Lin Qi looked at her with suspicion, as if weighing the credibility of her words.
"It's not convenient to talk here. Later, you can find a quiet place with me, and we'll talk it over."
Chen Lishu wanted to help him not solely out of sympathy. Lin Qi's admission to university proved he had a certain level of knowledge, and his daring to sell exam papers in private showed he was both bold and meticulous.
She had been busy with everything herself before, but as her business developed, she would definitely expand. She should have someone trustworthy by her side. Instead of finding someone later, it was better to start cultivating someone now.
...
"Old Gu, your wife called a few days ago, but she didn't say what it was about," Wu Zheng said, watching Gu Xingdong, who had just finished training and was heading to wash up. He suddenly remembered Chen Lishu's call.
Gu Xingdong paused with the basin in his hand. If his wife called, it must be something important at home. Thinking this, he didn't bother to wash up and turned directly to the table.
Knowing Chen Lishu spent most of her time in town, he first called the telephone booth at the entrance of the alley. However, when someone went to fetch her, they found the yard gate locked.
"Alright, thank you for your trouble." After hanging up, Gu Xingdong called the village again.
"Hello, Uncle Zhang, yes, I'm Gu Xingdong. Yes, please ask my family to come to the phone."
Seeing that the date was just two days away, Li Xiulan was at home cutting out "囍" characters when she suddenly heard her name being called on the loudspeaker outside to answer the phone.
At this time, only her third son or his wife would call, so she guessed it must be something urgent. Li Xiulan quickly put down what she was doing and went out to the brigade office.
"Hello, Mom, is Lishu at home?"
As soon as she heard it was Gu Xingdong, Li Xiulan's face lit up with joy. "Xingdong, great news has happened in our family. Your wife got into university! Lishu went to town today to submit some political review materials. Let me tell you..."
Gu Xingdong listened silently for a while. After hanging up, his eyes shone, and he unconsciously raised his hand to brush his short hair. His wife got into university! "What's wrong, Old Gu? Is there something happening at home?" Wu Zheng asked, seeing his silence.
"No," Gu Xingdong shook his head. Although he was happy for his wife in his heart, he thought it wouldn't be too late to tell everyone after he received the admission letter.
"Old Wu, I'm treating you to dinner tonight. Let's have a couple of drinks," Gu Xingdong said as he got up to get the washbasin from under the bed.
"Who is treating? Shouldn't the listener get a share too?" Zhou Liang happened to push the door open and heard the end of the conversation.
"Old Gu is treating, so we definitely can't let him off easily," Wu Zheng said, walking out. "I'll go call a few more people, and we'll have a lively gathering tonight."
Gu Xingdong watched his hurried back with a smile in his eyes and didn't stop him.
In the evening, more than a dozen people crowded into the Gu family home, all drawn by the news.
Wu Zheng, leading the group, saw "Da Wang" napping on a knitted cushion as soon as he entered. He was about to approach it out of curiosity when it agilely lifted its head. Seeing it was him, it slowly stretched its two-foot-long body, revealing its two sharp fangs as a warning, before half-closing its eyes and lazily retracting back onto the cushion to continue napping.
Wu Zheng: "..." Just like a certain person.
"Old Gu, I've called everyone. When do we eat?" Wu Zheng asked, giving up on teasing the cat and turning his head towards the kitchen.
He was really hungry after training all day.
Gu Xingdong's voice came from the kitchen: "Set up the table first, and dinner will be ready soon."
When everyone was seated and saw the food Gu Xingdong served, Wu Zheng's face turned green. "Old Gu, you're just feeding us this?"
This was clearly mess hall food! "Don't be polite, there's plenty," Gu Xingdong said, sitting down at the table.
Wu Zheng protested: "Didn't you say you were treating?"
"Isn't this food?" Gu Xingdong indifferently picked up a chopstick. "Don't look at the dishes, the focus is on the people, right?"
Wu Zheng: "..." If he was here to look at people, he wouldn't have come.
"Stop being fussy, eat quickly." Gu Xingdong saw him hesitating to pick up his chopsticks and shot him a warning glance.
...
In the county town, after leaving the admissions office, Chen Lishu informed Xu Ning and the others before taking Lin Qi back to her home.
Chen Lishu first went to the table, picked up the thermos, poured him a cup of hot water, and handed it over. "I didn't expect the political review to be so strict this year. I'm sorry."
Lin Qi pursed his lips and shook his head. "It's my own problem, it has nothing to do with you."
"Actually, if you really want to study, you can wait. After all, the first year is bound to be imperfect in all aspects. In a couple of years..."
"I won't study anymore," Lin Qi suddenly interrupted. Although there was still a hint of loneliness in his eyes, his voice was firm.
Seeing this, Chen Lishu didn't try to persuade him further and directly stated the general situation of what she had done. Finally, she said:
"That's the general situation. If you agree, we'll sign an employment agreement. The probation period is one month, with a salary of twenty-five. If I'm satisfied with your performance, your formal salary will increase to thirty. During this period, you must keep silent and not leak a single word to anyone outside. If you violate the terms, I will dismiss you immediately."
Thirty, thirty?
Lin Qi was stunned when he heard the salary Chen Lishu offered.
Because of their family background and origin, he and his father always did the hardest and most tiring work in the village, but their work points were much less than others. Even two laborers couldn't earn thirty yuan a year.
"Sister Chen, as long as I can make money, I'll do whatever you want me to do," Lin Qi said eagerly.
Seeing that he agreed, Chen Lishu went into the house, took out paper and pen, and wrote an employment agreement by hand, then asked Lin Qi to sign it.
"If you do a good job, you'll definitely get the benefits and treatment you deserve during festivals," Chen Lishu added after he signed and she put away the agreement.
"Sister Chen," Lin Qi stood up somewhat nervously and looked at her. After a moment, he stammered, "Can I get an advance on this month's wages?"
Chen Lishu: "..."
He wanted his wages before even starting work? "My father is sick."
So that's how it was.
Chen Lishu didn't ask further but readily took out twenty-five yuan for him. "Alright, then don't rush to start working these past few days. Get your home affairs settled, and come back in three days. I'll show you around then."
Chen Lishu thought that if he took the money and went back on his word, she would have spent money to understand a person clearly, which was better than finding out their character was not good later.
After seeing Lin Qi off, Chen Lishu went to the Wang family to collect all the underwear made by Sun Min and the others, and settled their share of the money in advance.
Today was the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month. With only two days left before Gu Xingye's wedding, she planned to deliver goods to the supply and marketing cooperatives one last time. She wouldn't come again for these two days.
By the time she finished delivering all the underwear, it was almost two o'clock in the afternoon. Winter days got dark quickly, and walking took a long time. Fearing delay, she went straight back to the village.