Ling Shuang worked a late night shift and was ready to go to bed after finishing her work. She asked Lin Yi to set the alarm so that she could prepare milk powder for the baby on time.
He took out another 10 yuan and handed it to Zhou Mingming: "This is for today's food. Buy whatever you want."
Zhou Mingming didn't want to take it. Ten yuan was enough to buy anything. He shook Ling Shuang's arm and bargained: "Mom, I can see that you haven't been to the vegetable market in several years, right?
In the past, my grandma would buy groceries and cook, but I would often accompany her and help her carry bags. Now, a pound of pork costs 8.5 yuan, leeks cost 1.2 yuan, and even carrots cost 80 cents.
You want me to make lunch and dinner for you with this ten dollars? Even if you sell your son, I can't do it. Please give me more."
Ling Shuang pulled her arm back from his grasp, asked him to stand up and talk, and asked him, "Then tell me, how much is appropriate?"
Zhou Mingming's eyes rolled, and he came up with an idea. He pulled Ling Shuang to sit on the sofa, and he took a small stool and sat at Ling Shuang's feet and began to talk: "Look, the nanny hired by Grandpa Liu upstairs is responsible for cooking, washing clothes, and doing housework every day. Grandpa Liu pays her 1,200 yuan a month.
Also, when my grandma was in charge of the housework, you and my dad gave her 1,500 yuan a month for food, which comes out to 30 yuan a day. You said you would only give me 10 yuan. Do you think that's appropriate?"
Hearing this, Ling Shuang became interested: "I can't believe my son, who can't do anything, has such a plan in his mind. So, tell me, what are your ideas?"
Zhou Mingming chuckled: "It's not that successful, but you can't just let the horse run fast without giving it grass to eat, right?"
Ling Shuang: "You mean I should pay you a salary? Consider it as hiring you? But do you have the skills of the nanny upstairs?
Do you know how much water to put in steaming rice?
Do you know how much oil to use when cooking?
How hot should the oil be before serving?
When should I add salt and when should I turn off the heat?
Do you know which clothes are machine washable, which are hand washable, and which are dry clean only?
Also, do you know when to put fabric softener?
We took care of you, washed your clothes, cooked for you, and paid for your studies for the past fourteen years. Have we ever asked you for compensation?
No!
Not only did we never ask for anything in return, we even gave you pocket money and cleaned up the messes you made over and over again. Now you're idle at home doing some chores, and you still want to be paid?"
Zhou Mingming was momentarily stumped, but he reacted quickly: "Wasn't I still young before? You raised me and took care of me when I was little. When you're old, I'll take care of you, too."
After saying this, he muttered softly, "If you insist on paying me 10 yuan a day, I can't guarantee that eating the food I make won't give you diarrhea."
Ling Shuang was close by and had sharp ears. She heard it and raised her eyebrows: "So what you mean is that if I pay you some salary, you will be able to do the housework well?"
Zhou Mingming winked. "If you pay me, I'll have the motivation to learn. If I can't do it once, twice, or even three times, what's the worst that can happen? At most, I'll give you a discount."
Ling Shuang motioned for him to continue.
"The nanny upstairs earns 1,200 yuan, and my grandma gets 1,500 yuan for food. Add one yuan and it's 2,700 yuan. I don't want more. You can give me 2,000 yuan a month, and I'll cover all the rice, flour, grain, oil, and vegetables. I guarantee you'll have four dishes and a soup. How about that?"
Ling Shuang and Lin Yi, who was watching the fun from the side, exchanged a glance and agreed: "Okay! But there are conditions!"
Zhou Mingming became excited: "Tell me! What are the conditions?"
I won't give you 2,000 a month, I'll give you 2,500. You'll be responsible for all household chores, and you'll be responsible for buying daily necessities if they run out. This month will be your probation period, so you can work on it first. If it doesn't work out, next month you can either go to school honestly or go out to work and support yourself. How do you do that?"
How about it? Hey, 2500, if you plan well, you can at least save more than half.
"Done."
Lin Yi added, "Then you're officially employed. If you get into trouble again, either at home or outside, the compensation will come from these 2,500 yuan. If you can't pay it back or can't make it to the end of the month, the agreement will be void. You'll either go to school or work. Don't worry about that."
Ling Shuang naturally agreed: "Your father is right! This matter is settled. If you have no objection, let's sign an agreement and put our fingerprints on it!"
Zhou Mingming looked at his parents' serious expressions and felt a little nervous. "Signing an agreement? No... that's not necessary."
Unfortunately, his unilateral opposition was ineffective. For the sake of more than a thousand yuan of disposable assets that would soon become his own, he agreed.
Lin Yi quickly wrote a three-page agreement with clear terms and content.
From the names of Party A and Party B, the amount involved and the deadline, to the small details like what brand of toothpaste to buy and how many times a week to eat meat, everything is written clearly.
The breach of contract was specifically marked. If Zhou Mingming completed the contents of the agreement on time and in full, the agreement would continue. If not, Zhou Mingming would either return to school or go to work, and would no longer receive an additional 50 yuan pocket money per week.
The three people signed and stamped their fingerprints on the agreement.
Ling Shuang went back to the bedroom and took out a stack of cash, counted out two thousand five and placed it on the coffee table.
Zhou Mingming's eyes lit up and he was eager to try it out. "Is this mine?"
"Don't worry, let me calculate it." Ling Shuang took out another blank piece of paper and a pen.
"Today is March 15th, and most of the month has passed. Naturally, I can't settle you based on the full month." After saying that, he counted out 1,250 from the pile of money and put it back next to him.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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