Chapter 20: Picking Up a Job Along the Way

    Hearing this, Xie Jiu’er had an idea. *Zhang Mama’s cooking is bad, but mine is delicious!*

    Xie Jiu’er was still lost in thought when the well-dressed woman, unable to cope with her children’s insistence, approached her. “Girl, how much is this?”

    Xie Jiu’er snapped back to attention and placed the jar in front of the woman. “This jar is half a tael of silver. It’s deep-fried.  Heat it up in a pan; it’ll be even more delicious.”

    She took out a bowl and offered a piece. “Madam, would you like to try some?”

    The beautiful woman took the bowl, took a small bite, and her eyes lit up. “I haven’t eaten such delicious food in ages. Fine, half a tael is half a tael.”

    She took some loose silver from her purse and gave it to Xie Jiu’er.

    “Madam, may I ask if your household needs a cook? I’m quite skilled in the kitchen.”

    Xie Jiu’er put away the silver and politely asked.

    The madam looked Xie Jiu’er up and down. “You’re quite clean.  Come, cook a meal for me to try, and then I’ll decide whether to hire you.”

    Xie Jiu’er readily agreed. Looking back, Xiao Jinyu had also arrived. “You cook first. I’ll go do something and come find you later.”

    Xie Jiu’er nodded. It seemed the Golden Thigh was about to leave. She needed to act quickly, settling her mother and brother before the villagers returned, and never again be at the mercy of her uncle.

    The madam’s surname was Zhu. The county was in a mess, and the kitchen ingredients weren’t abundant, but compared to Xie Jiu’er’s home, where they only had a few things, it seemed quite plentiful.  She would make whatever she could.

    The two children wanted chicken wings, which gave Xie Jiu’er a headache.  In these times, it was good enough to buy a couple of chickens. To make chicken wings, they would need at least seven or eight wings. Where could she get them?

    But this Zhu family really knew people.  It turned out that merchants had already transported various meats to the county, but the situation was still unclear, and they hadn’t officially opened for business yet.  There were too many people who couldn’t eat, and they were afraid of being robbed, so many were waiting and seeing.

    Xie Jiu’er watched Madam Zhu easily obtain four chickens and secretly sighed. Different circles receive different information. They had just learned that the refugees were returning home, but she had already prepared everything and was ready to open for business.

    There was half a jar of honey in the kitchen. Xie Jiu’er quickly prepared the ingredients.  From her conversation with Madam Zhu, she discovered that the two children loved sweets, Madam Zhu liked spicy food, and Mr. Zhu focused on health.

    So, she made a dish of honey-glazed chicken wings, deep-fried small crispy meat (she wanted to make sweet and sour pork ribs, but there were no tomatoes, so she had to give it up), and a bowl of boiled sliced meat.

    Three dishes for four people was too little, so she also made a plate of crystal dumplings, with starch-based skins that were crystal clear and looked appetizing.

    When the dishes were served, the two children took a bite of the honey-glazed chicken wings and jumped for joy. “So delicious! Mother, can we have Sister Xie cook for us from now on?”

    Madam Zhu smiled, noncommittal. She picked up a piece of boiled sliced meat with a lot of dried chili peppers and her eyes lit up. “Your dishes are very creative and delicious.”

    Mr. Zhu tasted the small crispy meat, nodded in satisfaction, and ate a dumpling. “Everyone will like this dish. Try it.”

    He gave a dumpling to his wife and two children. After the children finished, they each took another two.

    After the meal, Madam Zhu nodded in satisfaction. “It’s you. Come tomorrow to cook. You can live in the mansion, with food and lodging provided, and a monthly salary of one tael of silver.”

    One tael of silver was quite good for ordinary people, but Xie Jiu’er hesitated. “Tomorrow won’t work, Madam. My home is in the mountains. I need to tell my family. The earliest I can come is in three days.”

    “Alright!”

    Before Xie Jiu’er left, Madam Zhu saw her thin clothes and took out some cloth from the cabinet. “This cloth is of good quality, but it’s a little old. I haven’t used it. I see you lack clothes and food. Take it! Besides, it’s not appropriate for you to wear this to Zhu Mansion.”

    Xie Jiu’er looked down at her tattered clothes. Compared to beggars, she was only slightly cleaner.

    Xie Jiu’er wasn’t embarrassed to be looked down upon.  She gratefully accepted the cloth and went out. Xiao Jinyu had just arrived.

    “Brother Xiao, did you find out the information you wanted?” Xie Jiu’er asked softly, noticing his gloomy expression.

    “Yes, I may leave in a few days. This trip is uncertain; I may not return. I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill my promise of prosperity and wealth.” Xiao Jinyu looked at the girl with dry yellow hair, holding a piece of old cloth given by the merchant as a treasure, feeling a little guilty.

    “I’ve found a job in the county. Our family won’t starve. And the war is over. I’m confident that I can give my mother and brother a good life. So you don’t have to feel guilty. The promise of prosperity and wealth was just a casual remark. Brother Xiao doesn’t need to take it so seriously.”

    Xie Jiu’er knew that his real battles were just beginning and didn’t mention the previous promise. She knew he would be the ultimate victor.

    “Then let’s go back?” It was already past noon; if they didn’t go back, they might have to walk at night.

    “Wait a minute. I want to rent a house in the county and move my mother and brother here.”

    Xiao Jinyu frowned. “The county is expensive, and you don’t have much savings. Do you really need to move?”

    Xie Jiu’er sighed. “The refugees are returning home.  My uncle, grandparents, and others will be back soon.  I’m working at Zhu Mansion; I won’t have time to take care of the family. My mother is soft-hearted, and Wuyang is still young. They’ll definitely be at a disadvantage.  Let’s move before they return and find a chance to divide the family property later.”

    Xiao Jinyu nodded. “Be careful.”

    Then, the two of them started looking for a house. Luckily, there were people in the real estate agency. Xie Jiu’er’s face lit up. *Heaven helps me!*

    News spread faster in the county than in the countryside.  Although the county seemed desolate, all industries were ready, waiting for more people and the restoration of order to open for business.

    Time was pressing. Xie Jiu’er chose a house close to the city center—three rooms, one of which was the kitchen, and a small courtyard.  The rent was three taels of silver for half a year.

    Xie Jiu’er didn’t have enough money, but most houses were vacant.  In the next six months, most people wouldn’t be able to solve their food problems, let alone rent a house in the county.  So, she paid one tael of silver first and promised to pay the rest in two months.

    The house was very clean, too clean; there wasn’t a single usable item. Xie Jiu’er looked at the empty house and laughed bitterly.  Without even a cart, she didn’t know how to transport the taro, the large jar of meat, and the pots and pans to the city.