Chapter 23: The Wages You Are Being Given, Are They a Bit Too Much? 

Zhang Er’s wife, with a helpless expression, said, “I can’t compare to her. Her two children are already in their teens.”

“They don’t cry and make a fuss in front of me every day like my son, Laibao. Every time he cries and makes a fuss, I have to spend time calming him down.”

“Besides, Aunt Yao’s children can already wash their own clothes and bathe themselves.”

“They’re so big now, Aunt Yao doesn’t have to help them fall asleep.”

Shen Xuezhul listened to Zhang Er’s wife and felt a wave of sympathy in her heart.

She said to Aunt He, “Aunt, Zhang Er’s wife really has it tough. Don’t criticize her.”

“I need to go make some cured meat soon, or I won’t be able to finish the 100 pounds of cured meat by tomorrow.”

“You should hear me out first.”

Since Shen Xuezhul had already said this, Aunt He wanted to hear what she had to say.

“I won’t say anything more, I won’t,” Aunt He chuckled. “If Zhang Er’s wife hadn’t said she needed to take care of the kids, I wouldn’t have realized how difficult it was.”

“Laibao is only four years old this year, and he cries a lot.”

Zhang Er’s wife added, “Laibao isn’t four yet, he’s only three, he’ll turn four in July.”

Shen Xuezhul continued, “A three-year-old child is not that easy to take care of.”

“Like Zhang Er’s wife said before, she has to wash him, wash his clothes, put him to sleep, and when he’s sick, she has to watch over him. There’s so much to do.”

“I thought about it, and Zhang Er’s wife also has housework to do at home. These things take time.”

“I think Zhang Er’s wife is an honest person, which is why I wanted to ask her for help with the cured meat.”

Shen Xuezhul’s words deeply moved Zhang Er’s wife.

No one had ever considered these things before.

“Xiaoshan’s wife, actually, I also want to help you with the cured meat, but I’m slow, and I have to take care of the kids. What should I do?” Zhang Er’s wife said.

Shen Xuezhul pursed her lips and replied, “If Laibao causes a fuss while you’re making the cured meat, I’ll ask Xiao Yue and Xiao Li to take him to play.”

Aunt He then chimed in, “I can wash Laibao’s clothes. I’m only 50 this year, so washing his clothes is no problem.”

“As for bathing him, his dad can do it.”

“After lunch, his dad can take a nap at home, and he can also put him to sleep. If you’re working on the cured meat at night, his dad can help put him to sleep then too.”

Shen Xuezhul looked at Aunt He and said, “Aunt, it’s settled then. Both me and Aunt Yao are listening.”

Aunt Yao teased, “Aunt He, you better keep your word.”

“I’ve said it, and I’ll do it. I’m also an honest person,” Aunt He assured everyone.

“In that case, Xiaoshan’s wife, I agree to help with the cured meat,” Zhang Er’s wife said affirmatively.

Shen Xuezhul smiled, “Since everything is settled, Zhang Er’s wife, you can come to my house now.”

“Alright.” Zhang Er’s wife stood up, ready to leave.

……

In the old house of the Lu family.

Shen Xuezhul planned to tell Aunt Yao and Zhang Er’s wife how much she would pay them daily.

She gestured for them to sit down. “Please sit. I need to explain something clearly.”

They both sat down.

“I want to let you know that I’ll give each of you 150 wen per day. The payment will be made once the work is done.”

Aunt Yao and Zhang Er’s wife exchanged a glance.

They were both thinking, “This is too much money.”

Aunt Yao spoke first, “Xiaoshan’s wife, isn’t this wage a bit too much?”

“The farmers here only earn seven or eight taels of silver for the whole year. You’re giving us 200 wen a day, which adds up to 4 taels and 500 wen a month.”

“I don’t know how I could accept this much money.”

Zhang Er’s wife also agreed, “Yes, I feel bad accepting so much. What if others find out and get jealous or gossip about it?”

Shen Xuezhul’s reason for giving them 150 wen a day was because, during her first summer break in college, she worked part-time at a buffet restaurant for 130 yuan a day.

If she paid them only 130 wen, she felt it would be a little too little, so she decided to give them 150 wen instead.

Shen Xuezhul smiled, “Don’t feel bad. Making cured meat is hard work, and if I paid you less, I’d feel bad.”

“Besides, if none of us talk about it, who in the village will know I’m paying you 150 wen a day?”