"Of course there’s a salary. We can’t have you working for free," Professor Fei said with a laugh as he looked at Xu Nianhua’s shocked expression. "Fang Yuan and the other two, they get five dollars a day, and you, only half, two dollars and fifty cents a day."
"Thank you, Professor Fei." Xu Nianhua didn’t think two dollars and fifty cents a day was too little. If she worked for ten days, she would have twenty-five dollars, and you have to remember, the average monthly salary was only thirty dollars then.
That’s for those who had jobs. For people working in agriculture at home, earning thirty dollars was very difficult.
Xu Nianhua’s thanks were very sincere.
"Alright, no need for all the thanks. You guys should learn from each other for now. The day after tomorrow, the guests will arrive at the Ningbei airport, and that will be your time to shine. We must make our guests feel comfortable and right at home," Professor Fei said straightforwardly.
"Nianhua, what are the foreign guests visiting for? French, right? They must have blonde hair and blue eyes. Are they good-looking?" Pei Yining asked curiously the moment Xu Nianhua got home.
"We didn’t meet the guests today," Xu Nianhua said as she grabbed some tap water to wash her face. The weather was too hot, and even though the journey from school to Yining’s home wasn’t far, it was unbearably hot. As she wiped her face, she continued, "They’re here to visit friends and revisit old places. We are just accompanying them around, introducing the local specialties and changes."
"So you’re basically acting as guides," Pei Yining nodded knowingly, then added, "It’s really sunny outside, you really should wear a hat. Oh, I have lots of hats, feel free to choose any. Take whichever you like."
"Thanks a lot." Xu Nianhua smiled. She enjoyed spending time with Pei Yining, who was straightforward and sincere, not coy or shy, and very open, which made for a very joyful relationship.
"We’re family, no need to be so formal with me," Pei Yining waved her hand dismissively, stepping closer with a pleasing look, "Nianhua, I bought some shrimp and also some chicken feet today...."
Pei Yining grinned, looking expectantly at Xu Nianhua.
"Would you like the shrimp boiled plain or stir-fried? How would you like the chicken feet?" Xu Nianhua asked, already heading towards the kitchen. The shrimp and chicken feet, along with the vegetables, had been washed and were ready to be cooked.
"However you want to make them is fine, I love everything you cook," Pei Yining said trustingly. She loved the food Xu Nianhua made.
"The shrimp are pretty big, we could make stir-fried big shrimp, and for the chicken feet, we could do a braised version with some quail eggs," Xu Nianhua said as she put the eggs into boiling water. "Is your brother coming home for dinner?"
"I think so," Pei Yining replied. After the first day when her brother came home late, he had returned earlier every day since then.
The sound of a car was already audible outside as she finished her sentence.
"My brother’s back," Pei Yining peered out, and sure enough, it was Pei Yicheng returning.
"Nianhua, ever since you’ve been staying at our house, my brother has been coming back more punctually," Pei Yining said, constantly boosting her brother’s image. "My brother will definitely make a good husband in the future."
"You should worry more about yourself," Xu Nianhua said as she fetched the boiled eggs and started peeling them.
"I’m not in a hurry. I still want to play for a few more years," Pei Yining had no interest in dating yet. "I want to take my camera and capture all the beautiful scenery of our homeland!"