An Jing spoke slowly and deliberately, "So many people have invited us to their homes for meals, and if we were to accept every invitation from acquaintances, by the time we got around to your place, who knows what year or month it would be."
The smile on Mrs. Gong’s face completely froze.
As if she didn’t see the stiff smile on Mrs. Gong’s face, An Jing continued, "You shouldn’t trouble us . We are people who dislike hassles. Therefore, we only accept meals from those we know well. Otherwise, we couldn’t possibly finish all the meals we’re offered."
Still unwilling to just go back , Mrs. Gong squeezed out another smile and said, "Sister An Jing, since you dislike hassles, we won’t insist on you coming for a meal. However, there is a favor our family would like to ask of you?"
In any case, she had made up her mind to secure the job at the rice shop for her husband, no matter what.
An Jing asked indifferently, "What matter?"
Mrs. Gong immediately said, "It’s nothing major, it’s just that my husband has a limp, you know. I don’t want him to struggle with selling tofu. I was hoping he could go back to working at An’s Rice Shop. What do you think?"
In fact, Mrs. Gong wasn’t really concerned about An Fu’s hardships selling tofu; it was purely because she looked down on the meager income from tofu selling that she came up with the idea for An Fu to return to work at An’s Rice Shop.
An Jing countered, "Does your husband’s parents and your husband know that you’ve come to ask this favor of me?"
Mrs. Gong immediately waved her hands and said, "They don’t know. It’s just that I see my husband struggling and it breaks my heart, so I thickened my skin to come and ask you and Brother Xiao for this favor."
An Jing nodded, indicating she understood. Then she said, "I’m sorry, but our rice shop isn’t short of hands, so there’s no way we can take your husband on."
Mrs. Gong saw An Jing nod her head and thought An Jing had agreed; she was delighted. But then An Jing continued speaking, and Mrs. Gong was instantly stunned.
When she finally came to her senses, Mrs. Gong asked loudly and excitedly, "How could it not be possible?! Your rice shop is so big, hiring one more person is a trivial matter, isn’t it?!"
Wow, the gloves are off now—so ugly~
An Jing wasn’t angry at all being questioned so loudly. Instead, she remained calm and collected, "Our rice shop really doesn’t need more hands. Why should I employ another if not needed? However, if your husband is willing to work without pay, then that would be possible."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Gong immediately became furious, and spat out in anger, "How wishful you are! Only you would have the nerve to suggest that my husband work for you for free!"
"Is that so?" An Jing was still calm and collected, "I thought you were so keen on getting your husband a job at our rice shop that I kindly proposed the idea. If you don’t appreciate it, well, there’s nothing I can do for you."
Mrs. Gong’s face turned beet red with embarrassment. She really did want An Fu to work at the rice shop, but of course, for a wage!
Now that everything was out in the open, and knowing full well there was no chance of securing the job at the rice shop, Mrs. Gong couldn’t care less about staying any longer. As she turned to leave, she muttered resentfully, "What comes around goes around. Today you refuse to help us over such a small matter, but the day you seek help from us, don’t expect a shred of assistance from our family!"
An Jing found it all rather amusing.
Xiao Changyi first helped An Jing to sit down, then went to close the courtyard door, and afterward, he continued with his work in the kitchen.
Shi Xiaolan gave An Jing a thumbs up, clearly impressed, "An Jing, you are truly formidable. I would never have been able to outtalk them like that. I’ve always been poor with words." After a pause, "Now that I’m raising Niuniu and Yu Yu by myself, I should learn from you."