Chapter 231 Arrangements

Chapter 231 Arrangements

After chatting with Wang Chunhua and her group in the morning, Su Zhaozhao took Su Lai Di out for a walk and bought some daily necessities at the supply and marketing cooperative.

Acquaintances who saw them inquired about it, and Su Zhaozhao introduced Su Lai Di as her sister.

She didn’t elaborate further.

However, by the afternoon, many people learned that the ex-wife who had visited Battalion Commander Lian a few days ago was the sister of Captain Gu’s wife.

People are naturally inquisitive, and some had seen Su Lai Di when she first arrived, especially those living near Battalion Commander Lian’s house.

When they saw Su Lai Di accompanying Su Zhaozhao and being introduced as her sister, the news spread quickly.

This piqued a lot of interest!

Some went directly to Su Zhaozhao’s house to ask, while others approached Wang Chunhua and Zhao SuFen, who were particularly close to her.

Soon, gossip about Battalion Commander Lian’s family began circulating in the residential area.

Some even confronted Hao Da Ni and Battalion Commander Lian directly.

Hao Da Ni, of course, had nothing positive to say.

Battalion Commander Lian, on the other hand, admitted that he had made some mistakes but had promptly corrected them and provided substantial financial compensation.

Some thought it was understandable that a man like Battalion Commander Lian, who had been in the military for so long, might not have paid enough attention to family matters.

They found his willingness to admit his mistakes and make amends commendable.

After all, he hadn’t skimped on money, and he was still providing food and child support every month.

Others doubted him, thinking that if it weren’t for his fear of offending Captain Gu’s family, he might not have acted.

Of course, opinions varied, and these differing views didn’t really affect Su Zhaozhao and her family.

Some even envied her for being able to reunite with her sister after so many years.

In the past, many families had lost touch with relatives, not knowing whether they were alive or dead.

This prompted Su Zhaozhao to hear several stories.

After Su Lai Di had stayed at home for a few days, Su Zhaozhao’s plans for her started to materialize.

"...The canteen at the machinery plant is hiring temporary workers. Would you be willing to go?"

Su Lai Di was stunned.

Xiao Shu, who was nearby, quickly tugged at her sleeve, "Mom, Auntie is asking you a question."

Su Lai Di came to her senses, "...Sister, I know it’s not easy to find work in the city. You don’t have to go out of your way for me."

Su Zhaozhao smiled, "I did use a bit of favor, but it was someone repaying me. I’ve helped the machinery plant with their accounts a few times over the past two years. This job is their way of thanking me, so don’t feel burdened."

As the year-end approaches, the finance departments of machinery plants and steel plants get extremely busy. Su Zhaozhao’s exceptional accounting skills are no secret in the industrial zone, and she has already earned several side incomes.

Arrangements for Su Lai Di to live in the city with her child were, of course, better than living in the countryside.

Su Zhaozhao thought of the machinery factory, where Wang Chunhua worked in the trade union's women's federation and Zhu Chunyan was in the finance department. It was the best option available.

The day before yesterday, she went to the machinery factory to talk with the head of the finance department, and today they gave a reply.

Su Lai Di could barely read, but she was clean and quick and capable. There weren’t many suitable positions for her in the factory, and since Su Zhaozhao only requested a temporary job, the machinery factory responded quickly.

If she had asked for a permanent position right away, they wouldn’t have responded so quickly.

Even if they eventually gave the position out of respect for Gu Heng, it wouldn’t have been done so willingly.

Hearing this, Su Lai Di couldn’t refuse. She had always dreamed of having a job and earning a salary like the city folks.

"You’ll start as a temp with a low salary. Whether you can become permanent later depends on your performance. If you work hard and do well, becoming permanent isn’t difficult."

Gu Heng, as the regiment commander and brother-in-law, sometimes had pull that could come in handy.

Su Lai Di nodded repeatedly, "I will definitely work hard!"

Su Zhaozhao believed her. "Tomorrow, I’ll take you to report. Get a good night’s sleep, rest up, and dress nicely tomorrow morning. Wear the new clothes you got yesterday."

"Yes, yes," Su Lai Di nodded repeatedly.

Xiao Shu was even more excited than his mom. After staying at home for a few days and playing with Gu Xiang and Gu Nian, he seemed livelier. "Auntie, will my mom get a monthly salary like you?"

"Yes, are you happy? When your mom gets her salary, she can buy you candy."

Xiao Shu shook his head, "I don't want candy, I want to go to school."

He envied his older siblings who could go to school every day.

Xiao Shu was ten years old and had only completed first grade before dropping out.

He attended first grade only because Lian Dahai remembered to write a letter back, mentioning the idea, and the Lian family elders paid the tuition to send him to school for a year. After that, they thought education was useless and didn't let him continue.

Su Lai Di had no money and was powerless.

Later, when the elders passed away, Su Lai Di could make decisions, but she still had no money. She planned to save some money to send her child to school, but then a famine struck.

When they couldn’t even feed themselves, how could they think about school?

Thinking of this, Su Lai Di touched her child's head, "I've delayed him."

Su Zhaozhao also considered Xiao Shu's schooling, "Xiao Shu can attend the military children's school or the machinery factory's children's school. The factory has dormitories where several people share a room. You could live there, but then Xiao Shu couldn't live with you..."

Before Su Zhaozhao could finish, Su Lai Di said, "Sister, I want to rent a house in a nearby village."

Su Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, "You don't want to live in the dormitory?"

Su Lai Di shook her head, "I want Xiao Shu to attend school here first. If we go to the factory's school, I'm afraid he might be bullied. After I become permanent, I'll let him transfer there."

Su Lai Di knew that if she agreed to live in the dormitory, Xiao Shu would likely trouble her sister's family. They had already done so much for her and her son, even giving up their room. She couldn't bring herself to trouble them further.

If one wants to stand on their own, they must rely on themselves.

She couldn't bring herself to live off her sister's family.

Su Zhaozhao was also satisfied with this. Having an extra person at home for a long time would be uncomfortable for her. Renting a house was the best solution.

She had planned to suggest this later.

She nodded, "Alright, that's the plan. After you report, we'll rent a house and send Xiao Shu to school. Once you become permanent, your household registration can be transferred to the factory, and Xiao Shu's can follow. You two will then have city household registration. Lai Di, you must work hard!"

Su Lai Di smiled and nodded. She would work hard. Without relying on Lian Dahai, she and her son could live well and become city residents!