Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 541 - 475: Not a Word About It

On the third day of the new year, Yu Xiaolian sent a carriage to take Sun Mansheng and Mrs. Gao to the Red Sausage Factory.

Before they left, Yu Xiaolian bluntly laid out the harsh truth, telling Mrs. Gao that her treatment would be the same as other female workers in the factory, with no special care given. She would receive ten coins a day and two meals a day.

If Mrs. Gao was unwilling, she could choose not to go.

Mrs. Gao truly did not expect Yu Xiaolian to not give her special treatment. On the carriage to the Red Sausage Factory, Mrs. Gao pondered and finally identified the root of the problem.

"Your sister Xiaolian’s family is big and prosperous, and we’re her relatives. She wouldn’t be so stingy with us. It must be your third sister who instigated this in between. That Manyue, truly... sigh, she really hates me!" Mrs. Gao complained to her son.

Sun Mansheng was also feeling very down. He didn’t fear hard work; he feared that there would be no hope for their future.

After so many years of hardship, they finally managed to save over two hundred silver coins, thinking they could return to River Bend Village and have a prestigious return. But they didn’t expect to encounter the greedy Gao Family, making them return to the same struggles.

Though Sun Mansheng didn’t want to go against his mother, he was greatly distressed in his heart.

"Mom, my uncle and his family took your silver, and you let it happen because you thought Yu Xiaolian would help you. You thought you had a fallback plan and feared nothing, right?"

Sun Mansheng’s words didn’t spare Mrs. Gao any dignity. A trace of embarrassment flickered across Mrs. Gao’s face as her own son ruthlessly exposed her. She felt a bit humiliated.

"You thought when we were in Taohua Village, earning more than four taels a month, that silver coins were easy to come by, didn’t you?" Sun Mansheng’s tone was deeply sarcastic.

Mrs. Gao, extremely frustrated, said, "It wasn’t me who willingly gave the silver to your grandmother and them; they took it. Hearing you say this, are you blaming me too?"

During this time, Sun Mansheng had been silent, which gave Mrs. Gao some comfort, thinking her son still cared about her and listened to her. However, she didn’t expect her son to blame her in his heart as well.

"The money grandpa gave me to marry with is also gone. Don’t forget, after this year, I’ll be thirteen."

When boys turn thirteen, the family can start arranging marriage prospects. If a suitable match is found, they can engage, and when the boy turns fifteen or sixteen, the girl can move in to get married.

But now they didn’t even have money for engagement gifts. How could they face matchmaking? Which girl would want to marry him? Even if a girl demanded nothing, where would she live after marrying? They didn’t even have a house.

Sun Mansheng blamed his mother for ruining all the good fortune they had.

Hearing Sun Mansheng’s words, Mrs. Gao felt overwhelming guilt. Before she could make empty promises to Sun Mansheng, they arrived at the Red Sausage Factory.

The mother and son got off the carriage and entered the courtyard.

Sun Manhong came running to greet them, "Auntie Five, you’re here?"

Originally, during the New Year, Yu Xiaolian planned to bring Sun Manhong and her two daughters to the city to celebrate. But it happened that Zhang Jinhua was ill, so Sun Manhong declined Yu Xiaolian’s invitation and stayed at the Red Sausage Factory to take care of her daughter.

Sun Manhong is now responsible for the logistics at the Red Sausage Factory, and the task of arranging rooms for Mrs. Gao and Sun Mansheng fell to her.

In the summer, few people stayed overnight at the Red Sausage Factory, but since it got cold, many chose to live in the dormitories instead of commuting.

Thus, there were no vacant rooms available. Sun Manhong couldn’t place Mrs. Gao in the common dormitory with other female workers, so she had Mrs. Gao live with Li Dayan and Wang Dafen, and Sun Mansheng stay with the sons of Li Dayan and Wang Dafen.

Once settled, Mrs. Gao and Sun Manhong sat at a table catching up.

As they chatted, Mrs. Gao began to inquire about Sun Manhong’s wages. How did Sun Manhong manage to survive with her two daughters through much hardship?

It was her caution. Although Yu Xiaolian hadn’t explained anything, Sun Manhong was sharp and quickly saw through Mrs. Gao’s intentions.

Sun Manhong laughed, "Xiaolian said she wanted to pay me a salary and even offered more than usual. But I don’t do the hard work here, just eat for free. How could I take people’s wages without feeling guilty?

If it weren’t for Xiaolian taking us three in, we would still be barely surviving in a cave. Here we have food, drink, and shelter—I’m pretty content and really don’t dare to think about wages."

Mrs. Gao forced an awkward smile. How different was her situation from Sun Manhong’s now?

No house, no money; if Yu Xiaolian didn’t help them, they wouldn’t know what to do.

"You have two daughters. Once they marry off, you won’t have any worries. I don’t have that luxury; I have to find a way to get Mansheng a wife!" So, she needed the wages and hoped Yu Xiaolian would give her a bit more considering they were relatives.

"Auntie Five, that’s not something I like hearing. Even if my girls marry out, I’ll still be concerned about them!" Sun Manhong stood up, pursing her lips slightly where Mrs. Gao couldn’t see.

"Auntie Five, are you going to rest today or start work immediately? If it’s work, I’ll take you to see Steward Liu." Sun Manhong’s message was clear—she didn’t want to continue the chat with Mrs. Gao.

Mrs. Gao’s actions sincerely made her look down on Mrs. Gao. Last year, Fu Gui came to take her to the city for New Year’s, mentioning Mrs. Gao was also there, saying she gave all her money to her own family and came with her two children to depend on Yu Xiaolian.

When Sun Manhong heard it then, she thought Fu Gui might be spreading rumors. Who would be foolish enough to give all their savings to their family? Even if you gave, you should keep half for yourself.

Initially, Sun Manhong didn’t believe it, but Fu Gui described it vividly, saying that Mrs. Gao and her third daughter were constantly quarreling, and nearly everyone in the back yard of the county government knew about it.

Seeing how confidently Fu Gui spoke, Sun Manhong believed it then.

Just now, she exchanged a few pleasantries with Mrs. Gao, fulfilling the duty of familial courtesy. When nothing major arose, she planned not to engage with Mrs. Gao further.

There was never much familial connection between her and Auntie Five.

What Sun Manhong didn’t know was that, before coming to Yangcheng, Mr. Sun Erlin had instructed Mrs. Gao to bring silver for her: ten taels, five for Sun Manhong and five for Sun Manyin. If one of them were to die, all ten taels would belong to the surviving one.

Since Sun Manyin passed away, the ten taels of silver should belong entirely to Sun Manhong according to Sun Erlin’s instruction, but Mrs. Gao didn’t mention it at all.

Where would she find money for Sun Manhong now? Fortunately, Northern Land and Yu State were far apart, and Sun Erlin wouldn’t come to hold her accountable.

Mrs. Gao sighed. Ten coins a day; would she never pay off the ten silver taels she owed Sun Manhong in her lifetime?

Mrs. Gao stood up, deciding to start work earning money right away, "Manhong, let’s go see Steward Liu then!"