Chapter 45 Settling the Score
Ye Shenge’s big eyes stared fixedly at Ye Xingguo, wanting to see what excuse the old man would come up with.
Ye Xingguo was anxious. He wished he could go ask Wan Qiong what to do. This girl was completely out of control.
"A kind person knew about your background and was willing to support you. She didn't want to reveal her identity, only wishing you a safe upbringing."
This statement completely silenced Ye Shenge. A kind person who didn't want to reveal her identity, really!
"Heh, Dad, do you really think anyone would believe that? What kind of era is this? Supporting someone for fifteen years? What kind of family would that be? Even our city leaders couldn't manage that."
Ye Xingguo refused to engage, maintaining an attitude of “believe it or not.”
"Fine, then I'd like to ask, Dad, have I been raised with these fifteen yuan all these years?"
"Yes, my salary alone has to support the whole family, so we really couldn't have managed without this money."
"Then from when I was little, you only gave Grandma five yuan each month, meaning you kept ten yuan for yourself, right?"
Ye Xingguo finally realized the implication of her words. He wouldn't dare admit such a thing in front of the factory director; he still wanted to climb the ranks and couldn't appear greedy.
"How could you think of me that way, my girl? Don't you get sick, which costs money? And you need to go to school, so every month's money was spent on you."
"Dad, that's not what I mean. It's just that life is hard now, and I don't want the kind person to spend any more money on me. I live at Grandma's and only eat half a bowl of rice a day, and I've never eaten an egg or a piece of meat. I only go to the hospital twice in two months for basic treatment, which costs at most one yuan and fifty cents.
So, Grandma's five yuan is enough to raise me. I want you to take out the extra ten yuan from each month and use it for my living expenses from now on. That way, we won't need to accept money from the kind person starting today. When I grow up, I can slowly repay them."
Ye Xingguo was furious. The thought of her wanting to take money from him was just a pipe dream.
"Dad, you said yourself that I was raised by this kind person, but I didn't spend that much money, so there must be a surplus. Isn't it right for me to ask the kind person to stop spending money on me? Comrade Factory Director, what do you think?"
The factory director did some quick calculations in his mind. This was quite a sum. Fifteen yuan a month, over fifteen years, how much would that be? From the girl's words, the amount spent on her each month was minimal. Not even five yuan a month, and certainly not more than five yuan every two months.
"Little comrade, you are right. It is good to be grateful and repay kindness."
"Comrade Factory Director, you don't know that I have a heart condition and won't live much longer. I want to calculate how much money I still owe the kind person. I want to try my best to repay the money while I'm alive, so I won't feel so guilty after I die. Don't you agree?"
Ye Xingguo was about to speak when Ye Shenge cut him off.
"I just calculated it. From birth until now, it's been fifteen years and four months, which is 184 months. I have my own food allowance every month, and I eat very little. Most of the food has gone to Grandma. Every time I get sick, it costs at most one yuan and fifty cents, and school costs less than ten yuan a year. So, the five yuan Dad gives Grandma each month is more than enough. The remaining amount can be considered the kind person's fee for Grandma taking care of me.
By this calculation, there's a surplus of ten yuan each month. Over 184 months, that's 1840 yuan. Dad, please take out this money, and I'll use it for school and medical expenses from now on. If I can live a few more years, I'll work hard to earn money and repay the 2760 yuan the kind person has spent on me over the years."