Chapter 617: Chapter 617: Relying on Each Other for Survival
Later, the two got married, and soon, that woman became his stepmother, and naturally she got pregnant.
Although she was a stepmother, she treated him no differently.
But not long after getting pregnant, Mr. Rong’s alcoholism kicked in again, and he resumed his old lifestyle, including starting domestic violence.
Back then, Stepmother was pregnant. Although she knew she was carrying a baby, Father didn’t relent at all and often beat Stepmother till she was bruised all over.
Unable to bear it any longer, Stepmother left, crying.
Six months later, Stepmother asked someone to deliver a baby girl to the doorstep. It was the daughter she had with Father, who gave her a casual name and then disregarded her.
Because she was a premature baby, Xiaoyi always got sick easily and quickly used up the family’s savings.
Daily sustenance relied on neighbors’ help and government aid, with other needs met by themselves. Every evening after school, carrying a backpack, she would head to the market to pick leftover cabbage leaves. Gradually, she got familiar with people there, and sometimes vendors would give her a few pieces of less-than-fresh fish, which, under his expert cooking skills, could barely make a decent meal.
In the end, he was healthy, but Xiaoyi, being premature, was malnourished due to eating like this long-term. Additionally, Father often vented on Xiaoyi with punches and kicks when in a bad mood.
Father, because of years of heavy drinking and neglecting his responsibilities, had no job and no source of income. Without money for alcohol, he borrowed to drink.
Online loans, high-interest loans, credit cards…
The family was deep in debt, with debt collection agencies coming by violently from time to time.
Once, the high-interest loan people chased him to his school and a clash broke out. He injured someone but was then advised to leave the school.
He once tried hard, thinking that getting into Beijing’s top university could change something.
But it was all in vain.
Finally, one night, he helplessly watched Father beat his sister again until she was injured all over. He couldn’t take it anymore; he had a fierce fight with Father, took the household registration book, and left that home with his sister.
When Rong Ling entered the room, he casually locked the door behind. There wasn’t a single light on in the house.
He pushed open the bedroom door to find the bed empty, with the wardrobe door half ajar.
He walked over and gently pulled the door wide open.
Rong Xiaoyi was huddled inside, hugging her knees. Upon seeing Rong Ling, a spark of light appeared in her clear eyes in the dark: “Brother!”
She immediately leapt into his arms: “Brother, why are you so late?”
Rong Ling said: “Why are you hiding here again?”
Rong Xiaoyi said: “Earlier, someone was knocking on the door continuously, I was scared…”
Rong Ling’s heart tightened.
Could it be debt collectors?
Previously, he taught her not to let anyone in no matter who it was knocking. If scared, hide in the wardrobe.
But seeing her shivering in the wardrobe, he still felt a pang of heartache.
He thought if there weren’t these debt collectors, if he had a moment to breathe, perhaps he’d have more opportunities to pursue a better life.
The girl he assisted at the club he owed her because she noticed and took Xiaoyi, who had low blood sugar, to the hospital.
Rong Ling affectionately petted her small head: “Alright, brother is back, you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
He lifted his sister onto the bed and turned on the light.
Rong Xiaoyi sat at the edge of the bed, swinging her thin legs, glanced at him, and exclaimed in surprise: “Brother, you look so handsome!”
Rong Ling chuckled: “Do I?”
Rong Xiaoyi nodded: “Brother wears these clothes, more handsome than the big stars on TV!”
Rong Ling said: “Alright, it’s late. Don’t you have class tomorrow? Go to bed early.”
Rong Xiaoyi nodded, obediently lay down on the bed.
She had always been very obedient and easily contented.
After his sister went to sleep, he tidied the room a bit, went to the kitchen without having eaten dinner, scooped some leftover rice, scraped off any remaining vegetable oil and scraps from the pot, and muddled through a dinner.
Early the next morning.
Rong Ling escorted his sister to school. On the way, he passed a 24-hour convenience store and bought Xiaoyi buns and milk as usual but for the first time broke normalcy by buying her a sandwich.
Xiaoyi was both surprised and delighted.
She always wanted to eat a sandwich.
But sandwiches at the convenience store were too expensive.
However…
Recently, he wasn’t struggling as much financially. Although $50,000 wasn’t much, after deducting rent and surgery expenses, expenditures needed to be carefully planned, but it was more comfortable than before.
Thinking like this…
Rong Ling’s impression of that woman wasn’t so bad after all.
At the school entrance, Rong Xiaoyi waved goodbye to Rong Ling.
Rong Ling watched her enter the school before turning around and taking out the business card Li Yufei had given him.
At dawn, he got a call from the club manager.
Yesterday, he’d spilled a drink on President Xu. That encounter marked the conflict.
President Xu dared not offend the Li Family but later inquired throughout the club about Rong Ling, determined to find him and settle accounts.
The manager angrily yelled, demanding he personally go apologize and make amends with President Xu.
Rong Ling didn’t hesitate to hang up.
Though he had left a phone and jacket at the club, there wasn’t a need to retrieve them.
He looked at the card in his hand…
If he could have a decent job, even above $5,000, it’d be a relief.
…
Li Family.
Li Yufei was still in a meeting when her phone suddenly vibrated.
She picked up her phone; it was a call from an unknown number.
Usually, during a meeting, she wouldn’t answer unknown calls.
But heaven knows why—
She picked up the phone, stepped outside, and answered: “Hello? Who is this?”
Rong Ling’s clear voice came through: “It’s me.”
Li Yufei immediately recognized his voice: “Hmm? What’s up?”
She suddenly thought of something: “Is it someone from the club causing you trouble?”
If so, she could put in a word.
Rong Ling said: “You said last night, if I need a job, I could find you. Is that offer still valid?”
Li Yufei, hearing this, chuckled: “If you want a job, I can provide you one.”
She brought up the phone number of the HR manager from her phone and gave it to him: “Contact this number, mention my name directly. Let him arrange a job for you.”
Rong Ling: “…Thank you.”
He currently needed a stable job quite badly.
To her, offering a job was just a simple gesture.
Li Yufei: “You’re welcome. Then does this mean the favor I owe you is paid off?”
Rong Ling: “You never owed me anything.”
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