"thump…"
Before she could even begin to wonder?
The two guests' eyes lit up when they saw their confidante arrive, and they immediately knelt down heavily in front of her with a thud.
This startled Zhiyin, who quickly helped the old man up.
"Oh dear, Grandma Liu, what are you doing? You're shortening my lifespan! Just say what's on your mind, there's no need for such a grand gesture."
Yao Yulin was also surprised that the two would suddenly kneel down, and quickly helped her granddaughter up.
"Really, Aunt Liu, we're all neighbors, please don't do that again. You're so old, how can my daughter take it?"
There was a hint of resentment in her voice, feeling that Widow Liu was acting too rashly. If someone with ulterior motives saw this, what would happen?
Wouldn't that ruin Yinyin's reputation?
"I'm sorry, Yinyin. I didn't mean to. I was just in a hurry and didn't think about Yinyin."
Seeing that both of them were startled by her actions, Widow Liu's wrinkled face was filled with unease and apology.
"Sister Yinyin, please don't blame my grandma. She did it all for my own good. I'm sorry."
Xiaoya, the granddaughter of Widow Liu, also hurriedly clutched her hands in shame and said in a timid voice.
Zhiyin glanced at her tattered but clean clothes and her thin, bony figure, and her heart softened instantly.
"It's alright, don't be afraid. Just tell me what's wrong. We're all from the same village. I'll do my best to help if there's anything I can."
"I was just wondering if I could ask Yinyin if my granddaughter could help pass the tiles or something?"
As Widow Liu spoke, her voice trembled, and her eyes became cautious and ingratiating, as if afraid that her confidante would not agree.
He quickly licked his chapped lips and added expectantly, "Don't worry, my granddaughter may be small, but she's very strong and will definitely be able to help."
"We don't need 80 coins a day, just give us whatever you want, as long as we can earn money."
“We really have no other choice. We don’t have a single penny left at home, and the wild vegetables on the outskirts of the back mountain have been almost all eaten.”
"We dare not go deep into the back mountains; we are truly at our wits' end."
"Yes, yes, please, Sister Yinyin, my family is really starving."
Xiaoya looked at her confidante with tears in her eyes, her hands clenched tightly, looking extremely embarrassed and humble.
Seeing the grandmother and grandson with their heads down, tears welling up in their eyes, looking pitiful, helpless, and even on the verge of collapse, Zhiyin really couldn't bear it.
In particular, Widow Liu is over 70 years old, with gray hair, a hunched back, and a shaky gait.
Xiaoya, on the other hand, was so thin she was practically skin and bones.
Zhiyin would never believe that she could carry wood or tiles.
They were even afraid that she would faint from hunger while working.
Just as Zhiyin was pondering, Yao Yulin quietly squeezed her hand, her eyes pleading.
Yao Yulin knew Liu the Widow; she was a pitiful person, arguably the poorest and most pitiful person in the village.
She lost her husband in middle age and her son in old age, and now only her little granddaughter is left to depend on her.
In the past, the village head and some slightly wealthier families in the village would occasionally give them some help.
But probably because winter came and grain prices were high, no one went out to earn money.
Therefore, there wasn't much extra food for them.
The old man and the young man could only gather wild vegetables to eat on ordinary days.
And their family was really unlucky. They had actually grown food to prepare for the winter, but some animal stole it.
That's why there's nothing left. What a tragedy!
Zhiyin gave Yao Yulin a reassuring look.
Then he looked at the two people with expectant eyes and shook his head, "There's no shortage of people on the construction site."
Upon hearing this, the light in both of their eyes dimmed simultaneously, their faces filled with despair and frustration.
Zhiyin quickly patted Xiaoya's hand reassuringly and added with a smile, "But if Xiaoya doesn't mind, she can help me prepare the crayfish and wash the snails."
"Because the time is short, the wages won't be too high, maybe 10 coins."
What do you think?
"Yes, yes, yes, thank you, Yinyin."
"Thank you for giving us a chance to earn money."
"Yes, thank you, Sister Yinyin. I will definitely work hard, don't worry!"
Upon hearing this, Widow Liu and Xiaoya's eyes lit up, and they readily agreed.
Their eyes seemed to sparkle with life and energy.
That's 10 coins!
Perhaps it's nothing to a kindred spirit.
But for Widow Liu and Xiaoya, who had absolutely no source of funds, it was an astronomical sum.
You can earn 20 coins in two days.
20 coins could buy a dou of rice, which is ten jin, enough for two people to eat for a long time if they saved money.
"Waaah, Sister Yinyin, you are truly a great benefactor to our family! I will definitely work hard and will not let you down."
Xiaoya clenched her fists as if to encourage herself, looking at her confidante with admiration and gratitude.
"Okay, I believe you."
Zhiyin smiled gently and immediately prepared to teach her how to prepare shrimp and snails.
"Coo coo coo~"
Suddenly, a strange sound came from Xiaoya's abdomen. She lowered her head in embarrassment and shame, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"I haven't eaten either, so stay and have dinner with us first, then we can get back to work."
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