Chapter 2 — Mother's Application for Money

The instructor seemed to be even more angry, loudly questioning me about how much money I had asked my family. "The school collects fees according to regulations, parents keep filing lawsuits, so why are we still working?" "By the way, it's understandable to ask for a little more money from my family, but you can't go too far like that!" I was so nervous that I clenched my ten fingers. Before going to college, I only dared to use the entire family's empty mineral water bottles to store water. Therefore, when I wrote a request for money a few days ago, I secretly declared an additional 15 yuan, just to buy myself a new water bottle. To prove it, I showed them the transcript. A few middle-aged people were still frowning, but after reading, their expressions changed. At this moment, my mother called again. The instructor looked at me with complicated eyes. From the other side came a scolding voice: "Are you guys going to rob your school? Still asking for 85 yuan for a piece of torn clothes?" The instructor explained that 85 was the price of a full military uniform. My mother was silent for a few seconds. I thought that after hearing the explanation, she would understand. Who would have thought that she would get even angrier and scream: "Great job, Duong Gia Di! You dare to lie about the amount of money, demanding up to a hundred yuan from me!" "Your father worked hard and bled at the construction site to earn money, but you spent it wastefully, do you deserve it?" My father did indeed work at the construction site, but he was a contractor, earning more than twenty thousand each month. Just last week my younger brother bought a 500 yuan puzzle, and they have never said a single sentence. As for me, I just wanted to buy a water bottle for 15 yuan, which was like committing a heinous crime. The teachers in the room all looked at me with sympathetic eyes. I hastily explained: "Mom, that's not true, I just forgot to write it down in the form, I'll add it later..." "Don't you dare argue! Teacher, this Duong Gia Di is all lying, deliberately defrauding his family to get money, his nature is too evil!" "Teachers must take strict action! This is not just a matter of money, but a matter of dignity!" The instructor tried to help me out, but my mother didn't listen and hung up the phone. Her voice still echoed in my head, making me dizzy. Just because I was 15 yuan, I was accused by my own mother of being a person of bad dignity. Right after that, the phone vibrated, and a message from my mother appeared: 【Notification: Duong Gia Di is an honest liar, her morals are corrupt, from now on she is forbidden from accepting any living expenses.】 Those words made my eyes sting and my chest tighten. I tried to suppress my rising emotions and said softly: "Sorry, for bothering you guys. My mother probably won't complain anymore..." Because she would never care about me again. "Wait!" The instructor gave me an application for a poverty subsidy. First class scholarship, four thousand yuan. Enough for me to cover living expenses for the whole semester. Before I left, the teacher said: "The new milk tea shop opened in the school is looking for students to work part-time. If you have time, try it." I nodded repeatedly, quickly wiped my tears, looked at the teacher gratefully: "Thank you, teacher!" That night, I tried texting my mother to ask for money for tomorrow's living expenses. Sure enough, she did not reply, nor did she send another penny. I looked at the remaining balance of 85 yuan, and my heart gradually became cold. But unexpectedly, that same night, an anonymous letter appeared on the instructor's desk: 【Duong Gia Di is not poor, he lives in a small villa, drives a Benz, his younger brother still takes piano lessons!】 【Please return the scholarships to those who really need it!】 Photos of my family's house and cars were posted anonymously by someone in the year group. The other person even aggressively sent hundreds of messages, criticizing me for deliberately defrauding me of school benefits. Immediately, a wave of attacks arose: 【Resolutely request the school to thoroughly investigate and cancel Duong Gia Di's subsidy status!】 【The subsidy is to help students

poor, not to add bricks and tiles to her luxury house and car!】 A bitter taste rose in my chest. It's true that my family is not poor, it's just that my parents never give me money. So I'm not even in a position to argue. The story became more and more noisy. Under public pressure, the academy was forced to announce a re-evaluation. Three days later, the instructor awkwardly told me that the subsidy had been cancelled. I was mentally prepared, but didn't want to bother the teacher any more, so I forced a smile: "It's okay, I still have to do more, don't worry about me." There were less than twenty yuan left in my e-wallet, so I tried to hold on for another two days. But my overtime salary didn't come out until the end of the month, so I had to shamelessly borrow two hundred yuan from my senior, Phuong Doanh. Due to lack of food and drink for a long time, my body is tired and exhausted. When carrying the box of ingredients, my hands shook so much that I spilled a bunch of coconut jelly on the ground. The boss shouted right in front of the guests: "If you're so weak, why work part-time! If you can do it, do it, if you can't do it, then get out!" I bowed my head and apologized while cleaning, luckily my salary was not deducted. After a day of work, my hands were tired and I couldn't hold the pen steady. But I can only grit my teeth and endure. I need money, really need it. After half a month of intense work, I finally received 1,600 yuan. If I just try for a few more weeks, I will save enough living expenses for the whole semester, and from there I can devote all my attention to studying. Thinking of this, my movements of scooping ingredients became faster. However, the right lower abdomen suddenly felt a pain, I tried to grit my teeth and endure it. Just when the restaurant was crowded, orders piled up, there was no delay. But the pain became more and more intense, cold sweat flowed, I couldn't even hold a cup. "Boss... I... I'll take a break..."