Calling really was expensive.
After hanging up the phone, he let out a long sigh.
"Now that Sister-in-law Zhao is sick, Brother Zhao’s family is having an even harder time."
Yun Xiaoxiao looked at him, "What are you thinking?"
"I want to support a few of my nieces and nephews in their studies, and I don’t want them to drop out because of financial difficulties at home." Zhao Tianlei knew the value of an education.
Helping a few kids with their school fees wasn’t a lot of money.
"I have no objections, but your second brother and Second Sister-in-law might talk about you a bit."
It was only Daya who was studying in town, whose living expenses and tuition fees were a bit higher.
"Second Brother is now making money legitimately, and he’s very active about it."
He would take care of several nieces and nephews, but as for Brother Zhao and Sister-in-law Zhao, after this loan, unless there was anything serious, he wouldn’t really get involved anymore.
"Okay, Daya is studying in town, how much is the tuition fee for one term?"
"A year’s tuition, miscellaneous fees, accommodation costs, eating at the school canteen, all added up, should come to over a hundred. In elementary school, there’s no need to eat at the school, and tuition is about twenty to thirty a year. For the four siblings, the annual tuition is around two to three hundred."
"I heard it from mother when she came to the Capital City last year." Seeing his wife glance over with a face that said, "How do you know that?" Zhao Tianlei spoke up.
"She also mentioned how high the costs for junior high school were." He had heard Mrs. Zhao complaining about it.
Their family of four, plus Brother Zhao’s family of six, ten people’s fields of crops, after selling the grains, were completely enough to cover the children’s school fees and the family’s expenses.
But now Sister-in-law Zhao was sick, needed surgery, and after being discharged, couldn’t do heavy labor anymore.
"We’ll wait until we go back for the New Year, then lay it all out in front of the elders. We can also support children from the Zhao Family Village Team who have good academic achievements but are from difficult family circumstances."
Yun Xiaoxiao glanced again at Fang Chaoyang, having heard that he had been a good student, but had to drop out because his parents had an accident, and his grandmother had to provide for him and his siblings alone, and he was not strong either.
"I think it’s feasible."
Zhao Tianlei, having made it out, also wanted to do something for the Zhao Family Village Team.
"And the lonely elderly can receive a sum of money every month to help with their living expenses."
Zhao Tianlei had no objections, from then on, the children in Zhao Family Village who wanted to study and did not want to drop out would study very hard.
And some elderly people who either had no children or only had daughters who had married off and were living in difficult conditions, their fates would change because of the decision made by Zhao Tianlei and Yun Xiaoxiao, but all that was in the future.
The next day, Zhao Tianlei went straight to the post office and sent money to Zhao Tianhai, then sent him a telegram as well.
On this side, Zhao Tianhai went to the city to pay some money, asking the doctor to ensure the following payments would be made promptly.
Sister-in-law Zhao was scheduled for surgery at noon.
Outside the operating room, Mrs. Zhao, Brother Zhao, and Zhao Tianhai waited anxiously.
"Mom, Brother, I’m going to buy some food."
Nowadays, many things no longer required coupons, so Zhao Tianhai bought a few steamed buns not far from the hospital entrance and came back.
"Have something to eat first to hold us over. Sister-in-law’s surgery is so expensive, it won’t be over anytime soon."
Mrs. Zhao took a steamed bun and started eating. It had taken half a day just to persuade the doctor to operate first on the eldest daughter-in-law, as the money was already on its way.
"After the eldest daughter-in-law is discharged, I’ll go back with Laoer. Your kids are still at home."
Although Erya wasn’t young anymore, there were so many household chores, and a young girl, looking after her younger brothers and sisters while also studying, wouldn’t be able to cope.