On the sixth day of the first lunar month, An Jing invited the folks from Shi Xiaolan’s house to have a meal at her place. Others had invited them to eats, and surely, they couldn’t just accept a free meal without returning the favor. However, Yun Dame and her family didn’t come, only Shi Xiaolan and An Fu showed up.
At the dining table, An Jing spoke to Shi Xiaolan and An Fu about her plan to open a rice shop and expressed her hope that An Fu would lend a hand at the rice shop when the time came; Shi Xiaolan could also help by keeping an eye on the shop.
An Fu and Shi Xiaolan had initially planned to continue selling tofu for a living this year. However, they were aware that the tofu business was not easy. Even though Wang Youbao would occasionally buy tofu from them, it wasn’t as much as An Jing had bought the previous year. Their sales were enough to get by, but they couldn’t save any money.
So, when they heard An Jing propose a long-term position at the rice shop with a monthly salary of one tael of silver, they were both shocked and delighted. If that were the case, they would indeed be able to save a decent sum of money this year.
"An Jing, are you really letting us help out at your rice shop?" After exchanging glances, Shi Xiaolan and An Fu still couldn’t quite believe it.
"Yes, but the rice shop hasn’t opened yet. In a few days, my husband and I will go to the county to buy a shop and start the business. If you’re willing, you can come and work then."
"Willing, of course, we’re willing!" An Fu immediately nodded. "It’s just... are you not paying too much? Xiao Lan is now pregnant, and her belly is getting bigger. She can’t do much work. How about you just pay wages for one person?"
An Jing laughed, "What are you talking about? How can I only pay one person’s wages? I’m hiring Xiao Lan to help me keep an eye on the rice shop, almost like a supervisor, and naturally, she should be paid. I’ve also inquired already, the wages in the county are about this amount. Don’t think I’m giving you any special favors."
"But we are one disabled person and one pregnant woman..." An Fu still felt the wages were too high.
Shi Xiaolan also looked at An Jing, "An Jing, you really are paying too much. Just give me and Fu Zi five hundred coins each month, there’s no need for so much."
Between the two of them, they couldn’t match the work of one strong young man; how could they accept so much money from An Jing.
An Jing laughed it off, "Is higher pay not better? Everyone else wants higher wages, and here you two are... I’ve already told you, the going wages in the county are about this rate. You still don’t believe me? Fine, fine, fine, eight hundred coins, for both of you. I’ll pay you eight hundred coins a month. If you don’t accept it, then I won’t have you work for me. If you’re too embarrassed to ask for such high wages from me, your friend, then I’m also embarrassed to take advantage of you!"
Having said that, Shi Xiaolan and An Fu could only accept the eight hundred coins total for their monthly wages. Yet, in their hearts, they truly appreciated An Jing and felt that she was still paying too much.
After Shi Xiaolan and An Fu had left, An Jing said to Xiao Changyi, "If Brother An Fu doesn’t mind whether Xiao Lan gives birth to a boy or a girl, then Brother An Fu is an even better person."
Xiao Changyi immediately felt somewhat displeased and asked, "Am I good, or is An Fu good?"
An Jing instantly recalled when she had asked him whether she or Shi Xiaolan was better.
She burst out laughing.
After stopping her laughter, An Jing hugged her husband’s waist and reassured him, "Of course you’re the best! My husband is second to none!"
Only then did Xiao Changyi’s expression soften, and after a peck on An Jing’s lips, he continued washing dishes by the stove.
An Jing just kept laughing heartily.