"I know that the incident with Uncle Ban and Aunt Ban was an accident, and your sister understands as well. Once you graduate from college and start earning money, you’ll be able to support your sister and your grandmother," Xu Nian’an comforted, feeling especially fortunate that his entire family was safe and sound, and that they had earned enough money for them to study without worries.
"I came today to ask you if there’s something your sister could do on my side, something better than washing dishes at a restaurant." As soon as Xu Nian’an finished speaking, Ban Chuan’s eyes lit up immediately.
Xu Nian’an continued, "I’ve opened a boutique at the school gate. I need to attend school and don’t have time to look after it. I was wondering if your sister would be interested. It’s just selling items and collecting money, really simple, and the salary is thirty yuan a month."
Xu Nian’an had thought that Ban Chuan would agree immediately, but surprisingly, Ban Chuan fell silent.
"It’s near the school gate, so you can also check in on your sister often. She won’t have to wash dishes at the restaurant and freeze her hands anymore," Xu Nian’an said, puzzled.
This was the first time that Ban Grandma had hosted one of Ban Chuan’s classmates, and she generously killed a chicken for the occasion. Ban Lin was intending to go to the backyard cellar to dig up some old ginger when she happened to hear Xu Nian’an’s words.
"Why?" Xu Nian’an asked reflexively, "How much money do you make washing dishes at the restaurant in a month?"
If his memory served him right, it was twenty yuan.
Why wouldn’t she take on a cleaner, easier job that paid more money?
"Thank you, Brother Xu," Ban Lin said, her stutter suddenly gone as she excitedly expressed gratitude to Xu Nian’an. She pressed her lips together and added, "I’m quite alright washing dishes at the restaurant. They provide food and lodging, which is quite good."
Besides the necessities she had to buy, she could save all of her remaining money.
But if she went to work for Xu Nian’an, where would she live? What would she eat?
"So, you’re worried about that," Xu Nian’an realized what she was concerned about and thought of the attic, which he had originally intended to keep for himself, but now...
"There’s an attic above the shop where you could stay, and for meals, you could go to the cafeteria with your brother," Xu Nian’an truly wanted to help Ban Lin. Working for him held future prospects, whereas she would always earn the same small salary at the restaurant.
Thinking this way, Xu Nian’an spoke again, "Eating at the cafeteria won’t cost much per month, and when you add it up, you’ll earn more than at the restaurant. Plus, if you do well at the shop, you could even get a raise."
"Xiaolin, I think it’s better for you to work with Nian’an. It’s closer and I can take care of you," Ban Chuan strongly advised, feeling that Xu Nian’an’s shop was a better option than the restaurant, with no need to immerse hands in cold water and being closer to it.
"But eating at the cafeteria isn’t cheap either," Ban Lin hesitated.
"Xiaolin, although the food isn’t great, it only costs five yuan a month, which still lets you earn more than at the restaurant," Ban Chuan said just as he finished his sentence, Ban Lin immediately agreed, eager to earn an extra five yuan than before.
"Brother Xu, I’ll definitely do my best in the future," Ban Lin said earnestly.
"Keep it up," Xu Nian’an encouraged, "Once you siblings start making money, you could even bring Grandma Ban to live in Ningbei. Then your family could reunite and you wouldn’t need to be apart anymore."
Ban Chuan and Ban Lin’s eyes sparkled at the thought. They had never dared to imagine that they could bring their grandmother to live in Ningbei. All they had thought about was earning enough money to provide her a good life.