

"It's all your father giving it to you."

"But I also contributed labor; why don't you mention others earning even more working for him?"

Ye Yaodong said, "Then let's set a number. Living allowance will be collected once a week, paid for a month; I'm afraid you'll spend it all in half a month."

"How is that possible?"

"Hard to say."

"He has so much money in hand; should we still give it? With so much money, I'm afraid he'll squander it." Lin Lin Xiuqing frowned slightly and glared at her eldest son.

"We shouldn't discourage the child's enthusiasm for earning money. Since it's what he earned himself, let him manage it. Consider it learning how to reasonably manage the money he earns."

While his current cash is limited, letting him manage it himself allows us adults to see how the child spends money.

Ye Chenghu nodded happily; his father was still open-minded and generous.

Lin Lin Xiuqing said, "He eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home, right? There aren't many places to spend money. Giving him one yuan daily for pocket money is enough; that's seven yuan a week, thirty yuan a month."

Ye Yaodong nodded; that was about right; anyway, he had money on hand.

"Only one yuan..."

"Think it's too little? You don't need money for meals or transport."

"Then who cooks my meals while I study here alone?"

Ye Yaodong lifted his chin toward Ye's father, "Your grandfather learning to drive and taking the test will take two or three months; he can take care of you here this semester. As for next year, we'll discuss it next year."

"Oh, then okay."

Ye Yaodong said to Ye's father again, "Dad, I'll give you a sum for living expenses later this month, plus Chenghu's pocket money."

Ye's father waved his hand, "No need to give; what living expenses? I'll just collect my wages; the two of us, grandfather and grandson, can cover our food and drink from my wages."

"That works; then consider it paid leave."

"Ah, not working, just enjoying life here, and he still gets a monthly salary?" The old lady spoke softly, but everyone in the room heard her.

"My father is taking the driving test; later he'll contribute to the factory too, so paid leave is normal. Besides, isn't he my father? Even if he doesn't work, paying him a monthly salary to support him until old age is fine."

Ye's father was extremely satisfied.

"Exactly; consider it a son honoring Laozi; what's wrong with that? I'm being filial to you too; I even sleep at your feet to take care of you."

The old lady muttered in defense, "I didn't say anything..."

Ye Yaodong said with a smile, "How about I issue you a salary too? You don't need to work; just happily wait to collect money every day."

"I don't want it; what would I do with money? Save it to distribute to everyone later? I have no worries about food or drink; I don't need money. Keep it yourself; raising children is expensive."

"Nothing much; I'm going to take a shower; it's scorching hot, and I'm covered in sweat." Ye Yaodong walked while taking off his clothes.

Early the next morning, Ye Chenghu was already eager to get up; he put on his favorite clothes, groomed himself thoroughly, then sat on the sofa waiting for his parents to wake up.

Meanwhile, he began happily fantasizing about his future high school life; he was already half a big-city person, hahaha...

The old lady got up early, took a stroll, and returned cheerfully carrying fried dough sticks.

"Why are you up so early?"

Ye Chenghu stepped forward to help take the fried dough sticks, asking curiously, "How did you come in from outside? Can you even go out to buy fried dough sticks?"

"Why not? I went out for a stroll, happened to see them, so I bought some back. The porridge is cooked too."

"Heh, you seem quite used to it? Getting up early to go out for a walk?"

"It's very convenient to buy things here. I went out and looked around; they sell everything. Even vegetables are sold by people carrying them on poles..."

The old lady enthusiastically told him what she had seen outside, then smiled and pulled him, asking him to follow her into the room.

Ye Chenghu followed behind, puzzled, "Where is Grandpa?"

"Weeding in the garden outside."

While speaking, the old lady reached for her luggage, until she pulled out a square object wrapped in a handkerchief.

She trembled as she slowly opened the handkerchief; inside were small bills, one or two-yuan paper notes, and some ten-yuan notes.

"Grandma is old and has little money. This is all given out of respect by everyone; I saved it up. You are the first in our family to attend high school; Grandma must give you some money to buy food."

Ye Chenghu quickly shook his head in refusal, "No need, no need. I have money. Keep your own money for yourself."

The old lady pulled out five ten-yuan notes, smiling, and grabbed his hand to stuff them into his palm.

Ye Chenghu dared not accept them at all; he shook his hand, but fearing a large movement might knock the old lady over, he could only struggle slightly.

"No, don't give it to me. I have money. I earned several hundred over the summer vacation; I have much more money than you. You should keep it to spend yourself."

"Take it, take it. Grandma has no money, and this isn't much. Just buy food, books, and pens. Take it quickly."

Sweat poured down Ye Chenghu's face. "Really, I don't want it. Keep it yourself..."

"Even if I keep it, I have nowhere to spend it. Your father earns so much money now. Grandma's money is useless if kept; it's all for you to spend. Take it quickly."

"Really no need. If my father finds out, he will beat me to death."

"He won't. It's Grandma who wants to give it to you. This is Grandma's intention; your father won't dare beat you. Take it quickly; it's falling on the floor..."

Ye Chenghu quickly squatted down to pick it up and try to force it on the old lady, but the old lady refused no matter what.

"Put it away quickly. When you earn big money in the future, you can show respect to Grandma then. Put it away quickly; don't let anyone else know."

Ye Chenghu couldn't argue with the old lady, so he simply threw the money onto her bed and ran out.

Ye's father was weeding in the yard; seeing him up so early, he called for his help.

"No. I'm already dressed. If I weed now, I'll get covered in mud. I'll do it after I finish registering."

After speaking, Ye Chenghu told Ye's father about the old lady trying to stuff money into his hands just now.

Ye's father said in a bad mood, "She has too much money? She wants to give away that little bit everywhere."

"I threw it back on the bed for her. Tell her to put it away and stop giving it to me."

Ye Chenghu, a half-grown boy, was truly bad at declining; he was extremely embarrassed and didn't want a repeat of this.

Ye's father stood up, piled the pulled weeds together, then clapped his hands. "I'll have to go out and buy a hoe later. Pulling by hand is too slow. I don't even know where to buy one."

"Just ask around."

"Go wash your hands and eat. I'll do the work after I buy the hoe. Buy some seeds on the way."

"Are we really going to plant vegetables here?"

"Of course. Otherwise, what a waste of this land. What use are these weeds?"

The grandfather and grandson spoke as they walked toward the house; everyone had already started getting up.

The old lady took out her bundle of money again. She had intended to give it secretly, but now she could only do it openly.

However, before Ye Yaodong could speak, Ye's father scolded her first.

"Do you have too much money? If you have too much money, give it to me to spend."

"You wish. Haven't you woken up yet? What dreams are you having in broad daylight? This is for Chenghu. He is our family's first high school student..."

"What's so rare about a high school student? If he comes back as a university student, I'll beat drums and gongs and set up a few tables. Keep that little money of yours and spend it yourself."

"What money can I spend? My money is all for you little ones. This is for Chenghu to buy a schoolbag and school supplies. Don't stop me, or I'll break your dog legs."

Ye Chenghu refused again. "I said no means no. I have money."

Ye Yaodong also said, "No need to give it to him. What's so rare about a high school student? What's there to give? He only got in after I paid a huge tuition fee! You want to give him money back; I feel ashamed."

Lin Lin Xiuqing also said, "Wait until he gets into university, then give it to him. By then, no one will stop you."

"Wait until he gets into university?"

Ye Yaodong also agreed, "Yes, waiting until he gets into university is more appropriate. By then, whoever gives a red envelope, I'll let him accept it."

Ye Chenghu quickly buried his head in his bowl and ate his own meal.

The old lady hesitated before putting the money away. "Alright then. Let's wait until Chenghu gets into university. I'll wrap a big red envelope for him then. I'll save up more, saving for a few more years."

Ye Ye Dasao also smiled and said, "If Chenghu gets into university, we'll also wrap a big red envelope for him. He'll be our family's first university student!"

Ye Ye Ersao also smiled, "That's only right. A university student is rare. In a big city like Shanghai, the school conditions will surely be better than at home, and the teachers will surely teach better than the teachers at home. Who knows, in a few years our family might really produce a university student, bringing glory to the ancestors. We'll really have to set up a few tables then."

Ye Chenghu buried his head even deeper, not even daring to pick up any vegetables...

Help! He hasn't even started high school yet, and everyone is already talking about getting into university...

Damn it, the pressure is huge.

This school is hard to attend...

The old lady also nodded happily. "Good, good, good. Then let's wait until Chenghu gets into university."

Ye Yaodong glared at Ye Chenghu, whose head was almost buried in the bowl. "Did you hear? Study hard for me. No one is watching you here, but you must be self-disciplined. I will come to check your grades every month. You decide for yourself."

He quickly nodded. "I will study hard. I will definitely study hard. I will definitely study well."

"Heh, don't put too much pressure on the child. Eat quickly. He dares not make a sound after hearing what you said." The old lady intervened, asking everyone to stop talking.

Ye Chenghu let tears flow down into his stomach; all feelings of anticipation were gone.

He wasn't even excited about going out to register anymore.

"Don't hang your head; perk up."

"Dad, if I don't get into university, will you beat me to death?"

"Just do your best; as long as you tried, that's enough."

Ye Yaodong didn't want to put too much pressure on him; anyway, just let fate decide.

Ye Chenghu felt a bit relieved for the moment.

Lin Lin Xiuqing chattered on with instructions: "When school starts, get along well with your classmates, build good relationships with everyone, don't get into conflicts with people, but don't let others bully you either."

"I know."

"If you have time, call home more often. If anything happens, call the family, or call me, or call your dad."

"Mm-hmm."

"If you lack anything, tell your grandpa. Even when spending your own money, be reasonable; don't squander it recklessly, and don't get scammed."

Ye Yaodong added, "Be generous when getting along with classmates, but don't let people take advantage of you as a fool; keep a good balance yourself."

"I know, don't worry; I'm not a child anymore."

Lin Lin Xiuqing raised her hand and patted his head. "You're taller than me, but in my heart, you're still a child. Take good care of yourself when you're alone here..."

Ye Chenghu tilted his head, ran ahead in a playful manner, then turned around and said, "Don't be so mushy; there are so many people on the road, it's awkward."

Lin Lin Xiuqing smiled.

"Why are you running? Do you know you're going the wrong way? Go this way; taking the bus is faster."

"Oh..."

Ye Chenghu ran ahead again.

The pressure was gone now; only happiness remained.

PS: There's one more chapter; wait for me to take a shower and I'll keep writing.