"Xiao Li, come here and cover for me," the middle-aged woman called out to a waitress who was wiping down tables.
Xiao Li quickly finished what she was doing and hurried over.
I immediately knew that the middle-aged woman must be the owner of this small restaurant.
The middle-aged woman said to me, "Come with me, let's sit down and talk."
"Yes," I nodded vigorously at her.
She led me to a small private room that was not being used.
I knew that opportunities had to be fought for, so I took the initiative, "Ma'am, I'm very diligent. It doesn't matter if it's washing dishes, wiping tables, or cutting and washing vegetables. I can even make some simple dishes. Please hire me."
"Do you know that the internship salary here is only twelve hundred a month?" the lady boss pushed a recruitment flyer from their restaurant toward me.
I nodded fervently, "I know, even if you only give me half, it's okay, as long as you are willing to take me in. I…I have also brought my mother with me. She's not well, and I need to keep her close and take care of her."
"You mean I need to take in both you and your mother? Don't you two have a place to stay?" The lady boss's expression changed as she asked.
I took a gentle breath and steadied my emotions, "My mother and I have nowhere to live due to some unforeseen circumstances. We don't have any relatives and we don't have any money either."
"If that's the case, I'm afraid I can really only offer you half the salary. Would you still be willing?" the lady boss furrowed her brows, pondering for a moment before she asked me.
I stood up and bowed deeply to the lady boss, "As long as you can take in me and my mom, I don't need a salary. I'm very hardworking and clean, and I won't cause trouble."
"Give me both of your IDs. I'll go make copies to keep on file. Go call your mother in, will you? She's not well, and the sun outside is quite fierce," the lady boss took our IDs and went upstairs to make copies.
I bowed again to her retreating figure and quickly ran to the entrance of the restaurant, "Mom, the lady boss is willing to hire me and she agreed to provide us with room and board. We'll get six hundred a month!"
"You're such a good girl, of course the lady boss would hire you. She's a good person, too, not minding that you have a burden to carry," my mother patted my head gently as she spoke.
I took my mother's hand and led her inside, "Mom, you're not a burden at all, you're my pillar of strength! I can only be at peace with you by my side."
We waited for a while in an empty spot in the restaurant.
Some customers at a nearby table just finished paying and left, so I went over to clean up the table.
The lady boss came down with two photocopies and our IDs, "Already getting to work so quickly? You're quite efficient. Hold on, don't be busy yet. Do you guys have any luggage? I'll take you upstairs to the accommodation rooms to put away your things first."
"You're really kind-hearted, madam, to arrange things for us so soon after meeting. We mother and daughter have nothing valuable, no baggage to speak of," my mom softly said.
The lady boss was in her thirties, younger than my mom.
After sizing up my mom for a moment, she led my mom and me upstairs, "Big sister, I see a fair number of people every day in the business of running this restaurant, so I have some skill in judging character. You and your daughter seem to be honest and decent people, so I don't need to be too cautious."
My mom and I thanked her mutely several times over.
The lady boss settled us in a small room on the third floor. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NoveIＦire.net
"Su Wan, you go back down and get busy. Mom will stay up here and clean up," my mom said to me.
I nodded and trotted down after the lady boss.
Since I was new and not yet familiar with the place, she only assigned me to wash dishes in the kitchen.
After washing the dishes, I finished washing the rice and vegetables.
Then I went out to help Xiao Li clear tables and mop the floor.
The boss came back in the evening to do the accounts.
The lady boss happily introduced me to the boss, "This is Su Wan, who just came today. She's very diligent. I only assigned her to wash dishes in the kitchen, and she did so impeccably clean. She also helped Xiao Li with tasks out front."