Chapter 49

Zheng Xiaomin came out so rashly to sell herself and even asked for a price of ten thousand yuan, but no man dared to approach her, let alone pay such a high price.

Zheng Xiaomin was at a loss. Just as she was about to give up, she suddenly saw a man who looked very much like Chu Tianshu, so she followed him. When Chu Tianshu asked her about her sorrow, she cried bitterly.

Chu Tianshu sighed after hearing her story, his eyes also becoming moist. He asked, "Xiaomin, although your mother has been laid off, according to the regulations, most of the medical expenses for serious illnesses can be reimbursed."

Zheng Xiaomin sobbed and said, "I asked, and the relevant department replied that the Qingyuan Instrument Factory owes millions in employee medical insurance fees, so the employees have to pay out of pocket first. They can only be reimbursed after the factory pays off the medical insurance fees."

What a damn rip-off!

Chu Tianshu had heard from Zhang Wei and Tan Yufen that the instrument factory couldn't even pay the 200 yuan living allowance for laid-off workers, let alone make up the arrears of medical insurance fees.

Thinking about this, Chu Tianshu suddenly felt a tug at his heart. He had asked Jian Ruoming from the side, and the restructuring plan of the Qingyuan Instrument Factory had indeed been submitted to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) and would be reviewed soon.

According to the plan submitted by the Qingyuan Instrument Factory, the factory would be sold as a whole to a real estate company, and the laid-off workers would receive compensation based on their years of service, ranging from several ten thousand yuan. The money Zheng Xiaomin's parents would receive would not even cover the surgery costs. In that case, Zheng Xiaomin's mother would have to lie in bed and wait to die.

In such a situation, Chu Tianshu didn't dare to tell Zheng Xiaomin, fearing that she might even want to die if she heard it.

Chu Tianshu grabbed Zheng Xiaomin's shoulders, looked into her eyes, and said seriously, "Xiaomin, I'll help you pay the hospital bills first, and we'll figure out the surgery costs together, but you must promise me that you won't do such foolish things again."

Even Chu Tianshu could feel that his words lacked confidence, but Zheng Xiaomin was moved to tears again. She shook her head and said softly, "Brother Chu, I understand, but... but, I can never repay your kindness in this lifetime."

Chu Tianshu's throat tightened. He slowly calmed his breath, smoothed Zheng Xiaomin's disheveled hair, and forced a smile, saying, "Xiaomin, don't say anything more. I'll take you home."

Chu Tianshu held Zheng Xiaomin's arm, called a taxi, and sent her to the Qingyuan Instrument Factory's employee residential area, then returned to the simple dormitory courtyard.

He quietly entered the rented room, lay down on the bed fully dressed, and his mind was in chaos. A series of events that day made it hard for him to fall asleep.

It was not until he was drowsy that Chu Tianshu finally drifted into a dream.

In his sleep, Chu Tianshu's face showed extreme pain.

In the dream, he was holding the kidnapped little boy, with two kidnappers chasing him frantically. Bullets whizzed past his head, and he ran as fast as he could but couldn't run fast enough. The kidnappers were getting closer, and just as he was about to give up, Du Yufei raised her gun and shot the kidnappers.

Chu Tianshu just relaxed when Hao Shuang blocked his way. Hao Shuang, dressed in a police uniform, took out a pair of handcuffs, grinned, and stretched them out to him. After handcuffing him, he beat him up.

Chu Tianshu screamed, trying to break free from Hao Shuang's control, but his limbs wouldn't obey him. Hao Shuang lifted a lamp and smashed it down on his head. Chu Tianshu could only close his eyes and wait for the blow. At that moment, Ma Li rushed over, beating Hao Shuang to the ground, and Ning Xin clapped and cheered on the side.

The injured Chu Tianshu was taken to the hospital. The female doctor treating him looked familiar, but he couldn't remember who she was. Just as the female doctor was about to take off her mask, several men burst in, lifted the female patient from the next bed, and pushed her out forcefully.

Zheng Xiaomin was crying loudly, kneeling on the ground and begging pitifully.

At that moment, the female doctor stopped the men, took off her mask, and loudly rebuked their brutal behavior.

Chu Tianshu finally saw clearly that the female doctor was Xiang Wanqing.

She helped Zheng Xiaomin's mother back to the bed. Chu Tianshu was extremely moved, sat up from the bed, and woke up to see a bright smile.

Zhang Yingying stood by the bed and said in a childish voice, "Uncle Chu, you're not being good, always sleeping in. Get up quickly, my mom asked me to call you for breakfast."

Chu Tianshu rubbed his eyes and grabbed his phone, seeing that it was already past eleven.

After washing up, Chu Tianshu came to the courtyard and saw Zhang Wei. He asked subconsciously, "Hey, Brother Wei, not at the store today?"

Zhang Wei handed Chu Tianshu a stool, shook his head, and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Chu Tianshu sat down and asked.

"Ah, don't mention it. The factory is being sold as a whole, and the storefronts are being reclaimed."

Tan Yufen brought Chu Tianshu his meal and, upon hearing Zhang Wei's words, immediately became anxious. "So soon? What do we do?"

Zhang Wei glanced at her, impatiently said, "What can we do? The factory is gone, who will keep the storefronts for us?"

Tan Yufen pouted and fed Zhang Yingying in silence.

Chu Tianshu consoled, "Brother Wei, don't worry, talk to Sister calmly."

"Ah, Yufen, it's my fault. Don't take it to heart." Zhang Wei patted Zhang Yingying's head and apologized to Tan Yufen, trying to smile but looking even more miserable.

Without the storefronts, how would this family survive? The adults could endure, but Zhang Yingying was only six years old, and there would be many expenses for her education, tutoring, school selection, and college entrance exams.

Thinking about this, Tan Yufen's eyes turned red. She couldn't help but ask, "At least, we should get some compensation, right?"

Zhang Wei said, "I heard it depends on the selling price. But according to Mr. Wu's estimate, after paying off the factory's social security and medical insurance arrears, the workers might get only two to three thousand yuan per year of service."

"So little?" Tan Yufen looked worried and said, "We don't mind, but Mr. Zheng is counting on this money to save his wife."

Zhang Wei sighed deeply and shook his head. "That's far from enough, and who knows when we'll get the money."

"Isn't this adding insult to injury?" Tan Yufen wiped her eyes and couldn't say anything more.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Wei said to Chu Tianshu, "Xiaochu, I have to give you a heads-up."

"Brother Wei, what is it?" Chu Tianshu didn't even look up.

Zhang Wei hesitated and said, "You need to find a new place to live."

What? Chu Tianshu almost dropped his chopsticks.

Living together for two years, they were almost like family. Why would Zhang Wei suddenly say this? Chu Tianshu was puzzled and wondered if someone was willing to pay more rent.

Chu Tianshu put down his bowl and chopsticks, looked at Zhang Wei, then at Tan Yufen, and said softly, "Brother Wei, I can pay more rent, okay?"

Zhang Wei's face changed, and he threw his chopsticks and bowl on the table, shouting, "Xiaochu, what do you think of me and Sister?"

Zhang Wei's face was terrifying.

Zhang Yingying started crying.

Tan Yufen wiped Zhang Yingying's tears and scolded, "Zhang Wei, look what you've done, scaring the child."

Zhang Wei held his head and said nothing.

Chu Tianshu explained carefully, "Brother Wei, I didn't mean anything. You and Sister have taken such good care of me, and I want to continue living here."

Zhang Wei said in a low voice, "Xiaochu, it's not that I want to kick you out, but we can't stay here either."

Ah? Tan Yufen, holding Zhang Yingying, looked at Zhang Wei with wide eyes. "Zhang Wei, what's going on?"

Zhang Wei looked around and lowered his voice. "Our courtyard is also being sold."

Tan Yufen shouted, "Where will everyone live?"

"Keep your voice down," Zhang Wei glared at Tan Yufen. "I just heard it, don't let everyone know."

In the courtyard, a few families were also eating and looked over when they heard Zhang Wei and Tan Yufen's loud voices.

Tan Yufen dragged her stool closer to Zhang Wei and asked, "Where did you hear this?"

Zhang Wei said, "Yesterday, the factory leaders had a meeting. I heard it from Mr. Wu."

"Which Mr. Wu?"

"The former chief engineer, the tall, thin one with glasses."

"Um, what did he say?"

"Yesterday, the factory leaders met, and Secretary Guo and Factory Director Liu reported the plan to sell the factory as a whole. Mr. Wu raised objections and was criticized. After the meeting, I saw he looked upset and asked him a few questions, and he vented to me."

"Then, why is the courtyard also being sold?"

"Our courtyard is a temporary dormitory, not a residential building. It has no property rights or registration, so it will be demolished along with the factory."

Tan Yufen couldn't help but shout, "Can people even live like this?"

Da Hu and Lao Wan, hearing the commotion, thought Zhang Wei and Tan Yufen were arguing and came over with their bowls to mediate. "Zhang Wei, Xiao Tan, what's going on? Making such a fuss."

Tan Yufen couldn't care less and shouted, "Da Hu, Lao Wan, we can't live like this anymore."

"Ha, Xiao Tan, everything was fine, why can't you live anymore?" Da Hu laughed and said, "Every couple argues, don't say you can't live anymore so easily."

"Ah, Hu's wife, the factory is selling our courtyard too. How can we live?" Tan Yufen said, pulling Zhang Yingying into the house.

"What?" Da Hu and Lao Wan looked at Zhang Wei and asked in unison, "Zhang Wei, is this true?"

Zhang Wei sighed and nodded.

Da Hu exclaimed, "Damn, we really can't live anymore."

Lao Wan, angry, said, "We won't move. Let's see what they can do."

Zhang Wei said, "Da Hu, Lao Wan, getting angry won't solve anything."

"Zhang Wei, what do you suggest?"

"I don't have a good solution," Zhang Wei sighed again and turned to Chu Tianshu, "Xiaochu, you're a SASAC official. What do you think we should do?"