“If I want to go to the Special Economic Zone next summer vacation, would it be too much trouble for Kang Wei…” This thought flashed through Tan Yujun’s mind.

Yang Yonghong could go because she had a good relationship with Xia Xiaolan. Tan Yujun was from a different department and year, so naturally wasn’t as close to Xia Xiaolan. As a civil engineering student, she was drawn to Pengcheng’s widespread construction. Tan Yujun’s reason for wanting to go to Pengcheng was completely different from Yang Yonghong’s.

Tan Yujun wasn’t short of money. Yang Yonghong was. While Tan Yujun was reading letters in Beijing, Yang Yonghong was in Pengcheng waiting to receive her wages.

She and her younger brother Yang Jie were two days short of completing their first month of work in Pengcheng, but since it was the beginning of the month – Yuanhui’s payday – they would receive their share.

Yuanhui had changed from before, with several renovated offices, including a dedicated finance room. Yang Yonghong stood outside the finance room. In front of her, many workers clutched slips of paper recording their working days from the previous month.

They didn’t need to write anything – the dates were pre-printed, and they just needed to mark whether they worked or not on the table. Of course, it needed the company’s small stamp. Though slightly troublesome, the process was transparent.

Those who didn’t work wouldn’t get extra money, and those who did wouldn’t get shortchanged. This system meant Yuanhui never had disputes when settling workers’ wages. Everyone was satisfied with the fair “more work, more pay” policy.

Yang Jie stood in front of his sister, his form showing 28 checkmarks with 28 bright red stamps. This was unmistakable.

“Can I get 364 yuan?”

The workers ahead laughed, “You’re dreaming! What if the boss pays you everything and you leave without notice? We all have half our wages held back. We get half each month, with the remainder paid at year’s end!”

“I wouldn’t run!” Yang Jie instinctively protested. He wasn’t stupid – this was a good job he got through Sister Xiaolan’s connection, earning three to four hundred yuan monthly. He’d be crazy to leave!

The worker ahead grew impatient: “That’s just the rule. Give one month’s notice if you want to quit. Working under Brother Yong, you still get half your wages monthly, with everything settled honestly at year’s end. Other places don’t pay wages regularly. If someone needs urgent money for family matters, they have to beg the boss for an advance… It can be maddening when there’s illness at home, school fees to pay, or agricultural supplies to buy.”

So Yuanhui was quite professional – even state-owned enterprises delayed wages sometimes.

Yang Jie fell silent.

Yang Yonghong thought he was worried about his wages and slapped his shoulder: “What are you thinking about? They won’t cheat you!”

Yang Jie remained quiet. When he came, he said he’d earn enough for his wedding. His parents probably didn’t believe him. It was already August – how could his parents rest easy if he didn’t send some money home first?

Yang Jie feared his parents would either humiliate themselves by borrowing money or resort to selling blood to raise funds.

After he carefully expressed his concerns, Yang Yonghong also fell silent: “Even if we only get half our wages, between us we’ll have 200 yuan. We’ll send it home as soon as we get it. I’ll write and tell them we’ll have enough for your wedding by October!”

The company provided three meals when working. Yang Yonghong figured the siblings wouldn’t need to spend money in the coming month, so they didn’t need to keep any cash.

Thinking of this, she touched her hair. Short hair was convenient – no more troublesome washing. She couldn’t afford shampoo, but a little soap on the towel, and daily scrubbing and rinsing kept her hair clean.

Yang Yonghong could even smile at this thought, showing her big heart.

Yang Jie was infected by his sister’s optimism. Both fell silent as they shuffled forward in line.

Finally, it was Yang Jie’s turn. He emerged from the finance room after a few minutes, looking somewhat dazed.

“How much did you get? Was it 182?”

Yang Jie shook his head: “They said I worked 5 extra days. After 8 PM counts as overtime, paid at 2 yuan per hour. Overtime is calculated separately each month. Sister, I got 220 yuan!”

Yang Yonghong couldn’t contain her smile. Even if she didn’t get much, Yang Jie had received what they’d discussed.

Yang Yonghong entered to find Liu Yong seated and Li Dongliang standing.

“Little Yang, you’ve worked hard this month!”

Liu Yong thought that Xiaolan’s close friend was indeed a good kid, unafraid of hard work, and helpful to Li Dongliang.

Yang Yonghong smiled brightly: “I still call you Uncle when we’re alone. Thank you for hiring us siblings – you’ve helped our family tremendously!”

Help is help – why hide gratitude? Yang Yonghong didn’t bother with pretense.

Liu Yong personally handed Yang Yonghong an envelope. “There’s 200 yuan inside. Your Manager Li said you’ve been a great help. Uncle would like to pay you more. You’re educated and hardworking, naturally suited for this work… Oh, look at my poor choice of words! You’ll have a bright future after graduation, don’t think the salary is too low!”

Among Liu Yong’s employees, Gong Yang was the only formal university graduate. Gong Yang earned eight or nine hundred yuan monthly including bonuses, so Liu Yong felt Yang Yonghong’s salary wasn’t high.

Yang Yonghong didn’t know what to do with her hands.

“200 yuan is too much, more than I expected. Uncle, don’t favor me too much. I should be paid according to my work.”

Should she accept this money?

During a previous dormitory chat in Room 307, Yang Yonghong’s life goal was to quickly gain professional titles after starting work. She would have been satisfied with a 200 yuan monthly salary in her lifetime.

In Pengcheng, Yang Yonghong realized her life goals were too modest. Here, a 200 yuan monthly salary wasn’t hard to achieve. With strength, skills, or education – excellence in any one area could earn high wages.

But regardless, she was here for temporary work. She had no special skills and education. She hadn’t even graduated – what use was that?

Yang Yonghong thought 200 yuan was too much, but Liu Yong felt relieved: “I was worried you’d think it too little. We pay half the wages first, with the rest settled when you leave – that’s Yuanhui’s rule now for easier management. But your situation is special, you can get advances if needed…”

Liu Yong said several things, but Yang Yonghong only heard one: half wages?

What? Half the wages!

Didn’t that mean Liu Yong had set her salary at 400 yuan monthly?

Yang Yonghong’s eyes reddened.

“Uncle Liu, I just run errands for Manager Li. 400 yuan could hire ten people like me. You—”

How could she continue staying here? Wouldn’t she be taking advantage of Xiaolan’s uncle?

Liu Yong was surprised, “Little Yang, you haven’t realized your worth. I’m not paying you 400 yuan monthly because of Xiaolan… Do you know how much you’ve helped this month? Once you caught a materials error that saved me tens of thousands in costs. Capable university students should be worth this much in Pengcheng. You’re different from the renovation workers – they can be replaced despite their skills, but you…” Liu Yong pointed to his head. “A brain smart enough to get into Huaqing University – that’s something special.”