Night.
In the freezing cold of winter, when she reached the doorway from school, the sight of her mother’s kind face under the light made Xue Yuantong’s mood even better.
She quickly jumped off the bike and leaped excitedly in front of her mother: "I’m back!"
Aunt Gu looked at her daughter’s clumsy actions and scolded: "Why the rush? The bike hasn’t even stopped yet!"
Xue Yuantong didn’t care at all: "Mom, don’t you know how agile I am?"
Jiang Ning stopped the bike and greeted Aunt Gu.
Seeing Jiang Ning on the bike, Aunt Gu felt very pleased. Her house was quite remote, and the nearest bus stop was on Nanhong Road. Even getting off there still required a considerable walk to the bungalow by the river dam.
Back when Tongtong was in middle school, she always made ti to pick her up. If she really couldn’t make it, she let her take the bus ho. Middle school didn’t have night classes, so although life was tough, she managed to balance it.
Now in high school, there were night classes. If her job remained unchanged, without Jiang Ning’s presence, Aunt Gu didn’t even want to think about how she would take good care of her daughter.
So watching Jiang Ning now, Aunt Gu’s expression grew even more satisfied. This rented house was worth it, solving even the matter concerning her daughter.
However, Aunt Gu sized up Jiang Ning, finding him handso and tall, which greatly pleased her. But when she looked at her own daughter, who was short, she couldn’t help but feel a bit lancholic.
She didn’t ask for much, just that she could grow to 1.6 ters.
Aunt Gu said: "I made shrimp at ho and heated up so milk. Jiang Ning, you join us for so food."
Jiang Ning knew this was Tongtong’s exclusive ’children’s growth—midnight snack combo.’
He replied: "I’ll park the bike and be right there."
Tongtong ran to the kitchen and found her mom taking a large plate of shiny, red poached shrimp from the stear. Roughly counting, there were over 30, all neatly arranged with two bowls of dipping sauce beside them.
Xue Yuantong was eager to eat, but Aunt Gu tapped her, asking her to wash her hands first.
"I’ll call Chuchu!" Xue Yuantong was very loyal, never forgetting Chuchu when there was sothing good.
She darted over to Chuchu’s house and first saw Aunt Hua wrapped in a comforter watching TV: "Auntie, I’m here to take Chuchu to my place for so food."
Aunt Hua’s sowhat indifferent face softened considerably upon seeing Tongtong: "Tongtong is here."
In the past, she had opinions about Tongtong, as she was concerned about her own daughter, Chuchu, hoping she would study hard and beco successful. No one liked seeing their daughter running around playing and not staying at ho.
Now, Aunt Hua’s views had changed a lot. It was rare for the two kids to still be good friends after all these years. Besides, her job ca through Sister Gu’s connections, which allowed her to join the Evergreen Liquid Company.
Otherwise, she would still be working night shifts at the textile factory now, not daring to take a day off just for two hundred yuan in full attendance bonus.
She smiled and called out: "Chuchu, stop studying. Tongtong’s calling for you."
In another small room, Xue Chuchu took off the blanket from her legs and stood up to greet Tongtong.
"Chuchu, co on, let’s go eat shrimp. They’re so delicious!" Tongtong rushed off, "Jiang Ning’s here too, I’ll let him peel the shrimp for !"
Xue Chuchu smiled knowingly, gracefully followed Tongtong.
Soon, there was no more noise from the small courtyard, and Hua Fengi continued watching TV.
Two minutes later, Hua Fengi pondered: ’Is Jiang Ning really peeling shrimp for Tongtong? Being so good to her? What about my Chuchu...’
...
"Jiang Ning, eat! Eat!"
Xue Yuantong grinned widely, holding up a piece of tender shrimp at.
"Thanks." Jiang Ning took the shrimp at, dipped it in the sauce, and placed it in his mouth. The shrimp was very fresh, crispy, tender, and refreshing. The dipping sauce complented it perfectly, not greasy at all late at night.
Having pleased Jiang Ning, Xue Yuantong finally turned her attention to her mother.
"Mom, your dipping sauce is so fragrant! How did you make it?" she started to ask for tips.
Xue Chuchu, who was peeling shrimp, slowed down, preparing to steal this skill.
Tongtong’s cooking skills were learned from Aunt Gu, which ant Aunt Gu’s cooking must be even better.
Before her mom could answer, Xue Yuantong tallied: "There’s green onion, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesa oil, hmm...?"
Aunt Gu: "The sesa oil you won from Mr. Qian."
Xue Yuantong: "No wonder it slls so good!"
Jiang Ning: "Mr. Qian is such a good person."
"Yes, next ti, I’ll find a way to trick more sesa oil." She was plotting mischievous ideas.
Butcher Zhang’s rib stall, Mr. Qian’s sesa oil, all rare goodies, plus Dongdong the black helper...
"By the way, Jiang Ning, how did Dongdong do today?" Xue Yuantong asked.
Upon learning that she had an employee, she imdiately embraced her boss persona.
Jiang Ning: "Lin Zida should have ssaged , but I have no hands to take out my phone."
Xue Yuantong, curious, suggested: "Simple, I’ll peel shrimp for you!"
With his hands free, Jiang Ning took out his phone. He opened WeChat, and sure enough, Lin Zida had ssaged him. First, there was a photo showing a twenty yuan note, two five-yuan notes, and 5 coins.
"I’ve collected the money for you. I’ll give it to you at noon when school ends tomorrow." Lin Zida explained.
Xue Yuantong counted and her eyes lit up: "Wow, 35 yuan!"
"My daily al doesn’t cost that much!" She bead with joy, feeling her career was progressing steadily.
Jiang Ning: "To be exact, it’s 34 yuan and 30 cents. You need to pay Dongdong 70 cents as a wage."
Xue Yuantong felt a pinch: "Why do I still have to pay a salary, can’t I make him work for free?"
Jiang Ning: "You’re too heartless."
Aunt Gu paused for a mont and didn’t say anything.
Xue Chuchu silently ate shrimp, as if their oppressive actions had nothing to do with her.
User Comments
0 comments from readers