Er Ya was secretly delighted, but she still showed a wronged expression. She wiped away her tears and choked out, "I... sigh, Aunt, you know what kind of conditions my family is in. With so many younger brothers and sisters, it's a luxury for our family to even have enough to eat on weekdays!"
“My parents are getting older every year, and I’m thinking that I should marry a rich man, even if it’s just as a concubine! At least I can help my family later! So… that’s why…” Er Ya probably covered her face and started sobbing as she said this.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Erleng's wife felt a mix of emotions, as if a bottle of mixed flavors had been spilled. She knew her family's situation all too well, and it seemed that Er Ya's actions were indeed understandable.
Thinking of this, Zhao Erleng's wife glanced at Er Ya and said, "Then what do you plan to do in the future? You'll never be able to get into Aunt Jiang's factory again. Even if you could, I would make sure you get in. You've caused such a big fuss. The villagers could drown you with their spit. You're not even fourteen yet. Your reputation is too important!"
"Auntie, can you take me in? You can pay me fifty copper coins a month! I'm not afraid of hardship, I'll do anything you ask me to do!" Er Ya deliberately tested Zhao Er Leng's wife.
"This... I can't make the decision myself, I have to ask your uncle!" Zhao Erleng's wife was a little embarrassed. After she finished speaking, she turned around and walked towards the back.
The waiting time was nerve-wracking, and even Er Ya felt uneasy.
"Er Ya, come here!" Zhao Er Leng's wife said to Er Ya from the kitchen doorway.
Seeing that her aunt's expression was relatively calm, Er Ya guessed that there was a high chance that this matter would work out. With that thought, Er Ya suppressed her excitement and slowly walked over.
"Auntie, Uncle!" Er Ya called out tactfully.
Zhao Erleng was an honest man who doted on his wife. Although he knew that his wife's niece had caused such a big mess, he was somewhat swayed by the fact that she was still a child. His wife had just told him about Er Ya's experience, and he was also somewhat hesitant.
Looking at the "well-behaved" and "sensible" Er Ya, he hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.
“Your aunt just told me, so let’s not do it again! As for your wages, we definitely won’t treat you unfairly! We’ll tentatively set it at two hundred copper coins a month, and if business is good at the end of the month, we’ll give you a bonus. What do you think?” Zhao Erleng said after considering it for a while.
Er Ya was overjoyed after hearing Zhao Er Leng's words. Suppressing her joy, she pretended to be flattered and knelt down on the ground. "Auntie, Uncle, thank you so much for taking me in! I... I kowtow to you! I will repay you even if I have to be your slave in my next life!"
Er Ya spoke with such emotion that she immediately won over the simple-minded Zhao Er Leng and his wife. The two quickly helped Er Ya up, and Zhao Er Leng's wife said, "Oh dear, Er Ya, aren't you being too polite? What do you mean by working like a slave! Just work hard here! Although it's not as good as your Aunt Jiang's place, at least you can earn money, right? You can come back with us tonight and stay in the same house as before, okay?"
Although Er Ya felt a little disgusted after hearing this, her expression remained unchanged. She still thanked Zhao Erleng and his wife profusely and said, "Auntie, Uncle, thank you so much! I can work now, and I'll do anything you ask me to do!"
Zhao Erleng's wife pointed to the vegetables that hadn't been cleaned yet and said, "Okay, then you can take charge of washing the vegetables for now!"
Er Ya nodded and immediately pretended to be very hardworking. For the time being, Er Ya was considered obedient and well-behaved to Zhao Er Leng's wife, but her previous actions had made Daya, who worked in the sanitary napkin factory, suffer greatly.
Someone must have let slip Er Ya's misdeeds behind her back, because within a few days, almost everyone in Lu Family Village knew about them.
Because Daya and Erya are sisters, Daya, who is always efficient and honest, suddenly became the target of everyone's criticism.
Even Zhou Daxia subconsciously and unintentionally distanced herself from her.
This morning, less than two hours after Daya started work, she was surrounded by a female worker and a group of people.
"I'm talking to you! Hand over the stuff now, and I'll be magnanimous and let you go!" The female worker who led the bullying of Daya was named Lu Qiaoqiao, and she was from Lujia Village. She pointed at Daya arrogantly and said this.
Daya was startled by Lu Qiaoqiao's overbearing manner, and shrank her neck with a tearful expression: "Qiaoqiao, what... what are you saying? I don't know anything about this?"
"Qiaoqiao, you dare call me that? Let me tell you, don't try to get close to me! Give me your things right now! Otherwise, I'll strip you naked!" With that, Lu Qiaoqiao came over and started to pull at Daya's clothes.
Da Ya was so frightened that she sat down on the ground with her hands tightly covering her chest, not daring to breathe.
Hearing the commotion, Zhou Daxia quickly ran over from behind.
Seeing the scene before him, he frowned and asked, "Qiaoqiao, what's going on? Why are you leading the bullying of Daya?"
Seeing that Zhou Daya hadn't shown any fear, Lu Qiaoqiao let go of Daya's hand and explained to Zhou Daya, "Aunt Zhou, this brat stole my silver bracelet! My mother bought it for me! I treasure it so much! I look at it countless times every day!"
Although Zhou Daya had some prejudice against Daya, she still looked at Lu Qiaoqiao with a sense of fairness and continued to ask, "You said Daya stole it, do you have any evidence?"
Lu Qiaoqiao nodded and said confidently, "I always put the bracelet aside when I'm working. Today, I just put the bracelet on the table and then I had to go to the restroom. When I came back, the bracelet was gone! I asked the people around me, and Lu Xiaohong said that during the time I was away, only Daya came to my workstation. Aunt Zhou, if it wasn't her, then who was it?"
"I...I didn't! I really didn't! I went to Qiaoqiao's workstation just to ask Lamei how to use sanitary napkins. I just bought a pack a few days ago, and I just got my period yesterday. I realized I don't know how to use this stuff!" Daya quickly explained.
Zhou Daya turned her gaze to Lamei, who nodded and said to Zhou Daya, "Yes, Aunt Zhou, Da Ya did come over and ask me how to use sanitary napkins, but I really don't know if Da Ya took the bracelet!"
Upon hearing what La Mei said, Daya panicked completely, her eyes immediately reddened, and two lines of clear tears followed.
"I...I didn't, I really didn't!" Daya shook her head weakly as she explained.
Zhou Daya glanced at Daya, hesitated for a moment, and finally said, "Daya, if you took it, give it back to Qiaoqiao right away. Qiaoqiao won't blame you!"
Da Ya was shocked upon hearing this. Her already small eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She shook her head, opened her mouth wide, and after a long while, screamed and asked, "Master! Don't you even believe me?"
Zhou Daxia felt a little embarrassed by the question, and the atmosphere gradually became awkward.
Lu Qiaoqiao frowned and glared at Daya, scolding, "Give me back my things right now!" With that, she pounced on her.
"What are you doing! Not working? Don't you want your wages?" At the critical moment, a slightly angry female voice came from behind.
Everyone turned around and their faces changed color.
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