"Sister Gu, where do you work now?" Hua Fengmei asked.
She recently worked as a cleaner in a hotel. Her job was to clean the guest rooms and make the beds after the guests checked out.
Working in double shifts, day and night, is very tiring and causes discomfort to the lumbar spine. Once a woman reaches middle age, if she does not have any special skills, she either stays at home to take care of the children or comes out to do these jobs.
She saw that Sister Gu looked good and asked her about her work.
Xue Chuchu listened attentively. Aunt Gu had come to her house before and would talk to her mother about work, but their jobs were similar, both of which were physical labor.
Although Xue Chuchu is only in the first year of high school, she knows how hard life is, so she pays more attention to matters involving money.
When Aunt Gu heard Fengmei mention this, she smiled, contrary to her usual calmness, and her tone was a little happy:
"I'm in Yuzhou Building recently."
"Ah, that's a great place, a landmark building in Yuzhou." Hua Fengmei was a little surprised.
She asked: "How much is the salary for cleaning staff there? Is it 3,000 yuan a month?"
Aunt Gu: “…”
We have been sisters for more than ten years. Can't we expect her to do better
But Aunt Gu understood. It was precisely because of their relationship of more than ten years that Fengmei understood her and her abilities better than anyone else.
"It's not a cleaner, it's a chef." said Aunt Gu.
"chef?"
Hua Fengmei agreed with this point. As a woman, she could only envy Sister Gu's cooking skills. She didn't expect that she found a job as a chef.
"It's much easier to be a chef, right?"
"Yes, it's easy. I usually get up at 6 or 7 in the morning and come back at 2 in the afternoon. I have two days off a week."
Now it was Hua Fengmei's turn to be surprised. By this calculation, she could have eight days of rest a month, but she only had two days of rest a month.
"How's the salary? Is food provided?" she asked.
"After deducting five insurances and one fund, I get 5,000 yuan a month, which includes a free lunch and holiday gifts." Aunt Gu said so, and then looking at the expressions on her good sister's faces, she actually felt a little happy.
Aunt Gu is extremely satisfied with this job in every aspect. The company environment is good, the people are nice and polite, the food she cooks is delicious, and her boss even said he would give her a raise, at least by $1,000.
Aunt Gu was very happy to have found such a good job, but she didn't want to tell anyone about it as it would appear that she was showing off. Now that her good sister asked her about it, how could she hide it
Hua Fengmei almost couldn't believe it. Is there really such good treatment
How come it sounds like a lie
For someone like her who comes from the rural area, things like the five social insurances and one housing fund basically only exist in hearsay. No company she has worked for has ever said they would pay for them.
In order to prepare for her future retirement, she bought insurance for herself, which cost her a lot of money.
Not to mention a salary of 5,000 yuan. In a place like Yuzhou, the general salary is around 2,000 yuan. She usually works so hard that her lumbar spine hurts, and she can only get close to 3,000 yuan.
Only some women who work on construction sites or in factories, doing dirty, tiring, or harmful work such as welding, can earn more than 5,000 yuan.
But her daughter is still in Yuzhou.
Hua Fengmei couldn't help but asked, "Are you still short of people for your job? I don't want 5,000 yuan, 2,000 or 3,000 yuan will be enough."
The most important thing is that she has two days off a week, five social insurances and one housing fund, and doesn’t have to work night shifts. It is much better than her current job.
Aunt Gu said: "I will go to the company tomorrow to ask for you."
As for Fengmei, she knew that the family was suffering, and Aunt Gu would be very willing to help if she could.
The relationship between the two of them is not the kind where they hope the other will be as miserable as possible. That’s not sisters, that’s enemies!
Aunt Gu had no bad intentions and really hoped that the other person would get better and better. She took to heart the hardships Fengmei had gone through over the years.
Fengmei is prettier than her. In fact, if she had remarried, she could have done so, but she chose not to, preferring to raise the child alone.
…
After lunch, the sun outside reached its warmest point of the day.
Xue Yuantong nudged Jiang Ning, who was holding his phone, with his arm:
"Shall we go fishing?"
"Okay." Jiang Ning put away his phone.
He just sent a message to Shao Shuangshuang, telling her that Aunt Gu would introduce someone to her company tomorrow.
First see her cooking skills. If she is good, let her be a chef. If not, let her be responsible for buying groceries and helping Aunt Gu.
As Aunt Gu's friend, Hua Fengmei's character is at least guaranteed. As for daily grocery shopping and chores, such a person is quite suitable. He won't be so stingy as to not give her a chance.
All living beings suffer, so it’s okay for him to choose someone to help them occasionally.
"Chu Chu, are you going fishing? Jiang Ning and I are having a fishing competition today. You'll have a treat tonight." Xue Yuantong showed off her precious fishing rod.
"Then I'll go and take a look." Xue Chuchu did not refuse. Fishing was very quiet anyway. She took her English notebook and memorized some words on the side. It was just a change of place for her to study.
"Okay, Jiang Ning, hurry up and prepare the horse for me!"
Jiang Ning flicked her head and said, "Fuck you, the river is not far away, just follow me.
"Jiang Ning, I'm ready, let's go now!"
"Have you prepared the bait?" It's hard to dig earthworms in this weather.
Xue Yuantong said: "I bought fake bait from the Internet."
She showed Jiang Ning that there was a small metal sequin on the fish hook.
Jiang Ning praised: "You are so smart."
"Of course not!"
The three of them walked all the way to the river dam.
There is an asphalt road on the dam, and below it, close to the edge of the Huishui River, is a plain about the size of one and a half football fields, with many cars parked there.
In the past, in early autumn, people often camped on the plains and did some barbecues. Now in winter, there are fewer people, and only on days when the weather is good will people from the city be willing to come and play.
The weather is good today, so there are many people fishing by the river.
Along the river bank near the plain, one or two old fishermen were sitting or standing at intervals.
Jiang Ning and the other two were holding fishing rods and carrying small stools. Xue Yuantong on his right was cute, and Xue Chuchu on the right beyond that was the perfect interpretation of the image of a young girl.
The fisherman took a second look.
"Oh, this guy is not professional at all. How can he bring girls to fish? And he brought two girls at a time. Fishing should be lonely and free. It should be the long-lost silence in the hustle and bustle!"
The old man fishing is not envious at all, but his tone is a little sour.
The big brother sitting on the fishing throne next to him sighed leisurely. It seemed that he had had such a girl by his side for many years. Although she was not as pretty as this girl, that was his youth!
At that time, he was still young, didn't know how to fish, and was full of energy every day.
The young fisherman did not sigh so much. He picked up a stone, rubbed it, and said in surprise:
"Hey, this stone is very unique. Do you know what kind of stone it is?"
Big Brother's expression brightened: "I'm not sleepy anymore when you mention this. If nothing else, I know the most about stones."
The two men ignored their fishing rods and gathered together to study the stone.
…
Xue Yuantong found a good spot, and said before fishing:
"Jiang Ning, let's see who catches the most fish today."
"Do you dare?" Xue Yuantong won several chess games in a row today and felt a little proud.
"Okay, then let's each eat the fish we caught in the evening," Jiang Ning suggested.
Xue Yuantong gritted his teeth and agreed: "Okay!"
"Chu Chu, look, I'm going to catch a big fish for you to eat." Xue Yuantong made a promise.
Xue Chuchu now lives in the city. It is rare for her mother to get together with Aunt Gu. At Aunt Gu's invitation, they have dinner at Aunt Gu's house. After dinner, she will go to Yuzhou No. 2 Middle School.
Xue Chuchu nodded: "Well, I'll wait for you to catch a big fish."
In fact, she felt that Xue Yuantong was a little unreliable. Playing chess was her mistake. She underestimated Xue Yuantong. He was indeed much better at chess than her.
Xue Chuchu was a little shocked. She didn't expect to meet such an opponent today.
But fishing is different from playing chess. Fishing is a test of one’s mentality and requires patience to catch fish.
Xue Yuantong obviously doesn't look like the calm type, but Jiang Ning, who is a bit taciturn next to him, seems to be a very patient person.
Xue Chuchu saw Jiang Ning complete the swing with a light swing, and she had to say, it was very handsome.
When she went to Xue Yuantong's house today, the person who left the deepest impression on her was Jiang Ning.
After a brief contact, she found that this boy was handsome, calm, used an iPhone, wore branded clothes, and most importantly, he was really good to Xue Yuantong, like a brother.
Xue Chuchu is very observant, and Jiang Ning always seems to be taking care of Xue Yuantong intentionally or unintentionally.
Xue Yuantong swung the pole in an exaggerated motion and almost threw herself into the river. Xue Chuchu was quick to pull her back.
"Tongtong, you." Xue Chuchu was both amused and worried.
Xue Yuantong was worried and his face turned pale with fright. It was a mistake, a mistake.
"I'm fine. In fact, I wouldn't have fallen if you hadn't helped me. I have excellent balance."
Jiang Ning praised: "Yes, she is very good."
Xue Chuchu was speechless. She couldn't tell whether Jiang Ning was mocking Xue Yuantong or praising him.
"I'm going to start fishing."
Xue Yuantong said something, sat on a small stool, and began to fish seriously.
Jiang Ning also sat on a small stool.
As for Xue Chuchu, she stood there, writing down words in a small notebook.
After three minutes of persistence, there was no movement, so Xue Yuantong looked at her and said:
"Chu Chu, you are so beautiful."
Xue Chuchu heard this and did not deny it, but said:
"Tongtong, you will be more beautiful than me in the future."
"I think so too." Xue Yuantong was very confident.
Xue Chuchu just smiled. In fact, she would rather be uglier, at least not as pretty as she is now.
Although she studied in No. 2 High School, the best high school in Yuzhou, she still suffered a lot of troubles because of her outstanding appearance.
There are often some boys who express their affection to her in various ways.
She just felt bored, and at this stage she just wanted to study hard and change her poor family situation.
In fact, No. 2 Middle School is much better than the junior high school she attended in the town. Twice in junior high school, she was blocked on the road by someone who asked her to be his girlfriend. Fortunately, her mother arrived in time.
At least in these years, compared with the disadvantages her appearance has brought her, the benefits are very few.
Xue Yuantong waited for an hour and a half, but the sun moved and she still didn't catch a single fish. She went from being full of expectations to being full of disappointment.
She is tired.
On the contrary, Jiang Ning next to her packed a lot of them one after another and kept showing off to her.
Xue Yuantong: "Destroy it."
Jiang Ning said to her, "Hey, where are your fish? You didn't catch any?"
Xue Yuantong said aggrievedly: "My luck has been sucked away by you, I want to go home."
"But you didn't catch any fish, so you have nothing to eat at night."
"I, I don't want to eat anymore." Xue Yuantong said pitifully.
"Why don't you wait a little longer, you will definitely catch a fish."
"No, I have no hope anymore." Xue Yuantong hung his head.
"Then the fish you catch later will be mine?" Jiang Ning suggested.
"It's all yours. My position today is so unlucky. Yes, it must be because of the position." She comforted herself.
As soon as she finished speaking, a fish was caught on her fishing rod.
Jiang Ning used his spiritual power.
Xue Yuantong opened his eyes wide: "Luck, it must be luck!"
She cast the hook again, just casually, and another fish was caught.
'Isn't this fish stupid?'
She still cast the hook, and fish kept taking the bait.
Jiang Ning added: "Xue Yuantong, you said that the fish you caught are mine, so don't cheat."