Chapter 226 – “You.. you are keeping me?” (3)
“I trust that Zhang-jie had already mentioned it to you. With the exception of cleaning, I will also need you to prepare the means and drop off and pick up the children. You are okay with that?” Shu Yan had them changed into the slippers and brought them over to have a seat in the living room.
“Not a problem. I can do all those.” Back at her old place, she would get up before dawn to work in the mountains and wouldn’t even go home until after dark. Then there was housework. She also had two pigs and over 10 chicken and ducks. Working for Shu Yan was like asking her to relax at home.
Shu Yan nodded and brought her over to the kitchen. “We are more northerners. The two kids have been here for a while now and have slowly started to find Southern taste acceptable but mainly they still prefer dishes like noodles or dumplings. You know how to make those?”
“Yes, where I am from is close to the North as well. We have noodles a lot.” She thought about it some and added, “I can make some Southern dishes as well. What I don’t know I can learn. My cooking is quite good back in my village. I would always be asked to help out whenever there are banquets.”
“Good then. We have just had lunch. Let’s have noodles tonight. That sounds good to you?” asked Shu Yan.
“Aunty was making the dough for noodles when I got home. Her noodles are truly quite tasty.” Zhang-jie chimed in to help out her aunty.
Shu Yan opened up the cabinet and said, “The main ingredients like flour and rice are here. Vegetables, meat, and eggs are inside of the refrigerator.” She opened up the refrigerator and showed her where the vegetables and meats were placed. “These items need to be stored separately so they won’t affect each other’s taste. Nevermind this. Take a look and see what you need. Take as much as you need. If you need anything else, I can go and get them.”
“That’s enough. That’s enough.” The aunty saw the refrigerator filled with vegetables and meats and thought that her employer was too wealthy. No wonder she would offer such a high salary.
Zhang-jie, seeing that, was somewhat envious as well. She stroked the refrigerator and asked, “How much did you pay for this?”
“About 3,000 yuan or so. I don’t know the exact amount. I can find out if you are interested.”
“No, I don’t need one. It’s winter time anyway. Maybe in the summer.” Zhang-jiegrumbled to herself, 3,000 yuan for a refrigerator? She might as well get a large color television.
Shu Yan smiled and let Aunty had the kitchen to herself. She and Zhang-jie went to chitchat on the couch.
They had only briefly introduced themselves in the past. When they sat down to chitchat today, Shu Yan learned that Zhang-jie’s and her husband’s family, the two of them included, all worked at a wine factory. Business at the wine factory was decent, so their finance wasn’t as tight as Zhang Huaxiu’s family.
“It isn’t bad but we have spent all of our savings in buying the house. Unlike you, earning a lot more having your own business.” Zhang-jie’s husband had wanted to quit his job and start his own business a while back but both herself and his parents objected to it. Looking at Shu Yan now, she suddenly felt a pang of regret. Had they started their own business a few years ago, would they be wealthier than Shu Yan now?
Aunty had already finished the dough with alacrity, placed it inside a bowl and covered it up. She even cleaned up the kitchen afterward.
Zhang-jie saw Aunty walking out and took a look at the time. “Oh, mi, I need to go home and cook. You stay here, Aunty. I will be back after dunner.”
“Why don’t you stay here for dinner?” said Shu Yan.
“Nah. My husband said he will be home for dinner. I should head out. I’ll be back after dinner, Aunty.” Having said that, Zhang-jie took off.
