kvmb Chapter 121 Passed the Exam
Chapter 121 Passed the Exam
Shopkeeper Liu understood the meaning of her words and was breathing heavily with anger, but he was helpless. He knew that Li Xiaoxiao was trying to cheat him out of his money, but he had to give it to her.
The name of the restaurant was finally decided, it was called Longmen Restaurant.
Li Xiaoxiao remembers watching a movie before, called Dragon Inn. She liked the movie very much and is still impressed by it.
So we called it Longmen Restaurant, a grand and catchy name. When I told this name to my family, they all agreed.
The walls and windows were repainted and immediately looked brand new. This house had been built more than ten years ago, and the windows and walls had long been dilapidated. Now it was all thanks to Manager Liu, who had accidentally succeeded.
Originally this was a restaurant, so it only needed a simple cleanup to open for business. The buildings in this row are all identical, with two floors on the ground floor and a small courtyard at the back. The first floor is the lobby, the second floor has private rooms, and the small courtyard at the back can be used for living.
The shop where Li Xiaoxiao lives has four large rooms in total. He has hired a waiter, a clerk and a cook. Obviously, these people are not enough. Li Xiaoxiao thought of Damao and Ergou.
After what happened with Aunt Hua, I wonder if Damao is still willing to come to the hotel to help her.
Li Xiaoxiao has always been a man of action. When he returned to Qinghe Village that afternoon, he went to find Ergou first. Li Xiaoxiao's condition was 20 cents a day, including food and accommodation, and benefits during the New Year and other holidays.
Ergou’s grandmother, Grandma Zhang, asked curiously what welfare was. Li Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that there was no such thing as welfare in that era.
"Grandma Zhang's benefits are that she gives out some food or daily necessities during the Chinese New Year and other festivals as a reward to employees, and they also have one day off every month."
After hearing this, Grandma Zhang nodded repeatedly and agreed on Ergou's behalf without asking him a single question.
The conditions offered by Li Xiaoxiao were still very good. There were many people in their village working as long-term laborers in the county town, earning 20 cents a day. The work was tiring and they didn't even have to eat. Compared with the conditions offered by Li Xiaoxiao, they were really far behind.
Ergou, who was standing aside, looked a little restrained as he rubbed his hands. Last time he framed Li Xiaoxiao, he didn't expect that Li Xiaoxiao not only did not bear a grudge, but also thought of him first when it came to such a good job.
"Ergou, are you willing to go? If so, take my carriage tomorrow morning and we'll go to the county town together." Li Xiaoxiao looked at Ergou.
"I, I, I do." Ergou is actually a filial and sensible man, but there were not so many employment projects in ancient times. He is young and has no strength, so no one wants him to be a long-term worker.
He had been to the county town before and had seen the waiters in restaurants. He was envious, but he was from the countryside and had no connections to find a job in the county town. It was difficult to find one, so he could only stay at home and do nothing every day.
As soon as he heard Li Xiaoxiao say that she wanted him to be a waiter, he was willing to do it even if it paid him 10 cents a day.
"Okay, then it's settled." Li Xiaoxiao took out three hundred coins from her pocket and handed them to Grandma Zhang. It was a famine year now, and there were only Grandma Zhang and Ergou at home, and life was really difficult.
Ergou will go with him tomorrow, and Grandma Zhang will be the only one left at home. Give him half a month's wages first so that he won't have to live too hard.
Grandma Zhang refused again and again. She was already old, so how could she not know what Li Xiaoxiao was thinking?
"Grandma Zhang, just accept it first. Ergou is a good person. I will give you the money first so that he can work better for me. I have a purpose." Li Xiaoxiao said with a smile.
Grandma Zhang's eyes suddenly filled with tears as she told Ergou, "You must work hard, understand?"
Ergou nodded seriously: "Don't worry, grandma, I will do my best."
After leaving Ergou’s house, Li Xiaoxiao went to find Damao again.
Damao had just returned from the fields. Ever since the incident with Aunt Hua, Li Laoliu had not gone out to work. Ermao and Sanmao were still young, and he was the only son in the family. His parents passed away early, so he had to stay at home to take care of several children.
When he saw Li Xiaoxiao, Damao looked a little unnatural. When Li Xiaoxiao saw him like this, Damao should have known that the reason why Aunt Hua's affairs were discovered was largely related to her.
But she still told him the purpose of her visit. If Damao was a reasonable person, he would agree to be a waiter. Otherwise, if he didn't go, she probably would have no contact with their family in the future.
Li Laoliu also knew that the matter was discovered because of Li Xiaoxiao's accidental discovery. In fact, the matter had little to do with Li Xiaoxiao. It was only a matter of time before Aunt Hua was found out for committing adultery. He knew this in his heart.
After greeting Li Laoliu, Li Xiaoxiao asked Damao if he was willing to work as a waiter in her restaurant alongside Ergou, and offered the same conditions as Ergou.
When Damao heard this, he was a little overwhelmed. Could he do it as a waiter?
"Of course you can do it." Li Xiaoxiao guessed his thoughts and said affirmatively.
Damao turned his head to look at Li Laoliu again. Li Laoliu was so excited that he couldn't help but show joy in his eyes. This was a good thing. He had been working as a long-term worker for others for many years. The conditions offered by Li Xiaoxiao were already the best.
"Okay, I'll go." Damao nodded in agreement. At first, Damao still blamed Li Xiaoxiao for his mother's matter, but later he got relieved. It was his mother who did something wrong, and if Li Xiaoxiao wasn't there, there would be someone else.
In fact, he had discovered his mother went out in the middle of the night a long time ago, and he had secretly followed her to see what was going on. He still remembers the scene he saw at that time, which is still unforgettable to this day.
Now there are two more people in the store, and that's basically it. We just need to find an accountant in a couple of days.
While Li Xiaoxiao was busy with the new shop, Li Dajiang came back. He had been away for nearly a month. He came back in a sedan chair. The reason was simple: Li Dajiang passed the imperial examination, which caused a sensation in Qinghe Village.
After working as a scholar for more than ten years, he finally passed the exam. It was not known whether he passed on his own initiative or through connections made by his new son-in-law.
Ever since the last incident, the Li family had been feeling depressed and had not gone out. But now, not only did they go out, they also boasted to everyone they met that their eldest son had achieved success and passed the imperial examination. Within a day, the whole Qinghe Village knew about it.
Families that had not had a good relationship with Grandma Li in the past would take the initiative to say hello when they saw her, as enthusiastically as if they had met a relative they hadn't seen for years. Grandma Li held her head high and enjoyed their compliments to the fullest.
There was laughter everywhere in the Li family's house. No one mentioned the matter between Liu and Zhang Wenbin, as if the incident had never happened and was just turned over.
"I knew that my son is the most promising one. I'll give you a big chicken leg. You must nourish yourself well. You have lost a lot of weight. It must be because you didn't eat well outside." Old Mrs. Li was so happy. She had waited for so many years and now she could finally hold her head high.