Because Qi Taiguo was injured during a mission, even though he said it was nothing serious, after reporting to the army, Regimental Commander Mai generously allowed him to go home and rest for a few days.
Cheng Su was more than happy, she specially made a pigeon and green bean soup to clear the heat and detoxify for him to drink and prepared nutritious dishes such as egg custard and chicken to feed him, all in a rhythm that seemed to fatten up Qi Taiguo like a pig.
With his wife treating him so gently, Qi Taiguo was happy to enjoy it, but unfortunately, Cheng Su couldn’t stay with him all day, after all, she still had to prepare for the opening of the Jam Company!
Unable to sit still at home, Qi Taiguo simply followed her to the village under the pretext that the rural scenery and fresh air were good for his health, helping her set up a stall to recruit workers.
To say they set up a stall, they really just placed a small table and brought two small stools, with the words "recruiting workers" written above, set at the intersection of two villages.
The renovation of the factory had already drawn the villagers’ attention; once Cheng Su set up the stall, it quickly attracted the villagers, who came to inquire one after another.
Since they were making jam, Cheng Su first considered hiring female workers, as they tend to be more meticulous. Of course, they’d need porters as well; after all, they couldn’t expect women to handle the loading and transportation of goods.
Cheng Su’s requirements were quite high, naturally preferring those who were clean and tidy. Following that, she sought those with clear and elegant speech; she knew some people in the village were prone to foul language, and she did not want to hear about all sorts of body parts all day long.
"Looking at your recruitment, it’s as strict as enlisting soldiers," Qi Taiguo said with a laugh from the side.
Cheng Su gave him a blank look and said, "What do you know? I’m working with food here, something that goes into people’s mouths; hygiene is naturally the most important concern. Would you want to eat something made by someone whose fingernails are filled with black dirt? Who knows what could fall from their hands into the food!"
Qi Taiguo chuckled sheepishly, subconsciously glancing at his own nails which were fairly clean.
Cheng Su sneakily looked and couldn’t help but silently laugh.
"Hey, are you hiring?"
While the couple was talking, a skinny boy suddenly stood in front of them, with a bamboo basket on his back that seemed to be moving.
Just as Cheng Su leaned in to look, a small head poked out from the basket, a pair of round black eyes staring at her.
It turned out to be a young child, a girl, with only a few strands of yellow hair on her head, her hands grasping the basket, her mouth also biting the basket, her gaze already fixed on the apple in Qi Taiguo’s hand, licking her lips.
Cheng Su followed her gaze, smiled, and handed over the apple.
The boy hesitated, sidestepping, and said, "I... I’m not begging, I’m asking if you’re hiring."
"I didn’t say you were begging, this is for the kid." Cheng Su directly stuffed the apple into the little girl’s hands, and the child flashed a sweet smile, so adorable that Cheng Su’s heart melted.
The boy then said, "Thank you!"
Cheng Su then turned to look at him, a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years, very skinny, and asked, "You want to work? How old are you? I don’t hire child labor here!"
Although she knew that in this day and age, child labor wasn’t really a thing, she didn’t really want to hire underage workers.
The boy became anxious and said, "I’m fifteen, no, I’m eighteen years old! Don’t look at me as thin, I am very strong, I can do anything!"
"You’re eighteen? You’re lying, go on, go play, bring your parents, and I might consider," Cheng Su waved him off.
"My dad’s dead, my mom remarried, and I only have my little sister; we’re orphans. So, please, hire me, I can do anything!" the boy pleaded with reddened