On My Way - Chapter 17

Chapter 17 - Paying Off Debts in Time for the New Year

When the final batch of funds was released, it was the day before New Year’s Eve.

The streets were decked out with lanterns and streamers, and the construction site was adorned with Spring Festival couplets. I stood at the entrance, gazing at the battlefield where I had spent a busy year.

Although there were still a few minor things to be perfected, it was already clear that this was a beautiful residential complex. Children would spend their joyous summer vacations in the swimming pool, the elderly would chat and share stories in the fitness area, and when the harried office workers returned home late at night, warm, soft lights would illuminate the path beneath their feet.

I will grow old, but this place will remain here longer than I will. Generation after generation will get married and have children here, living out their long lives.

I took a deep breath and walked into the office.

"As the saying goes, 'pay off your debts before the New Year.' Now that the project is complete, let’s settle our accounts."

My gaze swept across everyone present; some met my eyes openly, while others averted their gaze.

Then, I began to read the list.

"Sun Wenqing, as a fresh graduate, you stuck it out at this site and proposed two documented work suggestions that effectively improved production efficiency. I said one suggestion equals ten thousand, so take your twenty thousand yuan and go home for the New Year!"

The little chubby guy jumped three feet high. He rushed over, clutched the cash, and refused to let go: "Thank you, Boss! Long live the Boss!"

"Wang Yan, you pointed out construction issues three times in a timely manner, saving the project from significant losses. Ten thousand per instance—take the money."

Wang Yan was getting on in years; his hands shook as he took it: "Manager Ren... are you really giving it to us? Isn't there already a year-end bonus?"

"The year-end bonus is the year-end bonus. This is the bonus I promised, so of course, I have to pay it," I said.

At the start of the project, I had established a system of rewards and penalties. The penalties were real, so the rewards had to be real too.

"Next, Wang Le, Sun Feng, Zhao Kainan. You worked overtime to complete your tasks, and during the most difficult moments of the project, you held your ground. I said I wouldn't treat anyone unfairly. Twenty thousand each—take the money and go."

The entire office was bustling, just like a market during the holidays, filled with warm, joyful laughter. I couldn't help but giggle along with them.

"When this project first started, no one thought it would succeed. Just like us—for various reasons, no one thought much of us," I said loudly. "But look at this! It was us who built this building, and it was us who created a miracle!"

The applause was like rolling thunder. Li Gong, a shy, scholarly man, led the cheering, his voice the loudest of all.

I scanned everyone, giving the final summary of the year.

"There are all sorts of rumors about me. I haven't explained them, and I don't need to," I declared. "I will use my abilities to prove to everyone exactly who I am!"

Scene after scene from the past year flashed through my mind:

The beginning of the project, being cursed at while people pointed fingers in my face.

Workers exhausting themselves on-site just to hit deadlines, while I felt utterly powerless.

Getting into trouble, finding no help anywhere, and wanting to jump off a building.

...Every past moment had forged these steel and concrete buildings, and had also tempered my indomitable spirit.

Suddenly, I didn't want to say any more bold declarations. I just gave the biggest, brightest smile I could muster and said: "So, go enjoy your New Year! See you at the next project!"

"Don't just talk about the next project!" Tyrannosaurus stood up to lead the applause: "I’m following Manager Ren for the rest of my life!"

"Me too!"

"Boss, count me in!"

New Year’s means going home.

To be honest, I didn't particularly want to go back, especially since the house in my hometown had already been sold.

But my grandmother was traditional; she insisted on going back once a year, so we packed our bags and headed home for the New Year.

After traveling for a day and a night on a long-distance train, we finally arrived home on New Year's Eve. My father was actually at the train station to pick us up, his eyebrows frosted with ice.

"What’s this, Dad? Suddenly feeling a burst of filial piety?" I was truly surprised.

"You brat, stop spouting nonsense. It’s freezing out here; what else was I supposed to do?" He draped a coat over my grandmother: "Mom, you aren't frozen, are you? Your daughter-in-law has already made lamb dumplings at home! They’re just waiting for you two!"

Grandma smiled: "That’s good! I get to enjoy a home-cooked meal."

Actually, if he hadn't come, I would have just taken a taxi back. Since he picked us up, we had to squeeze into a drafty bus to get home.

This was the first time I’d been back since taking Grandma away.

As we reached the door, my stepmother was already welcoming us: "You’re back, Mom! Dongxue! Xiao Wei, get slippers for your sister and grandma!"

My younger brother ran over: "Sister, why did you only just get here! The food has already been reheated several times!"

Grandma couldn't bend down, so I untied her shoes while asking: "The bus was late, what could I do? Did you miss me?"

My brother dragged out his answer: "Missed you! I almost forgot what you looked like!"

Just then, my grandmother suddenly pulled her hand away from mine and said: "Don't take them off, I’ll just keep them on."

She said to my stepmother: "Xiao Qin, I’ve gotten used to living in the South. My feet are sensitive to the cold now, is that alright?"

Everyone was stunned, except for me.

Many years ago, my grandmother had brought me to my father’s house to ask for living expenses.

As soon as we took our shoes off, my brother screeched: "What’s that smell in here! It’s making me dizzy!"

Grandma had no choice but to keep her shoes on, standing awkwardly in the living room as she talked to my father: "I... I collect scrap, and I have a pension, I can manage to raise the child, but I was sick before the New Year, so could you give Mom two hundred yuan..."

My stepmother, with her head full of curls, said nothing, just mopped the floor around us with a fierce intensity, as if the floor were her mortal enemy.

But at this moment, Grandma walked into the living room with her shoes on. There was snow outside, and a row of black footprints was printed on the tile floor.

My stepmother didn't say a single word, responding gracefully: "Then don't take them off. Dongxue, you don't have to take yours off either; the heat in the house isn't enough, it’s cold for the feet."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but I changed into slippers anyway, walked over to Grandma, and whispered: "Old lady, that was a bit much!"

Grandma shook her head like a child: "She’s been disgusting me for half her life, so I wanted to disgust her a little!"

My stepmother was famous far and near for being small-minded. Afraid she might lose her composure later, I gave her the red envelope in advance: "Dad, Mom, Happy New Year. Thank you for all the work putting this dinner together."

"Oh, what are you doing!" she immediately shrieked: "Are you trying to embarrass us! How could we, as parents, take your money!"

"It’s only once a year, don't refuse," I said: "Just pretend I’m giving it on Grandma's behalf."

I really didn't want to go back and forth with her, so I cut her off before she could speak, calling out loudly: "Xiao Wei! Xiao Wei!"

My brother came out while playing a video game: "What!"

"What else? Do you want a red envelope? If not, I’m giving it to someone else!"

"Who are you giving it to!" He grinned and snatched it away: "You only have one biological brother!"

"What a brat!" my stepmother teased with a smile: "This kid only listens to his sister, no choice there."

We finally sat down to eat.

Grandma was very happy. At the dinner table, she was the loudest: "The house we live in, the living room alone is bigger than this whole apartment. Sigh, it’s a bit scary being so empty!"

"It’s warm! Isn't it strange! You walk a few steps and you’re at the beach, and it’s not cold at all."

"I really don't like eating this greasy food. Dongxue says elderly people should eat healthy, so she buys it all for me from the supermarket."

Then, with lightning speed, she tore off the chicken leg and put it in my bowl, terrified that Xiao Wei would steal it.

My father said: "That’s true. Everyone knows your eldest granddaughter is capable, taking you off to enjoy the good life. When will I ever enjoy the blessings of my children?"

Grandma replied: "You don't have that luck, you don't know how to raise children!"

My father smiled awkwardly. My stepmother served me some food and asked: "Dongxue, how much do you earn in a month? People like you must get an annual salary, right?"

I said: "Not much."

"You must be making big money. Xiao Wei is graduating soon and is worried about work. I told him, what’s there to worry about? Your sister is a manager at a large corporation!"

My brother, Ren Ziwei, used to be a good student, but he wasted his three years of high school and only managed to get into a vocational college. Even that was supposedly a struggle, and he was constantly skipping class, saying he wanted to shoot videos and become a web influencer.

A brief silence fell over the dinner table, leaving only the sound of my stepmother’s awkward laughter.

I smiled and said: "Sure, Xiao Wei, are you willing to do construction work with your sister? My line of work is quite tiring."

Xiao Wei curled his lip: "I’ll see how I feel!"

The dinner table was instantly filled with a joyful atmosphere again.

Of course, I wouldn't actually help him.

Empty words at a dinner table don't sign contracts, just like sweet nothings don't cost money.

In fact, I had no feelings whatsoever for my father, my "mother," or my brother. This was not my home at all.

I was only sitting here for my grandmother’s sake.

She was a vain, short-sighted, and even mean-spirited old lady.

But for half her life, she had lived subserviently in front of her son and daughter-in-law, picking up trash until she was seventy.

All for her granddaughter.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, my father tried to arrange for us to sleep there.

I said: "No thanks, I’ve booked a hotel. Grandma and I will be staying there for the next two days."

"Why spend that money! Can't you just squeeze in!" my father said, slurring his words.

My stepmother laughed: "Used to living in a big house, how could you fit in our pigeon cage!"

I remembered when I was little, Grandma and I would spend New Year's with them, eat New Year's dinner, and no matter how heavy the snow was, we had to go home.

Back then, I was naive and would ask Grandma, can't we sleep with Xiao Wei? Can't we sleep on the floor?

Grandma would smile and say, that’s their home; we have to go back to our own home... It’s okay, if you’re tired of walking, Grandma will carry you.

I didn't argue. I just said: "My friend is coming to pick me up. Dad, Mom, I’m leaving."

Outside, the snow was falling heavily, covering everything.

Cheng Xia was standing by his car. In such cold weather, he was still standing there tall and straight, like a pine tree covered in snow.

"Here!"

Hearing my voice, he trotted over to help with the luggage.

"Oh my, thank you, Xia-Xia, for coming out in the middle of the night." Grandma thanked him repeatedly.

"It’s okay, Grandma, it’s what I should do."

The car must have held tangerines; there was a faint, sweet, citrus scent.

Cheng Xia said: "I told Dongxue to come spend the New Year at my place, but she didn't agree."

"That wouldn't be right; it would be too much trouble for your family."

"What trouble is there?" He looked at me through the rearview mirror and smiled: "It’s what I should do."

He drove us to our hotel room, sat down, and chatted with Grandma for a while before leaving.

I walked him to the door: "It’s midnight, hurry back and eat your dumplings."

"Don't forget that I’m coming to pick you up tomorrow to have dinner at my place," he said: "My dad is waiting for you."

Cheng Dad, who often appeared on the news and was so serious that he’d be lecturing you on "Study the Nation" (a political app) the next second.

I sighed and said: "Okay."

Cheng Xia didn't leave immediately. He looked at me, the snow behind him silent and still.

"We haven't seen each other for seven days," he said, opening his arms toward me: "Aren't you going to give me a hug?”