Uncle Liu looked at Goudan with a silly smile on his face, sighed deeply, and looked at the children surrounding Goudan.
"Goudan, we are the ones who have implicated you." Goudan's monthly salary of five taels of silver was more than that of many shopkeepers, but they seldom had meat because they had too many people to support.
There were more than a dozen people in the entire compound, young and old, and those young boys were old enough to eat. The five taels of silver was just enough to fill their stomachs, which was better than going hungry one meal at a time, and it also provided a shelter from the wind and rain.
Goudan looked unhappy. "Uncle Liu, what are you talking about? I was so little back then. If you hadn't picked me up, would I be alive today? The people in our compound are either my grandparents or my brothers and sisters. Can I eat and drink delicious food by myself and leave everyone else alone? What kind of person would I be then?"
"Grandma Qiu, this meat is for you. We haven't eaten meat for several months. Please cook it for everyone."
Grandma Qiu, who was standing nearby, wiped the tears from her eyes, slowly walked to Goudan's side, and took the fat meat from his hand. "Goudan, these children are so lucky to have you."
Goudan touched his head and said, "Grandma Qiu, it is my blessing to meet you."
Uncle Liu has said this countless times since Goudan was chosen to work in Liulizhai.
He sighed, "Then why are you buying clothes? Aren't your clothes given by the shopkeeper?"
The young men working in Liulizhai would have three sets of clothes in summer and two sets in winter. Goudan took great care of the first new piece of clothes he got in his life. He would only wear it in the store on weekdays and change into coarse linen clothes when he returned home.
"This dress is not for me, it's for Xiaomu and Xiaohe."
Xiao Mu Xiao He was surprised, "Is it for us?"
After saying that, they looked at Uncle Liu and found that he had no expression on his face, so they stopped laughing.
Old Liu tapped the stick in his hand and said, "Why are you buying clothes for them? Wouldn't it be better for you to save that little money and marry a wife?"
Goudan's face was full of joy. "Uncle, I bought these clothes for Xiaomu and Xiaohe..."
Goudan paused for a moment, then suddenly thought of that word before continuing, "I bought them for Xiaomu and Xiaohe to go on a job interview! The shopkeeper told me that our Liulizhai is hiring, and they're prioritizing beggars. Xiaomu and Xiaohe's clothes aren't very good, so wearing them for an interview wouldn't be appropriate."
Although he himself was selected in rags, he still hoped that Xiaomu Xiaohe could change into decent clothes to leave a better impression on the shopkeeper.
If Xiaomu and Xiaohe could become waiters in Liulizhai, their grandparents, brothers and sisters in the compound would also be able to eat meat a few times a month.
Grandma Qiu and Uncle Liu would not faint from hunger.
Uncle Liu was very excited when he heard this. "Goudan, are you telling the truth?"
After receiving Goudan's affirmative nod and Old Liu Shu muttered to himself, "Great, great! God bless Xiaohe and Xiaomu to be selected."
Grandma Qiu, who was busy in the room, also rushed over after hearing the news. After confirming the good news, she didn't even cook.
"Xiao Mu and Xiao He, go wash up and put on new clothes. I'll show you what's wrong and make some changes."
Xiaomu and Xiaohe also knew that Liulizhai was recruiting people. They originally planned to go there quietly. If they were selected, they would tell their families and let everyone be happy. If they were not selected, they would not want to let everyone be happy in vain.
I didn’t expect that their brother Goudan was so capable that he could get the shopkeeper to give them noodles alone. What was that? Noodles, right?
Anyway, we can select them individually. In this way, their chances of being selected will definitely be greater, right?
Goudan interrupted the work of Grandma Qiu and several sisters in the compound.
"Grandma Qiu, don't worry. This doesn't start until tomorrow. Let's have dinner first. How can we have an interview if we're hungry and lack energy?"
Uncle Liu said, "Yes, we have to listen to Goudan. Let's eat first. Sister Qiu, go and cook all the fat meat. Let Xiaomu and Xiaohe be energetic tomorrow morning." Try to be selected.
…
The shopkeeper looked at the two boys beside Goudan. They looked a little honest, but there was a gleam of intelligence in their eyes.
"First, you'll receive training for half a month. If you're successful, we'll send you to work at the Rongguo Liulizhai shop. You can come back once a year. Are you willing?"
Xiao Mu Xiao He's originally nervous heart suddenly turned into shock. They were chosen right away? There wasn't much time left.
Seeing that his two younger brothers were still in a daze, Goudan quickly pushed them, fearing that the shopkeeper would be unhappy and go back on his word.
After being pushed by Goudan, the two woke up as if from a dream, "Yes, yes, thank you, boss, we are willing!"
The shopkeeper smiled with satisfaction, "Don't be too happy too soon. You must have heard of our General Chen's name, right?"
The two people nodded.
The shopkeeper added, "Because our General Chen is so famous, it's not easy for us Yan people to stay in Rong State. If you open a shop there, no one in the officialdom will dare to make things difficult for us. If someone makes things difficult for us, you don't need to intervene. Someone will take care of it. But ordinary people don't care about that. If you go out without permission and get left alone, you might even lose your life."
Hearing that their lives might be lost, the two hesitated and didn't know how to respond.
"But as long as you follow instructions and don't wander off, I guarantee you won't be in any danger. Would you consider it?"
After hearing that there was no danger to their lives, why would the two of them consider it?
I nodded quickly, afraid that if I nodded too late, the other party would regret it. "We do!"
Anyway, as long as I'm alive and can make money, it doesn't matter where I am.
Goudan only knew that Liulizhai was recruiting people, but he didn't know that these people were going to be recruited to work in Rongguo.
"Xiao Mu Xiao He, you guys..."
The two smiled at each other, and Xiao Mu said, "Brother Goudan, I know what you are going to say, but we are not young anymore. We don't want to stay in the compound and cause trouble for Uncle Liu, Grandma Qiu and the others. I have always envied Brother Goudan for being able to take money back to the compound, and now I can do it too."
Goudan nodded hesitantly, "Okay, just think it over carefully."
The shopkeeper said there's no life-threatening danger, so there shouldn't be a problem. We just can only meet once a year.
He had great trust in the elder who pulled him out of the mud.
"Grandma Qiu, we're back!"
The three of them went to Liulizhai early in the morning, and the others looked at the door from time to time as if they had lost their souls.
After hearing Xiaomu's voice, everyone stood up quickly.
"Xiao Mu, how is it? Were you selected?" Uncle Liu asked anxiously, leaning on his crutches.
The three of them looked at each other and burst into laughter. "Chosen! Chosen! Both of us!"
Apart from having to go to Rongguo and only being able to see each other once a year, the two of them are treated even better than Goudan.
Grandma Qiu and the others heard laughter coming from the entire courtyard.
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