Xu Nianhua couldn’t help but laugh, "Thirty yuan a month, you can take two days off, but it has to be Saturdays and Sundays. From Monday to Friday, neither my second brother nor I are available. That’s not a problem for you, right?"
Wei Hong stood there stupefied, feeling like her ears must have deceived her.
Thirty yuan a month, with two days off?
This deal sounded too good to be true. She must have heard it wrong.
"Sister Wei Hong, what’s wrong?" Xu Nianhua looked at Wei Hong with puzzlement.
"Miss, how much did you say per month?" Wei Hong couldn’t resist asking.
Xu Nianhua’s eyes flickered as she said each word clearly, "Thirty yuan a month, and you can take two days off. But, try to rest on Saturdays and Sundays."
"That much?" Wei Hong said subconsciously.
"Sister Wei Hong, that’s the rate at our store." Xu Nianhua looked toward the door and asked, "Sister Wei Hong, where’s your daughter? Did you come alone?"
"No, my daughter is at the door." Wei Hong walked out happily. Now that she had a job, she could earn money to support her daughter.
Xu Nianhua followed and only then did she see that the little girl was squatting there counting ants. No wonder she hadn’t noticed her.
"Miss, this is my daughter, surname Lu, named Lu Hua." Wei Hong introduced her as she gently touched the little girl’s head and said, "Hua, say hello to Auntie."
"Auntie." Lu Hua stood timidly by Wei Hong’s side, clinging closely to her.
Xu Nianhua went back into the store and got a hair clip with a little flower on it, pinned it into Lu Hua’s hair, and said, "It looks very pretty."
"That’s not necessary." Wei Hong instinctively wanted to refuse.
Xu Nianhua said, "Sister Wei Hong, it’s just a hair clip. Consider it a gift for Hua as a way of meeting her. Sister Wei Hong, just call me Nianhua from now on. Don’t keep calling me ’Miss’, it sounds awkward."
"All right." Wei Hong readily changed her address and said, "Nianhua, then I’ll come over early tomorrow morning."
"Second Brother, you’re back?"
Xu Nianhua had been busy all afternoon. When she saw Xu Nian’an, she was thrilled, and beside him were a man and a woman with large and small packages.
"Little sister, let me introduce you. This is Ban Chuan and his sister Ban Lin," Xu Nian’an introduced. "This is my sister Xu Nianhua, who is currently studying at Beining University."
Xu Nianhua took the initiative to help carry their things. But Ban Chuan, already holding the bags, didn’t want to trouble her to carry anything and quickly stepped aside.
Xu Nian’an quietly pulled Xu Nianhua aside and said, "I’ve arranged for Ban Lin to stay in the attic, and I’ll stay at the school from now on."
Xu Nianhua looked at Xu Nian’an with confusion.
Xu Nian’an continued to explain, and Xu Nianhua nodded, "That’s fine, Second Brother. As long as you agree, it’s only if she, a young girl, dares to stay here."
"I take all the store’s cash with me every day, and what’s left are just small items. Besides, there are many people living in the shops next door; it is quite safe here." Xu Nian’an had lived here for a few days. There were patrol officers at night. This place was right in front of the school gate and also had a guardhouse, so it was indeed very safe.
"By the way, I also hired someone today. Her name is Wei Hong. She’ll be coming to work early tomorrow morning." After saying that, Xu Nianhua led Ban Lin to the attic. Xu Nian’an had lived here before, but since the school was starting tomorrow, she said, "My Second Brother has been busy recently and has been staying at the store. The attic is a bit small, but you can boil water, and there’s a separate shower room. For the toilet, you’ll have to use the public restroom."
"No problem at all, this is much better than where I lived before." Ban Lin looked around the attic, which was a simple place but tidy and clean, a lot better than the storeroom she used to live in at the restaurant.