Chapter 31 An unexpected encounter with the Chen family father and daughter
Guo Baiwen figured it out.
Although Brother Zhao said he was going to send the child to find Big Fatty and Er Ya, he was still quite protective of the child.
He was in a hurry to get the man, so seeing that the two seemed to know each other well, he didn't think anything of it.
He leaned closer and took a good look at the child's face. Although the clothes and shoes he was wearing were a bit worn, the child's hair and face were quite tidy.
On a sudden thought, he said again, "Show me your hand."
Her hands had many calluses and small wounds, but her fingernails and the spaces between her fingers were still clean.
Clothes and shoes are unavoidable, but from the hair, face, and hands, you can tell that this child is quite clean.
Being clean is a good thing.
Guo Baiwen straightened up. These days, there's no such thing as employing child labor. Even three-year-old children in farming families who can walk will go down to the fields to help.
But not paying wages is definitely not an option.
After thinking about what Yang Qiaomai had just said, Guo Baiwen said, "Well then, I'll just tell you directly. I'm planning to hire a dishwasher, and in the spare time, she might also help with cleaning..."
He was only halfway through his sentence when Yang Qiaomai started nodding frantically, “Brother Guo! I can do it! I’m very good at washing dishes and cleaning!”
Guo Baiwen waved his hand, "Let me finish speaking first—"
Upon hearing this, Yang Qiaomai immediately became obedient.
“The work to be done is not much, but it can’t be just two meals a day as you said before.”
Guo Baiwen held up an eight-shaped hand gesture, "I'll pay you 800 cash a month for now, and lunch and dinner are included. If you do well, I might increase it a little more depending on the store's daily revenue."
Seeing that Yang Qiaomai's pupils dilated considerably after hearing this, Guo Baiwen deliberately changed the subject, "But Brother Zhao also said that this job was originally intended for other people to try out as well. Since you've taken the initiative to accept this job, there should naturally be a trial period."
There may be no wages during the trial period.
Yang Qiaomai, who understood the implied meaning, was not discouraged.
There aren't many employers willing to hire a young worker like him, even if it's just for meals, I reckon many older women would be willing to do it.
He just happened to be close by and lucky.
It's no big deal to do an extra trial period that's free.
Then, the "Little Brother Guo" that Brother Zhao was referring to continued, "The trial period is tentatively set for one month—"
Yang Qiaomai quickly processed the thought in her mind: before she could get paid, she had to work a month of unpaid labor with only meals provided.
Although the job was cheap, once he got the wages after the trial period, his life would be much better.
Before he could finish his scheming, he heard the person in front of him say, "I'll give you six hundred coins for the trial period."
The little nine cracked open with a "snap."
Yang Qiaomai wondered if there was something wrong with his ears. He blinked hesitantly, and looked up at him as if he was a beat slow to react. "Six hundred coins?"
Guo Baiwen misunderstood him, "You think it's too little?"
"No, no, no—"
Brother Zhao, who was standing nearby, laughed when he heard this. "This wage is not low. I've been doing this kind of work for so long, and I only earn 1,500 coins a month."
When he first started working as a laborer, although there was no trial period, he only earned 650 coins a month in the first year.
It was only later, as I worked there longer and longer, that my wages gradually increased year by year.
Yang Qiaomai is luckier than me.
He half-jokingly complained to Guo Baiwen, "You should have said earlier that you were paying such a high wage. I have a younger brother at home... It's such a waste that this kid got it for free."
Hearing him say that, Guo Baiwen originally thought Yang Qiaomai would be scared.
He nodded and said, "I really want to thank Brother Zhao. When I get paid, I'll buy Da Pang his favorite sugar figurine!"
Guo Baiwen then realized that the Big Fatty and Er Ya he had mentioned earlier were actually Zhao Xiaoge's own younger siblings.
No wonder.
After thanking Brother Zhao, Guo Baiwen and Yang Qiaomai walked together down the street towards their shop.
The recruitment process went surprisingly smoothly.
Maybe I can even go back early today to help.
But before he had walked far, and was almost at the street corner where his shop was located, Guo Baiwen saw a familiar figure walk out of a shop next door.
Chen Baoyue still wore her long, shiny black braid, but she had changed into a warmer rabbit fur vest.
Compared to how easily she handled the large spotted creature last time, Chen Baoyue seemed to be at a disadvantage this time.
Yang Qiaomai was following Guo Baiwen forward when she suddenly noticed that the host in front of her had stopped in place.
Completely bewildered, he stopped as well, but cautiously peered towards the noisy area.
Look, it seems like the owner of the fur shop and the hunters who came to sell their goods are arguing.
He then stole another glance at the host in front of him.
He started mentally taking notes: 'Brother Guo likes to watch the excitement.'
There was no other way; since his employer enjoyed watching the spectacle, he, a laborer who hadn't even started work yet, would reluctantly join in and take a look.
As the argument in front of the fur shop drew a large crowd, a number of people gathered around.
Chen Youtian had no choice but to gently tug at Chen Baoyue's sleeve, "Yueyue, how about we just let it go?"
"What do you mean, 'calculate'?!" Chen Baoyue was already quite angry because she couldn't win the argument with the shop owner, and hearing her father's words only made her angrier. "Didn't you hear the price he just quoted?!"
"Who do you think you're fooling with such a small amount of money?!"
They live deep in the mountains, far from the county town, and it takes a lot of effort for them to come and sell furs once a month.
This time, I was thinking that since the tanned spotted hides were finally ready, I could exchange them for money in the county town and then buy some rice and flour for home use, as well as medicinal herbs for hunting, so I could bring them home for the New Year.
So what did the shop owner say?
'That big-spotted creature's head is worn down by spears and forks; it's worthless now.'
'A large spotted animal with whip marks on its fur, no matter how clean it is tanned, is still considered a defective product.'
Each sentence, implying that the large-spotted fur was worthless, was meant to convey the message that its fur was not valuable.
But before saying that, the shop owner should have at least suppressed the drooling in his eyes!
His eyes were practically popping out of his head as he stared at the large spotted fur, muttering things like "what a pity" and "it's worthless," just empty words.
Who would believe that!
They're just taking advantage of the fact that they're mountain folk from deep in the mountains, thinking they don't know what's good for them!
He asked for fifty taels right off the bat, saying it was a special high price as a gesture of goodwill, considering our many years of cooperation.
Chen Baoyue was so angry she almost laughed.
I've never seen anyone take advantage of others and then shamelessly try to make themselves look good.
The honest father actually intended to sell the large spotted pelt for fifty taels of silver.
Chen Baoyue's temper flared up immediately.
She put in 80% of the effort for this big spotted pelt. Her father said that her uncles and elders worked hard to hunt alongside her, so the commission and pelts they received should be split equally. She didn't think there was anything wrong with that.
After all, everyone had put in the effort, personally going to that dangerous area, and they were all family members.
If there are similar jobs in the future, even if they are dangerous, I would be willing to take the risk again.
The fur that could normally sell for more than two hundred taels was only offered to you for fifty taels by this shop, and they even had the nerve to say that it was a specially given high price.
He's already taken all the benefits, and now he expects you to be grateful to him.
They risked their lives for this!
Do they really think such a huge spotted grouper is a vegetarian?!
No wonder before entering the city, my second uncle stammered that he and my father should have come together this time.
I have no idea how much money we were ripped off when we sold fur before!
This is intolerable!
It's not that disgusting anymore!
She and the shop owner started arguing.
But arguing is so different from hunting. She felt like she had said everything she had in a year in just a short while, but even so, she couldn't win the argument against the arrogant boss on the other side.
He can even argue with himself while drinking tea!
“Look, even your father hasn’t said anything. If I were a junk collector, I might be able to pay a little more to buy all the furs you brought.”
"What's wrong with a young girl like you?! You're just trying to buy the good leather we brought with your scrap metal collection money!"
"You treat a piece of fur of such poor quality as a treasure? Do you really think you can sell it for a high price? Sure enough, this is what country bumpkins who have never seen the world are like."
"Who are you calling a country bumpkin?!"
"Speak softly. If shouting were effective and justified, then why are donkeys still pulling the millstone?"
A casual remark can be so hurtful.
Chen Baoyue had never imagined that a person's mouth could utter such vile words, each one more painful than the whip she had been lashed with.
Compared to him, even the big spotted one's cries seem cute.
The more they argued, the angrier she became, and it was clear that she was about to lose her temper and tear the fur shop down.
Chen Youtian, who hadn't been able to get a word in edgewise, quickly reached out and grabbed the little rascal, struggling to drag him away from the fur shop.
Chen Youtian finally breathed a sigh of relief after he could no longer see the shop owner.
If they really couldn't resist smashing up the store, they wouldn't have enough money to pay for it.
"If you don't like the owner, then we won't sell to you. Let's go, let's go—"
"Why won't you sell it?" Even after being pulled away from the fur shop owner, Chen Baoyue was still furious. "We've come all this way to the county town, if we don't sell this big spotted pelt, where are we going to get the money to buy food?"
"I don't believe that in such a big county, they're the only ones who collect furs!"
The noise was quite loud, attracting the attention of the people who had gathered around the fur shop to turn and look in their direction.
Seeing the chatter from others, Chen Youtian, who had never been the center of attention before, blushed involuntarily, his originally wheat-colored face turning red. He was about to leave with his daughter.
Out of the corner of their eye, they saw someone lift their foot as if walking towards them.
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