Chapter 913: Chapter 912: Haii’s Hardship
Zhao Haii looked at Lin Nianhe, rubbed her ear, and asked uncertainly, “What did you say?”
Lin Nianhe repeated Mr. Ren’s words and finally said, “Haii, don’t be shy. If you have any questions, just ask. Now Mr. Ren wants to keep you at the research institute in Beijing. If you don’t take this opportunity to make demands, when will you?”
What Lin Nianhe didn’t say was that if Mr. Ren insisted on keeping her, unless Zhao Haii was willing to give up the assigned job like her, she would have no choice but to accept.
But what could Zhao Haii do after refusing the job assignnt?
Beco a private teacher at a high school?
It’s obvious without thinking that the treatnt there can’t compare to being a researcher at the institute.
Zhao Haii looked at Lin Nianhe, picking at her fingers, and said in a small voice, “Actually… the main reason I want to go back ho is because of my father. My dad got sick from mining before, and over the years, the dicine and treatnt…”
“I’m the only child in my family. How can I not go back to take care of my parents?”
Lin Nianhe finally understood the hardship Zhao Haii had been enduring all these years.
Zhao Haii said with a bitter smile, “Actually, I know that if I report my family situation, the leadership will likely give a house. But Nianhe, even if I have a house and bring my parents to Beijing, I simply can’t support them, you know?”
The Zhao parents at least have a few acres of land at ho to sustain themselves. How would they manage in the city?
They have no inco, nor food tickets. Zhao Haii alone working would not suffice to cover their food and dical expenses.
Lin Nianhe thought for a mont and asked, “How is Auntie’s health? Can she work?”
“What do you an?” Zhao Haii almost instantly thought of Lin Nianhe’s business and waved it off, saying, “Nianhe, I know you want to help , but I can’t let you arrange a job for my mom. I can’t let you help support my parents.”
“Who said anything about supporting your parents?” Lin Nianhe said. “The institute isn’t only for researchers. The cafeteria needs people, and so does cleaning. If Auntie can work, can’t Mr. Ren solve Auntie’s job as well, allowing your family of three to live in Beijing?”
Zhao Haii was stunned.
“Is that possible?”
“You’ll never know if it’s possible unless you ask.”
Lin Nianhe had a lot of experience in these matters: “Negotiating is about asking a high price, and the other side negotiating down. If you’re too scared even to ask, how will you know if the other side can accept it?”
Zhao Haii was convinced.
If there are two incos, supporting a family of three is possible, and the hospitals in Beijing are better, which might provide better treatnt for dad…
Besides, she had always kept it to herself that she actually wanted to stay at the research institute.
Seeing her wavering expression, Lin Nianhe directly took her hand, “Co on, let’s go find Mr. Ren.”
“Huh?”
Zhao Haii was a bit flustered, “Nianhe, maybe think it over? Let think about what to say…”
“Don’t think, strike while the iron is hot.”
On the way to the Physics Building, Lin Nianhe devised a battle plan for Zhao Haii — don’t speak, just cry if you can.
Zhao Haii was really about to cry.
Because she couldn’t cry!
Lin Nianhe dragged her to knock on Mr. Ren’s office door.
Mr. Ren was still busy and said “Co in” without looking up when he heard the knock.
“Teacher Ren,” Lin Nianhe pushed the door open and got straight to the point, “I brought Haii.”
Zhao Haii followed Lin Nianhe, nervously and quietly saying, “Hello, Teacher Ren.”
She actually hadn’t interacted much with Mr. Ren, and when they occasionally t on campus, she only greeted him.
She wasn’t as bold as Lin Nianhe, nor did she have the confidence to act this way.
Mr. Ren smiled and nodded at Zhao Haii, then looked at Lin Nianhe with an inquisitive gaze.
Lin Nianhe held Zhao Haii’s hand, wiped away non-existent tears at the corner of her eye, and said, “Mr. Ren, it’s not that Haii doesn’t want to stay at the institute, it’s just that her family circumstances won’t allow it…”
She embellished Zhao Haii’s family situation.
Zhao Haii was a little dumbfounded listening to it — was she really that miserable? She hadn’t thought so before!
Zhao Haii’s eyes actually reddened this ti.
She recalled her father’s sleepless nights of coughing, her mother’s greying hair, and her prematurely aged face.
She involuntarily looked at Mr. Ren with a hint of hope in her eyes.
Perhaps, it really could be?
Mr. Ren listened, visibly moved.
As a teacher, he had discreetly helped many students from difficult family backgrounds over the years, but never did any conversation reveal that Zhao Haii needed help.
This young girl had stubbornly shouldered the family’s burden on her own.
After listening to Lin Nianhe’s account, Mr. Ren took a deep breath and looked at Zhao Haii, “I’m sorry, as the departnt head, I didn’t understand the students’ situations thoroughly and didn’t give you tily help.”
He now saw Zhao Haii as an invaluable talent.
Imagine, a student who spent almost all her spare ti copying manuscripts to earn money, yet still maintained her grades in the top ten of her year.
If she devoted herself entirely to her studies, what heights could she reach?
Zhao Haii hadn’t expected the departnt head to apologize, and she was suddenly at a loss, shaking her head repeatedly, not knowing what to say.
Mr. Ren pondered for a mont and said, “I can represent the school to explain your situation to the institute, apply for a house for you, and then… does your mother have the ability to work?”
Zhao Haii was still flustered and didn’t imdiately respond.
Lin Nianhe quickly squeezed her hand to pull her back.
Zhao Haii ca to her senses, imdiately nodding, “Yes, my mom does all the farming at ho. My dad, though he has a cough, can do so light work.”
Mr. Ren nodded, “Good, I will suggest to the institute to let your mother work, and if they don’t have a suitable job for her, Peking University has many postings. In short—”
“Child, stay. Your issues, the teacher will help resolve them.”
Mr. Ren looked at Zhao Haii, his mouth slightly upturned, kind and understanding.
Tears just flowed from Zhao Haii’s eyes.
She covered her mouth, unable to believe her ears.
“I, I…” she said, wiping her tears with trembling hands, “What should I do?”
“Just use your talents and apply what you have learned to the construction of the country.”
Mr. Ren stood up, walked over to Zhao Haii, and smiled, patting her on the shoulder.
Zhao Haii looked at this familiar yet unfamiliar departnt head in front of her and nodded hard.
“Yes!”
“I definitely… definitely can do it!”
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