Chapter 70

Chapter 70

After all, the oldest brother always shared things with them. Feng Yanwen often ate the steamed buns from the oldest brother’s dad’s workplace, and though Xu Meng hated having to supply laundry detergent for them, she never kept track so strictly.

Xu Meng checked the remaining detergent: "I’ll make up the difference. When does the neighborhood office hand out welfare supplies? Will no one come anymore, or will they stop giving out welfare altogether?"

Liu Jin slumped, looking defeated. As orphans, they were already bullied at school for having no parents. Not everyone in the neighborhood was nice. In the first year after their parents passed, people pitied them and treated them well, but as time went on, that treatment faded.

The clothes were filthy, and Xu Meng wrinkled her nose.

Boys were so messy—she had never jumped onto beds to play when she was young.

"You should be more mindful. Washing cotton jackets too often makes them lose warmth," Xu Meng said, suddenly sounding like a nagging mom. She pointed at an oil stain on the bedsheet. "Even if no one’s come to wash for you in a while, how could this end up on the sheet?"

The second brother stuck his tongue out: "The youngest did it."

The youngest, busy playing with ants nearby, heard his name and stubbornly retorted, "Nuh-uh!"

The oldest brother glared at the second brother: "Quit pinning everything on your little brother."

Xu Meng smiled at the brothers, then flipped open the jackets and pointed at one with disdain. "Second brother, you asking for a scolding? How many times do I gotta tell you to wipe your hands after eating? Next time, you’re doing your own laundry. Don’t you guys have arm sleeves? How did your sleeves get this dirty?"

The second brother tried to defend himself: "I forgot."

Then, earnestly, he admitted, "I won’t do it again."

As she spoke, Xu Meng tossed the bedsheets and covers into the washing machine and squeezed in the remaining half-bag of detergent.

Well, she’d have to spare some of her own detergent.

With the clothes in the machine, there was time to do other things.

"Sis," Liu Jin hesitated, "about the welfare stuff… could you ask for me?"

"How often did they distribute welfare in previous years?"

Xu Meng glanced at the washing machine, which was filling with water, then checked the dirty water drainage—it was already overflowing, spilling onto the roadside…

This was the most inconvenient part of living here. The street didn’t even have proper drains. If it rained hard, would everyone be wading through water? It was maddening. No doubt people walking by later would cuss about the mess.

Xu Meng grabbed a broom and pushed some of the water into the yard.

"Mom, should we dump the rinse water in the garden later? We washed too many clothes at once—if the dirty water keeps overflowing, it’ll spill onto the road!"

Feng Yanwen was prepping lessons inside and groaned at the endless "Mom"s from outside.

Even as a kid, Xu Meng was like this—how was she still the same now?

With a headache, she replied, "You’re old enough now. Just pour the first rinse bucket outside and the rest into the flower bed. Isn’t that simple?"

Xu Meng gave an "Oh," then stuck out her tongue playfully toward the house.

"Mom, I’m taking the eldest brother to the neighborhood office."

"Go ahead, go ahead." Feng Yanwen sighed in relief.

When they were gone, she missed them—when they were around, they drove her nuts.

So Xu Meng took the three boys and headed out.

The street office was not far from where they lived. Since the residents in this area didn’t move around much, the staff at the street office were all locals, and Xu Meng was quite familiar with them. This particular street office oversaw a large area, including the sizable Changchun Street district. There were four staff members: one director, two clerks, and an accountant.

Though the street office only had four people, each had their own responsibilities and distinct roles.

According to Liu Jin, the person in charge of distributing subsidies was Accountant Tan, who was previously the family member of a local official overseeing this area.

Liu Jin said, "In the past, the street office would send some daily necessities to our household—nothing fancy, just things like laundry detergent, rice, flour, and oil, distributed quarterly. But since September, nothing has been delivered."

Xu Meng glanced at him. "Why didn’t you mention this earlier?"

Liu Jin replied, "Even back then, deliveries were often late."

But this delay was so long that Xu Meng hadn’t even realized. She wondered if she had confused the street office staff with the union reps.

Whenever Liu Jin’s father’s workplace sent supplies, it was always the trade union that dispatched people, often accompanied by propaganda officers who took photos and left after checking in.

Crossing the area, they arrived at a two-room office at the street corner—the street office’s workspace. Inside, only a plump middle-aged woman was present. Xu Meng greeted her warmly as soon as she entered and asked with a smile, "Hello, I’m looking for Accountant Tan."

The woman was head bent over her knitting and barely acknowledged her, grunting dismissively.

Xu Meng pressed on, "Is Accountant Tan here?"

Annoyed, the woman suddenly looked up and snapped loudly, "I already told you she’s here. Didn’t you hear me?"

Her tone was fierce, startling Xu Meng.

*When did you say that? Which mouth did you use?*

Her face matched her attitude—this woman looked every bit as difficult as she sounded.

The three children immediately ducked behind Xu Meng.

Xu Meng turned and glared at them sharply. Now she understood why the eldest had asked her to come—they were scared themselves. *Just you wait, eldest. You’re in for it when we get back.*

"Are you Accountant Tan?" Xu Meng demanded, her voice sharp. "I’m Liu Jin’s neighbor, here to ask about the quarterly hardship subsidies for families of martyrs. Since the third quarter, the government hasn’t delivered the subsidies to his household. I’d like to know if it’s delayed or if it was missed."

Accountant Tan let out another mocking sniff.

It seemed local bureaucrats came in all types—some, like Sister Liu, were warm and helpful, while others, like Accountant Tan, preferred power-tripping.

Xu Meng snapped back, "Accountant Tan, when exactly will the subsidies be issued? These children’s household doesn’t even have laundry detergent left..."

Accountant Tan suddenly stopped knitting and looked up sharply, her voice rising a few octaves. "Are you asking for Liu Jin or for yourself? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to—trying to mooch off them, aren’t you? The street office provides supplies, and Liu Jin’s father’s workplace does too. How could they run out so quickly?"

"We’re aware of Liu Jin’s family situation. Now that they’ve rented out half their house, they’re not as financially strained as before. The subsidies were originally meant for impoverished households and those under the ‘Five Guarantees.’ Liu Jin owns a house and even rents part of it out—he shouldn’t even qualify for state subsidies. That’s why they were stopped. If you have complaints, take it up with the district officials. Don’t bother me."

*What kind of logic is that?* Xu Meng was baffled.

"But Liu Jin had the house before too—why were subsidies issued then? Besides, aren’t these subsidies given because they’re orphans, children of martyrs, and still unable to support themselves? What does renting out the house have to do with it?"

Xu Meng’s gut said this woman was embezzling the subsidies meant for the children.

Rice, flour, oil, and daily necessities added up to a considerable amount—at least several dozen yuan per quarter.

It might not seem like much, but some people would skim off the top.

Accountant Tan’s expression soured as she doubled down on her officious act. "Of course it matters. Government subsidies are meant to provide basic living assistance to those in genuine hardship, not to those who are well-off. Look at Liu Jin’s situation—his father’s workplace provides subsidies, the state hasn’t reclaimed their house, and now they’re even earning rent. They’re pulling in rent money! Go ask around our street—name one poor family who lives in such a large house while still receiving subsidies? Compare their living space to others’, then come talk to me."

Someone else might have been intimidated by Accountant Tan’s sharp words, but Xu Meng wasn’t backing down.

Xu Meng was a natural-born contrarian.

She’d never hesitated to argue with Granny Xue before, let alone now when she had the upper hand.

The oldest brother was clearly nervous, tugging at Xu Meng’s sleeve a few times, especially when he heard the state might take their house. His eyes were pleading—if the government took their home, they’d have to live in an orphanage. Plenty of folks were eyeing that house.

After his parents died, several groups of people had come by, some even offering to adopt them with lofty excuses, but what they really wanted was the house. Since losing his parents, the boy’s biggest dread was losing their home and being separated, each brother taken by different families.

Compared to that looming threat, the living subsidies were nothing.

Xu Meng dug her heels in: "Take their house? On what grounds? That house was bought by Liu Jin’s parents, not given by the state. Leaving it to their children is only natural—it’s not like they don’t have kids. What right does the government have to take it? Since when do you have that kind of power? I’ll wait here today for the other street officials to return. I’d like to ask whether Liu Jin and his brothers still qualify for subsidies—whether someone’s embezzling them or if the subsidies were really canceled. If the government truly won’t provide them, then fine, I’ll drop it."

Her bold words gave Liu Jin and his brothers courage.

That’s right—the house was theirs. Since when do cadres get to confiscate property?

Liu Jin straightened his back and said firmly, "Accountant Tan, when the street office applied for subsidies for my family before, it was because we’re three orphans. Nobody mentioned disqualification because we own a house, or that my dad’s workplace provided support so the government wouldn’t. If there’s an official rule saying I won’t get subsidies anymore, I’ll take the L. But if it’s just a mistake, I’ll report it to higher-ups."

His voice grew louder and more confident as he spoke.

Government subsidies came from the government, not Accountant Tan. Why’s he gotta grovel like a beggar each time?

It had always been like this—Liu Jin would come when there were adults around.

But lately, everyone had been busy. Sister Liu was away at a city meeting for training, and the two clerks were nowhere to be found. Liu Jin had come by several times, but Tan gave him the cold shoulder, never clarifying whether the supplies were delayed or canceled.

Liu Jin was smart—he knew without an adult backing him, Accountant Tan would likely skim their rations. That’s why he’d asked Xu Meng for help. Sure enough, Accountant Tan was intimidated by adults—today, she’d actually strung sentences together.

Accountant Tan glared at the four of them, gritted her teeth, and suddenly stood up.

Only then did they realize she was pushing six feet—a giant even next to guys, let alone women. Xu Meng jerked back instinctively but quickly reminded herself not to cower. Even if Accountant Tan was big, she wouldn’t manhandle all four kids at once.

Then they watched as Accountant Tan turned and walked into the back storeroom.

The brothers muttered anxiously:

"Is this really okay? She won’t screw us over later?"

"Don’t worry, big sister’s here. She can’t out-argue her."

Soon, Accountant Tan returned from the storeroom, arms full of supplies. She dumped them on the counter with a bang and said coldly, "Come check them. Count everything and sign for it, Liu Jin."

Liu Jin cheered and rushed to the counter.

Scoring the goods was a win.

There were four towels (two per quarter), twenty bags of laundry detergent (ten per quarter), two one-pound packs of toilet paper, two bars of soap, and two ten-pound bags of rice. The eldest child counted everything carefully, wrote it down where Accountant Tan pointed, and signed his name.

Tan’s face soured, shooting Xu Meng meaningful glances before saying sarcastically, "These supplies are for you—don’t let outsiders use them. Keep your things safe."

She didn’t even bother hiding her words from Xu Meng.

Xu Meng batted her eyes innocently. "That’s right, kids, listen to Accountant Tan. She’s looking out for you. But remember—you still owe me half a bag of laundry detergent you borrowed earlier. Make sure to return it."

Liu Jin added, "Big sister’s been really good to us! She even lets us use her washing machine!"

Accountant Tan looked ready to spit nails. A renter could afford a washing machine? What a waste of money.

But there was nothing she could do to Xu Meng. She was just an accountant—she didn’t even handle daily street affairs. Xu Meng had never needed anything from her, which was why the girl dared to stand up to her. Still, Accountant Tan memorized Xu Meng’s face, swearing payback was coming.

Once they stepped out of the neighborhood office, all four of them felt like a weight was off their shoulders.

The eldest was especially happy—this time, they even got four extra towels and two bars of soap compared to before!

Xu Meng eyed the assortment of items, noting their mediocre quality. These poverty relief supplies, snagged through backdoor deals, were hardly top-notch. The fact that someone would even skim off such basic necessities was just plain rotten.

She pinched a towel between her fingers, thinking it over. "When we get back, you three should switch out your towels. Each of you gets one for bathing—I’ll stitch a mark on them later. For face towels, you can share one. And keep the soap properly stored."

When they returned home, Xu Meng recounted the confrontation with Accountant Tan to Feng Yanwen.

Feng Yanwen wasn’t particularly bothered. Though gentle by nature, she wasn’t someone to be pushed around. People like Accountant Tan were a dime a dozen—small-time bullies who loved throwing their weight around. "Just another two-bit power-tripper," she remarked. After reminding them to store the supplies properly, she headed back to her room.