Four days ago.

Thursday, 7 p.m. Yuanjiaqiao Village, Funing District, Congzhou City.

He Jingyi hasn't tasted 'meat' for half a month. In order to save water and honeycomb coal, she also did not take a shower for nearly ten days.

I couldn't change my clothes and take a shower every day. He Jingyi doesn't dare to walk too fast now—for fear of sweating. However, she couldn't walk too fast, and her daily food caused her to be seriously undernourished, and it was very good to be able to support her work, how could she be as physically strong and 'refined' as ordinary people?

All because her family is so poor.

He Jingyi's father died very early, and her mother was paralyzed due to rheumatoid and was sick in bed. The burden of life is all on this twenty-one-year-old 'girl' child. The government's relief money could only barely make ends meet, and could not afford the mother's medical 'medicine'. He Jingyi could only borrow money from relatives, and now it has all been 'spent'. She didn't dare to tell her mother that there were less than fifty yuan left at home.

After graduating from high school, He Jingyi worked part-time at a foreign language training center to do hygiene and chores in exchange for free classes. He Jingyi has never given up studying, looking forward to one day changing her destiny by passing the college entrance examination.

At the end of the day's work, she returned to her destitute and dilapidated home, helped her mother turn over, and prepared to wash rice and cook. The mother was distressed when she saw the 'girl's yellow and thin face, and asked, "Jingyi, what are you going to eat tonight?" ”

"Eat."

"I'm asking what the dish is."

"Stir-fried cabbage."

"Is it the rotten vegetable leaves you picked up at the vegetable market in the afternoon?"

“…… Well. ”

Mother said, "Jingyi, Mom is nothing. But if you keep eating these rotten vegetable leaves, they are not nutritious and not good for your health, which is not good. ”

He Jingyi bit her lip and didn't squeak. There are only 46 yuan and 7 'gross' money in the family, what else can I eat? She couldn't say anything.

"Go buy some 'meat' to eat," said the mother, "how long have you not eaten 'meat'?" Don't be too sorry for yourself. ”

"It's okay, Mom, I don't want to eat 'meat'."

The mother knew that the 'girl' was telling a lie, and she said, "I want to eat, go buy some and come back." ”

He Jingyi also knew that her mother said this just to buy 'meat' for herself, and if she really bought it, she might not eat a bite.

He Jingyi went out with five yuan in her pocket. This is the bottom line she set, and she can't exceed this number.

But what kind of 'meat' can you buy for five yuan? He Jingyi's family lives in a very remote suburban area, and there is no vegetable market nearby, let alone a supermarket. After walking along the way for a while, I only found a snack bar.

He Jingyi walked into the store and asked the boss, "What snacks do you have?" ”

The boss pointed to the wall: "It's all written on it." ”

He Jingyi saw that the price list read: 6 yuan for hot and sour noodles with mixed sauce; Sauerkraut 'meat' shredded noodles are 7 yuan, beef 'meat' pho is 8 yuan...... Basically, they are all above five yuan, and there is only one - four pieces of noodles and five five bowls - but this one is vegetarian, no 'meat'.

The boss saw that He Jingyi had not made up his mind after watching it for a long time, and said, "My family's mixed sauce hot and sour noodles are authentic, so let's eat this." ”

He Jingyi saw that there was no second store nearby, and she said embarrassedly: "I only brought five yuan...... Is there a small portion? ”

The boss could see from her clothes and demeanor that she was financially constrained, and said with a smile: "It's okay, I'll sell you a bowl of hot and sour noodles with mixed sauce for only five yuan." ”

"Thank you," He Jingyi felt 'excited' and added, "I'll pack it and take it away." ”

After a while, the boss came out with a bowl of steaming hot and sour noodles in a cardboard box, and He Jingyi saw a thick layer of mixed sauce 'meat' on it - it seems that this boss is really a kind person, not only did he charge less money, but also added more 'meat'. The boss smiled and said, "Slow down, don't burn." ”

He Jingyi thanked her again and carefully brought the bowl of hot and sour noodles with mixed sauce home. Sure enough, my mother was reluctant to taste a bite, so she asked the 'girl' to eat it. He Jingyi only lied that she had eaten a bowl just now, and her mother agreed to eat half of it.

Mother and daughter sat on the edge of the bed, a bowl of hot and sour noodles like some delicacy, you eat a few bites, I eat a few bites like a few bites and taste it slowly, and I ate it for half an hour. The 'meat' inside, the mother and the daughter, were reluctant to eat it, and pushed it back and forth. In the end, the mother and daughter cried together, and the tears contained too much sadness and pain.

When will my mother and I be able to get out of this poor life? He Jingyi thought sadly. When will I stop worrying about money? F