Zhu Yunxiu was anxious and questions came one after another.
Xu Qinghe patted her hand gently to comfort her: "Grandma, it's really okay. It's just a small matter. Don't worry too much."
As she spoke, she walked towards the kitchen to start preparing dinner, her face calm and composed.
Seeing that she looked confident, Zhu Yunxiu felt relieved. Although she still had some concerns, she said no more.
Seeing that her granddaughter was unwilling to talk more, Zhu Yunxiu stopped asking and was thinking about finding a suitable time to talk to the educated youth directly, perhaps she could find out something from it.
As night fell, Xu Qinghe had never expected that his home would be so lively.
Not long after Wang Song left, many people from the village came one after another. Some brought gifts, some said flattering words, and some even offered to help clean the yard. Their enthusiasm was so overwhelming that it was hard to resist.
Xu Qinghe knew that these people simply wanted to use this method to get job opportunities in the tofu workshop, and take the opportunity to show her how hard-working they or their younger family members are in order to get an easy job.
But she refused everyone's gifts, saying seriously, "Please rest assured, I will strictly screen candidates based on their moral character. After all, learning a craft is no small matter. Although they won't have to share the responsibility of supporting Grandma with me in the future, I don't want this skill to fall into the hands of someone with bad character, so I will carefully consider this decision."
"I have confidence in the character of all of you, and I know that every child is very talented, but the number of places is limited. I hope that those who are selected will cherish this opportunity and work diligently. Those who are not selected should not be discouraged. I will select according to the same standards in the future. Please go back now."
Xu Qinghe patiently persuaded everyone to leave and was about to take a break when an uninvited guest, Zhao Fangcao, knocked on the door.
Zhao Fangcao, the educated youth who had received help from Xu Qinghe to carry luggage, was pitiful to Xu Qinghe when they first met because of her frail health and wanted to take more care of her. However, he did not expect that as time went by, people's true nature would be revealed, and that even pitiful people could have hateful aspects. The relationship between the two gradually became distant, and they had not seen each other for a long time.
Zhao Fangcao shouted a few times outside, but only received a burst of barking from dogs, with no one responding.
Xu Qinghe was completely unaware in the room, so Zhao Fangcao pushed the door open and walked in on her own.
The two puppies started barking when they saw her. Xu Qinghe came out when she heard the sound, thinking that it was a villager visiting. When she saw that it was Zhao Fangcao, the smile on her face disappeared instantly.
Zhao Fangcao was thinner than when they first met, with tanned skin and sunken cheeks, obviously caused by long-term malnutrition.
Xu Qinghe looked at her haggard face, his brows full of worry: "What do you want to see me about?"
Zhao Fangcao's eyes flickered, and she didn't dare to look Xu Qinghe in the eye. But since she was already here, she still mustered up the courage to speak: "Sister Jian, my life is really unsustainable. Can you let me find a job in the tofu workshop?"
Although Xu Qinghe expected that she must have a request for this trip, he did not expect that she would directly ask to work in the tofu workshop.
Why did Zhao Fangcao involve herself in her life difficulties? Why did she use this as a bargaining chip?
Xu Qinghe was secretly surprised. He glanced at Zhao Fangcao and said calmly and firmly, "The tofu workshop needs people who can learn the craft from my grandmother. I must choose carefully."
Zhao Fangcao's anxiety was palpable when she heard this. "We're hiring workers too, so why can't I do it? Farm work is too hard, I just can't handle it. The work points I earn aren't enough to support myself. I can't even remember the last time I had a full meal. You're a well-known figure in the village, and even the village chief treats you with respect. Please help me!"
"Even the village chief listens to you." If such words were to spread, wouldn't it cause trouble?
Xu Qinghe was furious when he heard this and sternly warned, "Comrade Zhao, please be careful with your words! I will consider the selection process myself and I don't need you to tell me what to do. Please go back. I have important matters to attend to."
Zhao Fangcao was not willing to give up. She hurried forward and tried to grab Xu Qinghe's sleeve, but the two puppies bit her trouser legs tightly and she could not move.
Fearing being bitten by the dog, she could only glare at Xu Qinghe angrily and demanded, "I'm in such a difficult situation, shouldn't you lend a hand? Are you satisfied only when you see me desperate?"
Xu Qinghe pursed his lips and looked at her coldly, as if he was examining an unreasonable existence.
He is incompetent himself, but he asks others for help and is so confident. Where does this confidence come from?
Xu Qinghe originally wanted to let her make a fuss, since it wouldn't affect the overall situation anyway.
However, Zhao Fangcao was like an enraged beast, losing control of her words: "You can help Wang Song, why can't you help me? I'm obviously more miserable than him!"
"Don't think I don't know. You claim to be married, but you're secretly entangled with those men. Are you planning to hire all men for your tofu workshop this time to facilitate your misdeeds?"
Xu Qinghe's eyes seemed to be able to spit fire, and anger condensed into frost on her delicate face. She warned word by word, "Try to talk nonsense again!"
The voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable majesty.
Far from restraining herself, Zhao Fangcao seemed to have found an outlet for her outburst. She placed her hands on her hips, her voice shrill, practically a roar: "Isn't it? I've long sensed that unusual aura between you two. You clearly said before that you hated Wang Song, yet lately you've been getting closer and closer to him. Why are you pretending to be so aloof and righteous? It's just a deal, and you think you've soared to the top? Who knows what means you used to achieve this! Don't think you can bully this small village just because you're pretty!"
“Bang!”
After Zhao Fangcao finished her rapid-fire speech, Xu Qinghe suddenly raised his hand and slapped the other person in the face, followed by a merciless scolding. Every word was like a sharp arrow, piercing the heart.
Her strength was so great that Zhao Fangcao didn't even have a chance to resist. She could only stagger backward, with five finger marks quickly appearing on her face, making her look extremely embarrassed.
"I'll let you gossip and spread rumors! We're both women, and you slander me like this. Doesn't your conscience hurt?"
Xu Qinghe's words were filled with anger and disappointment that was difficult to conceal.
"I warned you long ago not to provoke me. Are you deaf and can't hear what I say?"
Her eyes were cold, as if they could penetrate people's hearts.
"That's right. I would rather help Wang Song than you. Who do you think you are? What qualifications do you have to tell me what to do?"
Xu Qinghe's words revealed an unquestionable determination.
"I'm not a role model of morality to begin with. You're trying to use the moral stick to suppress me. That's ridiculous!"
There was sarcasm in her words, and she clearly scoffed at this kind of moral kidnapping.
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