Kong Demin mentioned this matter to his former subordinates when he went to work.
"Deputy Director, I think you should remarry, wouldn't that be better?"
Kong Demin shook his head, "No, I have someone to marry, you just need to find me someone capable, clean, and efficient."
At that moment, Kong Demin wasn't thinking too much.
"Director Kong, I have a cousin in the countryside who's idle, why don't we let her come over?" Wang Dajiang eagerly suggested.
"Too young, isn't she?"
"She's capable and can handle all the household chores. Why don't I call her over and let your mother-in-law take a look?"
"Alright, you go back now. Do you have a vehicle? Ride my bicycle."
"Okay, I'll go right away."
"Wait, is fifteen yuan okay as the wage?"
"Sure, food and lodging included, I'll go right away." Wang Dajiang was very happy, being able to find his cousin a job in the city would mean she would be closer to him in the future.
Kong Demin felt relieved; it's best if she could come today.
By noon, indeed, she was brought over.
When Kong Demin saw her, he thought she was alright, just an ordinary rural girl with two large braids, keeping her head down, so he couldn't clearly see her appearance, but she seemed quite honest.
When he saw her, he felt a bit moved; the girl looked nice and had a good figure.
"What's your name? How old are you?"
"My name is Zheng Xiuxiang, and I'm seventeen this year."
"Director Kong, my cousin is particularly capable and clean, rest assured." Wang Dajiang hastily said.
"You two go to the cafeteria for lunch, after the meal I'll take you to my house."
And so it was settled; Wang Dajiang took his cousin to the cafeteria. There weren't many people eating.
"Xiuxiang, take a look at what you'd like to eat?"
"Cousin, I'll eat anything. Your Director Kong looks so young, huh?"
"Yes, you're going to take care of his mother-in-law and his daughter."
"Hmm, won't it be difficult to serve them?" She hadn't really figured it out as her cousin had only talked about how capable he was on the way here, leaving no time to ask.
"His mother-in-law just gave birth, and you'll be attending to my cousin's wife's postpartum period, which shouldn't be difficult for you. Also, you'll probably be cooking and cleaning."
"That's alright then."
"Xiuxiang, come on, quickly eat." Wang Dajiang said, holding five steamed buns and a container of food.
"Cousin, this food smells so good."
"It's alright, eating every day, you don't really notice, and we can still have meat a few times a month.
Xiuxiang, let me tell you, the lifestyle at our director's house should be better, as long as you work hard, you'll definitely be able to stay."
"Yes, I'll definitely work hard, it's not tiring, I'm used to doing these things at home, and working in the fields too."
"Hmm, our Xiuxiang is the most capable. Later you'll go home with the director."
Kong Demin rode his bike with Zheng Xiuxiang, "Can you read?"
"Director Kong, I went up to fourth grade." Zheng Xiuchun said sitting in the bike's rear seat.
"Hmm, that's good enough, who else is at home?"
"There's my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, a niece, a little nephew, and a younger brother."
"Why do you want to come out to work?"
"To earn money, my cousin said this way we'll have a better life."
Kong Demin laughed, "Exactly, as long as you work hard, I won't treat you badly. Also, working at my house means being sensible and obedient; you can't talk about our family affairs with outsiders, not even your relatives or your cousin."
"Yes, Director Kong, I understand, I absolutely won't say anything."
"Additionally, from now on, just say you're a distant cousin of our family." Kong Demin wasn't stupid, hiring people was a mistake, but if it's said a relative is staying to help take care of the household, that's fine.
Once home, Zheng Xiuxiang followed into the house with her head down, behind Kong Demin's back.
"I found a girl, she's Wang Dajiang's cousin. See if she's acceptable? I'm off to work now."
Kong Demin nodded and left. Zheng Xiuchun looked at the woman lying on the kang, smiling somewhat bashfully.
"What's your name, young lady? How old are you? Who else is at home?"
"Big sis, my name is Zheng Xiuchun, I'm seventeen. At home, there's my parents, brother and sister-in-law, and younger brother, as well as a nephew and niece."
"You are seventeen and haven't found a husband?" Meng Xiu Fen was quite pleased to be called big sis.
"My cousin wants to marry me."
Zheng Xiuchun shyly nodded her head.
"Alright, you can stay in the side room, you tidy it up yourself. Then go wash the baby's diapers. And prepare the fish soup for me; the fish is in the bucket outside."
"Also, from now on call me Aunt, not big sis."
Zheng Xiuchun was a quick worker. She didn't tidy up the room first, she lit the stove and then cleaned the fish, asking how to stew the soup.
Meng Xiu Fen was quite satisfied. She was someone with an eye for household tasks.
After stewing the soup, Zheng Xiuchun washed the diapers. Meng Xiu Fen specially gave her soap and told her to wash them twice with clean water.
Two hours later, Zheng Xiuchun finally tidied up the room. Meng Xiu Fen even gave her a set of luggage, along with two clothes she no longer wore, which made the young girl even happier.
She tidied up the inside and outside of the house thoroughly.
"Aunt, what should be made for dinner?" Zheng Xiuchun brought in the fish soup.
"We've been muddling along for quite some time, there's white flour in the house, you can make pancakes with lard."
"Yes, how much flour is needed?" She had already cleaned the kitchen, so she knew where the rice and flour were.
"Three bowls of flour, do you know how to make pancakes?"
Zheng Xiuchun nodded, "Aunt, I can make them, I can cook all kinds of dishes, just not much experience with stewing meat."
"Okay, go ahead, let me see your skills. There's still fire in the stove, you boil rice porridge, Yu Jing likes it."
"Aunt, I'll make egg custard for you, I steam it very well."
"Sure, steam four servings, let Yu Jing have some later."
Kong Demin came to pick up his daughter, seeing the yard much cleaner, diapers drying on the outside clothesline, and a nice smell coming from the kitchen.
"Daddy, did Grandpa come back?"
"No, we hired someone to take care of you."
When the food was served, Kong Demin was quite satisfied. These pancakes looked quite appetizing.
Zheng Xiuchun brought the meal in to Meng Xiu Fen. "Aunt, please eat, you see how tender the egg custard is?"
"Not bad, Xiao Chun's cooking skills are good. You go and eat too."
"No need, I'll eat after Aunt finishes, Director Kong and Yu Jing are eating."
Meng Xiu Fen was even more satisfied, and the stir-fried shredded potatoes were really good too. Clean, efficient, good skills, she could stay. This way, the household could be well cared for.