Chapter 14: Are Poor People People?
She wanted to do something too.
But… what could she do? What was she capable of? She could cook some dishes, but they weren’t exceptionally delicious. She could teach people to study, but she was currently just a junior high student, and moreover, a student in Class 10. How could she convince anyone she was truly capable of teaching? Who would hire her as a tutor?
Nie Qiu gave a bitter smile and shook her head. It turned out she was useless for anything other than teaching. Thinking back to her past, in the eyes of prestigious universities, education bureaus, all teachers, classmates, and parents, she saw admiration and envy. Under such gazes, Nie Qiu could always hold her head high, always feeling that no one was more outstanding than herself. Now, thinking about it, Nie Qiu felt ashamed.
Nie Qiu stood up with some annoyance and walked to the television set placed on the wardrobe. She then pressed a button, and after a few flashes of electric current, the television screen became clear.
It had been over twenty years since she had seen a black and white television! When she was a child, her family was among the first in the residential area of the town to buy a television. Back then, there were no color televisions, only black and white ones. The children in the residential area would come to their house almost every day to watch television. The nanny had to clean the room every day, which was incredibly bothersome, so she imposed a rule: each person had to pay five cents to watch television.
After that, no more children came to their house to watch television. Then, everyone in the residential area pointed fingers at her, saying she was a child without a father or mother.
Nie Qiu chuckled self-mockingly, looking nostalgically at the small, less than fourteen-inch black and white television.
“A few days ago, Professor Nie Qiu, the most renowned figure in the education sector, was killed by a chandelier that suddenly fell in the auditorium. Upon examination by police officers, traces of tampering were found on the chandelier’s screws, suggesting foul play. Yesterday, an insider from the police station revealed that a general manager of a well-known advertising company has surrendered, but due to numerous suspicious aspects of the case, it is still under further investigation. Now, let’s move on to the next news item.” The program currently airing is the 7 PM News Broadcast of City A.
Nie Qiu watched the host’s moving lips, unable to process any other words.
So… her death wasn’t an accident? It was murder! A general manager of a well-known advertising company? Nie Qiu almost wanted to laugh. Besides Yang Zihao, who else could it be? The News Broadcast said it was still under further investigation? Was it because someone was trying to ensure this person wouldn’t have to pay with their life?
Nie Qiu almost wanted to laugh. She looked at the person standing rigidly under the spotlights on television, protected by bodyguards. She closed her eyes. Yang Zihao, you’re happy I’m dead, aren’t you? Too bad, I’m not dead yet.
Nie Qiu felt hatred and resentment, but upon seeing the stacks of small bills on the table, her heart suddenly settled. Forget it, forget it. The previous life was over. She was no longer that university professor who strategized and lectured.
She was Nie Qiu now, an ordinary third-year junior high girl. Actually… she was fortunate, wasn’t she? She hadn’t died, she had become much younger, and she had gained family affection. And this family affection was something her past life could never have bought.
The next day, Nie Qiu got up very early. It was six in the morning, and morning self-study started at seven-thirty. It took a little over half an hour to walk to school. This meant she had an hour to organize herself. Her plan was quite simple: she couldn’t help Nie Aifang with her work, but she also hoped to alleviate some of Nie Aifang’s burden by cooking breakfast for both of them in the morning.
However, what Nie Qiu didn’t expect was that as soon as she opened the door, she saw Nie Aifang sitting by a table made of simple wooden boards, fiddling with something. Nie Qiu walked closer and looked carefully. They were plastic flower petals, one by one. These plastic flower petals were remarkably similar to fabric. Nie Aifang was using needle and thread to sew them, turning each plastic petal into a flower.
The sewn plastic flowers lacked a flower base and sepals, only petals.
Nie Aifang noticed Nie Qiu and rubbed her sore eyes. “You’re up? Why so early? It’s not even dawn yet, go back to sleep for a while.”
Nie Qiu shook her head. “I woke up and couldn’t sleep anymore. Mom, what are you doing?” You only got back at one in the morning last night, and you’re up so early this morning. Even an iron body couldn’t withstand this.
“I’m sewing plastic flowers. I got them from the plastic flower factory yesterday. I took over a thousand!” Nie Aifang lowered her head and continued sewing plastic flowers.
Nie Qiu took the plastic flowers from Nie Aifang’s hand and looked at her. “Mom, you go sleep for a while! I’ll help you sew.”
Nie Aifang smiled and said, “Silly child, why would you help me sew? Never mind if you can sew or not, you have to go to class in half an hour. Right now, you! Go comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face, eat breakfast, and then it will be time.”
Nie Qiu was helpless and let go of the plastic flowers in her hand. “How much do you get paid per plastic flower?”
Nie Aifang smiled and said, “I forgot you don’t remember. You sew these plastic flowers, take them back to the factory, and exchange them for money. It’s one cent per flower. I brought back a thousand flowers, and if I sew them all, I can earn a hundred yuan!”
One cent per flower, ten flowers for one yuan, a hundred flowers for ten yuan? A thousand flowers for only a hundred yuan? Such eye-straining work…
Nie Qiu’s mood was very heavy. After eating the congee and steamed buns that Nie Aifang had prepared long ago, Nie Qiu put on her schoolbag and opened the door. She glanced at Nie Aifang, who was sitting in the dim room sewing plastic flowers, and turned to leave.
She… had to, absolutely had to find something to do, something that wouldn’t compromise her principles and could help this family.
She knew that asking for over a hundred yuan yesterday was a large sum for this family, possibly equivalent to Nie Aifang’s earnings for one or even two days. Nie Aifang worked so hard all for her daughter.
In the past, her daughter could help her manage the barbecue stall and do housework. Now, her daughter was a fragile item in her eyes. She had to work to earn money, do housework, and wake up early every day to make breakfast for her daughter.
Everything moved Nie Qiu, but it also made her heart ache.
On the way to school, Nie Qiu kept looking around, hoping to find some business opportunities. Her greatest skill was actually teaching, but she was in Class 10 and had no trump card. Who would hire her? Moreover, she was still a student, so she naturally couldn’t work part-time. She just hoped to figure out what people needed in this era, in this season, so she could sell something on Saturdays and Sundays.
Clutching the one hundred and thirty-five yuan in her purse, Nie Qiu looked up at the rising sun. It seemed she would have to pay for the test papers of the subjects she needed to take first. To do business, she also needed some capital.
