Chapter 825 The Situation of Poor Families
Saskia asked her assistant for information on the family.
The assistant was a bit surprised and asked, "What do you need this for?"
Saskia made up a random excuse.
After getting the family's address, she quickly hailed a cab and headed over.
The family lived in an old building in the Flower Coast District.
Most of the buildings here were slated for demolition, with peeling walls and severe aging.
Even the doors here were made of iron.
Saskia knocked on the door.
A woman's voice quickly responded from inside, "Who is it?"
She waited quietly for a moment, and soon a woman wearing an apron came out. Seeing that she didn't recognize Saskia, she looked at her with suspicion.
Saskia lifted the box of milk and fruit she had bought on the way.
She smiled, "Community gift delivery."
That was how she tricked Nola McGee into opening the door.
Nola took the items Saskia brought, smiling and less wary, "We haven't had this kind of event in ages. Is it for everyone here?"
"Just for your building for now." Saskia suggested coming in to sit.
Nola welcomed her inside.
Saskia sat down and glanced around the room.
The house had typical family decor, with wallpaper on the walls, but it couldn't hide the severe aging.
She sighed and looked away, "Not many people are willing to live in old houses anymore."
"If we could live in a nice house, who would want to stay in this dump?" Nola sighed and poured a glass of water.
After thanking her, Saskia probed further.
"Why haven't you thought about moving out? It's not hard to rent a place now, and I heard this area is going to be demolished soon. You could get a good sum of money."
"How much money could that be..."
Nola stopped mid-sentence and stared at her, "Why are you asking this?"
Saskia paused, realizing she might have been too hasty.
She pondered how to smooth things over, but Nola was already distrustful, "We don't usually entertain strangers. Drink your water and leave. We'll keep the items."
Saskia knew she had to come clean.
"I'm not here to deliver gifts." She admitted.
Nola's eyes widened. If she had been wary before, now she was outright hostile.
She quickly ran to the kitchen and grabbed a utensil.
"Get out!"
"Ma'am, there's no need for this."
Nola snapped, "You just want us to agree to the demolition. I'm telling you, it's not happening. Leave now or I'll call the police."
But the more aggressive Nola was, the more it was clear she lacked confidence.
She was trying to cover up her insecurity.
It was noon by then.
As they faced off, the sound of a key turning came from outside, and a boy with a backpack walked in, "Mom, I'm home."
Nola's expression changed, "Stay back."
The boy looked confused, standing by the door. Saskia felt a pang of sympathy.
Since becoming a mother, she couldn't help but think of her own child when she saw others.
"You don't need to worry. I'm alone and unarmed. I can't hurt you," Saskia explained, feeling a bit helpless.
She didn't understand why they had such fears.
The Egan Group had never harmed anyone.
Nola didn't believe her, running over to hug her son tightly. "Who knows what you people might do. We're just ordinary folks who don't want to leave our old home. You keep pushing us."
Saskia frowned. "Isn't it the other way around? You're the ones being aggressive."
"That's because we need to protect ourselves."
Maybe Nola was holding too tightly, as the boy mumbled, "Mom, you're hurting me."
She quickly let go, looking guilty. "I'm sorry."
The boy patted her head, forgiving her.
With her son's comfort, Nola calmed down a bit.
Saskia seized the moment. "I think you misunderstand us."
"What misunderstanding? Can you deny that Ms. Moss was hospitalized because of you? You rich and powerful people can easily crush us." Nola sneered.
So it was about that. Luckily, Saskia had come prepared.
She had brought a medical report when she left the hospital.
"Ms. McGee, I hope you'll read this before speaking." She placed the report on the table and pushed it towards Nola.
Nola's eyes flickered but she didn't move.
At that moment, Saskia noticed the boy eyeing the fruit and milk Nola had set aside.
"Do you want some?"
"No, it's for mom to give away."
The boy shook his head, but his eyes were still fixed on the items.
Saskia sighed softly, glancing at the guilty-looking Nola. "Go ahead, eat. There will be more."
"Really?" The boy looked to his mom for approval.
Facing her son's hopeful gaze, Nola opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.
The residents of Flower Coast District were low-income earners. To save money, gifts were kept for year-end distribution, and spending was tightly controlled.
Adults could endure it, but as a loving mother, Nola couldn't help feeling she was failing her child.
Watching the boy happily open the milk, Saskia smiled, "See how happy he is."
Nola remained silent.
"You could accept the money. It might not be enough to buy a new house, but you have priority for the new buildings and a discount on the price."
Nola sighed, "That's just a lie..."
Saskia interrupted, her previously gentle tone now sharp. "How do you know it's a lie if you haven't tried? And if you read the report, you'll see Ms. Moss's illness was due to her own long-term issues."
Nola, being more educated than her husband, could understand the report.
That was why she couldn't refute it now.
Saskia's expression softened again. "Think about who has been urging you, who doesn't want you to accept."
Saskia didn't stay long.
After talking for a while, she left.
The boy, knowing the gifts were from her, was a bit reluctant. "Miss, will you come back?"
"I will. I'll bring you more treats next time, I promise." Saskia made a pinky promise with him.
On her way back, she planned to buy some things.
Jeffery had suggested some dietary supplements.
But as she was about to hail a cab, she noticed an elderly scavenger in a nearby alley, dirty and disheveled.
If it were a stranger, she would have just glanced and moved on.
But Saskia's casual glance made her heart skip a beat.
"Mom?"
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