Li Xiang was taken aback at first, then looked at Li Zhenhua with a cold smile: "So, what about after dropping out?"

  "Your uncle just came over and found you a job as an accountant at the coal mine in our county, with a monthly salary of 2,000 yuan!"

  "Huh? Such a good job, why didn't my uncle give it to my senior cousin in her first year of college, but instead gave it to me?"

  "Our family isn't short of money, is it?"

  "Why doesn't our family have money?"

  Li Zhenhua was somewhat embarrassed by his daughter's questioning and immediately turned away with a scowl.

  "Our family has no money, you don't know why? I guaranteed for someone back then, who knew that scoundrel would run away? If not, we wouldn't be in such a predicament,"

  "Yes, your salary is not low, and you are a formal employee of the bank. My stepmother still works, and it's enough for her to support me and Yangyang. But because you guaranteed someone else, our family has had to tighten its belt all these years. I've been thrifty enough, eating the cheapest food, wearing the most tattered clothes, just so I can go to school. But even this is not enough, haha."

  "Dad, it's 2007 now, not 1987. But the life I'm living, others really think it's still in the eighties. Just to make me start working a year earlier and earn money sooner, you heartlessly didn't let me go to school and even made me go to that coal mine? Where can't I go, why did I have to go there?"

  "Elsewhere, the salary is low, but here it's 2,000. With this 2,000, our family's living expenses will be covered. You also know that your grandmother has been hospitalized, and her medical expenses are split among us brothers, which is already 3-4,000 per month. My and your mother's salaries combined are only around 4-5,000, how can we even afford to eat?"

  "So you're going to sacrifice me?"

  What's going on at work? Isn't it just trying to sell her to the coal boss, getting close to the water tower first and then getting the moon?

  She was dissatisfied with her father for not being able to pay for her grandmother's medical expenses, so she tried every means to make money for them. With this money, he could balance his mind.

  "What's the point of sacrificing you? Even if you take the college entrance exam, what's the use? Our family can't afford the tuition fees anyway. Rather than that, it's better..."

  "Who says I can't afford it? Can't I think of a way myself? Isn't it enough that I won't let you spend a single cent?"

  "Alright you, grown up and got tough wings, want to sing a different tune with your old man? You think you can handle it yourself? What can you possibly do?"

  Li Zhenhua's eyes turned red with rage, the veins on his forehead bulging out, and just as he was about to slap Li Xiang in the face, he restrained himself.

  He endured it, but Li Xiang couldn't bear it anymore. She tearfully accused Li Zhenhua.

  "I said I'll find a way on my own, so you won't have to spend another penny on me. Don't worry, from today onwards, you don't need to give me living expenses anymore, I'll go out and work to earn my own keep, what do you think?"

  "How's it going? Not good! Do you think that job will still be waiting for you? Tomorrow I'll go to school and get the withdrawal procedures done for you."

  "Dad, are you really trying to force me? I just don't believe it. The money our family gives me and grandma's money can't be all gone, we don't have to pay rent, eating at home, Yangyang is already in elementary school, not kindergarten, how much money do we need? Haven't you ever calculated this?"

  Finally, her stepmother couldn't sit still after hearing this and hurried out to mediate.

  "Think about it, your dad is also helpless. The cost of grandma's chemotherapy has skyrocketed and our family can barely afford to make ends meet. How about this: you go out and work first this year, and at worst, you can take the college entrance exam again next year?"