Chapter 0577: Giving Gifts

There is nothing in this world that a gift cannot solve; if there is, then two gifts will do.

Sun Qingfeng was somewhat displeased with Zhao Fusheng's failure to show up yesterday, but after seeing the shopping vouchers and coupons Zhao Fusheng brought today, he could no longer stay calm.

This was the year 2000; he earned only a few hundred yuan a month from his job, yet Zhao Fusheng had suddenly taken out nearly a thousand yuan worth of items, which made him feel as if he were being especially valued.

"You're too kind, too kind," Sun Qingfeng said to Zhao Fusheng with a smile, while seemingly trying to push the gifts back to him.

If he were a dozen years younger, Zhao Fusheng might have believed his act, but now, Zhao Fusheng simply did not believe that Sun Qingfeng truly intended not to accept.

The two were not at school but at home; he said no with his mouth, yet his feet did not move, clearly a sign that his body was being honest.

"Teacher Sun, please don't stand on ceremony. It's not worth much; it's just for the child," Zhao Fusheng said with a smile.

Sun Qingfeng had a six-year-old daughter at home, and Zhao Fusheng gave the gift under the pretext of it being for the child.

"Well..." Sun Qingfeng hesitated.

He certainly knew about KFC; sometimes when he took his child shopping, they would stop by, knowing it was a famous place in the city recently. As for Wanda Mall, needless to say, Wang Xiaorong had dragged him there more than once.

The things Zhao Fusheng brought were undoubtedly very good for Sun Qingfeng, who lived in the suburbs, making it hard for him to refuse.

Having worked nervously for over a decade, Sun Qingfeng had received gifts from students before, but he had never encountered one as generous as Zhao Fusheng's.

"Oh, since Fusheng has brought them, it's his sincere gesture; just accept them," Wang Xiaorong, who had been silently watching, suddenly spoke up.

When a woman is beautiful, she often can't be bothered to think much. In Wang Xiaorong's view, it was only natural for Zhao Fusheng to give gifts to her and her husband, because he had something to ask of them.

Just as they themselves would give gifts when asking others for favors, Zhao Fusheng's actions were beyond reproach.

"Yes, Teacher Wang is right. It's just a small token; we're not outsiders, so please don't stand on ceremony," Zhao Fusheng also said with a smile.

Giving gifts is a learned art; you must not make the recipient feel embarrassed, nor make them feel that you are using the gift to threaten them. Otherwise, things become difficult.

As the saying goes, insight into worldly affairs is all knowledge; many things cannot be resolved simply by taking them for granted.

"Alright then, you really didn't have to be so polite," Sun Qingfeng nodded helplessly and accepted the gifts Zhao Fusheng handed over.

This was probably the hypocrisy of human nature: though tempted, one still had to be polite with words.

Since the gifts were accepted, the subsequent matters naturally became easier. Zhao Fusheng did not bring up the matter of not going for the internship; instead, he chatted idly with the Sun couple about household affairs.

"Ah, you don't know, being a teacher is really tough these days..." Wang Xiaorong seemed to have a bellyful of grievances, and finally having a chance to pour them out, she complained to Zhao Fusheng, not caring that he was still a college student.

After all, Zhao Fusheng was a student at Ninghai Normal University, at least half a colleague of hers.

What she talked about were nothing more than poor treatment and low salaries, which was not just the case in Ninghai but across the country.

Educational issues would not be gradually emphasized until a few years later; this was something that probably no one except Zhao Fusheng knew.

"The country is paying more and more attention to education now. I think teachers' treatment will definitely improve in the future," Zhao Fusheng said with a smile after listening to Wang Xiaorong's complaints.

"Yes, that's what I keep saying, but she just doesn't believe it," Sun Qingfeng said bitterly from the side.

This was the difference between the couple: Wang Xiaorong believed that being a teacher had no future and that their child would surely suffer. Sun Qingfeng, on the other hand, felt that this was only a temporary difficulty and things would get better.

"Stop talking nonsense. Look at those old teachers in our school; what kind of lives are they living? They all talk about dedication, dedication to themselves is one thing, but why should the children suffer?" Wang Xiaorong glared at her husband and said through gritted teeth.

She actually didn't care so much about herself; what mattered most was giving her child a good environment to grow up in.

"You..." Sun Qingfeng was choked, but had to admit that his wife was right.

After all, the treatment of teachers at that time was truly embarrassing to mention.

In fact, the main reason many teachers ran extracurricular tutoring classes at that time was that their regular income was too low. With a family to support—old and young—living on a few hundred yuan a month was extremely difficult.

Zhao Fusheng did not intervene in the Sun couple's argument. This was a matter of the overall environment; even as a reborn person, he could not change it. If he couldn't even convince his own aunt, how could he persuade others to do anything?

For many teachers at that time, they either resigned and went into business, seizing the opportunity to earn their first pot of gold and ride the waves, or they continued to persevere until the day the state improved teachers' treatment, when they could finally hold their heads high.

Whichever choice they made, it could only be decided by themselves.

After chatting for a while at the Suns', Zhao Fusheng took his leave without staying for dinner, as was his usual practice. More importantly, he felt that since the matter was done, there was no need for him to stay.

Besides, rather than spending time at Sun Qingfeng's house listening to Wang Xiaorong complain, he would rather go back and keep his grandfather company.

Back home, looking at the four dishes on the table, Zhao Fusheng said helplessly to his grandfather, "Grandpa, it's just the two of us; you don't need to make so many dishes, do you?"

"They're all from our own fields; nothing goes to waste. Just eat more," his grandfather said with a smile.

Having his grandson stay with him and eat at home put the old man in a very good mood.

Sighing inwardly, Zhao Fusheng had no choice but to sit down and eat obediently. He actually understood his grandfather's feelings; he just wanted his children and grandchildren to spend more time with him.

In fact, most elderly people feel this way. They don't necessarily want their children to achieve great success; they just hope they are safe and sound and can spare some time to keep them company.

The tree desires stillness but the wind will not cease; the child wishes to care for them but the parents are no longer there. This feeling, if one has not experienced it personally, one probably will not understand.