Fang Pingying knew Fang Xiu well because when she first came to the provincial city, she needed her to take care of everything, so she was behaving herself.
But later, once she had a place to settle down, or when she didn’t need her help anymore, who knew what kind of trouble she might start causing.
If she found out she had the money to open a store, it was uncertain how she would stir things up, so it was still better to be cautious and just say she was helping someone else with work.
Since she was planning to collaborate with Zeng Weiguo anyway, Fang Pingying wasn’t worried about being exposed for the time being.
"Twenty-five yuan?" When Fang Xiu heard that it was twenty-five yuan a month, she felt a small joy inside—thinking about how many things she could buy with that money.
But she kept her composure and thought to fight for a bit more, "Big sister, isn’t that a bit too little? If all the chores are to be done by just a few of us, we might end up working longer days than Zhiming does, and he earns thirty dollars a month."
"The shop has just opened, and we don’t even know if it will make money. If it does, they can raise our wages next month. It’s just the beginning of the month now, if we start working right away, we can still count it as a full month," Fang Pingying thought about observing how the business in the shop goes. If it turns out well, they could gradually increase the wages.
Twenty-five yuan a month in wages was indeed not a lot in the provincial city.
"That’s true too," Fang Xiu wasn’t hung up about it and was just thinking that more would be better. Since there wasn’t more, she didn’t dwell on it. However, when it came to working immediately, she said, "But big sister, you said yesterday to let Zhiming take a couple of days off. I can’t work during these days."
Fang Pingying glanced at her but didn’t stop her, "You see to it yourself, if you don’t work, there’s no wage. Also, you can only take three days off maximum in a month, yesterday the first already counted as one."
Upon hearing that her wages might be deducted, Fang Xiu, who was sensitive about money, tried to coax Fang Pingying, "Big sister, since the boss isn’t around anyway, don’t be so strict. Let me and Zhiming play around for a few days first."
Seeing that she was already trying to find ways to be lazy before even starting, Fang Pingying pushed her slightly and sternly said,
"Fang Xiu, let me make it clear to you. Since people entrusted the shop to me, I will manage it as if it were my own. If you really want to work in the shop and earn money, you must do your work honestly and properly. If I find you slacking off like you do at home, seizing the time to laze around, you will be sent straight back to your hometown, and then don’t say I wasn’t considerate."
After a pause, she looked at Fang Xiu and Luo Honglan and reiterated, "So, since both you and Honglan are here today, I will say the same to both. Whoever doesn’t follow the rules of the shop and isn’t diligent in their duties, I will immediately send you back. If needed, I’ll even buy your train tickets."
On hearing this, Luo Honglan immediately reassured earnestly, "Sister-in-law, you can rest assured, I will definitely be focused and diligent in my work here."
Fang Pingying nodded, her words were primarily meant for Fang Xiu, as she never worried about Luo Honglan’s diligence.
At first, Fang Xiu didn’t say anything and only after a while did she nod, indicating she understood.
Seeing that Fang Xiu was probably still thinking like before—spending freely without a care, Fang Pingying couldn’t help but give her a lengthy and serious advice,
"Fang Xiu, since you’ve come out to work, do it earnestly. Even if it’s just twenty-five yuan a month, adding yours and Zhiming’s together, you both can save a decent amount of money. With that money in hand, you won’t have to rely solely on others in case of an emergency."
With that said, Fang Xiu felt more motivated inside.
Thinking back, when she and Luo Zhiming were at home, they would get at most three yuan to five yuan a month from Zhou Yunmei. Now, their combined salaries add up to over fifty yuan a month, which was more than enough for her needs.
Thinking this way, she felt that what Fang Pingying said was very true, so she immediately agreed, "I understand, big sister. I’ll do my work well from now on."
Fang Pingying saw that she didn’t seem to be lying, nodded her head, and truly hoped she would think it over.
Men like Luo Zhiming were definitely unreliable; he had not been in the city for half a month before he started flirting with another woman. With time, even if Fang Xiu stayed by his side every day, it was inevitable that he would be tempted again.
For this kind of man who was completely irresponsible towards his family, he would never be willing to settle down. The first time he sees a woman, he’s probably already thinking about how to seduce her into bed.
Therefore, as Luo Zhiming and Fang Xiu spend more time together and the initial excitement fades, life becomes more mundane, it’s very possible the same issues from the past would repeat. Therefore, Fang Pingying secretly hoped that Fang Xiu could focus on her work and, ideally, save some money behind Luo Zhiming’s back.
If Luo Zhiyong truly didn’t want her later on, having some money of her own would mean she wouldn’t have to feel like the sky was falling without Luo Zhiming.
The three of them boarded a bus heading to the city and coincidentally ran into Luo Zhiming also waiting for a bus.
Once they arrived in the city, Luo Zhiming was reluctant to follow them to the shop immediately after getting off the bus. He said he wanted to take Fang Xiu for a walk, and they might not go to the shop that evening, promising to bring Fang Xiu back the next day as he had taken a couple of days off.
Knowing full well that even if she insisted Fang Xiu stay and work at the shop, the work would not be done well, Fang Pingying let her go with Luo Zhiming but made it clear that they would dock these two days’ wages.
Luo Zhiming agreed to bring Fang Xiu back by the night of the next day and assured that this would not affect the work at the shop the day after tomorrow.
After agreeing, Fang Pingying, along with Luo Honglan, took another bus ride to their shop.
The bus station on this side wasn’t too far from the station on the other side; traveling between them only took a bit over ten minutes.
As they approached the shop, Fang Pingying took out the shop keys Zeng Weiguo had given her last time to open the door.
Upon opening the door, Fang Pingying was somewhat surprised.
Zeng Weiguo had repainted the shop and had also installed the wooden shelves she had asked for; even the bedroom at the back had furniture moved in. Although it was all second-hand furniture, everything was still complete.
Fang Pingying had also planned to visit some second-hand furniture stores to get Luo Honglan a bed and a cupboard. Now that Zeng Weiguo had taken care of it, she had both saved money and avoided hassle. She thought she would have to properly thank him when he came next time.
Luo Honglan, following behind her, saw how big the shop was, complete with a bathroom and bedroom and mentioned the conditions were no worse than those at Luo Zhiyong’s large courtyard. She hurriedly said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, this shop is really nice. I never expected to live in such a good place when coming to the city."
Fang Pingying smiled and patted her head, "From now on, this place will be where you stay. You and your second sister-in-law can live here together for now. In a little while, I’ll get another bed, and then you can each have your own."
Although she didn’t like Fang Xiu, Luo Honglan didn’t want to cause any trouble for Fang Pingying, so she obediently replied, "It’s okay, let’s talk about those things once the shop is up and running."(To be continued. If you work, you are welcome to vote and vote for monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)