An Dashan and An Ning looked at the people standing in the courtyard. Although they were all in their thirties, they all had a vicissitude on their faces. An Ning asked, "Do any of you know how to cook?"
Hearing this, a middle-aged woman came out and said, "Miss, I was originally a cook for a wealthy businessman, but the businessman moved away with his family, so I was sold here."
An Ning thought that the kitchen was a lucrative place, and that a cook who didn't save enough money to sell herself must be either an honest person or a burden at home, so she asked, "Is there anyone else at home?"
After hearing An Ning's question, the woman's eyes turned red and she said, "There is no one else in the family. My husband died of illness before I was sold."
When An Ning heard this, she knew that he was also a miserable person, so she said, "Stretch out your hand, let me see it."
The woman obediently stretched out her hands. An Ning took a closer look and found that although her hands were rough, they were washed very clean. So she nodded and said, "Stand aside!"
The woman was delighted, knowing that she had been chosen, so she obediently stood aside and waited.
An Dashan picked another man who looked honest and strong. After choosing the servants, the two paid the money and took the two men home. Wang looked at An Dashan and An Ning returning with two strangers and asked, "Who are these two people?"
An Ning answered first and said, "Grandma, these two are new servants I bought today. I thought you've been too busy these past few days. Not only do you have to cook, but you also have to help my mother take care of the children, so I bought two servants."
After all, this was the An family's affair, so Wang couldn't say much, so she nodded and said, "Where do these two people live?"
An Ning really hadn't thought of this, but An Dashan had obviously thought of it, so he said, "Now that the weather is not cold, let Li Xing live in the old courtyard first, and Xinghua live in the east wing. In the next few days, we will build two more back houses at the gate for the two of them to live in."
Because the An family's courtyard had a large area, there was more than enough space to build two more back rooms. An Ning and Wang Shi had no objection to this arrangement, and then An Ning took Xinghua to the east wing.
As you walk into the east wing, there is a small reception room. On the left is An Yong's bedroom. The right side was originally intended to be used as a study for An Yong, but An Yong is not at home now, so a bed is placed there, and guests can stay in this room.
An Ning brought Xinghua into the house and said, "Put your things down. I'll take you to the kitchen first so you can get familiar with what you're going to do next."
Xinghua agreed and quickly followed An Ning to the kitchen. An Ning said, "We farmers don't have so many rules and the division of labor is not so clear. From now on, you will be responsible for three meals a day and clean the house when you are free. I will give you one or two taels of silver every month."
Xinghua nodded and said, "I understand, Miss."
An Ning nodded and said, "From today on, you will cook with me! When you are familiar with the kitchen, I will not be in charge of kitchen matters. There is nothing to do now, so you can boil some hot water and take a bath. You can use any firewood in the firewood room. Burn more. Uncle Li should also wash up later."
Xinghua responded and then started to boil water quickly.
Seeing that there was nothing for An Ning to do, she left the kitchen and went to Gao's room.
Gao was sitting on the bed teasing little An Rui. When she saw An Ning coming in, she asked, "Your grandma said that our family has bought two new people."
An Ning nodded and said, "Well, I was afraid that you would be tired, so I bought two people back."
Gao had no objection to buying the man. Now An Dashan and An Ning were the ones who were taking care of all the big and small things in the family, so Gao was happy to have some free time. Gao changed the subject and said, "This little An Rui is really changing every day. He's almost as old as you when you were two months old before he was even one month old."
An Ning smiled and said, "That's true. He's plump and white now. He doesn't look as wrinkled as he was when he was just born."
Gao also looked lovingly at little An Rui, who was staring at them with his big round eyes. While they were talking, Wang came in with a little dress in her hand and said, "What are you two talking about? You look so happy?"
An Ning said, "We were just saying that little An Rui has gained weight."
Grandma Wang nodded and said, "Indeed, the clothes we made before can no longer be worn." As she spoke, she took the clothes and compared them to An Rui.
Gao saw this and said, "Mom, please stop making clothes for him. He is growing too fast now. These clothes will be too small after a few days. Besides, your eyesight is not very good anymore. Making clothes will strain your eyes."
Wang smiled and said, "It's okay. I made the dress a little bigger so it can be worn for a while."
Perhaps feeling the cheerful atmosphere in the room, little An Rui also opened his mouth and revealed a "toothless" smile.
Xinghua boiled some bath water and brought a basin of hot water back to the east wing. After washing, she changed into clean clothes. After changing her clothes, she rested for a while. It was almost time to make lunch, so she went to the kitchen.
An Ning had just come into the kitchen. When she saw Xing Hua coming in, she said, "Aunt Xing Hua, you can use whatever you want in the kitchen. Just make four dishes and a soup."
Xinghua was very good at cooking and An Ning didn't have to worry about it at all. She prepared four dishes and a soup in more than half an hour.
After she finished cooking, she brought the food to the table and said to An Ning, "Miss, you guys eat. I'll go take the food to Madam."
An Ning turned to An Dashan and Wang and said, "Dad. Grandma, you guys eat first. I'll take Aunt Xinghua over." After that, she took Xinghua to Gao's room.
Gao looked at the delicious food and felt her appetite grow. She picked up her chopsticks and started eating. While eating, she praised: "Xinghua's cooking skills are really good, much better than mine."
Xinghua said quickly, "Madam, you are too kind."
Seeing Gao eating so happily, An Ning felt hungry too, so she said, "Mother, take your time eating. I'm going to go out to eat first."
Gao nodded and said, "Go, go." Then she turned to look at Xinghua and said, "You should go and have your meal too. We don't need you to serve us here."
Xinghua nodded and said, "Yes, ma'am." Then she turned and left Gao's room.
An Ning originally wanted Xinghua and Li Xing to eat with them, but both of them said that they could not eat at the same table with their master, so they put a small table in the kitchen.
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