Chapter 50: She Has to Work Hard on This Job

Xie Yunshu was so annoyed she laughed in disbelief. Could she really get scolded just for standing there?

Holding firm to her principle of never being bullied, Xie Yunshu didn’t care at all. She grabbed the woman’s collar with one hand and pulled her back: “Who are you talking about? Come on, explain it clearly. If you can’t, don’t bother leaving.”

“Let go, little girl, who do you think you are!” The woman yelled sharply. She was thin and small, so she couldn’t break free, flapping helplessly like a trapped chicken.

Xie Yunshu pressed her against the wall: “Who were you just insulting?”

The woman suddenly got scared: “I—I wasn’t insulting anyone. I was just joking with myself, isn’t that allowed?”

“Well then, watch your mouth next time, or I’ll slap you right away.” Xie Yunshu smiled sweetly in her ear before letting go. “Get lost!”

The woman was too angry to say anything, so she had no choice but to leave with her tail between her legs.

Aunt Zhao came out from the house and couldn’t help but laugh when she saw Xie Yunshu: “I said that girl was something else. Turns out it really was you!”

Xie Yunshu chuckled and then pulled Aunt Zhao inside. “Who was that woman? No manners at all. She deserved a beating!”

“That’s my sister-in-law, your Uncle Zhao’s younger brother’s wife!” Aunt Zhao’s face darkened. She had three daughters and had suffered mistreatment living in her in-laws’ house when she was younger. She wasn’t the type to put up with nonsense, but for the sake of family, she had endured that woman for over ten years.

Because that woman gave birth to the eldest grandson of the Zhao family!

Later, when they split the family compound, Aunt Zhao and Old Zhao moved out to live separately, keeping their own peace — out of sight, out of mind.

Today, Liu Xiulian came over wanting to introduce a boyfriend to her eldest daughter, Xiaoyun. Right away, she mentioned a team leader at the steel plant, 28 years old, recently divorced, and with a kid…

Xiaoyun was only 18, about the same age as Xie Mingcheng, and about to take college entrance exams next year. She couldn’t take it and immediately kicked Liu Xiulian out.

But Liu Xiulian was right in one thing — education costs money everywhere! The three sisters, one in senior high and the other two in middle school, were all good students and well-behaved. How could they not go to school?

They were all her precious daughters. Even though it hurt, Aunt Zhao wanted to support their university education. She had suffered too many slights in her youth and was determined to see her daughters succeed.

But tuition and living expenses were two huge mountains, crushing their family.

Old Zhao only earned 40 yuan a month. Even tightening their belts, they couldn’t afford to support three university students!

Xie Yunshu, understanding this, didn’t pry into their family troubles. Living in this block-style housing, who had it easy? Everyone lived a simple life, barely scraping by. To afford two kids’ schooling, the family had to be double-income — never mind supporting three with just one working mom like Aunt Zhao.

She came to discuss the cooking for tomorrow: “Aunt Zhao, I have to prepare meals for more than 30 people tomorrow. One person alone will be swamped. I want you to help me the whole day. Is that okay?”

Aunt Zhao thought it was just for tomorrow and immediately agreed: “No problem! I’m not doing much anyway.”

She helped Xie Yunshu steam buns in the morning and did sewing at home in the afternoon. Since she didn’t earn much, skipping a half-day was no big deal.

Xie Yunshu quickly added: “Not just tomorrow, but every day all day. The wage is 40 yuan a month. You steam buns in the morning, prep the vegetables in the afternoon, and the next day we just stir-fry them.”

Aunt Zhao gasped, thinking she’d heard wrong: “Yunshu, what did you say?”

“You have other work in the afternoon?” Xie Yunshu had thought about this and came to discuss it: “If not feasible, no problem. I can find someone else…”

“No, no!” Aunt Zhao quickly grabbed Xie Yunshu’s hand: “Girl, when have I ever said I’m busy? I’m free every day!”

Forty yuan a month? Even doing sewing for half a year wouldn’t earn that much!

Xie Yunshu was relieved: “Good, I really don’t want to find anyone else. I think you’re the best worker. But let’s be clear, 40 yuan is for the whole month. If you take a day off, I’ll deduct 1.33 yuan; half a day off, 0.67 yuan. Sound fair?”

Aunt Zhao didn’t hesitate: “Sure!”

Even 30 yuan a month would be snapped up fast! There were plenty of young wives at home with nothing to do in this block housing.

But she pursed her lips and asked, “Yunshu, paying me this much, will you still make a profit?”

With this 40 yuan, at least Xiaoyun’s university tuition was secure. The other two daughters could continue high school. But while solving her family’s problems, would Yunshu lose money?

Actually, Xie Yunshu didn’t think it was too much. This job was harder than the packaging factory. The packaging factory had bonuses and breaks; this had none.

Besides, she was still learning how to run her business, so she had to save on both ingredients and labor costs.

The next day, Aunt Zhao came very early, arriving right at seven.

Xie Yunshu was just starting breakfast and blinked: “Aunt Zhao, it’s only this early!”

Aunt Zhao was full of energy. After telling Old Zhao about the job, the couple was too excited to sleep half the night. Their family income doubling from 40 to 80 yuan was a big deal — who wouldn’t be happy?

She decided last night that she’d work hard at this job. If Yunshu earned money, she would too! Once Xiaoyun got into university, she’d be the first to go to Liu Xiulian’s house and slap that face! Liu said her daughter married a 28-year-old divorced man and made it sound great — why didn’t she just divorce and remarry herself? “Eat your breakfast. I’ll go steam the buns first!” Aunt Zhao never stopped smiling. She was strong and hardworking. By the time Xie Yunshu finished eating, the dough was already prepared and set aside.

Xie Yunshu and Li Fenlan got busy. The big meal for the construction site was cabbage stewed with meat and vinegar-fried mung bean sprouts. The project department’s meal was stir-fried mung bean sprouts with tofu skin and shredded pork, plus a spicy egg dish. Not knowing the project department’s exact taste, she bought sweet peppers without much spice and separately fried chili oil in a jar. These weren’t valuable ingredients anyway — maybe some leader liked spicy food? Everything was done by just after 11. Xie Yunshu hurried to load the big pots onto the tricycle. Now she had regular customers and couldn’t keep everyone waiting.

From home to the site, she rode the tricycle right to the gate and smiled at the security guard: “Comrade, I’m here to deliver meals. Can I take the tricycle inside?”