Back in the courtyard, Bu Ling first pushed her bicycle into the house and put it away. She then made herself a cup of hot water, walked out of the house, closed the door, and headed straight for the east wing.
"Aunt Wu, are you home?" Bu Ling called out from the door of the east wing.
"Yes, yes, it's Xiao Bu. What can I do for you?" Aunt Wu came out of the house.
Buling glanced at Granny Lan peeking in from next door and said, "Aunt Wu, let's go inside and talk."
Aunt Wu saw it too, and said, "Xiao Bu, come in and talk."
Then, he led Buling into the house and closed the door to prevent Granny Lan from peeping.
Aunt Wu led Bu Ling to sit on the kang (a heated brick bed), poured her a glass of water, and then asked, "Little Bu, what's wrong? Tell Auntie, and Auntie will help if she can." The implication was that there was nothing she could do if she couldn't help.
Bu Ling, of course, understood her unspoken meaning, chuckled, and said, "Aunt Wu, I've come to tell you some news."
Aunt Wu asked in surprise, "What news?"
Bling said calmly, "News about work."
Aunt Wu's face instantly lit up with surprise: "Really?" Then, her expression turned apologetic: "Xiao Bu, that's not what I meant. The job you mentioned?"
Bu Ling smiled slightly but did not speak.
Aunt Wu was an old hand at this; she knew exactly what was going on. However, she still needed to find out more clearly. "Xiao Bu, what kind of job information are you talking about?"
Seeing that she understood, Bu Ling didn't keep her in suspense any longer: "Our state-run restaurant has one opening for a kitchen helper, and our manager said I should decide..."
So, you get it? It's not a message, it's work.
Aunt Wu's breathing quickened: "Really?"
Bling nodded. "It's true. Our manager told me himself."
After receiving confirmation, Aunt Wu looked at Bu Ling with immense affection and took Bu Ling's hand, saying, "Bu Ling, thank you so much. Don't worry, I understand what you mean. From now on, if anyone in this courtyard tries to bully you, I'll be the first to object." She wasn't stupid; of course, she knew Bu Ling's intention in telling her family and immediately made a promise.
Buling laughed and said, "Auntie, you don't need to do that. I'm not giving you this job for free." The implication was that she wanted money.
"Yes, yes," Aunt Wu said immediately. "That's only right. How much do you think is appropriate?" These days, who would give away a job for free?
Bu Ling didn't mince words: "Aunt Wu, I believe you know the going rate, but I want to add one point: kitchen helpers are temporary workers, and the transition to permanent positions is uncertain, so you should think it through." She was making it clear from the outset.
Upon hearing that it was a temporary job, Aunt Wu hesitated for a moment, but then she thought of her daughter and immediately became determined: "Temporary job it is, Xiao Bu, tell me, how much?"
Bling held up four fingers. "What do you think of these?"
Aunt Wu looked at Blingbi's fingers and felt a little sorry for him. "Isn't four hundred a bit too much?"
"Aunt Wu, you must be joking. Temporary workers are paid this much these days, let alone me, who works at a state-owned restaurant. I'm in high demand." (Just kidding.) A state-owned restaurant is one of the most coveted jobs.
Aunt Wu, how could she not know? She just wanted to haggle: "How about this, Xiao Bu, this is a big deal, I can't make the decision on my own. Wait until tonight, when your uncle comes back, I'll discuss it with him and give you an answer tonight."
"No rush, Aunt Wu, just give me an answer before tomorrow." Anyway, this isn't something she needs to rush.
Contrary to her previous attitude, Aunt Wu was very warm towards Buling. She not only made her some brown sugar water, but also gave her some peach shortbread and a handful of hazelnuts to eat and play with.
This is the highest level of hospitality.
Buling delivered the message but didn't stay long, saying, "Aunt Wu, I still have to cook, so I won't stay any longer."
"Eat at Auntie's house. Auntie will stew meat for you tonight," Aunt Wu said warmly.
Buling shook his head: "Auntie, you can eat this meat after we've made a deal."
Hearing this, Aunt Wu didn't insist: "Yes, yes, then let's wait and eat later."
"I hope we can have this meal together then!" Bu Ling said with a smile.
Aunt Wu laughed heartily; she also had hopes.
Granny Lan, who was eavesdropping in the side room, could only hear Granny Wu's occasional hearty laughter; she couldn't hear anything else.
"Sycophant!" Granny Lan muttered under her breath.
With a smile, Aunt Wu saw Bu Ling out of the house, and even stuffed her pockets full of hazelnuts. After watching Bu Ling's figure return to her room, Aunt Wu turned around and went back inside.
As for Granny Lan, who was peeking around in the side room, she was in a good mood today, so she decided not to bother with her.
Bling went back to his room, took the hazelnuts out of his pocket, put them on the table, and lit the coal stove to heat up the two white steamed buns he had brought back that night.
While the steamed buns were heating up, Buling sat on the table with her legs up, cracking hazelnuts with a clattering sound.
I have to say, these all-natural hazelnuts are delicious, especially since they're free.
"Mmm~ So comfortable! It would be even better if there was a recliner," Bling said regretfully.
The steamed buns were heated up, and she took out the last bag of pickled vegetables from her storage space and ate them with the steamed buns to finish her dinner.
After finishing dinner, Buling thought about taking out all the tickets in her spatial storage to see if any were about to expire so she could use them as soon as possible.
I had only counted half of it when I heard something outside the door.
"Knock-knock-knock-"
“Bu Ling, it’s me, Wu Yuanyuan.”
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