Liao Jinling is slightly younger than Zhang Cuihua. She has just married a daughter-in-law, who is now pregnant, which increases the family's expenses.
She thought about finding some work, but she was too old and didn't have any real skills, so it was hard to find work. She thought being a housekeeper would be good, since she could do all those housework. Just then, she met Mo's mother who needed someone to help her.
Sleepiness met its pillow, and they hit it off immediately.
After explaining the situation to Liao Jinling, Mo's mother sent her directly to Liu Dekai's house. As for the month's wages, they would discuss it themselves.
"You must be the Aunt Liao my mom was talking about. From now on, you'll be my housekeeper, and I'll give you 30 yuan a month for it," Mo Youyou said, acting like the lady of the house as she made the arrangements.
Zhang Cuihua sized up Liao Jinling; she seemed like a capable worker.
"Okay, where will I live? What kind of chores will I need to do?" Liao Jinling asked, looking around their house.
The houses in this residential compound seem nice, but this house only looks like it has two rooms. Does she have to leave after she finishes her work?
Because her son got married, she now has nowhere to live in her house.
Finding someone to be a housekeeper is also a way to have a place to stay.
If the accommodation problem can't be solved, then the monthly wage will have to be renegotiated.
"You'll be living with my mother-in-law." Mo Youyou nodded towards the small room.
The room wasn't big to begin with, and then they deliberately put in two single beds, making it look even more cramped.
There was nothing he could do. Liu Dekai was just a deputy battalion commander. He was only able to get a house in the family compound because he had pulled strings. Naturally, he couldn't get a big house.
If I get promoted and become a regimental commander in the future, I can move to a bigger house.
"This..." Aunt Liao was naturally disgusted by the small size of the room.
But it was hard for her to find a job, so her immediate priority was to have a place to live, and she wasn't so picky anymore.
“Okay,” Liao Jinling put down her luggage and then asked about her daily work, “Besides taking care of Sister Zhang’s health, what other chores do I do?”
"Clean the house, do the laundry, cook, and make sure to learn a variety of dishes for each meal, so we don't always eat the same few. I don't like ginger in my food, so please remember to avoid putting it in my dishes. Also, make medicine for my mother-in-law... Oh, and when you're doing the laundry, remember to wash my clothes separately..."
Mo Youyou rattled off a long list of demands.
Upon hearing this, Liao Jinling thought, "Won't this exhaust people to death?"
Mo Youyou also said that she occasionally needs to eat late-night snacks, depending on her mood. Does that mean she's busy all day long?
I'm only making 30 yuan a month, doing so much work, and the living conditions are terrible. It's a loss!
“Youyou, this…this is not what your mother told me!” Liao Jinling rubbed her hands together as she pondered the price increase.
"What's different?" Mo Youyou frowned.
Finding a housekeeper is easy, but finding one who won't cause gossip about your family is not.
Therefore, Mo Youyou did not want Liao Jinling to go back on her word.
"Aunt Liao, just tell me what you want. You can make any requests you have, and we can discuss it," Mo Youyou said.
“Yes, everything is negotiable,” Liu Dekai added.
“Then I’ll be frank,” Liao Jinling said. She hadn’t done any research before deciding to take the job; she at least knew the going rate. “These days, hiring a housekeeper costs at least 30 yuan a month. We’re related, so I can accept that price, but…”
“However, there is indeed too much work to do at your house. You have to take care of Sister Zhang, and taking care of a patient is another matter. I think 30 yuan is a bit too little. It should be at least 35 yuan a month, otherwise I can’t do it.”
After speaking, Liao Jinling observed the expressions on Mo Youyou and Liu Dekai's faces.
It costs 35 yuan a month.
An extra 5 yuan a month adds up to 60 yuan a year, which is no small amount.
Zhang Cuihua started feeling sorry for her son again...
Mo Youyou looked at Liu Dekai, who was also hesitant, after all, this was a housekeeper hired with his salary.
"Okay, then it'll be 35 yuan a month." Liu Dekai finally agreed.
He figured he could just ask Mo Youyou for money when he was short of cash; they were family, and she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Besides, if all else fails, you can always go to your father-in-law's house and plead poverty.
They felt sorry for Mo Youyou and naturally couldn't bear to see them suffer, so he had no worries.
Zhang Cuihua's health was Liu Dekai's biggest concern.
"Okay, okay," Liao Jinling said with a delighted expression, showing great tact. "Then I'll start working now, cleaning first, and then cooking!"
It has to be said that although Mo Youyou had some complaints about Zhang Cuihua moving back, she saved on rent and gained a housekeeper, which did indeed improve her quality of life.
At least the food at home is better, and the place looks cleaner and tidier, which makes me feel much better.
"Aunt Liao, I want to eat steamed fish tonight, remember to make it!" Mo Youyou was still excitedly ordering food when she left home this morning.
“Okay, no problem!” Aunt Liao replied.
Mo Youyou paid for all the groceries every day, and sometimes Liu Dekai would give her some too.
Aunt Liao would come back and quote prices every day after buying vegetables.
Zhang Cuihua heard that some aunties would skimp on the cost of vegetables to pocket a little money, so she became wary of them.
"Aunt Liao, let me go grocery shopping with you today," Zhang Cuihua said.
She thought to herself that she was just walking around and didn't have to carry vegetables or do any chores, so it wasn't tiring; at most, it was just moderate exercise.
Liao Jinling didn't want her to come along. With Zhang Cuihua watching over her, how could she possibly do anything underhanded?
Although there wasn't much money left after the food expenses, every little bit counts, and it's better than nothing!
If Zhang Cuihua were to come along, wouldn't that mean we'd be finished?
"Sister Zhang, I left early. Why don't you sleep a little longer? You should get some rest for your health!" Liao Jinling advised.
"I'm getting old and don't need much sleep, so I'll just go out for a walk. It's not good to stay cooped up in the house all day." Zhang Cuihua got out of bed and prepared to change her clothes and go out.
"Well, okay then," Liao Jinling said with a forced smile.
Sure enough, with Zhang Cuihua by her side, Liao Jinling couldn't do anything sneaky and could only obediently buy groceries.
"How much does this fish cost per pound?"
"Four cents!"
"Okay, then I'll pick one." Liao Jinling began selecting the fish to be steamed that evening.
Normally, she would definitely bargain first, so that the money saved would go into her own pocket, which would be "justified".
Now that Zhang Cuihua is with her, she's too lazy to haggle. Anyway, the money saved won't really be hers, so why waste her breath?
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