"I'm looking for a general helper at a restaurant, who's interested?"
Early in the morning, one after another, the stewards who were looking for odd jobs came to the place in the yamen that was specially set up to recruit odd jobs!
Li Rouniang and Xiuer also rushed here early in the morning and stood there with a group of people who were waiting. When someone called out, the group shouted in unison, "I'll come, I'll come, I'll come!"
The manager quickly selected two people who looked nimble and efficient, negotiated a price, and then left.
Several groups of people arrived in a flurry that morning. Li Rouniang learned from talking to those around her that a foreman came to recruit people every day, but it was all temporary work—they'd work for a day or two, then come back to wait for more jobs.
Although the prices are slightly lower than those in the market, the good thing is that there are more suppliers and they are legitimate, so the money is definitely safe. If you were to find suppliers yourself, you might be unfamiliar with the area and get ripped off by someone you know.
Li Rouniang thought that when the next group of managers arrived, she couldn't be as shy as before. She had to be proactive and rush forward. Xiuer and Li Rouniang looked at each other, and their determined eyes revealed their thoughts. They were of one mind!
"This restaurant is short four helpers, who wants to come?" a manager called out.
Li Rouniang and Xiuer immediately rushed forward.
The steward glanced at the two of them, then at the two old women beside him, and casually selected the four of them to go with him.
Li Rouniang and Xiuer secretly breathed a sigh of relief; they had finally found work this early in the morning.
"It's a three-day job, ten coins a day. If you agree, come with me to the clerk to sign the papers," the manager said.
The four nodded quickly and followed the manager.
Li Rouniang and her three companions stood at the clerk's door. The steward went in and took the documents, which the four of them quickly signed. The steward then went back in. Li Rouniang glanced inside through the doorway and her heart skipped a beat. She realized that the clerk looked so familiar; he resembled Wu Yong.
But in the blink of an eye, the manager came out and left with the four of them. Li Rouniang went to the restaurant with the manager. She didn't think about it anymore!
The restaurant was busy because it had booked a birthday banquet; it was the birthday celebration of the matriarch of the Liu family, the largest family in Gui County.
The display was extraordinary, but Li Rou Niang didn't see it because she was busy in the kitchen.
For menial laborers like them who are paid by the day, they can't rest for even a moment, otherwise the money would be wasted!
Exhausted, Li Rouniang finally made it to the third day. If it weren't for the fact that there were only three days of work, she wouldn't have been able to hold on any longer.
Once you enter a restaurant, you're busy from morning till night without a moment's rest. Lunch is eaten in shifts, with very little time allotted.
"You guys are good, quick and efficient. We'll definitely come back to you next time we need work." The manager settled the bill readily. The four of them signed the receipt and were then able to leave.
"Rou Niang, although we're tired, at least we made some money." Xiu'er was still very happy.
She only earns a few coins for embroidering a handkerchief, but she earned 30 coins in just three days, which is quite fast.
"Although the amount given is large, it's only for temporary needs and won't last long. But we can buy some good food to treat ourselves," Li Rouniang said with a smile.
As the two were walking, they heard a sobbing voice coming from ahead: "Father, please don't sell Daya! Daya can do so much work, please!"
A large crowd gathered, and Li Rouniang and Xiuer also joined in.
It's Daya's father; he's going to sell Daya.
“Da Ya, a girl has to get married sooner or later. You’re of age now. I’ll find you a good place to go. You can work as a servant there and you’ll have no worries about food or clothing. You can even bring me money to save for your dowry. When you’re a little older, I’ll redeem you and find you a good family to marry into. What do you say?”
Zhao Dahu, that heartless man, said that he was just saying nice things on the surface, that the dowry would be given to the highest bidder!
Heartbroken, Zhao Daya clung to Zhao Dahu's leg, refusing to let go. Just then, she saw Li Rouniang and immediately crawled over to her, grabbing Li Rouniang's leg and pleading, "Aunt Li, please save me! My father is going to sell me. Please!"
Li Rouniang looked at Daya without saying a word, while Xiuer said sarcastically, "Isn't this what you asked for!"
Zhao Daya was filled with regret. She shouldn't have listened to her father. When her parents sold her in Fengcheng, her heart had already given up. She had originally wanted to wholeheartedly follow Li Rouniang and live a good life.
But after she arrived here, her parents found her and told her that Da Ni was about the same age as her. If they were to get married in the future, the good families would naturally be reserved for Li Rou Niang's own daughter. Zhao Daya wouldn't get any good families at all and would only be a maid!
She was worried too. Her father said that Li Rouniang was already divorced and had a bad reputation. If she stayed with Li Rouniang, her reputation would be ruined, and it would be difficult for her to find a husband.
Moreover, without a maternal family to rely on, wouldn't a married daughter also suffer setbacks?
Daya thought this made sense, which is why she was persuaded by her parents to steal Erni's jade pendant and take it home.
She thought her parents would treat her well, but she never expected that her father would sell her to the Liu family to be a servant, and even send her a monthly allowance home!
Does that mean she'll have to be a slave to her family for the rest of her life? She regrets it so much!
“Da Ya, you’re our child. What’s the use of begging her?” Zhao Da Hu said to Li Rou Niang with an unfriendly expression.
“Aunt Li, don’t we still owe you money? How about I go and pay off the debt? I’ll work for you, I’ll do anything, okay?” Zhao Daya said.
Zhao Dahu was furious. He didn't want to just use his girl as collateral for a debt. He had made an agreement with the other party that the girl would receive one tael of silver for the money she received from selling herself. They said that she would be working for the best Liu family and would receive ten coins a month. When she got older, she might even receive more.
So he grabbed Zhao Daya and said, "You and I are registered in the same household. Now that I disagree, nothing anyone else says matters! You must listen to your father and stop thinking nonsense."
Yes, that's right. After that, Li Rouniang moved Zhao Daya back to Zhao Dahu's household registration!
Zhao Daya's eyes were filled with resentment as she watched Li Rouniang turn away unmoved.
Just then, a donkey cart sped past in the distance, and the driver shouted, "Get out of the way! Get out of the way! This donkey is out of control!"
Zhao Daya felt hatred rising in her heart and evil thoughts arising from her mind.
She suddenly broke free from Zhao Dahu and rushed forward, shoving Li Rouniang and Xiu'er hard with both hands. The two of them were caught off guard and charged forward.
The crowd screamed loudly, and some of the more timid ones even covered their eyes, unable to bear watching the bloodshed!
At that critical moment, someone suddenly rushed past and grabbed the donkey's reins, pulling the donkey back.
Li Rouniang and Xiuer were terrified, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiuer looked up and saw that person, and her heart instantly pounded. In that moment, she understood what love at first sight meant.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Li Rouniang's face lit up with joy...
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