Don't Say You're Heartless (Modern Edition)

35 Donate

On Monday, the teaching building was very quiet without the students. The teachers who didn't have any exam-related tasks were leisurely preparing for the upcoming holiday. Those with exam tasks had already begun calculating grades and writing exam analyses.

"The fourth grade's performance this year is impressive! Xiao Shen is really something," Teacher Zhang said, smiling as she looked at the grade statistics submitted by the other senior grade teachers.

"It's because of your guidance. What would a newbie like me, who just started working, know?" Shen Qiuhua was currently studying the exam analysis that Teacher Zhang had already written.

"Xiao Shen is always so modest. But we can clearly see how capable you are. I've never seen a newcomer in their first year of work with such good intuition as you," said Teacher Cui, who had just submitted her own exam analysis to the school.

At this moment, Teacher An came in from outside, holding a cup. "We need to donate again." Her expression was like the sky was falling.

Everyone heard it but didn't react much, as if they had known this would happen.

"Donate?" Shen Qiuhua, who was out of the loop, asked.

Teacher Wang was already flipping through her wallet. "Yes, every semester, at the end, we need to donate once. And that's in good weather, if there's a disaster somewhere, they'll temporarily increase the amount. It's a routine thing, you'll get used to it."

"Who are we donating to?" Shen Qiuhua couldn't recall any recent disasters.

"Who knows? It's the same every year, just take out the money." Teacher Wang found her wallet, pulled out a 100-yuan bill, and stood up. "Who else is donating? I'll take it all over at once."

The others all took out money and handed it to Teacher Wang. After counting the money, Teacher Wang looked back at Shen Qiuhua and couldn't help but sigh. "Our school has always been a hundred per person. Those who don't want to donate need to submit a written request. But you only have 300 yuan a month, do you still want to donate?"

Shen Qiuhua frowned. This was equivalent to her working ten days for nothing. "Sister Wang, you go ahead and submit it, I'll wait a bit longer."

Teacher Wang went to hand in the money and returned with the news that Shen Qiuhua and Yang Qiong also had to donate. "This is practically robbery! We'll pay, but they only have 300 yuan a month. I think our money should just be donated directly to Xiao Shen and Xiao Yang. They can't even afford to eat, and yet they still have to give money to others?" Teacher Wang, who was straightforward and outspoken, vented her frustration as soon as she came in.

The others agreed and looked at Shen Qiuhua with sympathetic eyes.

Shen Qiuhua couldn't help but smile wryly. This job was really becoming harder to continue. She took 200 yuan and went out, running into Yang Qiong at the staircase. She thought Yang Qiong would complain a lot again, but unexpectedly, Yang Qiong didn't say anything, just glanced at the money in her hand and took her to the secretary's office.

After handing in the money, Shen Qiuhua finally couldn't help but ask, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Yang Qiong shook her head. After a moment of silence, she looked around, confirmed there were no cameras, and then hugged Shen Qiuhua. "It's my fault. Qiuhua, I don't want you to hesitate over such a small amount of money. I can't give you the life you used to have, but I also don't want you to suffer like this with me."

Hearing this, Shen Qiuhua couldn't help but laugh inside. "Why are you always like this? Do you think I'm very stingy?"

"You deserve a better life." Yang Qiong held her hand, which was no longer as soft as before. Using chalk every day is really hard on the skin. At home, she still had to cook and wash vegetables, and just thinking about it made Yang Qiong feel guilty.