"What is this hot pot? We've never tried it before." Aunt Zhang wisely refrained from asking further questions. Xi Chun had told her on the first day she was hired that her primary duty was to keep her mouth shut and not reveal anything about her employer, not even to her own family.
Moreover, Xichun was indeed good to their family, and she was content. As long as she earned money, she didn't need to worry about too many other things.
"It's actually similar to our mala tang, but it's cooked to order. We have a fire, so it's convenient. You'll see when we get back." Xi Chun initially wanted to make something similar to hot pot, but she didn't dare to make a big deal out of it because she didn't have enough manpower and limited capital.
"Xichun, you can just pick the vegetables from my garden. My whole family will come to eat them. I already feel really bad about it. If you can't even bear to part with these vegetables, then I'll really feel bad."
“Okay, then I’ll listen to Auntie. Food tastes better when there are more people. I usually eat alone. Look how thin I’ve become!” Xichun said with a laugh. Actually, she wasn’t really thin. In fact, she felt that she had more muscles than in her previous life.
Uncle Zhang was about to cook dinner. He and his son had gone to look for work today, but no one was looking for them, so they had to slink back home. He had just gone to the fields for a short while when he found his youngest son and brought him home.
"You don't need to cook. We'll just eat at Xichun's place tonight," Aunt Zhang said when she returned home and saw her youngest son tending the fire and her eldest son washing vegetables.
"Mom, really? Can we really eat at Sister Xichun's house? I'm so sick of Dad's boiled cabbage these days. Sister Xichun's house must have delicious food." Zhang Rentao, Aunt Zhang's youngest son, almost jumped up when he heard the good news.
"You child, why are you so unsteady? Your sister Xichun isn't much older than you, and look at her, she can already run a business. When you go there later, don't act all anxious, like you're starving at home."
Ever since Aunt Zhang started shopping with Xichun, she's found him increasingly unpleasant.
“Honey, it’s not good for our whole family to eat at Xichun’s place. You’ve been paid to work for Xichun, and we can’t be ungrateful. Otherwise, Xichun will stop letting you work, and our family will lose an income.”
When Uncle Zhang heard the news, he was naturally not as happy as the children. After all, he was an adult and had his own concerns.
"It's alright. Xichun specifically told me to go. She said our whole family must go, so don't overthink it. Xichun knows what she's doing." Aunt Zhang didn't tell them about Xichun making money. If they accidentally let it slip, the Chen and Ma families might come knocking on their door.
“Xichun is a kind-hearted girl. If those two families had treated her better, we wouldn’t be getting these benefits now.” Uncle Zhang didn’t say much more. As long as it was Xichun’s idea, that was fine. He was just worried that the old woman had spoken to Xichun on her own initiative.
"I'm not going to say anything more. Qiangzi, Taozi, you two wash these vegetables clean and take them over in a bit. I'll go to the backyard and pick some more."
When the family arrived at Xichun's house, they smelled the delicious aroma of hot pot wafting from the courtyard. Only after hearing a knock on the door did Xichun open it.
"Uncle Zhang, Aunt Zhang, you're here! Come in quickly, we've been waiting for you. I've already prepared the hot pot base." Xichun greeted them with a smile.
"Wow, Sister Xichun, what are you cooking? It smells so good!" He still couldn't forget the spicy hot pot that Xichun had sent to his house before.
"I cooked hot pot today, and we can all sit around the stove to eat. Aunt Zhang, I knew you were a thoughtful person; you even washed the vegetables. Let's sit down and eat."
"Okay, I'll try this hot pot today too."
The group saw the red soup in the pot, emitting a rich aroma, bubbling away with the help of firewood.
"It looks so delicious!" Taozi exclaimed with delight.
“I heard from Aunt Zhang that you can all handle spicy food, so I only made spicy soup tonight. Come, come, sit down and have a taste. There are vegetables and meat here. Just pick up whatever you want and cook it in the broth.” Xi Chun took the lead and put a lot of meat in, worried that the others would feel awkward and embarrassed to eat meat.
"Xichun, we can do it ourselves. These people aren't strangers; they'll eat on their own," Aunt Zhang quickly advised as she saw Xichun serving food to everyone.
"Yes, Sister Xichun, don't worry, I won't be polite at all. This meat is so delicious, even more delicious than spicy hot pot." Taozi took a bite and his eyes narrowed.
After a hot pot meal, everyone who was initially a bit reserved relaxed. Eating this meal in the dead of winter made them feel refreshed and invigorated.
"Hahaha, my brother's mouth looks like a monkey's butt!" Taozi laughed when he saw that his brother's mouth was red from the spiciness.
"Look at yourself, how dare you criticize me?" Zhang Renqiang said, somewhat embarrassed.
"Both of you combined aren't as composed as Xichun. Stop laughing like that." Aunt Zhang immediately stopped the two of them as they started to play around.
"Uncle Zhang, are you still looking for work lately?" Xichun asked Uncle Zhang, who had been silent to the side.
"Yes, it's almost Chinese New Year, and we'd like to find more work, but there are quite a few people who share our thoughts, so it's not easy to find jobs easily." Uncle Zhang was also a little worried. Fortunately, his wife was earning money at home, otherwise they would really be starving.
"Brother Qiang, have you ever thought about finding a stable job or becoming an apprentice or a helper?" Xi Chun had been dealing with their family for a long time, so she thought that if she wanted to strengthen the relationship, she should tie them together.
"Xichun, do you have connections?" Uncle Zhang asked expectantly upon hearing her say that.
"I met Manager Zhu of Zhu's Teahouse today. He also owns a restaurant in town. I asked around and heard that he needs a waiter there, but he needs someone hardworking. I was thinking that if you agree, I'll go and ask him if he needs anyone."
“Really? Xichun, we definitely would! Others would love to have such a connection.” The two women quickly replied, and Aunt Zhang hadn’t expected Xichun to give her such a surprise.
"Brother Qiang, are you willing to go yourself? If you are, I'll ask Manager Zhu tomorrow." Xi Chun looked at Qiangzi beside her.
"I, I'm definitely willing, thank you Xichun." Qiangzi was naturally very happy; he had previously envied those who worked as waiters in town.
"Okay, I'll go ask tomorrow, but I don't know if it will work out. I can only try my best."
“That’s for sure. We are already extremely grateful that you thought of our family, Xichun. These shopkeepers must have many relatives. Most of them come because they have family members. If not, it doesn’t matter.” Uncle Zhang quickly said.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
