When I started college, my mom came up with the brilliant idea of giving me my allowance in "installments." "Penny, you're all grown up now. To help you develop financial planning skills, I've decided to give you your allowance in installments." At first, I thought she meant monthly, or maybe even weekly. But on move-in day, after she toured the cafeteria, she Venmoed me exactly $1.05. I was confused. "Mom, did you send the wrong amount?" She smiled and shook her head. "Silly girl, that's for your lunch today. I checked the prices; you can get the cheapest meal deal at that one stall." "From now on, just submit an expense request to me for every meal based on this standard." I stood there, completely dumbfounded. So when she said installments, she didn't mean monthly or weekly. She meant per meal. By the third day, I was standing in the breakfast line, short 25 cents for a boiled egg. When I texted her, instead of sending money, she replied: "I bought your brother a house in cash yesterday. I'm tight on funds right now. Skipping a meal won't kill you." The cafeteria lady's look of surprise and pity burned a hole through my fragile self-esteem. That day, holding the egg the lady gave me for free, I went on a job search site and found work. But later, when I finally stopped needing her, she panicked. Chapter 1 On the fourth day of orientation, I agonized over the text, deleting and retyping before finally hitting send. "Mom, there are still a few days of orientation left. If I don't eat breakfast, I won't have the energy to train." "Can you send me two dollars?" To my surprise, she replied instantly. But when I read the message, my heart sank. "Two dollars? Isn't an egg like a dollar fifty? Why do you need so much? Are you trying to scam me?" Sweat trickled down my forehead. My stomach was cramping from hunger. Still, I explained carefully: "One egg isn't enough. I want to buy a bagel too." This time, she didn't reply for a long time. My roommates had already finished their breakfast and were heading to the field for drills. I clutched my empty stomach, my eyes drifting involuntarily to my roommate's desk. There sat a box of delicious-looking muffins. Chloe, who slept in the bed next to mine, was a pampered rich girl. On the first day, her parents had frowned at our six-person dorm room. Worried their daughter wouldn't sleep well or would clash with her roommates due to her "unique" personality. I still remember her mom, a powerful CEO type, tirelessly asking the rest of us to look after her daughter. It was a side of a mother I had never seen in my own. Right now, Chloe was complaining about a hole in her uniform. I thought about it, then tossed my shattered pride to the wind. I picked up my uniform and said to Chloe, "Chloe, I'll trade with you. But can you... give me a muffin?" Instantly, I felt burning gazes on my back. Then came the snickers. "Is she starving or something? Does her family not feed her?" My face burned, but I couldn't say a word. Because since I started college, they really didn't want to feed me anymore. Just as I thought Chloe would mock me like the others... I felt a warmth in my palm. I looked up. A muffin had been placed in my hand. Chloe didn't say a word. She swapped our uniforms and left the room. As I ran to the field gnawing on the muffin, I got a text from my brother. "Penny, heard you asked Mom for money this morning. She was so upset she couldn't even eat. I have to say something." "Mom's been stressed about the renovation costs lately. You shouldn't keep asking her for money. Here, I'll send you a little to tide you over. Don't bother Mom for a while." I stared at the two messages, frozen. Finally, I wiped my stinging eyes. I accepted the five dollars my brother sent. Yeah, enough to get me through the rest of orientation. But I still never expected my mom to love me this little. Halfway through training, the RA suddenly called me out. She asked me seriously, "Did you scam money from your family?" Chapter 2 I looked at the RA blankly. "No, I didn't." Her expression darkened. "You're Penny Zhu, right? Your mom just called me, naming you specifically, saying you tricked your brother into sending you money behind her back." "Student, online scams are serious. If you have financial trouble, tell your parents first. If not, come to me. Don't go down the wrong path!" Her words felt like a bucket of ice water. So that's it. I took my brother's money, yes, but I never tricked him. To prove my innocence, I pulled up the chat history with my brother. "RA, I really didn't scam him." The young woman in front of me, only a few years older, looked surprised after reading the messages. "Five dollars?" I nodded. Just then, my brother called. With the RA's nod, I answered. Immediately, my sister-in-law's voice screeched through the phone: "Penny, what is wrong with you? You know your brother and I are stressed about renovation costs, and you still ask him for money?" "Send it back right now!" Embarrassed, I lowered my voice. "I didn't ask him for it. He gave it to me voluntarily." But she wasn't listening. She cursed into the phone, "Your mom was right, you're just a money-loser! If you hadn't jinxed your dad to death, would your brother and I be struggling like this?!" Of course. Family knows exactly where your weak spots are, and where to pour the salt. Hearing her mention Dad, I shook with rage, clutching the phone. "Shut up!" That was probably the first time I ever spoke to her like that. There was a moment of silence on the other end. Then she exploded, spewing every curse word imaginable. But what hurt the most wasn't her words. It was Mom's voice in the background. "Yes, scold her good." "She took money she shouldn't have. She deserves it!" The call ended with a click. I stood there, legs trembling. Seeing the RA's complicated expression, I instinctively apologized, "Sorry RA, causing you trouble..." But she interrupted me. When she looked at me again, her eyes were full of gentleness. "It's not your fault, Penny." "I'll testify for you. You didn't scam them." She took my phone and, before I could react, opened my Venmo QR code. "Five dollars isn't enough for anything. If you have trouble in the future, come to me first." A notification chimed. "You received $50.00..." I waved my hands in shock. "No, RA, I can't take your money." She shook her head, face serious again. "What are you thinking? Consider it a loan." I didn't cry when I starved for three days. I didn't cry when my sister-in-law cursed me out. But feeling the kindness from an RA I'd only known for three days, tears streamed down my face. With her help, I ate full meals for the next few days and finished orientation. Job hunting went smoothly too. Passing out flyers at the mall, $15 an hour. I calculated I could pay the RA back in a week. But the day I got my first paycheck, Mom called. "Penny, did you sneak out to work part-time?" Chapter 3 I was in disbelief. Aside from my roommates, I hadn't told anyone about the job. Suddenly, I realized something. Yesterday was Saturday. I left early and tried to be quiet, but I still woke Chloe up. She snapped immediately: "Penny, are you sick? Why are you making so much noise this early? Don't you know I'm sleeping?" I was in the wrong, so I apologized patiently: "Sorry, I'll be more careful next time." But she wasn't satisfied. She rolled her eyes as she got out of bed. "Parents send you to college and you run off to hand out flyers. How pathetic." That was my first taste of Chloe's temper. I didn't have the standing to fight her. Besides, she was right. I was pathetic. I just wanted to eat. But would she tell my mom? Confused, I heard my mom say, "Since you can make money now, I'll pause your allowance." I sighed in relief. But after hanging up, she sent me a "bill." Black and white, listing eighteen years of raising me. I owed her $180,000. "Repayment Installment Plan: Penny pays $1,000 a month." I tried to type, but my fingers wouldn't stop shaking. Mom sent another voice note. "Considering you're still young and can't earn much, I'll give you a discount. Just pay me $700 a month during college. After graduation, you'll have to pay more." The more I listened, the dizzier I got. When I was born, no one told me my life came with a debt. Or maybe I really did owe her. After all, three years ago, I was indirectly responsible for Dad's accidental death. It was the first semester of tenth grade. I got into the city's top high school. Everyone was happy, especially Dad. But back then, Dad's project payment hadn't come through. To scrape together my $200 monthly living expenses and the $1,000 for books and dorm fees... Dad took a temp job at a construction site. On the phone, he sounded happy, saying he'd be home with the money in three days. But fate played a cruel joke on me, and on my honest, hardworking father. He never came home with the money. An accident kept him forever at that sun-scorched construction site. That's why I accepted Mom's "installment plan" for my allowance. But now, three years later, the bullet fate fired finally hit me right between the eyes. I realized belatedly that there are mothers in this world who truly don't love their children. Fine. Since I owe her. Once I pay it off, I'll be free, right? In one week, I applied for financial aid and studied like my life depended on it between shifts. Fueled by spite, I forced myself to stand outside the mall all day. I wanted money. Lots of money. But back then, I didn't realize that just burning through your health doesn't equal making money. On the fourteenth day of working, my blood sugar crashed. Through blurry vision, I saw a white-haired old lady saying something to me. But before I could respond, I face-planted onto the ground. When I woke up, a kind stranger had taken me to the hospital. And with that, I met my first turning point. By my bedside, the first person I saw was that old lady. Yesterday, I helped her push her recycling tricycle across the street. Today, she held my hand, eyes full of tears. "Nana, you're awake?" "Grandma has been watching over you. Don't be scared, don't be scared." Chapter 4 I looked at her in confusion. Before I could ask why she called me "Nana," Mom called. Answering, I still held onto a sliver of hope that she might care. But she was just here to collect. "Penny, you've been working all weekend, right? You must have made some money. Remember to transfer it at the end of the month. Oh, just send it directly to your brother." The smell of disinfectant was sharp. My eyes watered. Just as I was about to tell her I fainted and was in the hospital... The door burst open. A young man in a suit rushed in. He looked expensive. Who was he here for? I watched as he walked over. "Grandma, why did you run off again?" "I heard you were at the hospital, you scared me to death!" I realized. He was the old lady's grandson. I thought he would take her away. But the man stared at me blankly. Then, his eyes turned red. "Grandma, the 'Nana' you talked about... is her?" I was lost. While still confused, I was handed a contract. This time, not a repayment bill. But a "Sponsorship Agreement." Grandma held my hand, not looking away for a second. The man's mouth moved: "I'm Chen. My grandma misses her late granddaughter and mistook you for Nana. She's been looking for you for days." "As for just now, I heard your phone call. You seem to be in a tough spot. Maybe this contract can help you, and help us." Feeling like I was in a dream, I read the contract. Chen was telling the truth. Three years ago, his sister Nana died in a car accident near that mall. Grandma couldn't handle the grief and started collecting recyclables around the mall every day. By chance, she saw me handing out flyers and mistook me for Nana. Because Nana had been working part-time there when the accident happened. She had been looking for me for three days. Today I fainted, and she just happened to find me. This time, she finally saved her "granddaughter."
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