splendid star

Chapter 5 Xiaoju's College Life
There are thousands of things hidden in the ivory tower. University life has completely different experiences for different students.For Xiaoju, before she could savor the novelty brought by going to college, the real pressure of living expenses already hit her face.After schoolwork, how to save next month's living expenses has become a lingering worry for her.
At noon on a weekend, Xiaoju dragged her tired body slowly into the dormitory and fell on the bed. "The bed is still comfortable!" Xiaoju let out a long sigh of relief.
She had just gone to the city to look for a job. After searching for a long time, she could not find a suitable one. "It's so difficult to find a job!" Xiao Ju said to herself, "People don't want students to work part-time, they want full-time students." Xiao Ju sighed, with a sad look on her face. The living expenses for the next month have not been paid yet, so she must find a way quickly.
She opened a stack of advertising flyers she brought back from the city, trying to find any useful information on them.These were all forced on her by a person handing out leaflets on the street when she was about to take the bus back to school.
Suddenly, a small advertisement for part-time job recruitment for students came into view on one of the flyers. "It's really hard to find anywhere, and it takes no effort at all!" Xiao Ju said excitedly, "That's great!" She picked up the public phone in the dormitory and hurriedly consulted the recruitment company.
"Hello! Is this a part-time management company for students?" Xiao Ju asked.
"Yes. Are you a student?" the other party asked mechanically.
"Yeah, I'm just a freshman."
"Our company is at No. 29 Nancheng Road. Is it convenient for you to come over for an interview tomorrow?" the other party asked again.
"Okay, I will definitely be there tomorrow!" Xiao Ju replied excitedly.
After class the next day, Xiao Ju rushed to the interview location without stopping.
"Dong dong dong" Xiaoju knocked on the door gently.
"Please come in!" A man's voice came from inside.
Xiaoju walked in and saw a middle-aged man sitting at the desk.When he saw Xiaoju coming in, he handed her a form: "Fill this out." The man said.
Xiaoju took it and looked at it. It said "Recruitment Information Registration Form" on it.
After filling it out, Xiaoju handed it to the middle-aged man.After the other party picked up the call, he called: "Is it Manager Li? I have someone here, please come and take him with me." After hanging up the phone, the man asked Xiao Ju to wait for a while, and someone would come to pick her up and take her to another place.
"You found a job so quickly? It seems you don't have to worry about living expenses next month!" Xiao Ju secretly rejoiced.
After a while, a man about 50 years old came in. "Follow him!" After the middle-aged man said this, the man who just came in turned around and walked out. Seeing this, Xiao Ju followed behind silently.
The man led Xiaoju around, "How long until we get here?" Xiaoju asked.The man said nothing and continued to lead Xiao Ju forward.
Vaguely, Xiaoju felt something was wrong, but she couldn't put it into words. Although she had just arrived in the city from a remote rural area, her social experience was still a blank slate, but her instinct made her unconsciously increase her vigilance.
"We're here!" the man finally said.If she hadn't said this, Xiaoju would have thought the other person was mute!
There was a middle-aged woman sitting inside, "Hello!" Xiaoju said timidly.
"Please sit down." The woman said.
After Xiaoju sat down, the other party gave her a piece of paper with the type of job she wanted to work part-time on and the corresponding number written on it. "The numbers behind these types of work should be the wages, right? It's quite a lot." Xiao Ju secretly rejoiced. It seemed that her worries just now were a bit unnecessary.
"Which one do you want to do?" the woman asked.
"That's it." Xiao Ju said, pointing to the type of work with the highest number.
"Okay! Then pay the 500 yuan management fee first!" the woman said.
"What? Did I hear you right? I'm here to find a job, why do you ask me for money?" Xiao Ju was stunned by the other party's sudden words and asked in confusion.
"We are a management company, so of course we have to pay first before arranging work! There is no reason why we will arrange work for you for free." The woman said angrily.
"But I didn't bring so much money!" Xiaoju looked around, and the man who brought her stood at the door with his hands on his hips and an expressionless face.The woman sat at the desk and stared at her coldly.
Xiaoju had a premonition that she wouldn't be able to get out of this house today if she didn't pay her. It seemed she had met a scammer!
"But I only have 160 yuan on me." Xiao Ju said timidly.This is her entire living expenses for the next half month.
"Then take them all out!" the woman said coldly.
Xiaoju bit her lip and gave the woman 150 yuan: "Auntie, please leave me ten yuan for travel expenses, otherwise I won't be able to go back to school."
The woman gave Xiao Ju a cold look, took the 150 yuan and let her go.
Xiaoju ran out as if running for her life, breaking out in a cold sweat!
For most of the day, she hadn't even bothered to eat a morsel of food or drink a sip of water. At this time, she was extremely hungry and thirsty. She took out 2 yuan to buy a piece of cake, and another 1 yuan to buy a bottle of water, while gnawing While wiping tears secretly, I walked to the bus stop to and from school.
Sitting in the car, she was thinking about what to do next.Let alone next month, now I don’t even have money to eat in the second half of the month.She regretted why she didn't choose to escape when she first felt something was wrong?But there is no regret medicine in the world. The money has been defrauded, and there is no use in blaming yourself.It seems that I can only ask my family to send me some living expenses.
After the money fraud incident, Xiaoju no longer dared to go out to find a job alone. She set her sights on school, wondering if there was any part-time job.
In the following days, Xiaoju helped the school club distribute leaflets, helped the dormitory aunt with cleaning, helped the school bathhouse, etc. In short, she did whatever she could to earn money to maintain a basic life.
Because Xiaoju has a weak temperament and a deep sense of inferiority, she always looks submissive in front of others.The other five people in the same dormitory are all from better families, except for her. Everyone is equipped with a computer.
"Are you going out to eat?" is the question Xiaoju asks the most.
"It's twelve o'clock again! Time flies so fast! But I can't log off yet, otherwise our team will lose." Jiang Lili, who was playing QQ games, couldn't bear to put down the fruits of victory in her hands!
"Why don't you bring me some fried rice noodles? I'll give you 20 yuan, and you can buy fruit or anything with the remaining money. Just watch and buy." He handed the money to Xiaoju.
"Okay." Xiaoju took the money and was about to walk out.
"Wait a minute, Xiaoju," another roommate Liang Lili quickly took out 15 yuan, "please bring me some fried rice, without the green onion and ginger. Thank you! Please, the remaining three yuan will be considered as reward. , you can buy whatever you want.”
I don’t know how many times I have brought food to them, but they haven’t ordered it, especially on weekends. Every time she comes back from her work-study program, they haven’t eaten yet. They either forget the time while watching movies or they can’t play games. Get away.
However, every time they brought food, they would give Xiao Ju some more money. At first, Xiao Ju was too embarrassed to ask for it, so she gave it back, but now they asked them to use the remaining money to buy fruits. After they had eaten, they still had no stomach to eat. Fruit, these are almost enough to reward yourself.
One time during the weekend evening self-study, Xiaoju was reading a book in a public classroom when she heard a boy answering the phone: "You asked me to bring food again? You brothers are planning not to leave the dormitory all day today, right? There is errand fee." If not? Just don’t keep asking people around." The boy hung up the phone angrily.
"Is your boys' dormitory like this too?" Xiao Ju asked the boy who answered the phone curiously.
"It's not good. When I start playing games, I can't even remember who my mom is. How can I still remember to eat?" the boy complained.
"Oh, thank you!" After Xiaoju said this, her heart suddenly moved.
Since many students are unwilling to go out to eat, and not many are willing to work as free labor, can I help others bring meals and earn some money for running errands?
But will others believe me?Would anyone be willing to pay for this legwork?Or is it cheaper?Fifty cents each time?If the same person is asked to bring both food and fruit, two errand fees will be charged.Well, thinking of this, Xiaoju thought it was feasible, why not give it a try first.
If you want to earn money for running errands, how can others contact you?Now she urgently needs to buy a mobile phone. Through the introduction of her classmates, Xiao Ju bought a second-hand Nokia flip phone for 150 yuan from a senior student. Then she went to the school print shop to print more than 20 leaflets and posted them in various dormitories. door.
At first, only a few students contacted her to try to bring food, but gradually more and more students contacted her. Although it only cost [-] cents to take an order, the little money added up to a lot, and Xiaoju no longer had to worry about living expenses!
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Ju entered her sophomore year. This year, the country introduced the latest scholarship policy, and students from poor families could apply for interest-free student loans.Xiaoju quickly submitted the application materials to the counselor.
"Dad, Mom, let me tell you some good news. My application for a bursary has been approved, and I won't ask you for tuition fees in the future... Yeah, dad, there is no interest. ... As long as I pay it off within 6 years after graduation! ... Yes, You can save the money for your younger brothers and sisters to study. ...Yes, thank the country for its good policies, which have solved our family's practical difficulties... Don't worry, I will take good care of myself." After hanging up the phone, Xiao Ju didn't mention it She was so happy. She seemed to see a bright future waving to her. She decided to treat herself to a hot pot meal.
　In the autumn of 2004, my country implemented adjustments to the student loan system, from the previous requirement of repayment within four years to six years after graduation; the interest discount method was changed from the previous 50% to full financial subsidies.
　
(End of this chapter)