That evening, Yan Qingqing was preparing to work overtime to train Li Xiang'an and the others on opening a shop when Yuan Huiniang came over and said, "Mother, Wang Dong is here."
Yan Qingqing was somewhat surprised. Hadn't everything been resolved? Could it be that the child hadn't received compensation?
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and said, "Bring him in."
Yan Qingqing's house is different now than before; not just anyone can walk in. And even if someone who doesn't know her comes in, they won't know which courtyard Yan Qingqing lives in.
Soon Yuan Huiniang led Wang Dong in. The child was carrying a chicken in one hand and a duck in the other, and he was walking with a limp, but he had a smile on his face.
Upon seeing Yan Qingqing, he knelt down with a thud and said, "Auntie, I have no way to repay your great kindness, so I kowtow to you here."
Yan Qingqing quickly pulled him up from the ground and scolded him, "What are you doing? Your aunt didn't do anything, how can you accept such a big gift from me?"
Wang Dong said, "Auntie, you don't need to refuse. Although I am young, I am very clear-headed. If it weren't for your protection today, I would not have been able to get this two taels of silver as compensation."
Also, when my grandfather passed away, my aunt gave me 500 coins so that he could be buried smoothly.
My aunt is no worse than my second parents.
Actually, I've wanted to kowtow to my aunt for a long time. But I've been in mourning and was afraid of offending her.
Yan Qingqing found that the child had a clear mind, spoke eloquently, and most importantly, knew how to be grateful, so she couldn't help but like him a little.
So she spoke up, saying, "These are all small things and not worth mentioning. We're all neighbors, so if Auntie can help, she should definitely lend a hand."
Wang Dong nodded and said, "Auntie, you are very kind. I will remember it. This chicken and duck were taken from Li Erdan's house. Auntie left in a hurry, so I brought them back to you."
In addition, my aunt said that they only agreed to compensate me with two taels of silver because you didn't pursue the matter of them stealing your chickens and ducks, so the two they ate should also be counted against me.
I calculated that it would cost around one hundred coins, plus the five hundred coins my aunt gave me, so here's six hundred coins, Auntie, please take it."
As he spoke, he stuffed a string of copper coins into Yan Qingqing's hand. Since arriving in ancient times, Yan Qingqing had been dealing with copper coins the most, so she knew exactly what they were. This string of copper coins would be more than six hundred coins, not less.
Details reveal a person's character. Yan Qingqing never expected Wang Dong to be such a good kid, so she decided to help him.
Wang Dong was afraid that Yan Qingqing would refuse to accept the gifts, so he put down the chickens, ducks, and copper coins and was about to leave.
Yan Qingqing called out to him, "Is there something important I want to tell you? Are you just going to leave like this?"
As expected, Wang Dong stopped and turned to Yan Qingqing, asking, "Auntie, please tell me what's wrong. I will definitely help if there's anything I can."
Wang Dong thought Yan Qingqing wanted him to help her with something. But he didn't consider what help an eleven or twelve-year-old could possibly offer.
Yan Qingqing asked Yuan Huiniang to bring him a stool so he could sit down and chat.
Wang Dong lowered his head, moved. He was afraid that Yan Qingqing would see his tears. Since his grandfather passed away, although many people in the village sympathized with him, few respected him, let alone specially brought him a stool to sit on.
Yan Qingqing had no idea that her unintentional actions could touch the sensitive heart of this young man.
Yan Qingqing smiled and asked, "Child, although you are still young, you are already eleven years old, and there are no elders in your family anymore. Do you have any plans for the future?"
Wang Dong sniffed and replied, "Auntie, I have some money from Li Erdan's compensation right now. I plan to pay off the debts my grandfather owed before and after his death."
Yan Qingqing nodded and continued, "And then what happens after you've paid it back?"
Wang Dong thought for a moment and then said, "I'm planning to go to the city to find a job. I know no one will hire me to carry heavy loads, so I was thinking of becoming an apprentice or something. What do you think, Auntie?"
Yan Qingqing nodded and said, "Your idea is good, but you need to know that even if you become an apprentice, no one will be willing to hire you without a guarantee."
Being an apprentice these days is not easy. Not only is the work heavy, but there is also no pay. Most importantly, without a friend's recommendation, ordinary shops will not hire you.
Wang Dong felt deflated after hearing Yan Qingqing's words. This was already the best way of life he could think of.
Yan Qingqing smiled at him and said, "Auntie has a job here, I wonder if you'd like to do it?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Dong's eyes lit up, and he looked up at Yan Qingqing, saying, "I'm willing! I'm willing!"
Seeing his eagerness, Yan Qingqing laughed and asked, "Why didn't you ask me what kind of job it was before you agreed so readily? What if I sold you off?"
Wang Dong laughed and said, "My aunt is a kind person. Even if she really sold me, the family she found for me would definitely be good and better than my current life."
Yan Qingqing knew that Wang Dong wouldn't be doing too well, but she didn't expect the child's life to have deteriorated to this extent.
So, without keeping her in suspense any longer, she said, "My aunt bought a shop in the city and plans to sell cooked food. It will open in a few days, and the shop needs to hire a few employees, but my aunt is thinking that even if she hires someone, she needs to find someone she can trust."
After thinking it over, your aunt thinks you're quite suitable. She can ask Brother An to teach you sometime. If you learn well, it's not impossible for you to manage this shop later.
You have to admit Yan Qingqing is good at making empty promises; look at Wang Dong, he's already making grand promises to him even before he's officially hired.
From initial excitement to disbelief, Wang Dong finally stood up and knelt down again with a thud, kowtowing to Yan Qingqing. Yan Qingqing quickly helped him up, thinking to herself that making others kneel all the time would shorten her lifespan.
Of course, Yan Qingqing wasn't without conditions. Even if Wang Dong was grateful now, it didn't mean he wouldn't betray her in the future when faced with personal gain.
So Yan Qingqing spoke up again, "Although your aunt trusts you, you have to give her some protection. Let's sign a long-term worker contract."
How about a five-year term? During these five years, you'll work for your aunt's family, and of course, she won't treat you unfairly in terms of wages or anything else.
As for five years from now, Yan Qingqing is confident that even if Wang Dong wanted to betray her, he wouldn't dare.
Wang Dong readily agreed and said, "Auntie, I'd be willing to do it for a lifetime, let alone five years."
Seeing that Wang Dong was sincere, Yan Qingqing immediately signed a contract for him to work as a long-term worker, and Wang Dong pressed his fingerprint on it without hesitation.
Yan Qingqing then asked Yuan Huiniang to get some medicine for Wang Dong's sprains and bruises, telling him to stay home for a couple of days and come to her house to learn how to make various cooked foods once he recovered.
Wang Dong immediately said that he was fine and could come to study tomorrow. Perhaps feeling that he had a future, Wang Dong stopped limping when he walked.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com